Chapter 152: Zhu Zhuqing: Did I Come at a Bad Time?
Chapter 152: Zhu Zhuqing: Did I Come at a Bad Time?
[Daddy Douluo]: Sigh, don’t even mention it.
Lin Qingmo was actually slumped in a chair in his dormitory, feet propped up high.
He scratched his chin while his finger swiped aimlessly across the Light Screen.
[Daddy Douluo]: Anyway, the Transmigration was pretty sudden. One eye closed, one eye opened, and boy, I’d switched maps.
He thought for a moment and added another sentence.
[Daddy Douluo]: This Chat Group came along as part of the package. Isn’t that miraculous?
After typing this, he paused, Tang San’s face flashing through his mind.
[Daddy Douluo]: I reckon there might be some big shot pulling the strings behind the scenes, like some God King or the Will of the Douluo Star, similar to Tang San’s situation?
[Daddy Douluo]: But I’m still too weak right now. I can’t even see the big shots’ chessboard yet... In the secret room of the Crown Prince’s Residence, the cold light remained.
Qian Renxue stared at those few lines, her brow furrowed so deeply it could crush a mosquito.
"Transmigrated just like that?"
Every word carried a hint of flippancy and cynicism, completely out of place with the real World she lived in.
Even more jarring were the words "God King."
God King? A being above the gods? What kind of concept was that?
In the records of the Douluo Continent, becoming a god was already the Peak of legend. A God King... was unheard of.
"What exactly is this person saying? Who exactly is he?"
Her fingertips hovered over the cold input box, tightening slightly.
A strong impulse surged within her to ask more, to interrogate, to tear open all this absurdity and see the truth.
But she forced herself to suppress it.
Because of wariness.
Wariness of the unknown.
Wariness of this "Chat Group" that transcended her scope of understanding.
It led her to choose the safest stance—silence.
She just watched quietly, like a hunter lurking in the shadows, observing every movement... After a brief silence in the group, Bibi Dong’s message followed.
[The Pope Herself]: Anyway, that’s A-Qing’s situation. Transmigration is a reality; there’s no point dwelling on the cause. What we can do now is use the information we each possess to help him gain a foothold on the Douluo Continent.
[Daddy Douluo]: With you guys around, I feel much more at ease.
He changed the subject and suddenly called them out.
[Daddy Douluo]: By the way, @Golden Angel, @Swallow~, I’ve transmigrated to the Douluo Continent. Don’t you two have anything you want to ask?
He sent a winking emoji.
[Daddy Douluo]: It’s a rare opportunity.
"?"
Qian Renxue’s face was full of question marks.
Ask what?
What could I possibly have to say to a stranger like you?
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
The other party had clearly mistaken her for someone else.
To turn hostile and question him now would be equivalent to exposing her identity.
[Golden Angel]: It’s just too much information. Transmigrating to another World... it’s inconceivable. I need time to digest it; my mind is a bit of a mess.
Almost simultaneously, another message popped up.
[Swallow~]: Same here. Let me catch my breath first.
In the dormitory, Dugu Yan curled her lip after sending that "me too" follow-up reply.
She grumbled in her heart, "What else can I say besides being confused? I’m freaking more confused than you!"
[Daddy Douluo]: Alright, alright, I understand. After all, this really is quite surreal.
In his memory, Yanzi and Little Angel should be hardcore fangirls of Dugu Yan and Qian Renxue. Logically, they should be bombarding him with countless questions.
Being so reserved today, they might really be scared.
He didn’t think much of it and yawned.
[Daddy Douluo]: Then you guys take your time. It’s getting dark here; I need to take a shower and get ready for bed.
With that, the Light Screen dimmed before his eyes.
He stretched and said to Xiao Wu, who was peeking at him from the bed, "Xiao Wu, I’m going to wash up first," then headed toward the bathroom.
He was completely unaware of the waves his casual words had stirred in other places... "Me?!"
Dugu Yan almost jumped out of her chair.
Her eyes were glued to the last few lines on the Light Screen about "questions related to Qian Renxue and Dugu Yan."
Dugu Yan?
He knows me!
Not only does he know me, but from his tone, he seems quite familiar and even thinks I should be interested in my own affairs?
A chill ran up her spine, mixed with a massive sense of absurdity and alertness.
"What does he want me to ask? What does he know? Is the ’Dugu Yan’ he speaks of me, or..."
Countless questions swirled in her throat.
She was on the verge of asking recklessly.
But "Daddy Douluo’s" avatar had grayed out.
She held her breath in her chest for a long time before finally exhaling sharply.
"Can’t rush this!"
She told herself repeatedly.
Friend or foe unclear, depth unknown.
This Chat Group was too eerie, and this A-Qing was too strange.
She had to first figure out what this thing was and what their purpose was.
Rashly exposing herself might lead to her death without even knowing how she died.
She turned off the Light Screen display, and the room fell into darkness.
Only the sound of rapid breathing was exceptionally clear in the silence... On the other side.
In the secret room of the Crown Prince’s Residence in Heaven Dou City.
The air suddenly froze.
Qian Renxue sat bolt upright, the faint golden light surrounding her seemingly stagnating for a moment.
All the confusion and absurdity on her face were replaced by a cold sharpness the moment she heard her true name.
Qian Renxue... this name was a highly guarded secret even within the Spirit Hall.
Aside from a very few Consecrated Elders and Elders, ordinary people didn’t even know of her existence.
This A-Qing, who supposedly came from another World and spoke so flippantly, not only knew it but also mentioned it casually in a nearly familiar tone.
"Why? Who is he? Where did he learn this from? What is his purpose?"
Countless alarm bells rang frantically in her mind.
Having been in disguise for many years and being well-versed in the way of hiding, she felt for the first time a chill of having her disguise pierced by an unknown gaze.
"I must find out!"
Her gaze fell on the nickname [Golden Angel], her eyes complex.
This identity was originally intended only as another layer of disguise for the Chat Group, but now it seemed to have become a potential target.
She slowly reined in all her outward emotions, turning back into that calm, almost heartless infiltrator.
Only in the depths of her eyes did a sharp golden light flash quietly... In the Supreme Pontiff Palace of Spirit City.
"Qian Renxue..."
A low voice drifted from the Supreme Pontiff’s throne, carrying a tremor like a volcano about to erupt, forcibly suppressed.
When that name jumped out from A-Qing’s message, a terrifying aura exploded uncontrollably from Bibi Dong.
The expensive crystal lamps in the hall suddenly dimmed.
The air was squeezed by invisible pressure, letting out an overburdened groan.
Her magnificent Supreme Pontiff robes fluttered without wind.
Her fingers gripping the scepter were clearly defined, trembling slightly from the force.
Killing intent!
Pure, cold, and unreserved killing intent swept through the entire hall like the freezing wind of the Extreme North.
But this loss of control lasted only for an instant.
Bibi Dong closed her eyes, her chest heaving once.
When she opened them again, the surging violence in her eyes had been forcibly pushed down to the deepest depths.
Only cold logic and deeper vigilance remained.
Her aura settled, and the lights in the hall stabilized.
Her gaze was firmly fixed on the name in the Chat Group list—[Golden Angel].
"Angel... Qian Renxue... could it be you..."
She asked silently in her heart, her teeth lightly biting the inside of her lower lip, tasting a hint of metallic rust.
Qian Renxue... if it really is you, if you are also in this group, if you heard A-Qing’s words... Bibi Dong’s fingertips lightly brushed over the cold gemstone at the top of her scepter.
In the depths of her eyes, unutterably complex emotions intertwined and churned.
Under the facade of calm, the undercurrents had already turned into a whirlpool... The night wind was a bit chilly, slipping in through the crack in the window and making the candlelight flicker.
The light in the dormitory was warm and cozy.
A-Qing’s fingertips still lingered by Xiao Wu’s cheek.
The heat radiating from her skin made his fingertips feel a bit hot.
Xiao Wu was almost curled up in his arms, her arms around his neck, her breathing light and rapid, all spilling into the crook of his neck.
Their noses were almost touching, and they could see their tiny reflections in each other’s eyes.
The tips of Xiao Wu’s ears were as red as ripe cherries, so cute it made one want to take a bite.
Just as the air was becoming sticky with sweetness—
"Knock, knock, knock."
The sound of knocking echoed.
Not heavy, but carrying a hint of imperceptible urgency.
Lin Qingmo’s movement paused, his eyebrows shooting up.
Who is it? They sure know how to pick a time.
He pressed Xiao Wu’s shoulders and patted them lightly, signaling her not to move.
Xiao Wu immediately let go, sitting up straight in a panic, hurriedly smoothing her stray hair and tugging at her slightly messy skirt, her face turning even redder.
Lin Qingmo stood up, casually straightening his collar, then went to open the door.
He pulled the door open a crack.
Standing outside was Zhu Zhuqing.
She was dressed in black martial attire that almost blended into the shadows of the corridor.
A few strands of hair at her temples were damp with night dew, clinging to her fair forehead.
Her breathing was slightly unsteady, clearly having rushed over.
The moment the door opened, her gaze instinctively swept into the room.
She happened to see Xiao Wu with her head down, hurriedly tidying her sleeves, the unfaded blush on her cheeks having nowhere to hide under the warm yellow candlelight.
"?"
Zhu Zhuqing was visibly stunned.
Immediately, as if burned, she quickly looked away, her gaze falling on the floor.
Her fingers unconsciously tightened around her cuffs, the force causing small wrinkles in the fabric.
She opened her mouth, her voice several degrees lower than usual, carrying a rare hint of hesitation and embarrassment.
"Did I... come at a bad time?"
Her voice was soft, falling into the quiet night.
"..."
Hearing this, Lin Qingmo’s expression turned strange.
Thinking of a certain famous scene, he almost instinctively replied, ’No, you came at exactly the right time.’
Xiao Wu stood up abruptly, forcing an unnatural smile onto her face, though the blush wouldn’t fade for a while.
"No interruption, no interruption at all!"
"Zhuqing, come in quickly, it’s cold outside."
As she stepped into the room.
Zhu Zhuqing deliberately avoided Lin Qingmo, who was standing by the door, and only stared at the path beneath her feet.
The candlelight cast her slender, tall shadow long against the wall.
She walked to the middle of the room and stopped.
Her posture was still upright, yet it inexplicably exuded a bit of awkwardness that was out of place with the warm atmosphere.
The air in the room seemed to still hold the lingering warmth and intimacy from before.
And now, it was mixed with the chill of the night wind and a subtle awkwardness.
Lin Qingmo closed the door and leaned against it, his gaze sweeping over Zhu Zhuqing.
"Sit."
He pointed to a chair, his tone returning to its usual casualness.
"What’s up? Tell me. For you to run over at this hour, it couldn’t be just to chat with Xiao Wu and me, right?"
"Are you in some kind of trouble?"
Xiao Wu also poured a cup of warm water and handed it to Zhu Zhuqing, her eyes filled with concern.
Zhu Zhuqing took the cup, her fingertips feeling the warmth from the glass.
She didn’t sit down; she just held the cup and looked up.
This time, her gaze finally met Lin Qingmo’s.
The embarrassment in her eyes had faded, replaced by a calm seriousness.
Zhu Zhuqing pursed her lips and said solemnly, "A-Qing, I want to ask you... help me become stronger!"
(End of Chapter)
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