Since You Spoke, This Seat Will Grant Her a Way Out (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Before the angel statue.

Watching the girl nod vigorously before him, the smile in Qin Zheng's eyes grew even gentler.

He could clearly sense the uneasy tension around Qian Renxue gradually fading away, replaced by a trust that was almost dependent.

This trust was very pure.

So pure that it stirred the faintest ripple in Qin Zheng's heart.

Across a thousand years of time, he had seen far too many people.

There were those who groveled, those who paid lip service while plotting otherwise, those who revered and feared him, and those who were proud and unruly.

But someone like Qian Renxue, who handed over her whole heart after merely a few words... there were too few.

Perhaps this was what a child was like.

Untainted by the filth of this world.

Still preserving the most genuine kindness and softness in her heart.

Qin Zheng slowly withdrew his hand. Looking at Qian Renxue's reddened eyes and the thin mist clouding them, the corners of his lips lifted slightly.

"All right."

His calm voice rang out slowly, carrying a hint of gentleness.

"No more crying now?"

At his words, Qian Renxue's little face flushed red. She hurriedly blinked hard, forcibly holding back the moisture in her eyes.

She lowered her head somewhat sheepishly and muttered softly.

"Xue... Xue'er wasn't crying."

Her voice was soft and sweet, with a touch of childish charm.

Seeing her like this, Qin Zheng could not help but chuckle.

On the plaza.

Everyone stared blankly at the scene.

They... what had they just seen?!

The Old Ancestor... the Old Ancestor had actually smiled?!

And he had smiled so... gently?!

My heavens!

Was this still the domineering Old Ancestor from before, who had suppressed His Holiness the Pope at the slightest disagreement, casually crippled several Elder Title Douluo, and made the Grand Priest dare not defy his orders?!

The contrast... was far too great, wasn't it?!

For a moment.

Everyone's hearts were filled with shock and disbelief.

The way they looked at Qian Renxue also became increasingly reverent and fervent.

For the Old Ancestor to treat her this way, this Young Mistress...

She was no simple figure!

Her status was probably far beyond anything they had imagined!

In the center of the plaza.

After smiling for a moment, Qin Zheng gradually reined in his expression.

He looked at Qian Renxue before him, a faint hint of amusement in his dark eyes.

"Xue'er."

"Now that you're at ease, I have a question for you."

Hearing this, Qian Renxue hurriedly raised her head. Her golden eyes looked earnestly at Qin Zheng, her little face filled with solemnity.

"Please ask, Old Ancestor."

"Xue'er will tell you everything she knows!"

Seeing the serious little look on the girl's face, Qin Zheng smiled inwardly once more.

"What do you think..."

"Should I release Bibi Dong, or not?"

BOOM—!!!

The instant those words fell!

The entire place once again sank into dead silence!

Everyone's eyes widened as they stared fixedly at the small figure in the center of the plaza.

Ancestor... the ancestor actually asked the young master that question?!

W-what... what did that mean?!

Could it be... the ancestor truly intended to let the young master decide His Holiness the Pope's life or death?!

My heavens!

This was just... too unbelievable, wasn't it?!

That was His Holiness the Pope!

Her life and death were actually going to be decided by a... child only a few years old?!

Wasn't that utterly absurd?!

For a moment, every heart was thrown into stormy turmoil.

Before the angel statue.

Qian Daoliu abruptly raised his head as well, looking toward Qin Zheng at the center of the square, his eyes filled with astonishment and excitement.

Ancestor...

The ancestor had actually given Xue'er this chance?!

He had originally thought that, at most, Xue'er could persuade the ancestor to show some leniency and punish her lightly.

Yet he had never expected...

The ancestor had directly placed the power of decision in Xue'er's hands!

At the center of the square.

Qian Renxue had clearly not expected Qin Zheng to ask such a question either.

She froze, her golden eyes brimming with shock.

"Me... me?"

She pointed at herself in disbelief and asked softly.

"Ancestor... are you asking Xue'er?"

Seeing her stunned expression, Qin Zheng's lips curved into a faint smile.

"Who else would I be asking?"

Qian Renxue blinked, her golden eyes full of confusion and uncertainty.

She...

Could she really decide?

But...

But her mother...

Qian Renxue instinctively turned to look beside her.

There, a pristine white wall of light stood quietly.

And her mother, Bibi Dong, was sealed within that wall of light.

She then turned to look at Qian Daoliu before the angel statue.

Grandfather...

Qian Renxue's little face was full of conflict.

Biting her lip, she asked softly, "A-Ancestor."

"Can... can you really listen to Xue'er?"

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, carrying a barely perceptible tremble.

It was not that she did not trust Qin Zheng.

It was just that...

This matter was far too important.

So important that she could hardly believe she was qualified to be involved in it.

After all, just moments ago.

She had still been standing at the very back of the crowd, watching everything from afar.

Watching the black-robed youth before her domineeringly suppress several Titled Douluo elders.

Watching him casually wave his hand and seal her mother—the lofty His Holiness the Pope—within a wall of light.

Watching him suppress her grandfather—the Grand Consecrator of Spirit Hall, a level ninety-nine Ultimate Douluo—with ease, with nothing more than a single indifferent sentence.

That scene had been far too shocking.

That was... far too domineering.

That posture of looking down upon the world and treating all living beings as ants was deeply engraved in Qian Renxue's mind.

He was utterly different from... from the young man who had gently stroked her hair and softly comforted her just moments ago.

The contrast... was too great.

So great that Qian Renxue still felt somewhat dazed.

If this ancestor had not personally brought her over and reassured her with his words... she probably would not have dared approach him even a single step, would she?

Though she felt a sense of dependence... what she felt even more was respect.

Or rather... awe.

And once respect arose—

No matter what happened afterward, a barrier would form between them in their interactions.

Just like... between her and Grandpa.

Although Grandpa loved her dearly as well.

What she felt toward him now, however, was mostly respect and awe.

There were many things she did not dare tell Grandpa.

There were many things she did not dare do in front of him.

She did not want...

She did not want things between herself and her ancestor to become like that too.

How could Qin Zheng fail to guess what Qian Renxue was thinking when he saw her conflicted little expression?

After all, having lived for so many years, he had seen through human hearts all too clearly.

He smiled faintly and slowly spoke.

"Of course you can."

"In this entire Spirit Hall, only you have the right to decide this matter."

"If you want her dead..."

Qin Zheng's voice paused slightly.

A trace of icy killing intent flashed through his pitch-black eyes.

"With me here."

"Even if a god descended to this world in person today, she still would not escape death."

BOOM—!!!

The instant those words fell!

An icy, bone-piercing killing intent suddenly erupted from Qin Zheng's body!

As though it had substance, it spread in all directions!

Everyone in the plaza felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar!

Their entire bodies turned cold, and even their blood seemed to freeze!

They stared in horror at the black-robed figure in the center of the plaza, their eyes filled with fear.

A god...

Even a god descending in person could not save her?!

Ancestor... just what realm had the ancestor reached?!

Could it be...

Could he be even stronger than a god?!

For a moment, intense shock and terror rose in everyone's hearts.