"I… hello, my name is Zhu Zhuqing."
Zhu Zhuqing was slightly stunned when she saw the cheerful smile on Xiao Wu's face. Instinctively, she reached out to shake her hand.
Once she came back to her senses, Zhu Zhuqing immediately expressed her gratitude. "Thank you just now. Otherwise, I fear I wouldn't have made it out alive."
Xiao Wu waved it off with a carefree grin. "It's nothing. No need to thank us."
"If not for Brother Qi Lin's sharp eyes, I might not have noticed you either."
Zhu Zhuqing turned gratefully to look at Qi Lin.
Noticing her gaze, Qi Lin offered a gentle smile and introduced himself. "My name is Qi Lin."
His smile carried a clean, sunny warmth, and his presence naturally exuded an approachable aura.
That aura made Zhu Zhuqing glance at him a second time without realizing it.
But soon after, she awkwardly looked away, slightly flustered. "Hel… hello!"
At that moment, Xiao Wu leaned in curiously and asked, "By the way, why were these people attacking you?"
Upon hearing the question, a flash of hatred crossed Zhu Zhuqing's otherwise cool and composed face. She scoffed bitterly, "Probably because I became a threat to someone. That's why she sent people to eliminate me."
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up with excitement, clearly a gossip-loving rabbit.
Although she didn't know the exact details of Zhu Zhuqing's situation, her imagination had already filled in a few dramatic plots.
Just then, Qi Lin suddenly spoke. "I don't know exactly what happened, but looking at those people, they didn't seem like they were trying to kill you."
Zhu Zhuqing's expression flickered with a trace of fury.
Her so-called good sister had sent people to pursue and hunt her down, just because she feared Zhu Zhuqing might come to Suotuo City to find Dai Mubai, posing a threat to her and Davis.
They had chased her all the way from the capital of the Star Luo Empire to Suotuo City.
If that wasn't an attempt to eliminate her completely, what was?
In stark contrast, the four masked individuals lying on the ground—aside from the one already unconscious—looked at Qi Lin with deep emotion in their eyes.
Finally, someone understood them!
Xiao Wu looked at Qi Lin curiously. "Brother Qi Lin, is that why you told me to go easy on them?"
"Yeah," Qi Lin nodded.
"But how did you figure out they weren't trying to kill her?"
Zhu Zhuqing also turned her gaze toward him, wanting to hear his reasoning.
Qi Lin explained, "Think about it. All four of them are at least Soul Elders. If they really wanted her dead, would this young lady still be standing here?"
"And they fought for so long just now—if they truly meant to kill, wouldn't they have atleast used even one soul skill?"
"Uh… that's true!" Xiao Wu nodded, half understanding.
"That's why I keep telling you to read more and stop playing games. You can't even spot basic details. Dummy!"
Qi Lin said, and playfully flicked Xiao Wu on her smooth forehead.
Zhu Zhuqing, who had been listening, suddenly froze in place.
Scenes from when she had fled the imperial capital surfaced in her mind.
Ever since she secretly left, she had been pursued relentlessly by assassins sent by Zhu Zhuyun.
Driven by hatred, she never stopped to think—it had always been clear to her that Zhu Zhuyun wanted her dead.
But now, hearing Qi Lin's analysis, and after calming down, Zhu Zhuqing reconsidered.
Suddenly, she realized many details she had previously ignored.
C-could it be…
Did her sister really not intend to kill her?
But then why did she still send people to chase and attack her?
Was it just to make her hate her?
Why… why go that far?
As Zhu Zhuqing reeled in confusion, Xiao Wu poked Qi Lin in the waist.
"Brother Qi Lin, what's wrong with her?"
"How would I know?" Qi Lin shrugged.
At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing stepped up to the four masked men and questioned them harshly.
"Speak. What was the real objective of your mission?"
"Was it really to eliminate me?"
"If that's the case, why didn't you use your full strength the whole way here?"
Gulp. The leader of the masked men swallowed hard and exchanged glances with the others.
What were they supposed to say?
If they told the truth, how would they explain to the eldest young miss?
If they didn't speak, they might be killed on the spot by the second young miss in a rage.
They were just making a pitiful monthly wage—why risk their lives?
There was only one way out…
One of them gritted his teeth and struck his own neck with a karate chop.
In the next second, his head tilted to the side as he passed out.
His companions were dumbfounded at first—then their eyes lit up.
Worried they'd be questioned next, they quickly followed suit.
Thud!
Another dropped!
Only one remained, looking around nervously before finally meeting Zhu Zhuqing's sharp gaze.
But by now, Zhu Zhuqing had already guessed the truth—whether he said anything or not didn't matter.
Her sister didn't want to harm her. But fate had forced her hand.
So she had no choice but to become the villain in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, to drive her away in fear and hatred—just like Dai Mubai, who had escaped the capital in silence.
Zhu Zhuqing sighed powerlessly and lowered her head slightly, her expression mixed with complex emotions.
"Go back and tell my sister—I understand her kindness. But even so… I will not accept my fate!"
With that, she turned her back on them.
Memories of her sister's affection from childhood flashed in her mind, softening the hatred she'd held.
But quickly, her gaze turned resolute again.
She had come to Suotuo City to find Dai Mubai, and to fight against her destiny by his side!
Although Dai Mubai was younger than Davis, his talent far surpassed his elder brother's.
The outcome was still undecided. As long as Dai Mubai was willing to work hard, they still had hope!
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's complicated expression, Xiao Wu asked with concern, "Zhuqing, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, thank you." Zhu Zhuqing forced a smile and shook her head.
"That's good. So, where are you headed next?"
Without hesitation, Zhu Zhuqing replied, "Suotuo City."
"Suotuo City?"
"What a coincidence, we're headed there too!"
Xiao Wu's voice shot up excitedly, then she beamed. "We're going the same way! Zhuqing, why not come with us? We're super fast!"
Zhu Zhuqing looked a bit hesitant—after all, she had just met Xiao Wu.
But before she could say anything, Xiao Wu had already pulled her to the side of their off-road vehicle.
"Come on, get in already!"
As she spoke, Xiao Wu enthusiastically opened the backseat door for her.
Seeing that, Zhu Zhuqing simply got in and began curiously examining the vehicle's interior.
Even as the second young miss of the Zhu family in the Star Luo Empire, she had never seen such a miraculous mode of transportation.
Qi Lin and Xiao Wu soon joined her, with Xiao Wu taking the driver's seat.
"Let's go!"
She shouted cheerfully as the car roared to life.