Betrayal of the Mother

Qian Renxue's right foot hovered over the threshold of the Library Pavilion, refusing to land.

Inside her mind, the system's shrill notification sounded like a death warrant, and the crimson mission panel flickered frantically; the words "Carry Bibi Dong alone under the moonlight for ten minutes" were practically searing through her consciousness.

Behind her, Bibi Dong's killing intent clung to her like maggots on bone, pinning her firmly in place.

The air itself began to warp visibly, strained to its limit by the tug-of-war between two top-tier soul powers.

Qian Renxue froze where she stood.

Just one second.

She knew clearly that if she turned back now, not only would she fail to meet the prerequisite of "carrying Bibi Dong," but she would immediately ignite that woman's territorial instincts, triggering a fight to the death on the spot.

It wasn't worth it.

Suppressing the damn system countdown in her heart, her right foot finally touched the ground.

She turned and descended the steps.

The night wind howled, whipping her platinum Young Master robes, yet her mind was calmer than it had ever been.

A daring infiltration plan began to take shape at high speed.

Young Master Palace.

Qian Renxue directly invoked her highest authority to pull up the deployment and shift rotation maps of the Judgment Knights around the Library Pavilion.

"The blueprints."

Her voice was icy, devoid of any emotion.

The shadow guard scrambled to present the top-secret dossier, not daring to even lift his head.

Qian Renxue's fingertips traced the dense markings of the sentry posts on the map, and in less than ten breaths, she pointed precisely at a red circle in the northeast corner.

At three quarters past midnight, the third and fifth squads would rotate.

Half a cup of tea's worth of a visual blind spot.

That was enough.

She shed her conspicuous Young Master robes and donned a tight-fitting night suit that outlined her perfect curves, covering her face with a black cloth that left only her murderous phoenix eyes exposed.

Tonight, this humiliating mission had to be completed!

Late night, Library Pavilion.

Su Chen was lounging leisurely on a bamboo chair, the light screen of the Eye of Omniscience glowing faintly, making the amused smirk on his lips all the more apparent.

On the edge of the screen, the blood-red dot representing Qian Renxue was bypassing every sentry post at an incredibly tricky angle, heading straight for this location.

She was here.

With a thought, Su Chen instantly suppressed his aura, pulled a thin blanket over himself, hunched his shoulders, and slowed his breathing.

A shivering, trembling lamb, startled awake from a deep sleep and ready for the slaughter, was fresh out of the oven.

Creak~

A breeze pushed open the damaged window.

A black shadow flashed in, landing without a sound, not even stirring the dust on the floor.

Qian Renxue stood before the bamboo chair, looking down at Su Chen curled up in the seat, and unleashed a sliver of her soul master pressure without the slightest hesitation.

Su Chen reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on; he snapped his eyes open, his body shuddering violently. Terrified, he scrambled deep into the chair, his hands clutching the thin blanket so tightly that the veins on the back of his hands bulged.

He buried his head, his entire body shaking like a sieve.

Qian Renxue took a step forward.

[Ding! Distance between both parties is less than one meter. Solitude countdown initiated.]

[09:59]

The cold numbers pulsed in her mind. Qian Renxue gritted her molars, her entire face pulled tight.

Being this close to a man in a dilapidated shack made her skin crawl.

She forced down the nausea, her gaze sweeping over Su Chen's face like a blade, inch by inch.

"What kind of sorcery did you use?" Her voice was like shards of ice. "To make that madwoman willingly act as your kitchen maid?"

Su Chen buried his head lower, his eyes fixed firmly on the ground, his shoulders shaking as if they were about to fall apart.

"I... I don't know what the Young Master is talking about..."

He stuttered, his voice trembling, the tail end of his words even carrying a sob. "I'm just a servant... I could die at any moment... I wouldn't dare... I truly wouldn't dare to have any ideas about His Holiness the Pope!"

"Ideas?"

Qian Renxue seemed to have heard the greatest joke in the world, and she laughed in pure anger.

"Do you even deserve to?"

She mocked him without mercy, attempting to shatter his psychological defenses, "You are nothing more than a whim of hers! She can hold you up today, and throw you away like trash tomorrow! Do you really think you're special?"

Su Chen curled into a ball under her verbal assault, swallowing hard. His voice was as low as a mosquito's hum, yet every word remained crystal clear.

"The Young Mistress is right... I know my place."

He murmured in a low voice.

"That is why... that is why when Her Excellency personally brings me food every midnight... and even... even changes my clothes and ties my belt with her own hands... I am scared to death... terrified that if I displease her one day, my life will be forfeit..."

"Changes clothes with her own hands," "ties my belt."

These words struck Qian Renxue's nerves like a red-hot steel needle!

The intelligence from the Dark Web was now confirmed by the person involved himself! The details were even more explosive!

Boom!

Qian Renxue's aloof, haughty mask cracked on the spot.

She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms.

Why?!

For twenty years, all Bibi Dong had ever given her were cold glares, scoldings, and icy commands!

How could that unreachable, stern mother go to such lengths for a piece of trash?!

In Su Chen's mind, the data on the panel was going completely wild.

[Qian Renxue's current emotions: Extreme unwillingness 90% / Twisted jealousy 85% / Desire to win off the charts!]

[Notification: She's broken, little sister! The target's hostility is rapidly transforming into an intense desire to win!]

Qian Renxue's chest heaved violently, her breathing becoming frighteningly rapid.

She could not lose!

Especially not in any aspect, to the "favor" Bibi Dong bestowed upon this trash!

Driven by this twisted, extreme sense of rivalry, Qian Renxue moved half a step closer almost subconsciously!

Just to overwhelm, in terms of sheer presence, the traces left behind by that woman!

The distance between them, already less than a meter, instantly vanished.

Su Chen could even feel Qian Renxue's rapid, warm breath sweeping across his bangs.

Qian Renxue stared fixedly at Su Chen's pale, terrified face, the two of them locked in a standoff at a distance that was both extremely intimate and murderous.

Time ticked away, second by second.

[00:00]

The countdown hit zero.

[Ding! Exclusive advancement mission complete. Reward issued: Six-Winged Angel bloodline purity increased by 5%, Angel Light (Basic) unlocked.]

A surge of holy energy, pure to the point of terror, poured into her body from thin air. Qian Renxue closed her eyes, the majestic power slightly soothing the agitation in her heart.

This reward was truly impossible to refuse.

However, before she could even retreat.

A more glaring, crimson panel forcibly popped up!

[Warning! Beginner mission "Ten Combing Sessions for Su Chen" has entered the death countdown!]

[Remaining time: 03:59:59]

[Notification: If the first combing is not completed within four hours, the soul-tearing penalty will be executed immediately!]

Red light flashed violently.

Qian Renxue opened her eyes abruptly.

Four hours.

Tonight, she had no choice but to comb his hair!

Her gaze slowly drifted downward, past Su Chen's terrified, darting eyes, and finally landed on his slightly messy long hair.

The hand hidden in her sleeve curled slightly.