Dai Jinge noticed Zhu Zhuqing's reaction and asked with a smile, "Zhu Zhuqing, are you worried we'll run into Dai Mubai in the Heaven Dou Empire?"
Zhu Zhuqing did not hide her thoughts and nodded honestly.
Dai Jinge continued, "Zhu Zhuqing, if we really do run into Dai Mubai, what do you plan to do?"
Zhu Zhuqing thought for a moment, then said, "Tell him about us."
"And then?"
"And then? There is no 'then'!"
When Zhu Zhuqing looked at Dai Jinge, her eyes were filled with sincerity. "I'm your fiancée now. I no longer have anything to do with Dai Mubai. Besides, I barely know him, let alone have feelings for him."
Dai Jinge sighed. "I'm sorry. I know that you, your sister, and even the Zhu Family have no say in any of this."
Zhu Zhuqing said wistfully, "That's not entirely true..."
"My sister, for example, really hopes to become the future empress. And the current empress, my aunt... she probably feels the same way."
"Usually, only the younger, weaker side curses heaven for its injustice."
"If my sister and I switched places, my outlook might change too."
Dai Jinge said in surprise, "Zhu Zhuqing, I didn't expect you to see this marriage alliance so clearly."
Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together shyly, embarrassed by Dai Jinge's praise.
Then Zhu Zhuqing asked, "Jinge, after we go to the Heaven Dou Empire, will we ever return to Star Luo City?"
Dai Jinge nodded and said earnestly, "Of course. We'll return sooner or later. It's just that... when we do, it'll be time to settle every score."
Zhu Zhuqing could not help being swept up in the confidence radiating from Dai Jinge and nodded along.
In the main reception hall of the Yang Residence.
Yang Wudi stood there for a long time, pondering Dai Jinge's words until night fell.
At last...
The hesitation in Yang Wudi's eyes vanished, replaced by resolve. He ordered, "Summon everyone in the clan at Soul Ancestor and above. We're holding a meeting!"
"Yes!"
The Yang Family disciples waiting by the door hurried away.
Yang Wudi sighed.
His only son had died at the hands of Spirit Hall nine years ago, leaving no children behind.
If he died, his bloodline would end for good.
The Breaking Clan's legacy had always been passed down to the clan chief's son. Since he had decided to venture into that "dragon's pool and tiger's den" with Dai Jinge, he had to choose an acting clan chief beforehand-someone who could oversee the clan and ensure the Breaking Clan lived on.
Meanwhile-
On the bed in their hotel room.
Dai Jinge and Zhu Zhuqing sat cross-legged, facing each other and gazing into each other's eyes.
Zhu Zhuqing felt both eager and curious, her heartbeat quickening. She asked, "Jinge, I'm ready. What do we do now?"
Dai Jinge sensed how Zhu Zhuqing's aura complemented his own. This was precisely the sign that their Martial Souls could produce a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
It had always been this way between the Dai Family's White Tiger Martial Soul and the Zhu Family's Hell Spirit Cat.
Even though his talent surpassed that of everyone in the Dai Family's history, his Martial Soul was still the White Tiger. That had not changed.
Therefore...
He could perform Martial Soul Fusion with Zhu Zhuqing; they just needed some practice.
"Zhu Zhuqing, hold out both hands, then try to release your Soul Power and gather it in your palms. I'll do the same."
"We'll try to make our Soul Power circulate together in a loop before returning it to our bodies."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded with only a hazy understanding and followed Dai Jinge's instructions.
Dai Jinge released pale white Soul Power, while Zhu Zhuqing released deep violet Soul Power. When the two touched, they did not repel each other. Instead, they formed a closed loop of yin and yang.
The power drew upon itself between their palms, flowing back and forth, each nourishing the other and growing ever stronger.
Dai Jinge and Zhu Zhuqing were like yin and yang.
Their two streams of Soul Power intertwined, yin mingling with yang, each containing a part of the other.
"Can you feel it?"
Dai Jinge was thrilled. He could already feel it clearly.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded excitedly, her little face flushed.
They pulled in and absorbed the Origin Power drifting between heaven and earth at a frenzied pace.
The slow absorption rate of cultivating alone suddenly surged severalfold!
The Soul Power they each released fused together, growing stronger as the two complemented each other, then flowed back into their meridians.
The purity of their Soul Power began improving in tandem. The gains from meditative cultivation now far exceeded what either could achieve by meditating alone.
Three days later, Dai Jinge arrived at the Yang Residence as promised.
In the main reception hall.
Yang Wudi sat in the seat of honor, as though he had long been waiting there for Dai Jinge's arrival.
"Please, our clan chief is already waiting for you both."
A member of the Yang Family led Dai Jinge and Zhu Zhuqing to the main reception hall.
"Yang Family Chief."
Upon entering the hall, Dai Jinge cupped his hands in greeting.
Yang Wudi rose to welcome them. "Your Fourth Prince, Miss Zhu, please take a seat."
Dai Jinge sat down calmly and said, "It seems you've made your decision, Yang Family Chief."
Zhu Zhuqing gracefully took the seat beside Dai Jinge, very curious about what Yang Wudi had decided.
According to what Dai Jinge had said earlier, whether they could catch up from behind and surpass Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun depended entirely on Yang Wudi.
Meeting Dai Jinge's gaze, Yang Wudi nodded solemnly. "Though the Fourth Prince is young, his courage is extraordinary. I'll accompany the Fourth Prince on this venture!"
Dai Jinge extended his hand toward Yang Wudi and smiled. "May we win success the moment our horses arrive, and may everything go smoothly."
Yang Wudi shook Dai Jinge's hand and asked, "When do we leave? Where are we going?"
Dai Jinge said firmly, "We're going to Heaven Dou City, the sooner the better!"
At the words "Heaven Dou City," Yang Wudi froze. After a long moment, he recovered and immediately went to make arrangements.
A short while later.
At the entrance to the Yang Residence, a carriage stood before the gates, with two Yang Family disciples waiting beside it.
Yang Wudi approached with Dai Jinge and Zhu Zhuqing.
"Clan Chief!"
The two Yang Family disciples bowed respectfully.
Yang Wudi nodded, then invited Dai Jinge and Zhu Zhuqing into the carriage. "Fourth Prince, Miss Zhu, please."
"Come on."
"Mm."
Holding Zhu Zhuqing's hand, Dai Jinge climbed aboard with her. Yang Wudi nodded to the two Yang Family disciples, then followed them inside.
Rattle, rattle, rattle-
The two Yang Family disciples drove the carriage toward the city gates.
Inside the carriage.
Dai Jinge and Zhu Zhuqing sat close together, while Yang Wudi sat opposite them.
Dai Jinge said, "Yang Family Chief, I heard the Strength Clan is currently recuperating and rebuilding in Heaven Dou City."
Yang Wudi said in surprise, "To think the Fourth Prince knows about that. I'm quite surprised."
Dai Jinge smiled faintly. "I pay quite a bit of attention to your four clans."
Hearing this, Yang Wudi was even more surprised. He then asked, "Is the place the Fourth Prince mentioned inside Heaven Dou City, or nearby?"
Dai Jinge no longer concealed the truth. "That Titled Douluo lives in seclusion in Sunset Forest, right beside Heaven Dou City. He is the Jade Phosphorous Douluo, Dugu Bo, commonly known as the Poison Douluo."
"Dugu Bo?" Yang Wudi's expression shifted again and again.
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