Qian Renxue's Arrival

Morning.

The sunlight had just crossed the window when Fang Mo was still savoring the changes in his body. When his Soul Power circulated, it no longer carried that blocked sensation.

"Knock, knock, knock...!"

The knocking came earlier than in previous days. It sounded not only urgent, but considerably harder as well.

Then came a childish voice, its tone deliberately suppressing anger.

But because its owner was still so young, it sounded more like sulking.

"Fang Mo, get out here!"

Fang Mo froze for a moment.

That voice... it was not a servant, not a nanny, and even less likely to be Bibi Dong.

He got out of bed, walked to the door, and pulled it open.

A girl stood outside.

She looked around nine years old, dressed in a snow-white brocade gown. Her golden hair fell over her shoulders, glimmering faintly in the sunlight.

Her skin was fair, and her features were so exquisite that she hardly looked like a child. Her brows and eyes radiated an innate nobility, along with completely undisguised arrogance.

She was more than half a head taller than Fang Mo, and she was currently raising her chin slightly.

Those pale golden eyes looked down at him as if she were examining an irritating piece of clutter.

Fang Mo's pupils contracted.

Qian Renxue.

He had run countless scenarios in his mind about how he might encounter Qian Renxue in the future, but he truly had not expected this to happen today.

And when he truly faced that familiar face, his heartbeat still skipped.

Not out of fear.

It was because Spirit Dong'er, deep within his Sea of Consciousness, suddenly trembled violently.

Even though she was still in a weakened state, the maternal instinct rooted deep within her soul had still been awakened by Qian Renxue at once.

Fang Mo suppressed that disturbance within himself, raised his head to look at Qian Renxue, and put on the reaction a six-year-old child should have.

"Y-you... who are you?"

Qian Renxue's brows drew together even tighter.

She looked Fang Mo over from head to toe.

A thin, small body, pale skin, and a freshly changed set of plain clothes. He looked no different from an ordinary child.

Yet this utterly unremarkable brat had taken up all of her mother's attention.

"You're Fang Mo?"

"Mm."

Qian Renxue stepped forward and entered Fang Mo's room.

Her gaze quickly swept over every corner—the clean bed, the brand-new bedding, and the pastries the maid had brought sitting on the table.

Her expression changed.

It was not anger, but something more complicated.

Grievance.

"This used to be Mother's archive room."

Qian Renxue's voice suddenly lowered. "She said this was a very important room and wouldn't let anyone enter it casually."

Fang Mo listened quietly.

"But she gave this room to you."

Qian Renxue turned to look at Fang Mo. A thin mist of moisture rose in her pale golden eyes, but she forcibly suppressed it almost immediately.

Qian Renxue.

The daughter of Qian Xunji, the former Pope of Spirit Hall; the granddaughter of Qian Daoliu, the chief consecrator of the Consecrated Hall; and the inheritor of the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul.

Fang Mo sighed inwardly.

He knew where Qian Renxue's hostility came from.

It was not because he had done anything. It was because his very existence occupied what Qian Renxue desired most, yet had never been able to obtain: Bibi Dong's attention.

"Let me ask you." Qian Renxue's voice was tightly drawn. "Who exactly are you? Where did you come from? Why are you clinging to Spirit Hall and refusing to leave?"

The barrage of questions struck him like a child's desperate counterattack.

Fang Mo lowered his head.

"I... I'm a child from the orphanage."

His voice was soft, carrying just the right amount of timidity and unease. "Teacher took me in and let me live here. I'm not trying to cling here and refuse to leave."

Qian Renxue stared at him for quite a while.

That scrutinizing gaze was exactly the same as when Bibi Dong examined him. As expected of a biological mother and daughter.

"What Martial Soul did you awaken?"

Fang Mo hesitated, then shook his head. "I... I'm not really sure either."

The corner of Qian Renxue's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a far from friendly smile.

"Not sure? You don't even know what Martial Soul you awakened?"

Qian Renxue crossed her arms and struck the pose of a little adult.

"The entire Spirit Hall is talking about it. They say Mother brought back a child of unknown origins from the orphanage and even let him live inside the Pope Palace. Those old men in the Elder Hall are all discussing it."

Fang Mo raised his head slightly.

Qian Renxue noticed his reaction, and her tone became even sharper.

"Do you know what those people call you? They say you're 'the Pope's private favorite,' that Mother..."

She suddenly stopped.

Qian Renxue ultimately did not say the rest, but Fang Mo could roughly guess it.

The internal struggle within Spirit Hall was still ongoing. Those old ministers of the Elder Hall did not dare openly challenge Bibi Dong, but rumors and slander were their most convenient weapons.

Fang Mo did not respond.

Seeing his silence, Qian Renxue suddenly found him rather boring.

The opponent she had imagined should have been more formidable. At the very least, he should not have been like this—unable even to raise his head.

"How old are you?"

Qian Renxue's tone softened slightly.

"Six."

"Six..." Qian Renxue repeated. Then she suddenly bent down and leaned close to Fang Mo. "You're three years younger than me."

Her breath nearly brushed against Fang Mo's face.

Fang Mo could smell the faint floral fragrance on her body. It was likely some kind of specially made palace balm.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, Spirit Dong'er stirred once more. Even in her weakened state, she still wanted desperately to open her eyes.

"I'll tell you something."

Qian Renxue straightened up, returning to that lofty posture.

"Not just anyone can stand by Mother's side. She can take you as her disciple, but there can only be me in her heart."

Fang Mo raised his head and looked at Qian Renxue. Her pale golden eyes were filled with certainty.

Fang Mo knew this was merely a lie Qian Renxue used to comfort herself.

It was not that Bibi Dong did not see Qian Renxue at all. Rather, she was unable to properly face her.

The more Qian Renxue longed for maternal love, the more Bibi Dong avoided her. It was a vicious cycle with no winner.

Yet Fang Mo happened to be standing in the crack of that vicious cycle.

"I understand."

Fang Mo said softly.

Qian Renxue nodded in satisfaction.

All she needed was an obedient response, one that would deceive her into believing her place would not be threatened.

"It's good that you understand."

With that, Qian Renxue turned and walked toward the door, her steps light and elegant.

When she reached the doorway, she suddenly stopped.

She did not turn around. She merely reminded him softly, "Don't make Mother exhaust herself too much because of you."

Her tone was unexpectedly gentle. It did not sound like an order, but more like a daughter's concern for her mother.

Fang Mo watched her departing figure.

Her golden hair danced in the sunlight, making her seem lively, yet it could not conceal how she truly felt.

"She's gone..."

Fang Mo murmured softly.

The Spirit Sea was silent, and he received no response.

But Fang Mo knew very well that Spirit Dong'er was listening.