Chapter 34: Above the Sky

"My eldest sister's soul power should be around level forty..." Zhu Zhuqing murmured, her head bowed and her arms wrapped around herself.

"Then you shouldn't be dying anytime soon."

"If I were your eldest sister, I would have killed you long ago. Whether in terms of influence or strength, you haven't had the slightest chance of escape."

Li Xun crouched down, picked up a twig from the ground, and drew a rough map. "Judging from how I rescued you in Longxing City, you must have been pursued all the way from the Star Luo capital, right? You can count how many times you managed to escape along the way."

Zhu Zhuqing looked up at Li Xun abruptly, a spark of hope gradually appearing in her eyes. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "Li Xun... Big Brother, are you saying that my eldest sister is trying to drive me out of the Star Luo Empire?"

Li Xun nodded. "It's very likely. Otherwise, given your current level and age, there's no reason you should have survived this long."

At these words, Zhu Zhuqing’s body trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand. Someone who had been on the verge of despair suddenly realized that she might actually be the one being protected. Once this thought took root in her mind, it became like a lifeline, impossible to shake off. It kept telling her that it had to be true. Zhu Zhuqing wanted to have a good cry to vent the bitterness and sorrow she had bottled up for so long.

Li Xun slowly stood up, walked over to Zhu Zhuqing, and patted her head. "Is there anything else you don't understand?"

"But... I... I'm still a bit scared..." Zhu Zhuqing choked out, tears streaming down her face.

"It's alright. You can come with me to Heaven Dou first. The Star Luo royal family will have to show some restraint there."

Li Xun smiled, took off his padded coat, draped it over Zhu Zhuqing, and then helped her step onto the flying sword. "As for that Dai Mubai, I suspect that once he dies, you'll be safe."

Sword Douluo stood on the flying sword, watching this scene, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably. He felt that agreeing to rehearse these lines with Li Xun had been a mistake.

...

The boundless sky was vast and lonely. The addition of a flying sword, however, added a different color to this desolation. On the sword, Sword Douluo was looking at Li Xun with a strange expression. He suspected that the only reason this kid had saved Zhu Zhuqing was to find someone to act as a windbreak for him on the sword. If Li Xun knew what Sword Douluo was thinking, he would surely cry out in protest. Zhu Zhuqing wouldn't have died even without his intervention.

But knowing that she would eventually join Shrek Academy, become Tang San’s henchman, and serve as Dai Mubai’s accessory—if he didn't intervene, wouldn't that be aiding the enemy? What did Sword Douluo take him for?

Li Xun tightened his arm around Zhu Zhuqing’s waist, pulling them closer. It wasn't that Li Xun was being improper; it was simply unsafe at such a height, and it was quite cold. He had given his only padded coat to Zhu Zhuqing, leaving him with only a thin layer of clothing. Fortunately, Zhu Zhuqing’s waist was slender, making it effortless to hold her. With them pressed together, they could at least generate a little warmth. Yet, for some reason, Zhu Zhuqing kept fidgeting, which left Li Xun, who could clearly feel the rounded curve against his lower abdomen, feeling quite distressed.

It wasn't that Li Xun hadn't considered wearing the coat and standing in front. However, Sword Douluo was a man of untainted elegance. Li Xun didn't mind enduring some discomfort himself, but he couldn't let Grandmaster Sword lose his dignity because of a girl.

Zhu Zhuqing felt very hot. Despite being at such a cold, high altitude, she felt her whole body burning. Even hotter was the body heat radiating from the person behind her. Although she was wearing the padded coat, perhaps due to regional differences, the material was quite thin. In such close proximity, she could clearly feel his firm chest. This sensation made her shift her body unconsciously, seeking relief from the discomfort. Feeling the steel-like arm around her waist, her heart hammered against her ribs; she had never been this close to a boy before.

Zhu Zhuqing thought a lot in that instant. She forced herself to calm down, and as her body gradually relaxed, her heart became unusually tranquil. In this moment, she felt as if the whole world had changed; the sky was so vast, and the whistling wind in her ears sounded exceptionally pleasant. She felt as if the invisible shackles on her had dissipated. All of this stemmed from her speculation about her sister's motives. As for Dai Mubai... since he chose to abandon her and run, they should have no further relationship. It would also make things easier for her eldest sister.

Just as Zhu Zhuqing was lost in thought, she suddenly felt the grip on her waist loosen, and one of Li Xun’s arms lifted, his hand reaching toward her upper body. Zhu Zhuqing’s mind went blank, and her heart began to race uncontrollably. Just as her thoughts stalled, his hand stopped at the wound on her left shoulder.

Zhu Zhuqing had been running all day and hadn't been able to tend to her injury. Li Xun was worried that she, having already lost too much blood, would suffer from hypothermia in the cold high-altitude air. Li Xun slowly channeled the chakra in his body, directing it through his palm into the wound. Although he hadn't yet developed a medical ninjutsu, by utilizing the properties of Wood Release and sparing no chakra, he could heal some external injuries.

"Why is your body so stiff? Are you afraid of falling?"

Feeling her tense body, Li Xun tightened his arm around her waist once more. By now, Zhu Zhuqing had regained her composure and realized she had misunderstood his intentions, causing her face to flush bright red. Feeling the gentle, soothing warmth spreading from the wound on her left shoulder, she was filled with amazement.

"Big Brother Li Xun can actually heal injuries without even using his martial soul..." Zhu Zhuqing turned her head to look at Li Xun. "And he is supposed to be a Control-type soul master..."

Li Xun caught her gaze and smiled at her, but she seemed startled and quickly turned her head away.

"Hm? Did she see my handsome face and get shy?" Li Xun mused.

Perhaps because they had been out for too long and he missed the sect, or perhaps because the sky was no longer as cold, Li Xun didn't ask Sword Douluo to stop, even as they passed through towns along the way. Only when they encountered particularly scenic spots would the three of them pause to rest and relieve their fatigue.

At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi’s joy was written all over his face. "I didn't expect you to have such a harvest on this trip."

"Teacher, don't be too happy yet. The specific details of the cooperation with the Break Clan need to be discussed with Senior Yang Wudi personally," Li Xun said, setting expectations for Ning Fengzhi.

"That is only right. Although the Break Clan has fallen, they are still incomparable to ordinary sects. I will set off immediately," Ning Fengzhi nodded with a smile. When Li Xun first mentioned wanting to win over the Break Clan, he hadn't held much hope, simply intending to encourage his student. He hadn't expected that in just over a year, Li Xun would have silently pushed the matter to this point. How could he not be pleasantly surprised? One had to realize that the Break Clan was comparable to the Lower Four Sects, not to mention their history as vassals to the Clear Sky Sect. As for whether this would anger the Clear Sky Sect, Ning Fengzhi merely smiled faintly.