Chapter 186: Severing the Past, Part 1
Just as Ye Wen had planned, Duke Zhu's House of Nether might carry a noble title, yet in Star Luo, it held little real power. Even the family's lands lay close to the imperial capital, convenient for the Dai family's constant surveillance. So, while the Zhu family might not be capable of grand acts, their ties to the Dai family granted them information beyond the reach of ordinary folk.
This arrangement was precisely what Ye Wen needed. Although he could gather this intel himself, it was far easier to entrust such tasks to a family with potential. After all, Ye Wen viewed the Dai Zhu alliance with distaste; their so called partnership was simply an excuse for the Dai family to sap the Zhu family's worth, disregarding kinship and longevity in favor of exploitation. Remarkably, the Zhu family had endured this treatment for centuries.
Now, with Zhu Zhuyun's eager agreement, she'd been instructed to relay select information to her father, who would discreetly pass it to Ye Wen's contacts within Tianxing Academy. To safeguard the secrecy of her mission, Ye Wen provided Zhu Zhuyun with a coded message system. She tucked the notebook carefully inside a soul guide pendant around her neck an action that didn't escape Ye Wen's notice, who smirked at the sight.
After a moment, Zhu Zhuyun's attention turned back to her younger sister. A flicker of worry crossed her face, and she asked Ye Wen, "Lord Sea God, what will happen to my sister now?"
Ye Wen glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, who was standing uneasily nearby, and responded, "When you return, tell them your sister was taken by a dark soul master in the chaos of an ambush by fallen spirit masters. Don't worry I'll make sure the scene is convincingly staged so they won't suspect a thing. As for your sister, she'll be training with me from now on. This way, your family can rest easy."
With a sigh of relief, Zhu Zhuyun murmured, "Thank you, Lord Sea God." She was struck by how different Ye Wen was from the gods of her imagination; his kindness exceeded what she'd expected.
As she prepared to leave, Zhu Zhuyun glanced back at her sister with a hint of envy. Zhu Zhuqing would be learning directly from a god an opportunity beyond the reach of most soul masters.
When her sister had disappeared from sight, Zhu Zhuqing stood silently, her emotions swirling.
"Well, well," Ye Wen chuckled, breaking the silence. "You held onto that anger for so long, only to find out it was all a misunderstanding. Surprise!"
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated, unsure how to reconcile the formidable figure she'd seen before with the casual, mischievous man before her now.
"Let's get going," he continued. "With all this running away, you're still only at level 27? That's quite disappointing." Seeing her downcast face, he softened his tone. "Come on, you'll need real training if you're going to catch up."
True to his word, Ye Wen took her under his wing over the following days, abandoning his earlier solemn manner for a more laid back approach. Through their travels, Ye Wen introduced Zhu Zhuqing to a range of new training methods, guiding her development in ways no one else had. Her Nether Spirit Cat was a complex beast, a fusion of darkness and spiritual attributes that, in other circumstances, might have suited a dark soul master perfectly.
One afternoon, Ye Wen noticed Zhu Zhuqing distracted and staring off into the distance. "What's wrong?" he asked between bites of a local snack.
She looked up, startled. Ye Wen grinned knowingly, teasing, "Don't tell me you're already thinking about a man?"
Zhu Zhuqing flushed a deep red and muttered in protest, playfully shoving his shoulder in embarrassment.
"Ah, ow!" Ye Wen feigned pain, though he quickly fell serious, seeing her discomfort. "Let me guess you're thinking about that fiancé of yours?"
She nodded, unable to hide her troubled expression. Ye Wen sighed internally, bemused. Zhu Zhuqing was far too devoted, still holding onto her attachment to Dai Mubai, who had left her behind and moved abroad.
"Well, I know where he is. Want to see him?" Ye Wen offered, his tone casual.
Her eyes widened slightly, memories of her fiancé from childhood flashing through her mind. After a long pause, she nodded.
The city of Soto hadn't changed much. The same worn walls, the lively crowd, the flow of people around the bustling Great Spirit Arena. Avoiding attention, Ye Wen silently led Zhu Zhuqing inside, her eyes full of curiosity at the city's somewhat shabby streets. Growing up in the Star Luo capital, the experience of a common town was new to her.
"Teacher, where's Dai Mubai?" she asked.
"Patience, you'll see soon," Ye Wen replied. "I've got a good show planned for you."
The unease she felt before now returned, but she followed him obediently. They stopped at an ornate inn, and Zhu Zhuqing glanced up to read the sign: Rose Hotel. As they entered, she picked up on faint noises, a series of heavy breaths carrying through the air, and blushed, having some inkling of what sort of place this might be.
Without a word, Ye Wen guided her to the balcony on the second floor, overlooking the lobby below. His lips twisted into a knowing smile. "Just wait a moment. The show's about to start."
At that moment, a familiar figure strolled into the hotel.
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