Chapter 154: Zhu Zhuqing’s Misunderstanding, Xiao Wu Feels Something is Amiss
Chapter 154: Zhu Zhuqing’s Misunderstanding, Xiao Wu Feels Something is Amiss
"Obliterated... confined..."
Xiao Wu murmured these two words, her body trembling uncontrollably.
She held Lin Qingmo’s hand.
A sour heat rushed to her eyes without warning, blurring her vision instantly.
Realizing things were going south,
she quickly lowered her head and bit her lower lip hard, trying to suppress the sob.
But she couldn’t hold it back completely.
"Zhuqing..."
When she spoke again, her voice carried a heavy nasal tone, along with unconcealable heartache and resonance.
"I... I think I can understand your feelings a little."
She raised her hand and haphazardly wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
Taking a few deep breaths, she tried to make her voice sound steadier.
"My mother... she was murdered."
Saying this seemed to drain much of her strength, but her gaze gradually became more stubborn.
"I couldn’t do anything back then; I could only run."
"So I also desperately wanted to become stronger."
"On one hand, I didn’t want to be that powerless anymore; I wanted the ability to protect myself and the important people around me."
As she spoke, Xiao Wu looked at Lin Qingmo, her expression fervent and gentle.
"On the other hand, I also thought that one day I would become strong enough to find the person who killed my mother and let her rest in peace."
"See, we’re actually a bit alike, aren’t we?"
Xiao Wu tried to squeeze out a smile, but it was more painful to watch than crying.
"Both of us are running forward desperately to break free from something."
"Maybe it’s terrible rules, maybe it’s blood debts from the past... anyway, we just don’t want to accept our fate."
Zhu Zhuqing listened quietly.
When she heard Xiao Wu say, "I think I can understand your feelings a little," her tense shoulders, which seemed to bristle with invisible spikes, relaxed imperceptibly.
The coldness and distance in her gaze toward Xiao Wu lessened, replaced by a bit more soft understanding and even a hint of solace.
It was a warm resonance, like trekking through lonely darkness for too long and suddenly discovering another spark of light nearby.
She didn’t say any words of comfort.
She only gave Xiao Wu a very light but certain nod.
Lin Qingmo leaned against the table, watching this scene, and sighed softly in his heart.
Well, the classic plot flashback combined with the heroines healing each other.
I know this script well.
However, despite the internal complaining, his face showed no extra expression.
He knew everything Zhu Zhuqing said was true.
It might even be more cruel than she described.
In the original work, the competition within the Star Luo Imperial Family was essentially a Gu-rearing model.
He also knew how deep Xiao Wu’s hatred was; that obsession had sustained her for a long time.
This was where the information gap lay.
The trajectories of fate they valued as life itself and fought desperately against were, in the eyes of this "Transmigrator," just a known storyline that could even be looked up in a "guidebook."
The feeling was subtle and a bit heavy.
"Alright, enough with the sentimentality."
He broke the silence, his voice returning to its usual casualness, even carrying a hint of laziness.
"Crying won’t increase your spirit power by a single rank."
He set down his water cup and walked over to the two girls.
He first looked at Xiao Wu and reached out to ruffle her hair; the movement was a bit rough, yet it carried a strangely soothing force.
"Just keep the revenge in your heart. The road is long; take it slow."
Lin Qingmo lightly patted the back of Xiao Wu’s hand as a form of comfort.
Then, his gaze shifted back to Zhu Zhuqing.
The girl stood ramrod straight like a tightened string, like a soldier awaiting judgment.
There was no pleading in those beautiful cat-like eyes, only a nearly stubborn expectation and a desperate gamble.
"Fine."
Lin Qingmo nodded, his tone betraying no emotion.
"I’ve seen your sincerity."
"At least you didn’t make up stories or spout empty words like ’for justice’ or ’for glory.’"
He picked up the cup and took another sip, organizing his words in the process.
"However, Zhu Zhuqing, I have to say some things upfront."
He set the cup down, his gaze becoming somewhat deep.
"The method you want to ask about—how should I put it—it’s not as simple as a set of calisthenics."
"That stuff involves very deep things."
He curled his lips, showing a smile without much warmth.
"You know the nature of the Spirit Master’s world better than I do."
"Once even a tiny bit of information about breaking the absorption age limit leaks out, do you know how many eyes it will attract?"
He leaned forward slightly, looking into Zhu Zhuqing’s eyes.
"The temptation is too great, do you understand?"
The air in the room seemed to stagnate even more because of his words.
The candlelight burned quietly, light and shadow flickering across his face.
Zhu Zhuqing listened very seriously, even her breathing becoming light.
She certainly knew what this meant.
The cruel succession war of the Star Luo Empire had allowed her to witness human greed and the temptation of power earlier than her peers.
However, her back actually straightened even more.
"I understand."
She suddenly said with a solemn expression, "I swear by my Spirit, the Hell Civet, that I will never reveal any information to the outside world."
She raised her right hand, spirit power flickering slightly at her fingertips, and a phantom black civet light flashed momentarily in her palm.
This was one of the most solemn oaths for a Spirit Master, connected to their SpiritOrigin.
"If I, Zhu Zhuqing, leak even a fraction of what I hear today, I shall suffer the backlash of my Spirit, my spirit power shall dissipate, and I shall never recover for all eternity."
After finishing the oath, she lowered her hand, her gaze still fixed firmly on Lin Qingmo.
"As long as I can get the chance to become stronger, I can accept any price."
Her tone carried a desperate resolve.
"I have nothing left to lose, except for this life that still wants to struggle."
Lin Qingmo didn’t state his position immediately after listening.
He raised an eyebrow, his gaze scanning Zhu Zhuqing with a hint of scrutiny.
The girl had just bathed; her hair wasn’t completely dry, and damp mist still clung to the ends against her fair neck.
Her lustrous skin glowed with a soft sheen under the dim candlelight.
The ink-colored tight-fitting clothes fit her perfectly, outlining a slender yet not fragile silhouette, instead exuding a sense of supple strength.
In her features, the greenness of a young girl had not yet completely faded, but it had been forced to take on a premature coldness and heroism.
Tsk, I have to say, her foundation is truly good.
Lin Qingmo made an objective evaluation in his heart.
His scrutiny only lasted a second or two, but Zhu Zhuqing clearly noticed it.
Her face turned red instantly, all the way to the tips of her ears.
That color was almost translucent under the candlelight.
Almost subconsciously, she raised her hand and quickly pulled her already tight collar together, even taking half a step back.
"Th-that kind of thing... it’s-it’s not okay!"
Her voice suddenly became thin and hurried, her eyes shifting, not daring to look at him.
"I... I didn’t mean that. The price... doesn’t include that!"
Lin Qingmo froze for a moment.
Then, he let out a "pfft" and laughed, his shoulders shaking.
"Hey, hey, Zhuqing..."
He laughed somewhat helplessly and with a bit of mischief.
"You’ve got quite an imagination. Who told you the price was that?"
Looking at her ears that seemed about to catch fire, he found it extremely amusing.
"I meant the price might be very high."
He spread his hands: "And you just jumped straight to a strange frequency."
"Ugh!"
Zhu Zhuqing’s face turned even redder, this time from embarrassment.
She pursed her lips and looked down, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.
She frantically criticized herself in her heart: Zhu Zhuqing, what are you thinking! This is so embarrassing!
Especially since Xiao Wu was still here.
At this moment, Xiao Wu’s gaze toward Zhu Zhuqing was exceptionally strange.
Xiao Wu blinked on the side, looking at one then the other,
and let out a belated "oh," seemingly understanding the misunderstanding just now.
Her cheeks also started to feel a bit hot.
She quietly pinched Lin Qingmo’s arm and muttered softly, "You too, speak clearly."
(End of Chapter)
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