Douluo: The Venom System Is Awesome

Mu Junyu nodded obediently, and before leaving, he didn't forget to gently rub some Heart-Eroding Venom onto Bibi Dong's wrist, earning a helpless eye-roll from the Pope.

As the palace doors closed, Bibi Dong looked at her wrist, where a trace of purple-black soul power still lingered.

She sighed softly, yet a faint smile rose to the corners of her lips involuntarily...

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When Qian Renxue stepped into the Pope Palace, her chin was slightly raised, her golden eyes carrying their usual stubbornness.

She held her hands behind her back, but her fingertips were unconsciously twisted together, betraying her inner unease.

Mother.

She offered a stiff salute, her voice like a frozen lake.

Bibi Dong sat upright on the Pope throne, her white-gold robes cascading down, the scepter in her hand emitting a cold light.

She looked at this daughter of hers, a sense of indescribable bitterness rising in her chest.

"I heard you assisted the Holy Son in obtaining his second soul ring."

Bibi Dong maintained a calm tone.

"Well done."

A flash of surprise crossed Qian Renxue's eyes, only to be replaced by coldness once more.

"I was merely following orders."

She paused, her fingers behind her back twisting even tighter.

That brat... is so annoying.

Bibi Dong gently stroked her scepter, her gaze falling on her daughter's slightly reddened earlobes.

She knew Qian Renxue too well; the more stubborn this child was, the more it meant she cared deep down.

However, Bibi Dong failed to notice that she possessed the exact same personality; one could only say that they were mother and daughter, after all.

"Junyu has extraordinary talent, but his temperament is not yet settled."

Bibi Dong said, appearing casual.

"As his senior sister, it would be good for you to teach him some discipline."

Qian Renxue jerked her head up, a flicker of panic flashing through her golden eyes.

"I... I don't have time to deal with him!"

She regretted the words the moment they left her lips; the reaction had been far too intense.

Would this make Mother angry...

The Pope Palace fell into a brief silence.

Watching her daughter's flustered state, Bibi Dong suddenly remembered the little girl from long ago who would throw herself into her arms to act spoiled.

A sharp pain pierced her heart, and she instinctively softened her voice.

"Xue'er..."

Qian Renxue trembled all over; how many years had it been since she heard that name from her mother's lips?

She bit her lower lip, her eyes suddenly growing hot.

"I... I shall take my leave now."

She turned around in a rush, terrified that her mother might see her lose her composure.

Bibi Dong watched her daughter's fleeing back, her grip tightening unconsciously on the scepter.

She should have called out to her, should have said something... but in the end, the Pope simply watched in silence as the heavy palace doors slowly closed.

Outside the palace, Qian Renxue leaned against a cold stone pillar, her chest heaving violently.

She didn't know what she was expecting, but every meeting with her mother felt like a new wound being carved into her heart.

"Why is Sister Xue crying?"

A familiar voice suddenly rang out.

Qian Renxue hurriedly wiped the moisture from the corners of her eyes to see Mu Junyu tilting his head at her, his obsidian-like eyes filled with concern.

"Mind your own business!"

She snapped at him out of habit, though her voice was choked with sobs.

Unexpectedly, Mu Junyu didn't give his usual cheeky grin.

He gently took Qian Renxue's hand, the Heart-Eroding Venom softly wrapping around her cold fingers.

"Sister Xue."

He whispered.

"Teacher actually cares about you very much. Every time she mentions you, her eyes change..."

Qian Renxue froze. She wanted to retort, to tell this brat what he knew, but the warmth radiating from her palm left her unable to speak.

Chapter 9: Hu Liena's Nighttime Raid

Late at night, candlelight flickered.

Mu Junyu hunched over his desk, his slender fingers tapping lightly against the tabletop.

The parchment was densely covered with plans:

Continue maintaining high favorability with Bibi Dong.

Ensure Qian Renxue infiltrates the Heaven Dou Empire according to the original plan.

Find a way to become part of the entourage.

"Your Highness, Holy Son."

A maid's soft voice drifted from outside the door.

"Holy Maiden Hu Liena requests an audience."

Mu Junyu raised an eyebrow, quickly rolling up the parchment, and a wisp of purple-black flame ignited at his fingertips to incinerate it.

As the ashes drifted down, the door had already been pushed open.

Six-year-old Hu Liena stood at the doorway clutching a worn-out ragdoll, tear tracks still visible on her delicate, porcelain-like face.

She was wearing a thin nightgown, barefoot, her large golden eyes filled with grievance.

"Senior Brother..."

Her milky, childish voice carried a sobbing tone.

"I had a nightmare..."

A hint of helplessness flashed in the depths of Mu Junyu's eyes. Ever since he was taken as a disciple by Bibi Dong three months ago, this little girl had inexplicably latched onto him.

As for having a nightmare?

Don't joke around; this girl was quite precocious, and any nightmare was just a pretense, purely to sleep with him.

"What did you dream of this time?"

He crouched down and ruffled Hu Liena's fluffy golden hair.

Honestly, why was it golden hair again...

"I dreamed... I dreamed that Senior Brother didn't want me anymore~"

The little girl said with a sniffle, suddenly throwing herself into his arms.

"Can Senior Brother sleep with me, please?"

Mu Junyu looked at the little enchantress in his arms who was faking tears and couldn't help but smile.

He reached out and pinched Hu Liena's soft, pink cheek.

"Alright, but Nana has to sleep obediently."

What else could he do if she didn't sleep? She was only six, it wasn't legal...

Hu Liena immediately broke into a smile through her tears, her large golden eyes curving into crescents. She climbed onto the bed as nimbly as a little fox and patted the spot beside her. "Senior Brother, come quickly~"

Mu Junyu shook his head helplessly and lay down fully clothed.

As soon as he lay down, a fragrant, soft little body burrowed into his arms.

Hu Liena cunningly hugged his arm, rubbed her little face against the crook of his shoulder, and found a comfortable position.

Moonlight filtered through the gauze curtains, spilling onto the little Holy Maiden's exquisite face.

Although she was only six, one could already see the shadow of the future beauty that would topple kingdoms; the slightly upturned corners of her eyes, her petite, delicate nose, and her soft, pink lips all revealed an innate charm.

"Senior Brother..."

Hu Liena suddenly tilted her little face up, her long eyelashes fluttering.

"When I grow up, will you marry me?"

Mu Junyu nearly choked on his own saliva: "Don't joke around..."

"I'm serious!"

Hu Liena pouted.

"Senior Brother is the best to me, even gentler than Teacher~"

Mu Junyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry as he flicked her forehead.

"You little brat, do you even know what getting married means?"

"Of course I do!" Hu Liena puffed out her cheeks in defiance.

"It means being together forever, sleeping in the same bed, and having little babies..."

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Mu Junyu hurriedly covered her little mouth.

"Who taught you these things?"

Hu Liena blinked, her face full of innocence.

"I overheard Elder Ju and Elder Gui talking last time..."

Damn it, what kind of decent things could those two old geezers possibly say... Mu Junyu sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead.

The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the gauze curtains, spilling over the two figures sleeping in each other's arms on the bed.

Hu Liena's long eyelashes fluttered gently as she slowly opened those golden fox eyes of hers.

What came into view was Mu Junyu's peaceful sleeping face.

The youth had shed his usual cunning; his brows were relaxed and his breathing was steady, making him look surprisingly, and rarely, innocent.

Hu Liena blinked, and a bold idea suddenly popped into her mind.

She carefully propped herself up, her delicate, rosy face slowly leaning in toward Mu Junyu.

Her heartbeat was so loud it felt as if it might jump right out of her chest, but she summoned her courage and gently pressed her lips against the corner of Mu Junyu's mouth.

There was no technique, no depth, just a simple touch, yet it made Hu Liena's face turn as red as a ripe apple in an instant.

Just as she tried to sneak away, she locked eyes with a pair of dark pupils that had suddenly opened, filled with a hint of a smile.

"Morning, little fox."

Mu Junyu's voice carried the languor of someone who had just woken up.

"Is this what you meant by things you have to do when you get married?"

Hu Liena recoiled violently like a startled rabbit, nearly rolling off the bed in the process.

Mu Junyu was quick to catch her by the waist, pulling her back.

"I, I..."

Hu Liena stammered, unable to get the words out, the tips of her ears red enough to drip blood.