Douluo Continent: Martial Soul Young Gilas, Sandstorm King!

Chapter 153 This boy always does things in unexpected ways.

The captain of the guards was so anxious that he stamped his feet. He led a few guards to chase after them for a few steps, but dared not forcibly stop them.

Lin Xia has a special status; she is the blacksmith's darling and a distinguished guest of the Zhu family, who even the head of the family treats her with great respect.

Zhu Zhuqing was, after all, the second young lady of the manor; her status was undeniable.

Should we forcibly stop them?

If they angered either side, these guards would be in serious trouble.

Watching the two figures, one tall and composed, the other slender yet with firm steps, quickly disappear around the corner of the street leading to the city gate, the captain of the guard felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

"Quick! Quick! Go report to the patriarch! Something terrible has happened!"

He practically yelled it out; his voice cracked.

"Young Master Lin Xia has taken the Second Miss away! He said he's going to find ore and will be out of town for several days! Hurry!"

The entire guard squad instantly erupted into chaos. Several men scrambled and stumbled towards the study of their patriarch, Zhu Zhan, their faces filled with the terror of impending doom.

The news struck like a thunderbolt, instantly reverberating deep within the Zhu residence.

When the captain of the guards, pale-faced and breathless, reported to Zhu Zhan that Lin Xia had taken Zhu Zhuqing away, the usually calm and composed head of the Zhu family, who was handling family affairs, suddenly stopped writing, and a drop of ink spread a large stain on the precious Xuelang paper.

The air in the study suddenly froze, becoming as heavy as lead.

Zhu Zhan slowly raised his head, and a storm of emotions surged in his deep eyes—shock, astonishment, anger, worry... a complex mix of feelings.

He stood up abruptly, his tall figure casting a huge shadow in front of the desk. An invisible pressure made the reporting captain almost collapse to the ground.

"What did you say?! Lin Xia took Zhu Qing away? To go find ore? They'll be out of town for several days?!"

Zhu Zhan's voice was terrifyingly low, each word sounding as if it were being squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Yes...yes! Your subordinates dared not stop us...Young Master Lin Xia's attitude was resolute...Second Miss...Second Miss also..."

The captain of the guard was so frightened that he was incoherent and trembling all over.

Zhu Zhan's chest heaved violently a few times, his thick eyebrows furrowed, and his face was so gloomy it could drip water.

He turned his back and looked out the window toward Zhu Zhuqing's courtyard, where it was quiet and deserted.

Anger? Of course!
Lin Xia's actions were tantamount to slapping the Zhu family and him, the head of the family, in the face!

Taking away a crucial pawn from Xingluo City, who had just been bound by the shackles of fate, was tantamount to provoking the dignity of the Zhu family and the royal family!
But following the anger came a deeper, more acute anxiety.

Zhu Qing is only six years old!
Although he awakened his martial soul, his soul power was still shallow, and he had almost no ability to protect himself!

No matter how talented Lin Xia is, he is still just a Great Soul Master!

If they encounter a powerful spirit beast... or a spirit master with ill intentions... the consequences would be unimaginable!
If something were to happen to Zhu Zhuqing, not only would the Zhu family suffer heavy losses, but they would also be unable to explain themselves to the royal family!
No matter how useless Dai Mubai is, he is still her fiancé in name only!

The study fell into a deathly silence, broken only by Zhu Zhan's heavy breathing and the faint sound of the captain of the guards' teeth chattering.

Time seemed to stretch out countless times.

Zhu Zhan's clenched fist loosened and tightened again, then loosened and tightened again.

He was rapidly weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

Should we immediately dispatch a large force to forcibly retrieve it?

The grand scale of the event would inevitably alarm the royal family and other forces, confirming the Zhu family's "inadequate supervision" and potentially escalating the conflict, embarrassing the blacksmiths' association behind Lin Xia.

Let it go?

That would put his daughter in grave danger; he couldn't afford to gamble! In this suffocating silence, the intense emotional storm in Zhu Zhan's eyes gradually subsided, eventually settling into an unfathomable solemnity.

He slowly turned around, his anger gone, replaced by a heavy, weary resolve.

"That's all..."

Zhu Zhan's voice was slightly hoarse. He waved his hand, signaling the almost exhausted captain of the guards to step back.

"Lin Xia... is, after all, a member of the Blacksmiths' Association and a disciple of the master craftsman Lou Gao. Since he dared to take Zhu Qing away, he must... have some confidence."

He seemed to be convincing himself, or perhaps analyzing the situation for others.

He walked to the desk, picked up a black token representing an emergency transfer order, and infused his fingertips with soul power. The Zhu family's Netherworld Cat totem on the token glowed faintly.

"Pass me the secret order."

Zhu Zhan's voice regained the dignity of the family head, deep and clear.

"Have 'Shadow Bat' and 'Dark Owl' set off immediately to secretly follow and protect them. Target: Lin Xia and Zhu Zhuqing. Duty: Ensure their absolute safety, especially the Second Miss's well-being! They must not reveal themselves except in life-or-death situations, and must not interfere with any of their actions! If anything goes wrong, they will pay with their heads!"

"Shadow Bat" and "Dark Owl" are the Zhu family's most elite and skilled bodyguards, both of whom are Soul Saint level experts!
One person is skilled at stealth and has keen senses.

One person is skilled in long-distance surveillance and surprise interception.

Sending the two of them to provide covert protection was the safest and most effective arrangement Zhu Zhan could make without alerting any parties and while ensuring maximum safety.

This is not only a concern for his daughter's safety and a concern for Lin Xia's identity, but also a silent expression of his unspeakable and repressed paternal love.

"Yes! I will obey the patriarch's orders!"

The captain of the guards, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, took the token and rushed out to deliver the order.

Zhu Zhan was left alone in the study once again. He walked to the window, gazing intently at the sky, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the window frame.

Lin Xia... searching for ore?
Relax?

This boy always does things in unexpected ways.

Did he take Zhu Qing away merely to help her escape temporary humiliation?

Or...is there some other deeper meaning?

Zhu Zhan was filled with doubts, but at this moment, he could only suppress his worries and place his hopes on the two Soul Saint-level guards, who could act as the most loyal shadows to protect his little daughter, who was adrift in the torrent of fate, and that audacious young man.

On the official road, a carriage that was not particularly luxurious but was quite sturdy was traveling smoothly.

Inside the carriage, Lin Xia leaned against the soft cushions and closed his eyes to rest. Young Gilas lay beside his legs, its scarlet eyes half-open and half-closed. The dark gold dragon pattern on its chest flickered faintly with its breath, exuding a restrained and calm aura.

Zhu Zhuqing sat quietly opposite, her small face pressed against the slightly bumpy car window, staring blankly at the fields, forests and distant mountains rushing past outside.

This was the first time in her life that she had truly left Xingluo City and the Zhu Mansion, which was like a giant birdcage.

Fresh air, carrying the fragrance of earth and grass, filled the carriage, and the bright sunshine shone down without obstruction, outlining the distant mountains in a clear silhouette.

A breeze blew through the cracks in the car window, ruffling the stray hairs on her forehead and bringing a refreshing coolness.

The lifelessness in her eyes seemed to be softened by the flowing scenery, replaced by an almost greedy gaze.

Those ordinary villages, working farmers, running rabbits, startled birds... were all full of wonder in her eyes.

She watched intently, as if trying to etch everything into her mind.

(End of this chapter)