"Don't look! How will I ever face Lord Dai Weisi after this?"
Zhu Zhuyun's voice was already tinged with sobs; her shy face grew redder as more of her outer garment slipped off.
She had no will to fight at all; her only thought was to crawl into a crack in the ground.
Still, most people were already dead, and only Chu Feng had seen her body—so, comparatively, it was a small loss.
Chu Feng teased, "After all the fuss tonight, what was the point?"
"You… you're not embarrassed at all; you saw me like this and still won't look away."
Zhu Zhuyun was frantic—utterly frantic—like a cornered rabbit biting wildly.
Her mouth opened, but her body squirmed like an eel; she couldn't crouch or stand straight.
She stood there like a little kitten, her fair skin gleaming snow-white in the faint light.
Chu Feng, of course, ignored her and walked straight up; her eyes opened wide and bright.
He hooked her chin as before, exhaled a warm breath, and said, "Now tell me what I want to know and I'll let you go."
Zhu Zhuyun's gaze turned fierce, veins bulging all over her body.
"You… in your dreams."
"Then stay here and roast. You trapped yourself with your own Stone Disk—none of my business."
Chu Feng spread his hands and stepped back.
Zhu Zhuyun hastily cried, "Don't go—if anyone comes my reputation's ruined. Fine, I'll talk!"
She knew what was sensible; though she still turned her head away haughtily, inside she was probably desperate.
"Speak." Chu Feng squatted beside her.
Zhu Zhuyun urged, "Can't you release me first and then let me speak?"
"Better hurry; if someone shows up it'll really be bad." Chu Feng smiled.
"Hmph, ask—just ask."
"What's the Coalition Army's objective?"
"I don't know. I only know Star Luo Empire took the initiative to move north and join Heaven Dou Empire to form the coalition, but now they're heading south."
"Then what's your mission?"
"Work with Dugu Bo to capture Zhu Zhuqing and refine her into a Post-Natal Spirit Treasure."
"Her? Refine? Using a living person to forge a treasure harms your karma."
"It's required by our house laws and military codes. She refused to join the coalition; that's intolerable for our Zhu family."
"So why kill Dugu Bo?"
"He's born with innate virulent poison—perfect material. God King Tang ordered me to watch him and strike when the time was right."
"Aren't you afraid of internal strife? Your rules are disgusting."
"So what? God King Tang only trusts those he believes in—me, not Dugu Bo."
"Oh? So I've got myself a decent hostage?"
They were chatting pleasantly until a thread of drool slipped from Zhu Zhuyun's lips, ruining the mood.
She was exhausted; Chu Feng clapped his hands and withdrew all his divine force.
Zhu Zhuyun collapsed; the cold Stone Disk made her shiver.
Chu Feng went on, "You've said everything. How about I take you south to rejoin the coalition?"
"Huh? Dream on."
Zhu Zhuyun's spirit hadn't dimmed, though she hurt so badly she couldn't even cover her chest.
"Then I'll leave you here to live or die. I never save people I'm not optimistic about."
Was that a threat? Not really—and Zhu Zhuyun knew the fate of betraying the coalition.
If even Dugu Bo could die by her hand, she could just as easily fall to someone else—that fit their logic.
"Dai Weisi should be a high-ranking officer in the coalition. I've met him; with his temperament he won't tolerate you."
Chu Feng voiced her own thoughts: Dai Weisi loved flaunting his Star Luo royal status; if Zhu Zhuyun tarnished the imperial image, she'd pay dearly.
Besides, Tang San's growing malevolence meant Zhu Zhuyun's end would surely be tragic.
Zhu Zhuyun stared. "You… know so much—do you still need me?"
"Needing you depends on whether you want to live. Besides, calling that Stone Disk scrambled your meridians; either way you need me."
That remark targeted her vitals; she didn't want to die—dying before Zhu Zhuqing would be a disgrace.
"I can accept your request, but I want to form a contract with you—dare you?"
Zhu Zhuyun thought briefly and made her choice.
Chu Feng went along easily. "Fine, whatever."
Zhu Zhuyun suddenly pounced, a cyan-blue ring drifting from her body as she hugged Chu Feng tight.
"Hey, no need to be so eager."
Chu Feng felt chest pressure from the firm softness; it was uncomfortably tight.
Zhu Zhuyun's face darkened; she hadn't expected this either.
Still, the contract linked them: the ring entered Chu Feng, black patterns flashed below his earlobes and merged into his skin.
Zhu Zhuyun held her breath and probed, "You didn't even know what contract that was and you dared? And just now—did you trick me into falling into your arms?" She sounded defiant.
Chu Feng studied her again before answering, "It's nothing more than a Blood Pact: if you die, I die; if you live, I live. Too bad your power can't suppress mine."
"So…"
Zhu Zhuyun froze, guessing what came next.
"So the effect only binds you. If I die, you die; if you die, I'm fine. And just now your pounce failed because my divine force was too strong for your spirit power to activate—your own rash move."
Chu Feng spoke bluntly, unable to hide his grin; it was the first time he'd met such a reckless girl.
Zhu Zhuyun fumed; her proud method had backfired disastrously.
"Now you have no choice but to head south with me. Don't catch cold."
Chu Feng smiled, drew some energy from the town to summon a coat, and gently draped it over her.
The gesture sealed the matter.
Zhu Zhuyun was unwilling, but what resistance could she offer?
When she tried to protest, she sensed her spirit power steadily rising.
She knew it was Chu Feng's divine force; the man's depth exceeded all her imagination.
"Hmph, a Blood Pact doesn't mean I'm on your side. Who knows what'll happen when we meet the coalition."
She kept talking tough, yet her body honestly followed Chu Feng obediently back toward the inn.
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