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The moment she leaned in, the dream didn't shatter. Zhu Zhuqing felt warmth, tenderness, and a happiness she had never known; it turned out none of this was a dream. It was real!
After being abandoned by Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing had lived a life of utter despair in the cage of the Star Luo Empire, her world stripped of color. Every day, she prayed to escape. She didn't want to be a breeding object; she yearned for freedom.
And today, the one fated to save her, who she had only dared to imagine, appeared. Although he didn't arrive on colorful auspicious clouds, he rode a horse all night, rushing tirelessly from Nuoding City to save her. He was incredibly handsome and immensely powerful.
Even... Zhu Zhuqing felt that even if she were dreaming, she wouldn't have dared to imagine the plot so perfectly, yet reality could be this flawless!
At this moment, leaning in Su Yan's embrace, she felt she was the happiest woman in the world. Her beloved was a peerless hero, and she had committed herself to him for this life.
The moment Su Yan touched her, he also felt that everything was worthwhile. Forget riding a horse all night; what if he had been forced to charge into the Star Luo Empire's army of thousands? Zhu Zhuqing's eyes were truly big! It was worth it.
Zhu Zhuqing noticed the movement of Su Yan's hand, and her body trembled slightly. She reached out and gently pushed Su Yan away, her shy face blending with the morning glow, indescribably beautiful.
Su Yan looked at the shy girl's reddened cheeks before him and smiled, reaching out to gently pinch the cat ear decoration on her head.
"Let's go!"
"Mm," Zhu Zhuqing replied softly, letting Su Yan hold her hand as they walked toward the Heaven Dou Empire.
Out of the bamboo forest, Su Yan found the horse he had ridden, jumped onto it, and extended his hand to Zhu Zhuqing below. Zhu Zhuqing took Su Yan's hand and followed him onto the horse, sitting behind Su Yan and wrapping her arms around his waist.
Zhu Zhuqing whispered, "I want to go to Suotuo City to make things clear with him." Zhu Zhuqing hoped to go to Suotuo City first to personally break off her relationship with Dai Mubai, so she could follow Su Yan as a free woman, without the reputation of being someone else's fiancƩe.
"Mm." Su Yan didn't ask further. "We'll go to the nearest town now, change to a carriage, then depart for Suotuo City," he said. Going to Suotuo City first was also a good idea; it wouldn't be very safe to take Zhu Zhuqing to get the Immortal Herb from Dugu Yan right away.
"Giddy up!"
The horse bolted, and the immense inertia instantly made Su Yan feel the pressure of two large mountains behind him. Worried that Zhu Zhuqing would misunderstand and think he was deliberately playing a trick, Su Yan awkwardly explained, "You know, I like to tell a little truth. Last night was my first time riding a horse; no one taught me, and I haven't learned yet."
"Mm," Zhu Zhuqing replied softly, hugging Su Yan even tighter from behind with both hands, pressing her entire body against Su Yan's back, and closing her eyes to feel the warmth he brought.
Su Yan, on the other hand, was momentarily stunned; happiness truly arrived in a wonderful way.
Dai Mubai, oh, Dai Mubai! You're really not a decent person.
[Seven Treasures Little Princess: Oh my goodness! Is it this exciting right after waking up?]
[Seven Treasures Little Princess: Nobody's even talking yet. Is everyone still asleep?]
[Loves Eating Carrots: Life-and-death situation, Kitty, how are you now? Come out and let us know you're safe.]
[I Am an Orphan: I haven't even opened my eyes yet, and I see a life-and-death situation. Was it one against five, Kitty?]
[Group Member Number Nine: Yanzi, where's Yanzi? Didn't we agree to stay up all night to watch the drama? How did she fall asleep?]
[Bibi Dong: Liu Erlong, come face me, you blind fool!]
[Hu Liena: Liu Erlong, come out and tell us your story.]
Blue Tyrant Academy.
Liu Erlong hadn't woken up yet, her eyes red. Seeing Bibi Dong and Hu Liena challenging her in the group chat, her heart was half-dead with anger. Damn it. Are you two calling for my soul first thing in the morning? But... Liu Erlong hesitated a few times, resisting the urge to send a message in the group. Given her current situation, how could she have the courage to face people? Wouldn't everyone laugh her to death?
[Cat in the Shadows: I am safe now.]
[Seven Treasures Little Princess: Safe? That's wonderful! Where's my Su Yan Gege? Why isn't my Su Yan Gege speaking up?]
[Loves Eating Carrots: Kitty, you're safe, so did Su Yan go... go back?]
Su Yan? Zhu Zhuqing saw the content in the group chat, and sitting on the horse, she hugged him even tighter, afraid that her fated one would suddenly vanish.
[Cat in the Shadows: Su Yan probably can't go back.]
[Hu Liena: Little Princess, weren't you still fond of that handsome passerby yesterday? Are you changing your affections today?]
In a hotel in Nuoding City, Ning Rongrong was brushing her teeth, feeling delighted. You idiots, Su Yan is Su Yan. Two Su Yans are the same person; I definitely like them both!
[Seven Treasures Little Princess: Hu Liena, you're so silly! Can't I like both at the same time? Hehe! I like both, I love both.]
[Loves Eating Carrots: Six.]
[Bibi Dong: I thought I wouldn't get to eat my melon, but I didn't expect it to be even more exciting. Little Princess, go for it, I'll support you!]
Uh. Zhu Zhuqing was also numb at this point. What a Little Princess. You truly have a big appetite, you like both?
[Cat in the Shadows: Then you go for it!]
[Yanzi Is Not Swallow: Oh no, oh no, I accidentally fell asleep and missed out on a big melon.]
[Yanzi Is Not Swallow: Kitty, quickly tell me what happened, what's the situation?]
[Cat in the Shadows: It's fine, I'm safe now.]
[Yanzi Is Not Swallow: What about the process?]
[I Am an Orphan: That's right, did Su Yan go to help you?]
[Bibi Dong: Hurry up, hand over your unspeakable secrets, don't force us to snatch them.]
[Seven Treasures Little Princess: That's not right, why isn't Su Yan Gege speaking up? Is Su Yan Gege injured? Where are you two now?]
[Loves Eating Carrots: What? Su Yan is injured? His... his Spirit, is it okay?]
Zhu Zhuqing didn't know how to answer at this point. That's not right? How could the Little Princess ask if Su Yan was injured? This doesn't match Su Yan's profound and mysterious persona in the group! Does the Little Princess know Su Yan? Impossible! This Little Princess was asking about Su Yan in the group yesterday; she didn't recognize Su Yan even when she saw him, which is very strange.
And this Carrot, what was she asking about? Su Yan's Spirit? Could Carrot and the Little Princess both know Su Yan? Are they both disguised in the group?
[Su Yan: What?]
[Su Yan: I just went back across the river of time. Kitty escaped on her own. Seeing that she wasn't in danger, I didn't show up and just went back.]
[Cat in the Shadows: No wonder I didn't see you.]
[Seven Treasures Little Princess: Hehe.]
[Loves Eating Carrots: Hehe.]
[Everyone: ???]
Su Yan slowed down a bit at this point and explained to Zhu Zhuqing, "I've always been studying at Nuoding Academy in Nuoding City. Loves Eating Carrots, her name is Xiao Wu, she's my classmate."
"I also have a classmate named Tang San, who is the Tang San I mentioned in the group before. If nothing unexpected happens, we might see them today."
Zhu Zhuqing heard this and asked with some confusion, "Aren't we going to Suotuo City?"
Su Yan turned to look at Zhu Zhuqing and explained, "We're going to Suotuo City, and Xiao Wu and Tang San will also go to Suotuo City. Also, Seven Treasures Little Princess, she is Ning Rongrong, the daughter of Sect Master Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. They will all go to Suotuo City."
"There's a Shrek Academy in Suotuo City, which is the academy Dai Mubai is at. All of you will go there. It has nothing to do with me; it's where you would all go to Shrek Academy anyway."
Zhu Zhuqing pondered after hearing this. "I think I understand what you mean. If you hadn't come for me, even if I escaped from the Star Luo Empire, I would still go to Shrek Academy."
"Right!" Su Yan continued. "Including Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong, even without getting to know each other through the chat group, they would all go to Shrek Academy and meet there."