Chapter 391: Mother and Daughter's Reunion
In the solemn halls of the Pope's Palace within Spirit City, a series of crisp footsteps echoed to a halt as Qian Renxue raised her head to gaze at the imposing structure. Her expression conveyed a mix of both familiarity and estrangement.
"Are you certain you want to see her, young master?" came Golden Crocodile Douluo's voice from behind her.
Qian Renxue took a deep breath, biting her lip. Her eyes flickered with complex emotions as she replied with quiet determination, "Yes, I must see her."
The sound of her heels resumed, echoing in the vast halls as she slowly walked through the Pope's Palace. Passing guards glanced at her with both respect and a hint of confusion.
Thud. The heavy doors shut behind her, casting the palace in shadow.
Within the palace throne room, Bibi Dong sat regally on her high throne, one leg crossed elegantly over the other, her slender legs wrapped in purple stockings, with her feet swaying lightly. In one hand, she held the Pope's staff; the other rested against her temple, her expression stern as she gazed down upon the kneeling figure of a woman.
The young woman kneeling on the floor was tall, with short, orange-brown hair and an aura of enchanting beauty that seemed to radiate from her. Qian Renxue's curiosity was piqued as she glanced at her.
So, this is Hu Liena? Qian Renxue's suspicions were confirmed.
She'd heard of Hu Liena before—Bibi Dong's personal disciple and an individual Bibi Dong cared for deeply, to the extent that they were said to share a bond akin to that of a mother and daughter. Although Qian Renxue was Bibi Dong's actual daughter, she couldn't help but feel bitterness upon knowing this stranger held a place of such affection with her mother.
Unexpectedly, her first encounter with Hu Liena would be under such circumstances. Watching Hu Liena kneeling submissively, Qian Renxue felt a surge of questions.
Isn't Hu Liena supposed to be like a daughter to her? Then why is she kneeling like this?
The arrival of a stranger didn't disrupt Hu Liena. She remained kneeling, making no move to rise, not even sparing a glance at Qian Renxue.
Bibi Dong's gaze shifted as she noticed Qian Renxue's appearance. Her stern face grew cold, and she turned back toward Hu Liena, her tone icy.
"He has been gone for some time, and yet you refuse to let it go. If you dare leave the Spirit Hall to search for him, then don't expect mercy from me. I'll make him disappear from this world. Fulfill your role as the Holy Maiden and nothing more. Now, leave."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
Hu Liena's response was submissive, her alluring face devoid of a smile, bearing instead a look of sorrow. Glancing briefly at Qian Renxue in curiosity, she turned and left the hall.
The exchange left Qian Renxue with more questions.
Who is this "he" she spoke of? Could Hu Liena be in love with a man, and Bibi Dong is trying to prevent it?
When the doors shut again, only Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue remained in the vast throne room. Bibi Dong sat high above, her gaze cold as she looked down at her daughter, who stood unflinchingly beneath her.
They locked eyes, each refusing to yield. The tension stretched until Bibi Dong finally closed her eyes, her voice dripping with disdain.
"So, you survived."
Qian Renxue frowned. Was Bibi Dong truly so surprised that she had returned alive? Scoffing, Qian Renxue retorted, "I was just as surprised to return and witness such a show. Tell me, after abandoning your own daughter, are you now trying to control my replacement—Hu Liena's life?"
Bibi Dong's eyes shot open, pinning Qian Renxue with an icy glare, her presence oppressive like a tidal wave. Qian Renxue gasped, gritting her teeth, but met her mother's frigid gaze without backing down.
Bibi Dong's teeth ground together as she seethed internally. She didn't want to control Hu Liena's life; she simply couldn't bear the thought of her making the same mistakes she had. If Hu Liena followed the path of love for a man like Dai Yao—who was devoted but with love divided among multiple women—she'd be plagued with pain and regret.
Qian Renxue's defiance only deepened the rage and disdain welling within Bibi Dong's chest. Seeing her daughter, with her golden attire and unyielding resolve, she was flooded by memories of the man who had brought her so much anguish, as if he were mocking her through Qian Renxue herself.
"You," she hissed, her voice low and venomous, "could never compare to Nana."
Qian Renxue's composure faltered. It felt as though the very air was sucked from her lungs, her blood turning to ice. She took a sharp breath to steady herself, clenching her fists.
She had prepared to meet her mother's disdain with biting words, but she suddenly remembered what Dai Yao had told her during their time on the boat. He had suggested that perhaps her mother had her own struggles and reasons. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, collecting herself before she met Bibi Dong's gaze once more.
"I'm not here to argue with you. You're well aware of the events in the Heaven Dou Empire—the failed coup and the emergence of a foreign power. As Pope, you should understand the threat they pose. If it weren't for them, the Clear Sky Clan wouldn't have resurfaced, and our plan wouldn't have failed," Qian Renxue said firmly.
Bibi Dong's expression flickered in surprise. This "daughter" of hers, whom she had always regarded with disdain, seemed almost... transformed. She wasn't responding with anger but with poise and reasoning. Though her disgust remained, Bibi Dong thought carefully before speaking.
"You're correct. A figure emerged from the shadows with the strength of a peerless Douluo. After the incident, I sent out inquiries, and even your grandfather personally investigated."
Hearing that Qian Daoliu himself had been involved, Qian Renxue's curiosity sharpened. "What did he find?"
"Nothing." Bibi Dong's voice was blunt.
"That's impossible! Grandfather is a rank-99 peerless Douluo. How could he find nothing?" Qian Renxue said, visibly shocked.
Bibi Dong's brow furrowed. "Believe what you like, but that's the truth. If you doubt it, ask the old man yourself."
The cold edge in her tone as she referred to Qian Daoliu left Qian Renxue feeling a surge of irritation. She knew their relationship had always been strained, so she refrained from pressing further.
Taking a steadying breath, she turned her focus to the real reason she had come. Looking up at Bibi Dong with renewed resolve, she said, "There's one more thing."
Bibi Dong's expression remained stony. "And what is that?"
"I want someone who's under your control."
"Who?"
"Dai Yao."
The name struck Bibi Dong like lightning. She sprang to her feet, her face darkened with a chilling fury as she stared at Qian Renxue.
"What did you just say?"
Qian Renxue's brow furrowed in response to her mother's reaction. Why was Bibi Dong so affected by Dai Yao's name? Still, she refused to back down.
"Didn't you already give up on Dai Yao? Or are you saying that even if you don't want him, I'm not allowed to have him?"
Bibi Dong's gaze hardened. Qian Renxue's words and expression reminded her painfully of Hu Liena's earlier display of loyalty. She could sense a faint, haunting echo in both women's attachment to Dai Yao, and a deep, urgent feeling rose within her.
No, she can't… She mustn't.
However, she had to know for certain. Fixing her gaze on Qian Renxue, she asked in a harsh tone, "Why do you want Dai Yao so badly? What does he have that makes you willing to go this far?"
Qian Renxue snorted, recalling her time with Dai Yao aboard the boat, a memory that stirred something she couldn't entirely conceal. Forcing herself to remain cold, she replied, "He's unrivaled among his peers, possesses twin spirits, and his sixth ring is that of a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast. He's a genius. Why wouldn't I want him? Besides, I didn't come here to ask your permission. I'm merely informing you. Now that I've made that clear, it's time for me to take my leave."
With that, she spun on her heel, the sound of her golden boots striking the cold floor resonating as she strode confidently out of the hall.
"You—" Bibi Dong gritted her teeth, helplessly watching Qian Renxue's retreating figure.
She was now certain. Even if Qian Renxue wasn't in love with Dai Yao, he clearly held a profound significance in her heart.
In the Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong closed her eyes in silent agony, memories of Yu Xiaogang and Qian Xunji haunting her like shattered reflections. As their faces faded from her mind, Dai Yao's image emerged—moments from their shared struggles in the apocalyptic world, flashes of their mutual understanding in the real world—all fragmented like broken glass.
Hu Liena's affection for Dai Yao had dealt her a harsh blow; but Qian Renxue's entanglement with him only served to completely sever any hope she had left of keeping Dai Yao close.
"Dai Yao… just what kind of power do you have over people? Even Hu Liena and Qian Renxue… they've both fallen for you, one after the other. I told you not to lay a hand on Nana. I promised I would help you gain the love of any other woman, and yet, you continue to ignore my wishes." She closed her eyes with a bitter smile, and when they opened again, they were devoid of warmth, cold and unfeeling as ancient ice.
"If that's the case, your existence is nothing but a calamity. It would be best if you simply disappeared from this world. Though Nana may suffer for a time, pain fades with time. She'll understand me in the end."
Bibi Dong had never been one to think in ordinary terms. The traumas of her past had gradually driven her toward madness, to the point where she had once entertained thoughts of annihilating the entire world. And now, the thought of her own daughter, Qian Renxue, and Hu Liena, whom she loved as a daughter, both falling for the same man—who also shared an intimate history with her—was too much to bear. These entangled relationships brought her only frustration. Unable to untangle these connections, she resolved to sever them all.
Eliminate Dai Yao, and the problem would be solved.
Suddenly, the doors of the Pope's Palace opened once again. A cardinal dressed in red robes hurried toward the throne and knelt respectfully before Bibi Dong.
"Your Holiness, there's news from outside Wuguan City. Hundreds of unidentified spirit masters have arrived, led by none other than Dai Yao himself. Judging by recent events in the Star Luo Empire, it's likely that Dai Yao intends to lead his forces there to rescue his uncle."
Seeing Bibi Dong's steely expression, the cardinal continued quickly, "Your Holiness, Dai Yao may belong to the Spirit Hall, but establishing a faction on his own demonstrates ill intentions. If he wishes to march to his death in Star Luo, let him be."
But Bibi Dong's gaze turned upon him with freezing intensity, and the cardinal felt her pressure so strongly he could scarcely breathe. After a tense pause, she finally spoke, her tone like ice.
"I will decide my actions myself. That is not your place."
Her eyes shifted to the doors of the Pope's Palace, now closed once more, and she exhaled a soft, weary sigh.
"Although Star Luo is our enemy, Dai Yao's intention to challenge them aligns him with us. Send my orders: Spirit Hall's forces in Star Luo may provide him support, but only if it doesn't jeopardize their own safety."
The cardinal's back was drenched in cold sweat as he hastily nodded and exited, clearly relieved.
With the doors closed once again, Bibi Dong remained on the Pope's throne, feeling a heavy loneliness settle over her. She wasn't certain why she had hesitated to let him die; despite her earlier resolve to have him killed, she found herself granting him a final measure of mercy.
"Perhaps it's because Dai Yao offered me a rare glimmer of joy in the years since my confinement… Consider it a parting gift. May he find success in his revenge…"
Upon leaving the Pope's Palace, Qian Renxue made her way across the vast courtyard outside. Noticing Hu Liena lingering there, encircled by Yan, Xie Yue, and others, she saw how Hu Liena basked in their attention like a beloved princess, and felt an inexplicable twinge of envy.
If only she had a normal mother-daughter relationship with Bibi Dong, perhaps she too could have been as carefree as Hu Liena.
But Qian Renxue knew that she could never be like Hu Liena.
"Lady Qian Renxue."
Several elders from the Worship Hall approached her respectfully, awaiting her orders.
Qian Renxue shook her head slightly. "Nothing of concern. Let's go, back to the Worship Hall."
As the guards stood at attention and Hu Liena and her companions watched with curious expressions, Qian Renxue's golden dress billowed in the wind as she led the elders away, her figure fading into a streak of light.
In the Angel Shrine of the Worship Hall, the towering statue of the Angelic God cast its shadow over Qian Daoliu, who stood calmly waiting. As Qian Renxue returned, he observed her with a faint hint of approval. The failed coup had stripped her of youthful arrogance, polishing her like a gem whose brilliance was beginning to emerge.
"Xue'er, though your plans didn't succeed, it seems you've gained valuable experience."
Qian Daoliu smiled.
Qian Renxue nodded, deeply affected by her escape alongside Dai Yao. It was the first time she had encountered someone of her age who posed such a challenge, despite his being a rank lower. And with his twin spirits, Dai Yao was even more formidable.
But recalling Dai Yao's advice, she voiced her question to her grandfather.
"Grandfather, why has there always been such enmity between us and her?"
Qian Daoliu paused, meeting her gaze with a moment of silence before replying, "It's too soon for you to know this. I can't tell you just yet. I know you wonder why I urged you to return; I'll explain it tomorrow. Tonight, take time to rest and purify yourself. Tomorrow, you must pray within the Angel Shrine. If you meet the necessary conditions, you'll understand."
Realizing her grandfather's reluctance, Qian Renxue held back further questions, though her curiosity lingered about his urging her to launch the coup earlier than planned.
"Why wait until tomorrow?" she asked.
"Now is not the time," Qian Daoliu replied.
No matter how much Qian Renxue pressed him, Qian Daoliu would not yield, and she reluctantly left the Angel Shrine.
Returning to her room, untouched for over twenty years yet pristine as ever, she found herself surrounded by walls of pure white, without a single speck of color.
Following her grandfather's instructions, Qian Renxue bathed and changed her clothes. Alone in her room, she felt a pang of loneliness.
"Someone, come."
A maid entered immediately, bowing as she approached.
"Lady Qian Renxue, how may I assist you?"
Her gaze distant, Qian Renxue's mind drifted to the churning waves and the small wooden boat on which she had traveled, to the image of Dai Yao preparing a simple bowl of porridge for her. She murmured softly, "I'd like some porridge."
The maid bowed, returning shortly with a bowl of porridge, rich with expensive ingredients. "Lady Qian Renxue, this porridge was prepared by the most renowned auxiliary master, Grandmaster Yun Tao. Not only is it delicious, but it also restores spirit power and enhances one's abilities. I'm certain you'll be pleased."
Qian Renxue frowned. This wasn't the porridge she'd had in mind. Though the porridge was crafted with rare ingredients, she felt no appetite for it. Nonetheless, she took a spoonful, out of politeness.
But at the first taste, her expression soured. Setting the spoon down, she said coldly, "Take it away. I only wanted plain porridge."
While others may have found this porridge delectable, to her, it was nothing compared to the simple porridge Dai Yao had made for her. This one lacked the warmth and flavor she remembered, as if the ingredients, no matter how fine, couldn't match the essence of what she missed.
The maid, startled, quickly left with the bowl, returning soon after with plain porridge.
"Lady Qian Renxue, your plain porridge is ready."
Looking at the bowl, Qian Renxue realized it didn't stir her appetite in the slightest. She took a bite, only to be reminded of how different it was from the taste she remembered. She understood then that it wasn't the food itself, but the person who made it that she missed.
With a listless wave of her hand, she dismissed the maid.
Alone once more in the pristine, colorless room, a quiet sigh escaped her lips.
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