Douluo Continent: Dark Demon God Biao, inheriting the position of an evil god

"Aren't you going back to Xingluo?"

Dai Yuntian was indeed somewhat surprised.

Although there is still some time before the opening of the Soul Master Competition.

However, as the eldest princess of the Star Luo Empire, Xu Jiujiu was responsible for leading the team in the competition. Logically, she should have returned to Star Luo to take charge of the overall situation or gone to Star Luo City to reunite with the team.

After a long while, she took a few steps closer and stopped in front of him.

The sunlight illuminated her delicate features, and also revealed a faint, almost imperceptible weariness and...a sense of relief in her eyes.

"go back?"

She pursed her lips, her tone carrying a tone that was hard to define as either self-deprecation or resignation: "What difference does it make whether I go back or not?"

She raised her eyes and looked at Dai Yuntian with a complex expression, her gaze containing astonishment, helplessness, and a calm that seemed to have given up the struggle.

"With a monster like you in this year's class, I'm afraid I'll never catch up to you in this lifetime. Rather than going back to be nagged by those old men and having my brother arrange this and that for me, and in the end just watching you take the championship with Shrek... no, with the people you want to take, I'd rather stay in the academy and have some peace and quiet."

Dai Yuntian raised an eyebrow slightly, sensing a deeper meaning in Xu Jiujiu's words.

This proud Star Luo princess seems to be frustrated not only because of the difference in strength, but also because of her helplessness in the face of a predetermined fate.

"So, you're planning to just abstain?"

Dai Yuntian asked half-jokingly, his gaze falling on the food box in her hand: "You even packed your own food to eat back home?"

Xu Jiujiu followed his gaze to look at the food box in her hand, a faint blush crossing her face before she returned to her aloof demeanor.

"I'm tired of the food at the academy, just looking for a change. As for forfeiting..."

She paused, her gaze drifting towards the towering Sea God Pavilion deep within the academy. Her voice softened, yet carried an unprecedented seriousness:
“Dai Yuntian, do you know? Sometimes when I look at you, Qiu’er, Wang Dong’er, or even Zhu Lu and Ning Tian… I feel like we live in two different worlds.”

"Your goal is the sky, the stars, things I wouldn't even dare to dream of."

"And me? My goal was set from birth."

"To uphold the honor of the Star Luo royal family, achieve good results in the Soul Master Competition, and perhaps in the future, for the sake of the country, marry a powerful noble or Soul Master..."

She laughed self-deprecatingly: "It's boring, isn't it? I didn't think so before. I thought it was my responsibility and my honor."

"But now... after seeing what the real 'sky' looks like, looking back at my pre-planned path, I feel... particularly uninterested."

Dai Yuntian remained silent for a moment; he could understand Xu Jiujiu's feelings.

Once a person has seen a wider world, how can they be content to be confined to the bottom of a well?
Especially for a proud and intelligent girl like Xu Jiujiu.

"What do you want?"

Dai Yuntian asked, his tone calm.

After a long while, he turned his head and looked directly into Dai Yuntian's eyes. In those eyes, which always held a royal smile, a light that seemed to have reached a point of no return shone.

"I don't know either, but at least... I don't want to be bound by the identity of Princess Xingluo any longer in this Soul Master Competition."

“Dai Yuntian, if… I mean if we met on the field, could I fight you with all my might as a pure opponent? Not for the country, not for the royal family, but only for myself.”

Dai Yuntian looked at the small but exceptionally determined flame in her eyes and suddenly smiled.

He nodded: "Of course, I'm looking forward to it."

Upon receiving a positive response, Xu Jiujiu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and her straight back relaxed slightly.

She shook the food box in her hand: "Want to try some? The new shop outside the East Gate makes pretty good crab roe buns."

Dai Yuntian wanted to refuse, as he had other matters to discuss with Mu En.

But seeing Xu Jiujiu's eyes, which rarely showed any pretense and appeared somewhat relaxed and even expectant, he swallowed back the words he was about to say.

"Sure, I haven't had breakfast yet."

He readily agreed.

The two walked side by side toward the inner courtyard dormitory area. The morning light cast long, intertwined shadows of them.

One is a future evil god chosen by fate, and the other is an imperial princess trying to break free from her predetermined path.

On this ordinary morning at the college, their conversation, though perhaps insignificant, was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, subtly altering the trajectory of something.

As they walked, Xu Jiujiu casually asked, "By the way, did you come back this time for the Soul Master Competition? I heard that your team preparing for Shrek Seven has a rather... special lineup?"

Dai Yuntian knew what she meant and smiled: "It is quite special. What, do you feel a lot of pressure for your Star Luo Royal Academy?"

"pressure?"

Xu Jiujiu also laughed, but this time the smile was less gloomy and more mischievous: "Isn't the pressure something your Shrek team leader should be considering? Leading such a... well, a team with connections, they must have had quite a few headaches, right?"

"I'm really looking forward to seeing your performance on the field, especially..."

She drew out her words, making a pointed remark.

Dai Yuntian understood her teasing tone but wasn't annoyed. He just gave her a meaningful look and said, "Don't worry, I won't let you down. You might even be pleasantly surprised."

The two sat down in a relatively secluded stone pavilion near the dormitory area.

After a long while, the food box was opened, and the aroma of hot crab roe immediately wafted out.

These small and exquisite crab roe buns have thin skins, generous fillings, and are bursting with broth; they certainly look delicious.

"Try it, while it's hot."

After a long while, she handed the chopsticks to Dai Yuntian, then picked one up herself and blew on it gently.

Dai Yuntian didn't stand on ceremony and picked one up and put it in his mouth.

The delicious broth bursts in your mouth, the rich crab roe and the mellow pork flavor blend perfectly, and the noodles are chewy and delicious.

He nodded: "Hmm, the food is pretty good. It seems you're not just staying here to find peace and quiet; at least you've figured out which restaurants are good."

"if not?"

She rolled her eyes at him for a long time, then took a bite of her bun, squinting her eyes contentedly. Her demeanor lost some of her princess-like poise, gaining instead a touch of girlish naiveté.
"I always have to find some fun for myself, but to be honest, the snacks in Shrek City are definitely much better than the exquisite but tasteless imperial dishes in the Star Luo Palace."

Dai Yuntian smiled but didn't reply.

He could sense that Xu Jiujiu was truly relaxed at this moment, even feeling a sense of novelty and freedom after escaping her cage.

In this state, she is much more vibrant and adorable than Xu Jiujiu, who always maintains a princess-like demeanor.

The two ate their steamed buns quietly, exchanging a few words occasionally, mostly about interesting anecdotes from the academy or the upcoming competition.

After a long time without bringing up those heavy topics again, Dai Yuntian was happy to relax.

As dawn broke and the stone pavilion stood in quietude, there was a strange sense of peaceful tranquility.

After finishing breakfast, Xu Jiujiu packed up the food box and looked at Dai Yuntian: "You're going to see Elder Mu, right? I won't bother you any longer."

She paused, then added, "Thank you, Dai Yuntian."

"Thank me for what?"

Dai Yuntian raised an eyebrow.

"Thank you... for not taking what I just said as a joke."

After a long while, she stood up, patted off non-existent dust from her dress, and regained some of her princess-like demeanor, but her eyes were much clearer: "Thank you for being willing to treat me as a... pure opponent."

Dai Yuntian also stood up and looked at her: "Prepare well, Xu Jiujiu. On the field, I won't go easy on you just because you're a girl or some kind of princess."

"I can't ask for it."

Seeing that he finally stopped treating her like a princess, she raised her chin after a long while, revealing a proud smile, then picked up the food box, turned around and left with light steps.

At this moment, the caged bird finally broke free! (End of Chapter)