She had originally thought that no matter how heaven-defying Ye Qiu was, he could only give Zhu Zhuqing a Ten Thousand Year spirit ring that was just over a decade old.
She didn't expect it to be thirty thousand years!
One must know that the limit a Spirit Emperor could absorb was only twenty thousand years!
"Are you not joking?"
"Does Ye Qiu need to lie to you?" Zhu Zhuqing glanced at her.
"Then, younger sister, what is your current cultivation level?"
"Forty-fourth rank Spirit Ancestor!"
Zhu Zhuqing said calmly, quietly adding food for Ye Qiu.
This was all thanks to Ye Qiu's help.
Zhu Zhuyun was stunned for a moment.
It took her a long time to give a bitter smile.
"It seems my sister has indeed found a good man."
"Ah ha... just so-so."
Ye Qiu chuckled dryly, only able to say it wasn't exactly good, just a lingering sense of damnable responsibility.
Zhu Zhuqing rolled her eyes at Ye Qiu, but didn't retort.
A slight smile also played on her lips.
She was naturally happy that Ye Qiu felt indebted to her.
At the very least, it proved that she still held a significant place in his heart; he would often think of her, and even a limited compensation was enough to satisfy her.
Looking at the young couple in front of her, their expressions differed.
Ye Qiu's face showed guilt and affection, while her own sister's face was full of satisfaction and happiness.
Despite not knowing exactly what had happened between them, Zhu Zhuyun smiled at their distinct expressions.
With a teasing smile, she said, "Xiao Qiu, you are truly interesting."
Zhu Zhuqing immediately became alert, giving her a cold glance.
Zhu Zhuyun didn't mind.
Looking at the food in front of her, her appetite greatly increased.
Zhu Zhuyun hadn't believed the compensation Zhu Zhuqing was going to give her.
When she proposed that condition, it was only to make her leave.
She didn't expect it.
Now, she had truly brought her a great gift.
Even without the Snow Lotus, and reaching Spirit Ancestor a bit later.
But a thirty-thousand-year fourth spirit ring could definitely make up for the time she spent.
...
After a harmonious lunch.
They agreed to start hunting spirits early tomorrow morning.
Ye Qiu then left the room.
At this moment, he was resting in Room Two.
When Zhu Zhuqing was about to leave with him, Zhu Zhuyun called her back.
The two women were talking in Room Three.
"Is there something you need?" Zhu Zhuqing was as cold as ever.
"My dear sister, there's no need to be so hostile towards your elder sister now, is there?"
Zhu Zhuyun waved her hand helplessly.
"I've brought you good news!"
"Good news? What good news?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked at her curiously.
"It concerns your engagement." Zhu Zhuyun said with a smile, "The news of that good-for-nothing Dai Mubai being crippled has already reached Star Luo. The imperial throne is settled, and you no longer need to bear that so-called engagement!"
"Really?!" Zhu Zhuqing's expression brightened. "What did the family say?"
"That good-for-nothing is already useless, what else could they say?"
"He was lucky to escape with his life!"
"The current Dai Weisi is different; if you go against him, it's a sure death!"
Zhu Zhuyun spoke unhurriedly, but when she mentioned Dai Weisi, her eyes flashed with a look of struggle and solemnity.
"Is there something wrong with Dai Weisi?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, puzzled.
"Hmm." Zhu Zhuyun's eyes dimmed, and she pondered for a moment.
She said in a deep voice, "Before you left for Soto City where Dai Mubai was, and while I still hadn't agreed to cultivate Hell White Tiger with him."
"He has already accepted the olive branch thrown out by those Fallen!"
"Now he... has become very strong! At the very least, he's a Spirit King!"
"Spirit King?! How could he be so fast?" Zhu Zhuqing was also shocked. Such a rapid increase in cultivation was truly strange!
He should have had a similar cultivation level to her sister!
"How would I know that?" Zhu Zhuyun rolled her eyes at her.
As early as when Zhu Zhuqing returned with her purple second spirit ring, Dai Weisi began to get anxious.
And Zhu Zhuyun, who was already close to relenting and cooperating with him, completely fell out with Dai Weisi after Zhu Zhuqing was assassinated.
Zhu Zhuqing's heart, which had just settled, tightened again.
"Then, elder sister, you and him...?"
"If there's truly no other way, I'll just have to give in to him." Zhu Zhuyun's face was full of bitterness, and she smiled with relief at the concern on Zhu Zhuqing's face.
"However... if we can become strong enough, there will naturally still be a chance to break free from him. Zhuqing, you must become strong and help your elder sister escape her fate!"
"Hmph! I don't need you to tell me, I will become strong!" Zhu Zhuqing snorted coldly, feeling a little uncomfortable looking at her smiling face.
But her half-joking words were also taken to heart by Zhu Zhuqing.
"That's good!"
Zhu Zhuyun smiled and nodded.
In fact, she hoped even more that after Zhu Zhuqing became strong, she would not only change the fate of their sisters.
Their two sisters were merely a microcosm of the lives of the direct daughters of the Zhu family throughout generations.
The same helplessness, no choice, and internal strife!
"If there's nothing else, I'll leave first." Zhu Zhuqing stood up, wanting to tell Ye Qiu all this news.
"Zhuqing!"
As she reached the door, Zhu Zhuyun suddenly called out to her.
"What are you doing?!"
As soon as Zhu Zhuqing turned around, the big and small cats were hugging each other.
It was simply dazzling and beautiful.
Unfortunately, no one saw this scene that invited endless imagination.
Zhu Zhuyun hugged her sister tightly, gently rubbing her cheek:
"Zhuqing, I'm truly sorry for all these years..."
"Congratulations on getting what you wished for!"
"My dear sister."
...
Click!
When Zhu Zhuqing walked out the door, she was still a bit disoriented.
Zhu Zhuyun's apology, her reddened eyes, everything seemed so unreal!
Her experiences over the years flickered in her mind.
She entered Ye Qiu's room in a daze.
Hearing the sound.
Ye Qiu, who was lying on the bed, immediately got up.
"Zhuqing? What's wrong?"
"Did your sister bully you again?!"
Ye Qiu frowned, quickly walking towards Zhu Zhuqing, who looked a bit dazed.
"No, she didn't bully me."
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Ye Qiu, quickly rushed forward, threw herself into Ye Qiu's arms, and hugged him tightly.
"Then why are you...?"
Ye Qiu embraced her soft body, his face full of confusion.
"Nothing, I just want to hug you."
Zhu Zhuqing nestled in Ye Qiu's arms, desperately trying to melt into his body.
She was a little afraid that all of this was fake.
"?"
Although Ye Qiu was puzzled, he was also very cooperative.
He picked up Zhu Zhuqing, sat on the bed, placed her in his arms, and didn't say much.
After a long while.
Zhu Zhuqing's body seemed to be trembling, and the front of her clothes began to get wet.
Ye Qiu could only hold her tightly, comforting her.
It was as if she was crying out all the grievances of the past.
Zhu Zhuqing, who had always forced herself to be strong, finally let go and completely bid farewell to the past.
...
A long time passed.
It was already getting late.
Zhu Zhuqing had almost recovered.
"How is it? Feeling better?" Ye Qiu healed her swollen eyes and wiped away the tear stains on her face.
"Mm, much better." Zhu Zhuqing leaned quietly in Ye Qiu's arms, looking at his soaked chest, her pretty face flushed.
"Then tell me what you two talked about."
Ye Qiu chuckled, dried his clothes, and holding Zhu Zhuqing, lay down face to face.
"Mm."
"Sister she told me..."
In the time that followed, Zhu Zhuqing told Ye Qiu everything, including her freedom, Dai Weisi's situation, and so on.
Zhu Zhuyun also didn't send anyone to call them for dinner.
Most likely, she knew her sister was in a bad mood.
On my Patreon, I have several advance chapters available if you're interested in more than 100: For $1, you get 20 fewer chapters than the $2.50 tier. For $2.50, you get 40 fewer chapters than the $4 tier. And for $4, you get them all.
The number of chapters is updated every 7 days and increases by 3 to 5 chapters.
My Patren: paroncom/FanTranslator