Zhu Zhuqing, a beautiful girl

Zhu Zhuqing was only mildly curious.

In the Zhu Family, and even throughout Star Luo City, many people admired her. But once they learned her identity, they kept their distance and did not even dare to say much to her. They feared that Dai Weisi and the people around him would misunderstand and cause them trouble.

It was the same in the Zhu Family. Few dared to get too close to her. That was why Xu Ran taking the initiative to approach her had made her a little curious.

Zhu Zhuqing found a quiet spot in the square and sat down. Her shapely legs bent, stretching her leather trousers a little tighter. Her beautiful eyes gazed ahead, a trace of loneliness on her delicate, lovely face.

Many Zhu Family disciples were sparring with one another in the square.

Soul Masters could only truly grow stronger through combat. But she was Zhu Zhuqing, and even when training, she could only be alone. No one dared to spar with her, afraid of displeasing the First Prince and the eldest Miss.

Since ancient times, the Zhu Family and the Dai Family had followed a rule: the two families intermarried, and their younger generations competed against one another. The most outstanding pair of each generation inherited the throne, while those who lost the competition were ordered to die. Everyone believed that Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun would become the future emperor and empress of the Star Luo Empire. Their rivals, Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, naturally received no warm welcome.

Looking at the girl ahead, Xu Ran could not help feeling a little sorry for her.

He remembered that in the original story, Zhu Zhuqing had always been withdrawn and quiet. Perhaps it was in a place like this that her personality had taken shape.

It was not that she did not want to be happy and carefree like Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong. It was just that, in the Zhu Family, she did not even have anyone who dared to talk to her.

"May I sit here?" Xu Ran walked up beside Zhu Zhuqing.

"Yes." Zhu Zhuqing paused, unable to help looking a little taken aback when she saw that it was Xu Ran. She nodded, then said nothing more.

Xu Ran said nothing either and quietly sat beside Zhu Zhuqing. A breeze brushed past, carrying her uniquely fresh fragrance into his nose.

He could not help looking at the stunning girl beside him. Zhu Zhuqing had an excellent figure. Though still a young girl, her proportions already rivaled those of a grown woman.

"Aren't you afraid of me? You even dare to sit so close." Zhu Zhuqing asked curiously. Xu Ran clearly knew her identity, yet still dared to associate with her. Was he not afraid of being reprimanded by her older sister? And Dai Weisi's people might attack him as well.

"No. You're so beautiful, second Miss. Plenty of people would jump at the chance to get closer to you. What is there to fear?" Xu Ran said, breathing in Zhu Zhuqing's distinctive, fresh fragrance as a brilliant smile appeared on his face.

"You clearly know that isn't what I meant. If my older sister and the First Prince find out you're getting so close to me, you'll suffer for it. A lot of other people might attack you too," Zhu Zhuqing said, a blush on her lovely face, while also feeling a little happy inside.

Girls all liked being called beautiful, and she was no exception. It was just that, because of her identity, no one in the Zhu Family dared to say such things. They only looked at her with lecherous eyes, which disgusted her.

"I'm not afraid. No matter how powerful the First Prince is, I'm not afraid of him." Xu Ran shook his head. Once his strength was revealed, Dai Weisi would even try to win him over. If he got together with Zhu Zhuqing, it would even send Dai Mubai's reputation plummeting, and Dai Weisi, as the beneficiary, would only be pleased.

Dai Weisi wanted to inherit the throne, so naturally, he had to target Dai Mubai. And if Xu Ran wanted to win Zhu Zhuqing's heart, Dai Mubai was his greatest obstacle. For the time being, he and Dai Weisi shared a common enemy: Dai Mubai.

So, for now, he would be on good terms with Dai Weisi. But that might not hold true later. After all, Zhu Zhuyun was beautiful too, with an exquisite figure and curves even fuller than Zhu Zhuqing's.

Moreover, he knew that Zhu Zhuyun did not truly want to isolate Zhu Zhuqing. She was doing this to protect her. She hoped Zhu Zhuqing would recognize the difficulties and retreat, leaving the Star Luo Empire of her own accord. That way, even if Dai Weisi ascended the throne in the future, he would not attack her.

"What are you thinking about? Are you scared?" Zhu Zhuqing asked in puzzlement. An ordinary person would probably be scared witless just hearing the First Prince's name. Perhaps Xu Ran was the same.

"Nothing. Second Miss, didn't you come to the square to train? I can spar with you and help you practice actual combat," Xu Ran said.

"You'll train with me? I'm very strong. Are you sure? What's your cultivation level?" Zhu Zhuqing asked. Xu Ran was only a collateral disciple of the Zhu Family. She could tell from his name that his father was an outsider, which meant Xu Ran might not even have inherited the family's Martial Soul. How could he possibly be very strong?

"My cultivation? A rank thirty-one Soul Elder," Xu Ran said.

"You're boasting. How could you possibly be a Soul Elder? Even I'm only rank twenty-five." Zhu Zhuqing was rather skeptical. Her current cultivation as a rank twenty-five Soul Grandmaster already made her an exceptional genius. In the Zhu Family, not even her older sister was as talented as she was.

Even if Xu Ran was strong, he could not possibly surpass her in talent.

"If you don't believe me, forget it. Do you still want me to practice with you? If not, I'm leaving."

"Of course I do. I want to see what your true cultivation level is," Zhu Zhuqing said. Even she had not realized that, though she usually treasured her words like gold, she had spoken far more than usual beside Xu Ran today.

"I'm going to attack," Zhu Zhuqing said, her beautiful eyes suddenly growing serious. She stood there in tight black leather clothes and trousers, her perfect curves revealed. A breeze blew past, sending her long black hair dancing in the wind and drawing many people's gazes.

Her eyes were filled with focus. No matter what opponent she faced, she would give her all. Besides, she felt that Xu Ran should not be too weak. At the very least, he should have the cultivation of a Soul Grandmaster.

Her Martial Soul silently emerged, and an enormous black feline silhouette appeared behind her. A pair of soft, adorable black cat ears sprouted amid her raven-black hair, and an illusory black cat tail appeared behind her shapely rear.

Beneath her, two yellow soul rings pulsed, releasing a surge of dark-leaning power.

Many Zhu Family disciples turned their gazes toward them, watching in astonishment.

"What?"

"Xu Ran actually wants to spar with Zhu Zhuqing? Has he gone mad? Doesn't he know what happens if he gets too close to the second Miss?"

"Maybe he just wants to play to the crowd and attract the second Miss's attention."

"Hmph, Zhu Zhuqing is engaged to Dai Mubai. What is Xu Ran trying to do? Besides, he's only a collateral disciple of the family. Even if he gets the second Miss's attention, it won't do him any good."