บท 69: Overthinking Again
After defeating the bald Soul Emperor, Chen Xuan gained a soul bone with a light attribute for his torso.
Once he secured the soul bone, he went off to find Zhu Zhuqing and Yiyi.
During this time, the two had run several kilometers, beyond the range of his Flying Thunder God technique.
Although he couldn't teleport directly to them, Chen Xuan wasn't worried. He could sense the mark on his kunai, which was about five or six kilometers away.
Having covered a long distance and fought a Soul Emperor today, his soul power was nearly depleted, and he was relying solely on his physical strength. There wasn't enough chakra left to use the Flying Thunder God technique.
Thanks to his daily lightning tempering, his physical endurance showed its worth during moments like this.
An hour later, Chen Xuan finally caught up with Zhu Zhuqing, though it was more because the two had stopped; otherwise, even with another hour, he wouldn't have caught up.
From a distance, Zhu Zhuqing had already sensed someone approaching. Once she saw it was Chen Xuan, her vigilance eased.
Seeing that he was safe and unharmed, Zhu Zhuqing let out a long sigh of relief. The worry on her face slowly faded away.
She had thought Chen Xuan might die, that he would perish in the Star Dou Forest, and she had already prepared herself to raise Chen Yiyi on her own.
Yet, like a miracle, this man not only bought them time to escape but returned unharmed.
"Brother, you're alive! That's great!" Chen Yiyi shouted, finally recognizing Chen Xuan.
Her face had two streaks of tears, and she had thought he was dead, so much so that she cried her eyes red.
Chen Xuan, sharp as always, immediately noticed his sister's swollen eyes and the tears that hadn't yet dried on her face.
Though Zhu Zhuqing hadn't shed tears for him, she was equally concerned. However, she had always been cold and distant, making it hard for her to show emotion.
But Chen Xuan still noticed a flash of worry in her eyes, showing she had been concerned for his safety.
Having people worry about him, having people cry for him, and having people care about him—it was a good feeling. Chen Xuan felt warmth in his heart. Only now did he feel a sense of belonging, finally integrating fully into this world.
"Sorry for making you both worry," Chen Xuan said, slightly apologetic, as he reached out to wipe the tears from Chen Yiyi's face.
While the feeling of being cared for was nice, he didn't want the people important to him to be secretly sad or worried because of him.
Zhu Zhuqing, as usual, maintained her icy demeanor, but she didn't argue, which meant she tacitly accepted it.
Chen Yiyi, innocent and pure, wore her emotions on her sleeve. At this moment, she was clinging to Chen Xuan, her whole face pressed into his chest.
Chen Xuan forced a smile and patted her head. "Alright, let's head back."
"Mm," Chen Yiyi hummed softly, still resting her face on his chest, unwilling to let go.
Watching this scene, Zhu Zhuqing's expression turned complicated, and she felt a bit out of sorts.
Having grown up in a family full of deceit and betrayal, without love, where even her elder sister constantly targeted, humiliated, and tried to assassinate her, while her parents turned a blind eye to everything, she deeply craved familial affection—she longed for a loving family like Chen Xuan's.
But for her, that was impossible. Her past was filled with pain, and even her fiancé had abandoned her, leaving her to endure humiliation alone in the Star Luo royal family.
Deep down, Zhu Zhuqing was just a young girl inexperienced in the world. Her heart was fragile, yearning for someone to rely on—someone who could shield her from the storm, understand her, and acknowledge her suffering.
Yet all of that seemed like an unreachable fantasy.
Over time, Zhu Zhuqing had closed off her emotions, rarely showing them, which shaped her current cold personality—always distant, like an ice queen.
Chen Xuan, observing her, caught every flicker of her changing expressions. He saw the sadness hidden deep in her eyes, as if she was suddenly reminded of painful memories.
Piecing it together with the current situation and recalling Zhu Zhuqing's backstory, Chen Xuan quickly understood her internal struggle and the pain she had gone through. He resonated with her since his original body had experienced similar hardships.
"Zhuqing, to celebrate my survival, how about a hug?" Chen Xuan flashed a bright smile, showing his pearly whites, and opened his arms toward Zhu Zhuqing.
His sudden suggestion startled Zhu Zhuqing, pulling her out of her melancholic thoughts.
"Get lost," Zhu Zhuqing shot him a glare. At sixteen or seventeen years old, he was full of inappropriate jokes, never serious.
Although her words were sharp, her face wasn't as cold as usual, and she didn't show any disgust.
Her expression shifted subtly, reflecting her complicated emotions. She knew Chen Xuan's remark was a hint, but she had her reasons for not responding.
Zhu Zhuqing turned away, walking forward on her own. No one could see the look on her face.
Chen Xuan wasn't overthinking it—he had just been teasing, nothing more.
Still, Zhu Zhuqing's cold attitude did sting a little. It reinforced her image as an aloof goddess—admired from afar, but untouchable.
"Zhuqing, you're so cold, like an ice cave. I'm heartbroken," Chen Xuan said, the first half sincere, the second half just a joke.
However, Zhu Zhuqing took the second part seriously, not realizing it was meant to be playful.
This Star Dou Forest experience was still fresh in her mind. Twice, Chen Xuan had risked his life for her without expecting anything in return, willing to sacrifice himself to protect her. His actions deeply moved and filled her with gratitude.
Before this, she might have only seen Chen Xuan as an ordinary companion. But after going through life and death together, she could no longer view him as just a normal friend.
Zhu Zhuqing's thoughts were in turmoil. She was aware of Chen Xuan's feelings, which only made her more uncertain about how to handle their relationship.
After this ordeal, she was not only grateful but also realized she had started to develop feelings for him.
When Chen Xuan sent her away in that critical moment, it struck her deeply. How she wished her fiancé had been like that.
Unwilling to lead Chen Xuan on, Zhu Zhuqing finally decided to confront the situation. "Chen Xuan, give me some time, okay? Once I figure things out, I'll give you an answer," she said softly, her cold tone laced with an unusual warmth.
Chen Xuan was stunned, confused by the sudden change in her demeanor. What had just happened?
Before he could respond, Zhu Zhuqing turned away, disappearing into the distance with a few swift leaps.
Chen Xuan was left standing there, bewildered, lost in thought.
If he had known how much Zhu Zhuqing had overthought in just a short half-minute, he probably would've fainted from shock.
"Brother, what's going on between you two? Are you hiding something from me?" Yiyi demanded, her big eyes sparkling with suspicion.
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