Advancing or Retreating

Everyone turned to look at him. No one had expected Feng Xinglie, who seemed so honest and reserved, to jump out at this critical moment and incur Bibi Dong's displeasure. But after learning that Spirit Hall was preparing to carry out the Nation Seizing Plan, Feng Xinglie had suddenly realized something:

"If I can take Qian Renxue's place and go to the Heaven Dou Empire for this mission, won't I have a perfectly legitimate reason to distance myself from the center of Spirit Hall's power struggles? I can even make use of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's resources to aid my cultivation. And in the future, if Spirit Hall gains the upper hand, I can continue with the mission and seize Heaven Dou. But if events unfold just as they did in the original story, I can always use the Nation Seizing Plan and Spirit Hall's inside information as my pledge of loyalty when I join the Protagonist Group. Now that's truly a position where I can advance or retreat, leaving me undefeated no matter what. Even if they send a Titled Douluo to watch me, by then Tang San will have the Sea God's Trident and more than one cheat up his sleeve. He'll definitely be able to handle one or two Titled Douluo."

Once he had thought it through, Feng Xinglie immediately made his request to Bibi Dong:

"Your Holiness the Pope, the Young Master is of noble status and possesses extraordinary talent. Sending her to carry out the Nation Seizing Plan would be a terrible waste. As Spirit Hall's Holy Son, I naturally ought to help shoulder Your Holiness's burdens. Why not entrust this mission to me?"

As soon as he said this, everyone looked at Feng Xinglie with different expressions. Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo were astonished, Bibi Dong was furious, and Qian Renxue's eyes widened as she stared at him in disbelief.

"The Holy Son's intentions are appreciated, but the Nation Seizing Plan is of tremendous importance. Unless one has talent as exceptional as Qian Renxue's, it would be difficult to carry out. I only let you stay this time to listen in. You'd be wise to say less."

Though they had not spent much time together, Bibi Dong had already seen through Feng Xinglie's cautious nature and his instinct to avoid danger and seek advantage. But she had not expected him to refuse to back down this time:

"Your Holiness, I also want to do my part for Spirit Hall. I've heard that my Innate Soul Power of level 20 is quite exceptional, so I'm sure I can handle this mission. Besides, since I'm a boy, I'm surely better suited than the Young Master to impersonate a prince."

"Feng Xinglie... Think carefully. This concerns Spirit Hall's future plans to unify the Douluo Continent. If the operation is brought to a halt because of your negligence, can you bear the responsibility?"

She stopped calling him the Holy Son and addressed him by name instead. Bibi Dong's voice had risen noticeably. This was no longer a hint; it was an outright threat. Under normal circumstances, not even a six-year-old child—let alone the two Titled Douluo, Chrysanthemum and Ghost—would have dared breathe too loudly. But today, Feng Xinglie seemed to have swallowed a firecracker. No matter what, he would not back down:

"Your Holiness, if the Nation Seizing Plan fails, I'm willing to pay for it with my life!"

"Gasp..."

At his words, everyone drew in a sharp breath. Even Qian Daoliu, watching from the shadows, grew more solemn. Qian Renxue covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Feng Xinglie's back, standing protectively in front of her. Yet no one could have guessed what Feng Xinglie was thinking at that moment:

"Fail? If it fails, I'll just turn around and join the Protagonist Group. I can hide out in the rear then. You think you'll be able to drag me out?"

"Feng Xinglie!"

With an angry shout, the Pontiff's Scepter slammed into the ground, sending violent Soul Power rippling through the hall. Bibi Dong's Titled Douluo pressure burst forth without restraint. Though Feng Xinglie was its main target, he remained perfectly calm. He knew that Qian Daoliu must have been informed about sending out the Angel God Heir. As long as Qian Daoliu couldn't bear to let Qian Renxue go, they would have no choice but to send him instead. Once he left Spirit Hall, he would be free as a bird in the open sky. Far away in the Heaven Dou Empire, who cared whether Bibi Dong held a grudge?

But just as Feng Xinglie was imagining his future, a small figure stepped in front of him. Golden light spilled down, shielding him from most of the pressure:

"I agree. I'll go to the Heaven Dou Empire and carry out the Nation Seizing Plan."

"?"

Feng Xinglie was stunned.

He had just been picking a fight with Bibi Dong, thinking that he might as well burn his bridges since he'd be leaving anyway. And now she was telling him that Qian Renxue would go undercover, while he would be left behind???

"Um... Young Master, why don't you think it over?"

At the thought of the kind of revenge Bibi Dong might exact on him if he stayed behind, Feng Xinglie's voice began to tremble. He had been planning to keep arguing, but Qian Renxue turned around and forced a smile:

"Don't worry. This is my choice. You stay here at Spirit Hall and wait for me to come back."

No, dear lady, if I stay, I definitely won't live long enough to see you return...

Bibi Dong, seated on her throne, didn't care about any of that. Seeing that Qian Renxue had finally agreed, she promptly made the decision final:

"Good. Then it's settled. Make your preparations as soon as possible and set off for the Heaven Dou Empire."

Without giving anyone a chance to respond, she rose, swept her robes aside, and strode toward the rear hall, leaving Feng Xinglie with a look of utter despair.

"...Should my coffin be made of golden-threaded nanmu, or huanghuali?"

As Feng Xinglie seriously pondered life's great questions, Qian Renxue suddenly appeared before him. Her lovely face was enough to inspire tenderness in anyone, but at that moment it frightened Feng Xinglie into retreating several steps.

Unpredictable

Whether it was the unhinged Bibi Dong or the steady Qian Daoliu, Feng Xinglie could figure out the logic behind the actions of these powerful old foxes. He could then exploit the conflicts between them and carve out room to survive in the cracks. But he couldn't see through Qian Renxue. This girl always managed to derail his entire plan in some unexpected way. Faced with someone whose thoughts were completely impossible to predict, Feng Xinglie instinctively wanted to keep his distance.

"What's wrong? Did I scare you? Don't be afraid. I told you I'd look after you."

Qian Renxue sniffled and tried to put on a brave face.

"Ha... Haha... Thanks, I guess..."

Feng Xinglie forced out a couple of awkward laughs. Then Qian Renxue suddenly swayed, nearly falling over. He hurried forward to support her, only then remembering that she had just shielded him from the furious pressure of a Titled Douluo.

"I'm fine. I'm just a little tired. Don't worry, your big sister's very strong. The mere Heaven Dou Empire is no match for me! You stay here at Spirit Hall and cultivate properly. I'll come find you to play when I get back."

"..."

Feng Xinglie didn't answer. He hadn't expected Qian Renxue's absurd decision to derail his plans to have come from such good intentions. Just as the atmosphere between them began to grow awkward, Qian Renxue spoke again:

"By the way, why did you say those things just now?"

"Huh? What things?"

Feng Xinglie looked up in surprise, only to see her lovely face turn bright red.

"I mean... when you said that even if the mission failed, you'd pay for it with your life, and that you'd go in my place..."

Qian Renxue's voice grew softer and softer as she spoke. Seeing this, even an idiot like Feng Xinglie knew he couldn't tell her the truth:

"You said we were friends, Young Master. Friends should help each other. I couldn't just watch you leave home and go somewhere so dangerous."

Hearing this, Qian Renxue's eyes immediately reddened, and tears pattered down her cheeks. She threw her arms around Feng Xinglie and sobbed:

"Mm! You're right. We're good friends. So we promised each other—you have to wait here obediently until I come back. Then I'll treat you to some pastries!"

After saying that, Qian Renxue slowly let go, wiped away her tears, and smiled.

"It's a promise! No taking it back!"

"Ah... This... Mm... No... I... Huh?"

Still frozen in the stiff posture he'd been in while she hugged him, Feng Xinglie didn't come back to his senses until Qian Renxue had already run off.

"Xiao Lie, well done."

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Feng Xinglie stiffly turned around.

"Master?"

"Mm."

Qian Daoliu nodded, then said:

"Starting today, I'll personally teach you how to cultivate. As for Bibi Dong, you needn't worry. Across the Douluo Continent, no one would dare lay a hand on my disciple."

Feeling the hand on his shoulder give him two firm pats, Feng Xinglie shook his overloaded head and gazed toward the place where Qian Daoliu had disappeared.

"Anyway, I seem to have raised the favorability of Qian Daoliu and his granddaughter? At least I don't need to worry about Bibi Dong taking revenge for now. A cause for celebration, a cause for celebration..."

By the time Feng Xinglie returned to his quarters, physically and mentally exhausted, the moon was already high in the sky. He couldn't even be bothered to light a lamp. With a thump, he flopped face-first onto his bed. Feeling the soft embrace of the blankets, he finally let out a long breath.

"Alas, the road ahead is full of twists and turns..."

"Hehe, so our esteemed Holy Son gets scared too?"

He hadn't expected anyone to answer his absentminded sigh. Feng Xinglie practically sprang off the bed and swiftly looked toward the man standing in the middle of his room.

"Greetings, Elder Chrysanthemum."

At that moment, Feng Xinglie almost missed Qian Renxue. At least she knew to knock. Unlike this Titled Douluo, who had managed to sneak up behind him without him sensing a thing. Yue Guan looked Feng Xinglie up and down—the child who had dared to defy the Pope to her face—and praised him in his soft, feminine voice:

"Not bad. Quite the manly spirit. No wonder the Young Lady thinks so highly of you."

"The Young Lady? Does the Young Master have a message for me?"

Feng Xinglie was taken aback. Yue Guan had come because of Qian Renxue. Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded and pulled a Gold Soul Coin from his robes, holding it out to him.

"The Young Lady said she wouldn't give you pastries for free. When she brings some back from the Heaven Dou Empire, you'll have to buy them with this Gold Soul Coin."

"Thank you, Elder Chrysanthemum. But... why did she ask you to pass it along?"

Feng Xinglie took the Gold Soul Coin, his mind full of questions. As he asked, he saw a hint of helplessness and sympathy cross Yue Guan's face.

"The Young Lady... has already set out for the Heaven Dou Empire."

"So soon!?"

Feng Xinglie was stunned.

Seeing his reaction, Chrysanthemum Douluo explained:

"Actually, the Pope had everything prepared for this operation well in advance. What happened today was less a discussion than an announcement. The moment the Young Lady agreed, they sent her out of Spirit Hall."

To get her out of here before Qian Daoliu could react?

Thoughts raced through his mind, but he still asked, puzzled:

"But the Young Master is Master's granddaughter. Could Master really agree to this?"

At the mention of the Great Enshrined, Yue Guan's expression grew more solemn.

"The Great Enshrined was indeed opposed at first, but after speaking with the Young Lady, he chose to support her decision."

As he spoke, he gave Feng Xinglie a strange look.

"The Young Lady said you were her first friend. You were willing to risk your life for someone you'd met only once, so naturally she wouldn't let you be put in danger. Anyway, I've delivered the message. I'll take my leave now."