The entire hall fell silent.
Qian Daoliu: "..."
Golden Crocodile Douluo: "..."
Guangling Douluo: "..."
The three old men, who were over three hundred years old combined, stared at "Bibi Dong"—the wild-eyed, foul-mouthed woman shielding Qian Renxue like a mother hen protecting her chicks—and for a moment, none of them knew what expression to wear.
Especially Qian Daoliu. When he heard her call him "an old bastard who bullied women," the corner of his eye twitched uncontrollably.
But this... seemed to confirm his suspicions all the more.
This clone, though crude, rude, and even a little deranged...
But her love for Xue'er...
Was real.
Inside the Pope's Bedchamber, the air seemed to freeze.
"Mom... Mom, don't be like this."
Qian Renxue anxiously tugged at Nan Feng's arm, her little face flushed bright red. She hurriedly explained, "He's not an old bastard... He's Grandpa! Xue'er's real grandpa!"
"Grandpa?"
The murderous aura around Nan Feng eased a little, and the Eight Spider Lances behind him stopped waving. He tilted his head and looked Qian Daoliu up and down, then wore an expression of sudden realization that was downright punchable.
"Oh, so you're the father of Xue'er's deadbeat dad?"
"Tsk. The son was no good, so it seems the father didn't raise him right either. No wonder he has such a punchable face. The beam above is crooked, so the beam below will be too, huh?"
"..."
The entire hall fell silent again.
The corners of Golden Crocodile Douluo's mouth twitched furiously, while Guang Ling nearly choked on his own spit.
Deadbeat dad?
What kind of thing was that to say?!
Qian Daoliu's face was black as the bottom of a pot.
Though Qian Xunji really was dead, hearing the words "deadbeat dad" come out of Bibi Dong's mouth sounded wrong no matter how he looked at it!
Was this really Bibi Dong?
The once noble, aloof Bibi Dong, who had maintained the bearing of a Holy Maiden even at her lowest point—surely, even if she had lost her memories and developed a split personality, she shouldn't have turned out like this, right?
"Enough."
Qian Daoliu drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to slap the woman before him to death.
He glanced at Bibi Dong on the bed, whose expression was indifferent, as if none of this had anything to do with her. His belief that this was a "split personality" grew stronger.
The main body was cold as ice, while the clone was coarse as fire.
This was clearly a sign of a highly unstable soul.
"Golden Crocodile, take her to the Side Hall." Qian Daoliu pointed at Nan Feng, who wore a fierce expression. "And take Xue'er too."
"Yes, big brother."
Golden Crocodile Douluo steeled himself and stepped forward.
"I'm not going!!"
Nan Feng bristled like a cat, pulling Qian Renxue into his arms protectively. The Eight Spider Lances gleamed with cold light. "You think you can snatch Xue'er away from me? No way!"
"Mom... It's okay."
Qian Renxue hurriedly tried to soothe him. "Grandpa Golden Crocodile isn't a bad person. We're just going to the room next door, not anywhere else."
Only after Qian Renxue gently coaxed him did Nan Feng reluctantly put away the Spider Lances. He still glared viciously at Qian Daoliu, then took Qian Renxue by the hand and strode out after Golden Crocodile.
Once they had left, Qian Daoliu gave Bibi Dong on the bed a long, deep look.
"Take care of yourself."
Leaving those words, heavy with meaning, Qian Daoliu vanished in a flash and left the bedchamber.
Pope Palace, Side Hall.
Nan Feng sat in the seat of honor with Qian Renxue in his arms. The Eight Spider Lances behind him still hadn't retracted, making him look like a bristling hedgehog.
He glared at Golden Crocodile Douluo and Guang Ling, who stood by the door, as if he were guarding against a pair of thieves.
"What are you looking at? Never seen a beauty before?" Nan Feng cursed fiercely.
Golden Crocodile Douluo's face darkened. He simply shut his eyes and turned around, preferring not to see him.
Guang Ling, on the other hand, studied this "special" Bibi Dong with great interest. This personality might not have much of a brain, but at least he was more pleasant to look at than the ice-cold one.
"Xue'er, those two old men don't look like good people."
Nan Feng leaned close to Qian Renxue's ear and loudly plotted with her. "Especially the one in the golden armor. He's got a face full of flesh—he's definitely a butcher."
Qian Renxue: "..."
Just then, a flash of golden light appeared, and Qian Daoliu materialized in the hall.
He glanced around and said calmly, "Golden Crocodile, Guang Ling, leave us for now."
"Xue'er, you leave too."
"No!"
Before Qian Renxue could even speak, Nan Feng blew his top. He tightened his arms around the little girl. "You want to send Xue'er away? Then you can bully a helpless woman like me? You old thing, I could hear your scheme from three miles away!"
"..." A vein twitched on Qian Daoliu's forehead.
A helpless woman?
How was that supposed to look like the woman who'd nearly lifted the roof off just now?!
"Mom..."
Qian Renxue looked at Qian Daoliu uncertainly, then at Nan Feng.
"Xue'er, Grandpa has some things about your mother's condition that he'd like to confirm in private."
Qian Daoliu tried to make his voice sound as gentle as possible. "Grandpa promises he absolutely won't hurt her."
Only then did Qian Renxue turn back and take Nan Feng's hand, speaking softly.
"Mom, Grandpa is very strong, but he keeps his word. Could you let Xue'er step outside for a little while?"
"Xue'er will be right outside the door. If Mom calls for me, I'll rush straight in!"
At the sight of Qian Renxue's pleading eyes, the ferocity in Nan Feng's gaze gradually faded, replaced by reluctance and hurt.
"W-well... all right."
Nan Feng let go, but didn't forget to wave a fist threateningly. "Xue'er, stay right outside. If this old bas—this old man dares lay a finger on me, I'll scream!"
Qian Renxue took one step out at a time, looking back after each one.
Golden Crocodile and Guang Ling followed, closing the doors behind them.
The enormous Side Hall was left with just Qian Daoliu and Nan Feng.
In that instant, the atmosphere changed completely.
Qian Daoliu's calm eyes turned razor-sharp, and a sacred, boundless aura slowly rose from within him.
"What exactly are you?"
Qian Daoliu stared at Nan Feng, his voice cold. "Are you Bibi Dong's good nature? Or... a scheme of the Evil God?"
"I'm your mother!" Nan Feng snapped back immediately.
"You old bastard, quit pretending to be mysterious!"
Qian Daoliu furrowed his brows. He had no patience for this deranged personality's nonsense. He had to figure out the nature of this clone, and whether some evil power capable of threatening Xue'er was lurking inside her.
BOOM—!!!
Qian Daoliu took a sudden step forward.
In an instant, dazzling golden light swallowed the entire Side Hall!
This was no mere pressure from Soul Power. It was a higher level of power, one that made the soul tremble!
Angel Divine Power!
As a consecrated servant of the Angel God who had completed the Angel Eight Trials, Qian Daoliu was a demigod. Within Wuhun City, in the sphere of influence of the Angel God Temple, he could draw on true divine power, just like Bo Saixi on Sea God Island.
In this state, he was hardly any different from a true god.
HUM—!
The phantom of an enormous Six-Winged Angel appeared behind Qian Daoliu, its sacred light instantly enveloping Nan Feng.
The Angel Domain fully unfurled!
"What the... what kind of thing is this?"
Nan Feng's expression changed drastically. To his horror, he found that his level-ninety-seven power was rapidly melting away in the golden light, like snow beneath the sun!
The surrounding space seemed to turn into unbreakable amber, locking him firmly in place. He couldn't move even a finger!
"This... this is..."
True terror showed in Nan Feng's eyes. "Let go of me!! You bastard! What are you trying to do?!"
"Quiet."
Qian Daoliu floated in midair, like a god passing judgment on the world.
He extended a finger and pointed at Nan Feng's brow from afar.
"Let me see... what exactly is hidden in the depths of your soul."