Heavenly Thief System: Starting in Douluo

Chapter 42 – Hero Saves the Beauty?

Of course—he stepped in to save her!

First: standing by while someone dies isn't this young master's style, especially when it's a little girl.

Second: judging by the soul power fluctuations, the three black-clad pursuers were merely Soul Elders. This young master had nothing to fear—he could thrash them in minutes.

Now, if they had been three Soul Emperors or Soul Sages, he'd have turned tail and run. Ten-thousand-year soul skills were no joke.

Still, to avoid being remembered later, he put on a black face mask. Until he grew stronger, he had no intention of foolishly exposing himself to the public eye.

With that in mind, without hesitation, Zuzong used Instant Step and dashed in.

At the cliff's edge, Zhu Zhuqing was already covered in wounds. A gash on her right arm cut to the bone—clearly made by a sharp weapon. Her abdomen was also severely injured.

Enduring the pain, Zhu Zhuqing said to Zhu Zhuyun, "Sister, do you really intend to kill me today?"

Zhu Zhuyun raised her right hand, blowing on her manicured nails, and replied mockingly, "My dear little sister, from the day you were born, one of us was destined to die."

Her tone turned sharp. "So—please go and die!"

At Zhu Zhuyun's signal, all three women simultaneously threw six flying knives, whistling through the air toward Zhu Zhuqing's vital points.

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at the fog-covered cliff behind her. Her eyes filled with despair. She was seriously injured. Jumping gave her a sliver of hope—staying meant certain death.

Clenching her teeth, just as she was about to leap—

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Six metallic clinks rang out.

In the next instant, six flying knives and six black kunai struck each other mid-air and fell, quivering, into nearby tree trunks.

As the sounds faded, Zuzong slowly stepped out. "Ala~ala! I say, you three sexy ladies in black—why go so hard on a poor little loli like her?"

He gave the three masked women a once-over.

And truly, those black tight suits outlined every curve flawlessly. Especially the one in the lead—damn (he swallowed hard), definitely an E-cup! Good thing it was Zuzong who showed up—any other guy might not have survived that assault on his senses. They looked like they were trying to tempt someone into committing a crime!

Everyone present—including Zhu Zhuyun and her three companions, as well as Zhu Zhuqing—all turned to look at the boy who had suddenly appeared like a wild card.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the boy who had intercepted the flying knives for her. He wore a black combat outfit and had long, beautiful, blue-silver hair. Though his face was covered by a black mask, his young voice and slight frame made it clear he was around ten years old.

But as they say—greater hope leads to greater disappointment. No matter how gifted a ten-year-old might be, how could he possibly contend with three Soul Elders?

Zhu Zhuqing said, "Thank you for saving me, young master. But you'd best leave now!"

"Hahahahaha... And here I was wondering who it was—it's just a hot-headed little boy trying to play hero," Zhu Zhuyun sneered.

Zhu Zhuqing could tell the boy was young—Zhu Zhuyun obviously saw it too. "Well then, allow big sister here to send the two of you off as doomed lovers. That way, you won't be lonely on the road to the underworld. Hahaha..."

In the next moment, she pointed and ordered the Soul Elder to her right, the one closest to Zuzong. "You. Kill him."

The woman nodded and sneered at Zuzong. "Boy, the road to heaven you refuse, yet you barge through hell's gates. Next time, pick your battles. Not every hero gets to save the damsel."

As she spoke, a grey light glowed from her body. A faint sheen spread across her skin, and her form began to change—into a humanoid female hyena. Three soul rings—white, yellow, and purple—rose clearly beneath her feet and spiraled around her body. The hallmark of a three-ring Soul Master.

At the same time, her yellow soul ring lit up. Her figure became a blur, dashing at Zuzong with explosive speed.

Watching the dark figure rapidly approach, Zu Zong gave a calm smile and murmured, "A soul skill that can instantly multiply speed several times? Not bad at all."

The hyena-type Soul Elder saw Zu Zong standing still, thinking he'd frozen in fear. Feeling a bit of contempt, she accelerated even more. As the dagger in her hand was about to pierce his throat, a bloodthirsty smile spread across her face—so vivid it showed even through her mask.

But then, a shocking scene occurred.

At some point, Zu Zong had already appeared behind her. In his hand was a black kunai, its blade glistening with blood that dripped silently onto the grass. It was the hyena Soul Elder's blood.

Glancing at her from the corner of his eye, Zu Zong said in a deep voice, "Your soul skill's speed is indeed faster than even my top speed. But unfortunately, its weakness is even more glaring—it's purely linear. Once I predicted your attack trajectory, the rest was simple."

As soon as he finished speaking, the hyena Soul Elder collapsed to the ground in unwilling defeat. Her eyes were wide open, as if they had just witnessed something terrifying. Blood soaked the earth, and all signs of life faded from her body.

In that critical instant, Zu Zong had used Instant Step to appear behind her, then swiftly slit her throat with the kunai. No flourish, no excess—just pure: fast, precise, and ruthless.

Zu Zong wasn't someone who delighted in killing. At first, he only intended to teach her a lesson. But since she had aimed to kill him, he wasn't about to play the saint.

Hiss! Zhu Zhuqing, Zhu Zhuyun, and the remaining woman all inhaled sharply.

What kind of speed was that? And it seemed the kid hadn't even activated his martial soul yet!

"You—" Zhu Zhuyun was genuinely shaken by Zu Zong's Instant Step.

That hyena Soul Master had been her trusted subordinate for years, even stronger than her in cultivation. Though her soul rings weren't optimally configured, her overall strength wasn't inferior to Zhu Zhuyun's. If not for that, Zhu Zhuyun wouldn't have brought her on this hunt for Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuyun had always known killing the hyena Soul Master wouldn't be easy.

Though carelessness played a part, to be instantly killed like that—and by someone who hadn't even released their martial soul—was hard to accept.

Letting out a yawn, Zu Zong said impatiently, "You what? Are we fighting or not? This young master still has laundry to collect at home. But let me be clear—if you come at me with killing intent, you'd better be ready to die."

The other female Soul Elder was also visibly shaken. The blue-haired boy in front of her looked harmless, but he'd just killed her comrade in a blink. Would she be next? Her pupils contracted at the thought, and cold sweat formed on her forehead. She quickly turned to Zhu Zhuyun, seeking direction.

Zhu Zhuyun clenched her teeth and said coldly, "Retreat!"

[End of Chapter]

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