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After an unknown amount of time, Qian Renxue's sobs gradually subsided. She slightly raised her head, her reddened eyes still glistening with unshed tears, yet a trace of relieved smile bloomed under the moonlight. Feng Xiao didn't say much, gently wiping away the tear stains on her cheeks with his thumb, his movements as soft as touching fragile morning dew.
"Are you feeling better?" he asked in a low voice, filled with tenderness.
Qian Renxue nodded lightly, her golden hair swaying slightly in the night breeze. She took a deep breath, the crisp mountain air seemingly carrying away the last trace of her inner turmoil. The chirping of a nightingale echoed in the distance, adding a touch of vitality to the quiet night.
"Let's go down the mountain." Feng Xiao extended his hand to her, palm up, in an inviting gesture.
Qian Renxue looked at Feng Xiao's outstretched hand, and the corners of her lips unconsciously curved upwards. She gently placed her hand into his palm, their fingers naturally intertwining. The two walked slowly down the moonlit stone steps.
The gentle night mist of the mountain enveloped them, as if paving a path to new life for this perfect couple. Qian Renxue felt the warmth emanating from her palm, and suddenly felt that the obsessions she once thought she could never let go of seemed to become less heavy at this moment.
The two walked slowly down the winding mountain path, the night breeze gently caressing them, bringing with it the unique fragrance of mountain herbs and trees. Qian Renxue's hair floated lightly in the wind, occasionally brushing Feng Xiao's shoulder, carrying a faint, delicate scent.
After only a few steps, suddenly, two figures flashed out from the forest. It was She Long and Ci Xue, the two Titled Douluo. They glanced at Qian Renxue, a hint of hesitation in their eyes. Then they knelt on one knee and respectfully said, "Young Master, Supreme Pontiff wishes for the two of you to come to the Supreme Pontiff Palace for a discussion."
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue's brows furrowed slightly, and a chilling light flared in her eyes. The hand holding Feng Xiao's involuntarily tightened a few degrees. Feng Xiao felt her unease and gently squeezed her hand back, giving her a reassuring look.
Feng Xiao's lips curved into a slight smile, his fingertips gently caressing Qian Renxue's palm: "I must let Supreme Pontiff feel at ease entrusting you to me." He deliberately used a proposal-like phrasing, his eyes filled with a gentle smile.
Qian Renxue's expression softened slightly, but she still awkwardly turned her face away: "Why does she need to worry about my affairs?" Although her voice was cold, the tips of her ears quietly flushed red.
Feng Xiao raised his hand to smooth her hair, which had been ruffled by the night wind, his movements as gentle as if he were handling precious glazed tile: "But I want to obtain the approval of all the Elders in a dignified manner." He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Do you want our future marriage to still be nitpicked by Supreme Pontiff?"
"Who, who wants to marry you!" Qian Renxue suddenly pushed him away, two red clouds flying onto her jade-like cheeks. She glared at Feng Xiao in annoyance: "If you want to go, go by yourself! I don't want to see her!"
She Long and Ci Xue exchanged glances, both seeing shock in each other's eyes—they had never seen the Young Master in such a girlish state! What was even more alarming was that, listening to their conversation, Feng Xiao seemed to have already gained the High Priest's approval?
Qian Renxue noticed the probing gazes of the two Elders, and immediately became both embarrassed and annoyed, slapping Feng Xiao's hand away: "You're getting bolder and bolder now!" But her chiding tone, no matter how one listened, carried a hint of bashfulness.
Feng Xiao knew when to stop, respectfully cupping his hands to the two Elders: "Then I shall trouble the two seniors to lead the way." He gave Qian Renxue a deep look, his eyes full of tenderness and understanding. Some knots in the heart need time to slowly unravel, and he knew this better than anyone.
Seeing this, She Long and Ci Xue also respectfully said, "We wouldn't dare. In that case, Young Master, please wait here."
The night wind swept up fallen leaves on the ground. Qian Renxue watched Feng Xiao's receding figure, unconsciously touching the side of her head he had just touched. Under the moonlight, a complex emotion flickered in her golden eyes as she looked at the Supreme Pontiff Palace not far away.
Feng Xiao followed She Long and Ci Xue through the mountain path shrouded in night. The moonlight cast a desolate, thin veil over the slightly damaged Supreme Pontiff Palace after the battle.
"Supreme Pontiff is waiting in the Council Hall. Young friend, you may enter by yourself." She Long reminded in a low voice, exchanging a look with Ci Xue, and tacitly retreated to stand guard outside the hall.
Feng Xiao took a deep breath, his fingertips smoothing a slight wrinkle on his clothes, and stepped alone into the deep hall. Moonlight streamed through the broken stained-glass windows, casting mottled light and shadows on the solitary figure in the center. Bibi Dong, dressed in a purple everyday robe, stood where light and shadow intertwined, her simple attire making her temperament appear even more aloof and ethereal. The crisp sound of her staff tip touching the ground was particularly striking in the empty hall.
"You've come."
Her robes fluttered lightly as she turned, her purplish-golden eyes swirling with obscure light in the shadows.
"Greetings, Supreme Pontiff." Feng Xiao's back was straight as he bowed, his gaze calmly meeting her scrutinizing stare.
Bibi Dong's lips curved slightly, and her scepter gently tapped the ground: "It seems that old fellow Qian Daoliu…" She deliberately slowed her speech, each word carrying an invisible pressure, "is quite fond of you."
Feng Xiao bowed slightly, his tone respectful yet composed: "Thanks to Supreme Pontiff's high regard, granting this junior the position of honorary Elder, it is truly a case of great minds thinking alike."
Bibi Dong's fingertips lightly tapped her scepter, and a sharp glint flashed in her purplish-golden eyes: "You are very good at speaking. However," her voice suddenly turned cold, "I heard you gave that skull bone to Dugu Bo's granddaughter?" The air in the hall seemed to instantly freeze, and an invisible pressure surged like a tide.
Feng Xiao's expression remained unchanged as he calmly replied: "It is this junior's duty to recruit talents for Spirit Hall. If Poison Douluo can be of assistance, it will undoubtedly be like adding wings to a tiger for Spirit Hall's great cause of unification."
"Heh," Bibi Dong's pupils constricted, "You used this same rhetoric to trick that girl?"
"What this subordinate said is entirely true." Feng Xiao's gaze was clear, meeting Bibi Dong's scrutinizing stare neither obsequiously nor arrogantly.
A strange silence fell over the hall. Bibi Dong gazed at the almost perfect young man before her—of pure background, exceptionally talented, smooth in handling affairs, and deeply loyal—all of which seemed almost too good to be true. What made her even more uneasy was why such a flawless person would be devoted to Qian Renxue, who had significant character flaws?
Too perfect, in itself, is a flaw.
She couldn't help but recall Yu Xiaogang from back then; at least his intentions were clear. But the Feng Xiao before her was like a bottomless clear spring, seemingly transparent, yet making it impossible to see what truly lay beneath.
"Don't you have anything else to say?" Bibi Dong's fingertips gently caressed her scepter, and a dangerous light flickered in her purple eyes.
Feng Xiao bowed slightly, his posture respectful yet composed: "No matter how this junior explains, I fear it will be difficult to dispel Your Holiness's doubts. Proving one's innocence is never the best way to eliminate suspicion." He looked up and met Bibi Dong's gaze, a flash of wisdom in his eyes, "With Your Holiness's grand strategy, why not wait and see?"
Bibi Dong's eyes flickered. Indeed, with her strength, no matter how extraordinary this young man's talent, he could not escape her grasp.
"Since that's the case," she changed the subject, "do you know the biggest dilemma she faces now?"
Feng Xiao looked puzzled and gently shook his head: "Please enlighten me, Your Holiness."
Bibi Dong walked slowly, the moonlight stretching her shadow long: "You saw today's competition. If I want to unify the continent, where do you think I should start?"
Feng Xiao pretended to ponder, then solemnly said after a moment: "Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is a support Sect, it is rich enough to rival a nation. If it can be brought under our command, it would not only unleash Spirit Hall's war potential but also severely cripple the Heaven Dou Empire's Spirit Master forces."
This analysis was exactly what Bibi Dong wanted to hear, and she nodded in satisfaction: "She advocates for peacefully subduing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School using her identity, but unfortunately," her scepter heavily tapped the ground, "time waits for no one. This is her predicament." A sharp glint flashed in her purple eyes, "Since you can see this point, help her take down the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and I may reconsider matters between you two."
Feng Xiao secretly grumbled in his heart: "Goodness, other people's mothers-in-law at least give a few million to send off a poor boy, but this one, she just tells me to work first and then talk about terms. Even capitalists from my previous life would be ashamed."
But he maintained a dignified and respectful demeanor on his face, bowing slightly and saying: "This junior will certainly do his utmost."
Bibi Dong's lips curved into a meaningful arc: "Very good, I await your good news." As she turned, her Supreme Pontiff robe traced an elegant arc in the moonlight, but her voice carried an undeniable authority, "Remember, you only have one chance."
As Feng Xiao bowed, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. When he looked up again, he was the only one left in the great hall, with only the lingering echo of the scepter striking the ground reverberating between the stone pillars.
Feng Xiao's lowered eyelashes concealed the sharp glint in his eyes, and he sneered inwardly: "A 'one chance' indeed."
Sects and Spirit Hall are fundamentally incompatible. Sects seize benefits for a single family's bloodline, while Spirit Hall expands this scope from a single family bloodline to all Spirit Masters, especially a top Sect like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. They almost monopolize various businesses in Heaven Dou through the characteristics of their Spirit and their commercial talents. Standing with Spirit Hall means sharing the money they painstakingly earned with all Spirit Masters. How could they possibly be willing?
It's basically impossible to make the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School hand over their interests without using force.
"Xue'er is still a bit naive," Feng Xiao sighed in his heart.
He slowly exited the hall, the moonlight stretching his shadow long. He mused inwardly: "Worst case, if Xue'er's plan fails, I'll find a place to hide and cultivate. Bibi Dong, you can fight or not, what does this continent unification have to do with me?"
The night wind brushed his robes, creating a faint rustling sound. Feng Xiao paused briefly outside the hall door, looking back at the towering spire of the Supreme Pontiff Palace, a barely perceptible curve on his lips. "But since Xue'er wants it, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School isn't impossible to try."
Not long after Feng Xiao walked out of the Supreme Pontiff Palace, he saw that familiar figure under the moonlight. Qian Renxue was leaning against an ancient tree, her golden long hair gently swaying in the night wind, her toes tapping restlessly on the ground.
"Xue'er?" Feng Xiao's heart warmed, and he quickly walked towards her.
Qian Renxue looked up at the sound, her tense brows instantly relaxing. She rushed towards him, her golden eyes filled with worry: "She didn't make things difficult for you, did she?" Her voice carried a rare hint of nervousness.
Feng Xiao gently held her slightly cool fingertips: "Don't worry, Supreme Pontiff merely instructed me to cooperate more with your actions in Heaven Dou." He deliberately winked, "To help you complete your mission early."
Qian Renxue's tense shoulders visibly relaxed, and she unconsciously looked towards the Supreme Pontiff Palace. Under the moonlight, a complex emotion appeared on her delicate profile, finally turning into a soft sigh: "That's good."
The night wind brushed past, carrying the faint fragrance from her hair. Qian Renxue suddenly turned, her palace dress skirt tracing a graceful arc in the moonlight: "Let's go back." She extended her hand to Feng Xiao, her voice as soft as a dream.
Feng Xiao understood and took her hand, their fingers intertwined as they gradually walked away on the path covered in silver light. The moonlight merged their shadows together, as if they could never be separated again.
Behind them, atop the spire of the Supreme Pontiff Palace, a solitary figure stood quietly. Bibi Dong's purplish-golden eyes pierced through the night, taking in every word of Feng Xiao's flawless explanation. The night wind lifted her luxurious Supreme Pontiff robe, but it could not disperse the doubts between her brows.
The perfect answer was too perfect, even covering for me.
Bibi Dong's slender fingers unconsciously caressed the gem on her scepter. She had seen too many sycophants, and countless insincere people, but she had never seen an existence as unsettlingly perfect as Feng Xiao.
With his talent, intelligence, and appearance, he should have been surrounded by countless confidantes. Even Xiaogang, after parting ways with me, developed a relationship with Liu Erlong.
Under the moonlight, Bibi Dong's brows furrowed tighter and tighter. She recalled her youthful past with Yu Xiaogang. But Feng Xiao's attitude towards Qian Renxue was almost abnormally pure.
Unless he has another motive?
This thought instantly chilled the aura around Bibi Dong. She gazed at the two intertwined figures in the distance until they completely disappeared into the night. Her scepter lightly tapped the void.
"Investigate," she whispered into the void, "From now on, She Long will be responsible for watching him. I want to know everything about this Feng Xiao."
A faint rustling sound came from the darkness, and two dark figures silently followed.
As night deepened, She Long and Ci Xue carried Feng Xiao and Qian Renxue through the air, quickly returning to the hotel within Spirit City. The bright moonlight streamed through the window, casting mottled light and shadows in the room.
"Young Master, this subordinate takes his leave." The two Titled Douluo bowed respectfully, their figures silently disappearing into the darkness.
Qian Renxue stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, the moonlight outlining her slender silhouette. Feng Xiao slowly walked up and draped a light cloak over her shoulders: "It's cold at night."
Qian Renxue didn't turn around, simply pulling the cloak gently around her: "Xiao Feng…"
Her voice was a little ethereal, "Do you think she really approved of you?"
Feng Xiao paused slightly; clearly, Qian Renxue also had some understanding of Bibi Dong. Feng Xiao wrapped his arms around her from behind, his chin gently resting on her head: "That's not important."
His voice was gentle and firm, "What's important is that I will always stand by your side."
Qian Renxue turned around, her golden eyes sparkling under the moonlight. She hesitated, as if wanting to speak, but finally just buried her face in Feng Xiao's chest. Feng Xiao could feel her body trembling slightly.