Soul Power Fusion!

She had only experienced this kind of soul power fusion with one person before.

No—their degree of fusion was even higher than hers with that person!

"How could this be?!" Zhu Zhuqing was unsettled. She tried to sever the connection between their soul powers, but a suction force came from within the boy's body.

The soul power in her body immediately went out of control and all flowed into the boy's body.

As her soul power was gradually drained dry, Zhu Zhuqing collapsed weakly onto the boy's chest.

Is this how it ends for me? Maybe dying by his hand wouldn't be so bad... Hm? Zhu Zhuqing thought despairingly. Just as she was about to fall completely into darkness, a familiar soul power unexpectedly flowed back into her body from the boy.

The scent of dragon saliva incense mixed with blood lingered at the tip of her nose, while a steady, powerful heartbeat filled her ears, bringing an inexplicable sense of security.

Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes groggily and saw a bare chest covered in blood-red tattoos before her.

Her final memories returned.

Her cheeks flushing, Zhu Zhuqing immediately sat up. She gently pushed the boy's shoulder twice, but there was no response. She pushed again, yet he still did not react.

Zhu Zhuqing immediately panicked. She bent down again and listened to the boy's chest over and over.

"No, I have to find a healing-type soul master as soon as possible," Zhu Zhuqing said anxiously.

She scanned her surroundings. The sun had already risen, and Ling Feng and Shi Yue's corpses still lay not far away. Although the aura from the earlier battle between powerful experts had scared off the surrounding animals, there was no telling when they might return.

Zhu Zhuqing immediately ran over to the two corpses. Suppressing her physical discomfort, she pulled the silver-bright dagger from Ling Feng's neck.

Only then did she return. Using all her strength, she hoisted the boy onto her back and temporarily left this dangerous area.

The boy's weight made her legs buckle. After painstakingly determining the direction, Zhu Zhuqing gritted her teeth and set off.

After walking for most of the day, her stamina and soul power were completely exhausted. Only then did Zhu Zhuqing set him down against a tree. She took out her water flask and gulped down some water herself before carefully bringing the spout to the boy's lips, intending to give him some as well.

But after several attempts, she could not get even a drop into him.

Gently wiping away the water that had run from the corner of his mouth, Zhu Zhuqing looked at the still-unconscious boy. Her gaze swept over his somewhat slender frame and silver hair, and she seemed to make up her mind.

"This won't do. I have to recover faster!"

She had never wanted, nor been willing, to passively accept fate. Otherwise, she would not have risked her life to flee the imperial capital.

Her trembling fingers reached toward the boy's eyelids.

But in an instant, Zhu Zhuqing jerked her hand back as though shocked.

The boy's originally ordinary blue eyes had vanished. In their place was a pair of evil eyes she knew all too well, unique to the Star Luo Imperial House. They were the same deep blue as that person's, with the only difference being the color of the pupils.

That person's pupils were black, passed down through the Dai family line.

The boy's pupils, however, were an even more stunning rose gold and violet gold. A strange ring of white patterns edged both pupils, adding a touch more mystery.

"You're also... a member of the Dai family."

"Maybe I'll regret this in the future, but right now, I don't want you to die."

Thinking this, Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath, shifted slightly, and leaned back against the tree as well.

She knew exactly what she was doing. Once she became accustomed to the aura of this boy, whose fusion compatibility with her was higher, it would be impossible for her to fuse with Dai Mubai again...

She reached out and wrapped her arms around the boy, resting his head against her shoulder as she no longer restrained her own soul power.

Their auras gradually drew closer, and their soul powers slowly fused. Feeling the circulation speed of her soul power double, Zhu Zhuqing silently held him a little tighter.

Once she felt her soul power had fully recovered, Zhu Zhuqing carried him onto her back again. Though night was approaching and it was unsuitable for travel, she could not wait any longer.

She did not dare gamble on how much longer the boy could hold on—whether he would miraculously wake up the next second, or suddenly stop breathing without warning.

The boy's steady breath brushed against her neck, making it slightly ticklish. Zhu Zhuqing could not help tilting her head, when she heard the boy's nearly inaudible murmur.

"Qiu... Xue... sor... ry..."

The voice was soft, yet it struck Zhu Zhuqing's heart like a heavy hammer.

Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip. Her steps paused for only a brief moment before she continued forward.

"Qiu Xue" seemed to be a girl's name. Was she the owner of this necklace?

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze involuntarily lowered. The sapphire-blue butterfly lay quietly against her chest.

"She must be someone very important." Zhu Zhuqing suddenly felt a sour ache in her heart.

Huo Yuhao felt that he had slept for quite a long time. Many people had come and gone in his dreams.

A faint herbal fragrance lingered in his nose, and there was a bitter taste in his mouth. Had his master developed some medicinal cuisine again and made him taste-test it?

"!!!"

The instant he thought of that, Huo Yuhao snapped awake.

He grabbed the hand that was about to feed him medicine, then swiftly countered it.

Crash... It was the sound of a porcelain bowl shattering.

His final memories before losing consciousness returned. Huo Yuhao immediately released his grip and found himself sitting inside a curtained bed.

Zhu Zhuqing had been feeding him medicine just now.

"Sorry. Did I hurt you?" Huo Yuhao asked apologetically.

Zhu Zhuqing rubbed her wrist and shook her head.

"How do you feel? The healing-type soul master here only has two rings, so he can only barely suppress the poison in your body for now."

"I found out that there's a seven-ringed Food-type Soul Sage at a nearby academy. His soul skills have some healing effects. I was planning to take you there after feeding you the medicine, but now that you're awake, that's perfect..." Zhu Zhuqing's eyes were full of surprise and concern, but Huo Yuhao interrupted her before she could finish.

"This is Soto City?" Huo Yuhao looked around and guessed. Based on the crude map and Zhu Zhuqing's route over the past few days, this should be the place.

"Yes. Listen to me, this academy isn't simple. They'll definitely have a way to cure your poison."

"No need to trouble yourself. I know how to cure my own poison; I only need some time. Since you've safely arrived in Soto City, it's time for me to go where I need to go."

Huo Yuhao stood and stretched his limbs.

He had been poisoned by two things. One was the poison in Bloody Mary, which he could cure simply by concocting some antidote pills. The other was Er Bai's corpse poison, which was nothing to him either. With the Golden Dragon Bloodline suppressing it, these were all minor matters.

The most critical problem was still the injury to his divine soul.

Not to mention a seven-ringed Soul Sage—even a Titled Douluo would have limited effect unless their soul skills could repair the soul.

The reason he had been unconscious for so long this time was entirely because he had forcibly controlled two Soul Kings, suffering backlash to his divine soul.

But with Qiu'er's skull bone, he was not afraid of such a minor injury.