442. Coward

"Heh, that's right," Zhu Zhuyun sneered.

"You're absolutely correct. So what if I've conspired with them?!"

"Don't think I don't know."

Her head hung low, delicate fists tightly clenched. The emotions she had suppressed to their limits now surged uncontrollably, seeking release.

Lifting her shadowed eyes, her voice turned icy:

"Your disgusting little tricks in this room make me feel utterly sick!"

The moment Zhu Zhuyun's words fell, Dai Weisi erupted in rage. His sharp features contorted, and his eyes
grew dark as his spirit power surged around him.

Seeing this, Zhu Zhuyun only
intensified her ridicule.

Her gaze filled with disdain, she
mocked coldly:

"You're no better than your useless little brother! Both of you are just
spineless cowards, only good for being trampled underfoot!"

"Shut up, you wench!"

Dai Weisi could no longer hold back. He raised his hand, ready to slap her. Zhu Zhuyun felt a jolt of alarm and her body tensed.

But Dai Weisi's face suddenly twisted in terror as he clutched his chest and let out a muffled groan.

A bitter smile crept onto Zhu Zhuyun's lips.

Now she understood why Qian
Renjue had said she wouldn't even have the chance to take her own life.

Once an order was issued, there was
no choice but to obey.

Zhu Zhuyun's face twisted into a
grimace, tinged with a faint
satisfaction of revenge.

She stared mockingly at Dai Weisi, her
expression full of ridicule.

"Does it hurt? Come on, go ahead
and hit me!"

She leaned her face closer, her
beautiful eyes filled with contempt,
coldness, and an unspoken
bitterness.

"Useless coward!" she spat
venomously.

"Shut up!" Dai Weisi's face turned beet
red.

He wanted to retaliate, but the pain in his chest left him unable to stand
straight.

"Heh."

Since Dai Weisi wasn't making a move,
Zhu Zhuyun saw no reason to hold back anymore.

She had wanted to strike a man from the Dai family for a long time!

She immediately raised her hand and swung it.

Slap!

Dai Weisi cried out in pain. His face was
flushed, a red handprint clearly
visible.

"Zhu Zhuyun, you wench!"

"Who are you calling a wench?!"


Slap!

"You're asking for-ah!"

Before Dai Weisi could finish his retort, he screamed in pain and collapsed to the ground.

_____

In Star Luo City

Qian Renjue, wearing a mask, strolled leisurely down the streets with Qian Renxue clinging to his side.

The Ice Emperor, in her green loli form, darted back and forth, marveling at everything she saw.

She glanced left and right, holding a bag of gold soul coins and buying everything that caught her eye.

"Jue, what's on your mind?"
Qian Renxue asked, barely holding back a laugh as she looked at the feminine mask he wore.

"Nothing much, just gave Dai Weisi a little lesson," Qian Renjue replied with a smile.

The binding power of the Mark of Darkness was no joke. If the marked individual disobeyed the master's orders, a mere thought would send them into excruciating pain.

Thinking about this, Qian Renjue couldn't help but curl his lips.

If only the system had been more competent, he wouldn't need to go to such lengths.

That said, the satisfaction of
handling things personally was undeniable.

For now, everything was in place.

The next step was simply to wait for Tang San to leave Notting City, the beginner village.

Qian Renxue furrowed her brows, curiosity evident in her tone.

"Jue, your self-created soul skill–
there must be a way to undo it,
right?"

"There is, but they'll never get the
chance."

Qian Renjue opened his mouth
slightly, biting down on the hawthorn
slice Qian Renxue handed him.

After finishing, he explained:
"Unless their spirit power and
mental strength both surpass mine by ten levels, they shouldn't even
dream of it."

"Haha, well, that's reassuring."

Qian Renxue smiled, finally at ease.

Raising his gaze to the front of the Spirit Hall, Qian Renjue looked at the towering six-winged angel statue.

Qian Renxue, pursing her red lips, stood on tiptoe and slightly lifted his mask, smearing a bit of candied sugar on the side of his face.

"Sis?"

"Don’t talk. Your sister’s in a good mood~"

"..."

"Qian! You two, hurry over here! This little old man took my money and didn’t give me anything!"

The Ice Emperor waved her hand, calling out to Qian Renjue.

The siblings turned to look, their expressions turning strange at the sight.

Qian Renxue couldn’t help but laugh softly, while Qian Renjue twitched at the corner of his mouth.

At the moment, the Ice Emperor was clutching a beggar’s bowl, refusing to let go.

"Hurry up, you two! Let go already. Give it back to me!"

"..."


---

Afternoon.

As usual, Qian Renjue trained with Zhu Zhuqing before they returned home together.

By the middle of the night, the Spirit City, home to many soul masters, was unusually tranquil.

In the courtyard, flowers swayed under the moonlight. The silvery beams slipped through the cracks of the doors and windows, casting a faint glow.

In a side room, Hu Liena, clutching a milk bottle in her mouth, hugged a fox plushie dressed in Qian Renjue’s clothes tightly in her arms.

In the master bedroom, Bibi Dong sat cross-legged on the bed, meditating in silence.

A vortex of darkness seemed to swallow the moonlight seeping in. Suddenly, long legs stepped out, and the vortex dissipated.

"Sister, is Mom asleep yet?" Qian Renjue whispered.

"Doesn’t seem like it~" Qian Renxue replied, lying on his broad back. Her purple eyes glimmered in the darkness as she let out a soft laugh and greeted:
"Good evening, Mom~"

Click!

The sound of a light switch filled the room.

Bibi Dong sat on the bed, her brows furrowed as she looked at Qian Renjue, whose eyes were covered with black stockings. Her gaze carried a mix of exasperation and amusement.

"Xiao Xue~ Hurry up and help take those stockings off of Jue’s face."

"Uh..."

Hearing Bibi Dong’s voice, Qian Renjue’s face turned a little red. He avoided her gaze and muttered,
"Sister~ Didn’t you say Mom was already asleep?"

"She was, but you woke her up," Qian Renxue said, wrapping her arms around his neck and pinching his cheeks playfully.

Sticking her tongue out at Bibi Dong, she began removing the black stockings tied around Qian Renjue’s eyes.

After shaking his head free, Qian Renjue looked at Bibi Dong and awkwardly greeted,

"Uh... Good evening, Mom."

Rolling her eyes, Bibi Dong replied,
"What are you two up to in the middle of the night?"

"Ha! Jue just finished performing a blind-shooting demonstration for the disciples," Qian Renxue laughed.

Subtly, she tucked the black stockings into her storage soul tool.

"Oh? And the stockings—how do you explain that?" Bibi Dong asked, her sharp gaze unwavering.

"Uh, well..." Qian Renxue hesitated, her cheeks flushing as she awkwardly landed on her feet.

"I lent them to Jue, of course~"

"Ridiculous!" Bibi Dong scolded, rolling her eyes at Qian Renxue.

Qian Renjue averted his gaze, rubbing the corner of his eye in silence, while Qian Renxue stood awkwardly with her hands behind her back, looking like a child caught misbehaving.

"Jue~ Come here. Mom will help you clean up," Bibi Dong said, motioning with her hand. Her lips curled into a teasing smile.

"Uh, what?"

Qian Renjue looked at her in surprise, then nervously glanced at Qian Renxue.

"Mom, you!"

Qian Renxue’s face flushed with embarrassment.

"Jue doesn’t need cleaning!"

Pfft!

Bibi Dong burst out laughing, her eyes softening with affection.

"Alright, alright. Mom was just joking."

"Phew..." Qian Renjue exhaled in relief.

Noticing Bibi Dong’s attire, he asked curiously,
"Mom, aren’t you going to rest? Why haven’t you bathed yet?"