His Diary

Although there were quite a few books in Su Cheng's room, Qian Renxue had already read them all. Some of the more important content had even been reviewed more than once.

She had no interest in reading any longer.

"It's already been a month. Why hasn't Teacher come back yet?"

After lying on the desk in boredom for a while, Qian Renxue got up and began wandering around the room.

She shifted the books on the shelves, sorted a few scattered manuscripts, then stood by the window and looked out at the scenery.

In the end, she returned to the spacious chair, leaned back, and stretched lazily, revealing the graceful curve of her waist.

Unfortunately, no one was fortunate enough to witness such a lovely sight.

Though she usually stayed here, the area behind the desk had always been forbidden territory to her.

That was Su Cheng's domain.

"Hmm?"

As Qian Renxue leaned back in the chair, she suddenly noticed a locked drawer beneath the desk.

Curiosity immediately welled up inside her.

After sitting upright and hesitating for a moment, she still reached out.

Though there was a lock on the drawer, it obviously could not stop a Soul Master.

Rather than picking the lock, she simply removed the shackle from the padlock. That would make it easier to restore afterward.

When she pulled open the drawer, a stack of notebooks came into view.

"Could these be..."

A guess flashed through her mind.

Qian Renxue's breathing grew slightly hurried, and she felt an unusual thrill in her heart.

She opened one of the notebooks. The handwriting inside looked extremely childish, as though it had been written by a young child.

"2611.2.5

Father said my biological father was killed by Qian Xunji, the Pope of Spirit Hall.

I must cultivate diligently and avenge Father in the future."

Just as expected, these really were the diaries of her teacher, Su Cheng.

However, the very first page was already enough to leave her at a loss for words.

She pursed her lips and continued flipping through it.

"2611.2.6

Why can't I understand any of this at all?

Learning swordsmanship is really hard."

"..."

"2611.4.11

Father said my talent for the sword is terrible.

It's fine. If my talent is poor, I'll just practice more."

"..."

"2614.3.6

Tomorrow is the day of my martial soul awakening.

Father said I can inherit the Edgeless Sword. How much Innate Soul Power will I have?

I definitely won't disgrace the sword in my hand.

I want to become an expert like Father and my biological father."

"2614.3.7

Fate always toys with people.

I know they must all be laughing at me in their hearts."

"..."

Qian Renxue sat in Su Cheng's chair, holding a notebook as she silently turned through it page by page.

She read with utmost seriousness, far more seriously than when studying cultivation manuals.

Su Cheng's immature early childhood, his silent boyhood, his tenacious adolescence, his confident youth...

It was as though a figure was being vividly sketched in Qian Renxue's heart, slowly growing up before her.

She shared the joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness of that figure, rejoicing and grieving along with him.

She continued reading, taking out another notebook after finishing the first.

The writing in the diaries gradually matured as well.

Until she reached the day they had first met.

"2626.10.7

What a strange twist of fate. My disciple is actually Qian Xunji's daughter.

I don't hate her. Instead, I pity her. I know what it feels like for a child to lose her father at a young age.

..."

Qian Renxue's eyes shimmered like water, and the smile on her lips instantly became gentle.

Su Cheng had always been both a clear and indistinct presence in her heart.

He was clear because they met every day. To her, he was both teacher and friend, the person closest to her.

But this teacher was too capable, too unpredictable. He could always create miracles beyond imagination, and his attitude toward her was difficult to grasp. In her heart, he seemed unattainable.

Only today did she learn that Su Cheng had once been confused, had low points, had felt disappointment and wild joy.

The Su Cheng of today finally seemed more like a person to her, rather than an omnipotent god.

Yet as Qian Renxue continued reading, she felt as though she had stepped into empty air, and a sudden sensation of weightlessness swept over her...

"There is something wrong with the cause of Qian Xunji's death. Most likely, he did not die at Tang Hao's hands..."

"The last person Qian Xunji saw before his death was Bibi Dong. Moreover, it was only after she vanished for several days that Bibi Dong announced the cause of Qian Xunji's death..."

"Bibi Dong once obtained Divine Slaughter's Domain in Slaughter City. She has most likely already undergone the inheritance trial for a godhood, and it was likely the Asura God, a god with immense combat power and a murderous nature..."

"I am ninety percent certain that Qian Xunji was devoured alive by Bibi Dong... Though this child was born noble, her fate is truly too cruel..."

"Smack!"

The diary in her hand fell to the floor.

Yet Qian Renxue did not notice at all.

"Impossible. That's impossible..."

Though her lips denied it, her face had gone pale and her eyes were vacant.

Qian Renxue was not foolish. She had simply never considered things from this angle before.

Bibi Dong's nearly hateful coldness toward her, and her deeply suppressed, bone-deep hatred for Qian Xunji.

No matter how hard she tried to conceal them, after so many years, it was impossible for no traces to show.

Combined with Su Cheng's analysis and conclusions in the diary, as well as the clues concerning divine inheritance.

At this moment, Qian Renxue could almost be certain that these words were likely the truth.

A wave of dizziness suddenly washed over her mind.

Her limbs stiffened, and her hands and feet turned ice-cold.

She wanted to confront Bibi Dong. She wanted to ask why she had done it.

But she did not dare.

It was not merely because she feared the truth.

More importantly, Su Cheng had written very clearly in his diary that he did not want her to know about this yet.

After what had happened today, if there was anyone left in this world she could trust, then in her heart, only Su Cheng remained.

Bloodshot veins surfaced in Qian Renxue's eyes, and dim red light obscured her vision.

That was the darkness within her soul, born from the environment in which she had grown up. With her mind in such an unstable state, it faintly showed signs of taking deeper root.

Yet at that moment, a figure seemed to appear before her again.

Su Cheng reached out and stroked her forehead.

His gentle gaze fell upon her.

Qian Renxue lowered her head, her golden hair spilling down.

Weakly, she covered her face with one hand.

Over this past month, she had never missed Su Cheng as deeply as she did now.

Half a day later, inside the Worship Hall of Spirit City.

Qian Renxue calmly went to find Qian Daoliu.

"Grandfather, do you know the true cause of Father's death?"

A flicker of astonishment crossed Qian Daoliu's face. He seemingly had not expected her to suddenly ask such a question.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally said gently, "Didn't he die after being severely wounded by Tang Hao, when his injuries could not be healed? Sigh, are you missing your father again?"

As he spoke, he reached out, intending to gently stroke his granddaughter's head in comfort.

Without showing any reaction, Qian Renxue took a step back and avoided his hand.

Her lips curved stiffly as she said in a low voice, "Yes. I miss him a little."

Then she raised her head and looked directly into Qian Daoliu's eyes. "Why can't we attack the Clear Sky Sect and avenge Father?"

"This involves an agreement between Tang Chen and me..."

After a long silence, Qian Daoliu finally began explaining in a low voice.

Until he defeated Tang Chen, the ancestor of the Clear Sky Sect, no one from Spirit Hall would set foot in the Clear Sky Sect.