"Elder Ling Yuan," Song Qing addressed the only female Titled Douluo among their group, her faint purple hair cascading down her back, her brown-black eyes sharp and observant. "Please take hold of Zhu Zhuyun and accompany us."
Spirit Kite Douluo, Elder Ling Yuan, a woman of few words and swift action, nodded silently. She gracefully moved towards the still-injured but conscious Zhu Zhuyun, carefully lifting her slender frame. Zhu Zhuyun flinched at the touch but didn't resist, her mind still reeling from the unexpected defeat.
"Let's head to the Spirit Hall branch here in the Star Luo Imperial Capital," Song Qing announced, turning towards the exit of the arena. Zhu Zhuqing quickly followed, still leaning slightly on Song Qing for support, the adrenaline of the battle slowly fading. The five Titled Douluo formed a silent escort around them as they made their way out of the now mostly empty arena.
The Spirit Hall branch in the Imperial Capital was a grand building, designed to project power and influence. Zhu Zhuyun, still awake but nursing her injuries, was placed in one of the more luxurious chambers. Song Qing then turned to the five Titled Douluo. "Thank you for your assistance. Please wait outside."
The Titled Douluo, accustomed to obeying the Holy Son's commands without question, immediately filed out of the room, their powerful auras receding. Only Song Qing and his beloved Zhu Zhuqing remained, along with the injured and watchful Zhu Zhuyun.
Zhu Zhuyun, despite her pain, couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. What did the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall want with her? She glanced nervously at Song Qing, who was now looking at Zhu Zhuqing with a soft expression.
Then, Song Qing subtly turned his head towards Zhu Zhuqing and gave her a barely perceptible nod, a silent gesture that only they understood. Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened slightly, and she immediately stepped behind her elder sister and swiftly struck the back of her neck with a precise chop. Zhu Zhuyun's eyes rolled back, and she slumped unconscious.
Song Qing immediately summoned his Primordial Life Tree Spirit. The towering, emerald tree materialized in the room, its radiant leaves casting a soft glow. Focusing his soul power, he activated the Verdant Embrace ability, a gentle green light enveloping Zhu Zhuyun's injured body.
Zhu Zhuqing watched the display with a hint of curiosity. Over the past year, Song Qing had indeed shared some details about his second, rather unusual plant spirit with her and Ning Rongrong. He had mentioned its potent healing capabilities and other auxiliary abilities like manipulating plants and even producing poisons, but she had never witnessed its power firsthand.
The effect was immediate. Zhu Zhuyun's shallow breaths deepened, and the visible wounds on her body began to close at an astonishing rate. In just a few minutes, the cuts and bruises had vanished, leaving her skin smooth and unblemished. She remained unconscious, likely to regain awareness in about an hour, her body now fully healed.
Song Qing dismissed his Primordial Life Tree Spirit, its form fading back into his body. He turned to Zhu Zhuqing, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Well, your task is complete. Now, it's time for me to proceed with my investigation into the Imperial Family of the Star Luo Empire."
Zhu Zhuqing looked at him, her brow furrowed with concern. "What investigation is this about, Qing?"
Trusting her implicitly, Song Qing decided to reveal the information he had gathered. "Over the past year," he began, his voice low, "some of our informants within the Spirit Hall have spotted Tang Yuehua, the leader of the Moonlight Pavilion and the sister of Tang Xiao, the current clan head of the Clear Sky Clan, within the Star Luo Empire."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened slightly. "Tang Yuehua? What would she be doing here?"
"It suggests a possibility," Song Qing continued, his gaze serious, "that the Clear Sky Clan might be attempting to forge some sort of alliance with the Star Luo Imperial Family, or perhaps even the entire Star Luo Empire, to resist the growing power and influence of the Spirit Hall."
"Are you going to do anything dangerous?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, her voice filled with worry. She reached out and gently took his hand. "Please be careful, Qing. I don't want anything to happen to you here."
Song Qing smiled reassuringly, lifting her hand and gently kissing her knuckles. He then reached out and caressed her cheek, his touch tender. "It will be alright, Zhuqing. I've considered most of the potential dangers. And in the worst-case scenario," he leaned in and whispered, "I can always teleport back to your side using my Void Anchor. And if things get truly dire, we can both teleport back to the Spirit Hall in Martial Soul City."
Hearing those words, Zhu Zhuqing visibly relaxed, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. She knew Song Qing was incredibly powerful and resourceful.
"I should go now," Song Qing said, giving her hand a final squeeze. He glanced at the unconscious form of Zhu Zhuyun. "I'll leave you with your elder sister for now. Elder Ling Yuan and another Titled Douluo will remain nearby to ensure your safety in case anyone tries to cause trouble."
With a nod to Zhu Zhuqing, Song Qing left the chamber. He was met by three of the five Titled Douluo. "Let's go," he instructed, his eyes focused. He then activated the transformation ability of his Primordial Life Tree Spirit. His appearance began to subtly shift. His height decreased slightly, his bone structure altering, his blue hair turning a shade of dark brown, and his green eyes softening to a more common brown.
Even the aura of his soul rings seemed to diminish, their age appearing much younger than they actually were. He was now just another unremarkable young man, ready to blend into the crowds of the Imperial Capital. His investigation had begun.
Meanwhile, about an hour later, Zhu Zhuyun's eyelids fluttered open. She blinked, her vision slowly focusing. The first thing she noticed was that her injuries were completely gone. There was no lingering pain, no stiffness, nothing to indicate the brutal beating she had endured in the arena. She sat up slowly, a sense of bewilderment washing over her. Had it all been a dream?
Then, she saw her younger sister, Zhu Zhuqing, seated calmly on a nearby bed, her gaze fixed on her, as if she had been waiting for her to wake up.
"It seems you're finally awake, Elder Sister," Zhu Zhuqing said, her voice cool and devoid of any warmth.
The reality of her defeat crashed down on Zhu Zhuyun. She looked at her younger sister with a mixture of resentment and fear. Before she could say anything, Zhu Zhuqing spoke again, her tone sharp and commanding.
"Elder Sister," Zhu Zhuqing said, her voice leaving no room for argument, "as my maidservant, your first task will be to tidy this room."
Zhu Zhuyun's eyes widened in disbelief and fury. "You… you can't be serious!" she spat out, her pride wounded. "I am the eldest daughter of the Zhu Family!"
Zhu Zhuqing simply rose from the bed and walked slowly towards her elder sister, her dark eyes glinting with an unsettling intensity. She leaned down, her voice a low whisper that sent a shiver down Zhu Zhuyun's spine. "I can tolerate it if you disobey my commands, Elder Sister. But if you ever dare to ignore my dear lover's commands, I will personally ensure that your punishment is so severe, you will never forget it for the rest of your miserable life."
Zhu Zhuyun was truly shocked by the coldness in her younger sister's voice. It was a level of ruthlessness she had never witnessed before, and it instilled a strange sense of fear within her.
Zhu Zhuqing then leaned in even closer, her whisper barely audible. "And just so you know, Elder Sister, my dear lover doesn't know the true reason I asked for you. The real reason I want you as my maidservant is because you will accompany me to see to his needs."
She continued, a sly smile playing on her lips, "Do you know…My rival…Rongrong is also going to marry Qing, and her dowry will undoubtedly contain many precious treasures from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. I cannot possibly be lacking compared to her, now can I?" She paused, her gaze piercing. "And you, Elder Sister, as one of the most prized possessions of the Zhu Family… you would certainly make a most… suitable addition to my dowry, wouldn't you agree?"
Zhu Zhuyun's eyes widened in utter disbelief, her jaw practically dropping. "You… you want me to what?!" she stammered, her voice a mixture of shock and revulsion. "Have you gone completely mad, Zhu Zhuqing?! You want me to… serve your beloved man?!"
Her mind struggled to comprehend the sheer audacity of the request. It was beyond anything she could have ever imagined, a perversion of sisterly bonds and societal norms.
But Zhu Zhuqing had anticipated this very reaction. A small, almost predatory smile touched her lips. "What's so strange about it, Elder Sister?" she purred, her voice dangerously soft. She leaned closer, her gaze intense. "Your figure… your appearance… they are quite pretty. My Qing will definitely not hate it."
Zhu Zhuyun recoiled as if struck. "That's the crazy part, Zhu Zhuqing!" she hissed, her voice rising in indignation. "A woman wouldn't want to share her lover with any other woman, especially her own sister! What kind of twisted mind do you possess?"
Zhu Zhuqing simply shrugged, her nonchalance further infuriating her elder sister. "I can use you to get more attention from my beloved Qing," she whispered, a cunning glint in her eyes. "He'll have two beautiful sisters doting on him. Why shouldn't I take advantage of this… unique opportunity? In fact," she continued, a sly smile spreading across her face, "I've heard that men often enjoy playing with sisters. Qing will definitely love that."
Zhu Zhuyun stared at her younger sister, her face pale with horror. "You have gone completely, utterly crazy," she whispered, her voice trembling. A flicker of defiance sparked within her despite her fear. "And are you not scared, Zhu Zhuqing? Scared that I might… steal your lover away from you?"
Zhu Zhuqing rolled her eyes, a gesture of utter dismissal. "You can try, Elder Sister," she said, her tone laced with a hint of amusement. "As long as you please him well and serve him diligently, you can try all you want. But," her voice turned sharp, her eyes narrowing, "you better not harbor any unrealistic ambitions of trying to control him or take him away from me permanently. If you do," she leaned in close, her breath ghosting against Zhu Zhuyun's ear, "I won't be polite."
She then stepped back, her expression softening slightly, though a hint of that unsettling intensity remained in her eyes. "Keep this a secret for now, Elder Sister. I want to reveal this to Qing on our wedding night. It will be a… surprise."
Zhu Zhuyun stared at her younger sister, her mind a whirlwind of disbelief and disgust. Just how deranged had Zhu Zhuqing become during her years at the Spirit Hall? Letting her man enjoy herself, and even offering her own elder sister on their wedding night, all in a bizarre attempt to gain more of his attention… it was beyond comprehension. It defied every instinct, every moral compass she possessed.
'She's truly lost her mind,' Zhu Zhuyun thought, a shiver running down her spine. The younger sister she thought she knew was gone, replaced by this… this creature.
Zhu Zhuqing, oblivious to the turmoil raging within her elder sister, continued, her voice almost dreamy. "It will be quite… interesting… to do something like this with you, as sisters. Especially if it's to please my beloved. After all," she sighed contentedly, a look of adoration washing over her face, "he is the most magnificent man in the world. He deserves everything he wants, and even the things and pleasures that he doesn't yet know he wants."
Zhu Zhuyun could only stare, her mouth agape, unable to form a coherent response. The words that came to mind were too crude, too filled with horror to utter. Her younger sister's obsession with this Song Qing had twisted her into something unrecognizable.
'He… he must have some kind of hold over her,' Zhu Zhuyun thought desperately, trying to find a rational explanation for this madness. 'There's no other way… no woman in her right mind would ever suggest something so… so depraved.'
Zhu Zhuqing then tilted her head, her gaze scrutinizing her elder sister's shorter hairstyle. "Oh, and Elder Sister," she added casually, as if it were an afterthought, "you should start growing out your hair. Qing likes women with longer hair rather than short hair."
Zhu Zhuyun was utterly speechless. The sheer audacity, the casualness with which Zhu Zhuqing dictated her future, left her completely dumbfounded. She could only stare, her mind blank.
'Longer hair… for him?' she thought numbly. The indignity of it all was overwhelming.
However, deep down, a cold realization began to dawn within Zhu Zhuyun. Her future was now inextricably linked to her younger sister's whims. The Imperial Family would likely never accept her back after her public defeat and the scandal she had brought upon them. Her engagement with Dai Weisi was undoubtedly over. She had nowhere else to go. Her only option, it seemed, was to follow Zhu Zhuqing's orders, no matter how bizarre or repulsive they might be.
'What else can I do?' she thought, a wave of despair washing over her. The proud eldest daughter of the Zhu Family was now nothing more than a pawn in her younger sister's twisted games.
Meanwhile, a smug look settled on Zhu Zhuqing's face as she thought to herself. 'That little bet I had with Rongrong about who would give Qing the better dowry present… well, I'm definitely going to win.'
A triumphant smile played on her lips. 'There's no way Rongrong can top this. Elder Sister as a gift… Qing will be so surprised… and pleased.' Her mind raced with anticipation for her wedding night, completely oblivious to the horror and disgust she had just inflicted upon her own sister.