Guided by the power of the Rakshasa God, Qian Renxue's consciousness sank deep into Bibi Dong's sealed inner world.
What appeared before her eyes was an endless, deep gray.
The sky was gray and gloomy, low-hanging dark clouds seeming close enough to touch. The air itself was filled with a suffocating sense of despair.
Underfoot stretched a charred, lifeless land, dotted with a few withered, black trees. The entire world was shrouded in a deathly stillness.
Qian Renxue frowned slightly. She had already prepared herself for how terrifying Bibi Dong's inner world would be.
For someone who had been tormented for decades by hatred, obsession, pain, and regret—someone deeply imprisoned in an illusion of her own making—it was no surprise that her mental world would look like this.
The problem was… in this vast, oppressive inner world, how was she supposed to locate the core of the illusion where Bibi Dong's consciousness lay submerged?
Just as Qian Renxue looked around for any clue or direction, the Rakshasa God's voice rang directly in the depths of her mind.
"She is to your left. Walk in that direction, and you will find her."
Qian Renxue nodded without hesitation and began walking where the Rakshasa God indicated.
She didn't know how long she walked. The scenery around her seemed unchanged, as if the same desolate landscape was repeating endlessly.
After some time, the outline of buildings appeared on the gray horizon up ahead. As she drew closer, their details gradually came into focus.
It was a large, simple yet solemn complex of buildings. White walls stood out sharply against the gray sky, and at the center was a chapel crowned with an angel statue.
The complex had once featured a meticulously tended garden and training grounds, but now the flowers in the garden were withered, and the training ground was deserted.
"Holy Light Orphanage…" Qian Renxue murmured to herself.
Of course she recognized this place. It was the orphanage the Angel Clan used specifically to receive and train orphans who had the potential to become masters of spirit power. Over the years it had supplied Spirit Hall with many loyal and outstanding core members.
When she was young, her grandfather had brought her here many times to tour the facility and select children who might receive special training.
"So that's it…"
Qian Renxue looked around at these buildings, which seemed particularly vivid and even faintly warm within Bibi Dong's inner world, and she understood.
"After so many twists and turns, she finally chose to return to the place she cherished most, deep in her heart."
That Bibi Dong had been born in the Holy Light Orphanage was no secret among the upper ranks of Spirit Hall.
It was from here that she first emerged, displaying astonishing talent, catching the eye of the then-Pope, Qian Xunji, who accepted her as his disciple. Step by step, she rose in position, until she eventually ascended to the papal throne.
It was also one of the reasons why Bibi Dong had always been held in high regard among ordinary spirit masters and the lower classes as a grassroots success story.
In the next moment, Qian Renxue walked straight through the silent front courtyard of the orphanage, skirted the main building, and headed toward the back mountain.
Here, she no longer needed the Rakshasa God's guidance.
She was far more familiar with the layout of the Holy Light Orphanage than the Rakshasa God—perhaps even more familiar than Bibi Dong herself when it came to where Bibi Dong was most likely to go.
Before long, she arrived at a somewhat remote cliff behind the orphanage.
From here, the view was vast. Rolling hills and distant towns could be seen at a glance. It was a place much loved by children from the orphanage who preferred quiet.
On a flat rock at the cliff's edge, a slender figure sat quietly.
She wore a simple, slightly worn dress, her back turned to Qian Renxue. Long, smooth purple hair fell over her shoulders.
The girl's figure appeared a bit thin. She sat motionless, like a lifeless statue, merely staring at the gloom below the cliff.
Qian Renxue slowly approached from behind. Her footsteps echoed clearly in the silent space, yet the Bibi Dong in front of her seemed not to hear them, maintaining the same posture and mechanically gazing at the equally gloomy scenery below.
Seeing that all-too-familiar figure from behind, Qian Renxue was dazed for a moment.
As a child, she had timidly followed behind this person, wanting to get closer, wanting to call out "Mother." But what she had been met with was either cold indifference or harsh, irritable reprimands.
She opened her mouth, wanting to speak.
She wanted to say that a hypocritical, selfish, irresponsible man like Yu Xiaogang was not worth such a heavy price from her, and certainly not worth imprisoning herself in this eternal illusion.
But she couldn't bring herself to say it.
She was afraid—that if she spoke, she would be brusquely interrupted again, just like when she was a child. She was afraid that when those eyes finally turned to her, they would hold not warmth, but even deeper disgust and hatred.
In this frozen mental space, time seemed to have lost its meaning.
After a long while, Qian Renxue fell silent again. She merely stood behind the woman, watching quietly, feeling the deathly stillness and sorrow radiating from her.
Just as Qian Renxue drew a deep breath, mustering the courage to break this suffocating silence—
Bibi Dong spoke first.
"In the past… this was my favorite place."
"From a young age, everyone around me, starting with Father Ye, regarded me as a genius. I had a photographic memory, quick thinking, I could remember anything at a glance."
"Everyone said the same thing—that I would become a great theorist in the world of spirit masters, create a new system of thought, and be remembered by countless spirit masters, just like the sages of old."
Qian Renxue did not reply. She simply listened in silence.
The Father Ye Bibi Dong spoke of was the previous dean of the Holy Light Orphanage—a highly respected elderly Soul Douluo who had devoted himself to training ordinary spirit masters.
After the Bibi Dong incident, he had resigned. Qian Daoliu had tried repeatedly to dissuade him, but he could not be swayed. In the end, he died more than ten years ago, suffering from depression.
His greatest pride in life had been discovering and nurturing the peerless genius Bibi Dong. And that same achievement had also become his greatest torment.
Bibi Dong continued in a calm tone.
"Later, I awakened twin martial souls—innate full spirit power and top-tier martial spirits."
"I still remember that the entire orphanage was in an uproar that day. That same day, I was personally accepted as a disciple by Qian Xunji, and in less than a month, I was granted the title of Saintess."
"Father Ye… cried tears of joy. He said I was his pride, the greatest pride since the founding of the Holy Light Orphanage."
"After that, I returned here many times. Each time I came back, Father Ye, the teachers, and the children of the orphanage all saw me as a hero, a role model."
"That period… was the most relaxed, the warmest time in all my memories."
Her tone was gentle, but Qian Renxue could feel that behind that calmness lay a deep yearning for that past warmth.
Gradually, Bibi Dong's voice grew softer, and that warmth was soon replaced by coldness.
"But after that… everything changed."
"Because of Yu Xiaogang."
When she spoke that name, her voice was almost devoid of emotion.
"Because of him, I quarreled with Qian Xunji over and over, even talking back to him."
"Later, Qian Xunji asked Father Ye, as well as several teachers from the orphanage who had watched me grow up, to come and persuade me."
She paused for a moment, seemingly recalling that scene. Finally, a touch of regret seeped into her voice.
"But back then, I was completely lost in what they call 'love'. I couldn't listen to any of their advice. On the contrary, I argued with them fiercely and said many hurtful things."
"As for what happened afterwards…" Bibi Dong slowly turned around, her voice once again steady.
"I suppose Qian Daoliu has already told you everything… hasn't he?"
At that moment, she finally… turned to face Qian Renxue.
She looked at Qian Renxue, but her eyes did not waver in the slightest.
She was not unaware of the recent changes in Qian Renxue's attitude toward her. If Qian Daoliu had not revealed a portion of the truth back then, Qian Renxue's attitude toward her would never have changed so drastically.
Qian Renxue nodded silently. Qian Daoliu had indeed told her about the rift between Bibi Dong and Qian Xunji.
The moment she learned the truth, the image of her father—once so great and loving in her heart—collapsed completely, leaving behind only tangled, indescribable emotions.
And regarding the mother before her eyes, she felt only deeper understanding and sorrow.
"Heh…"
Seeing Qian Renxue nod, Bibi Dong curled her lips into a mocking smile and let out a nearly inaudible laugh.
Then her voice rang out again—eerily quiet, as if it were the calm before a storm.
"Did he tell you…"
"That Qian Xunji did not die at Tang Hao's hands."
"But rather… he died by my hand."
Qian Renxue's head snapped up. Her golden eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Bibi Dong.
This part—Qian Daoliu had not told her. Her grandfather had only told her why Bibi Dong resented him, but had never said that her father had actually been killed by her mother?!
Bibi Dong seemed quite satisfied with Qian Renxue's stunned reaction. In her emotionless eyes, a trace of cruel pleasure surfaced.
"At that time, he had indeed been grievously injured by Tang Hao and fled back to Spirit Hall."
"He was badly hurt, yes, but with Spirit Hall's resources and healing capabilities, his injuries were actually under control."
She paused and fixed her violet eyes on Qian Renxue, enunciating each word:
"Only that…"
"I devoured him."
The moment those words left her lips, the ferocious phantom of the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor slowly emerged behind Bibi Dong.
The phantom opened its jaws as if still savoring the blood-drenched pleasure of devouring its prey, exuding a nauseating chill.
Qian Renxue trembled violently. She stared at Bibi Dong, then at the terrifying phantom of the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor. A bone-deep cold surged from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.
She could neither believe it nor accept it.
Her father… had forced her mother to give birth to her.
And her mother had personally killed her father with her own hands?!
This… this was a truly accursed tragedy!
And she, Qian Renxue, was the most direct product of this tragedy—an abominable brand tying together two bloodlines!
At that moment, Bibi Dong showed a twisted smile.
"So now… do you understand why I cannot accept you?"
"It's not just because you are the child he forced me to bear."
"More than that… tell me, how could a child ever accept the fact that her mother killed and ate her father with her own hands?"
"Such blood ties… such a relationship… is itself a kind of curse."
In this deathly still inner world, time once again seemed to stop.
Only the sinister aura emanating from the phantom of the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor silently spoke of that blood-soaked, dark past.
Qian Renxue's face turned ashen, and her body wobbled as if she would collapse at any moment. The impact was so great she nearly blacked out.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally managed, with all her strength, to take a deep breath and barely steady herself.
She raised her face. The shock and despair that had been written there slowly faded, replaced by an unnatural calm.
"Are you done?" Qian Renxue's voice was a bit hoarse. "Then… will you leave this place with me?"
The moment she heard this, Bibi Dong's twisted smile disappeared instantly, surprise flashing through her eyes.
"You… aren't angry?" Bibi Dong blurted out, her voice tinged with confusion she herself did not fully recognize.
Qian Renxue did not answer. She only raised her head slightly, her gaze seeming to pierce the gray sky, as if she could see Qian Daoliu and Chen Yi in the real world outside. The light slowly returned to her eyes.
"As for what happened back then… I don't know what I could possibly say." Qian Renxue's voice remained calm.
"I have no right to judge whether you were right or wrong."
"Father made mistakes. And you… also had your own choices."
"I came here today—" Qian Renxue paused, then brought her gaze back to Bibi Dong's face.
"Only to take you out of this false prison you built for yourself."
Bibi Dong was stunned. Qian Renxue's reaction was far beyond her expectations. This composure instead made her feel a strange irritation and sense of loss. She let out a cold snort.
"Heh… He was the future master of Spirit Hall from birth, surrounded by worshippers, able to obtain anything he desired."
"With such good fortune and noble blood, people like him have absolutely no need to judge the grudges of lowly creatures like us."
But those barbed words did not anger Qian Renxue. Instead, her emotions settled completely.
"Mother."
The instant she heard that form of address, a chill ran down Bibi Dong's spine, and the sneer on her face froze, replaced in an instant by panic.
It had been far too long since she'd heard that word, and she had never wished to hear it again.
Before she could recover from the shock of that word, Qian Renxue's calm voice continued.
"Is my life… really so good?"
"From the moment I was born, my mother wanted to strangle me in my swaddling clothes and spent all her time thinking of how to make me disappear."
Bibi Dong's body trembled again, and she unconsciously avoided Qian Renxue's gaze.
"But I still had a father." Qian Renxue's voice remained steady. "And later, even Father died."
"Then I went alone to the Heaven Dou Empire, where I spent thirteen years."
"When I finally completed my mission and returned…"
Qian Renxue's eyes locked onto Bibi Dong, clearly seeing her efforts to evade her gaze.
"What I did not see was your encouragement. What I did see… was a horrifying killing intent and a merciless palm strike."
Bibi Dong lowered her head even further and unconsciously clutched the hem of her skirt. That slap had been a violent shattering of her self-control. Afterwards, she had woken up at midnight countless times, tormented by regret.
Qian Renxue took a step forward, closing the distance between them, forcing Bibi Dong to meet her eyes. Her expression was a mixture of tears and laughter.
"My mother loves not me, but her lover."
Bibi Dong hunched her shoulders slightly, head bowed. It wasn't that she didn't know the hardships Qian Renxue had endured while undercover in Heaven Dou.
Nor was she unaware that her own attitude toward Qian Renxue upon her return had been a colossal mistake.
"So tell me—"
Qian Renxue's voice finally rose by an octave.
"Is my life… really so great?"
"I would rather not be your daughter, not be the young mistress of Spirit Hall, not have any of the glory, power, or status I hold now…"
"I just want a simple, ordinary, happy family."
That was Qian Renxue's most genuine wish. Back at Grand Martial Academy, every time she saw Chen Yi's natural, intimate interactions with his parents, she had felt a nameless envy and a deep, bitter ache.
It was something she had never possessed—and probably never would.
After saying this, Qian Renxue did not wait for Bibi Dong's response, nor did she look back at her again.
She slowly turned around and began walking back the way she had come.
"Now…"
"Leave this place with me."
…
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