Chapter 309: See Zhu Zhuyun Again
Nan Tong Pass.
This fortress-city complex of the Star Luo Empire was now packed to the brim, just like Heaven Dou's Tongshui City, filled with armies and soul masters.
It was called a pass rather than a city because Nan Tong Pass was the collective name for the largest gate city and a dozen-plus smaller towns.
The main gate city was like a moving palace, housing the Star Luo Emperor's guard and a vast host of soul masters.
Built entirely of dark-cyan brick and stone, it had sentries every five steps and posts every ten, solemn and austere.
To the west of the city stood a not-so-large residence housing hundreds of soul masters.
On the training ground, they all cultivated diligently.
At the edge of the grounds, Zhu Zhuyun gazed down calmly at these clan soul masters.
For this campaign, she was leading the Zhu clan.
She commanded both direct and collateral lines, ready to join the war.
Zhu Zhuyun had little interest in the coming conflict. She had to come mainly because of the Emperor's methods.
Direct scions of great clans and sects were required to accompany the army.
This demonstrated the Emperor's dominance and control over the soul master world.
Of course, if they won the war, the rewards would be generous.
But Zhu Zhuyun cared nothing for rewards. Her soul power had reached level seventy-three.
She had become a Soul Sage.
She was the youngest Soul Sage in Zhu clan history, and she wanted to spend all her time cultivating.
Suddenly, a bright light flashed in Zhu Zhuyun's eyes.
The dan bead in her body stirred!
"He must be here too, in Tongshui City!" Zhu Zhuyun looked north.
In short order, realization dawned. Dugu Feng's voice came through the bead.
He asked her to meet him outside the gate city three nights hence.
Zhu Zhuyun's face lit with excitement. Since their last meeting on Wuhun City's battle stage during the advanced tournament, nearly six years had passed without a single glimpse of Dugu Feng.
In that time, it was as if he had vanished, leaving no news behind.
Later, through royal intelligence channels, she learned Dugu Feng had appeared in Heaven Dou City, suspected of taking part in the power struggle between Xue Qinghe and Prince Xue Xing, and that his soul power had risen to Soul Emperor.
Zhu Zhuyun once again became certain that Dugu Feng's soul power would surpass her own sooner or later.
It rankled, making the hope of wresting the dan bead back seem ever more remote!
Yet at the same time, Zhu Zhuyun's heart itched. Dugu Feng's mystery drew her irresistibly close.
"What if he tells me to betray the Star Luo Empire?"
Zhu Zhuyun worried. With her came a Zhu clan elder at level eighty-six Soul Douluo and several Soul Sages.
Such strength could still be decisive at a critical moment.
"Sigh, I can only take it one step at a time."
Zhu Zhuyun made up her mind inwardly.
In a blink, three nights passed.
In Zhu Zhuyun's bedchamber at night—
She donned tight black leathers that set off her well-proportioned, slender limbs. Her left eye was dark green, her right eye orange-blue. Her long hair lay slicked down her back, and her body gradually became a faint phantom.
She had already entered spirit possession, ready to slip out of Nan Tong Pass to meet Dugu Feng.
Creak—
Just then, the door's soft sound startled her.
"Who!"
Who could have approached her room so silently?
"Me."
Dugu Feng's tall figure appeared and, in an instant, sat on a chair in the room.
Zhu Zhuyun was stunned. Hadn't he said to meet outside the city?
Frightened, she hurried to the door to check.
As a core soul master clan of Star Luo, the Zhu residence was not far from where the Emperor lodged.
The Star Luo Emperor was a Titled Douluo!
For Dugu Feng to stroll right in so openly—how had he entered the city?
After a moment's observation, all was calm outside, and she relaxed a little.
Padding back to Dugu Feng's side, she whispered, "It's dangerous here. The Emperor is very strong and could easily sense you!"
Dugu Feng smiled faintly. "He can't sense me.
I came because you passed the test. For these three days, you showed no abnormalities."
Light flashed in Zhu Zhuyun's beautiful eyes, and her worry vanished. She knew how mysterious Dugu Feng was. If he was confident, why should she fret?
"Thank you for coming to see me, Brother Feng."
Her gaze softened. Swaying with graceful curves, she stepped behind him to knead his shoulders.
They were as familiar as if they had not been apart for years.
Her skin was snowy, her fingers slender. As she worked, her smooth lower belly pressed lightly to his back.
Her delicate hands drifted lower now and then, deliberately teasing Dugu Feng's gaze as if to tempt him!
"You're Star Luo's foremost prodigy. If anyone saw you like this, wouldn't it be a joke?" Dugu Feng said.
"Giggle."
Zhu Zhuyun chuckled. "Last time you said I was a vain and ambitious woman.
Now I'm even more vain, and even more ambitious.
And you, Brother Feng, are the one who can help me!"
As she spoke, warm breath brushed Dugu Feng's ear.
Clearly, Zhu Zhuyun was set on seducing him again.
"You'll do whatever I tell you?" Dugu Feng said coolly.
"Master, just treat me like a kitten.
I await your orders at any time!" Zhu Zhuyun said with exaggerated sweetness, her fingers pressing harder.
Dugu Feng couldn't help but laugh. Zhu Zhuyun could really set aside her pride.
He flicked his hand, and Zhu Zhuyun's lips quivered. A jade-green dan bead flew out at once, landing in his palm and vanishing.
"Ah!"
Zhu Zhuyun gasped. "Brother Feng, do you not love me anymore?"
"…"
"Brother Feng, without the dan bead, how am I to live?"
She twirled and sat on Dugu Feng's lap, her right arm circling his neck, pouting with orchid-sweet breath.
But in her heart she was terrified. She communed with that bead daily with soul power, using it with smooth ease.
She had thought she would at least have some influence over it.
Yet before Dugu Feng, she hadn't even had time to react before losing it.
"Brother Feng, all these years I have kept myself pure for you.
That fool Davis—he didn't so much as touch me with a finger.
Later, the Dai clan shamelessly tried to marry me off to other royals, but I delayed it by every means!
Brother Feng, you mustn't abandon your little kitten."
Tears welled in Zhu Zhuyun's eyes, a picture of pitiful pleading.
"Really?"
Dugu Feng asked deliberately.
With the dan bead in her body, he naturally knew she spoke no lie.
But he simply did not want things to come so easily to her.
Besides, in his plan, Zhu Zhuyun had great use.
He had to control her in both body and spirit.
(END CHAPTER)
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