Zhu Zhuqing vs. Dai Mubai

At Lu Shiyuan's words, Zhu Zhuqing trotted over to him.

Looking at the man so close to her, her expression grew strange.

The words holding back might as well have been written across her face. She seemed desperate to throw herself into Lu Shiyuan's arms, yet she was fighting to restrain herself.

Lu Shiyuan didn't care what was holding her back. He stepped forward and pulled Zhu Zhuqing into his arms.

The moment their bodies touched, he nearly swore aloud.

Could a figure like this really exist?

There was still a wide gap between their stomachs, yet higher up, they were pressed tightly together.

Xiao Wu's eyes reddened. It's only been a few years. How did she grow like that?

They had met four years ago. Back then, with the boost from her three Soul Rings, Xiao Wu had even had a slightly better figure than Zhu Zhuqing.

Four years had passed, and Xiao Wu was now a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor. She had never expected Zhu Zhuqing to surpass her so completely.

Zhu Zhuqing breathed in Lu Shiyuan's scent as if she couldn't get enough of it. They had exchanged letters throughout those four years, but words were no substitute for seeing each other.

Time had not diminished her longing. Like wine aged for years, it had only grown richer.

"Shiyuan, I... missed you." For the usually cool and composed Zhu Zhuqing to say even that much showed how fiercely she felt beneath her reserved exterior.

Lu Shiyuan stroked her back with one hand and rested the other against the back of her head. "I missed you too," he said softly.

They were about to catch up on the past few years when a shrill voice shattered the peace.

"Zhu Zhuqing, have you no shame?" Dai Mubai snapped. His handsome face twisted with rage.

His fiancée was embracing another man right in front of him. She might as well have put a cuckold's horns on his head for all to see. What man could accept that?

What? He brought other women to a room too?

Well, Dai Mubai's double standards were nothing new.

At least he was honest about it. He admitted it outright without even bothering to make an excuse.

In that respect, he was a good deal better than Tang San.

Lu Shiyuan's gentle smile faded, and his expression turned cold.

Zhu Zhuqing kept her arms around his waist. She merely turned her head, revealing her beautiful face.

She glanced at Dai Mubai with disgust and gave a cold laugh. "And what are you doing?"

A pair of twins stood on either side of Dai Mubai, each clinging to one of his arms.

It was laughable for a man who chased women to ask her that question.

Dai Mubai's expression froze. Damn it. Why did she have to catch me now?

But anger soon overwhelmed his reason. As far as he was concerned, it was perfectly normal for him to fool around. If Zhu Zhuqing got too close to another man, though, she was making a cuckold of him.

"You, let go of her!" Perhaps because he knew he was in the wrong, Dai Mubai directed his anger at Lu Shiyuan instead of Zhu Zhuqing.

Lu Shiyuan narrowed his eyes, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. "Point that finger at me again, and I'll chop it off."

The killing intent in his voice made the usually arrogant Dai Mubai draw his finger back.

But he quickly realized how humiliating that looked. His fragile pride stung, and he pointed at Lu Shiyuan again.

"Do you know who I am?"

Lu Shiyuan was speechless. Why did everyone these days go around asking that?

If Dai Mubai didn't know who he was, why was he asking a stranger? Was he looking for a father?

"You should ask your father who you are, not me. I have no interest in being your father," Lu Shiyuan shot back.

Rage surged through Dai Mubai. He flung the twins away and stared at Lu Shiyuan with bloodshot eyes.

He was the third prince of the Star Luo Empire. No one had ever dared humiliate him like this!

Dai Weisi: Right, right, my dear little brother. Have you forgotten why you ran away?

"You look like a Soul Master too. I'll give you a chance. Let's have a fair fight. If you win, I'll let today's matter go. But if you lose, I'll break both your arms!"

He had seen Lu Shiyuan wrap both arms around Zhu Zhuqing.

Lu Shiyuan curled his lip. "A fair fight? Sorry, but there's no way a fight between us could be fair."

How could a level thirty-seven Soul Elder fight a level fifty Quasi-Soul King on equal terms?

Did Dai Mubai expect Lu Shiyuan to suppress his Soul Power for the fight?

Dream on!

Lu Shiyuan had finally found a legitimate excuse to beat someone up. Why should he hold back?

A coward like Dai Mubai deserved a thorough beating.

Lu Shiyuan might have been involved with several girls himself, but he would never have abandoned one and run away.

Still nestled against his chest, Zhu Zhuqing let out a laugh.

Four years ago, Lu Shiyuan could defeat a Soul King in a single move. After another four years, how many lives would Dai Mubai need to survive a fight with him?

But this was something she could not avoid. She needed to settle it herself.

She rubbed her cheek against Lu Shiyuan's chest one last time before leaving the warmth of his embrace. "Shiyuan, let me handle this."

"Zhu Zhuqing, don't force yourself." They had never discussed their levels in their letters, so Lu Shiyuan had no idea how strong she was now.

He only remembered that at this point, Dai Mubai was a level thirty-seven Soul Elder, while Zhu Zhuqing was still just a level twenty-seven Soul Grandmaster. Their Soul Power differed by ten levels.

Zhu Zhuqing smiled and shook her head. Lowering her voice, she said, "I'm level thirty-nine now."

Lu Shiyuan stared at her in disbelief. Without her family's troubles weighing her down, Zhu Zhuqing advanced this quickly?

It seemed that, in the original course of events, dealing with Zhu Zhuyun's harassment had taken quite a toll on her.

Only Zhu Zhuqing knew that she owed her current level largely to her teacher.

A new cultivation method, a new path of development, and an extraordinary combination of Soul Rings had all been crucial to her progress.

And, of course, there was the Immortal Herb her teacher had given her.

After leaving Lu Shiyuan's arms, Zhu Zhuqing turned a cold gaze on Dai Mubai.

"Dai Mubai, fight me."

"Zhu Zhuqing, you're still protecting that pretty boy?" Dai Mubai glared at her furiously. Even now, she was defending him.

Lu Shiyuan: Open your damn eyes. My skin is light tan. I'm no delicate pretty boy!

Zhu Zhuqing raised a hand to cut Dai Mubai off. "I don't want to hear your excuses. I know every disgraceful thing you've done these past three years. I'm not fighting you because I still care about our engagement. I'm fighting you to make it clear to everyone that you were never worthy of me. I'm the one rejecting this marriage!"

Dai Mubai laughed in fury. "Fine, fine! Let's see what you can do!"

As far as he knew, Zhu Zhuqing was only twelve. At best, she was a Soul Grandmaster.

Even if she was a genius, she was still only twelve.

Today, he would assert himself as her husband and teach her to follow his lead.