Chapter 210: The Only Family
Night fell.
The cool evening air settled around the camp, where soul masters from various academies had gathered. A ring of small fires was lit around the area to keep the cold at bay. Although they were all soul masters, not everyone was adept at moving freely in the dark. The firelight provided warmth and comfort, especially for the more delicate auxiliary soul masters who might not handle the forest chill.
"All right, that's all I have to say," Jackson, the Oakland Academy headmaster, announced after giving a briefing on the teams they'd be facing. Glancing up at the darkening sky, he smiled. "Time to get some rest, everyone."
"Thank you, Headmaster," the group responded in unison.
As Jackson left, everyone began their evening routine, washing up and preparing to sleep. There was little risk in this area, given the security of the Royal Knight Corps, so none of the academies had posted night guards. The tents were divided by gender, and each group filed in, one by one, to settle for the night.
Just as Zhu Zhuqing was about to enter her tent, Dai Yao called out to her.
"Zhuqing, come for a walk with me?"
Hearing this, the group exchanged amused glances, casting curious looks back and forth between Dai Yao and Zhu Zhuqing. Zhu Zhuqing paused, a faint blush coloring her cool face, especially enchanting in the moonlight. She smiled gently. "All right."
With Zhu Zhuqing's hand in his, Dai Yao signaled to the Royal Knight Corps guards as the two of them wandered into the nearby forested area around the plains.
Watching them go, Dugu Yan's emerald eyes glistened with a trace of envy. She knew that Zhu Zhuqing was the only one who had endured both hardship and triumph with Dai Yao through everything. She was aware that her own place beside him came down to sheer luck. Though Dai Yao often joked about being fickle, she knew better. When Huo Wu had tried to charm him, he hadn't accepted her advances, despite her energetic beauty. Dai Yao was clearly no ordinary man.
Had she not crossed paths with Dai Yao due to her grandfather's connection, their story might have ended differently. Their connection had been cemented only after she had come to Oakland Academy, fighting her inner demons and overcoming the toxin that threatened her life. Compared to others like Ning Rongrong or Huo Wu, her advantage lay in her daring—and perhaps even the poison that once seemed a curse had brought her closer to him.
The moon cast a serene glow across the forest, its light filtering through the trees, creating a shifting patchwork of shadows. Walking on the fallen branches and dry leaves made their every step audible.
Zhu Zhuqing had grown noticeably over the past nine years. Although her martial soul had evolved, she continued to wear her favorite black leather attire, emphasizing her now strikingly toned physique. Her transformation over the years extended beyond her soul power, enhancing her beauty and presence.
Most of the students at Oakland Academy respected Dai Yao, though many were also a little envious. Since day one, Zhu Zhuqing had been admired by everyone, and her reserved, cool personality made her seem untouchable to most. Though she was as distant as the moon to them, she was warm and devoted to Dai Yao alone, a side others couldn't see.
"Thanks to you, my heels are stuck again," Zhu Zhuqing teased, flashing Dai Yao a reproachful glance.
"Blame me, blame me," he laughed, bending down to help her free her foot. Glancing up at the towering trees, he suggested, "Let's go up."
Nodding, Zhu Zhuqing followed him as they both leapt onto the high branches of a large pine tree. The tree had a long limb extending outward, making a perfect spot for them to sit.
Settling on the branch, Dai Yao gazed up at the moon and said with a sigh, "Zhuqing, do you remember when we'd sit on the palace rooftop, watching the moon and making promises to each other? Nine years have passed, and here we are, in the Heaven Dou Empire. Life really takes us on unexpected journeys."
Zhu Zhuqing's gem-like eyes sparkled with nostalgia. She glanced at him warmly. "Yes, I remember. It was snowing then, and you draped your coat over my shoulders."
Dai Yao chuckled softly, recalling his less-than-innocent intentions back then. It had been a calculated move, a tactic for survival as they hid in the cold palace. Back then, he had been willing to do whatever it took to stay alive.
"Since we arrived in the Heaven Dou Empire, we haven't had a proper talk," he said after a moment.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, her long legs dangling and swinging slightly.
Taking a deep breath, Dai Yao began, "Zhuqing, the qualifying matches are ending soon. According to Elder Chrysanthemum Douluo, the final tournament will be different this year. It's being held in Spirit City."
"The finals…" he paused, then added, "Once the tournament ends, I'll be joining Spirit Hall."
Looking at Zhu Zhuqing with a solemn expression, Dai Yao spoke:
"We still have a chance to turn back."
"Why would I want to turn back?" Zhu Zhuqing tilted her head, her gaze soft.
Dai Yao gazed at the bright moon above, his voice heavy. "I once told you that leaving Star Luo wouldn't mean fully severing ties with the Dai and Zhu families. For me, it didn't matter so much, but for you, it's different. You still have family."
"If we sever all ties, you'll be faced with a choice—to be with me, or to remain with the Zhu family, your family."
"But I haven't kept my promise to you," he continued, with a sigh. "When the Fifth Elder appeared at the gates of Wu Guan, the situation was too urgent. If they had captured me, I'd never have been able to regain my freedom. So, I had to rely on the power of Spirit Hall to escape."
"This choice means a complete break with the Dai family."
"This is why I haven't dared to have this conversation with you until now. Bringing this up means forcing you to make a choice." Dai Yao took a breath, as if releasing something long buried. "But I can't avoid it any longer. The day we join Spirit Hall is drawing near, and I owe you the truth. Otherwise, I'd be betraying the trust you've placed in me."
Zhu Zhuqing stopped swaying her feet, pressing her lips together. Her beautiful eyes sparkled, filled with quiet contemplation. After a long pause, she finally spoke:
"If I don't want to join Spirit Hall, what would you do?"
Dai Yao sighed deeply. "If that's your choice, I'd take you far away from the continent, somewhere peaceful, away from all this conflict."
The place he imagined, of course, was Seagod Island. But first, he'd need to join the Heaven Dou Empire's court to get hold of the Sea God's Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, essential to earning the Seagod's inheritance. Without it, even Bo Saixi of the Seagod Douluo could only achieve the eight red trials, not the Seagod's final, divine ninth.
After avenging his mother, retreating to Seagod Island could indeed be a worthy path. Though, before that, he'd need to destroy the City of Slaughter to prevent Tang San from inheriting the Asura God's position and repeating the tragic end of the original story.
"And what about Feng Wutong and Dugu Yan?" Zhu Zhuqing asked softly.
"Feng Wutong will surely come with us. Dugu Yan has family here, bonds she can't sever. I won't force her—whatever she chooses, I'll accept it. Even if she doesn't join us, I'll wait for her."
"Now, Zhuqing, could you tell me your decision?" Dai Yao asked, his voice betraying a hint of vulnerability.
Sensing this, Zhu Zhuqing's heart softened, realizing her place in his life. She leaned her head on his shoulder and replied gently, "You know, in this world, you're my only family."
"The family I was born into is cold and heartless. Though we may be connected by blood, I've never felt they were truly my family." Her voice softened, and she continued, "You asking me this tonight makes me so happy."
"That's why I'll join Spirit Hall with you," she finished, a sweet smile gracing her face.
Dai Yao's heart raced at her words, his emotions welling up. Of course, he thought to himself, can Zhu Zhuqing's family even be called "family"? In the story, her own sister, Zhu Zhuyun, had chased her through the Star Dou Forest to kill her; Zhu Zhuqing had survived purely by luck.
Can people like that really be considered family?
Dai Yao's gaze wavered as he promised, "I, Dai Yao, will never betray you."
Looking up, Zhu Zhuqing's gaze softened. Her eyes sparkled, warmth filling her heart as she leaned her head on Dai Yao's shoulder, relishing the quiet of the moonlit night.
He wrapped his arm around Zhu Zhuqing's shoulders, gazing up at the moon, as if his parents' faces looked back at him through its light.
"Father, Mother, I'm doing well here. But the wife you would've had as a daughter… you'll never see…"
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