Chapter 43: You Don't Understand at All

"I'm just trying to become stronger!"

Watching Ye Qiu's back, Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head and whispered.

Sitting with her legs crossed, hugging her knees, she stared at the endless stone platform in front of her, her thoughts drifting away.

'Sister! I might be able to beat you now! And end that ridiculous engagement contract with Dai Mubai.'

Thinking about the engagement, Ye Qiu's figure suddenly flashed in her mind.

For more than half a month, she had been taken care of meticulously by Ye Qiu, but she could clearly feel an invisible distance he kept, maybe... it was something she caused herself!

Replaying in her mind Ye Qiu's actions when he healed her and saved her. Even the unexpected kiss didn't seem to bother her much.

Burying her reddening face in her knees, 'What should I do?'

Lost in her solitary thoughts, she suddenly felt a warmth.

Ye Qiu returned, standing beside her, and there was now an additional blanket on her.

"If there's anything, let's think about it tomorrow. It's better to rest now, to avoid leaving any roots for illness. Otherwise, I'll feel guilty!" Ye Qiu said.

"Thank you! What are you doing?" She clenched her fists and kept hitting Ye Qiu's chest.

Unperturbed, Ye Qiu lifted her up, his left hand on her shoulder, and his right hand clenched into a fist placed at the bend of her legs. "I'm not doing anything. If you want to think about something, lying in bed is just as good. Lie down and think slowly. It's most important to heal your injuries quickly!"

After settling her on the bed, Ye Qiu rested alone.

Watching his departing figure, Zhu Zhuqing felt like she already had an answer in her heart. Perhaps it would be difficult, but she genuinely wanted to live for herself!

A night without words!

...

In the following days, Ye Qiu felt that Zhu Zhuqing by his side had changed slightly.

She always called him to play around with those soul beast groups, riding wolves, snakes, and spiders together.

"Hehe, taste the fish I grilled for you!"

Next to a small stream, two white giant wolves were drinking water. Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Qiu sat on the bank, a fire burning in the middle.

Zhu Zhuqing handed the grilled fish to Ye Qiu, a smile on her face.

"It tastes good~ quite delicious!" Ye Qiu didn't expect much from her culinary skills, considering she was a young lady from a big family. However, after taking a small bite, he found the taste surprisingly good!

"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking!" He glanced at Ye Qiu, then took another skewer of grilled fish, "At home, I often do things myself!"

Ye Qiu naturally understood her situation in the Zhu family. The age difference between her and her sister was quite significant, and she couldn't compete with her at all. Who would have thought that a young lady from a noble family would have to do some miscellaneous tasks herself!

"Your Zhu family is really abnormal!" Ye Qiu first complained, then pointed at his head with his index finger, adding, "Oh, by the way, the Star Luo Royal Family is also!"

"Yeah, indeed quite abnormal!" Zhu Zhuqing nodded in agreement, and her mood began to become a bit low again. "After all, which family has siblings that are destined to be enemies from birth?"

Ye Qiu's words brought a chill to the atmosphere, and the grilled fish in his hand became a bit tasteless.

Throwing down the grilled fish in her hand, Zhu Zhuqing leaned against Ye Qiu, knocking the grilled fish in his hand to the ground.

"You—" Ye Qiu was about to react.

But her sleeve had already reached Ye Qiu's mouth, gently wiping away the stains at the corners of his mouth.

"What are you doing?" Ye Qiu pushed her hand away, moving his butt backward.

Her own face also blushed a bit, "What's wrong? When I was bedridden, didn't you take care of me like this?"

"You know that you were bedridden. I'm fine!" Ye Qiu looked at her speechlessly.

"Okay, let's go! Let's take a walk." She suddenly pulled Ye Qiu's hand, heading towards the two wolves by the stream.

Both of them mounted the white wolves, side by side, slowly moving along the stream.

"By the way, Ye Qiu, what exactly do you want me to help with?" Zhu Zhuqing turned her head to look at his profile.

"Well, I want you to help me protect someone!" Thinking of that little rabbit, Ye Qiu couldn't help but smile.

Zhu Zhuqing, with a hint of unease in her heart, asked, "Who is it? And where?"

"Her name is Xiao Wu, and her martial soul is the Soft Bone Enchanting Rabbit. As for where? Well, you'll meet her if you go to Suotuo City in the future."

"A girl?"

"Yeah! It's best to provide close protection. Of course, you can skip it when you need to cultivate!" Ye Qiu nodded, making his request.

'Ye Qiu! I really have to thank you!' Zhu Zhuqing gritted her teeth, giving her an external soul bone just to protect a girl who had an unclear relationship with him? What did her decisions mean? Were her actions a joke these past few days? Did she show her body and let him touch it for nothing? Was her first kiss given away for free?

Zhu Zhuqing forced a bitter smile, and the small step she had finally taken came to an end. She gritted her teeth and continued walking.

"Hmm? By the way, why do you assume I will go to Suotuo City?"

"Because your third prince fiancé is there! Haven't you always wanted to surpass your sister and brother-in-law? I think you'll go look for him later! Actually, what you're doing doesn't change your destiny; you're still living within the fate others have set for you."

Ye Qiu spoke absentmindedly, completely oblivious to Zhu Zhuqing's increasingly unpleasant expression.

"Enough, Ye Qiu!" She let out an angry roar. "Who gave you the right to comment on other people's destinies? Do you think you understand me? You don't understand anything!"

Her roar left Ye Qiu dumbfounded. 'Did I say something wrong?'

She stared at Ye Qiu with red eyes. Already feeling uncomfortable due to that girl named Xiao Wu, hearing Ye Qiu deny all the efforts she had made and thinking she would still go looking for Dai Mubai, she finally couldn't bear it.

"Ye Qiu! You're just a jerk!"

While Ye Qiu was still baffled, after shouting at him, she clamped her legs, and the wolf beneath her leaped forward.

"Hey hey! You haven't agreed yet! Don't go too far from me! It's not good if the soul beast goes out of control!" With no time to think, Ye Qiu called out and hurriedly followed.

...

On a vast grassland, Zhu Zhuqing stopped here.

"Hey! What just happened? If I said something wrong, I apologize to you."

Ye Qiu walked up from behind her. "Zhuqing?"

Zhu Zhuqing didn't pay attention to him, staring fixedly at the distant sky without moving. Ye Qiu could only accompany her.

After a long time, she finally spoke, "You're right and wrong!"

Turning around to look at him, she smiled self-deprecatingly. "I am indeed foolish. Competing with my sister and brother-in-law for strength is indeed what others hope for, but this is the only way I can survive, isn't it?"

"In fact, you still have other choices!"

"Oh? Tell me then!" Zhu Zhuqing sat down, patting the spot beside her, signaling Ye Qiu to sit too.

"You can choose to join a few major forces, such as the Spirit Hall! They have always been eyeing the two major empires. Being from the main line of the Zhu family, if you are willing to join, they will definitely accept you and use you as a benchmark to continue attracting other noble members. After all, there's always someone losing in the power struggle within the aristocracy!"

Zhu Zhuqing looked at him with interest. "What else?"

"There's also the Seven Treasure Glazed Glass Pagoda sect! As long as you have enough talent, I think they will be willing to accept you. After all, Seven Treasure Glazed Glass Pagoda School is reaching a point where they need new talents. 

After finishing, Ye Qiu quietly looked at her.

"Hehe. What about my parents then? Also, don't you think you are overestimating my weight? My innate soul power is only at level seven."

Zhu Zhuqing didn't expect Ye Qiu to be so naive. The Star Luo Imperial Family was not the same as the heaven Dou Imperial Family; they had their own Title Douluo!

Ye Qiu fell silent too, realizing that he was a bit presumptuous.

"Sorry. I didn't consider it thoroughly."

"It's okay! Thank you." The last three words were almost like a mosquito's hum, and even Ye Qiu didn't hear it.

Watching the red glow hanging in the distant sky, she smiled again.

"Hehe." Self-mockingly smiling, when did Zhu Zhuqing become so easily willing to give up?

Turning to look at the bewildered Ye Qiu beside her, she smiled brightly. Regardless of how confused he was, she mounted the white wolf next to him again and ran off.

"Hey! What's wrong with you again?" Ye Qiu was really going crazy. Why was this girl so fickle? He quickly mounted his ride and chased after her.

Zhu Zhuqing enjoyed the cool evening breeze on her face, feeling very relaxed. She had figured it out.

She had to thank Ye Qiu for appearing, giving her a new choice, a new direction of effort – a choice that could truly break free from this fate, a choice worth sacrificing her life for!

(End of this chapter)