Zhu Zhuyun

"Xiaotang, Xiaonian."

A trace of complicated emotion flashed through Qian Lingxu's eyes, but he merely said gravely, "I never expected us to meet again like this, either."

"Especially you, Xiaonian. I never imagined your talent would shine so brightly. Our Angel Bloodline is destined to flourish."

"Younger brother, younger sister." Qian Hansong looked serious. "We're here under orders to protect Xiaonian. Come with us."

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

Xu Xiaotang's beautiful eyes widened, her face flushing scarlet as she said:

"Who are you calling your sister-in-law! I'm Xu Xiaonian's older sister!"

Qian Hansong: "??"

Qian Lingxu: "..."

Hu Liena: "!!"

Zhang Ping and the others: "..."

"All right, Xiaotang." Xu Xiaonian put an end to the farce. "There's no point arguing about this now. Let's get home safely first."

"Oh, fine."

On the way home, Xu Xiaotang sat in the carriage and belatedly realized she had misspoken. She did not dare lift her head to face Xu Xiaonian the entire journey, her face red as though she had a fever.

They soon arrived at Xu Xiaonian's residence near the Papal Palace.

Yet the moment the siblings stepped out of the carriage, they saw a girl of thirteen or fourteen sitting at their doorstep, dressed in tight leather and boasting a voluptuous figure.

It was Zhu Zhuyun.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" an Angel Legion soldier demanded sternly.

"Please let me meet Xu Xiaonian."

Zhu Zhuyun's expression was utterly sincere. Now that she had seen Xu Xiaonian up close, her Martial Soul stirred wildly beyond her control, strengthening her resolve all the more.

She believed in her family's maxim, in her own intuition, and in the breathtaking, godlike person she had seen earlier.

"Let her come inside with me."

Xu Xiaonian chose to let her in.

There was no other reason: with her strength, she could not possibly hurt him, so there was no harm in meeting her.

As Zhu Zhuyun followed the siblings into the courtyard, the Angel Legion prepared to leave.

Qian Lingxu watched the three figures slowly disappear, a trace of steely resolve entering his eyes. "Hansong, protect Xu Xiaonian at any cost."

"I have a feeling that the angels' glory will soon shine across the entire Douluo Continent. Our Qian Family will attain unprecedented glory!"

"The key to all of this lies in Xu Xiaonian and your cousin Qian Renxue."

"But, Grandpa." Qian Hansong looked deeply conflicted. "If the two of them learn what happened to Second Granduncle back then..."

"That doesn't matter!" Qian Lingxu suddenly snapped. "Back then, I personally drove my second brother to his death—the second brother I loved most! But it was for the angels' glory!"

"Now Xu Xiaonian is the key to restoring the angels' glory. What would it matter even if he killed me!"

"I believe my soul will find rest with the Angel God."

Qian Lingxu crossed his hands over his chest and bowed slightly, his expression reverent and devout:

"May the Angel God protect us!"

Qian Hansong and the Angel Legion soldiers assumed the same pose in perfect unison, saying devoutly:

"May the Angel God protect us!"

"May the Angel God protect us!"

Thud!

In the spacious hall, Zhu Zhuyun immediately fell to her knees and kowtowed.

Startled, Xu Xiaonian hastily said, "Wait, it's not even New Year yet! If you're already kowtowing, I don't have any money for a red envelope. I'm dirt poor."

"How about I kowtow to you instead, and you give me some money?"

"..." Zhu Zhuyun took a deep breath. "Please take me as your servant. Let me become your most loyal follower and remain behind you forever, whether in the mortal world, the Divine Realm, or the Netherworld."

"Are you serious?"

Xu Xiaonian inwardly rejoiced. He had been worrying about finding someone to sacrifice for his second Soul Ring. Zhu Zhuyun's talent was no worse than Zhu Zhuqing's before she had eaten an immortal herb, so she ought to meet the requirements.

"I am serious, Master."

"Hmph!"

Xu Xiaotang snorted, looking displeased, but ultimately said nothing more.

"I can also have my younger sister acknowledge you as her master. Please, you must give us this opportunity." Zhu Zhuyun looked nervous as she awaited Xu Xiaonian's... her master's reply.

"Oh?" Xu Xiaonian calmed down. Nothing this good came for free. There had to be conditions.

So he asked, "What do you want in return?"

Zhu Zhuyun clenched her teeth. "When you finally ascend to the Divine Realm, please leave either me or my younger sister in the mortal world, and grant us some support so we can change the fate of the Netherworld Zhu."

"You're that certain I can become a god? Even I don't have that much confidence."

Xu Xiaonian could not help being amused. Who gave you that confidence? Fish Leong?

"If you cannot become a god, my sister, my family, and I will still support you unconditionally until the end of your life," Zhu Zhuyun promised.

"All right. Since you've gone that far, I can hardly refuse."

Xu Xiaonian said straightforwardly, "To tell you the truth, I really do need your help. Every time my Dark Demon Evil God Tiger obtains a Soul Ring, it requires a sacrifice from someone sufficiently talented..."

He told her everything about the sacrifices required by the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger.

Yet Zhu Zhuyun replied, "It would be my honor to sacrifice myself for you, Master. Besides, becoming your retainer is precisely what we have hoped for."

Hearing a gorgeous, voluptuous girl like Zhu Zhuyun call him "Master" over and over, Xu Xiaonian could hardly pretend he did not enjoy it.

Feeling thoroughly pleased, he said, "Very good! I'm not in a hurry to obtain my second Soul Ring yet. Go back first and explain everything to your family and younger sister. If they aren't willing, forget it."

"When I need someone to perform the sacrifice, I'll send word for you to come."

"Yes. Zhu Yun obeys."

"Hey, wait!" Xu Xiaonian called her back and took her delicate hand. "Relax your body. Don't be nervous."

Zhu Zhuyun looked nervous. "Master, please be gentle with me. I have no experience with this."

"Hm? Of course I know you don't." Xu Xiaonian frowned, finding that rather odd.

But he soon stopped dwelling on it, because once he activated the Evil God Mark Method and infused Zhu Zhuyun with Soul Power, the same thing that had happened with Bibi Dong occurred again.

A Retainer Imprint was successfully branded almost the instant the Soul Power infusion ended;

The process went far more smoothly than it had with Xu Xiaotang.

"Ah! Mmm~~"

Zhu Zhuyun lacked Bibi Dong's formidable willpower and endurance. After being flooded with Xu Xiaonian's Soul Power, she cried out directly, her face flushing an extraordinary shade of red.

"Feel it," Xu Xiaonian said.

"Mmm... it's so hot, so comfortable..." Zhu Zhuyun lightly bit her red lip, looking a little embarrassed.

"..." Xu Xiaonian was speechless. He explained, "I meant feel how much your cultivation speed has changed."

"Oh, oh! Yes, Master."

A moment later, Zhu Zhuyun looked shocked. "It's actually increased by more than twenty-five percent. Is this really just an unranked Retainer Imprint?"

Xu Xiaonian looked thoughtful. "Your talent shouldn't be much worse than Xiaotang's. The extra five percent should be due to Martial Soul compatibility."

"You can head back now. With you as an example, the Zhu family shouldn't think I'm trying to catch a white wolf with empty hands."

Zhu Zhuyun's expression became exceptionally solemn:

"You jest. I can guarantee that even if you hadn't bestowed a Retainer Mark on me, my family would never think that."

After watching Zhu Zhuyun's graceful figure leave the courtyard, Xu Xiaonian turned and saw a sulking Xu Xiaotang. He was as baffled as a ten-foot monk trying to feel the top of his own head.

Before Xu Xiaonian could consider why she was sulking, the gatekeeper came to deliver a message.

"Reporting! His Holiness the Pope summons you to the palace!"