Zhu Zhuqing's Worries, Helping Her Break Off the Engagement

The next morning, after training concluded, Yi Chen sent Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu away to consolidate what they had learned the previous day, leaving only him and Zhu Zhuqing in the clearing behind the mountain.

The morning breeze brushed through the treetops, carrying the cool freshness of dew. Zhu Zhuqing stood before the chessboard, head bowed, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

She wore a black fitted outfit today, her long, raven-black hair draped over her shoulders, the morning light outlining her slender and upright silhouette.

Yi Chen sat on a stone bench beneath an ancient tree, poured himself a cup of tea, and took a slow, leisurely sip before speaking. "Speak. What is going on?"

Zhu Zhuqing remained silent for a moment, her voice very low. "Yesterday, Dai Mubai came to find me again."

"I know." Yi Chen held his teacup, his tone indifferent. "I saw it from the side."

Zhu Zhuqing looked up, a flash of surprise crossing her eyes, before she lowered her head once more.

She bit her lip, seemingly hesitating over whether to continue.

A moment later, she spoke, her voice carrying a trace of imperceptible exhaustion. "He spoke to me about the marriage contract."

"Mm."

"He and I have been betrothed since childhood." Zhu Zhuqing's voice was calm to the point of indifference, as if she were recounting something that had nothing to do with her. "The Star Luo Empire royal family and the Zhu Family have intermarried for generations; every generation selects direct descendants to bind in marriage. I am the second daughter of the Zhu Family, and he is the third prince of the Star Luo Empire, so this union was decided for us from a young age."

Yi Chen did not interrupt her, listening quietly.

"According to the rules of the Star Luo Empire, every prince with a claim to the throne must form a partnership with a direct daughter of the Zhu Family. The two join forces to compete against the other heirs. The pair that ultimately triumphs will become the Emperor and Empress of the Star Luo Empire."

Zhu Zhuqing's voice lacked much inflection, but Yi Chen could hear the suppressed heaviness deep within her words. "And there is only one outcome for the losers: death."

These two words, spoken from her lips, were light as air yet carried a chill that reached deep into the marrow.

"I have known since I was small that the purpose of my existence is to become strong and then assist Dai Mubai in ascending the throne. If I do not do this, he will die, and I will die as well."

Zhu Zhuqing raised her head, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon, her voice sounding somewhat ethereal.

"That is why I cultivate desperately, not daring to slack off for even a moment. Because I cannot afford to lose."

Yi Chen set down his teacup and looked at her. "Then, do you still wish to continue down this path now?"

Zhu Zhuqing fell silent.

After a long while, she slowly shook her head. "I don't know."

She lowered her head to look at her own hands. "Before, I felt that this was my fate, and I accepted it. But now... Master, you gave me the immortal herb, taught me the Golden Spatula, and showed me that there can be more possibilities on the path of a soul master. I have begun to feel that perhaps I don't have to walk that road. But..."

She bit her lip. "But I am also afraid. If I truly refuse this marriage, what will happen with the Star Luo royal family? What about the Zhu Family? And Dai Mubai... he will not let this go easily."

Yi Chen did not answer immediately after hearing this. He picked up his teacup, took another sip, then stood up and walked over to Zhu Zhuqing, standing with his hands behind his back.

"Zhuqing, I have a question for you."

Zhu Zhuqing looked up at him.

"Do you like Dai Mubai?"

The question was direct and crisp, without any beating around the bush.

Zhu Zhuqing was stunned for a moment, then, almost instinctively, shook her head. "I do not."

"Have you ever liked him?"

"Never."

Yi Chen nodded, his tone plain yet carrying an unquestionable sense of conviction. "Then that settles it. Since you don't like him, then break the engagement."

Zhu Zhuqing was dumbfounded; she had not expected Yi Chen to speak so dismissively of the matter.

She opened her mouth, saying with some difficulty, "But... that is a marriage contract set by the Star Luo royal family and the Zhu Family; it isn't something that can be broken just by saying so. Furthermore, I know Dai Mubai's personality well. He is arrogant and conceited; he will never tolerate the humiliation of having an engagement broken. When that time comes..."

"When that time comes, what?" Yi Chen interrupted her, a faint curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Will he eat you?"

Zhu Zhuqing was momentarily at a loss for words.

Yi Chen paced two steps with his hands behind his back, his back turned to her, his voice clear and composed. "Zhuqing, remember this: you are my disciple. My disciple does not need to be bound by anyone. Who you wish to marry, or who you do not wish to marry, is entirely up to you. As for the Star Luo royal family, as for the Zhu Family, and as for Dai Mubai—"

He turned around, looking at Zhu Zhuqing with a calm gaze, and said word by word, "Let them come to me to talk."

Zhu Zhuqing stared blankly at Yi Chen. For the first time, complex emotions appeared in those cold, clear eyes: surprise, being moved, and a sense of peace she had never experienced before.

From childhood until now, she had always been told that she was a daughter of the Zhu Family, that she was Dai Mubai's fiancée, and that her mission was to become strong and survive the brutal competition.

No one had ever told her that she could have her own choices. No one had ever said to her that the things she did not want to do, she did not have to do.

"Master..." Zhu Zhuqing's voice was somewhat hoarse, her eyes slightly reddened, but she fought back the tears.

Seeing her like this, Yi Chen's tone softened slightly. "I know what you are worried about. The Star Luo Empire has vast influence, the Zhu Family is not to be trifled with, and that boy Dai Mubai is no simple character. But, Zhuqing—"

He paused, his voice carrying a natural, inherent confidence. "Do you think your Master is afraid of such things?"

Zhu Zhuqing was stunned, then subconsciously shook her head.

She recalled the scene in the Star Dou Forest where Yi Chen suppressed Dai Mubai with a single glance, and remembered the composure with which he traveled alone to Spirit Hall to negotiate with Bibi Dong.

The man before her was a level 99 Limit Douluo, an existence that even the Pope of Spirit Hall had to treat with courtesy.

The Star Luo Empire? The Zhu Family? Dai Mubai?

In front of him, it was indeed not worth mentioning.

"So, you don't need to worry about anything." Yi Chen sat back down on the stone stool and picked up his teacup.

"Leave this matter to me. I will find a time to have a proper chat with that brat Dai Mubai. If he's sensible, he'll dissolve the engagement obediently. If he's not..."

He smiled, a gentle and harmless expression, yet it inexplicably made Zhu Zhuqing feel a sense of peace.

"...then I'll let him experience for himself what it means to be on the 'Way of Seeking Death'."

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head and remained silent for a long time.

When she looked up again, the confusion and unease in her eyes had mostly dissipated, replaced by an unprecedented sense of determination.

"Thank you, Master." She said softly; though her voice remained cold, it carried a hint of warmth.

Yi Chen waved his hand. "Alright, don't think too much about it. Since you're not in the right state today, we'll skip the Golden Spatula training. Come walk with me."

Zhu Zhuqing was slightly taken aback, but she nodded nonetheless.

Yi Chen stood up and walked slowly along the mountain path with his hands behind his back, while Zhu Zhuqing followed silently behind him. The two walked one after the other along the forest trail in the early morning.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows, while birds chirped melodiously in the branches and the air was filled with the fragrance of soil and grass.

After walking for a while, Yi Chen suddenly spoke up: "Zhuqing, you grew up in the Zhu Family; you probably haven't had many comfortable days, have you?"

Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a moment, then gave a soft "Mm."

"The Zhu Family is a major clan of the Star Luo Empire with strict rules. Ever since I can remember, my daily schedule has been cultivation, cultivation, and more cultivation."

"My father had high expectations for me, hoping I would become a capable assistant for Dai Mubai."

"My mother... she passed away when I was very young, and my memories of her are already very blurred."

Her voice was calm, but Yi Chen could hear the loneliness hidden within it.

"Then have you ever thought about what you would want to do if you didn't have to carry these responsibilities?" Yi Chen asked.

Zhu Zhuqing paused, thought for a long time, and finally shook her head: "I don't know. I have never thought about that question."

Yi Chen stopped, turned to look at her, and a gentle smile appeared in his eyes: "Then start thinking from now on. You still have plenty of time to slowly figure out what you really want. There's no need to rush into a decision, and you don't need to be held hostage by anyone."

He reached out and gently patted Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder: "Remember, you are Zhu Zhuqing first, and only then are you the daughter of the Zhu Family or Dai Mubai's fiancée. Your destiny should be controlled by yourself."

Zhu Zhuqing looked up at the man before her, whose white robes were as pure as snow.

The morning light outlined a golden silhouette behind him, and his gaze was calm and gentle, yet carried a convincing power.

She suddenly felt that the stone which had pressed down on her heart for so many years had finally loosened at this moment.

"I understand, Master." She said softly, her voice carrying a hint of lightness she had never felt before.

Yi Chen nodded, turned, and continued walking, his tone returning to its usual casualness: "Alright, the chicken soup for the soul is finished, go back and continue your training. Even though I gave you a half-day off today, you'll have to make up for it with double the training volume tomorrow."

A faint, almost imperceptible curve appeared at the corner of Zhu Zhuqing's mouth as she followed his footsteps: "Yes, Master."

The sunlight shone on their backs, casting two long shadows on the forest path.

Under the shade of the trees on the back mountain, Ning Rongrong poked her head out, watched their retreating figures, and nudged Xiao Wu next to her with her elbow: "Hey, what do you think Master and Zhuqing are talking about? They've been at it for so long."

Xiao Wu had a piece of foxtail grass in her mouth; she squinted her eyes to look, then chuckled: "Whatever it is, it's definitely not about the Golden Spatula."

"Duh." Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes. "Do you think Master will really help Zhuqing break off the engagement?"

"Need you ask?" Xiao Wu took the foxtail grass out of her mouth, looking as if it were a matter of course. "Master is so powerful, what is a mere Star Luo royal family? Besides, Zhuqing is our sister; we can't just watch her jump into a pit of fire, right?"

Ning Rongrong nodded, then said with some concern: "But that Dai Mubai has such strong self-esteem; if he really gets his engagement broken, he definitely won't let it go easily."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Xiao Wu patted her chest. "We have Master! If he dares to act out, we'll just have Master beat him up!"

Ning Rongrong thought about it and decided that made sense, so she stopped worrying.

The two girls retreated into the shade to continue studying the lineup combinations on the chessboard.

The sun was just right, and the breeze was gentle.

Meanwhile, at Shrek Academy down the mountain, Dai Mubai stood on the training ground, striking the wooden post in front of him with punch after punch.

The post was covered in cracks, clearly having endured significant impact.

In his mind, he kept replaying the cold look in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes from yesterday, as well as the relaxed and composed demeanor of the man named Yi Chen.

"Yi Chen, you just wait." He muttered, slamming his fist into the post with all his might.

Crack.

The wooden post snapped in response.