"Jin! Ling! Feng!"
"You bastard!"
"Now that you've tricked me into being yours, you're starting to dislike me!"
"So what if I have a bad temper? If you can't stand it, then get lost!"
"This stupid wooden bracelet—take it back! I, Qian Renxue, don't care for it..."
"Xue'er, don't get worked up. I was only teasing you. I know I was wrong!"
At once, Qian Renxue pounced on him and fiercely grabbed the neck of the hateful fellow before her. The two began wrestling together.
It was clearly a noisy scene, yet it felt extraordinarily warm. Bibi Dong, who had been watching from the side, kept laughing softly, her eyes filled with relief.
At that moment, the image of a crew-cut man surfaced in Bibi Dong's mind. A deep sorrow and regret instantly rose within her, but when she noticed Jin Lingfeng staring at her, she hurriedly concealed it all...
Elsewhere, atop the Worship Hall.
Qian Daoliu's gaze seemed to pierce through everything as he looked into the distance toward the Papal Palace, at Qian Renxue nestled in Bibi Dong's arms.
When he saw the happy smile on his granddaughter's face, Qian Daoliu's eyes instantly brimmed with tears, and he could no longer hold them back.
So that his granddaughter could acknowledge Bibi Dong as her mother, he had forcibly suppressed his hatred over her killing his son, Qian Xunji, and fabricated a well-intentioned lie.
All he wished for was for his granddaughter to grow up carefree, rather than live in hatred for the rest of her life.
"Xue'er, seeing you so happy now comforts Grandpa greatly."
"Even if one day in the future, you learn the truth and hate me because of it, Grandpa will never regret it."
Qian Daoliu murmured with a smile. At that moment, he was not the lofty Great Priest of the Worship Hall, but merely a kind old grandfather delighted to see his granddaughter living happily.
Suddenly, an elderly man appeared beside Qian Daoliu. It was Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Second Worship.
"Old fellow, you've sacrificed far too much for Xue'er."
"Don't worry. If that day truly comes and Xue'er learns the truth, she definitely won't blame you."
Golden Crocodile Douluo reached out and patted Qian Daoliu's shoulder as he spoke sincerely.
Qian Daoliu brushed off Golden Crocodile Douluo's hand with a look of disgust, then hurriedly used Soul Power to evaporate the tears from his eyes so no one would notice...
"Come on, let's go have a drink."
"I'm in a good mood tonight. We won't go home until we're drunk!"
"Tch, with your drinking capacity, you'll be dead drunk in less than two hours, yet you still dare invite me drinking? You really don't know your limits!"
"Old fellow, who was it that got dragged home by Xue'er after only half a drinking session, with her tugging his ear? You've got the nerve to talk? That was damn embarrassing!"
Thus, the two old friends of decades left arm in arm amid a volley of mockery and headed into a tavern...
Just like that, Jin Lingfeng and Qian Renxue became lovers.
He helped Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong acknowledge each other as mother and daughter.
On Qian Daoliu's side, he watched his granddaughter's face glow with a happy smile every day, and his heart was deeply comforted.
The relationship between the Papal Palace, Elder Hall, and Worship Hall eased, and they became united as one.
This caused Spirit Hall's power to reach unprecedented heights. It continued to develop and had faintly begun to show signs of surpassing the Two Great Empires.
Faced with such a situation, the Heaven Dou Empire chose to suppress Spirit Hall's branch halls within its territory.
The Star Luo Empire strengthened its military, but did not openly challenge Spirit Hall. The Lower Four Sects all chose to submit to Spirit Hall...
In the blink of an eye, five years passed.
Spirit Hall's development was flourishing, making every faction on the Douluo Continent wary of it.
Spirit City, Yiheyuan, in the courtyard.
At that moment, a young man and woman were holding hands as they strolled around the pond.
The young man wore white robes. Though he was only eleven or twelve years old, he already stood a full 1.7 meters tall.
With sword-like brows, starry eyes, and handsome features, his facial features were like fine jade, dazzling as the sun and stars.
Combined with the noble aura surrounding him, carrying a trace of domineering presence, he possessed an imposing bearing.
The young woman was only sixteen, yet she had already grown into a graceful, tall beauty.
Her delicate oval face, skin whiter than snow, and bright, lively eyes gave her an air of nobility and elegance whenever she glanced around.
Her long golden hair fell over her shoulders, adding a touch of alluring charm.
Her magnificent palace dress wrapped around her youthful figure, outlining captivating curves.
Her smooth neck, full chest, slender waist, and firm, rounded hips below were all nothing short of perfect.
She was simply like a fairy descended from heaven—sacred and noble, not to be profaned, yet lingering in the mortal world. One smile could topple a city, another could topple a kingdom. Her beauty was beyond compare.
Suddenly, Qian Renxue stopped walking and looked resentfully at the impossibly handsome young man before her. Unhappily, she said:
"Lingfeng, I'm being sent to the Heaven Dou Empire tomorrow."
"Don't you have anything to say to me?"
She gently swayed her lover's arm as she acted coy, soft and sweet like a well-behaved girl next door.
Jin Lingfeng smiled, reached out, and gently stroked the beauty's cheek.
"Xue'er, just go to the Heaven Dou Empire without worry."
"While you're gone, I'll cultivate properly and won't go around flirting with other women..."
Who would have thought that before he could finish, Qian Renxue flung his hand away, turned around, and stormed off in a huff.
"Lingfeng, you've changed."
"You don't care about me at all anymore."
"You didn't even ask whether I wanted to go to the Heaven Dou Empire!"
"You don't care about me. You don't love me anymore. Hmph!"
Qian Renxue puffed out her lips, but her expression clearly said, Hurry up and coax me.
Jin Lingfeng gave a bitter smile, quickly caught up to her, grabbed her delicate hand, and pulled her into his embrace as he coaxed her with a smile.
"Xue'er, stop overthinking."
"How could I not love you? How could I not care about you?"
"Since you don't want to go to the Heaven Dou Empire, I'll go find Aunt Dong right now."
"I'll tell her I can't bear to let you leave and ask her to send someone else as the undercover agent..."
"Forget it, Lingfeng. Mother and Grandpa must have arranged for me to go to the Heaven Dou Empire because I'm the most suitable person."
"This matter concerns Spirit Hall's future. As the Young Mistress of Spirit Hall, how could I refuse..."
Qian Renxue rested her head against the chest of the man she loved. She spoke sadly, with reluctance plainly visible between her brows.
After five years together, aside from taking that final step, they had done everything a couple could do.
Qian Renxue had long regarded him as the love of her life and the man she would marry. It was not that she did not want to go to the Heaven Dou Empire; she was simply worried that other women would take advantage of her absence...
Jin Lingfeng held the beauty's delicate body in his arms, lifted her hand, and kissed the back of it deeply. He spoke gently.
"Xue'er, I know what you're worried about."
"Do you distrust me that much? Nana is a pretty girl too, isn't she?"
"She obviously likes me and keeps dropping hints openly and secretly. Have you ever seen me say even one extra word to her?"
Qian Renxue gave a soft snort and raised her head. She looked at him with a dark gaze and said:
"How do I know whether you're only pretending? Maybe the moment I leave for the Heaven Dou Empire, you'll get together with Hu Liena!"
"Xue'er, I won't. Don't overthink it."
"No, Lingfeng, you will!"
"Even if you don't harbor such thoughts, you're so handsome that some vixen will definitely come seduce you. Then you'll give in..."
Faced with the beauty's questioning, Jin Lingfeng smiled helplessly. It seemed being too handsome was a kind of trouble as well.
After a long while, Qian Renxue's cheeks flushed crimson. Her gaze was determined, yet filled with intense shyness, as she looked at the man she loved and spoke in a voice as soft as a whisper.
"Lingfeng, you... take me."
"Before I go to the Heaven Dou Empire, I'll give myself to you. Then you'll be mine."
"Then I won't have to worry about you being seduced away by other women!"
Jin Lingfeng was slightly stunned as he looked at Qian Renxue in his arms, who appeared ready to let him do as he pleased. He had not expected her to say something so bold!
"Xue'er, calm down..."
However, before he could finish speaking, the flushed Qian Renxue forcibly dragged him back into the room and shut the door...
Before you continue