Chapter 18: The Kind-Hearted Hu Liena
Inside Zhou Chen's tent at the camp.
As someone who is cautious (and afraid of death), Zhou Chen would never fall asleep while spending the night in the perilous wilderness.
He was sitting cross-legged on a bamboo mat, his hands facing the sky, practicing the "Huangdi Neijing" to slowly restore the nearly depleted central earth-yellow aura.
Suddenly, a breeze swept through the tent's entrance. Realizing something was amiss, Zhou Chen quickly opened his eyes, shooting out beams of golden light that instantly illuminated the entire tent.
The ability to generate electricity in an empty room was one of the highest pursuits in low-level martial arts worlds, but for an immortal cultivator like Zhou Chen, it was just the beginning.
"Who's there? Come out," Zhou Chen said with a calm exterior, though he felt a bit nervous inside.
When the breeze passed, he knew someone had entered, and they were invisible.
Whoever broke in this late at night was clearly not friendly!
"Hehe, you're quite alert," a crisp laugh sounded, and in the next moment, a perfectly-figured teenage blonde girl appeared in the corner of the tent.
The girl wore a golden dress with a white cloak adorned with the Spirit Hall emblem on her chest. Most importantly, she was very attractive, causing Zhou Chen, who appreciates beauty, to feel a flutter.
However, when Zhou Chen noticed the Spirit Hall emblem on her chest, he froze.
As expected, the commotion from that day had indeed attracted the Spirit Hall's attention.
Now the question was whether this blonde sister was here to recruit him or to kill him.
Suppressing the urge to flirt, Zhou Chen raised an eyebrow and asked, "From Spirit Hall? May I ask the sister's name?"
"Hu Liena."
"The Spirit Hall Saintess, Hu Liena?"
Zhou Chen was stunned.
Though he had always liked this affectionate woman with a tragic ending in the original story back on Earth, he hadn't expected her to appear before him so soon.
"As expected of the heir of a hidden family, you even know my identity," Hu Liena said casually.
Hearing this, Zhou Chen was startled.
What hidden family? That was something he made up to fool Yu Xiaogang! How did Spirit Hall know?
Could it be that Yu Xiaogang had betrayed him?
Seeing Zhou Chen's suspicious expression, Hu Liena chuckled, "Don't be afraid, little friend. I overheard their conversation."
"Darn it..."
Zhou Chen cursed inwardly but put on an innocent smile, "Why would I be afraid when such a beautiful sister comes to see me at night?"
"Hehe, you sure know how to talk."
Being complimented on her beauty, Hu Liena was instantly pleased, her unintentional charm making Zhou Chen a little dizzy.
However, he wasn't the type to be a pushover just because he saw a pretty girl!
Steadying himself, Zhou Chen continued, "Sister, is there something you need from me this late?"
"There is. My teacher sent me to recruit you, to persuade you to join Spirit Hall."
As she spoke of the matter at hand, Hu Liena turned serious.
Hearing this, Zhou Chen thought to himself, "As expected."
He had anticipated possible moves from Spirit Hall and had decided:
If Spirit Hall came to recruit him, he would agree immediately to avoid being killed!
So, without hesitation, Zhou Chen sincerely said, "I'll join. Spirit Hall is what I've always longed for."
However, upon hearing Zhou Chen's words, Hu Liena slowly shook her head, her eyes suddenly filled with sadness as she looked at him.
Seeing Hu Liena like this, Zhou Chen's heart skipped a beat, sensing trouble.
Sure enough, Hu Liena sighed and said, "I can't accept you joining. Spirit Hall won't accept you."
"Why?"
Zhou Chen was bewildered. This wasn't part of the script he had crafted!
With his extraordinary talent, why wouldn't Spirit Hall accept him?
"Because you're from a hidden family. And from what I overheard, it seems your family has also established a public force, intending to re-enter the continental struggle."
At this point, Hu Liena's tone slowed, "I can't betray my teacher by allowing someone with ulterior motives to join Spirit Hall."
Hearing this, Zhou Chen understood.
No major force would randomly recruit people, even if they were talented. After all, recruiting someone from an enemy force would only invite trouble.
The larger the force, the more careful they are in recruiting, often conducting background checks. Children from clean, civilian backgrounds are more welcomed by major forces, but children from noble families are generally not accepted by Spirit Hall.
Recruited noble children would likely work for their family's interests, potentially betraying at any moment.
Moreover, Zhou Chen's so-called hidden family was said to want to re-enter the world and participate in the continental struggle, making them an outright enemy to Spirit Hall, who sought to unify the Douluo Continent!
The problem was... this hidden family business was all Zhou Chen's fabrication!
It was all fake! But Hu Liena believed it!
Zhou Chen was instantly filled with tears.
The next second, Zhou Chen suddenly felt a chill!
Because if Spirit Hall wasn't recruiting him, they would surely eliminate him.
Should he make the first move?
As expected, Hu Liena looked at him with a pained expression and said, "Before I came, the elder told me that if you couldn't join Spirit Hall, I should signal him, and he would immediately come to cripple your soul power, leaving you as a normal person."
Zhou Chen instantly tensed, ready to act.
What nonsense about crippling his soul power—that was just adults trying to placate children.
If you don't pull the weeds, they will grow again with the spring breeze! That elder would definitely kill him once and for all!
Seeing Zhou Chen's small movements, Hu Liena sighed, "I know your strength—the first soul skill alone has the power of a Soul King. But you've just used it, and the consumption must be significant. Can you use it again so soon?"
Indeed, Zhou Chen had only recovered 30% of his strength, and he couldn't use the soul skill again for a day.
However, even so, he had means to eliminate Hu Liena before Spirit Hall's experts arrived!
Unfortunately, Hu Liena's next words shattered his hopes: "I've already broken through to level 30, so it's unlikely you could kill me instantly. Most importantly, Elder Chrysanthemum is a Titled Douluo, less than ten miles from here. He could reach us within a minute if he sees my signal, and you won't escape."
"Chrysanthemum Douluo... Yue Guan," Zhou Chen said bitterly.
"That's right, that's him. You know quite a lot for a little guy," Hu Liena said, noticing Zhou Chen's desperate expression, her eyes showing reluctance. A girl's innate empathy welled up inside her.
After a long silence, her gaze turned resolute.
"I can't let you join Spirit Hall because I can't betray my teacher! But I don't want to harm you either..."
Hu Liena whispered gravely, "Right now, the entire perimeter of the Spirit Hunting Forest is surrounded by Spirit Hall's enforcement team. Even if I let you escape, you wouldn't make it out on your own. So..."
At this point, a struggle flashed in Hu Liena's beautiful eyes before she made up her mind.
"I know the enforcement team's weaknesses. I'll personally help you escape."
Hearing this, Zhou Chen was dumbfounded.
Hu Liena... what kind of move was this?