Douluo: Starting with an Engagement to Zhu Zhuqing

Chapter 30: Proposal

Feng Wutong was too exhausted to resist. Once Dai Yao released her, she collapsed onto the ground. Her clothes were torn, exposing patches of fair skin, scorched in places by the fire she had spewed, which Dai Yao had skillfully deflected back at her. She looked disheveled and defeated.

Bracing herself on the ground, she slowly lifted her body, staring up at Dai Yao with hopeless eyes, her voice hoarse. "You won. From now on, this training ground is yours."

Dai Yao felt a pang of sympathy as he looked at her. Feng Wutong endured the torturous effects of her mutated spirit just to survive, a struggle not unlike his own as he grappled with his destiny and family's burdens. In his past life, he'd toiled endlessly just to scrape by, much like Feng Wutong now.

Moved by compassion, he took out a pouch. "Here's a hundred gold coins, the approximate market price for this training ground. Starting now, it's mine."

Feng Wutong accepted the coins with a bitter smile. She hated how weak she was, how powerless to defend what was hers. Without access to the hot spring here, the inner fire plaguing her body would consume her, and she feared she might not survive even a few years. She knew she would have to find another hot spring to suppress the internal flames—but every one of them was under noble control.

"I'd rather burn to death than submit to those nobles!" she thought defiantly.

Most commoner soul masters who sold their loyalty to nobles faced lives of servitude, often robbed of dignity unless they possessed exceptional talent. Ordinary commoner soul masters rarely rose above being mere servants. Faced with the choice between life and dignity, she would rather choose death.

Seeing her distress, Dai Yao added, "This hot spring may help you, but it doesn't do much for me. If you'd like, you're welcome to stay here and continue training."

A glimmer of hope returned to Feng Wutong's desperate heart, like a lifeline thrown her way.

"But why would he help me? What does he want from me? It must be because I'm a woman," she reasoned. As a commoner, she knew all too well that nothing in life came free. For Dai Yao to offer her free use of the training ground, he surely had ulterior motives. The only thing she had to offer was her appearance. But then, seeing Zhu Zhuqing standing gracefully nearby, she became even more confused. She knew she couldn't compete with Zhu Zhuqing in beauty, so what could Dai Yao possibly want from her?

She said cautiously, "As long as you don't force me into anything I don't want to do, I'll stay."

Dai Yao dismissed her suspicion. "Stay or go as you please. It's not my concern who suffers from their spirit's side effects."

His sympathy had moved him to give her a choice, not beg her to stay. Feng Wutong felt a surprising sense of relief at his indifference.

Dai Yao turned his gaze outward, surveying the forest shrouded in darkness. The sight of the white cascade tumbling down into the pool below filled him with a sense of exhilaration. It was all his now, sparking visions of the future in his mind.

It felt like buying a house and imagining how every room would be decorated. Dai Yao started envisioning how he might transform this place.

Finding the entire area empty, he approached Zhang Xiaofan, who was still somewhat stunned by everything, and instructed, "Tomorrow, bring some people here to build a few rooms—nothing fancy, just livable. I'll pay you."

Once Zhang Xiaofan left, only the three of them remained.

With the coins in hand, Feng Wutong quietly approached Dai Yao and Zhu Zhuqing, offering, "If you don't have a place to stay yet, you're welcome to crash in my little hut for now. Once the new rooms are finished, you can move over."

"Thank you," Dai Yao replied.

"After all, you're letting me stay here and train for free; letting you stay in my hut for a few nights is the least I can do. Just… don't mind the lack of comfort," Feng Wutong said, showing a bolder side of herself.

Entering the hut, they found it, indeed, very simple.

Inside, there was only a basic bed and a bamboo chair, with the bed padded by dried straw. Dai Yao and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a look, surprised that a soul master would be living in such basic conditions.

"How can you live like this?" Dai Yao murmured, surprised.

Feng Wutong wasn't embarrassed by her poverty and explained openly, "It's not so bad—I built all this myself. The living costs at the Royal Academy are sky-high. The Spirit Hall gives me one gold coin a month. I thought it was a lot, but here, one gold coin barely covers my expenses."

"But now, with these hundred gold coins, I can breathe easier." She smiled gratefully at Dai Yao and added, "Thank you, Your Highness, for letting me stay here to train."

Dai Yao waved it off. "This place was yours in the first place. I had no choice but to use it, so I threatened you with your family. I hope you don't hold it against me."

Feng Wutong was taken aback, unaccustomed to hearing such honesty from a noble, let alone an apology. In her experience, nobles were either arrogant bullies or pretentious schemers, always hiding their true motives.

Dai Yao's sincere apology made her blush, her gaze shifting nervously. "N-no worries… I was prejudiced against nobles myself, so I didn't treat you kindly either."

Hearing this, Dai Yao laughed, and Feng Wutong joined in, the two of them relaxing in a way they hadn't before. After sharing their experiences, they found common ground, and the air between them grew lighter.

"It's getting late, Wutong. You should rest," Dai Yao said, glancing at the darkening sky.

By now, they were addressing each other casually. Feng Wutong had initially hoped Dai Yao would call her "Big Sister," but he never agreed. She had to settle for him using her name directly.

Inwardly, Dai Yao had his own reasons; considering his previous life, he was nearly thirty years old. Calling a girl of barely ten "Big Sister" felt ridiculous.

Seeing him and Zhu Zhuqing preparing to start their evening training, Feng Wutong was struck with surprise. She hadn't expected these nobles to be so dedicated, training with more diligence than many commoners.

While she and other commoners would rest at night, Dai Yao and Zhu Zhuqing substituted sleep with cultivation, showing an extraordinary level of commitment.

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