bookbashuk Chapter 377 Feng Xian's Background, Zhu Qing's Awakening
Chapter 377 Feng Xian's Background, Zhu Qing's Awakening
Chapter 377 Feng Xian's Background, Zhu Qing's Awakening
Actually.
Feng Xian is about the same age as Zhu Zhuqing, both around nine years old, but she is a little taller.
Her figure wasn't as exaggerated as Zhu Zhuqing's, but it was still quite impressive, much better than that of other girls her age.
It's definitely not as normal as Zhu Zhuqing thought.
Zhu Zhuqing suppressed the envy in her eyes, reluctantly withdrawing her gaze from Feng Xian's chest, and turned to Feng Xian's equally youthful yet delicate and gentle face, offering a cold apology:
"I'm sorry, I've killed this saber-toothed tiger, so you probably won't be able to absorb its spirit ring."
Feng Xian tightened the straps of the small bamboo basket on his shoulder, and upon hearing this, turned to look at the saber-toothed tiger lying on the ground.
The saber-toothed tiger was already dead, and a bright yellow soul ring quickly condensed above its corpse, floating in mid-air.
This saber-toothed tiger spirit ring is about five or six hundred years old, which is indeed very suitable as her second spirit ring.
If she can absorb this spirit ring, she can successfully break through to level twenty-one and become an even more revered Great Spirit Master.
In this way, she could receive more monthly Soul Master allowances from the Spirit Hall, and she and her mother could live a better life and not be so poor.
Unfortunately, she didn't kill the saber-toothed tiger.
She couldn't absorb this spirit ring.
A hint of regret flashed in Feng Xian's eyes, but it quickly disappeared. She waved to Zhu Zhuqing:
"It's a bit of a pity, but it's okay. I didn't come here to hunt for spirit rings, so you don't need to apologize."
"Speaking of which, I should thank you for your help. If it weren't for you, I might have been exhausted and defeated."
Hearing Feng Xian thank her in return and mention that she might be defeated due to exhaustion, Zhu Zhuqing was slightly taken aback and felt a little confused. She carefully recalled the battle just now.
From Feng Xian's ferocious, demonic fighting style, there was no indication that she was exhausted.
I have a feeling that Feng Xian still has some power left to use. Even without my help, I believe that saber-toothed tiger wouldn't be able to do anything to her.
Zhu Zhuqing thought for a moment and then spoke the truth:
"You're welcome. I just saw this saber-toothed tiger with decent defense and was itching to try out my newly acquired second soul skill."
"Even without my intervention, with your abilities, that saber-toothed tiger is no match for you."
Feng Xian smiled gently and said nothing more.
She could indeed handle that saber-toothed tiger, but it would come at a price.
She was only a Soul Master with a Soul Power of Level 20, possessing only one Soul Skill and brute strength. Even if she could defeat the Saber-toothed Tiger, it would be a narrow victory, and she would most likely be injured.
With Zhu Zhuqing joining in and helping to kill the saber-toothed tiger, it couldn't be better for her.
This saved her from injury.
After all, she still had to go home to take care of her mother, and it wouldn't be right for her to come out and then go back with her injured body.
If her mother saw this, it would only cause her more worry.
Although I was already prepared before deciding to come to the Star Dou Great Forest, it would be best to come unharmed.
Therefore, Feng Xian was still very grateful to Zhu Zhuqing.
"Your name is Feng Xian?"
At that moment, a warm and gentle voice suddenly entered Feng Xian's ears.
Feng Xian turned his head and looked in the direction of the sound.
Suddenly, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, looking like a divine couple, floated down from the tree trunk of a large tree and appeared in front of them in the blink of an eye.
The man was dressed in a black outfit, with a straight posture, handsome face, and a peaceful and serene demeanor, like a refined gentleman in a turbulent world.
The woman wore a fitted leather outfit, had a great figure, and possessed exquisite beauty. She was both heroic and charming, elegant and graceful, truly a peerless beauty.
It was Ye Qifeng and Nihuang.
The one who spoke was Ye Qifeng.
As Ye Qifeng and Nihuang approached, Feng Xian was surprised, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes, and he secretly assumed a defensive posture.
"Yes, it's me."
She nodded first, answering Ye Qifeng's question, and then asked:
"Who are you?"
"Don't be nervous, we're with Zhu Qing."
Noticing the wariness in Feng Xian's eyes, Ye Qifeng smiled and explained, then introduced himself:
"My name is Ye Qifeng."
Then, pointing to Nihuang beside him:
"This is my older sister, her name is Nihuang."
Nihuang smiled, but did not speak. She gently nodded to Fengxian.
"So you were with Zhu Qing."
Feng Xian glanced at Zhu Zhuqing and saw her nod slightly. He breathed a sigh of relief and lowered his guard.
"Little sister, why are you here all alone? Where are your companions?"
Nihuang parted her red lips slightly and asked in a languid tone.
"I have no companions."
Upon hearing this, Feng Xian smiled shyly, touched her high ponytail, and seemed a little embarrassed.
Are you alone?
Ye Qifeng looked at her with slight surprise.
"You dare to come to the Star Dou Great Forest all by yourself? You're even braver than me!"
Zhu Zhuqing also looked at Feng Xian, her eyes slightly widened, and she silently muttered a few words in her heart:
"Although I had planned to travel through the Star Dou Great Forest, I did bring guards with me."
Having witnessed the dangers of the Star Dou Great Forest, I would never dare to entertain such a foolish thought again.
"Um."
Feng Xian nodded gently.
"I see your soul power has reached the bottleneck of level 20. You came here alone to hunt soul beasts and absorb soul rings?"
Nihuang frowned slightly, glanced at Feng Xian's coarse clothes, then abandoned her languid and elegant demeanor and asked seriously.
"Ah, I'm not here to hunt for spirit rings, I'm here to gather herbs."
Feng Xian shook his head, and as he spoke, he turned to the side and showed the small bamboo basket on his back to Ye Qifeng, Nihuang, and Zhu Zhuqing.
"Gathering herbs?"
Ye Qifeng, Nihuang, and Zhu Zhuqing were all astonished.
"Um."
Feng Xian nodded and explained:
"My mother is sick, and very sick, but I don't have enough money to buy medicine, so I have to come out and gather it myself."
"I see."
Ye Qifeng, Nihuang, and Zhu Zhuqing immediately understood why Feng Xian had appeared alone in the Star Dou Great Forest—it was to treat his mother's illness.
At this moment, the three of them had an unprecedentedly positive impression of Feng Xian.
Aren't you afraid of danger?
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes flickered slightly, as if she admired Feng Xian's courage.
"I'm scared, but I have to come for my mother's sake."
Feng Xian's face showed some fear, but her eyes were incredibly determined.
"You actually know where to pick herbs? Do you perhaps have expertise in herbal medicine?"
Nihuang asked with slight surprise.
"Um."
Feng Xian hummed in agreement and nodded slightly.
"I have read some medical books and know a little about herbs, and I know where some herbs are collected."
Ye Qifeng was somewhat surprised that Feng Xian actually knew something about medicinal herbs.
He thought for a moment, then asked gently:
"Have you found any herbs that can cure your mother's illness?"
"no."
Feng Xian was a little discouraged, but after a moment, she cheered up and patted the small bamboo basket on her back:
"Although we didn't find the herbs we wanted, these are still good enough; at least they can alleviate Mother's illness somewhat."
Fengxian, unwilling to discuss her mother's illness further, instead asked:
"By the way, older brother, older sister, and Zhuqing, what are you all doing here?"
Ye Qifeng smiled slightly and answered her:
"Oh, we were originally planning to leave the Star Dou Great Forest, but when we passed by, we heard fighting and came to check. We happened to see you fighting with the saber-toothed tiger, so we asked Zhu Qing to help you out."
"Oh, I see."
Feng Xian immediately understood and thanked him again:
"Thank you, brother; thank you, sister; and thank you, Zhuqing!"
"It's nothing, no need to be so polite."
Ye Qifeng waved his hand, then asked:
Are you leaving? Or are you staying?
Feng Xian pondered for a moment, then sighed:
"Forget it, let's just leave."
"The Star Dou Great Forest is far too dangerous. This is my limit. If I go any further, I'm afraid I won't be able to return."
"My mother is still waiting for me at home. I need to take the herbs I picked back first."
"Since you're leaving here anyway, why don't you come with us? It'll be safer that way."
Ye Qifeng suggested gently.
Feng Xian's eyes lit up.
Zhu Qing, who is about the same age as her, is already very strong.
The handsome older brother and beautiful older sister in front of me must be extraordinary. If I leave with them, my safety will be well guaranteed.
However, Feng Xian was still somewhat uneasy:
"Really? Can I come with you?"
"Of course."
Ye Qifeng nodded affirmatively.
"Let's go."
"it is good."
…………
then.
Under the leadership of Ye Qifeng and Nihuang.
The four of them made their way out of the Starry Sky Forest without any obstacles or accidents, and arrived at a temporary gathering place at the edge of the forest, where they rented a carriage.
On the way, as their conversation deepened, Feng Xian quickly became acquainted with Ye Qifeng, Nihuang, and Zhu Zhuqing.
Under the persistent questioning of Ye Qifeng and the other two, Feng Xian revealed his true identity.
Like Zhu Zhuqing, Feng Xian is a native of Xingluo City, the imperial city of the Xingluo Empire, and is also of noble birth.
However, their status is vastly different.
In the Heavenly Dou Empire, the class system is relatively loose, and the people are roughly divided into two categories: nobles and commoners.
The status of nobles is usually determined by their titles, and competition among nobles is not particularly fierce. Regardless of their status, they usually keep to themselves unless absolutely necessary.
In the Star Luo Empire, the hierarchy is even more rigid. Even among nobles, there are different levels, roughly divided into five tiers: low, middle, high, top, and royal.
The status of nobles was not only determined by their titles, but also closely related to their rank within the nobility. Coupled with the brutal competitive environment of the Star Luo Empire, the political and power struggles among nobles were almost insane.
As a result, every year many lower-ranking noble families lose in political and power struggles, are demoted, decline, or even perish.
Zhu Zhuqing was born into the Zhu family of the Netherworld Grand Duke's Mansion, which belonged to the top nobility of the Star Luo Empire.
The Zhu family of the Netherworld Grand Duke's Mansion has a close relationship with the Dai family of the Star Luo Royal Family. The two families are related by marriage, and their status is as stable as Mount Tai and as impregnable as a fortress. Naturally, it is impossible for them to decline.
Feng Xian, on the other hand, came from a military family in the Star Luo Empire, which was considered a relatively low-ranking noble family.
Because her family was defeated and fell into decline in the brutal struggle of Xingluo, almost all of her clan members died out. Only she and her mother were demoted to commoners and survived by sheer luck, relying on each other for survival.
Feng Xian was exceptionally talented and had once attended a Soul Master Academy, where he received a good education. However, due to a family tragedy, his status changed to that of a commoner, and he no longer enjoyed the rights of a nobleman. As a result, he was expelled from the Soul Master Academy.
Competition within the Star Luo Empire is brutal; everything depends on identity, power, and status.
Unlike Tiandou City, which is divided into five districts, Xingluo City is divided into three areas: Xingluo Imperial Palace, Inner City, and Outer City.
The Star Luo Imperial Palace is located in the very center of Star Luo City and belongs to the Dai family of the Star Luo royal family.
The inner city covers the largest area and is the residence of all nobles. For example, the Zhu family of the Youming Grand Duke's Mansion, to which Zhu Zhuqing belongs, is located in this area.
As for the outer city, it was the residence of ordinary people.
It is worth mentioning that Xingluo City does not allow the existence of poor people and vagrants, so there are no slums or other dirty and filthy places in Xingluo City.
However, the darkness and chaos of the outer city of Xingluo City were no less than those of the slums of Tiandou City.
The reason for this is naturally the strict and oppressive rule implemented by the Star Luo Empire from top to bottom, as well as the brutal competitive environment.
This has also resulted in the residents of Star Luo City being more valiant, belligerent, and even bloodthirsty than the residents of Heaven Dou City.
Feng Xian's family originally lived in the wealthy area of Xingluo City's inner city, but after the family declined, her mother, who was not a Soul Master, moved with her to the poorest part of the inner city.
With the family's savings, they could have lived a life of comfort and ease.
However, because of his status, he was still targeted by the nobles in the inner city, and people often came to his door to provoke him and vandalize his property.
The mother, who had suffered a series of misfortunes, was deeply affected. In addition, she was overworked and her heart muscle was damaged, which led to her serious illness. Her savings dwindled as she spent them.
Left with no other choice, the mother and daughter had to move again, this time to the outer city where the security situation was even more chaotic.
Feng Xian's situation is somewhat similar to that of Raven back then.
Because he was no longer a nobleman, Feng Xian, who lived in the imperial city, had no Soul Master Academy to attend. Even though his Soul Power had already reached level 20, he had not yet obtained a second Soul Ring.
Without the help of teachers from the Soul Master Academy and without enough money to hire someone to hunt for a Soul Ring, Feng Xian's second Soul Ring has been delayed until now.
If it weren't for the need to treat her mother's illness, she wouldn't have left the city alone, trekking through mountains and rivers, walking dozens of kilometers to gather herbs in the dangerous Starry Sky Forest.
…………
Upon learning of Feng Xian's background, Ye Qifeng, Nihuang, and Zhu Zhuqing all felt a sense of emotion and pity.
Especially Zhu Zhuqing.
She originally thought her own background was tragic enough, but she never expected that Feng Xian's background was even more tragic than hers.
Listening to Feng Xian recount the tragic decline of his family, Zhu Zhuqing seemed to realize for the first time the cruelty of the competition among the nobles of the Star Luo Empire.
This was far more brutal than the competition between her and her sister, Zhu Zhuyun.
It can be said that it is even better than that.
Competition among nobles often resulted in the downfall of entire families, with dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of people losing their lives.
Even if she lost the competition with her sister, at most it would only cost one person's life.
Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but start to think.
The noble families of the Star Luo Empire engage in ruthless competition among themselves, striving to climb the social ladder, for power, for wealth, and for resources.
What is the purpose of the competition between myself and my sister Zhu Zhuyun?
For the right to inherit the family business? For the position of patriarch? For the power, wealth, and resources controlled by the family?
No, none of that. I'm just trying to live a good life.
None of these are what I want.
The competition between myself and my sister was imposed on me by my family, not something I wanted.
But do we really have to follow the so-called family rules?
Is this truly my destiny?
Is fate truly unchanging and beyond our control?
Perhaps, as Brother Ye said, we should try to break free from the shackles of the family, escape the cage of rules, and change our own destiny.
At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing seemed to have gained some new insights.
However, before that, I want to try. Perhaps there's still a sliver of hope that I can defeat my sister.
Thank you to [Most Favorite Big Bear Girl] for the 100 Qidian Coins! Thank you to [Book Friend 488461] for the 100 Book Coins! Thank you to [Yimeng_aB] for the 100 Book Coins!
(End of this chapter)