Night Reconnaissance of the Crown Prince's Residence, the Fiancée's Expectations

Qin Yao looked at the two kneeling before him and said indifferently, "This Holy Son does not need you to do anything; just continue to assist Her Holiness the Pope."

Yue Guan and Gui Mei were both stunned, caught off guard by his words.

No missions assigned? No spies planted?

Ignoring their astonishment, Qin Yao continued:

"But you must remember, it is Martial Soul Hall that you serve! You must not do anything that harms the interests of Martial Soul Hall!"

Yue Guan instantly understood the profound meaning behind Qin Yao's words.

This was both a warning and a show of trust.

His Highness the Holy Son was telling them that he believed they could keep their positions straight and distinguish the greater good.

"This subordinate understands!" Yue Guan kowtowed again, his voice now devoid of any hesitation.

Gui Mei also said in a deep voice, "This subordinate understands."

Qin Yao nodded slightly, said no more, and turned to walk out of the Worship Hall with Qin Xiong.

Not until their figures disappeared at the end of the stairs did Yue Guan and Gui Mei slowly stand up.

Holding the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Yue Guan felt it weighed a thousand pounds. He looked at Gui Mei, his tone complex: "Old Ghost, it seems we have followed a formidable master."

Gui Mei looked in the direction where Qin Yao had left, his eyes filled with a probing light.

After leaving the Worship Hall, Qin Xiong's voice rang in Qin Yao's ears, his tone laced with deep confusion:

"Xiao Yao, you subdued them, so why not keep them by your side instead of sending them back to work for that woman, Bibi Dong?"

In Qin Xiong's view, this was equivalent to pushing away combat power he had already secured; it simply wasn't worth it.

Qin Yao did not stop his pace as he explained:

"Grandfather, she is, after all, the Pope of our Martial Soul Hall and represents the face of Martial Soul Hall. Besides... she is also Sister Xue'er's mother."

Qin Yao did not want to completely tear off the mask with Bibi Dong in the open so soon.

Moreover, he had to consider the connection to Qian Renxue.

Hearing the name "Xue'er," Qin Xiong's burly frame visibly stiffened, and he let out a heavy sigh.

He had wanted to say that there was no such mother under heaven.

But the words reached his lips and were swallowed back down.

That child, Xue'er, had never enjoyed any maternal love since she was young; she was sent to the Heaven Dou Empire to act as an undercover agent at such a tender age—she was truly a pitiable child.

Then he looked at his grandson beside him, whose parents had also perished early on in a beast tide in the Star Dou Great Forest due to their training.

Qin Xiong looked at Qin Yao, who had grown taller than himself, acted with measured grace, and possessed peerless talent, his heart filled with relief and pride.

His own grandson had grown up and had a mind of his own.

In the blink of an eye, ten days passed.

A luxurious carriage slowly drove into Heaven Dou City.

Qin Yao, Qin Xiong, Dugu Bo, and Dugu Yan had returned once again to this capital where winds and clouds gathered.

And just as they entered the city, far away in the Pope Palace of Martial Soul City, Bibi Dong was preparing to send someone to the Worship Hall, intending to trade a head soul bone and a leg bone from her private collection for the immortal herbs from Qin Yao.

As it turned out, the person she sent returned to report that His Highness the Holy Son had already left Martial Soul Hall with the Fourth Worship ten days ago.

"Gone?"

Bibi Dong sat on the Pope's throne, the gem at the top of her scepter flickering with a ghostly light.

She had not expected Qin Yao's movements to be so swift.

Qin Yao's style of conduct was not at all like that of a youth, and every move he made had a strong sense of purpose.

Bibi Dong's knuckles tapped lightly against the scepter; she knew very well that Qin Yao's trip to Heaven Dou City was undoubtedly for her "good daughter," Qian Renxue.

It seemed that the Worship Hall was determined to support him.

Night fell, the lights of Heaven Dou City began to twinkle, and the clamor on the streets gradually subsided.

Inside Dugu Manor, Qin Yao finished his daily cultivation. The dark purple flames circled through his meridians before slowly receding into his body.

He pushed open the door, and the room was filled with the fragrance of tea.

Qin Xiong sat in the main seat, pouring tea into a cup from a purple clay teapot.

"Xiao Yao, come and sit."

Xiong pushed a cup of hot tea over.

"I already met with Pufferfish and Snake Lance during the day, and I have a clear understanding of the distribution of the secret sentries at the Crown Prince's Residence. Tonight, I will take you over the wall directly so you can see Xue'er."

Qin Yao pulled out a chair and sat down, lifting the teacup to blow away the steam.

"Grandfather, you are a rank 98 peak Douluo. Is it really necessary to sneak past the hidden sentries just to visit the Crown Prince's Residence?"

Qin Xiong slammed a palm onto the table, making the teacups rattle.

"The trash of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family is indeed not worth mentioning, but Xue'er has been lurking there for so many years. We cannot ruin her plans due to a moment of carelessness. Being cautious never hurts."

Qin Yao took a sip of tea without refuting him.

Qin Xiong sighed and suddenly asked:

"Xiao Yao, Xue'er has had a hard life. She never enjoyed any familial affection growing up and has stayed in this den of wolves all by herself for so many years. Your Great Grandfather brought the two of you together. What do you actually think about it?"

Qin Yao set down his teacup and pondered for a moment.

"It's quite good. Sister Xue'er is beautiful, and my strength is not bad either. We are a perfect match."

Qin Xiong was stunned for a moment, then pointed at Qin Yao and burst into laughter.

"You brat, your skin is thick enough! You don't hide anything at all. But I like it—straightforward! You have the same style I had back in my day!"

At the same time, deep within a secret chamber at the Heaven Dou Crown Prince's Residence.

Qian Renxue sat before her vanity, gazing at her reflection in the bronze mirror.

The blue cloth robe symbolizing the Heaven Dou Crown Prince had already been removed and tossed onto the screen nearby.

At this moment, she had changed into a golden palace gown.

The gold-threaded fabric clung to her frame; devoid of excessive patterns or decorations, the style was simple and elegant.

A golden high collar protected her snow-white, slender neck. Her long golden hair cascaded loosely behind her, looking exceptionally beautiful.

She reached up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, a faint, uncontrollable blush rising to her cheeks.

Earlier that day, Pufferfish Douluo had sent word that her Fourth Grandfather, Qin Xiong, and Qin Yao would be arriving at the Crown Prince's Residence tonight.

Counting the time, she and Qin Yao had not seen each other for five or six years.

That silent, purple-haired child who used to follow behind Fourth Grandfather had now grown into a twelve-year-old Spirit King.

What Qian Renxue found most terrifying was that in the previous letter, Qin Yao was only rank 43, yet her grandfather's letter from two days ago mentioned that Qin Yao had already reached rank 51.

To increase one's spirit power by eight ranks in a mere three months was not just a sign of immense talent, but of extraordinary destiny.

Qian Renxue believed that without great fortune, it would be impossible for Qin Yao to have obtained so many opportunities in such a short span of time.

Qian Renxue folded her hands over her knees, her heart beating a little fast.

Although she and Qin Yao had not met for years and their bond was not particularly deep, the value Qin Yao had displayed was simply too high.

It was so high that even she, the successor to the Angel God position with innate full spirit power of rank 20, felt startled.

She had originally found the marriage contract set by her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, to be absurd.

She was nearly ten years older than Qin Yao; no matter how one looked at it, it did not seem appropriate.

Yet now, a flicker of anticipation had unexpectedly sprouted in her heart.

She wanted to know what Qin Yao's true attitude toward this engagement was.

A light knocking sound came from outside the door.