"Zhu zhuquing, nice to meet you and once again thank you for saving me"
Luo feng stared at her calmly for just a few extra moments but inside he was anything but calm
He recognised the name, of course he did and after looking carefully he also noticed the similarities
She was the first named character he had ever met , so naturally he was excited but he curbed his excitement and acted normal.
She didn't notice.
He replied to her smoothly "nice to meet you too . And once again you do not have to thank me "
Luo feng asked again
"So , where are you headed ?"
She hesitated a little but replied " I am going to suotuo city "
"You are kidding, that's where I am going as well"
She looked at Luo feng with clear surprise"you too!?"
"I know right, I am surprised as well , I am going to enroll at the academy their my teacher's recommendation" Luo feng said scratching the back of his neck
Zhu zhuquing went silent for a moment then as if having decided something, she said " me too , I also want to enroll in the academy"
"That's even better, then we can travel together, what do you say?"
"I suppose that's true"
" Then it's decided, we rest for tonight, then tomorrow morning we will set out"
" Alright" came the brief reply.
They rested that night, they had occasional talk but it was brief, she seemed to like the silence so luo feng gave her the space
The next morning they started their journey
They didn't waste much time.
A quick wash by a nearby stream, a few dry rations—simple, efficient. Neither of them spoke much during it, but the silence wasn't uncomfortable.
Soon, they were walking .
The forest path stretched ahead, narrow but clear enough to follow. Sunlight filtered through the trees in shifting patterns, and the mist gradually thinned as the warmth grew.
At first, their steps didn't match , they each kept up with the other's pace.
After a while, Luo Feng spoke.
"…You move fast."
Zhu Zhuqing glanced at him.
"…So do you."
"It's not the same."
"…What do you mean?"
He adjusted his pace slightly.
"…Your movement is direct. Straight lines. Clean transitions."
"…That's normal."
"…It's trained."
She watched him for a moment.
"…And yours?"
Luo Feng thought briefly.
"It depends."
"…On what?"
"on what situation I am in."
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…That's vague."
"Well, it means that I do not have a fixed pattern, l change it according to what I need sometimes burst, sometimes consistent "
"You can do that !?"
"With sufficient training, yes , it's hard, once you learn a pattern, your body unconsciously wants to follow it so consciously changing it is hard but not impossible"
A short silence followed.
Then—
"…What's your martial soul?" Luo Feng asked.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't answer immediately.
Her gaze stayed forward for a few steps.
Then—
"…Hell Civet."
"What type ?"
"…Speed. Burst. Close-range ,and stealth."
Luo Feng nodded
She turned her head slightly.
"…What about you?"
"Ascension Ring"
She stopped.
"…A what?"
"…A ring martial soul."
There was a brief pause.
"…That sounds useless."
"…It was."
She studied him.
"…Was?"
"…It's better now."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…How?"
Luo Feng shrugged.
"…It improves movement."
"…That's it?"
"…And some other things."
"…You're hiding something."
"…Yes."
"The answer came without hesitation.
Zhu Zhuqing blinked once.
"…You're just admitting it?"
"…You already know."
"…That doesn't mean you have to say it."
"…It doesn't matter."
She looked at him for a moment longer.
Then exhaled softly.
"…You're annoying."
"…That's new."
"…It is the truth"
They continued walking.
"…So your ring makes you faster," she said after a while.
"…Partly."
"…Partly?"
"…It helps with timing."
She frowned slightly.
"…Timing isn't speed."
"…It looks like it."
She slowed her steps just a little.
"…So you're not actually that fast?"
A pause.
"…I didn't say that."
She turned her head, giving him a flat look.
"…You're doing that on purpose."
"…Yes."
"…Why?"
"…To see your reaction."
She looked away again.
"…You're definitely annoying."
"…You're repeating yourself."
"…I'm emphasizing it."
A brief silence.
Then—
A quiet, restrained laugh slipped out of her.
Short.
But unmistakable.
Luo Feng glanced at her.
"…What?"
"…Nothing," she said, though there was still a trace of it in her voice. "…You're just… ridiculous."
"…That's also new."
"…It also fits."
The path widened slightly ahead.
The forest thinning, just enough to hint that the road was leading somewhere more traveled.
"…Your other abilities?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.
"…Perception. Attack."
"…From your rings?"
"Yes."
She nodded slowly.
"…Balanced and practical "
A few more steps passed.
Then Luo Feng spoke again.
"…You don't waste movement."
She glanced at him.
"…You already said that."
"…I'm repeating it."
A pause.
"…Your vocabulary is limited," she said.
Luo Feng looked at her.
"…You're learning."
She turned away slightly.
But this time—
She didn't hide the faint smile.
Their steps continued forward.
No longer offset.
No longer separate.
Just… aligned.
Like that their journey continueed
And after one week they finally reached suotuo city