Chapter 15
The next morning, the sky was still dim, and the air was thick with mist.
Before Lin Bai was fully awake, he felt a familiar pull—Zhu Zhuqing, far away in the Star Luo Empire, had begun her morning training.
"Ah~"
He let out a lazy yawn, his eyes still heavy with sleep. Without resisting, he allowed his consciousness to drift toward Zhu Zhuqing.
Inside a softly lit tent, Zhu Zhuqing sat in quiet meditation. Her eyes remained shut, making it impossible for Lin Bai to see her surroundings. He could extend his mental perception, but doing so would disturb her concentration. Instead, he waited patiently, mentally reviewing the plans he had made the night before.
An hour later, the sun had risen, casting a golden glow over the world. Zhu Zhuqing ended her meditation, stretched, and prepared to head to the backyard for her morning exercises.
Lin Bai greeted her.
"Morning, Zhu Zhuqing."
She paused for a moment, her normally cold expression softening ever so slightly with a hint of joy. "Good morning, senior. When did you get here?"
After Lin Bai left yesterday, she had thought long and hard. In the end, she decided to seize this unexpected opportunity. A powerful being who could contact her without alerting her father—someone capable of evolving her martial spirit—was not a chance to be ignored. Lin Bai's youthful voice had initially made her wary, but his actions had proven his sincerity.
"Not long ago," Lin Bai lied easily. "I saw you training and didn't want to interrupt."
His gaze wandered around her room, noting the simple furnishings. It didn't resemble the bedroom of a noble's daughter, though he lacked the eye to recognize any hidden luxuries.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly, whether in belief or doubt, it was hard to tell. Lowering her gaze, she hesitated before speaking.
"I'm worried my family might notice, so I didn't prepare too many supplies. I'll need to restock once I leave the Duke's Mansion."
"It's fine," Lin Bai replied casually. "With some luck, you'll be back soon enough."
Zhu Zhuqing didn't comment. Without further delay, she moved toward the door.
"Let's go. We should avoid attracting attention."
"Through the back door," she confirmed.
Last night, she had planned everything meticulously. She knew the guards' patrol schedule and had chosen this early morning window when security would be most relaxed. Moving swiftly, she stepped out of her room, careful not to release any fluctuations of soul power. She wore soft-soled shoes to silence her movements, planning to switch to sturdier ones once she was safely outside.
The Zhu family's mansion was massive, spanning over 100,000 square meters. Even at a light jog, it would take at least fifteen minutes to reach the back exit. Fortunately, the women and children lived toward the rear, allowing Zhu Zhuqing to navigate without suspicion.
At the back gate, two uniformed servants stood guard. They had just changed shifts and were still drowsy, stifling yawns.
Zhu Zhuqing sized them up—ordinary people.
Carefully, she crouched near the wall, found footholds in the decorative carvings, and pushed off. A swift roll in mid-air, and she landed silently on the other side.
Her heart pounded briefly before she calmed herself.
Lin Bai had remained silent throughout the escape, ready to intervene if necessary. But Zhu Zhuqing had proven to be both bold and careful, leaving him with nothing to do.
With her escape successful, Lin Bai shifted his attention to the bustling streets of Xingluo City.
Zhu Zhuqing wasted no time heading out of the city. Renting a carriage was out of the question—her young age and striking appearance would make her too memorable. If the Zhu family began searching for her, it would be easy to track her movements.
Instead, she chose another method: bribery. Gold soul coins spoke louder than words, and soon enough, she had secured passage with a caravan heading toward the Soul Hunting Forest.
Despite her determination, doubt crept in.
Am I being reckless? If something happens on the road, no one will come to save me.
Two days passed. Zhu Zhuqing barely slept, keeping herself alert in the unfamiliar environment. She relied on meditation to sustain herself, her beast martial spirit granting her the endurance to endure exhaustion.
Behind her, the caravan's steward and deputy exchanged glances. They had been tempted to make a move on her—young, beautiful, and clearly from wealth. But the risk of stirring trouble near Xingluo City was too great. In the end, they settled for taking her money and avoiding unnecessary complications.
A wise choice.
Had they acted otherwise, Lin Bai would have shown no mercy. As the one who had drawn Zhu Zhuqing into this, he saw it as his responsibility to ensure her safety.
After a night's rest in a roadside inn, Zhu Zhuqing finally reached the Soul Hunting Forest.
The Star Luo Empire held more military might than the Heaven Dou Empire, but it was still Spirit Hall that controlled the forest's entrance.
She presented a token and was granted entry without issue.
Stepping into the dense forest, Zhu Zhuqing's hardened exterior softened slightly. The towering trees and shifting shadows gave the illusion of a gaping maw, ready to swallow any who entered.
A whisper brushed against her mind.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here."
Lin Bai's voice was calm, steady—an anchor in the unknown.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, taking comfort in his presence. She had no allies here, no protection beyond the unseen force guiding her.
Lin Bai expanded his mental perception, mapping out the terrain within a hundred meters. Every movement, every shift in the wind, was laid bare in his mind. His daily visualizations of a dragon had sharpened his mental senses, making him as attuned to danger as any soul beast.
After a short walk, his voice came again.
"Stop. There's a ten-year-old spirit beast in the fifth tree to the left. Want to test your skills?"
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated.
Tempting—but no. Not yet.
She shook her head. She wasn't ready to take risks. More than that, she wanted to see Lin Bai's strength firsthand.
Her resolve was unwavering, but that didn't change the reality of her current weakness.
One battle wouldn't alter anything.
Without a word, she turned her gaze forward, waiting for Lin Bai to act.
A brief rustling. A few leaves drifting down. Then—a thud.
A white figure tumbled from the branches—a small wind baboon, its own claws clutching its throat, its wide eyes frozen in shock. A silent, painless death.
Telekinesis was not the most destructive ability, but against the weak, it was unmatched.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes gleamed, bright with curiosity rather than fear. Bloodshed did not unsettle her—children of noble houses were trained to endure it from an early age.
"How did you do that?"
She was not the type to pry. But in this moment, curiosity overrode restraint.
Lin Bai chuckled.
"It's a secret. Let me keep a little mystery, won't you?"
Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together but didn't argue. Without another word, she continued deeper into the forest.
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