These Years Must Have Been Hard on You!

Meeting Lin Xia's questioning gaze, Bibi Dong nodded slightly, her voice regaining its usual coolness, yet carrying a hint of barely Frisk indulgence and affirmation.

"Since this is a gift from your sister, Xiao Xia, please accept it."

Bibi Dong's gaze swept over Qian Renxue, carrying a hint of approval.

"One should not refuse a gift from an elder. Besides, it is a token of your sister's goodwill."

Hearing Bibi Dong's reassuring words, Lin Xia felt a huge weight lifted from her heart, and a warm feeling welled up inside her.

Without further hesitation, he stretched out his hands and, with utmost solemnity, carefully accepted the warm, jade-like, and energy-rich Thirty Thousand Year Soul Bone from Qian Renxue's hands.

The weight is substantial, not just in its physical form, but also in the weight of this friendship and trust.

"Thank you, sister!"

Lin Xia's voice was clear and sincere as she thanked Qian Renxue again before carefully storing the priceless treasure into her Storage Soul Tool Ring.

Lin Xia could feel the gentle energy emanating from the Spirit Bone in the ring, as well as the clearer Covet and joy transmitted by the Ivysaur next to her through the soul connection.

Qian Renxue watched as Lin Xia solemnly accepted the gift, her smile growing even brighter.

To her, this piece of Spirit Bone was indeed precious, but compared to her mother's open-hearted recognition, and compared to the adorable younger brother who had become the emotional bond between her and her mother, its value was insignificant.

At this moment, Lin Xia accepted the Present, as if officially acknowledging their sibling-like relationship.

Bibi Dong sat on her throne, her deep purple eyes silently watching the scene before her.

Looking at the genuine, radiant smile on his daughter Qian Renxue's face, as if she had rediscovered a precious treasure; looking at his disciple Lin Xia's youthful solemnity and barely concealed joy; looking at the rapidly growing, unhindered intimacy between them...

An indescribable warmth, like a stream thawing in early spring, quietly seeped into the depths of her heart, which Ice Seal for many years.

The deep-seated heaviness and worry about the future seemed to be greatly eased by this heartwarming scene.

Bibi Dong's gaze lingered on Lin Xia and Qian Renxue, watching as the blonde girl naturally raised her hand and gently ruffled the hair of the black-haired boy beside her. The boy looked up, revealing a trusting and affectionate smile...

The coldness and sharpness that had long lingered in Bibi Dong's eyes were finally completely replaced by a pure, relieved, and expectant satisfaction.

After a moment of silence, Bibi Dong spoke.

"Xue'er!"

"You've worked so hard all these years..."

"Should we...?"

Bibi Dong's voice carried a subtle Frisk of probing and anticipation.

"Return to the Spirit Hall? You're not going to the Heaven Dou Empire anymore. That place really won't help you anymore; it'll only hinder your talent."

Upon hearing this, a subtle silence instantly fell over the palace.

Qian Renxue's body stiffened abruptly.

Return?

Returning to this place she had longed for yet feared countless times in her Nightmare?

Returning to her mother's side, shedding her heavy pretense, could she simply be Qian Renxue?

This thought, like a warm flash of lightning, instantly illuminated her deepest Covet, bringing with it an indescribable Captivate.

She almost blurted out "yes".

However, the cold weight of reality soon pressed down.

The Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe's identity, years of planning, infiltration of the court, bribery of powerful officials, the woven web... countless days and nights of painstaking effort, countless decisions made on the edge of a knife.

The plan is more than halfway complete, and only a few steps remain to reach that supreme position.

The power of the empire seemed within reach; it was a crucial link in the Spirit Hall's future grand ambitions and the best answer she could give to her grandfather and mother to prove her worth.

Give up now?

Like suddenly letting go when you've reached the top of a cliff, all your efforts and sacrifices will be in vain.

That sense of resentment, like a poisonous vine, instantly Wrap her heart, almost suffocating her.

Qian Renxue fell silent.

Her hands, resting on her knees, unconsciously Wring Out hem of her plain-colored skirt, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

Her dazzling blonde hair fell down, obscuring her eyes, which were filled with intense struggle, pain, and resentment.

She didn't have the courage to look up into her mother's eyes, afraid of seeing disappointment, and even more afraid of seeing her own wavering reflection.

This silence, like a wordless answer, was clearly conveyed to Bibi Dong.

Bibi Dong looked at her daughter's lowered head and tense body, and sighed softly in her heart. She understood.

She understood that sense of resentment all too well.

The resentment of enduring humiliation and sacrificing everything for a goal, the pain of having to give up when success is in sight.

Back then... wasn't she the same way?

Most importantly, the root cause of Xue'er's decision to go to the Heaven Dou Empire and endure all of this... wasn't it precisely her own indifference, rejection, and that irreversible tragedy from back then?

It was her own attitude that pushed her onto this thorny path of infiltration.

Now that they've finally reunited, their mother-daughter bond is as fragile as thin ice in early spring. How could she bear to be a domineering and bad mother again?

Bibi Dong didn't want to see the pain and alienation in her daughter's eyes anymore because of her.

As she thought of this, the faint expectation in Bibi Dong's eyes slowly faded, replaced by a deeper understanding and... a gentle, compromising tenderness.

This gentleness softened the usual sharpness in her eyes, making her exquisite face appear exceptionally gentle under the glow of the pearl.

Bibi Dong placed her hand on Qian Renxue's back and patted it gently in a reassuring manner.

"It's fine."

Bibi Dong's voice returned to normal, even carrying a hint of relaxed laughter, breaking the heavy silence.

"If you want to continue... that's fine too."

Qian Renxue suddenly looked up, her amethyst-like eyes filled with unbelievable surprise and cautious confirmation.

Bibi Dong met her daughter's gaze, her smile becoming more genuine, carrying an almost indulgent acceptance and promise:

"Mom will take Xiao Xia to see you when she has time."

Her gaze swept over Lin Xia, who stood quietly to the side, her tone playful yet containing undeniable concern and support:

"I'll be checking your progress then! Look what my Xue'er has done to the Heaven Dou Empire! Don't disappoint your mother."

These gentle words, this teasing encouragement, were like a warm spring breeze, instantly dispelling all the gloom and heavy feelings of resentment in Qian Renxue's heart.

An indescribable warm current instantly swept through her body, and her eyes welled up with tears again uncontrollably.

She had only ever experienced this warm feeling of being understood, supported, and unconditionally accepted with her grandfather, Qian Daoliu.

Now, this warmth comes from her mother, whom she once thought would always be cold!

"Mother..."

Qian Renxue's voice had a heavy nasal tone, yet it was filled with an unprecedented brightness and joy.

Qian Renxue nodded vigorously, choking back tears as she said:

"Yes! I definitely... I definitely won't let you down!"