Luo Yu's disdainful words spread out, and the air in the forest instantly coagulated.
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned, her heart racing with impatience.
Has this guy gone mad, can't he see that even his legs are trembling a bit?
I'm delaying them here, and he's not taking the chance to escape—what is he thinking?
Zhu Zhuyun stared with incredulity written all over her face.
"You... you cursed me?"
Her face quickly twisted into a ferocious expression, and she rebuked sharply, "A country bumpkin from the middle of nowhere, how dare you rant like this, do you know who I am?"
Luo Yu raised an eyebrow, gave her a once over, and chuckled lightly.
"I don't know who you are, but given how scantily you're dressed, your job must be quite exhausting, right?"
"It's late at night, why aren't you working honestly instead of wandering about, not planning to earn money anymore?"
"Ah!!"
"Damned thief, how dare you insult me like that."
Zhu Zhuyun gritted her teeth in fury, with her noble identity destined to be a princess of the Xingluo Empire, how could she tolerate such an insult.
"Boom!"
Her aura burst forth, Soul Light surged, and Zhu Zhuyun's body morphed into the shape of a Hell Spiritual Cat. Four soul rings, yellow and purple, rose up instantly, causing the surrounding vegetation to shudder.
Zhu Zhuqing rapidly retreated, her expression taut, and she reproached anxiously, "Have you lost your mind, man? I'm buying you time, and you're not running away but provoking her instead!"
Luo Yu suddenly bared his teeth in a grin, "Are you silly? If I don't provoke her, how am I going to cover for you, huh?"
"What?" Zhu Zhuqing was slow on the uptake, not understanding what he meant.
"There will be occasions for us to meet again, if fate allows."
Luo Yu's Soul Power roiled, and he leapt up, leaving a deep footprint in the ground and bolted in a fixed direction.
Before leaving, he didn't forget to turn and hook his finger provocatively at Zhu Zhuyun, giving her a highly challenging look.
"Zhu Zhuyun, right? If you're not afraid to die, then come chase me."
"You country bumpkin, I think you're tired of living!"
The woman bellowed fiercely. Watching Luo Yu's figure about to disappear from her sight, she glanced back at Zhu Zhuqing, sneeringly saying:
"I'll deal with that country bumpkin first; I'm in no hurry to kill you. After all, even if I let you go, you and your useless fiancé can't pose any threat to us."
Having said that, she scoffed, her form turning into a ghostly shadow, rapidly chasing in the direction Luo Yu had gone.
Zhu Zhuqing stood rooted to the spot, her beautiful eyes filled with complexity.
She truly hadn't expected a man she had met just half a day ago to risk his life to lure the enemy away for her.
Why would he do something like this?
He was cowering, wasn't he?
Zhu Zhuqing's mind flashed with the memory of his carefree smile just before he left.
A person's words can deceive.
But actions don't.
Regardless of his motives, the moment he saw danger, he didn't hesitate to help lure away the enemy, lifting the crisis from her but putting himself in peril.
Zhu Zhuqing felt her heart quiver inexplicably.
For the first time in her life, a man was willing to risk his safety for her.
And he was a stranger.
The men in the capital who admired her, after knowing her family's struggles, all kept their distance, not daring to get involved.
No matter what, I cannot let something happen to such a person, Zhu Zhuqing's little fists clenched rapidly.
...
"Swoosh, swoosh!"
Within the jungle, Luo Yu tread on branches, weaving through the trees ahead.
Zhu Zhuyun followed closely behind, steadily closing the distance between them.
"To think a lowlife like you dare to insult me, you're looking for death."
"First Soul Skill: Ghostly Thrust!"
"Whoosh!"
The yellow soul ring bloomed with light, and Zhu Zhuyun turned into a black shadow, her speed instantly skyrocketing as she raised her razor-sharp claws, aiming straight for the artery on Luo Yu's neck.
"Clang!"
An ancient longsword appeared, blocking the beast claw.
"Crack!"
A series of sparks shot out.
Luo Yu, holding the longsword, flashed to an open space.
"Run, why aren't you running now?"
Zhu Zhuyun walked closer to him with a vicious smile, a black tail swaying behind her. In her Martial Spirit Possession state, aside from being seductive and provocative, she also possessed a wild beauty.
"Indeed, just a wild kid from a small town, daring to compete in speed with an agile-attack class Soul Master. You really know nothing about power."
Luo Yu shook his head, "Seems like things aren't looking too good, you actually caught up to me."
"What? Scared now? Too late!" Zhu Zhuyun sneered contemptuously. "If you crawl on the ground for me for two loops and lick my boots clean now, I might consider sparing your life."
"Tsk, tsk, it looks like you didn't quite understand what I just said."
Luo Yu flicked the sword body with his finger, producing a clear sword chime, and raised an eyebrow, "What I meant was, since you've caught up to me, the situation doesn't look too good for you now."
Zhu Zhuyun smirked devilishly, her flirtatious face twisting slightly.
"You still dare to talk tough when death is upon you, what makes you think you can stand against me? Is it because of that broken sword in your hand?"
"Broken sword?" Luo Yu raised an eyebrow, "Just make sure you don't end up regretting it later."
Zhu Zhuyun laughed instead of getting angry, "I think you're determined to be the clown! What's with that shabby sword? If it were the Seven Kills Sword, I'd turn and leave without a word."
"Then you better watch closely."
"Clang!"
Luo Yu channeled his Soul Power, and a yellow soul ring rose serenely from the surface of the Zhu Tian Sword.
What was a somewhat serious Zhu Zhuyun burst into laughter, her laughter full of charm and wit.
"Got all worked up for nothing, turns out I've just met an idiot. You don't expect just that one pitiful soul ring to fight against my four soul rings, do you?"
"The quality of soul rings isn't in their quantity. To deal with you, one is more than enough," Luo Yu swayed his head.
"Ha?" Zhu Zhuyun laughed even louder, her two barely concealed snowy mounds trembling within her leather outfit, "To tell you the truth, you're so adorably silly, I'm starting to feel a bit reluctant to kill you."
Luo Yu showed impatience, "Alright, cut the crap. Since you're a woman, I'll give you a chance. If you have any special moves, better use them quickly. I fear you won't rest in peace if I strike first."
Zhu Zhuyun's laughter stopped abruptly, her face turning dark and sinister, "Who gave you this misguided confidence? You can go die now."
"Whoosh!"
Zhu Zhuyun's speed surged once more, blending into the night. A pair of beast-transformed, gleaming claws tore through the air, aiming for Luo Yu's throat.
Luo Yu raised his hand, ready to swing the sword and strike down the enemy.
Another striking figure rushed in quickly, blocking the attack.
Zhu Zhuyun stumbled back three steps.
However, the striking figure grunted, her face turned pale, and she almost stumbled and fell.
"Zhu Qing, I already spared you temporarily, and you still dare to come seeking death?"
"How did you follow me here?" Luo Yu wondered.
Zhu Qing's face was pale, "Why did you help me?"
Luo Yu said speechlessly, "You didn't run over here just to ask me that, did you?"
"I couldn't possibly involve others in my own affairs," Zhu Qing stated resolutely with a set face, "You haven't answered my question. Why did you help me?"
"Does helping someone really need a reason?"
"It does. I don't believe anyone is that kind-hearted," Zhu Qing said stubbornly.
Luo Yu nodded, "Then you guessed right. I'm indeed not one of those too-nice folks who help everyone they come across."
"Spill it, what's your real motive?" Zhu Qing eyed him sharply, as if trying to peer into Luo Yu's heart.
"Actually, I don't know if it's love at first sight or just desire at first sight, but I've taken a liking to you. That reason good enough?"
Suddenly, Zhu Qing was stunned...