Zhu Zhuqing's Choice: I'm Not Going Back to the Zhu Family

"Zhu Family or Dai Family, whoever ran up the debt can come out and pay it."

When Zhu Zhuqing's words fell, the torches along Broken Slope all dipped lower.

Commander Zhu stood in the mud, his robe still splattered with the wet dirt thrown up by Thunder Pressure. The last traces of his forced composure were about to crumble.

"Second Miss, if these words get back to Star Luo, the Zhu Family will brand you a fugitive."

Zhu Zhuqing held her short dagger at her side. The Hemostatic Pill had staunched the blood on her shoulder, but her face was still pale.

"Let them."

Commander Zhu took a black-patterned token from his robes. The Zhu Family crest was clear in the firelight.

"The Eldest Miss has given her orders. If you return with us now, tonight's events can be handled internally under family rules."

Ning Rongrong laughed outright and slapped the Seven Treasures Token against her palm.

"Beat someone up, then pretend it never happened. The Zhu Family sure knows how to keep its books."

Xiao Wu stood beside Zhu Zhuqing and kicked the broken rope on the ground back toward the Zhu Family Guards.

"You brought the rope and still call this an internal matter? Do you write your ledgers with your feet?"

Commander Zhu held back his anger, but kept the token raised.

"Miss Ning, this involves the Star Luo Zhu Family. If the Seven Treasures get too involved, it won't do you any good either."

Ning Rongrong drew the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda back into her palm. Sweat still glistened on her forehead, but she didn't retreat an inch.

"Don't try to scare me. I've heard more threats than you have men."

Ning Chuan coughed softly beside her.

"Miss, you can talk tough, but don't step any farther forward."

Ning Rongrong turned slightly, still keeping the Seven Treasures Token visible.

"I know. I'm precious, so I stand in a precious spot."

Xiao Wu pulled a small bottle of medicine from her waist and held it out to Zhu Zhuqing.

"Take this. Don't get the wrong idea. I just can't stand them."

Zhu Zhuqing paused, then accepted the bottle.

"Thank you."

Xiao Wu turned her face aside and pointed toward the Zhu Family pursuers.

"Why thank me? Just don't collapse later. I don't want to carry you."

Ning Rongrong immediately chimed in.

"She's hurt this badly, and you still expect her to walk on her own? Rabbit, you really have a sharp tongue."

Xiao Wu glared at her.

"If you can do better, carry her yourself."

Ning Rongrong lifted her chin.

"I'm in charge of the route and support. The heavy lifting is your job."

Zhu Zhuqing put the medicine away. As she listened to them bicker, she slid her dagger all the way into its sheath.

The movement was quiet, but it made Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong both pause.

Commander Zhu saw it, and his expression darkened further.

"Second Miss, are you really going with outsiders?"

Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward half a pace, stopping just inside the line of lightning.

"Leaving the Zhu Family was my own choice."

Commander Zhu put away the token, his voice turning heavy.

"The Eldest Miss won't let you go. The Dai Family won't let this get out either."

Zhu Zhuqing didn't look at Su Hang, Xiao Wu, or Ning Rongrong.

She simply addressed the Zhu Family Guards.

"Then let them come find me."

Tang San stood at the edge of the woods, half his sleeve soaked with muddy water.

He was silent for a moment, then finally spoke.

"Miss Zhu, at least you could write a letter home and explain where you're going. That might keep the Zhu Family from pursuing this in full."

Xiao Wu turned around on the spot.

"Tang San, are you still going on?"

Ning Rongrong tucked the Seven Treasures Token back into her waist, speaking quickly.

"She was just rescued from the edge of Broken Slope, and you're already telling her to send a formal report. How proper."

Tang San looked at Zhu Zhuqing and forced himself to finish.

"I just think a letter could reduce trouble later. Shrek wouldn't get dragged into this as deeply, either."

Zhu Zhuqing lifted her face. Her words were soft, but they struck right on target.

"Are you worried they'll come after me, or are you worried I'll affect your chances of joining Shrek?"

Tang San was at a loss for words.

The torches crackled in the woods, and none of the Zhu Family Guards spoke up.

Yu Xiaogang immediately stepped forward, his sleeve brushing the grass.

"Miss Zhu, Tang San is considering the bigger picture. Shrek is only an academy; it shouldn't get involved in conflicts between Star Luo's families."

Su Hang raised a fingertip. The lightning line on the ground dimmed, but it still blocked the Zhu Family pursuers.

"Shrek already took in Dai Mubai. It's already involved."

Yu Xiaogang's words stalled.

Tang San looked up.

"Dai Mubai's personal conduct doesn't necessarily represent Shrek."

Su Hang glanced at him.

"Then let's see how Shrek handles it."

Ning Rongrong immediately added, "The academy accepted him, taught him, and protected him. It even let Dai Mubai run wild in Soto and turn into that kind of person. And now you want to wash your hands of it with 'personal conduct'?"

Xiao Wu snorted.

"Tang San, you're so good at making excuses for people who aren't here. When you see Dai Mubai, why not ask him to give you a good-person badge?"

The fingers beneath Tang San's sleeve twitched, but in the end he didn't argue further.

Commander Zhu seized the brief lull and pressured Zhu Zhuqing again.

"Second Miss, Dai Shao's matter can be discussed after you return to the Zhu Family. If you go to Soto and confront him in person now, you'll only embarrass both the Zhu Family and the Dai Family."

At the words "Dai Shao," the clasp on Zhu Zhuqing's dagger sheath clicked softly.

"If he had the nerve to do it, why can't I ask him about it?"

Commander Zhu's expression changed.

"If you make a scene at Shrek, the Eldest Miss won't go easy on you."

Zhu Zhuqing walked step by step to the line of lightning. Her shoulder wound slowed her, but every step landed firmly.

"I'm going to Soto not to accept the engagement, but to settle the score."

Ning Rongrong was delighted. She pulled out the secret document again.

"The Seven Treasures will hold on to these records for you. The Rose Hotel, the tavern beside the Soul Fighting Arena, the twins traveling together—none of it is getting swept under the rug."

Xiao Wu reached out to stop Zhu Zhuqing.

"Don't rush now. You can settle the score, but you need to recover first."

Zhu Zhuqing stopped and answered quietly.

"I won't drag you down."

Xiao Wu immediately waved her hand.

"Who said you were dragging us down? I just don't want you to wear yourself out before you even see Dai Mubai."

Ning Rongrong picked up where she left off.

"For once, the rabbit's talking sense. Zhu Zhuqing, ride in the Seven Treasures carriage. Take your medicine on the way, and settle the score once we reach Soto."

Zhu Zhuqing looked toward Su Hang.

"I can go with you, but I owe nothing to the Zhu Family or the Dai Family."

Su Hang drew back the outer ring of lightning, leaving only a faint trace of dark-purple sparks at his feet.

"What you owe yourself is making it to Soto alive."

Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a moment, then nodded lightly.

"Good."

The last vestige of composure fell from Commander Zhu's face.

"Su Hang, Miss Ning, if you take her away today, the Zhu Family will remember this debt."

Ning Rongrong flashed the Seven Treasures Token at him.

"Do. Remember it clearly, and don't mix it up with Dai Mubai's rotten debt."

Xiao Wu piled on.

"Better keep them separate, or your Zhu Family bookkeepers will have to work overtime."

Ning Chuan had held back for as long as he could, but finally spoke up.

"Miss, the torches behind us are moving again. There are more of them than before."

Beyond the distant tree line, a second group of torches advanced along the mountain road, their formation tighter than the first group's.

Hearing the noise, Commander Zhu immediately lifted his chin.

"Reinforcements are here. Second Miss, turn back now, and you can still spare yourself some suffering."

Zhu Zhuqing didn't answer him.

She turned and walked toward Su Hang, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong, her dagger sheathed and her back straight.

"I'm not going back to the Zhu Family."

Su Hang looked at Ning Chuan as lightning spread along the ground again.

"Get her into the carriage."

Ning Chuan immediately waved his hand, and the Seven Treasures Guards covered their retreat.

Tang San stood at the edge of the woods. He seemed about to speak, but Yu Xiaogang held him by the shoulder.

"Don't get dragged into this any further. Go to Shrek first."

Tang San watched Zhu Zhuqing being guarded on either side by Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong. In the end, he only straightened the straps on his bundle.

The torches drew nearer, casting a long line of red light over the forest road.

Commander Zhu raised the Zhu Family token and shouted to those arriving behind him.

"Second Miss is being taken away by the Seven Treasures and Su Hang! Stop them!"

As Xiao Wu helped Zhu Zhuqing toward the carriage, she looked back and called to Su Hang.

"Brother Su Hang, there are more of them behind us. Should we zap them back first?"