Qin Yao looked at the two men kneeling before him and said calmly, "I don't need you to do anything for me. Just keep assisting His Holiness the Pope."
Yue Guan and Gui Mei both froze, a little slow to react.
No orders? No spies planted?
Qin Yao paid no heed to their astonishment and continued:
"But remember, you serve the Spirit Hall! You must never do anything that harms the Spirit Hall's interests!"
Yue Guan immediately understood what Qin Yao meant.
It was both a warning and a show of trust.
His Highness the Holy Son was telling them that he believed they could keep their priorities straight and see the bigger picture.
"Your subordinate understands!" Yue Guan bowed again. This time, not a trace of hesitation remained in his voice.
Gui Mei also said gravely, "Your subordinate understands."
Qin Yao nodded lightly and said no more. He turned and walked out of the Worship Hall with Qin Xiong.
Only after their figures disappeared at the end of the steps did Yue Guan and Gui Mei slowly rise.
Yue Guan held the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum in his hands. It felt as heavy as a thousand catties. He looked at Gui Mei, his tone complicated. "Old Gui, I think we've ended up serving quite an extraordinary master."
Gui Mei watched the direction Qin Yao had gone, a searching light in his eyes.
After they left the Worship Hall, Qin Xiong's voice sounded beside Qin Yao's ear, thick with confusion:
"Xiao Yao, you brought them to heel. Why didn't you keep them with you? Why send them back to work for that woman, Bibi Dong?"
In Qin Xiong's view, it was like pushing away fighting strength they already had in hand. It was hardly a good deal.
Qin Yao didn't slow his pace as he explained:
"Grandpa, she is, after all, the Pope of our Spirit Hall and represents its dignity. Besides... she's also Xue'er's mother."
Qin Yao didn't want to openly fall out with Bibi Dong so soon.
What was more, he had to take his connection to Qian Renxue into account.
At the mention of "Xue'er," Qin Xiong's burly frame stiffened. Then he let out a heavy sigh.
He had wanted to say, What kind of mother would do such a thing?
But the words reached his lips, and he swallowed them back down.
That child, Xue'er, had never known a mother's love. She had been sent to the Heaven Dou Empire as a spy at such a young age. She truly had a hard lot in life.
Then there was his own grandson beside him. His parents had also died young, swept up in a beast tide in the Star Dou Great Forest while out training.
Qin Xiong looked at Qin Yao, who had grown taller than him, carried himself with composure, and possessed peerless talent. His heart brimmed with comfort and pride.
His grandson had grown up. He had a mind of his own now.
In the blink of an eye, ten days passed.
A luxurious carriage rolled slowly into Heaven Dou City.
Qin Yao, Qin Xiong, Dugu Bo, and Dugu Yan had returned to this city where the currents of power converged.
At the same time, far away in Spirit City, Bibi Dong was preparing to send someone to the Pope Palace. She intended to offer Qin Yao a Head Soul Bone and a leg bone from her personal collection in exchange for an Immortal Herb.
But the person she sent returned with word that His Highness the Holy Son had left the Spirit Hall with Fourth Worship ten days earlier.
"He's gone?"
Bibi Dong sat on the Pope Throne, the gem atop her scepter shining with a dim light.
She hadn't expected Qin Yao to move so quickly.
His way of doing things was nothing like that of a young boy, and he was always sharply focused on his objectives.
Bibi Dong tapped her fingers lightly against the scepter. She knew very well that Qin Yao had gone to Heaven Dou City for her "good daughter," Qian Renxue.
It seemed the Worship Hall had made up its mind to support him.
Night fell over Heaven Dou City. The streets, bright with lanterns, gradually quieted.
At Dugu Manor, Qin Yao finished his daily cultivation. Dark purple flames coursed once through his meridians, then slowly drew back into his body.
He opened the door. The main hall was filled with the fragrance of tea.
Qin Xiong sat in the seat of honor, holding a Yixing clay teapot as he poured tea into a cup.
"Xiao Yao, come sit."
He pushed a cup of hot tea toward him.
"I met with Porcupinefish and Snake Lance earlier today. We've mapped out every hidden sentry around the Crown Prince's Residence. Tonight, I'll take you straight in so you can see Xue'er."
Qin Yao pulled out a chair and sat down, lifting his teacup to blow away the steam.
"Grandpa, you're a Level 98 Peak Douluo. Do you really need to go out of your way to scout the sentries just to get into the Crown Prince's Residence?"
Qin Xiong slapped a hand on the table, making the teacups rattle.
"The Heaven Dou Imperial Family's lot of useless fools are nothing to worry about. But Xue'er's been undercover there for years. We can't ruin her plans by being careless. Better safe than sorry."
Qin Yao took a sip of tea and didn't argue.
Qin Xiong sighed, then suddenly asked:
"Xiao Yao, Xue'er's had a hard life. She never had much family affection growing up, and she's been alone in that den of wolves for years. Your great-grandfather brought the two of you together. What do you really think about it, boy?"
Qin Yao set down his teacup and considered for a moment.
"I think it's great. Xue'er is beautiful, and I'm pretty strong. We're a good match."
Qin Xiong stared at him for a moment, then pointed at Qin Yao and burst out laughing.
"You've got some nerve, boy! You don't hide your feelings at all. But I like it—straight to the point! You've got the makings of your old grandpa!"
At the same time, deep in a secret chamber in the Heaven Dou Crown Prince's Residence,
Qian Renxue sat before her dressing table, looking at herself in the bronze mirror.
She had taken off the blue robe that symbolized the Heaven Dou Crown Prince and tossed it over a nearby screen.
Now she wore a golden court gown.
The gold-woven fabric fit her figure. It had no excessive ornamentation, and its design was simple and elegant.
The golden high collar framed her long, snow-white neck. Her long golden hair fell loosely down her back, beautiful beyond compare.
She reached up to smooth the hair at her temple, a faint blush rising uncontrollably on her cheeks.
Earlier that day, Porcupinefish Douluo had sent word that Fourth Grandpa Qin Xiong and Qin Yao would visit the Crown Prince's Residence that night.
By her count, it had been five or six years since she had last seen Qin Yao.
That taciturn, purple-haired child who used to follow Fourth Grandpa everywhere had grown into a twelve-year-old Soul King.
What Qian Renxue found most astonishing was that in the previous letter, Qin Yao had only been Level 43, yet the letter from her grandfather two days ago said that he had already reached Level 51.
In just three short months, he had gained eight levels of Soul Power. That showed not only extraordinary talent but also incredible good fortune.
Qian Renxue believed that without immense good fortune, Qin Yao could never have encountered so many opportunities in just three months.
Qian Renxue folded her hands in her lap, her heart beating a little faster.
Although she and Qin Yao hadn't seen each other in years and weren't particularly close, his demonstrated value was simply too great.
Great enough that even she, the inheritor of the Angel Godhood with innate full Soul Power of Level 20, was astounded.
Her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, had arranged the betrothal in his letter. At first, she had thought it absurd.
She was nearly ten years older than Qin Yao. How could the two of them possibly be a suitable match?
But now, she found herself feeling a little anticipation.
She wanted to know what Qin Yao thought of their betrothal.
A faint knock sounded at the door.
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