pdf-ebookys Chapter 18 Another Night Visit to Zhu Zhuqing
Chapter 18 Another Night Visit to Zhu Zhuqing
Flanders did not come along.
Before leaving, he pulled Zhao Wuji aside and whispered a few words of advice.
After listening, Zhao Wuji nodded, then turned to the group and said, "I will lead you this time. My task is to ensure your safety, but I won't solve all your problems. If you encounter any soul beasts, fight them yourselves if possible. I will only intervene if absolutely necessary. Do you understand?"
"Understood!" everyone responded in unison.
Zhao Wuji nodded in satisfaction: "Let's go!"
It takes a whole day to walk from Soto City to the Starry Sky Forest.
Once outside the city gate, the road gradually narrowed, and the farmland on both sides turned into wasteland, and then into sparse woods.
The sun rose in the east, casting golden rays upon the procession and casting long shadows.
Zhao Wuji walked at the very front, his steps steady, like a moving hill.
He would occasionally glance back at the group to make sure no one had fallen behind.
Dai Mubai and Tang San walked in the second group, chatting casually.
Ning Rongrong walked beside Ye Chen and lowered her voice: "Ye Chen, I heard you sparred with Zhu Zhuqing yesterday?"
Ye Chen glanced at her: "Hmm, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing," Ning Rongrong blinked and said meaningfully, "It's just that I felt the way she looked at you today was a little different."
Ye Chen subconsciously glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, who was walking in the distance.
Zhu Zhuqing walked at the very back of the group, alone, keeping her distance from everyone else.
Her steps were light and silent, like a solitary cat. Sunlight shone on her black leather coat, reflecting a cold light.
Seemingly sensing Ye Chen's gaze, Zhu Zhuqing slightly turned her head, and their eyes met for a moment in the air.
Then she turned her head away, quickened her pace, and walked to the other side of the line.
Ning Rongrong chuckled to herself, "See? What did I tell you?"
Ye Chen looked away: "You're overthinking it."
"Really?" Ning Rongrong tilted her head. "Then why are you blushing?"
"I'm not blushing."
Yes, I saw it.
"You're seeing things."
Ning Rongrong giggled and stopped asking questions, but her eyes were full of cunning.
Tang San walked ahead, not turning around, but his ears were always perked up.
He heard Ning Rongrong's words and also noticed the subtle atmosphere between Ye Chen and Zhu Zhuqing.
He didn't say anything, but clenched his fist and then relaxed it.
Around noon, the group stopped to rest by a stream.
Zhao Wuji found a large rock to sit on and took out some dry rations from his pack to eat.
The others also found places to sit down, some drank water, and some ate dry food.
Oscar stepped forward and said, "Want some sausage? There's no limit today."
Ma Hongjun was the first to raise his hand: "I want it!"
Dai Mubai hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Tang San then took one.
Ning Rongrong looked at the sausage Oscar handed her, her face paling again: "Can I not eat it?"
"No," Zhao Wuji said coldly from a short distance away.
Ning Rongrong took a bite with tears in her eyes.
When it was Zhu Zhuqing's turn, Oscar carefully handed her one.
Zhu Zhuqing accepted the food expressionlessly and ate it without any further expression.
Oscar shuddered: "The way you eat is terrifying..."
Zhu Zhuqing glanced at him, and Oscar immediately shut up.
Finally, it was Ye Chen's turn.
Oscar hesitated for a moment, then handed him one: "You... take it easy, my soul power hasn't fully recovered yet."
Ye Chen took the sausage, took a bite, chewed a few times, and his eyes lit up: "It tastes good."
Oscar breathed a sigh of relief: "I'm glad you like it."
Ye Chen finished his meal in a few bites and held out his hand: "One more, please."
"Huh?" Oscar was taken aback for a moment, but still changed to another one.
Ye Chen finished eating again: "I'll have some more."
"Again?"
"Again."
One sausage after another, Ye Chen ate Oscar's sausages clean, just like he was eating snacks.
Oscar's face went from surprise to horror, then to paleness: "How...how many did you eat?"
"I didn't count," Ye Chen licked his lips. "Is there anything else?"
Oscar looked down at his soul tool, which was empty.
His soul power was being consumed rapidly, and his legs were starting to feel weak.
"No... I can't take it anymore..." Oscar collapsed to the ground, his face as white as a sheet. "There's not a drop left..."
Ye Chen then wiped his mouth with satisfaction.
Ma Hongjun stared in disbelief at the scene: "What kind of stomach do you have?"
Dai Mubai was numb and shook his head: "He can eat anything."
Xiao Wu covered her mouth and chuckled, while Tang San's lips twitched slightly.
Only Zhu Zhuqing remained expressionless, but her gaze lingered on Ye Chen for a moment—this person always surprised people.
Zhao Wuji stood up from the rock, glanced at Ye Chen, his lips twitched, and he didn't say anything, only shouting, "Enough rest, let's continue our journey!"
The team set off again.
As evening fell, the setting sun painted the sky orange-red, and the group finally arrived at Xingdou Town, a small town on the outskirts of the Xingdou Great Forest.
The town isn't big, but because it's close to the Soul Beast Forest, many Soul Masters come and go, making it quite lively.
The streets were lined with all sorts of shops—weapon shops, pharmacies, inns, taverns, and even a few shops selling materials for soul beasts, with various animal bones and hides hanging at the entrances, emitting a faint smell of blood.
Zhao Wuji easily found a clean inn and booked a room.
"Six rooms," he told the innkeeper, "three single rooms and three double rooms."
The shopkeeper nodded and handed over six keys.
Zhao Wuji turned around and assigned rooms: "I'll have one room myself. The rest of you will stay in your dorms as usual."
Xiao Wu tugged at Ye Chen's sleeve reluctantly, "Brother Ye Chen, come play with me tonight."
"Okay." Ye Chen nodded.
Ning Rongrong added with a smile, "Come visit us, not just her."
Ye Chen glanced at her and said, "I understand."
Zhu Zhuqing took the key, didn't look at anyone, and went straight to her room.
Zhao Wuji gave a final instruction: "Get a good rest tonight. We'll head into the forest first thing tomorrow morning. Don't wander around. The town is full of all sorts of people; I won't be responsible if you get into trouble."
Everyone returned to their rooms.
After dinner, the inn gradually quieted down.
Ye Chen sat in his room, took out the sublimator, and looked at the data on it.
[Zhu Zhuqing Card: 89%]
Just a little bit more.
He stood up, walked out of the room, and found the corridor quiet except for a few oil lamps casting a dim yellow light.
He walked to Zhu Zhuqing's door, took a deep breath, and gently knocked.
"Who is it?" came Zhu Zhuqing's cold voice from inside.
"I am Ye Chen."
A brief silence. Then the door opened.
Zhu Zhuqing stood at the door, having changed into a loose-fitting training outfit. Her long black hair was draped down, making her look less cold and aloof than during the day, and more gentle and homely.
She wasn't wearing shoes; her bare feet were on the floor, her toes as white as jade.
Ye Chen was slightly taken aback—this was the first time he had seen Zhu Zhuqing so relaxed.