Chapter 171: Departure
With a blush on her face, Zhang Lexuan leaned weakly in Du Qianjue's arms, her dizziness intensifying with his scent enveloping her. She felt deeply content and blissful.
Seeing Zhang Lexuan reluctant to get up from his arms, Du Qianjue's forehead creased. "Senior sister, your injuries are healed. You can get up now, right?"
Hearing Du Qianjue's words, Zhang Lexuan slowly opened her eyes, somewhat reluctantly straightened up, her face adorned with a touch of endearing shyness. Something was very off.
Taking a deep breath, Du Qianjue found Zhang Lexuan's behavior extremely odd. If he didn't know she was Beibei's fostered bride, forever holding Beibei in her heart, he might have thought she had fallen for him. It must be an illusion, he reasoned, perhaps the night's intense confrontations had him a bit delirious.
Zhang Lexuan liking him? Haha... No way. It was ludicrous.
Shuddering at the thought, Du Qianjue swiftly retreated behind Xue Linglong, hiding and peeking out cautiously at Zhang Lexuan. "Xue'er, save me!"
Xue Linglong looked at him amusedly. You stirred up trouble yourself, and now you hide behind me?
"Han Ruoruo senior, can you announce the results now?" Du Qianjue, still hiding, called out to Han Ruoruo.
Han Ruoruo, who had watched the entire battle, was somewhat dumbfounded by Zhang Lexuan's reaction, which seemed utterly absurd to her. Could her friend have really fallen for Du Qianjue?
Worriedly glancing at Zhang Lexuan, Han Ruoruo then covered her face helplessly. It was hopeless; ruined. Even as Du Qianjue hid behind Xue Linglong, Zhang Lexuan's dewy eyes remained tenderly fixed on him, her gaze almost tangible.
Any clueless onlooker could see that Zhang Lexuan was smitten with Du Qianjue. Only Du Qianjue, mired in his preconceptions that she loved Beibei, failed to see it. How long had he even known Zhang Lexuan? A week at most!
How could he sway Beibei's fostered bride in just one week? It seemed utterly implausible. Besides, Du Qianjue had no romantic intentions towards Zhang Lexuan, so it was even less likely for him to probe her feelings.
From her perspective as an observer, Han Ruoruo could see clearly, but she also recognized that Du Qianjue's heart was set on Xue Linglong; Zhang Lexuan's feelings were unlikely to lead anywhere. As her friend, all she could do was sigh inwardly, contemplating whether she could console Zhang Lexuan later. Deeply falling for someone unattainable could be damaging.
"The bridal-stealing challenge concludes, and male student Du Qianjue has successfully defeated all challengers, winning the battle!" Han Ruoruo announced loudly. "Du Qianjue and Xue Linglong, may your union be blessed for a hundred years! Congratulations!"
"Thank you," Xue Linglong said with a light laugh.
Du Qianjue, too preoccupied to even utter thanks, opened his demonic wings wide and soared into the sky with Xue Linglong in his arms, eager to leave the accursed place of Shrek.
What a nightmare!
"Dragon God Douluo, thank you for your hospitality these past days. I have urgent matters and must leave Shrek Academy. Should there be a chance, I hope you will visit my sect, and I will host you with all due respect!" Du Qianjue's voice reached Mu En, who had been observing the event from the second floor of the Sea God's Pavilion, causing him to shake his head with a smile.
"Go ahead, and if there's a chance, I will indeed visit your sect," Mu En replied with a light smile.
"Farewell, then!" Du Qianjue's figure, holding Xue Linglong, streaked across the night sky.
"Do you like it?" Du Qianjue asked tenderly as they flew.
"I love it!" Xue Linglong nodded without hesitation. Even the time when she had gained a life-saving breakthrough hadn't made her as happy as now. Perhaps... this was what humans referred to as happiness?
Xue Linglong's lips curved slightly, cherishing the ring in her hand.
"Where shall we go now?" she asked gently, looking up at Du Qianjue.
"Let's head to the Star Dou Forest first. I received the Xuan Tian Gong from the Tang Sect and spent some time integrating it with my soul power. But Xuan Tian Gong isn't really suitable for me," Du Qianjue explained, his brow furrowed.
"It's fundamentally a Daoist method, best for nurturing the foundation and sustaining life, not so much for boosting combat power or advancing cultivation. I need to adapt Xuan Tian Gong extensively to suit me, which could take a while."
Xue Linglong listened quietly until he finished explaining. "Daoist methods? Other world cultivation systems? I don't quite understand what you're talking about."
"Remember my teacher, the soul fragment in my spirit sea?" Du Qianjue asked.
"Yes, was he a practitioner from another world?" she inquired, curious.
"Yes, my teacher came from another world called the Holy Demon Continent. The strongest there are as formidable as your soul beasts' Dragon God, if not stronger," Du Qianjue chuckled.
"And I need his help to modify Xuan Tian Gong," he added with a grin.
"You kid, always ready to wear out this old man," the aged voice of Ilex resounded with a hint of resignation.
"Who else but your disciple?" Du Qianjue retorted, smiling broadly.
(End of Chapter)