Douluo: Marry Shui Binger, reward Puni Martial Soul

Chapter 80: Flander's Impotent Rage, Xue Lingxiao Advises Zhu Zhuqing
The officials looked embarrassed by his question, but one of them finally whispered, "Dean Flander, His Highness Prince Lingxiao has already spoken, and this matter ends here. You... should go back and take good care of your students."

Xue Lingxiao! It really was him!

Upon hearing the name, Flanders trembled with rage and his vision blurred.

He never expected that his elaborate report would be suppressed by Xue Lingxiao with just a few words, without even getting a chance to meet the organizing committee!
"Excellent! Excellent Xue Lingxiao! Excellent Tianshui Academy!"

Flander gritted his teeth, forcing out these words, his eyes burning with rage and deep-seated hatred. "You just wait! I, Flander, will remember this! Sooner or later, I will make you pay! Ten times! A hundred times!"

He knew that there was no point in confronting them head-on, so he could only leave the organizing committee with a heart full of frustration and anger.

Back at Shrek Academy's temporary base, Flander looked at the messy lounge, his anger finding no outlet.

Dai Mubai and Tang San were still in a cold war, Zhu Zhuqing was missing, Ma Hongjun was crippled, and the whole team was in a state of panic, with morale at its lowest point.

He suddenly remembered something, frowned, and asked, "By the way, where are Erlong and Yu Xiaogang? Why haven't we seen them?"

Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang haven't shown up since the end of the match, which makes Flander feel a little strange.

Tang San shook his head: "I don't know. It seems that Teacher said he had something to do and went out. I didn't see Teacher Liu Erlong either."

Dai Mubai gave an impatient snort, clearly not interested in such matters.

Flander had a bad feeling, but the mess Shrek Academy was already giving him a headache, and he had no time to think about the whereabouts of Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang.

All he could think about now was how to get revenge on Tianshui Academy and Xue Lingxiao, and how to salvage Shrek Academy's reputation and reputation.

This feud is now truly settled.

On the other side, Zhu Zhuqing wandered aimlessly through the bustling streets of Tiandou City, surrounded by crowds and lively hawking, but this hustle and bustle seemed out of place for her.

Losing the game, internal strife within the team, Dai Mubai's repulsive demeanor, and those lingering nightmares...

Each and every incident felt like a heavy shackle, suffocating her.

Her long-held beliefs seemed to waver at this moment.

Is it really possible to defy the family's fate alongside Dai Mubai?

Is that cowardly, selfish man who only knows how to shirk responsibility at crucial moments really worthy of her entrusting her life to?

Looking at the dazzling array of goods lining both sides of the street, and at the couples walking hand in hand, laughing and talking happily, she felt a sense of confusion.

Where could she go after leaving Dai Mubai?

Returning to the Star Luo Empire? Facing that ruthless family, facing her sister Zhu Zhuyun who constantly suppresses her?

No, she didn't want to go back.

But what could she do if she stayed at Tiandou? Shrek Academy no longer seemed like a safe haven for her.

Her pace slowed, and she finally stopped in front of a rather elegant-looking teahouse.

Perhaps it would be good to go in and have a cup of tea to calm down.

Just as she was about to step into the teahouse, a familiar voice rang out from behind her.

"Zhu Zhuqing?"

Zhu Zhuqing stiffened slightly and turned around, seeing the figure who had recently appeared in her nightmares and then helped Tianshui Academy out of a predicament in reality—Xue Lingxiao.

He seemed to have just come from a nearby hotel, alone without any guards, with a warm smile on his face. He didn't look like a powerful and decisive prince, but more like a friendly neighbor you might have bumped into.

"Your Highness." Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly, a greeting that still carried a hint of distance in her tone.

Xue Lingxiao walked up to her, his gaze lingering on her slightly haggard face for a moment, and casually asked:

"Wandering around here all by yourself? Where are your teammates?"

Zhu Zhuqing paused for a moment before replying softly, "I want to take a walk by myself."

She didn't want to talk about the awful things at Shrek Academy.

Xue Lingxiao didn't press further, but simply nodded, as if she understood something.

"It's just a loss, don't take it too seriously." He comforted her casually, yet with a profound insight. "Victory and defeat are common in war; the important thing is to learn from failure."

Zhu Zhuqing raised her head, her cold eyes looking at Xue Lingxiao with a hint of inquiry: "Your Highness seems to understand failure very well?"

Xue Lingxiao smiled and said, "Who hasn't failed? The key is whether you choose to succumb to despair or stand up and become stronger after a failure."

He paused, as if mentioning it casually, yet also as if hinting at something: "I heard that there seems to be some... competition between you and your sister?"

Zhu Zhuqing's pupils suddenly contracted, and her body tensed up instinctively.

This is her deepest secret, and also her greatest source of pressure.

How could he know?
Xue Lingxiao seemed not to notice her reaction and continued, "I've also heard about the rules of the Zhu family in the Star Luo Empire. When sisters fight, the loser... doesn't seem to have a good ending."

His words were like a sharp knife, precisely piercing Zhu Zhuqing's most vulnerable spot.

Zhu Zhuqing's face turned pale instantly. She bit her lower lip and remained silent.

Seeing her like this, Xue Lingxiao knew that his words had worked.

He softened his tone, adding a touch of encouragement: "Actually, you don't need to be so anxious at all."

"You can defeat her without relying on Dai Mubai."

Zhu Zhuqing suddenly raised her head: "What did you say?" Without relying on Dai Mubai? Defeat Zhu Zhuyun? How is that possible?

Zhu Zhuyun's talent was already stronger than hers, and with Davis's support, how could she win without Dai Mubai?
"Why is it impossible?" Xue Lingxiao retorted, his gaze clear and firm. "Your talent is no less than your sister's, and in some aspects, you are even stronger than her. What you lack is confidence and a little bit of external support."

Xue Lingxiao's words were like a pebble thrown into Zhu Zhuqing's heart, stirring up ripples.

She had always lived in her sister's shadow and bound by the rules of the family, never imagining that she could break free from her fate through her own strength.

Dai Mubai was her only hope, but now that hope seems to have been shattered.

But Xue Lingxiao's words opened another window for her.

"Can I...really?"

“Of course you can.” Xue Lingxiao nodded firmly. “You have to believe in yourself. Your potential is far greater than this.”

Looking at the faint rekindled flame in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, he continued, "And you are not alone."

"If you need help, you can come to me."

"Whether it's resources, spirit rings, or anything else, I can help you with anything I can."

"Of course, this is not free. I help you in the hope that you can be of use to me."

A blatant recruitment.

But for Zhu Zhuqing, who was feeling lost and helpless at that moment, it was like a lifeline.

She looked at Xue Lingxiao, at the confidence and certainty in his eyes, and struggled violently within herself.

On one side lies the old, hopeless path, and on the other, a new path full of unknowns yet seemingly more promising.

Xue Lingxiao did not urge her, but simply watched her quietly, waiting for her answer.

The seed has been planted; it only needs a little time and the right opportunity to take root and sprout.

Zhu Zhuqing neither immediately agreed nor refused, but simply nodded slightly to Xue Lingxiao again.

"Thank you for your advice, Your Highness."

After saying that, she turned and left.
Xue Lingxiao watched her figure disappear at the entrance of the teahouse, and the corners of his mouth slowly widened into a smile.

Great, the fish has taken the bait.

~

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(End of this chapter)