Chapter 77: Zhu Zhuqing's Shift from Arrogance to Deference
Zhu Zhuqing finally knew who the person behind the scenes was, and it was precisely this knowledge that plunged her into despair.
She had initially thought the other party was the young master of some powerful faction.
Yet, it turned out he was merely a small Earl of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Earl—
What an insignificant title! His status was even lower than hers, a Prince's fiancée.
Such a person.
How dare he boast that he could help her control her own destiny?
Did he even have the qualifications to speak to the Star Luo Imperial Family?
If the Star Luo Imperial Family demanded Xue Ye hand her over, would Xue Ye dare to go to war with Star Luo for him?
Isn't that ridiculous?
Zhu Zhuqing felt she had been set up, falling for a grand scheme.
Looking at Glowing Feather Douluo, who was leisurely lounging in a recliner not far away, she felt a surge of anger, wishing she could tear him to shreds.
But she couldn't defeat him.
After learning Li Tian's identity, she seemed to have already foreseen her own end.
Li Tian couldn't contend with the Star Luo Imperial Family.
He would absolutely not dare to let her openly appear before the world.
She would most likely be kept as a pet, to be played with at his leisure.
If the matter were ever exposed, Li Tian would certainly abandon her without hesitation.
Even if she miraculously returned to the Star Luo Empire.
She would still be punished for losing her chastity; after all, the Royal Family's face was paramount.
In short, it was a death either way.
It was merely a difference between a quick death or a death after enduring endless humiliation.
As for Li Tian's fate.
It simply didn't matter.
Whatever his end, she wouldn't see it, nor could she change anything.
Escape?
That would likely not be so easy, as there were many guards in this manor.
End her own life?
This seemed like the best option for now, but she was truly unwilling.
Just as she was at a loss for what to do.
A young man walked in from outside the hanging flower gate, with the butler Wang Ming following behind him.
No need to ask, he must be Li Tian.
However, what surprised Zhu Zhuqing was how young he was.
He shouldn't be much older than herself, right?
At this age, instead of focusing on cultivating diligently, he was preoccupied with women.
He was indeed not a good person.
Li Tian passed through the hanging flower gate, his gaze immediately falling upon Zhu Zhuqing.
Seven-and-a-half-year-old Zhu Zhuqing was already one meter fifty tall.
At just over seven years old, the childishness had completely faded from her face, and her figure was already taking shape, without a single flaw.
Only her eyes seemed a bit strange.
Li Tian remembered that the original description of her was a cold indifference, devoid of any emotional color.
Yet, at this moment, Li Tian saw a hint of hatred in her eyes.
Where did this hatred come from?
What did Glowing Feather Douluo, that old fellow, do or say to her?
Surely she wouldn't inexplicably harbor hostility towards him?
"Come with me."
Li Tian glanced at Glowing Feather Douluo, then walked towards the study.
Zhu Zhuqing thought for a moment, then stepped forward to follow.
The study was large and spacious, with a huge rosewood long table.
It resembled the desk in a CEO's office on Earth.
Behind the table was a beast-hide chair, and there were also two wooden chairs from a thousand years ago.
"Sit!"
Li Tian sat down on the beast-hide chair, then gestured to the chair opposite him.
However, Zhu Zhuqing did not accept the offer and chose to stand.
Seeing this, Li Tian did not get angry; he first needed to understand the source of her hostility.
If it was truly baseless.
Then Li Tian had no obligation to indulge her, but he feared there might be some misunderstanding.
Li Tian asked, "What did he say to you?"
"What do you mean?"
Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly, not understanding the specific meaning of his words.
"It was my idea to have him take you out of Star Luo City."
Li Tian paused, then continued, "But I didn't give him any methods."
Zhu Zhuqing suddenly understood.
So, the so-called helping her control her own destiny was that fellow's own words.
Li Tian had never said such a thing.
Doesn't that mean Li Tian thought that merely taking her out of Star Luo City would make her submit to him?
Was he that confident, that naive?
Seeing her remain silent, Li Tian frowned and said, "I'm giving you a chance to explain; you'd best seize it. I don't have the energy to guess this and that."
Zhu Zhuqing's expression hardened.
Just a change in Li Tian's expression, yet an inexplicable pressure washed over her.
It wasn't pressure from cultivation, but psychological pressure.
It was the aura of a superior, something royalty and nobles possessed to varying degrees.
But Li Tian's aura was very strong, very domineering.
He was merely an Earl, and he didn't look very old.
How could he possess such a powerful aura?
"He said that if I followed you, you could help me control my own destiny."
Li Tian asked, "That's all?"
Those words weren't wrong, so why would they cause her to feel such inexplicable hatred?
Zhu Zhuqing: "He didn't tell me your identity."
Oh—I understand.
She probably imagined an identity for him, but when she arrived, she found it wasn't quite what she expected, and felt she had been deceived.
Li Tian asked, "You think I can't protect you?"
Zhu Zhuqing remained silent, only looking at him quietly, but her eyes said it all.
"Haha!"
Li Tian laughed, "Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, he is my future father-in-law. With him around, do you think the Star Luo Imperial Family would dare to raise their voice at me?"
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned.
Dugu Bo was his father-in-law?
Was he that formidable?
Speaking of Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo might not fear him, but who below a Titled Douluo wasn't afraid?
Armies?
Don't be ridiculous; for him, a group attack from anyone below a Titled Douluo was no different from a one-on-one fight.
No matter how many came, they would all die, alright?
But then again, this fellow was already Dugu Bo's prospective grandson-in-law, yet he still dared to mess around. Was Dugu Bo that open-minded?
His granddaughter didn't object either?
"I'm sorry."
Upon learning that he had such a backer as Dugu Bo, Zhu Zhuqing immediately apologized.
There was no longer any trace of hatred in her eyes.
Very realistic, but understandable; who in this world isn't realistic?
"Sit!"
Li Tian gestured again, and this time Zhu Zhuqing obediently sat down.
"Let me formally introduce myself."
"My name is Li Tian, my Spirit is the Thousand Machine Umbrella, I am a twenty-sixth level Spirit Grandmaster, and I am eight years old this year."
Li Tian emphasized the words "eight years old" slightly.
Mentioning Dugu Bo's name was just to reassure her; the self-introduction was to let her know that he didn't rely solely on Dugu Bo.
"Twenty-sixth level?"
Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but exclaim, her face full of disbelief.
What did twenty-sixth level at eight years old mean?
Even with innate full spirit power, the cultivation speed couldn't be this fast, could it?
That was sixteen levels in two years.
No wonder Dugu Bo was so open-minded; no wonder his granddaughter didn't mind Li Tian's promiscuity.
With his cultivation speed, who wouldn't worship him?
Li Tian continued, "Remember, I don't just want a pretty vase; after all, vases are everywhere, and I don't need to go to such great lengths."
"While your talent is average, this thing isn't immutable, provided you can show me your value and convince me that investing in you won't be a loss."
Zhu Zhuqing's pupils constricted.
She hadn't misheard, the other party actually said that talent wasn't immutable.
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[end of the chapter]