A Thread of Fate

"Guga, get me a drink too."

"Guga~"

Bartender Guga got busy again.

Lin Xiao propped up his chin and looked sideways at Zhu Zhuqing.

"I'm willing to listen. You'll feel better if you say what's on your mind."

Zhu Zhuqing gently rubbed the glass with her fingertips.

She lowered her eyes, her voice carrying a trace of exhaustion she could not hide.

"Lin Xiao, I don't want things to be this way either... but I have no choice... These are the rules of the Star Luo Empire's imperial family.

If I don't do this, I'll die. Even my sister, who used to say she would protect me for the rest of my life, sent people to hunt me down because of these damned rules.

My talent was already inferior to hers. If I didn't join forces with Dai Mubai, I truly wouldn't stand a chance.

But after finally finding him, I discovered he was nothing but a debauched playboy wallowing in pleasure.

He has the Evil-Eyed White Tiger Martial Soul, yet at his age, he's only level 37. I have no hope left..."

As she spoke, Zhu Zhuqing tipped back her head and drained the drink in her glass.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

The icy liquid slid down her throat, carrying a faint spicy taste of alcohol.

It made her cough violently.

Her shoulders rose and fell slightly. The emotions she had been suppressing seemed to be stirred by that sharp sensation, and her eyes reddened.

Lin Xiao reached out and gently patted her back. Only after her ragged breathing gradually steadied did he ask,

"Feeling better?"

"Mm..."

Zhu Zhuqing's little face was slightly flushed as she softly responded.

"Zhuqing, why don't you come back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect with us? The sect can fully protect you now."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the gentle Lin Xiao. A flicker of hesitation surfaced in her eyes, but concern swiftly pressed it down.

"But I'll bring trouble to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The imperial family won't let me go."

Lin Xiao reassured her.

"Don't worry. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is now a sect the entire Heaven Dou Empire is trying its best to win over.

The Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire were enemies to begin with. If Star Luo dared to openly make trouble for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, it would be the same as directly tearing apart all relations with the Heaven Dou Empire.

The Star Luo imperial family wouldn't take such a huge risk just to hunt down a discarded Zhu Family child who was destined to fail."

"Thank you, Lin Xiao."

Zhu Zhuqing's voice was soft, and warmth filled her heart.

She had lost count of how many times she had thanked him already. This debt of gratitude truly could never be repaid.

Lin Xiao withdrew his hand and smiled faintly.

"It was nothing."

Just then, Bartender Guga pushed a large glass onto the counter.

"Boss, your Non-Alcoholic Cinderella is ready, guga."

Lin Xiao rubbed Guga's round head and was just about to take a drink.

But Zhu Zhuqing pushed her own glass over.

"Um, that drink of yours looks delicious. Can you share some with me?"

Lin Xiao froze for a moment. Though he did not understand why, he still poured half of it for her.

Zhu Zhuqing kept her head lowered, cradling the cup as she took small sips.

The sweet, refreshing flavor went down easily, but regret welled up in her heart.

I shouldn't have blurted out that I wanted to share his drink. This is so embarrassing...

At the same time.

By the stairway.

A group of tiny figures had stacked themselves into a human tower, sneakily poking out one round head after another.

Daoist Guga narrowed his eyes at the air between the two of them.

"The red thread between Boss and Zhu Zhuqing has successfully been tied together, guga. As expected of me~"

Farmer Guga scratched her head.

"Guga? Why can't I see it?"

"Nonsense. If you could see it, what would I do? Farm the fields for you, guga?"

"Guga, farming takes skill too. How about you teach me how to see red strings, and I'll teach you how to farm?"

"No thanks. It's too tiring, guga."

Seeing the two geese start chatting, even disrupting their formation as the Gugas stacked above them began to wobble.

Fat Guga, at the very bottom, made a shushing gesture.

"Shh, shh, shh! Don't let them discover us, guga. If we get caught, I'll plant you in the ground like ginseng!"

"Mm!"

The two Gugas hurriedly covered their mouths, widened their eyes, and watched quietly.

Not until the next day.

Everyone gathered on the training field.

Ning Rongrong was pulling Lin Xiao aside to whisper to him.

Xiao Wu was bragging to Zhu Zhuqing.

Several Penguins trailed behind them as well. Some were sleeping soundly, some were eating, and some were picking at their feet.

Over in Dai Mubai's little group.

Tang San, who had eaten Oscar's Healing Big Sausage many times, had mostly recovered, but he had also been left with severe psychological trauma.

Whenever someone stood behind him, he felt a phantom pain so intense it tore at his heart.

Tang San stood ramrod straight nearby, his eyes fixed on those Penguins.

But Dai Mubai felt that something was off.

He instinctively turned his head to look at Zhu Zhuqing in the distance.

Yet Zhu Zhuqing had not glanced at him even once from beginning to end. Forget disdain—there was not even the slightest ripple in her expression.

She treated him as if he were thin air.

Dai Mubai's heart instantly sank.

Being hated was not frightening. Being ignored was.

It meant that she no longer regarded him as someone worth caring about, that he was not even worthy of her hatred.

He secretly glanced over several times and noticed that Zhu Zhuqing's gaze would drift, intentionally or not, toward Lin Xiao beside her.

Damn it!

If he did not take action soon, this green hat would truly be welded onto his head!!

"Zhu..."

However, he had only managed one word before Flender spoke.

"Mubai! Why hasn't Oscar arrived yet? Did he oversleep again? Go get him, now!"

The sudden question cut Dai Mubai off.

He could only force a bitter smile and prepare to go call Little Oscar.

He had barely taken a few steps when an urgent, excited shout came from beyond the training field.

"Dean! Dean! Great news! I've broken through level 30!"

Oscar came sprinting over, his hair disheveled and his eyes filled with uncontrollable joy.

Flender, whose face had been dark and who had been ready to scold him, paused in surprise.

"What did you say? You broke through level 30?"

"It's true!!"

Oscar nodded vigorously, puffing out his chest with a proud expression.

"I stayed up all night polishing my Soul Power bottleneck. This morning, I successfully broke through it. I'm now firmly at level 30 Soul Power!"

Flender immediately raised a hand and pressed it onto Oscar's shoulder, carefully sensing him.

A moment later, he beamed and nodded repeatedly.

"Good, good! Excellent!"

"Food-type Soul Masters cultivate slowly by nature, yet you broke through level 30 at this age. Your future is limitless!"

He waved his hand grandly.

"This morning's training is canceled! Instead, we'll form a team and help Little Oscar hunt a Spirit Ring! Go back and prepare now. Gather again in half an hour!"

"Yes, Dean!"

"Woo~"

Everyone dispersed.

Dai Mubai watched Zhu Zhuqing leave with Lin Xiao and the others. He opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

He thought to himself that they would be heading to the Star Dou Great Forest together anyway, so there would be plenty of opportunities on the road. There was no need to rush right now.

He shook his head and turned toward the dormitories.

Tang San walked over to Oscar, raised a hand, and gently patted his shoulder, a sincere smile on his face.

"Little Oscar, congratulations on successfully breaking through level 30."

Oscar scratched the back of his head and grinned.

"It's thanks to training desperately these past few days. I finally crossed this hurdle.

I just don't know whether I'll be able to find a suitable third Spirit Ring this time."

"Don't worry. My teacher is a master of the Soul Master world. I'll definitely help you choose the best Spirit Ring."