I'll Be Back

In a spacious, brightly lit room, one adult and one child sat facing each other, their four palms pressed together.

The older one looked twenty-seven or twenty-eight, the age when a woman was at her most beautiful.

She had long, pale pink hair, soft yet delicate features, and fair skin as crystalline as jade.

Sitting on a meditation cushion, her petite figure gave off an exquisitely dainty impression. Combined with her gentle features, she stirred an urge to hold her in one's arms and cherish her.

Across from her sat another woman.

This woman appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen, yet she was tall and slender. Clad in a long golden court dress, she looked noble and elegant.

Her golden hair was dazzlingly brilliant. Compared to the woman opposite her, her face had sharper contours. Though equally breathtakingly beautiful, she possessed a valiant, heroic air.

Despite their utterly different appearances and temperaments, they were mother and daughter.

They were none other than Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue.

A year ago, after learning the truth, Bibi Dong had originally wanted to fight Ye Han to the death.

But in the end, Qian Renxue came up with an idea: she and her mother would engage in Spiritual Dual Cultivation, allowing her to pass on her insights to Bibi Dong.

Although this was not as effective as Ye Han imparting them directly, it was already enough for Bibi Dong.

Her tightly shut eyes slowly opened. In the bright bedroom, all light was devoured in that instant, including the gleam that unconsciously appeared in Qian Renxue's eyes when she opened them.

After a year, relying on Qian Renxue's efforts and her own "sacrifice," her Heaven Devouring Magic had finally reached great completion.

"Hahaha!"

Bibi Dong rose to her feet. After a year of sacrifice and having been taken advantage of in every possible way, now—

She looked at Qian Renxue, killing intent swirling in her eyes, and struck out with a palm.

Qian Renxue's face filled with shock. She had never imagined that her mother would attack her.

Caught completely off guard, she took the palm strike squarely on the top of her head. She spat out a mouthful of blood, her vision went dark, and she lost consciousness.

"Qingxin, Qingxin, what's wrong? Wake up!"

Amid the anxious cries, Ye Qingxin groggily opened her eyes.

Her gaze swept around instinctively, and sure enough, she did not see that figure.

"Quick, hurry up! Let's pack our things and leave this place." Ignoring her injuries, Ye Qingxin hurriedly spoke to the people beside her.

"What happened? Don't be afraid. Take your time, I'm right here with you." Ye Han quickly reached out, pressed a hand onto Ye Qingxin's shoulder, and spoke in a low voice.

At the same time, Snow Empress grasped Ye Qingxin's hand and activated the Tai Yin Sutra, sending cool true energy into her body to soothe her emotions.

"It's... it's Dong'er. Dong'er... she wants to kill you. We need to leave, quickly. Leave this place. She's too powerful," Ye Qingxin said.

Bibi Dong was too powerful. That terrifying aura, as though it wished to devour everything, had left an indelible impression on her.

Ye Han and the others exchanged glances, all seeing the fear in Ye Qingxin's heart.

Silently nodding, Ice Empress held Ye Chen, Ye Han carried Ye Qingxin on his back, and Snow Empress packed a few items that might prove useful. Then they hurriedly left.

Not long after they left the city, Spirit City was placed under total lockdown, becoming a forbidden zone that allowed entry but no exit.

His white robe fluttered in the wind, and his sky-blue hair streamed behind him.

The man was eighteen or nineteen, tall and upright, with a face as fair as jade. Handsome and refined, he quietly gazed at Spirit City, faintly visible at the end of his sight.

He was Ye Han, who had hastily left Spirit City.

Ye Qingxin had been far too agitated just now, making it inconvenient to ask questions. Ye Han chose to trust her and brought her away.

But now, there were things he needed to get to the bottom of.

"Why did Dong'er suddenly attack? And why was her target you? Most importantly, if she was that powerful, why did she only injure you instead of killing you? Also, shouldn't you tell me your true identity now?" Ye Han turned back to look at Ye Qingxin, speaking each word distinctly.

At his words, Ye Qingxin's previously vacant and numb expression suddenly became flustered and panicked.

"I-I don't know why she suddenly attacked me but didn't kill me. As for my identity, can you leave me a little privacy? I'm begging you," Ye Qingxin said.

Betrayed by the person closest to her, she was terrified and helpless. Then she saw Ye Han's indifferent, distant expression, and she truly panicked.

Ye Han frowned. He walked over to Ye Qingxin, gently wiped away the tears on her face, and said tenderly, "All right, you've cried yourself into a little mess. If you keep crying, I won't want you anymore."

The Ye Qingxin who had once been proud and often bickered with Ye Han now resembled a child abandoned by her parents, frightened and helpless. Feeling Ye Han's gentleness, she threw herself into his arms and began sobbing.

"I know you were secretly teaching her the things I gave you."

Ye Han's voice sounded again, causing Ye Qingxin's delicate body to stiffen abruptly.

"Don't be afraid. Since I didn't stop you, I naturally agreed to you teaching her. I just never expected it, and I can't understand why she would attack you," Ye Han said.

Not long after Ye Qingxin began teaching Dong'er the cultivation technique, Ye Han had sensed it. At the same time, it had essentially confirmed his earlier suspicion.

If he was not mistaken, she was undoubtedly Qian Renxue.

She knew that woman!

But as long as Ye Qingxin refused to admit it, he could not be completely certain.

Originally, Ye Han had wanted to use her relationship with Dong'er to soften that woman from another angle. Yet he had not expected that he would still underestimate human nature, nor had he expected to underestimate that woman's intelligence.

Who exactly are you?

Are you really Bibi Dong?

Ye Han was puzzled. Several years had passed, yet he had never seen the true face of the female pope, nor had he tried to forcibly break into Spirit Hall.

But he could ask around!

Previously, he had forcibly erased the possibility that Dong'er was Bibi Dong. But after making inquiries, there were only a handful of female Titled Douluo in Papal Hall. Of course, it was not impossible that some were hidden.

Unfortunately, not only ordinary people, but even Spirit Hall's Red Cardinals who had seen the female pope could be counted on one hand. Otherwise, a single portrait would have settled everything.

Thus, Ye Han still could not determine Dong'er's true identity.

Besides that, there was another point Ye Han simply could not understand.

How had Dong'er learned the secret within his Spiritual Sea?

"Forget it."

Since he could not figure it out, he stopped dwelling on it.

There is always a way when the cart reaches the mountain, and the boat will straighten itself when it reaches the bridge. Since Dong'er has already acted, she definitely doesn't want to see us again...

At that thought, Ye Han suddenly paused, as though lightning had flashed through his mind.

"Hahaha! If she doesn't love you, then she must love me. Because she didn't want to kill us, she injured you and forced us to leave." Ye Han suddenly looked at Ye Qingxin and laughed.

At that moment, he understood why the woman had only injured Ye Qingxin rather than killed her.

Ye Qingxin raised her head blankly and looked at Ye Han with hopeful eyes. "Is that really it?"

"Probably?"

Ye Han nodded. Then, looking at the tear-streaked girl in his arms, he said, "You don't want to tell me your identity, but can you tell me who she is?"

"She... she is... my wet nurse," Ye Qingxin said.

In the end, she still lied.

"Is that so?"

Ye Han nodded and did not continue questioning her.

Yet inwardly, he felt somewhat disappointed. Perhaps he really had overthought things. Maybe she was merely a hidden Titled Douluo of Papal Hall.

After taking one last look at Spirit City, Ye Han clenched his fist.

"My things aren't so easy to take. Just wait. I'll be back."

After staying in Spirit City for over two years, all the Immortal Grade Herbs had been completely used up. His Soul Power cultivation had reached level sixty-six. If he wanted to continue advancing by leaps and bounds as before, he would have to find another way.

Therefore, his next destination was Slaughter City.

PS: All right, that's it for Spirit Hall for now!