Love and Hate with Qian Daoliu

"Little Le Sister, do you know that Great Offering?" A Jian asked in confusion when she saw how angry Le Ling was.

Le Ling's expression darkened. "No!!!"

To keep her friend from asking further, she immediately changed the subject and said to the two servants behind her, "You two, carry Foreman Yu away."

"Yes."

The two servants rolled up their sleeves and carried the unconscious Foreman Yu away, one holding his head and the other his feet.

Afterward, Le Ling registered the fifty maids and servants, then led them to the logistics staff management office.

After the Logistics Manager assigned everyone their respective duties and work badges, he instructed them, "From this moment onward, you are members of the Worship Hall."

"Wear your work badges every day and do your assigned duties properly. Here's a word of advice: listen to what you should hear, and pretend you heard nothing you shouldn't. Understood?"

"Understood!"

The fifty maids and servants answered in unison.

The Logistics Manager nodded in satisfaction. "All right, go carry out the duties you were assigned. Those who need to report to the smaller halls should do so before starting work."

"Yes."

After responding, the fifty maids and servants left the logistics staff management office one after another.

Le Ling left with the others and headed toward the front courtyard.

When the work had been assigned earlier, the Logistics Manager had told her to find Steward Yao in the front courtyard. Her main task today was to learn about the Great Offering's dietary habits, preferences, and the like.

As she walked toward the front courtyard, Le Ling recalled the first time she had met Qian Daoliu.

That year, he and she had met for the first time in the Star Dou Great Forest.

The man had been courteous and refined, always wearing a faint smile.

She had just turned eighteen that year. In the bloom of youth, she had been curious about everything—especially that handsome man!

So when Qian Daoliu had invited her to travel with him, she had agreed without hesitation.

The two had spent half a year traveling together, getting along wonderfully. Later, they had even fallen in love.

Until half a year later.

Qian Daoliu's father had sent people to find him and demanded that he return to Spirit Hall for a political marriage.

At the time, Qian Daoliu had promised Le Ling that he would never agree to the marriage. He had said he would take her back with him, explain everything to his father, and refuse the arrangement!

Le Ling had happily agreed.

But just as they were preparing to leave for Spirit Hall, the Gate of Time and Space had appeared. Her imperial father had ordered her to return to the Five Elements Continent at once.

Helpless, she had not had time to bid Qian Daoliu farewell and could only obey her father's command and return first.

A few years later, when she came to the Douluo Continent again, it happened to be the very day Qian Daoliu married through that political alliance.

Le Ling had stood beneath the tall hill at the center of Spirit City, watching him marry another woman.

In that moment, she had been heartbroken beyond measure. She had smashed the jade ring he had given her as a token of love with her own hands, then left the Douluo Continent without looking back!

In truth, the moment Le Ling learned that the foreman's job involved taking care of the Great Offering's daily needs, she had wanted to run.

She did not want to see him. She even hated him!!!

But for revenge, for the sake of finding the Asura God, she had no choice even if she never wanted to see him again!

At that moment, Le Ling arrived at the front courtyard.

Steward Yao was directing the gardeners as they tidied the flowers and plants in the courtyard.

When he saw her, he smiled and said, "Xiao Le, I'll take you to learn about some of our Great Offering's habits. You can also familiarize yourself with the Worship Hall while we're at it."

Le Ling nodded in response.

Learn about Qian Daoliu?

She felt there was no need to learn anything more about him. They had spent half a year together back then.

Other than not crossing that final line, she already knew everything she should and should not know about him inside out!

But after all these years, she wondered whether that rotten man's habits had changed.

Forget it.

Le Ling thought that since she could not leave Spirit Hall for the time being and still had to remain a foreman, she could only learn it all over again.

Before long, evening arrived.

Throughout the instruction, Le Ling learned quickly and performed exceptionally well!

Steward Yao said in satisfaction, "That's enough for today. Go eat first. After nightfall, if the Great Offering has no need of you, you don't have to come over to attend to him."

Le Ling nodded, turned, and left.

After dinner, she returned to the maids' quarters in the rear courtyard.

She had originally shared a room with A Jian and three other maids, but because she had been promoted to foreman today, the Logistics Manager had arranged a separate new room for her.

After returning to her room and bathing, she sat cross-legged on the bed and began cultivating.

Le Ling knew she had to raise her Soul Power Level as quickly as possible. With merely level thirty Soul Power, never mind revenge—even leaving the Douluo Continent would be difficult!

And besides increasing her Soul Power, she had to find a way to enter the forest and obtain a soul ring. Only with a soul ring's enhancement could her strength advance further!!

Le Ling cultivated until late at night when someone suddenly knocked on her door.

"Little Le Sister, are you asleep?"

A Jian stood outside the door and said anxiously, "Steward Yao just sent someone to say that the Great Offering is drunk. He wants you to hurry over and take care of him."

Drunk?

Le Ling stopped cultivating, opened her eyes, got out of bed, and opened the door.

She asked in confusion, "He's a level ninety-nine Peerless Douluo. Does he get drunk that easily?!"

A Jian looked around. Once she made sure no one was nearby, she leaned closer and whispered, "I heard the Great Offering hasn't been in a good mood lately! It seems to be because of a woman, though I don't know the details."

"Today happens to be the Great Offering's birthday. The other offerings were drinking with him to celebrate, but the Great Offering suddenly thought of that woman again. He drank to drown his sorrows and got drunk!"

A woman?

Who?

Was it the woman he had married in that alliance?

Le Ling knew that the woman he had married had died twenty years ago. Since she was dead, which woman was he thinking of?

As for today being Qian Daoliu's birthday, she naturally knew that as well.

But so what? She and he no longer had anything to do with each other!

Seeing her standing there in a daze, A Jian urged, "Little Le Sister, hurry over and help."

Though unwilling, Le Ling could only go.

She nodded and quickly headed toward the Great Offering's room in the front courtyard.

Just as she reached the door, she saw Steward Yao in the distance supporting a golden-haired man as they approached.

Le Ling froze!

After all these years, she had thought she could let go. But when she truly saw him now, she realized she still could not forget the feelings they had shared!

Perhaps the deeper the love, the deeper the hate!

At that moment, Steward Yao looked up and saw Le Ling standing there blankly.

He said anxiously, "Foreman Le, what are you staring blankly for? Come help!"

Le Ling snapped back to her senses and hurried over. Together with Steward Yao, she helped Qian Daoliu into the room and laid him on the large bed.

"The other offerings are still outside. I need to go attend to them. I'll leave this place to you."

After giving his instructions, Steward Yao hurried away, leaving Le Ling no time to refuse.

Turning her head, she looked at the man lying on the bed and could only walk over to remove his shoes and untie his outer robe.

As she tried to undo his robe, she could not turn him over no matter what she did. She said instinctively, "You're so heavy! A Liu, can't you turn over by yourself?"

At that moment, in his drunken haze, Qian Daoliu heard the voice of the girl he had been searching for all this time.

"Ling'er..."

Instinctively, he grabbed Le Ling's hand and forcefully pulled her toward him.

Le Ling had not expected him to suddenly grab her hand.

Before she could dodge, the man tugged her over. Her balance faltered, and she fell straight toward him.

Her entire body landed on top of Qian Daoliu.