Chapter 50 – Agility-Type Specialist Soul Master

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Wiping away the tears in her eyes, Zhu Zhuqing slowly began to tell Ye Lan the reason she had run away from home. Just like in the original

Wiping away the tears in her eyes, Zhu Zhuqing slowly began to tell Ye Lan the reason she had run away from home. Just like in the original

Wiping away the tears in her eyes, Zhu Zhuqing slowly began to tell Ye Lan the reason she had run away from home.

Just like in the original story, Zhu Zhuqing had known Dai Mubai since childhood.

At six years old, she awakened her Nether Shadow Cat spirit along with innate level-seven soul power. That was when her engagement to Dai Mubai was formally established. Together, Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai formed one pair, while Zhu Zhuyun and Dai Weisi formed the rival pair in a brutal competition.

The White Tiger Spirit of the Dai family and the Nether Shadow Cat of the Zhu family could perform a spirit fusion technique—Nether White Tiger. The marriage alliance between the two clans was based on life-or-death rivalry. The losing pair would often be imprisoned—or even eliminated—to prevent internal conflict within the Star Luo Empire in the future.

Ever since Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai became a pair, they were constantly oppressed by Zhu Zhuyun and Dai Weisi.

First published on Taiwan Fiction Web → twkan.com. Brings you error-free and in-order chapters for a better reading experience.

Under unbearable pressure, Dai Mubai abandoned Zhu Zhuqing and fled to the Heaven Dou Empire. Left behind in Star Luo Empire, Zhu Zhuqing was forced to bear the full burden of their defeat alone. Everyone around her believed she had already been sentenced to death.

If Dai Mubai hadn't run, there may still have been a chance for them. After all, they were younger and had room to grow.

But once he fled, there was no way the Nether Shadow Cat could ever defeat the fused might of the Nether White Tiger.

Crushed under pressure, Zhu Zhuqing grew alone. Last month, she accidentally learned from internal clan information that Dai Mubai had enrolled at Shrek Academy in the Heaven Dou Empire.

Zhu Zhuqing knew that if she didn't take action, she would be the one completely abandoned—by both her clan and Dai Mubai...

Pushing herself forward with sheer will, Zhu Zhuqing escaped from the Zhu clan of Star Luo late one night and entered the Star Dou Great Forest.

She wandered along the outskirts of the forest until she was noticed by a pack of Wind Spirit Wolves.

Just when she was about to be torn apart in despair, she met Ye Lan.

After hearing her story in her own voice, Ye Lan felt the weight of it even more deeply. It was the terrifying tale of someone drowning in desperation after being abandoned.

As Zhu Zhuqing cried while recounting her story, her emotions gradually stabilized.

Ye Lan looked into her eyes and said, "Since you've chosen to fight your fate, then you must fight it all the way to the end!"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded resolutely.

"And remember, Zhu Zhuqing—you can only rely on yourself. I don't believe Dai Mubai will amount to anything. No matter how powerful the Nether White Tiger is, he doesn't deserve to fuse spirits with you," Ye Lan said, urging her not to place her hopes in Dai Mubai.

"But…" Zhu Zhuqing looked at her sharp claws. Could she really fight against the Nether White Tiger with just her Nether Shadow Cat?

Watching her hesitate, Ye Lan—whether out of personal fondness or a desire to break up the future Shrek team—decided to help her just a little.

Over the years, as his spirit evolved, his understanding of spirits had grown far beyond what most people could imagine.

"A coward like the one who ran—can that Nether White Tiger really defeat Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun? Zhu Zhuqing, you should go to Shrek Academy and see Dai Mubai for yourself. See if he's really working hard to improve." Ye Lan knew exactly what kind of person Dai Mubai was in Soto City—a man who indulged in prostitutes daily without a care.

With this, Ye Lan planted a seed called abandonment in Zhu Zhuqing's heart. Once they reunited, that seed would instantly grow into a towering tree. The two would become strangers—that much was certain.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded in agreement. Ever since the moment Dai Mubai had abandoned her, she had stopped trusting him.

If there had been another person with a White Tiger spirit of the same generation, she would never have even considered going to the Heaven Dou Empire to find him.

She was simply betting on the tiniest sliver of hope—that Dai Mubai hadn't completely fallen.

Although she acknowledged Ye Lan's words, her heart was a tangled mess of uncertainty.

Is he asking me to go find Dai Mubai… because he's giving up on me?

Well, that made sense. After all, she was already engaged. How could she still yearn for some imaginary support?

I don't have the right anymore.

Ye Lan had no idea what Zhu Zhuqing was thinking. He didn't realize that, if he had tried to keep her beside him right then—if he had asked her to forget about Dai Mubai…

Zhu Zhuqing would have followed Ye Lan without hesitation, even though they had only just met.

But unaware of her disappointment, Ye Lan simply continued, "Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you how to cultivate. It'll also give me a chance to test whether my theories are valid."

"Huh?! You know how the Nether Shadow Cat should be cultivated?" Zhu Zhuqing's spirits lifted immediately at the thought of learning from him.

"I've never taught anyone before. Do you trust me?" Ye Lan asked, locking eyes with her. Zhu Zhuqing's pupils had a unique glow.

"You're my savior—if I can't trust you, who can I trust?" Zhu Zhuqing suddenly realized her words sounded a little intimate, and her face flushed.

Ye Lan didn't notice. He simply smiled, comforted by the feeling of being trusted.

"It's getting dark. Let's rest for now."

"Mm…"

Zhu Zhuqing slowly awoke, realizing that Ye Lan had draped his cloak over her. She pulled it tighter around herself, hugging it instinctively.

The faint scent on the fabric brought her peace. Reluctantly, she sat up—because she noticed Ye Lan watching her.

"How did you sleep?" he asked.

"Better than I ever have." Since awakening her spirit six years ago, Zhu Zhuqing had been haunted by nightmares.

But last night, she seemed to have had a beautiful dream. She couldn't remember the details, but she didn't want to wake up.

She feared that waking would take everything away.

"Your hair's a mess. Go wash up by the river. Once you've had some fruit, I'll teach you how to train." Ye Lan noticed she didn't look much like a goddess in her current state and offered a kind reminder.

Blushing furiously, Zhu Zhuqing clutched her hair and quickly ran toward the river.

"So how do you think the Nether Shadow Cat should be cultivated?" Ye Lan asked.

"According to my clan's traditions, the Nether Shadow Cat follows an agility-attack path. We focus on soul power cultivation and select soul rings from attack-type and speed-type soul beasts. Also, since the Nether White Tiger is led by the White Tiger, offensive rings are slightly more important than speed ones," Zhu Zhuqing explained the methods her family had passed down.

Ye Lan didn't argue. Instead, he first acknowledged her words: "Not bad. If the goal is to serve as an auxiliary to the Nether White Tiger, then cultivating the Nether Shadow Cat that way isn't wrong."

But then Ye Lan changed his tone: "But Zhu Zhuqing, you are different."

"I'm… different?" Zhu Zhuqing was very curious about his words.

"Yes. Maybe in the future, you'll have to rely entirely on yourself. That's why you must become an Agility-Type Specialist Soul Master," Ye Lan said firmly.

"What's an Agility-Type Specialist Soul Master?" Zhu Zhuqing asked with curiosity.

(End of Chapter)