Douluo: Danheng just want to avoid trouble, Gu Yuena Pursues.

Half an hour later, the exhausted Zhu Zhuqing lay on the ground, her leather outfit wrinkled and covered in dust. Her once cold and stunning face now appeared pale.

Sweat dripped from her forehead, and her black hair stuck to her face, making her look pitiful and vulnerable.

Zhu Zhuqing had never imagined that one day, she would suffer such a crushing defeat.

Under Dan Heng's guidance, it felt as if she had no strengths at all.

Everything needed improvement—this technique had flaws, that movement needed optimization...

It felt as if all the years of effort she had put in had been pushing her in the wrong direction.

This strong-willed girl couldn't help but feel a little lost.

Meanwhile, Dan Heng remained as composed as ever. Guiding Zhu Zhuqing was no different to him than teaching a preschooler how to count.

In his world, martial arts techniques weren't just passed down through generations of trial and error.

They were enhanced with technological advancements, continuously refined and optimized.

Compared to that, the combat techniques of Soul Masters in Douluo Continent were simply too primitive.

"In Douluo Continent's standards, your talent is already quite good... roughly equivalent to the level of a ten-year-old agility-type Soul Saint named Zhu Hongzhi," Dan Heng remarked, casually waving the ancient book in his hand.

It was a text written by the very same Zhu Hongzhi, a Soul Saint specializing in agility techniques.

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up. She sat up and said softly, "Teacher, Zhu Hongzhi is one of my ancestors! He was a brilliant talent of the Zhu Clan. Have I really reached the level he had at ten years old?"

Dan Heng glanced at her and nodded.

"Yes. However, I intend to train you to surpass him," he thought to himself, but he didn't say it out loud. After all, he didn't consider Zhu Hongzhi particularly remarkable in the first place.

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes brightened even more, and she quickly stood up, her fighting spirit reignited.

"Teacher! I will work hard in my training!"

Dan Heng hummed in acknowledgment, then glanced toward the kitchen. Half an hour should be enough time for that so-called wife of his to finish cooking, right?

Zhu Zhuqing walked toward the kitchen, saying, "Madam, let me handle this…"

Before she could finish, Gu Yuena walked out of the kitchen, carrying a dish. She lifted her chin, her expression filled with confidence as she beamed.

"You two, come taste my cooking!"

She rested her chin on her hand, her beautiful face glowing with pride.

To most men, just looking at her would be enough to make any meal satisfying.

But Dan Heng was immune to her beauty. He took a small bite of the dish, just enough to taste it.

Immediately, an indescribable mix of salty and spicy flavors exploded in his mouth.

"…" Dan Heng looked at Gu Yuena deeply.

He had expected this. When a dish looked too perfect, it often meant trouble.

If Gu Yuena had followed a basic recipe, the meal wouldn't have been delicious, but at least it wouldn't have been terrible. However, because she insisted on adding her own "creative touch," the result was a complete disaster.

Gu Yuena didn't notice Dan Heng's reaction. She deliberately avoided looking at him, waiting for his praise.

"Zhuqing, your teacher will first train you to reach Rank 30, and then I'll help you advance by the same amount. You'll be the judge of who does a better job!" Gu Yuena said smugly.

Just then, Zhu Zhuqing took a bite of the dish, her face stiffening instantly.

Compared to Teacher Dan Heng's cooking, the only advantage Madam's dish had was its appearance.

"How is it?" Gu Yuena blinked expectantly.

Dan Heng sighed and answered honestly, "It's awful."

"???" Gu Yuena's eyebrows twitched. Her carefully crafted dish had been rated as awful?

She turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "Zhuqing, what do you think?"

"…" Zhu Zhuqing opened her mouth but hesitated. She wasn't good at lying, but if she spoke the truth, wouldn't that hurt Madam's feelings?

Dan Heng simply picked up a piece of meat and placed it on Gu Yuena's plate. "Try it yourself."

Gu Yuena glanced at Zhu Zhuqing suspiciously and muttered, "How could it be bad? I followed precise calculations…"

Muttering to herself, she took a big bite.

Her expression immediately twisted in agony.

She forced herself to swallow, disbelief written all over her face. The almighty Silver Dragon King, ruler of the soul beasts, had made this?

"How could it taste so bad?"

"It's not poisonous. It's just… unpleasant," Dan Heng said calmly, picking up another piece.

Seeing this, Zhu Zhuqing mimicked him.

Since she was going to train, she had to learn from her teacher in all aspects!

So what if the food tasted bad?

As long as it replenished her energy, why fuss over the taste?

Zhu Zhuqing took a big bite, puffing up her cheeks like a little hamster as she tried to chew through it.

Gu Yuena giggled at the sight. But as she glanced at the remaining dishes, she huffed, "No way! I refuse to accept this! Wait here! I'll remake it! This time, I'll change the combination!"

With that, she picked up the plates and marched back into the kitchen.

She experimented with different ingredient combinations, preparing another dish in no time.

The result… was still weird.

Unwilling to give up, she tried again.

Dan Heng wanted to step in and cook himself, but she refused to let him.

This cycle repeated four times.

It was only on the fourth attempt that Gu Yuena finally set aside her own "creativity" and followed a recipe step by step.

The dish finally tasted normal.

All of this had been witnessed by a hidden observer in the shadows—Di Tian.

His fists clenched, his face filled with shame and rage.

"Lord… to think you must suffer such humiliation for the sake of the soul beasts' revival?! As your subordinates, how can we stand by and allow this?!"

Di Tian's eyes turned red with fury. Watching Gu Yuena move back and forth between the kitchen, his chest burned with rage.

For a proud dragon, this was the ultimate disgrace!

…

A few days later, Di Tian arrived in the small city with Zi Ji.

Pointing at Dan Heng's courtyard from a distance, he said, "Zi Ji, our Lord hasn't spoken of it directly, but I saw it with my own eyes—the humiliation she is enduring. I hope you can bear this in her place. I know this is selfish, but I…"

Di Tian's face twisted with guilt.

For the sake of their Lord, he had no choice but to sacrifice his little sister from the clan.

Zi Ji clenched her fists, anger burning in her eyes.

"I revere our Lord as much as my own parents! So what if that bastard mistreats me? I'll just pretend I got bitten by a dog!"

"I know how to handle repressed men like him. Just watch, I'll make sure he falls for me!"

"I, Zi Ji, will definitely free our Lord!"

Zi Ji's words were firm and resolute.

Di Tian patted her shoulder, feeling deeply guilty.

"If only… I were stronger," he thought bitterly.

(Chapter End)