You'd Better Kneel When You Speak; I Prefer It That Way (Seeking Follow-ups)

At the center of the plaza.

Qian Renxue was also startled by the sudden burst of killing intent.

She instinctively shrank back, her little face filled with nervousness.

But she quickly came to her senses.

Her ancestor was telling her that she had this authority.

And absolute authority at that.

Qian Renxue raised her head, her golden eyes fixed earnestly on Qin Zheng.

The young man's features were cool and aloof, his dark eyes as deep as an abyss.

Yet the gaze he directed at her remained gentle.

As though that terrifying killing intent from moments ago had merely been an illusion.

Something stirred faintly in Qian Renxue's heart.

Ancestor...

Her ancestor truly thought highly of her.

Qin Zheng looked at Qian Renxue and slowly withdrew his killing intent.

He continued, a trace of solemnity in his voice.

"Remember this."

"This is the decisiveness you should possess as the future Pope of Spirit Hall."

"The power over life and death lies within a single thought of yours."

"Those who hesitate will never accomplish great things."

"Do you understand?"

Qian Renxue froze at his words.

The future... Pope of Spirit Hall?

Her ancestor...

Her ancestor actually believed she could become the Pope of Spirit Hall?!

Qian Renxue's little face was full of shock and disbelief.

Could she...

Could she really do it?

And her mother...

Qian Renxue bit her lip, her heart tangled with hesitation.

But she soon shook her head firmly.

No.

If her ancestor said she could do it, then she definitely could!

Her ancestor could not be wrong!

Qian Renxue took a deep breath, her little face filled with solemn determination.

She nodded firmly, a glint of resolve in her golden eyes.

"Xue'er understands!"

"Thank you for your guidance, Ancestor!"

Seeing the girl's earnest little expression, Qin Zheng nodded in satisfaction.

She could be taught.

"Since you understand."

Qin Zheng spoke slowly, his voice calm.

"Then tell me."

"What is your answer?"

Qian Renxue fell silent at his words.

She lowered her head, her long golden hair falling over her shoulders and concealing her little face.

No one could see her expression.

Everyone in the plaza held their breath.

They stared fixedly at the small figure, their eyes full of tension and anticipation.

Young Mistress...

What would the young mistress choose?

Kill...

Or spare her?

For a moment, the atmosphere grew tense to the extreme.

Qian Renxue remained silent for a long time.

So long that everyone was starting to grow impatient.

Yet no one dared urge her.

Who would dare rush the young mistress favored by the Old Ancestor?

Were they tired of living?

Finally.

Qian Renxue slowly raised her head.

A trace of resolve shone in her golden eyes.

She looked at Qin Zheng and said softly yet clearly, "Old Ancestor."

"Xue'er... Xue'er doesn't want Mother to die."

Boom—!!!

The instant those words fell!

The square erupted once more with sharp gasps!

As expected!

The young mistress had indeed chosen to spare His Holiness the Pope!

Well...

That was her biological mother!

Blood was thicker than water. How could she possibly watch her die?

Before the angel statue.

Qian Daoliu secretly let out a sigh of relief.

Though he had long guessed that Xue'er would make this choice, hearing it for real still filled him with comfort.

That child Xue'er was still too kindhearted.

But... being kind was good too.

Better than being as cold and heartless as Bibi Dong.

At the center of the square.

Qin Zheng looked at Qian Renxue, a faintly amused glint flashing through his dark eyes.

"You don't want her to die?"

He spoke slowly, his voice calm.

"After the way she treated you..."

"You don't hate her?"

Qian Renxue fell silent again at his words.

Did she hate her?

It would be a lie to say she did not.

Ever since childhood, her mother had always been distant toward her.

No... it could even be called indifference.

She had never felt a mother's love. Every time she tried to approach her mother or speak with her, her mother would look at her with those cold eyes.

As if...

As if she were something filthy.

She did not understand.

She truly did not understand.

Why did other children have mothers who doted on and loved them, while she did not?

She was her mother's daughter too...

Why could her mother not treat her a little better?

She truly... envied those children who were cherished by their mothers.

Sometimes, she even thought...

How wonderful it would be if she did not have a mother like this.

But hatred was hatred. In the end, that was still her mother.

The bond of blood was impossible to sever.

How could she possibly watch her mother die with her own eyes and remain unmoved?

Qian Renxue fell silent for a moment, then slowly raised her head. A trace of conflict filled her golden eyes as she looked at Qin Zheng and spoke softly yet firmly.

"Ancestor."

"How... how could a daughter hate her mother?"

"Even if she has done countless things wrong..."

"She is still Xue'er's mother."

"How could Xue'er watch her mother die and remain indifferent?"

Qin Zheng looked at Qian Renxue, and a faint trace of approval flashed through his dark eyes.

Good.

Very good.

She could distinguish right from wrong without losing sight of her true heart.

Kind, yet not weak.

Only this was worthy of being Teacher's descendant. Only this deserved... the position of Spirit Hall's future Pope. Only this did justice to the two thousand years he had spent in oblivion!

Qin Zheng slowly nodded, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"Good."

"Since you have said so."

"Then I shall grant her a way to live."

As his words fell—

Qin Zheng slowly raised his right hand.

His long, fair fingers gave Bibi Dong beside him a light flick.

Bzzz—!

Space trembled slightly.

The next instant!

Crack—!

The towering wall of white light suddenly split with countless fine cracks!

The cracks spread rapidly, covering the entire wall like a spiderweb!

Bang—!!!

Accompanied by a crisp shattering sound—

The entire wall of light exploded!

It turned into countless motes of light and vanished into nothingness!

As the wall of light shattered—

A figure suddenly fell out from within!

It was a woman.

She wore a magnificent Pope's robe, though it was now somewhat disheveled.

Her purple hair spilled over her shoulders, obscuring most of her face.

She staggered several steps before barely managing to steady herself.

"Cough... cough, cough..."

Bibi Dong clutched her chest and coughed violently several times.

A faint trace of blood seeped from the corner of her lips.

Clearly, she had not had an easy time while sealed within the wall of light.

But she paid no attention to any of that.

She swiftly gathered her aura, then warily raised her head and looked toward the center of the square.

When she saw the black-robed figure, deep fear and apprehension flashed through her eyes. This man... was far too terrifying.

She had not even been given a chance to resist before being sealed away.

Bibi Dong took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the fear in her heart.

She slowly straightened up and tidied her disheveled Pope's robes.

In an instant.

The cold, stunningly beautiful Pope from before reappeared before everyone's eyes.

Only, her face was somewhat pale, and a trace of blood still lingered at the corner of her lips, making her look rather disheveled.

Everyone in the square stared blankly at Bibi Dong.

His Holiness the Pope...

was out?!

The Old Ancestor had really... really spared His Holiness the Pope?!

Because of a single word from the Young Master?!