Lollipop (Seeking Collection, Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Gongs and drums thundered, and firecrackers erupted in a deafening chorus.

At this moment, the Heaven Dou Imperial City was immersed in a sea of joy and laughter.

Today, their Heaven Dou Empire was about to add another Title Douluo to its ranks; today was a day for the entire nation to celebrate.

Emperor Xue Ye sat at the highest point of the podium, a smile gracing his lips as he watched the crowds surging toward the imperial city.

Standing behind him, Dugu Bo was still busy eating the lollipop Yanyan had shared with him. Although it was inappropriate for the occasion, it was a gift from his precious Yanyan, so he naturally had to finish every bit of it with deep gratitude.

Watching their master/father act this way, Dugu Yuan and Yu Tianshuo were both filled with disdain. Thinking this, they each took two more licks of the lollipops in their own hands—after all, these were gifts from Yanyan! Naturally, they had to finish them properly, regardless of the occasion.

Sigh, these guys.

Seeing them like this, Xue Qinghe wanted to press a hand to her forehead and sigh, but the lollipop in her mouth hindered her from raising her hand. Helpless, she could only continue watching the childish group.

Only Dugu Yan and Na'er were completely indifferent, both looking on with great satisfaction as the others ate the lollipops they had brought.

Mm! Everyone on our side is eating the candy I brought, so happy, hee hee.

Thinking this, a smile bloomed on Dugu Yan's lips.

Hidden in the shadows, the two Title Douluo watched all of this in silence, though their thoughts were quite different.

Snake Lance Douluo thought:

In such a formal setting, they are actually just eating lollipops. The Young Master has truly been corrupted by that fellow Tianshuo.

Thinking this, Snake Lance Douluo's expression darkened a few shades.

Porcupinefish Douluo didn't think so much; what he thought was:

I wonder what flavor of lollipop the Young Master and the others are eating; they look like they're enjoying it so much.

Thinking this, a little drool leaked from the corner of Porcupinefish Douluo's mouth.

Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Emperor Xue Ye spoke up.

"My dear subjects!"

"Today is a day worth remembering!"

"The Empire is about to possess another Title Douluo!"

"This will..."

Watching Emperor Xue Ye drone on like a speech under the national flag, Yu Tianshuo was already starting to get bored.

Whenever he was bored, he liked to find something to do, so he cast his gaze toward Xue Qinghe.

Just as Qian Renxue sensed his gaze and was about to turn her head, Yu Tianshuo's voice reached her through their secret mental connection.

"Hey, hey, hey, can you hear me?"

Hearing the "hey, hey, hey" that Yu Tianshuo used every time, Qian Renxue was able to ignore it with a calm heart, so she simply replied indifferently.

"Mm, I can hear you. What is it?"

Seeing Qian Renxue's cold response, Yu Tianshuo didn't say anything, but instead asked a question that left even Qian Renxue unsure of how to answer.

"That second-in-command of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan I killed—if I remember correctly, he was a mole for the Pope's Palace. If I just kill him like that, will the Pope's Palace give me trouble?"

After speaking, Yu Tianshuo waited for a response.

However, after a long while, seeing that Qian Renxue hadn't replied, he was just about to turn his head to look at her when Dugu Bo called out to him first.

"Stop spacing out. Follow my lead and wave to the crowd in a moment; the speech will be over then."

Yu Tianshuo was stunned for a moment, but seeing that Qian Renxue was already waving, he realized why she hadn't replied to him just now.

As for Qian Renxue, she was still wondering how Yu Tianshuo knew that Yu Luomian was a mole.

But after thinking for only a short while, she transmitted back through their connection.

"I'm not sure either. Initially, Martial Soul Hall's plan was indeed to use Yu Luomian to destroy the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. But to offend a rising star like you just because of a mere Yu Luomian? My mother shouldn't be that crazy, right?"

Having said that, Qian Renxue felt a bit uncertain. Her mother had indeed been a bit erratic since becoming Pope, and as her daughter, she found it hard to guess her thoughts.

Hearing Qian Renxue's reply, Yu Tianshuo also felt uncertain. After all, that crazy woman Bibi Dong was famous for being unreasonable and brainless. Although he agreed with the goal of unifying the continent, that didn't mean he agreed with Bibi Dong.

That woman had nothing but romance in her head; aside from Yu Xiaogang, there was only world-destruction. It was entirely possible she would make things difficult for him just because he had taken out Yu Luomian.

So, Yu Tianshuo transmitted directly.

"Forget it, whatever. If your mother makes things difficult for me, I'll go beat up Yu Xiaogang. Every time she bothers me, I'll beat him once. I'll just keep him on the brink of death; I don't believe your mother won't be heartbroken."

As he said this, Yu Tianshuo maintained a gentle smile and waved to the citizens of Heaven Dou.

Hearing Yu Tianshuo's words, Qian Renxue became curious. She didn't know the love-hate entanglements of the older generation, so seeing that Yu Tianshuo seemed to know, she asked directly out of curiosity.

"Who is Yu Xiaogang? Why would you go beat him up if my mother bothers you? And can you tell me the stories of the older generation? I asked my grandfather before, but he wouldn't say."

As she spoke, her eyes dimmed slightly. What she didn't say was that she wanted to know from those events why her mother treated her the way she did.

Not seeing the dimness in Qian Renxue's eyes, Yu Tianshuo played a trump card directly.

"Oh, that? It's normal that you don't know. The story is that Yu Xiaogang was your mother's old flame. It's just that your father took a fancy to your mother and wedged himself in between them. In the end, the two of them didn't make it, and then your mother transferred her hatred for your father onto your family. I've skipped some parts, but that's roughly it."

Yu Tianshuo wasn't talking nonsense. Originally, Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang were indeed a couple, but they separated later for certain reasons—or more accurately, that coward Yu Xiaogang ran away.

Then Qian Xunji stuck his foot in, or perhaps he didn't, leading to the most classic "Secret Chamber Douluo" incident, after which Bibi Dong gave birth to Qian Renxue in bitterness, making her hatred for Qian Renxue only natural.

To be violated by a rapist and then forced to bear his child—anyone would turn to darkness under such circumstances.

It was just that wanting to destroy the world was a bit extreme; it was hard to tell if it was the influence of the Rakshasa God or a thought she had harbored all along.

Just as Yu Tianshuo was pondering whether Bibi Dong's madness was her own intent or the result of external influence, Qian Renxue's pupils dilated in shock, though no one noticed her abnormality as everyone else was busy waving.

A long while passed before Qian Renxue finally digested everything Yu Tianshuo had said.

She transmitted her voice with a trembling tone.

"So, the reason my mother treats me with such disdain is because of my father, isn't it?"

Sensing the tremor in Qian Renxue's voice, Yu Tianshuo did not answer directly, merely nodding as he met her gaze.

Just as Qian Renxue was about to lower her head in despair, a slap on her back from Yu Tianshuo brought her back to her senses.