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By the time Feng Xiao had properly settled the Blue Silver clan, the bright moonlight had quietly crept onto the branches. When he and Qian Renxue returned to Heaven Dou City under the cover of night, the entire city was immersed in tranquility, with only sporadic lights stubbornly flickering in the darkness.
As soon as Feng Xiao and Qian Renxue stepped into the East Palace gate, two figures suddenly appeared like ghosts. She Long and Ci Xue, two Titled Douluo, stood on either side of the hall. Upon seeing Feng Xiao, a hint of unconcealable surprise flashed in their eyes.
"This…" She Long's gaze lingered on Feng Xiao for a moment, his brow imperceptibly furrowing.
But the two quickly composed themselves and turned to Qian Renxue, bowing in unison: "Young Master, you have finally returned." She Long's voice carried a sense of relief, "Your subordinates have been waiting for a long time."
Ci Xue's gaze still occasionally darted towards Feng Xiao, seemingly wondering who this young man who suddenly appeared beside their Young Master truly was. The atmosphere in front of the hall became subtly tense for a moment, as the night wind rustled their robes, making a faint flapping sound.
Feng Xiao's lips curved slightly, and his fingertip lightly tapped the void, causing a brilliant golden light to burst forth. The ancient and mysterious Fuxi Zither slowly materialized in his palm, with a faint spirit power glow flowing along its strings.
"Seniors, it's been a while." Feng Xiao's voice was as warm and smooth as jade, carrying a hint of familiar amusement. His slender fingers gently brushed the strings, producing a clear, resonant tremor, and that unique spirit power fluctuation immediately eased the expressions of She Long and Ci Xue.
"So, it's you, you brat!" Ci Xue was the first to react, his tense face instantly relaxing, a hint of realization flashing in his eyes.
She Long also nodded slightly, a rare smile appearing on his serious face: "It was our oversight." He gave Feng Xiao and the Spirit in his hand a meaningful look, stopping short of asking more questions.
Qian Renxue's golden eyes suddenly narrowed, and her sharp gaze slowly swept over She Long and Ci Xue. "It seems…" Her red lips parted lightly, her voice as cold as ice, "Heaven Dou City has been quite lively during my absence."
She Long and Ci Xue were about to say something, but Qian Renxue quietly interrupted them: "Let's talk inside." As she stepped, her golden boots tapped out crisp sounds on the marble floor, echoing in the silent night.
In the study, Qian Renxue gracefully raised her hand, signaling She Long. She slowly walked towards the main seat, her snow-white skirt trailing behind her, her voice surprisingly calm: "Uncle She, no need to rush, speak slowly."
She Long took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "Young Master, the first matter…" He paused, a complex expression flashing in his eyes, "Tang Hao… is dead."
The hall instantly fell silent. Qian Renxue's pupils suddenly constricted at the news, her slender fingers unconsciously tightened on the armrest of the throne, leaving five clear indentations on the gilded armrest. She slowly lifted her gaze, golden pupils seemingly flickering with flames, her voice abruptly turning cold: "Dead?"
She Long nodded solemnly, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead: "Indeed. Although they managed to escape that day's attack, we didn't expect…" His voice lowered a few notches, "They actually fled to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School."
Qian Renxue's red lips curved into a cold arc, her fingertip lightly tapping the armrest of the throne: "Quite a clever man." Her voice carried a hint of sarcasm, "Knowing where to flee before he died."
She Long stepped forward, presenting a document with both hands: "This is the news that came from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School recently. Although the Ye family's healing system Spirit Master and Ning Fengzhi personally intervened, Tang Hao's injuries were too severe…" He deliberately paused, "Ultimately, it was beyond their power to save him."
Qian Renxue took the document, her gilded nails making a faint scratching sound on the paper. She lowered her gaze, scanning the neat handwriting, and suddenly let out a soft laugh: "Heh, the dignified Clear Sky Douluo, reduced to such a state in the end." The document instantly turned to dust in her hand, scattering to the ground.
Feng Xiao noticed that the falling paper scraps were crushed even finer by an invisible spirit power before they hit the ground, as if Qian Renxue was using this to vent some inexpressible emotion.
Qian Renxue snorted coldly, a sharp glint flashing in her gilded eyes: "What a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School!" Her slender fingers lightly tapped the armrest of the throne, making a crisp sound, "They saved the person; when they couldn't save him, they rushed to report his death to us."
She suddenly stood up: "Ning Fengzhi's move is quite brilliant." A meaningful cold smile played on her lips, "It fulfills their duty of rescue, and also quickly clears their name."
Ci Xue stepped forward at the opportune moment, adding in a deep voice: "Young Master, Tang Yuehua has already returned to the Clear Sky Sect with the child named Tang San."
Qian Renxue suddenly let out a soft laugh, a cold glint flashing in her gilded eyes: "No need to bother with them." She elegantly waved her hand, "Uncle She, Uncle Ci, you two will temporarily hide in the shadows during this period."
She slowly walked to the window, the moonlight casting a silver glow on her exquisite profile: "Without conclusive evidence, even if it's the Clear Sky Sect…" Her fingertip lightly tapped the window frame, making a crisp sound, "What can they do to me?"
Feng Xiao gently stroked the strings of the Fuxi Zither, and suddenly spoke: "In that case, His Holiness the Supreme Pontiff should also be making a move, right?" His voice was very soft, yet it instantly brought silence to the hall.
The zither strings vibrated slightly, emitting a clear aftersound. A complex look flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes as she gazed at Feng Xiao: "You did remind me."
She Long and Ci Xue's gazes briefly met in mid-air, and a hint of hesitation flashed in both their eyes. In the end, they both looked at Qian Renxue in unison.
Qian Renxue nodded slightly, her gilded gauntlet gleaming softly in the candlelight: "Uncles, feel free to speak." Though her voice was light, it carried an unquestionable authority.
She Long and Ci Xue exchanged glances and bowed simultaneously. She Long lowered his voice and said: "Reporting to Young Master, according to secret reports from within the palace, His Holiness the Supreme Pontiff convened a meeting of the Elder Palace Elders three days ago." He paused, a solemn look flashing in his eyes, "The resolution was to ascertain the Clear Sky Sect's movements, then proceed to purge high-level Spirit Master forces within the Heaven Dou Empire."
Ci Xue added at the opportune moment, his voice hoarse: "The first to bear the brunt will likely be the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan." After he finished speaking, he unconsciously clenched his fists, his knuckles making faint cracking sounds.
Qian Renxue suddenly let out a soft laugh at the news: "What a thunderous approach, killing a chicken to scare the monkey. Hmm, I understand."
Feng Xiao noticed that as Qian Renxue said this, a complex emotion flashed in her eyes, resembling both mockery and a hint of unspeakable melancholy.
She Long and Ci Xue simultaneously showed surprised expressions, and as their gazes met, they both saw confusion in each other's eyes. According to usual custom, whenever they reported on Bibi Dong's decisions, the Young Master would always show resistance, whether subtly or overtly, even deliberately contradicting details. It was less about opposing and more about wanting to prove her own worth.
But today…
Qian Renxue simply stood quietly by the window, the moonlight casting a silver glow on her exquisite profile. Her slender fingers unconsciously stroked the jade pendant at her waist, her expression terrifyingly calm. This abnormal silence made the two Titled Douluo's hearts tighten—they would rather hear the Young Master's usual sarcastic remarks than see her so unfathomably silent.
Ci Xue couldn't help but take half a step forward: "Young Master, you…"
"I'm tired." Qian Renxue suddenly spoke, her voice as light as a breeze, "You two may withdraw first."
She Long wanted to say more, but fell silent when he saw Qian Renxue's slightly trembling fingertips. As the two bowed and exited the hall, they both looked back in unison—the figure standing in the moonlight now appeared so solitary and resolute.
As She Long withdrew, his gaze unconsciously fell on Feng Xiao, who stood quietly to the side. The young man's handsome silhouette was faintly discernible in the candlelight, already looking like a different person from when they first met. A hint of realization flashed in his deep eyes—ever since this mysterious young man appeared, the Young Master's changes had quietly occurred like spring rain nourishing the earth.
The Qian Renxue who was once full of thorns and constantly opposed Bibi Dong could now so calmly accept Bibi Dong's decisions. She Long couldn't help but recall a few days ago, when he had accidentally glimpsed the Young Master smiling alone in the garden—it was a bright smile he had never seen in over a decade.
Ci Xue followed She Long's gaze, and the two nodded in unspoken understanding. The moment the hall door slowly closed, She Long took one last look at the two figures standing side by side in the moonlight, sighing inwardly: Perhaps this young man was the key to unlocking the Young Master's emotional knot.
She Long and Ci Xue's figures had already vanished like smoke into the hall. The two Titled Douluo left so quickly that even the candles in the hall did not flicker in the slightest, leaving only a faint, lingering spirit power fluctuation slowly dissipating in the air.
Qian Renxue watched the direction in which they disappeared, unconsciously letting out a sigh of relief. The moment she turned and met Feng Xiao's gaze, the tips of her ears quietly flushed crimson again.
Feng Xiao's lips held a mischievous smile, and he feigned seriousness as he cupped his hands: "It's getting late, I should return to the academy first…"
Before he could finish, a golden stream of light suddenly arrived. Qian Renxue appeared before him, her face flushed, and her slender hand grabbed his collar, pulling him close enough to hear his breathing: "You…" She bit her lower lip, angry flames flickering in her gilded eyes, "Don't think that just because I can't defeat you now, you can be so presumptuous."
Feng Xiao looked down at the exquisite face so close to him, able to clearly count her trembling eyelashes. He deliberately lowered his voice: "Then how does Young Master plan to deal with me?" His warm breath brushed her reddened earlobe.
Qian Renxue's grip tightened a bit more, but when she met his smiling eyes, she suddenly deflated and released him: "…Just stay. Why so much nonsense?"
Before she finished speaking, Qian Renxue suddenly felt a tightening around her waist, and her entire body instantly lifted into the air. Feng Xiao's strong arms had already steadily held her up, and the sudden feeling of weightlessness made her instinctively clench his collar.
"You—!" Her gilded eyes widened slightly in surprise, and her unfinished words abruptly stopped. Feng Xiao looked down at her, a triumphant smile in his eyes: "Since Young Master insists…" His voice carried a hint of teasing, "I can only respectfully obey."
Qian Renxue felt her cheeks burning, wanting to struggle free but he held her even tighter. The moonlight streamed through the window, casting their intimately intertwined shadows on the ground, and she was mortified to find her heartbeat so loud that it felt like the entire palace could hear it.
On the other side, as dusk deepened, a silent procession slowly halted in front of the village. Tang San hung his head low, his face ashen, every step seemingly taking all his strength. He clutched the box in his hand tightly, his knuckles white from the effort.
Tai Tan's burly figure stood in front of the group. He knelt on one knee, his cupped hands trembling slightly: "Madam Yuehua, this old servant can only escort master this far." His rough voice carried suppressed sobs, "Please… take master home."
Tang Yuehua's usually elegant face was now extremely pale. She gently helped up the loyal old man, a look of guilt on her face: "Elder Tai Tan…" Her voice was so soft, as if afraid of disturbing the deceased's peaceful rest, "This kindness, Yuehua will never forget."
Tai Tan sighed heavily, his calloused large hand trembling as he patted Tang San's shoulder: "Little Master…" A thousand words ultimately condensed into a long sigh.
Tai Tan slowly turned, the lingering rays of the setting sun casting a tragic golden hue on his resolute face. He cupped his hands and bowed deeply to Tang Yuehua, his rough voice carrying unconcealable sobs: "Madam Yuehua…" He paused, his gaze passing over Tang Yuehua's shoulder to land on the dazed Tang San behind her, "This old servant dares to ask that you must take good care of the Little Master."
Tang Yuehua elegantly lifted her skirt, bowing solemnly. Her lowered eyelashes cast faint shadows on her pale cheeks, her voice soft yet every word clear: "Elder Tai Tan's entrustment, Yuehua… will bear it in mind."