Zhu Zhuqing joined

On Heart Lake Island, Ning Chuan spoke sternly to Xiao Yun. "If you address me incorrectly again, I'll send you back to the village!"

Xiao Yun nearly burst into tears at his words. She immediately nodded. "Xiao Yun will do as you say, Young Master. Please don't send Xiao Yun away..."

"Hmm? Still calling me Young Master?" Ning Chuan's tone shifted.

"Ah!" Frightened, Xiao Yun immediately corrected herself. "F-Fifth Brother, Xiao Yun will remember!"

"That's better." Ning Chuan nodded in satisfaction, then added, "Also, from now on, you only need to bow to your elders. Learn more from Miss Shui Bing'er and Miss Xue Wu about how to get along with your peers!"

Seeing this, Ning Rongrong immediately approached Ning Chuan and asked curiously, "Fifth Brother, what's going on? Why is Sister Xiao Yun so deferential?"

"I'll tell you later!" Ning Chuan replied. "Miss Shui Bing'er, since you're studying Martial Soul Fusion Skills, you could discuss them with Miss Zhu Zhuqing here!"

Zhu Zhuqing was not at all surprised that Ning Chuan knew she and Dai Mubai could perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. After all, the Shrek Team had used it against the Imperial Fighting Team.

Zhu Zhuqing truly possessed remarkable inner strength. She now despised Dai Mubai and could not possibly achieve a meeting of hearts with him. Under normal circumstances, performing a Martial Soul Fusion Skill should have been impossible;

Yet once she entered battle, for the team's sake, her combat instincts could resonate with Dai Mubai's. Their instincts would align, allowing them to perform their Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

One could say she had found another way to activate a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

As Zhu Zhuqing began discussing it with Shui Bing'er and the others, Ning Chuan finally learned how she felt about Dai Mubai.

Previously, Ning Chuan had hesitated over whether to give her the narcissus jade muscle bone. Now that he knew Zhu Zhuqing despised Dai Mubai, he immediately made up his mind to find an opportunity to give her the immortal herb shortly.

Meanwhile, Shrek's group had nearly reached an agreement with Heaven Dou Royal Academy, only for Prince Xue Xing to bring Dugu Bo along and ruin it because Dai Mubai had taught Xue Beng a lesson.

After leaving Heaven Dou Royal Academy, they spotted a recruitment notice for Blue Tyrant Academy. When they went to investigate, they discovered that it belonged to Yu Xiaogang's old flame, Liu Erlong.

Thus, the group headed straight to Blue Tyrant Academy.

They sent Zhao Wuji to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to inform Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing of this turn of events.

When Zhao Wuji arrived at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi knew that Ning Rongrong still had to be taught a cultivation method and the Sword Manual that day. He therefore told Zhao Wuji that he would personally take Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing to Blue Tyrant Academy tomorrow, then sent him on his way.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing spent the afternoon on Heart Lake Island discussing things with Shui Bing'er and the other two girls. In the evening, after everyone had gathered for dinner, Ning Chuan took Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing to a side hall.

"Fifth Brother, why all the secrecy? What are we doing?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously.

Ning Chuan spoke plainly. "I just wanted to ask Miss Zhu Zhuqing whether she'd like to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Hearing this, Ning Rongrong immediately took Zhu Zhuqing's hand. "That's right, Zhu Zhuqing! Of everyone in Shrek, you're the closest to me. Since you aren't planning to return to the Star Luo Empire anyway, why not join our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

Zhu Zhuqing did indeed want to join, but deep down, she still could not let go of the humiliation of being driven out of the Star Luo Empire.

That was also one of the reasons she could complete a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Dai Mubai in battle.

Ning Chuan could guess what was troubling her, so he said, "Miss Zhu Zhuqing, have you ever considered this? If you and Dai Mubai really return to the Star Luo Empire one day and defeat your sister and Dai Weisi, would you be willing to become Dai Mubai's queen?"

Zhu Zhuqing's breath caught. She instantly realized that if such a thing happened, she would probably have to become Dai Mubai's queen, whether she wanted to or not.

That was the Star Luo Empire's tradition. Once she won, how things developed would no longer be within her control.

From the bottom of her heart, Zhu Zhuqing loathed the succession rules of the Star Luo Imperial Family and the Zhu Family.

To her, the so-called position of queen had never been an honor, but a shackle that forced blood relatives to slaughter one another.

Now that she had finally escaped, wouldn't returning mean walking straight back into the net? Moreover, she no longer had any feelings for Dai Mubai, so she naturally could not accept that outcome.

At that thought, Zhu Zhuqing let out a long sigh. "Young Master Ning, thank you. You're right. The moment I escaped the Star Luo Empire, I should have let go of that obsession and severed my past completely!"

Ning Chuan nodded. "I'm glad you can see it that way. I know you despise the rules of the Star Luo Imperial Family and the Zhu Family, but relying on Dai Mubai isn't the only way to change them. You can grow stronger yourself and change them with your own hands. If becoming a Titled Douluo isn't enough, then attain godhood. With your strength of character, that might not be impossible!"

Zhu Zhuqing froze at his words. She had not expected Ning Chuan to think so highly of her.

She smiled in relief. "Young Master Ning, stop praising me. You're making me feel like I'm floating on air. I've made up my mind. Until I possess absolute strength, I won't return to the Star Luo Empire. I'm willing to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect! Of course, I can only report to the sect after the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament ends!"

"It's a promise!" Ning Chuan raised his hand and sealed their pledge with a high five.

Beside them, Ning Rongrong was delighted too. She had long wanted to invite Zhu Zhuqing to join, but Zhu Zhuqing had always carried a knot in her heart. Ning Rongrong truly had not expected Ning Chuan to untangle it.

"Fifth Brother, I never knew you understood Zhu Zhuqing's heart so well. Come clean! Did you have your eye on her from the very first time you met?" Ning Rongrong asked, brimming with curiosity.

Ning Chuan promptly gave Ning Rongrong a light tap on the head. "Rongrong, you're not even an adult yet. Stop letting your imagination run wild!"

"Fifth Brother, you hit me again!" Ning Rongrong protested, then began playfully tussling with him.

A short while later, Ning Chuan begged for mercy, and only then did Ning Rongrong let him go.

"I really envy the bond you two share as brother and sister," Zhu Zhuqing said softly.

Ning Chuan smiled. "If you're willing, Miss Zhu Zhuqing, I wouldn't mind having another little sister!"

"No, no!" Ning Rongrong immediately objected. "Fifth Brother, don't go taking just anyone as your little sister. Zhu Zhuqing might become my sister-in-law someday!"

Zhu Zhuqing blushed slightly. "Rongrong, if you keep talking nonsense, I'll stop speaking to you!"

Ning Chuan put on a stern expression. "You little rascal. I even prepared a gift for you, but it looks like you don't want it!"

The moment Ning Rongrong heard there was a gift, she perked up.

"Fifth Brother, I was wrong! I won't talk nonsense again. What gift is it? Hurry and show me!" Ning Rongrong clung to Ning Chuan's arm and wheedled.

Ning Chuan shook his head helplessly. He really had little defense against Ning Rongrong's wheedling tactics.

"Come on. The gift is with Sword Grandpa!" Ning Chuan said.

Since Zhu Zhuqing was willing to join, Ning Chuan could give her the narcissus jade muscle bone outright.

Thus, he led Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing straight to the cave on the sect's Back Mountain.