Her mind replayed every move Ye Qiu made when he healed and saved her… She recalled that unexpected kiss, which strangely didn't bother her much.
She buried her flushed face in her knees. What should I do?
While she was grieving alone, she suddenly felt warmth.
Ye Qiu returned and stood beside her, draping a blanket over her.
"Let's think about everything tomorrow. It's best to get some rest now, otherwise you might develop a chronic illness. If that happens… I'll feel really guilty."
"Thank you! But I still want to—hey! What are you doing?" She clenched her fists and kept pounding Ye Qiu's chest.
Suddenly, Ye Qiu lifted her up, his left arm around her shoulders and his right arm supporting her knees.
"I'm not doing anything. If you want to think things through, you can do it in bed. Just lie there and think it over. The most important thing right now is to heal your injuries as soon as possible!"
After settling her into bed, Ye Qiu went to rest alone.
Watching his retreating figure, Zhu Zhuqing felt that she already had the answer in her heart. It might be difficult, but she truly wanted to live for herself.
A speechless night passed.
...
In the following days, Ye Qiu felt that Zhu Zhuqing beside him had changed a little.
She was constantly dragging him along to tease spirit beasts together—riding wolves, snakes, spiders…
"Here, have a taste of my grilled fish!"
Beside a stream, two giant white wolves were drinking water. Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Qiu sat cross-legged on the riverbank, a fire burning between them.
Zhu Zhuqing handed the grilled fish to Ye Qiu with a smile.
"It tastes pretty good~ Quite delicious!" Ye Qiu hadn't had high expectations for her cooking. After all, she was a young lady from a noble family. But after taking a bite, he realized it genuinely tasted good.
"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking!" She glared at Ye Qiu, picked up another skewer, and began grilling it. "I often cook for myself at home too!"
Ye Qiu naturally understood her situation in the Zhu family. There was a significant age gap between her and her older sister, and she couldn't compete at all. Who would have thought that a noble lady would have to do household chores herself?
"Your Zhu family is truly monstrous," Ye Qiu retorted, then added while pointing a finger, "Oh, right—and the Star Luo royal family too!"
"Yes, it really is twisted," Zhu Zhuqing nodded, her mood darkening again.
"After all, what kind of family forces siblings to be mortal enemies from birth?"
Ye Qiu's words made the atmosphere cold. The grilled fish in his hand seemed to lose its flavor.
Zhu Zhuqing threw down her grilled fish, moved closer, and knocked the one in Ye Qiu's hand away as well.
"You—" Ye Qiu was about to explode.
She lifted her sleeve and carefully wiped the stains from the corners of his lips.
"What… what are you doing?" Ye Qiu slapped her hand away and scooted back.
Her face flushed slightly. "What's wrong? Didn't you take care of me like this when I was bedridden?"
"You were bedridden! I'm perfectly fine!" Ye Qiu replied speechlessly.
"Alright, let's go! Let's take another walk together…" She grabbed Ye Qiu's hand and led him toward the wolves by the stream.
The two mounted a white wolf and moved slowly along the water's edge.
"So, Ye Qiu, what exactly is the favor you want from me?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, turning to look at his profile.
"Hm… I want you to help me protect someone," Ye Qiu said, smiling as he thought of that rabbit.
Zhu Zhuqing immediately felt uneasy. "Who? Where are they?"
"Her name is Xiao Wu. Her martial soul is the Soft Bone Rabbit. As for where she is… you'll meet her when you go to Soto City."
"A girl?"
"Yes! Ideally, it would be close protection. Of course, it's fine if you still need to cultivate," Ye Qiu said casually.
Ye Qiu… I really have to thank you, Zhu Zhuqing gritted her teeth.
He gave her an external soul bone just so she could protect a girl he had an ambiguous relationship with?
What about the decision she made? Were all her actions these past few days a joke? Did he see and touch her body for nothing? Did she give away her first kiss for nothing?
Zhu Zhuqing smiled bitterly. The step she had finally taken seemed to end just like that…
"Hm? By the way, why are you so sure I'll go to Soto City?" she asked calmly.
"Because your third prince fiancé is there. Haven't you always wanted to defeat your sister and brother-in-law? I think you'll still chase him eventually. Actually, this doesn't change your fate at all—you're still living within a destiny decided by others."
Ye Qiu kept talking, completely unaware of Zhu Zhuqing's increasingly dark expression.
"Enough! Ye Qiu!" she roared. "What right do you have to interfere with other people's fates? Do you think you understand me? You don't understand anything at all!"
Her roar stunned Ye Qiu. Did I say something wrong?
Her eyes reddened as she glared at him. Already upset because of Xiao Wu, she was further enraged by Ye Qiu's dismissal of her efforts and his assumption that she would still chase Dai Mubai.
"Ye Qiu! You bastard!"
Before he could react, she squeezed her legs and the wolf beneath her leaped away.
"Hey! You haven't agreed yet! Don't stray too far—what if the spirit beast goes out of control?" Ye Qiu shouted, quickly giving chase.
...
Zhu Zhuqing stopped on a wide meadow.
"Hey! What was that about earlier? If I said something wrong, I apologize…" Ye Qiu approached cautiously.
"Zhu Qing?"
She ignored him, staring at the distant sky. Ye Qiu could only stay by her side.
After a long silence, she finally spoke.
"You're right… and you're wrong."
She turned and laughed bitterly. "I was foolish. Yes, others want me to grow stronger and compete with my sister—but it's the only way I can survive. Isn't it?"
"You actually have other options," Ye Qiu said.
"Oh? Then tell me." She sat down and patted the space beside her.
"You could join one of the major forces, like Spirit Hall. They've always had their eyes on the two great empires. As a direct descendant of the Zhu family, they'd gladly accept you and even use you to attract other nobles."
Zhu Zhuqing listened quietly.
"And there's also the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. If you have enough talent, they'd likely accept you too. They're currently lacking manpower."
After he finished, Ye Qiu looked at her expectantly.
"Heh…" Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. "What about my parents? And aren't you overestimating me? My innate soul power is only level seven…"
Ye Qiu fell silent. It really was an oversight.
"I'm sorry… I didn't think it through."
"It's fine. Thank you~" she whispered so softly that even Ye Qiu didn't hear it.
Looking at the crimson sunset, she smiled faintly.
When did Zhu Zhuqing become so willing to give up?
Turning to Ye Qiu, who looked utterly confused, she smiled brightly, mounted the white wolf, and ran off again.
"Hey! What's wrong with you now?!" Ye Qiu shouted, hurriedly chasing after her.
As the cool evening wind brushed her face, Zhu Zhuqing finally felt at ease.
She wanted to thank Ye Qiu—for appearing in her life, for giving her a new choice, a new direction, a chance to break free from her fate… a choice worth giving her life for.
The two traveled one after the other, with Zhu Zhuqing leading Ye Qiu to the entrance of a cave.
Ye Qiu recognized it—it was the cave where he had treated her injuries before.
She jumped down from the wolf and entered first. Ye Qiu sent the wolves away and followed.
"Why bring me here?"
"Just the two of us staying overnight," she replied softly. "Hurry up and get the bed out."
"Is there anyone else here?" Ye Qiu shot her a strange look but said nothing more, afraid of provoking her again. He summoned the bed with his divine power.
"Phew~ Your soul skill is really convenient. You can live so comfortably even in the wilderness," Zhu Zhuqing said as she lay down.
"Why not go back to the Divine Might Space? It's almost dark," Ye Qiu suggested.
"I'm staying here tonight," she insisted, sitting up and staring at him stubbornly.
"Alright, alright… I'll listen to you," Ye Qiu sighed and turned to leave.
"Hey! Where are you going?" she called.
"It's getting dark. Shouldn't we gather firewood?" Ye Qiu replied helplessly.
"Hmph! Then hurry back!" she snorted, sitting on the edge of the bed.
...
Ye Qiu sat cross-legged by the fire, watching the flames dance. Zhu Zhuqing lay on her side, quietly gazing at his profile illuminated by firelight.
"Ye Qiu," her gentle voice echoed through the cave,
"Do you still remember this cave?"
-----------
Every 100 power stone= 1+chapter
Hi guys if you like this fanfic please add it to you library and please give me some stones.