Tang San sat by the river, scrubbing his skin, his jaw tight with anger. The Dragon Duke and Serpent Lady had humiliated him—snatching the Phoenix-Tailed Crest Serpent and striking when he was vulnerable. And Ning Tian? That reckless idiot had practically led the Serpent Lady straight to him. Forgiveness wasn't on the table.
.......
Back at camp, two shelters stood ready—one for the boys, one for the girls. Ma Hongjun took first watch, his grin sharp as he nodded at Ning Tian. Normally, Ning Tian would've trained through the night, but with the Eight Spider Lances now, he could rest a bit today. He slipped away from the camp, seeking the Star Dou Forest's night air.
He'd imagined it as calm, a chance to unwind. Instead, the wind howled through the trees, leaves chattering like a warning. His shoulders tensed, eyes sweeping the shadows until they landed on her, a lone figure bathed in moonlight. Long hair danced in the breeze, pale skin glowing faintly. She looked like a spirit lost in the woods, her face etched with quiet sorrow.
"Who's there?" Her voice cut through the night, sharp and wary. Zhu Zhuqing's Nether Spirit Cat soul sharpened her senses.
"It's me," Ning Tian replied, stepping closer.
"Me who?" she shot back, tilting her head with a hint of challenge.
He chuckled, low and easy. "What, teasing me now? We've known each other long enough for you to recognize my voice."
She let out a soft huff, her gaze drifting upward. Ning Tian followed, the stars blazing above them, unmarred by city lights.
"Something in your mind?" he asked, though he could guess the weight behind her silence. He'd had a hand in Dai Mubai's downfall, after all.
"Not really," Zhu Zhuqing murmured, her voice heavy. She kicked a pebble, watching it skitter away. With a sigh she said "Dai Mubai and I… we're engaged."
Ning Tian's brow lifted. He hadn't expected her to spill that so soon.
"I came to Shrek to find him," she went on, shoulders slumping. "But he's turned into this lazy womanizer, wasting his days in brothels. I'm just… disappointed."
"You're talented," Ning Tian said, his tone steady, almost playful. "You've got the potential to hit Titled Douluo someday. Don't let him drag you down."
She glanced at him, then away. "Thanks, but… it's late. We should rest. Tomorrow's a long day. We have to go deeper into the forest for Tang San's soul ring."
She turned to leave, but Ning Tian's voice stopped her cold. "Dai Mubai is a prince of the Star Luo Empire. Your families' martial souls—White Tiger and Nether Spirit Cat, combine into the Nether White Tiger. You've been tied to him since you were kids. Right?"
Zhu Zhuqing spun back, eyes narrowing. "When did you figure that out?"
"Just now," he lied smoothly, a smirk tugging at his lips. "White Tiger's the royal martial soul, and Nether Spirit Cat's the Zhu family's pride. Took me a minute, but your engagement and his slacking off? It clicked...I heard Star Luo's succession is a brutal game."
She kicked another pebble, harder this time. "You're too smart. Now you see why I can't be anything."
Ning Tian shrugged, unfazed. "Does it matter?"
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated, the rustling leaves filling the silence. Then she spoke, her voice soft but firm. "It does matter. Even if I wanted this, where would I go? Stay at Shrek with Dai Mubai lurking around? Or run and let the empire hunt me down?"
Ning Tian's smirk softened into something warmer. "Shrek's not the sanctuary you think it is. Let me tell you what I've seen."
She stopped short, frowning. "What do you mean?"
"I figured it out by the second day," he said, leaning in slightly. "No special training grounds, no real teaching, they just toss talented kids into fights. If you win, they slap their name on your glory. If you lose, it's your fault. Out of so many students, barely a handful hit level forty before twenty. The rest? They fade or die."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened just a fraction. "Then why stay?"
His grin turned sly . "It's useful, for now. And if I left, I'd lose my excuse to stick close to you."
"What?" She blinked, caught off guard, her cheeks flushing faintly under the moonlight.
"If I walked away from Shrek," he said, stepping closer, "there'd be nothing linking us. No reason to keep you in my orbit. And I'm not about to let that happen."
"Why would you even bother?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She stood frozen, biting her lip, torn between pushing him away and staying put.
"Call it love at first sight," Ning Tian replied, his voice low and steady. "Either way, I'm not letting go."
She frowned, stepping forward as if to shrug it off, but there was a flicker of warmth in her eyes. "You didn't need to go this far. There's got to be another way."
He trailed after her, keeping pace. "Maybe, but you're stuck with a fate that's not yours to carry alone. If I let you slip away now, the gap'll just grow. So…"
His hand shot out, fingers wrapping gently around her wrist. She froze, her breath hitching as she glanced from his grip to his face.
"Let go, and I'll never catch you again," he said.
Her wrist felt fragile in his hold, but she didn't pull away, not fully. She squirmed just enough to test him, her eyes flashing with a mix of alarm and something softer. He didn't budge.
"I feel stupid saying this," he admitted, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. "It's embarrassing."
"Talking about duty isn't enough," he continued, his voice dropping. "I don't just want to shoulder it, I want you to let me, so we can face it together."
He eased his grip, bracing for her to bolt. But she stayed, her fingers brushing where he'd held her, still avoiding his gaze but listening.
"I need to stay tied to you," he said, words heavy with intent. "Not because I have to, but because I want to. Let me take your path and twist it into mine."
The night went still, the breeze carrying his words into the dark. Zhu Zhuqing stared at her wrist, silent for a long beat.
"What do you mean by 'twist'?" she finally asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"I'm not strong enough to rewrite your life yet," Ning Tian said, a faint smile returning. "I'll probably roam the continent, living on the edge. If you're with me, there'll be risks—your path'll shift, maybe even break a little. That's the twist."
A sad smile flickered across her face. She opened her mouth, hesitated, then pressed on. "That's not fair. My future, my burdens…..they're not worth what you'd lose. You've got more—"
"Don't sweat it," he cut in, grinning. "I'm just a half-level innate soul power nobody—no family, no big destiny. My life's already dirt-cheap. In a way, I'm a safe bet, can't lose what's already nothing."
She let out a shaky laugh, tears glinting in her eyes. Stepping closer, her fist tapped his chest lightly. "That's a awful excuse. Terrible." Her gaze locked with his, shimmering. "Why spout all this nonsense? You weren't like this at the Great Soul Arena."
"Hard to get sappy in a place like that," he said, his smile softening.
Her expression hardened. "I'm a trouble. I'll only drag you down."
"I know," he said, unbothered.
"I'll be a walking target."
"Dai Mubai already wants me dead, what's one more enemy?"
"I'm stubborn and not exactly warm."
"Yeah, you're cold as ice."
"Can't you disagree just once?"
"Nope, too much effort."
"My sister's hunted me before. If we're together, the Star Luo Empire will send assassins. It'll only get worse."
"Then I'll get stronger," he shrugged. "I'll beat them back every time they show up. Easy fix."
Zhu Zhuqing's arguments faltered, her voice fading. "And…"
"Doesn't matter," he said, cutting her off one last time. "No matter how rough, how dangerous—I'll face it with you."
She lowered her head, her fist tapping his chest again, softer now. "You're impossible."
"Maybe," he said, chuckling. "But I mean it. Whatever comes, we'll handle it together."
She sighed, her shoulders easing as the tension bled out. "I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything," Ning Tian replied, his voice gentle. "Just know I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."
They stood there, the night wrapping around them, a quiet understanding settling in.
Just as the two were being affectionate with each other, a roar of a soul beast was heard from the direction of the camp.
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