Zhu Zhuqing's Choice: I Won't Return to the Zhu Family

"Whether it's the Zhu Family or the Dai Family, whoever owes the debt should come out and pay it."

As Zhu Zhuqing finished her sentence, the torches along the edge of the Broken Slope dipped in unison.

Commander Zhu stood in the mud, his hem still stained with the wet earth churned up by the Thunder Pressure, and the thin veneer of composure he was maintaining was rapidly slipping.

"Second Miss, if these words reach the Star Luo Empire, the Zhu Family will label you a defector."

Zhu Zhuqing held her short dagger at her side; though the Hemostatic Pill had staunched the bleeding on her shoulder, her face remained deathly pale.

"Let them label me as they please."

Commander Zhu withdrew a black-patterned token from his robes, the Zhu Family crest clearly visible in the firelight.

"The Eldest Miss has issued an order: as long as you return with us now, tonight's events can be handled internally according to family rules."

Ning Rongrong laughed outright, slapping the Seven Treasures Token against her palm.

"Beat her up and then pretend it never happened? The Zhu Family's rules are quite efficient at erasing debts."

Xiao Wu stood beside Zhu Zhuqing, kicking the severed ropes on the ground back toward the Zhu Family Guards.

"You brought ropes and still talk about internal handling? Did you write your ledger with your feet?"

Commander Zhu suppressed his anger, still holding the token aloft.

"Miss Ning, this involves the Star Luo Zhu Family. If the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda interferes too deeply, it will do you no good."

Ning Rongrong retracted the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda into her palm; despite the sweat on her brow, she did not retreat a single step.

"Don't try to scare me. I've heard more threats since I was a child than you have men here."

Ning Chuan coughed softly from the side.

"Miss, you can be firm with your words, but don't move any further forward."

Ning Rongrong shifted slightly, keeping the Seven Treasures Token prominently displayed.

"I know. This Miss is precious, so I'll stand in a precious spot."

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

"Take it. Don't get the wrong idea; I just can't stand the sight of them."

Zhu Zhuqing paused for a moment before taking the bottle.

"Thank you."

Xiao Wu turned her head away, pointing a finger toward the Zhu Family pursuers.

"Don't thank me. Just make sure you don't collapse later; I don't want to carry anyone."

Ning Rongrong immediately chimed in.

"She's injured this badly and you still expect her to walk? Rabbit, your mouth is truly tough."

Xiao Wu glared at her.

"If you're so capable, you carry her."

Ning Rongrong lifted her chin.

"This Miss is responsible for the route and support; manual labor belongs to you."

Zhu Zhuqing tucked the medicine away, listening to the two bicker as she fully sheathed her short dagger.

The movement was light, yet it made both Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong pause.

Commander Zhu's expression darkened further as he witnessed this.

"Second Miss, are you truly going to leave with outsiders?"

Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward, standing on the inner side of the thunder line.

"My departure from the Zhu Family was my own choice."

Commander Zhu put away the token, his tone dropping to a low, heavy register.

"The Eldest Miss will not let you go, and the Dai Family will not allow this matter to spread."

Zhu Zhuqing did not look at Su Hang, nor did she look at Xiao Wu or Ning Rongrong.

She simply addressed the group of Zhu Family Guards.

"Then let them come find me."

Tang San stood by the edge of the woods, his sleeves soaked halfway up by the mud and water.

He remained silent for a moment before finally speaking.

"Miss Zhu, you could at least write a letter home to explain your whereabouts, so as to avoid the Zhu Family pursuing this to the fullest extent."

Xiao Wu turned around on the spot.

"Tang San, are you not done yet?"

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

"She was just rescued from the edge of the Broken Slope, and you're already asking her to write a report? You're certainly particular."

Tang San looked at Zhu Zhuqing, forcing himself to finish his sentence.

"I just think that leaving a letter could reduce subsequent trouble, and Shrek wouldn't be dragged in too deeply."

Zhu Zhuqing lifted her face, her tone light, yet it struck with precision.

"Are you afraid of me being held accountable, or are you afraid of me affecting your time at Shrek?"

Tang San was stumped.

The torches in the forest crackled, and none of the Zhu Family Guards dared to interject.

Yu Xiaogang immediately stepped forward, his sleeves brushing against the grass.

"Miss Zhu, Tang San is considering the overall situation. Shrek is merely an academy; it shouldn't be embroiled in the conflicts of the Star Luo families."

Su Hang flicked his fingertips, and the lightning threads on the ground dimmed slightly, though they still blocked the Zhu Family pursuers.

"Shrek has already taken in Dai Mubai, so they are already involved."

Yu Xiaogang's words faltered.

Tang San looked up.

"Dai Mubai's personal actions do not necessarily represent Shrek."

Su Hang glanced at him.

"Then we shall see how Shrek handles it."

Ning Rongrong immediately chimed in.

"The academy recruits, teaches, and protects its students, yet they let Dai Mubai run wild in Soto to that extent, and now they want to wash their hands of it with a single phrase about 'personal actions'?"

Xiao Wu let out a huff.

"Tang San, you're so good at leaving an out for people who aren't even here. When you see Dai Mubai, you might as well have him give you a 'good guy' badge."

Tang San's fingers twitched beneath his sleeves, but in the end, he did not argue further.

Commander Zhu seized this opening to press Zhu Zhuqing once more.

"Second Miss, the matter of Young Master Dai can be discussed back at the Zhu residence. If you go to Soto to confront him face-to-face now, you will only bring embarrassment to both the Zhu and Dai families."

Upon hearing the words "Young Master Dai," the sheath of Zhu Zhuqing's short dagger clicked softly.

"If he had the face to do it, why shouldn't I have the right to ask?"

Commander Zhu's expression shifted.

"If you truly cause a scene at Shrek, the Eldest Miss will not be lenient."

Zhu Zhuqing walked step by step toward the lightning threads. Her shoulder injury made her pace somewhat slow, yet every step was firm.

"I am going to Soto not to acknowledge the engagement, but to settle the score."

Ning Rongrong found this satisfying and immediately took out the secret document again.

"The Seven Treasures will keep this ledger for you for now. The Rose Hotel, the restaurant by the Soul Fighting Arena, the outings with the twins—none of them will escape."

Xiao Wu reached out to stop Zhu Zhuqing.

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

Zhu Zhuqing stopped and replied in a low voice.

"I will not drag you down."

Xiao Wu immediately waved her hand.

"Who said you were a burden? I'm just afraid you'll collapse from exhaustion before you even see Dai Mubai."

Ning Rongrong followed up on her words.

"The rabbit is rarely this sensible. Zhu Zhuqing, take the Seven Treasures carriage first, take your medicine on the road, and settle the score once you reach Soto."

Zhu Zhuqing looked toward Su Hang.

"I can go with you, but I owe nothing to the Zhu family, nor to the Dai family."

Su Hang retracted the outer ring of lightning, leaving only a faint violet glow at his feet.

"What you owe is to yourself: to walk to Soto alive."

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

"Alright."

The facade on Commander Zhu's face crumbled completely.

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

Ning Rongrong held up the Seven Treasures Token.

"Remember it, and remember it clearly. Don't mix it up with that messy debt of Dai Mubai's."

Xiao Wu added a final jab.

"You'd better keep them separate, or your family's accountants will have to work overtime."

Ning Chuan held back for a long time before finally speaking up to warn them.

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

Beyond the distant tree line, a second wave of torches pressed along the mountain path, their formation far more disciplined than the first.

Commander Zhu heard the commotion and immediately tilted his chin upward.

"Reinforcements have arrived. Second Miss, if you turn back now, you might still suffer less."

Zhu Zhuqing did not respond to him.

She turned and walked toward Su Hang, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong, sliding her short dagger into its sheath with her spine held straight.

"I am not going back to the Zhu Family."

Su Hang looked at Ning Chuan as lightning began to spread across the ground once more.

"Get her into the carriage."

Ning Chuan waved his hand immediately, and the Seven Treasures Guard moved to secure their retreat.

Tang San stood by the edge of the woods, wanting to speak, but Yu Xiaogang pressed down on his shoulder.

Yu Xiaogang lowered his voice.

"Don't get involved any further; head to Shrek first."

Tang San watched as Zhu Zhuqing was flanked and protected by Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong, eventually settling for simply readjusting his pack straps.

The torches drew closer, the red light carving a long line through the forest path.

Commander Zhu raised the Zhu Family token and shouted toward the approaching group.

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

Before Xiao Wu helped Zhu Zhuqing into the carriage, she turned back and shouted to Su Hang.

"Brother Su Hang, there are more people behind us now. Should we just electrocute them back?"