In the gathering of Star Luo Empire's guests, many young nobles followed Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun.
As the primary heirs of the Star Luo Empire, they naturally had many followers around them.
"Zhu Yun, are you going to leave your sister alone like that?" Dai Weisi casually mentioned, glancing at Zhu Zhuqing, who was sitting alone in a corner.
"Heh, wasn't your brother, Mu Bai, supposed to accompany my sister? Only that coward has run away somewhere," Zhu Zhuqing said with a meaningful smile, filled with charm. "Poor sister, she might end up forever separated from me in life and death."
Dai Weisi chuckled, his eyes gleaming sharply: "He can't run far. Before he turns 25, if he doesn't show up, our family will surely find him and bring him back."
In the Dai and Zhu families of the Star Luo Empire, only the eldest sons and daughters hold the highest status.
To ensure the family's long-term development, their rules for successors are the most ruthless but effective.
Dai Weisi, observing Zhu Zhuqing's lonely and helpless state, showed a smile, but it was devoid of any warmth. Born into such a significant family, although he was only in his teens, he had already developed a heart of stone.
For him, the primary heir, the death of Zhu Zhuqing or Dai Mu Bai was no different than an ant's death. As long as he benefits in the end, nothing else matters.
"Hmm?" Just as Dai Weisi was about to mingle with some nobles from the Spirit Hall City, he suddenly noticed a young boy, about Zhu Zhuqing's age, with a delicate face and well-dressed, walking towards Zhu Zhuqing.
"Who is that kid?" Dai Weisi couldn't recall Su Yun's identity for a moment and asked his entourage in a low voice.
"It's him!"
One of the entourage recognized Su Yun and exclaimed, "Your Highness, he is the new disciple of the Pope of the Spirit Hall!"
They quickly whispered to Dai Weisi, "It's said that his talent is extraordinary. After taking Hu Liena as a disciple, the Pope had publicly stated that he would not take any more disciples. However, he made an exception for this boy, Su Yun, due to his talent."
Listening, Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked at Su Yun, "So, he'll probably be part of the team competing against us in tomorrow's exhibition match?"
Dai Weisi slightly shook his head: "He's only seven years old. Even if he has full innate soul power, how strong could he be now?"
"But, it's still necessary to probe his depths."
"The Star Luo Empire is destined to unite the continent in the future, and the Spirit Hall will be a threshold we must cross."
"If this kid named Su Yun can become the Pope's disciple, then we must collect more information about him."
Dai Weisi's eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke softly, "Who will go and probe his background?"
"I will."
Following Dai Weisi's command, one of his direct followers immediately stepped forward.
"Same as usual," Dai Weisi instructed in a low voice.
The golden-haired follower nodded: "Understood."
...
Su Yun approached Zhu Zhuqing and greeted her very naturally: "Hello."
Zhu Zhuqing, seemingly lost in thought and unaware of Su Yun's approach, was startled when she heard his voice.
"You... hello," Zhu Zhuqing greeted Su Yun somewhat stutteringly.
Truly a cute little kitten, Su Yun thought, smiling as he sat down next to Zhu Zhuqing. "Why are you alone? Aren't you from the Star Luo Imperial Family?"
"Why aren't you with them?"
Zhu Zhuqing curled up, hugging her knees and burying her face slightly in them, speaking softly, "They are not my people."
"They belong to my sister and the Crown Prince."
"My fiancé has already run away, and now I have no one by my side."
As she spoke, Su Yun could hear the loneliness and helplessness in Zhu Zhuqing's voice.
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's fragile appearance, Su Yun couldn't help but feel a bit of pity.
Being born into such a family was indeed despairing.
The eldest sons, with the advantage of age and family support, were almost impossible to surpass by the younger siblings, even if the latter weren't deliberately sabotaged.
"Little Su Yun, this girl is quite pitiable," Ah Yin, following Su Yun in the soul space, commented. With her experience traveling the continent and Su Yun's knowledge, she knew about the Star Luo Imperial Family's succession rules.
A girl, barely awakened to her soul, was told that if she couldn't beat her older siblings, she would be stripped of her soul power, imprisoned for life, or even executed.
For anyone, this was an unbearable blow.
Su Yun nodded silently.
Had he not come to this world, perhaps Zhu Zhuqing would have followed the original plot and eventually ascended to godhood with Dai Mu Bai.
Unfortunately, they were only second-level gods.
However, since he had come to this world this time, Su Yun naturally wouldn't leave any regrets.
"If you don't mind, how about I become someone by your side?"
Zhu Zhuqing suddenly raised her head, looking at Su Yun for the first time.
So handsome...
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's surprised gaze, Su Yun smiled and said, "Let me introduce myself again, my name is Su Yun."
He then extended his hand.
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated for a moment, but seeing Su Yun's friendly smile, she finally made up her mind.
"My name is Zhu Zhuqing."
Their hands clasped together, Zhu Zhuqing felt a warmth she had never experienced before, and a warm current seemed to flow from Su Yun's hand into her meridians.
She felt her soul power becoming more active.
Why do I feel so comfortable when I'm with him?
Zhu Zhuqing didn't know this was the effect of Su Yun's Blue Silver Emperor soul power.
Life force is a magical power.
It can not only repair the body and restore vitality but also restore hope for the future in the hearts of those who have lost it.
"I know about your Star Luo Imperial Family's rules," Su Yun said, holding Zhu Zhuqing's hand. "Do you hate your fiancé for running away?"
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head.
"I don't hate him."
"If I had the chance, I would also want to run away."
"Escape from this family."
Hearing Su Yun mention her seldom-seen fiancé, Zhu Zhuqing's face showed sorrow: "My family always tells me I must become strong to survive."
"But they always save the best for my sister. When it comes to training, they always find the best teachers for her."
"I can't catch up with her."
As she spoke, Zhu Zhuqing looked at Su Yun again, her face showing an expression mixed with laughter and tears: "Thank you, Su Yun, thank you for your support."
"Actually, I know who you are."
"From the moment we met, I noticed you. They say you are the new disciple of the Pope, with an extraordinary talent."
"My family even cautioned us to be careful of you and other people from the Spirit Hall, saying you are the future enemies of our empire."
"But I think you're better than them."
"At least you care about me at this moment."
Hearing this, Su Yun was slightly startled, not expecting such a vulnerable-looking kitten to know so much.
Zhu Zhuqing held Su Yun's hand tightly, smiling at him: "Actually, my intuition is very accurate."
"If you were insincere just now, I might have attacked you."
"Perhaps by killing you, I could die at the hands of the Pope's hands."
"That would be much better than dying at the hands of my own family."
Listening to Zhu Zhuqing's words about wanting to kill him, Su Yun didn't feel any sense of danger.
He could feel that what Zhu Zhuqing really wanted was the desire to live as a person.
Indeed, dying at the hands of the enemy, the Pope's hands, is much better than being killed by one's own parents.
"But your soul power tells me you're not a bad person," Zhu Zhuqing suddenly showed a smile that Su Yun had never seen before.
"No matter what your purpose is, you have become my first friend... my first."
She emphasized the word 'first' significantly, showing its importance.
In that iron-blooded family, friends were a luxury.
Most relationships were merely based on utility.
Zhu Zhuqing, unlike her outward appearance, was not someone to be trifled with.
She was very aware that the relationships within her family and with others were all based on mutual benefit.
Even her sister, Zhu Zhuqing, and the Crown Prince, Dai Weisi, were merely products of a political marriage between their families.
Did they have feelings for each other? Zhu Zhuqing didn't want to guess.
At least she didn't have much affection for her fiancé.
Even his escape didn't stir much in her heart.
She just despised herself for being too weak.
If only she could be stronger, strong enough to break the rules of the family. Then, perhaps, she could truly be herself.
"The first... friend?" Su Yun's lips curved slightly.
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's current state, he felt that this was her true self when facing a friend.
Although Su Yun was a protagonist, if he couldn't connect sincerely with others, what was the difference between him and a harem protagonist?
"Do you want to leave your family?" Su Yun suddenly asked.
Zhu Zhuqing was startled and then nodded.
"Come with me then," Su Yun said.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened in shock.
She was a member of the Zhu family of the Star Luo Empire!
Join the Pope's Spirit Hall?!
How was that possible?!
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's shocked expression, Su Yun smiled and said, "Nothing is impossible; everything is possible."
"But..." Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip and then looked up, puzzled, "Do you have a way?"
Facing such a family, Zhu Zhuqing naturally wanted to escape.
Unfortunately, since her fiancé ran away, the family's control over her had tightened. She was always accompanied by a Soul King, making escape nearly impossible.
"There is always a way, and here it comes," Su Yun said, noticing a golden-haired man approaching from Dai Weisi's direction, and spoke softly.
"Just sit here and watch the show."
Su Yun had made a decision to take Zhu Zhuqing to the Spirit Hall first.
As for the consequences, Sister Nana had already said she (and the Pope) would take care of it.
At this moment, the golden-haired follower, unaware of Su Yun's intentions, had already approached him.
"This is Su Yun, the new disciple of the Pope, right? I am Dai Yin from the Dai family," the young man, looking about Dai Weisi's age and acting very composed and gentlemanly, said.
Of course, this was their usual approach.
Courtesy first, then action.
Su Yun looked at Dai Yin, still holding Zhu Zhuqing's hand, and nodded, "Yes, that's me. What can I do for you?"
Dai Yin, seeing Su Yun and Zhu Zhuqing holding hands, twitched slightly and said, "Mr. Su Yun, this lady is the fiancée of our Second Prince. As a disciple of the Pope, holding the hand of someone else's fiancée is not polite."
Su Yun calmly replied, "What does it matter? Anyway, your Crown Prince is hoping for your SecondPrince to die soon. Once he dies, Zhuqing will no longer be his fiancée, right?"
The crowd, though Su Yun's voice wasn't loud, heard his words.
My goodness!
Is this the new disciple of the Pope?
So bold!
Some nobles from the Spirit Hall City mentally gave Su Yun a thumbs-up.
Daring to speak such brotherly discord in front of the Star Luo Imperial royalty, he was indeed audacious.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ah Yin, even Sister Nana watching from afar, were all stunned by Su Yun's bold words.
Zhu Zhuqing was dumbfounded: Su Yun, you're too daring!
Dai Yin, standing in front of Su Yun, was equally stunned by his words.
After all, no one had ever dared to speak like that in front of the Star Luo Imperial royalty.
"Mr. Su Yun, please retract your words, or I will take it as a provocation against our Star Luo Empire," Dai Yin said, regaining his composure with a slightly cold expression.
Su Yun remained unfazed, "If speaking the truth is considered a provocation, then what I'm about to do will probably be seen as a declaration of war."
Declaration of war?
What does that mean?
Dai Yin was puzzled, but when he saw Su Yun still holding Zhu Zhuqing's hand without letting go, his pupils suddenly constricted.
A disbelief thought formed in his mind.
At this moment, Su Yun's words reached Dai Yin's ears, audible only to him.
"I know why you came to me, sent by your Crown Prince Dai Weisi to probe my strength, right?"
"You don't need to probe; I can tell you my strength right now."
As he spoke, Dai Yin watched in horror as Su Yun stood up from his seat, still holding Zhu Zhuqing's hand and raised it high.
Before all the noble guests present, Su Yun announced loudly, "From today onwards, Zhu Zhuqing is my fiancée. Anyone who disagrees, speak up!"
(End of chapter)
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