Only madmen kill without reason

Inside the room, the bowl of porridge was soon scraped clean.

Nan Feng licked the corner of his mouth, still feeling somewhat unsatisfied, then raised his head. Those beautiful purple eyes stared straight at Qian Renxue as he asked the most lethal question:

"Xue'er, since I am your mother... then who is your father?"

"Where did he go? Why do I have absolutely no memory of him?"

Hearing this question, Qian Renxue's hand, which was reaching for a handkerchief, froze mid-air.

Father...

That was the one person her grandfather had warned her time and time again never to mention.

Qian Renxue's small face turned deathly pale in an instant. She lowered her head in a panic, her fingers twisting tightly into the hem of her clothes, stammering and unable to get a word out.

"Uh... that... Dad, he..."

Just as Qian Renxue was at a loss for what to do, the voice of Qian Daoliu resonated directly within her mind—

'Xue'er, don't be afraid. Just act a little sad and tell her... your father is already dead.'

Although Qian Renxue was a bit bewildered, not understanding why she had to curse her father, her absolute trust in her grandfather led her to sniffle, look up, and put on a tearful expression.

"Mo... Mother..."

Qian Renxue choked out, "Dad, he... he has already passed away."

Within the Sea of Consciousness.

Nan Feng nearly burst out laughing upon hearing this.

'Good heavens, what a display of filial piety!'

'Little girl, you're the one who cursed your own father to death. When I eventually send him off for real, don't you dare blame me; it'll just be fulfilling your own golden words!'

In reality, "Bibi Dong" was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then her face filled with deep sympathy and apology.

She reached out and, with movements that were clumsy yet gentle, pulled Qian Renxue into her arms, patting her back softly.

"I'm sorry... don't cry, Xue'er. It's Mother's fault; Mother shouldn't have asked."

Outside the door, seeing this scene, the heart that Qian Daoliu had been holding in his throat finally settled.

It was just as he thought.

Bibi Dong's hatred for Xue'er was rooted entirely in Qian Xunji.

As long as that name did not surface, and as long as those memories remained sealed, she was still a mother possessing maternal instincts.

This was the result he wanted!

However, just as Qian Daoliu believed everything was under his control, the atmosphere inside the room suddenly shifted.

"Nan Feng! Have you acted enough yet?!"

In the Sea of Consciousness, the real Bibi Dong watched as she held that "bastard child," feeling as if she were sitting on pins and needles, so disgusted she could vomit. "Drive her away! Now! Immediately!"

"Don't be so impatient, the main event has only just begun." Nan Feng replied in his mind while continuing to pat Qian Renxue's back. "We have to give Qian Daoliu the full performance so he becomes convinced you are truly insane, not just pretending."

As he spoke, "Bibi Dong" in reality seemed to recall something and asked casually:

"By the way, Xue'er, how did your father and I... meet?"

The body of Qian Renxue in his arms stiffened abruptly.

How did they meet?

This... this question was way out of bounds! Grandfather hadn't taught her how to answer this!

Outside the door, Qian Daoliu's brow furrowed as well.

This is bad!

Bibi Dong's current state was extremely unstable, with her memories in a phase of fragmentation and reorganization.

If she accidentally touched upon certain sensitive keywords, it was highly likely to stimulate her into recovering her memories!

She couldn't be allowed to keep asking!

However, before Qian Daoliu could come up with a countermeasure, "Bibi Dong" had already continued to press, her tone laced with a hint of urgency and confusion:

"And, what is your father's name? Why is it that when I try hard to think, my mind is just a blank slate?"

"Also... what is my name? Xue'er... then what am I called?"

This barrage of questions struck Qian Renxue like a volley of cannon fire.

Qian Renxue panicked, subconsciously answering the simplest question of all:

"Your name is Bibi Dong... and I am Qian Renxue."

"Bibi Dong... Qian Renxue..."

"Bibi Dong" muttered to herself, her eyes gradually turning vacant, before she began to tremble violently as if struck by an electric current.

"Qian... Qian..."

"Qian Xunji?!"

Log in! It's your turn!

Within the Sea of Consciousness, Nan Feng issued a command and instantly withdrew his control over the body, retreating into a corner like a hands-off manager.

The real Bibi Dong was forced to take over the body.

Although she cursed Nan Feng a thousand times in her heart, the situation had reached this point; for the sake of that damned plan, she had no choice but to cooperate!

BOOM—!!!

The temperature in the previously cozy bedchamber plummeted to freezing!

Bibi Dong shoved Qian Renxue away from her embrace, and those purple eyes, once filled with confusion and tenderness, were instantly replaced by a scarlet, blood-red hue!

A murderous intent so thick it was nearly tangible erupted without reservation, accompanied by the bone-chilling Slaughter God's Domain!

"Qian Xunji!!!"

At this moment, she was no longer that gentle mother, but a Rakshasa Demon returned from hell!

How could Qian Renxue have ever seen such a display? She was completely stunned by the terrifying killing intent, collapsing onto the floor with a deathly pale face, forgetting even how to cry.

"Stop!!"

A golden streak of light instantly shattered the bedroom door!

The figure of Qian Daoliu appeared before Qian Renxue as if teleporting, his Six-Winged Angel martial soul radiating divine brilliance, forcibly pushing back the sky-filling blood-red killing intent.

"Bibi Dong!"

Qian Daoliu let out a thunderous roar, the sound wave carrying a mental shock that pierced straight into Bibi Dong's mind.

Under this impact, the red light in Bibi Dong's eyes slowly receded, and her body swayed slightly, leaning weakly against the headboard. Her gaze remained cold, though it now held a hint of wariness and respect for a powerhouse.

"Greetings... Grand Pontiff."

Qian Daoliu looked at her deeply, and the suspicion in his heart finally settled.

As expected!

The tenderness from just moments ago, the amnesia—it was all just a brief, chaotic episode caused by a cultivation deviation.

As long as that name was mentioned, as long as she was provoked, that Bibi Dong, filled with hatred, would return!

"What... did you just do?" Qian Daoliu asked, knowing the answer.

"Just now?" Bibi Dong furrowed her brows, appearing to struggle with her memory, before pressing her temples with a pained expression. "I... I don't remember. I only remember my head hurting terribly, and then... I saw her."

She pointed at Qian Renxue, who was hiding behind Qian Daoliu, a flash of instinctive disgust crossing her eyes as she said coldly:

"Grand Pontiff, I am very tired and need to rest. Please take her away; I do not wish to see her."

Upon hearing this, Qian Daoliu was not angry; instead, he felt a secret sense of relief.

That's right!

This was the normal Bibi Dong, twisted by hatred!

If she had maintained that state of motherly affection, Qian Daoliu would have suspected she was acting.

But this "intermittent schizophrenia"—alternating between gentle amnesia and violent hatred—was exactly consistent with the symptoms of a cultivation deviation and a damaged soul!

"Xue'er, let's go."

Qian Daoliu turned around, picked up the terrified Qian Renxue, and comforted her softly, "Your mother just woke up, her condition is still unstable, and she needs quiet rest. When you are older... when she is better, you can come see her again."

Qian Renxue rested on Qian Daoliu's shoulder, looking back with teary eyes at that cold, indifferent back turned toward her, her small hands gripping her grandfather's collar tightly.

Was that gentle mother from just a moment ago... really just an illusion?

"Let's go."

As Qian Daoliu left with Qian Renxue, the doors of the Saintess Hall closed once more.

The room returned to a deathly silence.

Bibi Dong remained in her side-lying position until she was certain that the divine angelic aura had completely faded away.

"Phew..."

She let out a long sigh in her heart, the sound of her tightly wound nerves finally relaxing.

"Not a bad performance."

Nan Feng's annoying voice rang out at the perfect moment. "Especially that little look of disgust—it was absolutely perfect. Now Qian Daoliu probably completely believes you have a mental illness."

"Is this what you wanted?"

Bibi Dong asked coldly within the Sea of Consciousness. "To make him think I am a lunatic who could explode at any moment?"

"Of course," Nan Feng said leisurely. "Only when a lunatic kills does it require no reason and no consequence. Because a lunatic is uncontrollable."

"Besides, you saw Qian Daoliu's reaction just now."

"He didn't blame you, nor did he suspect you. Because in his subconscious, as long as you are truly ill, that occasional display of motherly love is the hope he can exploit."

"He will think: as long as your illness is cured, or as long as you aren't provoked, you can become a good mother to Xue'er."

"So, as long as you maintain this Schrödinger-like state—alternating between being clear-headed and hating his entire family, and being muddled with an overflow of maternal love—you will be absolutely safe within Martial Soul Hall."

Bibi Dong fell silent for a moment.

She had to admit, although this Old Spider used despicable methods and always liked to drag that bastard Qian Renxue into the mix, his grasp of human nature... was indeed terrifyingly precise.

"What comes next?" Bibi Dong asked.

"Next?"

Nan Feng laughed. "Next, of course, you eat, drink, and recover well. And while you're at it..."

"Wait for a good opportunity when Qian Daoliu is away."

"That half-dead man lying on the bed is about time to hit the road."