Aptitude

The more Zhu Zhuqing heard, the angrier she became.

What sort of scum were these clansmen? They lived off the foundations the clan's women had fought to build for them, yet still made such sneering remarks. This was not a problem with the clan rules, but with the way these men thought.

The mighty Hell Spirit Cat Family actually had to survive by selling its women to the so-called Imperial Family. What a disgrace. No wonder the Hell Spirit Cat Family was absent from those great, supreme sects.

"Big Sister, put me down. I can walk on my own." Zhu Zhuqing's voice was ice-cold.

Zhu Zhulin was enduring those clansmen's disgusting looks and remarks too. She no longer insisted on carrying her sister and carefully lowered her from her arms.

"The clan feeds and clothes them, yet they refuse to better themselves. They even managed to lose their own men."

"Exactly. If the clan rules didn't forbid it, I'd have thrown them into the Imperial Palace long ago to appease His Majesty's anger. Those two women cost us another ten percent of our New Year Benefits!"

Two men were whispering in a corner. Their voices were not loud, but Zhu Zhuqing happened to hear them.

Zhu Zhuqing planted both hands on her hips and roared at the two men:

"Shut your mouths! Who the hell do you think you are? If you're so capable, why do you still have to rely on us women? If you have any ability, become Titled Douluo with your own mighty strength! If you have any ability, make our Hell Spirit Cat Family one of the Upper Three Sects!"

Whether because Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhulin were the Clan Leader's daughters or because of the clan rules, neither man talked back. They simply stared fixedly at Zhu Zhuqing with resentment in their eyes.

In their eyes and minds, Dai Mubai's escape from the Star Luo Empire was Zhu Zhuqing's fault. Her failure to keep watch over Dai Mubai had caused the Hell Spirit Cat Family to be punished by the Star Luo Empire Emperor that year.

"Zhu Zhuqing!"

Flustered, Zhu Zhulin hurriedly dragged her sister away. She had never imagined her sister would act so outrageously. These people were all their fellow clansmen.

She herself had already grown used to being criticized. How could a woman trade insults with men? And how could a little girl talk back to these old men?

"Big Sister, let go of me! I'm going to teach these cold-blooded men a lesson they won't forget!"

Zhu Zhuqing struggled with all her might. On Blue Star, men and women were equals. Why had women become mere dependents in the Zhu Family, forced to swallow these venomous remarks?

"Hmph!"

Just then, a bone-chilling voice came from a rooftop along the street.

Everyone looked up.

A woman with an exquisite figure stood bathed in the fiery sunset. She wore a close-fitting purple dress, her hair styled in a half-up princess hairstyle. Her flowing locks possessed an eerily beautiful quality beneath the setting sun.

Her oval face, slender waist, and long legs-especially her hourglass figure-left everyone present stunned.

"Gulp."

Quite a few men began swallowing hard. Who could resist such a beauty?

"Let's go." Those who knew better were already warning the people beside them.

Only then did everyone come to their senses. They cast reluctant looks toward the rooftop before finally leaving, unwilling to tear themselves away.

Joy appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's and Zhu Zhulin's faces. The woman on the rooftop was their mother.

"Mom!" Zhu Zhulin cried. She had not seen her mother in so very long. Their last meeting had been the year before.

Zhu Zhulin channeled the soul power within her and crouched, preparing to leap onto the roof to join her mother.

Zhu Zhuqing, however, hesitated. Both in her own memories and in the original story, this family had always been icy cold. Even its familial affection seemed like something false.

Boom!

A powerful surge of soul power erupted from the woman on the rooftop.

Zhu Zhulin's small body, already in midair, was blasted away by that soul power.

Zhu Zhuqing's expression immediately darkened. Just as she had expected, her mother was another cold, heartless person.

She accelerated and rushed forward, catching her sister, who was slightly bigger than she was, then rolled twice across the ground to dissipate the force.

The two rolled into a corner beside the road. They were filthy now, and even their trousers had worn through in places.

Clap, clap, clap-

Applause came from the rooftop.

"My daughter, you're quite impressive. Your speed can already rival that of a Soul Master who has obtained a Soul Ring. I believe that once your mutated martial soul obtains a Soul Ring, you'll be capable of protecting yourself in your contest with your elder sister Zhu Yun."

The woman on the rooftop spoke in a soft, lovely voice, a trace of approval in her tone.

Tap-

As Zhu Zhuqing stared fixedly at the woman on the roof, the exquisite beauty lightly jumped down. She looked down at Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhulin.

She seemed to be inspecting Zhu Zhuqing's face and figure, while also using her surging soul power to probe the condition of Zhu Zhuqing's body.

Zhu Zhuqing could not utter a single word. That surging soul power engulfed her, leaving her feeling as though she were trapped in a cold, deathly silent space.

"Mom." Tears kept falling from Zhu Zhulin's eyes. Her mother had rejected her yet again, just as she had last time. She was beginning to wonder what she had done wrong.

Perhaps sensing that Zhu Zhuqing's physical constitution was good, the beautiful woman smiled.

"Come here. Let Mom give you a hug."

The surging soul power dispersed. Zhu Zhuqing wondered whether she had misheard. Was the beautiful woman before her calling to her?

She turned her head slightly to look at her sister beside her and found that she was still crying. Clearly, their mother was calling Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing still felt a little anticipation at the thought of her mother's embrace.

In her previous life, her parents had passed away early, leaving her an orphan from childhood. In this life, she still wanted to experience a mother's love.

With a sliver of hope, Zhu Zhuqing climbed to her feet and slowly approached her mother, without the slightest guard.

"Mom..." Zhu Zhuqing choked out, her eyes already growing misty.

Soon, Zhu Zhuqing reached her mother's side. Trembling, she spread her arms and leaned forward to embrace her.

"Nine Nether Yellow Springs-sleep."

Just then, the beautiful woman uttered those icy words. Her voice was bitterly cold, as though it had come from the depths of the netherworld, converging on them from every direction.

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lost focus, and she slowly toppled forward.

Zhu Zhulin stared at her mother in horror. She had never imagined her mother would use her Self-Created Soul Skill on her little sister. She had experienced that soul skill herself. What a terrifying world it was.