Chapter 52: Will Teacher Come to Save Me?

Zhu Zhuqing returned home, and Dan Heng had no reason to stop her.

As a teacher, he was just a teacher. Dan Heng would never force his students to go against their own will.

When he returned to the room, Gu Yuena was still lying on the bed, her delicate face pale and bloodless.

She looked at Dan Heng, opened her mouth slightly, and asked softly, "Husband, Zhuqing...?"

"Her sister took her away, back home," Dan Heng answered as he walked to the bedside.

Gu Yuena stretched her snow-white arms out from under the blanket, hugged Dan Heng's arm, and placed it against her face. She murmured, "But husband should know that Zhuqing didn't really want to leave, right?"

Dan Heng remained silent for a moment before giving a soft "Mhm."

Of course, he could tell that Zhu Zhuqing didn't want to leave.

But at the same time, he didn't want to get involved in unnecessary trouble.

Zhu Zhuqing wasn't taken away by force, nor was she being sent to a dangerous place—she was just going home. So he convinced himself that he had no reason to interfere.

However, now that Gu Yuena had brought it up, a wave of emotions stirred in his heart again.

Was what he did truly the right choice?Could he really be at peace with himself over it?

Gu Yuena gazed at Dan Heng's face, bit her lips into a gentle smile, and suddenly said, "Husband, no matter what choice you make, I will support you because I am your wife. We will always be of one heart and one mind."

Dan Heng felt a stir in his heart.

At first, he had only acknowledged their fake marriage because he wanted to avoid trouble.

But as they spent more time together, he found it harder and harder to treat her as just a passerby in his life.

He glanced at Gu Yuena again. She was looking at him with eyes that seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words—filled with boundless love and acceptance.

As if no matter what he did, she would always support him.

"...I'll go make you some soup to warm you up," Dan Heng suddenly withdrew his hand, avoiding her gaze, and left the room in a slightly flustered manner.

"Thank you, husband!" Gu Yuena's voice was filled with joy, rising several octaves.

The next second, she began coughing uncontrollably again.

But—

At this moment, she felt no regret.

Even though she had to tear open a space-time tunnel, worsening her injuries...

Feeling Dan Heng's attitude toward her changing made her indescribably happy.

"Husband, you won't leave me..."

Gu Yuena raised her hand and stared at her pale, slender fingers, murmuring to herself.

She was fully confident that she could make Dan Heng hers.

Cooking soup and medicinal broth for Gu Yuena took time.

Since he was preparing it himself, Dan Heng had to stay nearby and watch over it.

Just then—

Knock, knock, knock...

Someone rapped on the door.

Dan Heng opened it to find several tall, burly men standing outside.

"You are Dan Heng?"

A dark-skinned man in the group asked coldly.

Dan Heng gave a slight nod. "I am. And you are?"

"We are servants of Count Charles. Lady Ziji misses Lady Gu Yuena and wishes to meet her. We have come to escort her—there is already a carriage waiting outside," the man stated in an arrogant tone, looking at Dan Heng with clear disdain.

As the saying goes, a prime minister's gatekeeper holds the rank of a third-tier official.

As servants of a noble, they naturally considered themselves above commoners.

Dan Heng frowned slightly.

Gu Yuena's worsening condition, Zhu Zhuqing's situation—everything had been frustrating him lately.

And now, these men had come to provoke him?

"She's unwell and won't be going. You can leave now," Dan Heng said, reaching to close the door.

But the dark-skinned man quickly blocked it with his hand.

"Then let us at least see Lady Gu Yuena for a mom—"

Before he could finish his sentence, a large hand suddenly clamped onto his shoulder.

"You? Just what do you think you are? You dare to look at her?"

A tall man with long black hair and golden pupils grabbed the man's shoulder, his gaze cold and piercing.

"Di Tian?"

Dan Heng recognized him.

Gu Yuena had introduced him as her "cousin."

Di Tian dragged the dark-skinned man away, throwing a glance back at Dan Heng.

"I'll take care of them. Let... sister rest well."

The Zhu Clan Estate.

Zhu Zhuqing followed Zhu Zhuyun back, accompanied by several powerful Soul Masters.

Each of them was at least a Soul Emperor.

It was only now that Zhu Zhuqing realized—her previous escape from Star Luo Empire had only succeeded because the imperial family and her clan had allowed it.

"Zhuqing, you've certainly grown bold. Running away from Star Luo Empire at just twelve years old? If you had gone to find Dai Mubai, I could understand, but why on earth did you become a disciple of some random man? He's not even a Soul Master!"

Zhu Zhuyun chuckled.

Just recalling how Dan Heng hadn't even dared to protect Zhu Zhuqing in front of her made her look down on him.

To her, Dan Heng was unworthy of being Zhu Zhuqing's teacher.

Hearing the disrespect in her tone, Zhu Zhuqing spoke coldly, "My teacher's greatness is not for you to understand. But if I ever hear you speak of him disrespectfully again, I will make you regret it."

Zhu Zhuqing stood her ground, staring at Zhu Zhuyun with unwavering determination.

She was now a Rank 33 Soul Elder.

Though Zhu Zhuyun had a higher soul power rank, she was also still a Soul Elder.

And with the combat techniques her teacher had taught her—Zhu Zhuqing was confident she wouldn't lose!

Zhu Zhuyun blinked in surprise.

The little sister who used to follow her around obediently...

Now had the guts to talk back?

"Heh... Zhu Zhuqing, you sure have changed. Getting cocky, huh?"

Zhu Zhuyun immediately released her martial soul.

Two yellow rings and one purple ring emerged beneath her feet.

As a Soul Elder, she unleashed her full soul pressure upon Zhu Zhuqing.

"Let's see what's giving you so much confidence. That ordinary man of a teacher?" Zhu Zhuyun sneered, her tone brimming with mockery.

Just as the sisters were about to clash—

A voice rang out from inside the estate.

"Enough! You two just got home, and you're already fighting? What kind of behavior is this?"

The Zhu Clan Patriarch, Prince Zhu, had spoken.

Both Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun immediately withdrew their soul power and entered the hall together.

As soon as Zhu Zhuqing stepped inside, she spoke up.

"Father, I want to continue studying under Teacher Dan Heng. I will not stay in Star Luo City!"

Zhu Zhuyun furrowed her brows, staring at her little sister.

She was acting far too abnormally.

Why was she so determined to stay with an ordinary teacher, even at the cost of defying their father?

Prince Zhu let out a heavy sigh and shook his head.

"It will be difficult. The Star Luo Imperial Family already knows you've returned. I can only ensure that His Majesty won't pursue charges against you or Dan Heng... but as for continuing your studies..."

"Tomorrow, you and Zhuyun must enter the palace. The Empress wants to meet you both."

Prince Zhu looked at Zhu Zhuqing helplessly.

Although he supported her learning from Dan Heng, reality could not be ignored.

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes instantly turned red.

Her teacher hated trouble more than anything.

Now that she had returned home and attracted the attention of the Star Luo Imperial Family, would he still come to take her away?

Even if she sought him out on her own—

Would he reject her?

(End of Chapter)