Chapter 31: Doing a Good Deed

“Thank you. If I survive, I’ll repay you someday.”

Zhu Zhuqing’s face was pale. After offering the customary words, she covered her shoulder and prepared to leave.

Her sister’s subordinates might not dare kill anyone in broad daylight, but remaining here meant staying under their watch at all times. She needed to find somewhere safe as quickly as possible and hide until her injuries healed.

Watching her stagger away, Li Xun muttered under his breath with a strange expression, “How are you supposed to repay me when you don’t even know my name?”

He had heard plenty of such verbal promises before.

They were the same as no promise at all.

Li Xun deeply respected those who did good deeds without leaving their names behind, but he himself was not one of them.

He felt that if he neither asked for money nor material compensation, and could not even leave his name behind, then wouldn’t he have done the good deed for nothing?

Perhaps Zhu Zhuqing’s hearing was exceptionally sharp, or perhaps Li Xun had simply muttered too loudly. She stopped, then slowly turned around.

“My name is Zhu Zhuqing. May I ask yours?”

“My name is Li Xun.” Li Xun carefully sized her up, and something stirred in his heart.

He was far too familiar with that name.

No wonder Zhu Zhuqing would grow into such a beauty with such an impressive figure. She already had the foundation for it now.

“I’ll remember that, Li Xun. Thank you.” Zhu Zhuqing nodded.

“It was only a small favor. There’s no need to mention it.”

Li Xun waved his hand, looking completely unconcerned. “By the way, are you really all right? In your current condition, I imagine it will be difficult to escape those two pursuers. Would you like me to escort you home?”

“...”

Upon hearing that he wanted to take her home, Zhu Zhuqing fell silent.

Born into the Zhu Clan of Star Luo, the concept of home had long since become something foreign to her.

Because the Zhu Clan had entered into successive marriages with the imperial Dai Clan, the rules governing struggles between imperial brothers also applied to the Zhu Clan.

In every generation, the Zhu sisters were forced to slaughter one another until only a victor remained.

“What is it? Has something happened at home?” Li Xun asked with concern. “If you have somewhere else to go, I can escort you there safely.”

Zhu Zhuqing’s body trembled. Her right hand, which was covering her wound, unconsciously tightened.

“No need. Thank you.”

She took a deep breath, lowered her head, turned around, and began walking back the way she had come.

That coward Dai Mubai had fled, while the aunt who had always helped her had been gone for two months, searching for news of him.

Now, she had no one left to rely on but herself.

Otherwise, she would never have come to Dragon Rising City. But even here, she was no longer safe.

“If you truly have nowhere to go, you could come with me to Heaven Dou,” Li Xun said after frowning and pondering for a moment. “Given your current circumstances, staying in Star Luo doesn’t seem particularly safe.”

Zhu Zhuqing paused slightly. “Thank you, but there’s no need.”

She had heard that Heaven Dou was where Dai Mubai had fled...

“Miss Zhuqing...”

Li Xun called softly after her retreating figure.

He had deliberately provoked her with those words just now.

Since he had encountered Zhu Zhuqing, it felt wrong not to do something.

It would be best if he could use this opportunity to take her away. That way, he could disrupt Shrek’s plans, reduce Tang San’s group to four, and add another member to the Heaven Dou Imperial Team.

Even if he could not take her with him, creating some trouble for Zhu Zhuqing now would help him prepare for the future.

“Doing a good deed and receiving something in return is perfectly normal, isn’t it?” Li Xun mused.

With ordinary people, he would have been content to do a good deed and leave only his name behind.

But Zhu Zhuqing was one of Tang San’s companions. Since he had saved her life, he felt that it would be unreasonable for her not to repay him with something.

Although she would not have died even if he had not saved her.

But he had intervened, hadn’t he?

“Brother Li, shall we go after her and take a look?”

Yang Qianjun approached with exaggerated winks and patted Li Xun on the shoulder.

He was quite perceptive. He had watched from the side the whole time, refraining from interrupting Li Xun’s heroic rescue of a beauty.

Li Xun glanced at him. “Brother Yang, weren’t you going to treat me to a meal? Are you planning to welsh on the bill?”

“How could I? Order whatever you like today.”

Seeing that Li Xun had no intention of discussing the matter further, Yang Qianjun wisely dropped it.

Since he was being so sensible, Li Xun ordered only two hundred gold soul coins’ worth of food.

The meal lasted until evening. Li Xun ate with great satisfaction, while Yang Qianjun wept bitterly.

By the time they returned to the Yang residence, Yang Qianjun still had not recovered from his grief.

“Why the long face?” Yang Wudi glared at him.

Yang Qianjun forced a smile. “It’s nothing. I was just remembering something pleasant.”

“Oh? How pleasant was it? Tell me about it.”

Yang Wudi narrowed his eyes slightly. If his grandson’s answer failed to satisfy him, he would have to use his belt to make Yang Qianjun feel even happier.

Yang Qianjun had been beaten by his grandfather throughout his childhood. The moment he saw that expression, he knew what awaited him and quickly forced an ugly smile onto his face.

“Grandfather, Li Xun invited me to attend Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and participate in the Soul Master Tournament a few years from now. I’m happy about that.”

Yang Wudi was taken aback, and his expression gradually softened.

He glanced at Li Xun before saying to Yang Qianjun, “That’s fine. But once you leave home, follow Li Xun’s lead in everything. Don’t cause trouble for him. Understand?”

Since he had already decided to cooperate with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, it was only a matter of time before the Strength Clan appeared in the public eye.

There was no reason to worry about a Soul Master Tournament.

Perhaps the moment they joined hands with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in business, their information had already appeared on the desk of the Spirit Hall’s Supreme Pontiff.

“I understand, Grandfather.” Yang Qianjun’s smile became much more genuine. He had made it through this hurdle.

“Since Senior Yang has made his decision, I won’t disturb you any longer,” Li Xun said, cupping his hands toward Yang Wudi. “The remaining matters can be discussed between my teacher and Senior.”

“Your sect master is fortunate to have a disciple like you.”

Yang Wudi nodded with a smile. “I won’t keep you here, but Qianjun will have to wait a while. He needs to inform the Baihe Clan.”

“After all, he is already engaged.”

“The Soul Master Tournament is still a long way off. It will be enough if Brother Yang can make it there.”

Li Xun had no objections. A soul master cultivated wherever he was, and the academy would not offer any great advantage.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Li Xun and Sword Douluo left the residence.

“Grandfather Sword, could we not fly quite so fast this time? The faster we go, the colder it gets.”

Li Xun took a padded coat from his soul tool and put it on.

He had bought the coat in a distant town along the way after finally finding the cold unbearable.

“Are you sure you want to slow down?” Sword Douluo asked with a broad smile.

“Is it still cold even if we go slower?” Li Xun asked, startled and unconvinced.

“You can try. We’ll be stopping to rest along the way anyway. You can decide whether you want to go fast or slow.” Sword Douluo chuckled without explaining further.

He summoned his flying sword and suspended it beneath their feet.

“Then let’s try going slower first.”

Li Xun carefully stepped onto the flying sword and stood in front of Sword Douluo.

He had protested about this before, feeling that he was being forced to serve as a windbreak.

But when he stood behind Sword Douluo, his arm grew sore after embracing only half of the older man’s arm for a short while.

In the end, he had no choice but to move forward and shield Sword Douluo from the wind.