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Chapter 137 – Don’t Cry, I’m Always Here
🕑 Added 2025-09-25 04:11:46 +0000 UTCAfter Zhu Yu left the palace drenched in cold sweat, a shocking rumor quickly spread throughout Vast Sea City: the Zhu family’s third daughter, Zhu Zhuqing, had betrayed both her clan and the empire. Heartbroken, the Zhu clan leader announced he was severing all ties with her as his daughter. A bounty of ten thousand gold spirit coins was offered to anyone who could capture her—dead or alive—should she be spotted within the borders of the Star Luo Empire.
The news spread like wildfire, far faster than any horse or carriage could travel. Within just three days it had already reached Heaven Dou City. The people there were furious, disgusted that the prestigious Heaven Dou Royal Academy was sheltering a royal traitor from the Star Luo Empire.
Inside the academy dorms, Zhu Zhuqing stayed locked in her room, curtains drawn, her quiet sobs seeping through the door.
Ignaz frowned, listening to Dugu Yan vent her rage.
“Whoever leaked Zhuqing’s presence here must have had a death wish!” she snapped.
Ignaz could only sigh. From the moment Zhu Zhuqing had joined the academy, he knew this risk was inevitable. Their team had been performing brilliantly in the tournament, and with success always came scrutiny. People would dig into their backgrounds. Zhu Zhuqing’s identity was impossible to hide: the Zhu clan was too prominent, and the Netherworld Civet \[her spirit] was far too recognizable.
What he hadn’t expected was that her own family would be this cruel—branding her a traitor and cutting her off completely.
“Brother Ji,” Ye Lingling said softly, “Zhuqing hasn’t eaten, hasn’t slept, she’s wasting away. Tomorrow we face Shrek Academy, and our team can’t afford to lose a member.”
Yan nodded. “We should go in and comfort her.”
But when they reached her door, they hesitated. Forcing it open felt wrong.
Ignaz stepped forward. “Forget it. Bring her some food and water. She’s here because of me, so this is my responsibility.”
He drove his fist through the wooden door, reached in to unbolt the lock, and stepped into the darkened dorm. In the corner, Zhu Zhuqing sat curled up, her shoulders trembling. At the sound of his footsteps, her sobs hitched, and she forced her voice to steady.
“Brother Wu Ming, I’m fine, really. Don’t worry. I won’t let this affect tomorrow’s match.”
Ignaz shook his head. “That’s not what worries me. I know how hard you’ve been working, trying to prove yourself in front of your sister and father. But now that they’ve abandoned you, your heart is in turmoil.”
His words hit home. Tears welled in her eyes again, but she bit her lip to keep from crying aloud. She didn’t want him to see her weakness.
“This is on me,” Ignaz said heavily. “I’m the one who brought you here. If not for me, you wouldn’t—”
She cut him off before he could finish.
“No. You never forced me to stay. Fighting alongside you, Yan, and Lingling was my choice. And you’ve treated me so well, all of you. I’ve never felt this kind of warmth before—like I finally had a family. Even after the news broke, the academy didn’t kick me out. For that, I’ll always be grateful.”
Ignaz’s voice softened. “Zhuqing, we’ve long since accepted you as family. Even if your father and the Zhu clan abandoned you, we never will. But you need to take care of yourself—your body and your heart. Only then can you walk the path ahead of you.”
He stepped closer, now only a few feet away. “Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, I’ll shield you from as much hardship as I can.”
With that, he took her trembling arms and pulled her into an embrace. Finally, she broke. Years of pressure and hurt crashed down at once, and she sobbed uncontrollably into his shoulder.
“Don’t be afraid,” Ignaz whispered. “I’m here. Your brother Wu Ming is right here. When this storm passes and you rise as a Titled Douluo, those who cast you aside will regret it. You’ll make them regret it. And I’ll be there to help you every step of the way.”
Her cries grew louder, more desperate, as she clung to him with all her strength. They stood there in silence, locked in each other’s arms, until her sobbing faded into exhausted breathing.
Gently, Ignaz bent down, slid an arm behind her knees, and lifted her into his arms.
“Sleep,” he murmured. “Just sleep. By tomorrow, all this will seem smaller.”
He laid her carefully on the bed, pulled a blanket over her, and left the room as quietly as he could.
Outside, the others were waiting anxiously.
“She’s asleep?”
“How did you get her to calm down?”
Ignaz raised a hand, his face stern. “Yan, Lingling, I need you to check in on her every few hours. If she wakes and remembers all this, her emotions might spiral again. I’ve got other matters to deal with.”
“Go,” Lingling nodded. “We’ll take care of her.”
Without hesitation, the two girls agreed to watch over Zhu Zhuqing. Ignaz, meanwhile, had received a direct summons from Emperor Xue Ye himself. He already knew why: the Star Luo royal family’s public denunciation of Zhu Zhuqing had made her presence in Heaven Dou a political problem that could no longer be ignored.
And since Ignaz was the one who had brought her here, the responsibility now rested squarely on his shoulders.
