Douluo: The Venom System Is Awesome Chapter 21

That pair of majestic purple eyes had lost all their luster, leaving behind only bewilderment and helplessness.

She looked at her slightly trembling fingertips, looking at every familiar corner of the opulent bedchamber, yet it felt as if she were truly seeing herself for the first time: a disgraceful master who had developed feelings for her young disciple that crossed the boundaries of their relationship.

An intense sense of self-loathing and guilt washed over her like a tidal wave.

"He is still just a child... Bibi Dong, look at yourself..."

"To actually find pleasure in the gentle service of a child..."

She closed her eyes, and the face of Mu Junyu—sometimes cunning, sometimes innocent—emerged in her mind, sending a sharp pain through her heart.

Yet, mixed within that pain was an indelible, terrifying sense of attachment.

That seven-year-old boy, she did not know when it had started, had truly become the only source of warmth in her cold life.

He was the softest crack in her hardened defenses, the piece of her heart she could not bear to cut away.

But it was precisely this stirring of emotion that filled her with such panic.

Qian Xunji... that name she hated to the bone, the man who had brought her endless nightmares and humiliation.

The devil who had committed beastly acts against her, also under the guise of being her teacher...

A cold voice rang out sharply in the depths of her soul.

"Bibi Dong! Look at yourself now! How are you any different from that bastard who ruined your life?! You, too, have developed filthy thoughts about your own disciple! You, too, are using your position of authority..."

"No!!!"

She clutched her head violently, letting out a pained moan as her body began to shake uncontrollably.

"It's not the same... I am not like him... What I feel for Junyu is..."

What was it?

Was it love? That kind of carnal desire between a man and a woman?

The thought made her feel as if she had fallen into an icy abyss, her blood nearly freezing solid.

How could she... how could she harbor such feelings for a child? This was even more disgraceful than Qian Xunji! Even more sinful!

"Suppress it... I must suppress it..."

Clinging to these words like a lifeline, she whispered them repeatedly and neurotically, her nails digging deep into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped bloodstains.

"I am his teacher... I only... I only appreciate his talent... I am only... accustomed to having him by my side..."

She tried to convince herself with every reason she could find, trying to pull out that unwanted affection by the roots and crush it entirely.

But the more she suppressed it, the more vivid Mu Junyu's smile and the tone of his voice when he acted spoiled became.

His focus while cultivating, the thrill and comfort brought by the entanglement of his venom.

All memories of him became increasingly clear, like the sweetest poison, seeping into her very marrow.

The intrusion and accusations of Qian Renxue just now had pushed all these contradictions to their breaking point.

She was hurt by her daughter's misunderstanding and disdain, yet terrified because that misunderstanding had, in some way, laid bare the truth.

And even more so, she felt a heart-wrenching sense of loss because Mu Junyu had been taken away.

Various emotions tore through her heart, nearly ripping her apart.

She slowly slid down onto the carpet, curling her body up like a wounded beast, licking her own wounds in solitude.

Her magnificent purple silk robe spread out around her, only making her complexion appear even paler and more fragile.

"I cannot... I absolutely cannot go on like this..."

She buried her face into the cold silk, her voice muffled and choked with despair.

"Leaving is the right thing to do... Let him go... keep him away from me... it is better for everyone..."

She told herself over and over that this was the only way out.

But why did her heart hurt so much?

It felt as if the most important thing in her life was being forcibly ripped away.

The inner demon had been born.

Qian Renxue gripped Mu Junyu's wrist tightly the entire way, practically dragging him back to her own bedchamber.

As soon as they entered, she slammed the door shut behind her, leaning against the cold door panel, her eyes instantly turning red.

She was much taller than Mu Junyu, but at this moment, she bowed her head slightly, her long golden hair hanging down in a disarray.

Her usual noble and cold demeanor had vanished, replaced by a fragility mixed with grievance, lingering fear, and anger.

Even though she was the older one, she looked like a child who had suffered a great injustice.

"Those ways of serving people... were they all taught to you by her!"

Qian Renxue's voice was laced with tears, her amber eyes shimmering with moisture, filled with heartache and confusion.

"You are still so young... and she actually... taught you these things..."

The images she had conjured in her mind refused to fade, leaving her both furious and resentful. Mu Junyu looked at her expression and groaned inwardly: Damn it, it's an Asura field. I didn't play this right; I'm truly speechless...

Yet, on the surface, he immediately put on his most obedient and innocent expression, gently taking Qian Renxue's hand in his.

"Sister Xue, you really have misunderstood..."

His voice was soft, carrying just the right amount of anxiety.

"Teacher didn't force me. It really was me... it was something I wanted myself."

"What could you possibly want?!"

Qian Renxue jerked her head up, tears finally spilling over, her tone sharp with urgency and anger.

She seemed unable to voice the words, her cheeks flushing a deep red.

In her eyes, the more Mu Junyu defended Bibi Dong, the more it confirmed her crimes. Her mother must have used some kind of trickery to bewitch, or even control, this innocent child!

Mu Junyu felt his head ache even more: Forget it, just try to comfort her...

I have to soothe this ruffled cat first.

He stepped forward, reached out his small hand, and clumsily wiped the tears from Qian Renxue's face.

"Don't cry, Sister Xue... Look, aren't I perfectly fine? Teacher treats me very well, really. You've experienced the dual cultivation yourself, didn't it feel quite good~"

He deliberately blinked his innocent, wide eyes, trying to downplay the severity of the situation by framing it all as a "special, effective method of cultivation."

"Good?"

Chapter 27: She Loves You

Qian Renxue caught the word as if she had been scalded, abruptly pushing his hand away. The grievance in her eyes was instantly replaced by a greater fury and an indescribable bitterness.

"I thought... that was unique to me... sob..."

Her thoughts inevitably spiraled in a worse direction, deepening her resentment toward Bibi Dong.

At the same time, a subtle, unrecognized jealousy and sense of injustice began to sprout in the depths of her heart.

Why her mother? Why was that "good" feeling something her mother gave him?

Seeing that his attempts to explain were only making things worse, Mu Junyu almost wanted to cover his face.

He quickly changed tactics, wrapping his arms around Qian Renxue's waist and burying his face against her, resorting to acting spoiled and stubborn.

"Sister Xue~ I want to kiss you too, okay? No one is forcing me, I just learned it from a book~"

"I like Teacher and Sister Xue, that's why I willingly hope you both feel good too~"

Feeling the soft reliance of the boy in her arms and the reluctance in his words, Qian Renxue's pent-up anger and grievance felt like a punctured balloon, leaking away all at once. Her stiff body slowly softened, and her hand hesitated before finally resting gently on Mu Junyu's hair.

Her voice still carried a nasal tone: "From now on, you are only allowed to cultivate with me..."

"Mm-hmm, I'll listen to everything Sister Xue says."

Mu Junyu nodded while tucked in her arms, looking perfectly obedient, though he was thinking:

Get through this hurdle first. As for Teacher's "cultivation"...

Well, I'll plan for that later.

He lifted his head, flashing a bright, slightly ingratiating smile: "So, Sister Xue isn't angry anymore, right? Give me a smile~"

Qian Renxue looked at his carefree appearance, feeling both annoyed and amused. In the end, she could only sigh helplessly and ruffle his hair vigorously.

"You... you really need to be more careful in the future!"

[Qian Renxue affection level +5%, current 40%. Status: Intense protective instinct, pity, deepened anger and opposition toward Bibi Dong, budding possessiveness toward Mu Junyu.]

(Mu Junyu: My heart is so tired, but it seems... I barely managed to fool her?)

(But... possessiveness... that's trouble...)

The night grew deeper, and moonlight spilled through the curtains of Qian Renxue's bedchamber, casting a pale glow across the floor.

Qian Renxue lay on her side on the soft bed, but she felt no sleepiness.

Her amber eyes remained open in the darkness, her mind replaying the scene in the chamber and Mu Junyu's words over and over.

Possessiveness and resentment toward Bibi Dong coiled around her heart like vines.

Beside her, Mu Junyu also lay quietly; he could feel Qian Renxue's tense breathing and turbulent state of mind.

He knew that if they didn't talk it out tonight, this thorn would only dig deeper.

He turned over gently to face Qian Renxue, his voice sounding exceptionally clear and soft in the silent night: "Sister Xue, are you asleep?"

Qian Renxue did not answer, though her eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Mu Junyu sighed, his small hand reaching out quietly to grasp her slightly cool fingers.

"Sister Xue, I know you aren't asleep. Can we talk? I don't want you to leave with misunderstandings and... resentment toward Teacher."

Hearing the word "Teacher," Qian Renxue's fingers curled instinctively, but she did not pull away.

Mu Junyu gripped her hand, his tone incredibly earnest.

"Sister Xue, I swear to you, I swear by my martial soul, Teacher has never forced me into anything. Everything was my own choice, and in fact... many times, I was the one pestering Teacher."

He paused, his voice carrying a gentleness that didn't match his age, and...

A strange, alluring quality.

Because I like seeing Teacher looking comfortable, just like... I like seeing you relaxed and happy, Sister Xue.

Qian Renxue whipped her head around, glaring at him under the moonlight.

"You... what do you take me for? Am I the same as her?"

That unique method of "cultivation"—was it not exclusive?

Mu Junyu shook his head immediately, his eyes sincere to the point of appearing innocent.

"Of course it's different! Sister Xue is Sister Xue, and Teacher is Teacher. But I hope you can both be happy; that feeling is the same."

He cleverly swapped the concepts.

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice even further, carrying a bewitching tone. "Sister Xue, actually, Teacher... she often mentions you to me in private."

Qian Renxue's body stiffened, a flash of disbelief crossing her eyes.

"Teacher would stare blankly in the direction where you train, and she would ask me if you liked the layout of the new cultivation grounds... She just... isn't very good at expressing herself."

Mu Junyu began to weave a well-intentioned lie without changing his expression, attempting to soften the ice in Qian Renxue's heart.

She always says that you are her greatest pride, and that she is strict with you because she hopes you can become better and shoulder more important responsibilities in the future.

She really... said that?

Qian Renxue's voice was somewhat dry, carrying a trace of imperceptible anticipation and wavering.

The longing for maternal love she had harbored for years made her subconsciously willing to believe these words, even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance they were true.