Qin Ming's expression was odd, but he nodded.
In this, they were both doomed together.
Grandmaster had been publicly humiliated by Su Lin, his teaching methods questioned. Qin Ming, on the other hand, had his home stolen by Su Lin, the teachers who picked sides dismissed him from his position…
If they could crush Heaven Dou's Class 1 in the tournament, it would be so satisfying.
Even the Emperor would censure the teachers for their shortsightedness.
Especially if people knew that Shrek's team had been forced out by Su Lin…
Just the thought made his heart race.
Under such circumstances, if Zhu Zhuqing had to be sacrificed, so be it. Every team needs a sacrifice.
"Look, she's figured it out…" Grandmaster jerked his chin at Zhu Zhuqing, who looked panicked below, the hint of a smile on his lips.
…
Snap!
Like a shadow, the girl just barely dodged a massive black leopard's pounce. The tree she'd been standing on snapped in two with a crackling crash.
"Tang San? Xiao Wu?"
...
While dodging, Zhu Zhuqing looked at the remains of a fire and traces of passage, her beautiful eyes full of confusion.
Everyone had left so quietly.
It was as if she was never part of the team.
Crushing loneliness swallowed her. The black leopard ahead fixed her with cruel, green eyes and drooled hungrily. All around, birdcalls and growls of distant beasts echoed as night fell, making her hair stand on end.
Her back felt cold.
She knew she could only rely on herself now…
...
The girl bit her lip in despair, but her face remained stubbornly cold.
She'd rather die here than beg for the so-called charity of the others, after they'd chosen to abandon her. The old promise of "never abandoning a teammate" was laughable now.
Huff…
Zhu Zhuqing half-crouched on a tree, tearing a strip from her sleeve to tightly bind her thigh. There, a bone-deep wound from the black leopard bled profusely, staining the cloth.
At least it stopped the bleeding for now.
She raised her head stubbornly.
The black leopard licked its paw pads, gazing at her, clearly enjoying the hunt.
Deep breath… Zhu Zhuqing prepared herself.
No escape.
Against a speed-type soul beast, running would just exhaust her soul power till she was eaten.
"So, I'll just—"
Her pupils contracted. With a burst of soul power, she charged at the black leopard.
Her Martial Soul emerged—ears turning into cat ears, round pupils thinning into slits.
Roar!
The black leopard was stunned, not expecting her to attack. It crouched, then leapt forward.
Two shadows flashed through the dying sunlight.
Splatter!
Zhu Zhuqing coughed up blood, barely standing, body shaking, covered in blood she couldn't tell was hers or the leopard's.
No time to bandage herself further.
Wounds covered her arms and legs.
Her face was as pale as paper, soul power utterly drained, even overdrawn. Had it not been for her will to survive, she'd have collapsed already.
ROAR!
The black leopard roared in pain.
This time, not in playful mockery, but in fury.
Its gut had been slashed open, viscera spilling out, the pain driving it mad.
This time, the victor was…
The leopard.
It crept closer along the branch, green eyes gleaming with killing intent.
As the girl closed her eyes, attempting one last stand—
Her legs felt like lead.
She slipped and tumbled from the tree.
Falling, the leopard pounced after her.
She closed her eyes in despair.
Revenge unfulfilled…
She knew if she'd turned and run—followed the tracks left by Tang San and the others—she probably could've reached her team and escaped.
But she refused.
If she died here in the wild, at least she'd fulfill her sister's wish.
But as time dragged by, century-long seconds, the pain she expected—the tearing of teeth at her throat—didn't come. Instead, she seemed to fall onto a warm bed…
"Picked up a free girl, huh."
A gentle voice sounded at her ear.
She opened her eyes in confusion.
Not far away stood a handsome youth in white, with a group of six other late-teen boys and girls. She lay on a golden, vine-woven net...
...
"Heaven Dou Battle Team…"
Her tense nerves relaxed as she blacked out.
Ironically, had it been Dai Mubai or Grandmaster who found her, she wouldn't have dared faint.
…
In Star Dou Great Forest
Rustle—
A shadow landed—Qin Ming.
He grinned at Dai Mubai. "It's done, she's been badly injured. If you want to act, now's your chance…"
Phew… Dai Mubai took a deep breath, excitement in his eyes.
Worst case, just take her by force while she's unconscious.
In bed, Dai Mubai was invincible.
"Thank you, Teacher Qin Ming." He nodded and hurried off.
Ning Rongrong snorted coldly but said nothing.
She wanted to prove the clan needed her, not the other way round.
Tang San meditated quietly.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun snickered, betting on how Boss Dai would bring Zhu Zhuqing back.
But several minutes passed.
Dai Mubai returned, frustrated and gloomy.
"Boss Dai, didn't you bring back the beauty? Where is she?" Ma Hongjun asked.
"She… got rescued." Dai Mubai clenched his teeth, furious at whoever ruined his plans.
"Rescued?!" Grandmaster's eyes widened, then turned anxious.
Now there really was trouble.
Never mind the Fusion Technique. They were down one main team member!
What a failure.
Zhu Zhuqing wasn't stupid. Getting her back now would take a lot of effort.
"Where'd she go?" Even Flender knotted his brow in worry.
"No idea." Dai Mubai shook his head, fists tight.
"I saw plenty of blood, the black leopard running scared, and traces of a group—must've been another team out hunting soul beasts."
"And if they scared off a two-thousand-year-old Shadow Panther, their strongest fighter must be at least at Soul King level." Dai Mubai scratched his head, distraught.
Didn't just lose the girl—had no idea who rescued her.
What a disaster.
If they'd just taken their time, feelings might have returned gradually.
But Grandmaster insisted on a harsh remedy.
Now look—
His fiancée was gone.
And he didn't even know to whom.
"Dammit!"
Dai Mubai's nose itched…
…
After some time.
The crackle of a campfire warmed Zhu Zhuqing as she woke, surrounded by people chatting, bored, around the fire…
For some reason, it made her feel safe.
No one treated her as an "enemy."
"Once Lingling gets her fourth ring, we'll have everything covered!" Said Osler, also a speed-type soul master.
"But fighting Spirit Hall might be tough. With Yu Tianheng gone, we lack a main battle soul master. Just two tanks up front—it'll be risky." Yu Feng said.
"No worries. The Shi brothers tank, Yan does damage, Yu Feng and I handle assists, Lingling heals in back."
"Don't see how we could lose!" Yu Feng quipped.
Speed-types have plenty of damage too! Though her eyes stayed closed, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but smile.
What a harmonious team...