Chapter 294: Qian Renxue's Tears
Their handshake lasted only a brief moment before they let go.
Han Li's gaze lingered on Xiao Wu for a second, as if noticing something about her relationship with Tang San. However, he didn't extend his hand to her, showing a surprising level of restraint.
"Alright then, I won't disturb you any longer. Best of luck in the tournament."
With a friendly nod, Han Li and Xue Qinghe turned and left, heading toward the first team of the Heaven Dou Empire, seemingly just going through the motions of greeting everyone.
After exchanging pleasantries with Yu Tianheng who looked at Han Li with a complicated expression and giving Hu Liena a nod, the two returned to their seats, leaving Hu Liena in the hall.
"He's observing Tang San."
This time, before Han Li could speak, Qian Renxue stated it with certainty.
Han Li nodded, then looked at her intently, staring long enough that she started to feel uncomfortable.
"What? Is something wrong?"
Qian Renxue touched her face, finding nothing out of place. Han Li's gaze was unsettling.
Oh, right. She still doesn't know Tang San's real identity. Han Li had just realized this. No wonder something felt off before it all made sense now.
"Tang San is Tang Hao's son."
Silently, Han Li activated his Killing God Domain, enveloping both of them.
Qian Renxue had been kept in the dark. But now, there was no longer a reason to hide it from her. Han Li had no intention of getting involved in the mess between Bibi Dong and Tang San, but Qian Renxue needed to know. After all, her personality had already changed a lot under his influence. If she found out about this later through someone else, he wasn't sure how she would react.
"What? He's Tang Hao's son?"
Qian Renxue shot up from her seat, her killing intent surging toward Tang San. But Han Li's domain locked it down, making it seem to outsiders like they were just having a pleasant conversation at the table.
"Yes, that's right."
Han Li remained calm, pouring her a cup of water and handing it over.
Qian Renxue downed the water in one gulp and sat back down, though her aura still bristled with murderous intent.
"You knew all along?"
Her sharp gaze locked onto Han Li. She recalled how, long ago, he had casually asked her about Tang San's background.
"More or less."
Han Li didn't deny it and simply nodded.
Why didn't you tell me sooner? Qian Renxue wanted to lash out at him, but looking at his composed expression, she suppressed her anger. If he had kept it from her until now, there must have been a reason.
"So, I really do need to see Grandpa as soon as possible, don't I?"
Qian Renxue quickly calmed down, thinking back to the first thing Han Li had asked her when they met.
Han Li nodded. This was indeed one of his reasons for urging her.
That grandfather and granddaughter pair were far too slow. Even though they were already in Spirit City, they kept delaying. If they weren't going to speed things up, he'd have to do it himself.
With the pendant he had given her, disguising herself was effortless. She could leave at any time without anyone noticing. There was no need to wait until the tournament was over.
"Got it. I'll go tonight."
Qian Renxue agreed decisively.
That was the infuriating thing about him always making things more complicated than they needed to be. He could've just told her directly.
"So, she sent that woman here in advance…"
Qian Renxue glanced at Hu Liena, who was still observing Tang San, murmuring to herself.
Naturally, Han Li gave no response.
He had heard her, of course, but he had nothing to say. He couldn't even bring himself to look at Qian Renxue if his guess was correct, then she was about to suffer a terrible blow.
"You know where I live. Feel free to visit anytime. I don't mind keeping you company."
His words seemed completely out of place, but they reached Qian Renxue's ears nonetheless.
"Oh… okay."
Qian Renxue was momentarily stunned but still nodded.
"Alright, I'm heading back."
Han Li withdrew his domain. Qian Renxue's rage had simmered down enough that she no longer needed to be restrained.
Taking a deep breath, she reverted to her usual refined and dignified demeanor as the Crown Prince of Heaven Dou, sending them off. However, throughout the entire process, she never once looked in the direction of the second team.
Afterward, led by an eager Ning Rongrong, they visited the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's camp.
Both sides exchanged polite formalities. Throughout the conversation, Ning Fengzhi completely ignored the presence of Liu Erlong and Hu Liena, acting as if they didn't exist. The entire exchange was remarkably smooth.
Once they left, Han Li dismissed Hu Liena, sending her back to wherever she had come from.
As for Liu Erlong, she remained silent, following them simply because their paths aligned.
Back home, Han Li greeted the girls before heading straight to his room.
Hu Liena's presence had made it necessary for him to check on Bibi Dong's situation.
Inside his spiritual domain, Han Li observed from an omniscient perspective as the master and disciple spoke. After Hu Liena left, he continued monitoring Bibi Dong for a while.
Only after hearing her inner monologue did he return to reality.
For a long time, he remained silent.
He felt like his spirit had been… tainted.
In the mental space, Han Li observed the conversation between master and disciple from an omniscient perspective. After Hu Liena left, he continued monitoring Bibi Dong for a while, only returning to reality after hearing her monologue.
He remained silent for a moment, feeling as if his mind had been contaminated.
After listening to Bibi Dong's murmurs when she was alone, he found it difficult to maintain his composure. Even though she might not act on everything she said, her words still revealed a certain mindset.
In Bibi Dong's heart, she completely ignored the fact that Tang San was Tang Hao's son. Instead, she saw him as Yu Xiaogang's child. Han Li's guess had been correct her perception had become so twisted that she had even transferred some of her lingering emotions for Yu Xiaogang onto Tang San.
Indeed, she had no personal hatred toward Tang Hao and his son. In fact, in a way, Tang Hao could even be considered her "benefactor." Without him, eliminating Qian Xunji back then would have been far more difficult.
But for heaven's sake, you're still the Pope of the Spirit Hall. Are you not even going to bother keeping up appearances?
If Xiao Wu weren't in the picture, would she have actually sent Hu Liena to Tang San to make up for her past "regrets"?
Of course, not all of this came from Bibi Dong's murmurs some of it was Han Li's own deduction based on Hu Liena's actions and Bibi Dong's attitude. But even so, it still left him with a deep sense of unease.
Fortunately, he had already made all the necessary preparations. Bibi Dong was destined for tragedy.
Throwing these thoughts aside, Han Li called for a maid, gave her a few instructions, and then made his way to the living room.
Late at night, Han Li uncharacteristically refrained from entering his cultivation state. Instead, he left his door open and sat at the table, which was filled with fine wine.
He was waiting for someone.
If everything went as expected, she would arrive soon.
A golden streak of light shot down from the sky at an astonishing speed, landing directly in Han Li's courtyard without any attempt at concealment.
In the surrounding buildings, several presences flared up instantly, but upon recognizing the owner of the golden light, they quickly withdrew.
Qian Renxue's expression was blank as she stared at the open doorway before her. Slowly, she stepped inside.
Han Li said nothing. He simply reached out, popped open a wine jar, and let the rich aroma fill the room. With a wave of soul power, he floated the jar toward Qian Renxue.
She took the jar in her hands, tilted her head back, and drank.
Amber colored liquid spilled from the corner of her mouth, trailing down her pale neck, soaking into her golden robes, with some dripping onto the floor.
With a casual toss, she discarded the empty jar, letting it shatter on the ground. In the silent night, the sound did not travel beyond the room Han Li had already placed a barrier around them.
Neither of them spoke. Han Li kept opening jars, while Qian Renxue numbly kept drinking.
Four jars in, Qian Renxue coughed slightly but still showed no signs of stopping.
Han Li didn't interfere. He had personally selected this wine. Despite its strong aroma, even if she drank the entire table's worth, she wouldn't get drunk.
Once again, she emptied a jar and tossed it aside, her golden hair now sticking to her damp face.
Glancing at Han Li, then at the still full table of wine, she walked over, grabbed a jar, and threw it at him.
Han Li caught it and mimicked her actions.
Qian Renxue didn't reject the gesture. She simply sat down across from him and continued drinking.
No one spoke.
The only sounds in the room were the shattering of jars and the quiet gulps of alcohol.
After a third of the table was cleared, Qian Renxue finally paused.
"I want stronger liquor."
Her cheeks were flushed, the only visible sign of the alcohol affecting her.
Even after drinking so much, she remained completely sober only the fragrance of the wine lingered.
"This wine has a strong aftertaste. You're already drunk."
Han Li remained unfazed, his own face slightly red as well.
As both Qian Renxue and Xue Qinghe, she had never allowed herself to get drunk. At social gatherings, she barely took sips, often using her soul power to expel the alcohol from her system.
But she had seen drunk people before. She knew that the man across from her was lying.
However, she no longer cared.
If he said she was drunk, then she was drunk.
Let's just pretend.
This time, she opened another jar, but instead of downing it in one go, she took a slow sip.
Placing the jar down on the table, she no longer hid her face.
Though her expression still held some stubbornness, silent tears streamed down her cheeks.
Han Li sighed, took a sip from his own jar, and continued drinking with her.
Meanwhile, the old man in the sky was becoming increasingly irritating.
Qian Renxue still didn't speak. Every time her empty gaze started to clear, she would take another sip of wine, look at Han Li, watch him drink, and then let her thoughts drift off once more.
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