Rules Were Made to Be Broken!

"No... I can't, I..."

Sunday frowned at Zhu Zhuqing, who was muttering to herself, then turned to leave.

"Fool. Rongrong, we're leaving."

Ning Rongrong looked at Zhu Zhuqing and hesitated before following Sunday.

"Wait, Mr. Sunday! That potion..."

Seeing the two about to leave, Zhu Zhuqing abandoned her fanciful thoughts and hurriedly called out.

Sunday turned to glance at her.

"I won't give it to you. To someone who recognizes this treasure, I would give it without charging a penny. To someone who doesn't, I wouldn't sell it for a fortune!

Think carefully about what you truly want to do before coming to me again."

With that, Sunday left the Strength Clan Residence.

"Zhu Zhuqing..."

Ning Rongrong glanced at Zhu Zhuqing once more, then turned to follow him.

"What... do I truly want to do..."

Sunday's words plunged Zhu Zhuqing into thought.

Tap, tap.

In the deep, secluded alley, their footsteps rang out with unusual clarity.

Watching Sunday walk ahead of her, Ning Rongrong clasped her hands behind her back and asked somewhat cautiously.

"Teacher, why... wouldn't you agree to help Zhu Zhuqing? She works so hard, and she's had such a miserable life."

Sunday glanced at Ning Rongrong when he heard her question.

"Why do you think I should agree to help her? There are countless miserable people in this world. I can save her for a moment, but can I save her for a lifetime?"

"Well..."

Ning Rongrong was immediately at a loss for words, unsure how to answer.

Sunday stopped and looked up at the blazing sun steadily rising overhead.

"She's far too rigid in her thinking. She's been conditioned into servility. Even if I help her for a time, if she stays the way she is, then someday... she'll still end up a slave to fate!"

Ning Rongrong scratched her cheek and said awkwardly.

"Is it really that bad? Is Zhu Zhuqing like that? Why haven't I noticed?"

"You haven't seen it before, so of course you haven't noticed. She said she wanted to change her fate and become my disciple.

But what did that amount to? With a teacher who would be a Super Douluo at the very least, she still thought of joining that wine-and-women wastrel Dai Mubai to issue a challenge?"

"What's wrong with that?"

Ning Rongrong thought it over carefully but could find nothing wrong with it.

Seeing the foolish look on Ning Rongrong's face, Sunday couldn't help sighing.

"What's right with it? What does it mean if a Titled Douluo takes you as a disciple?

It means even an emperor must greet you with a smile. You already belong to the handful standing at the peak of the soul master world's pyramid.

With that status and those resources, what couldn't she accomplish?"

As he spoke, the disappointment in Sunday's eyes deepened.

"And what did she do? She still wanted to follow someone else's rules and take part in that ridiculous Beast Fight, letting others watch her like a circus act.

What has she changed? Instead of thinking of how to solve things herself, she clings to Dai Mubai. She knows he's rotten to the bone, yet refuses to accept it."

"Well..."

Hearing that, Ning Rongrong felt he did have a point. Zhu Zhuqing had told her one night that she had gone to great lengths to reach Shrek precisely to find Dai Mubai.

"But those... are the Star Luo Empire's rules. Zhu Zhuqing couldn't possibly defy the imperial family..."

"Rules? Hah. An old friend once told me something: 'Rules were made to be broken!' I think it fits perfectly here.

If she still follows the Star Luo Imperial Family's rules, what meaning is there in her so-called attempt to change her fate?

And after she wins the Deathmatch? Walk away? Ridiculous."

Sunday looked at Ning Rongrong as he spoke.

"Do you think the imperial family would let her walk away if she defeated her elder sister and brother-in-law? Would Dai Mubai let her?

You need to understand: that's the imperial throne. Countless people yearn for it without ever attaining it. A hypocrite like Dai Mubai would do everything in his power to keep her by his side.

And what about her? Why would she want to go back?

Do you honestly think she, a Soul Grandmaster, and Dai Mubai, a Soul Elder, could escape the heavily guarded imperial palace and Duke's Mansion unharmed, then make it all the way to the Heaven Dou Empire safely?"

At those words, Ning Rongrong abruptly covered her mouth and said in shock.

"Teacher, are you saying..."

She knew this scenario all too well. Wasn't it exactly how she had run away from home?

If that was truly the case, then both families had deliberately allowed them to leave the Star Luo Empire.

Sunday nodded.

"If they were truly hunting down traitors, I can't understand why they wouldn't send Soul Saints or Soul Douluos, rather than a few Soul Grandmasters and Soul Elders to chase them all the way here.

If she truly wanted to break free, she could stay in the Heaven Dou Empire or join any faction. Once she grew strong, with both her own strength and a faction behind her, who could do anything to her?

To put it plainly, she still can't let go. She covets that position too, hoping to one day become empress, a mother to all beneath heaven."

As he spoke, Sunday set off again toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Watching Sunday walk away, Ning Rongrong believed most of his analysis. Zhu Zhuqing really did depend too much on Dai Mubai.

He was already such a rotten person, yet she still dreamed of defeating her elder sister and brother-in-law alongside him.

"Ah, Zhu Zhuqing. I can't help you either."

Ning Rongrong hurried to catch up with Sunday, hope in her eyes.

"Teacher, do you think Zhu Zhuqing will see things clearly?"

She still didn't want to give up on Zhu Zhuqing, one of the few friends she had at Shrek.

Sunday shook his head at Ning Rongrong's question.

"I don't know. People have countless ever-changing faces. Even I can't see through them all.

But unless her understanding changes, I won't relent.

This is a clash of perceptions, and more than that, an opposition of principles!"

What Sunday hated most were those fools who called themselves slaves to fate.

Entrusting the present to a mere glimpse of the future-such stupidity infuriated him however he looked at it.

To him, the present was the present. Letting mere fragments of the future tie one's hands and feet, forcing one down a different or even mistaken path, was wrong in itself.

"How could the universe contain so many unchangeable futures? The beginning of all evil lies in the collapse of Order.

Only by drawing the universe into the Dream of the Great Unity, then letting Order reforge the world, can we find the one true path. That is the way forward the cosmos deserves!"

"Teacher..."

Watching Sunday mutter to himself, Ning Rongrong took two frightened steps back. Why did he suddenly seem to have gone mad?

"But... he's so handsome even when he's mad."

Hearing Ning Rongrong's words, Sunday abruptly snapped out of his thoughts. He glanced at her and rubbed his forehead.

"I'm fine. I've just been a little tired lately. Go get Osler and the others. We'll prepare to hunt for Soul Rings."

Ning Rongrong nodded and hurried off at a jog.

Once she had left, Sunday leaned against the wall alone and couldn't help letting out a breath.

After gathering himself, Sunday set off toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy again.

When he reached the main gate, he found Osler and the others already waiting there.

"Teacher."

Seeing Sunday, Osler and the others all stepped forward to bow. They had heard a little about the Heaven Dou Massacre as well.

They had never imagined something so atrocious could happen in Heaven Dou City. It had truly left them shocked.