Where Love Begins, There Is No Sin. Struggling to Survive Is No Sin, Either.

After all, the sheer volume of information, the twisted relationships, and the ethical taboos surrounding this matter were like thunderclaps from the heavens, repeatedly exploding in the minds of the three women!

The wine bowl in Hu Liena's hand froze in mid-air, the amber liquid rippled, her fox-like eyes widened to an unprecedented degree, her alluring features frozen in extreme shock, her red lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.

His Holiness the Pope and Lin Xia?

Behind that air of authority, power, and mystery, lies a forbidden affection for his disciples?

Qian Renxue, regarded as a proud and noble princess, also harbors feelings for... her mother in her lover's heart?!

The pastry Dugu Yan was holding in her fingertips crumbled silently into powder, and her dark green pupils contracted to the size of needles.

She felt as if she had heard the most shocking and unconventional secret in the history of the Douluo Continent.

Master and apprentice?

Lover?

These intertwined identities form a tangled mess powerful enough to shatter any conventional understanding.

She subconsciously looked at the tightly closed door, as if Qian Renxue or Bibi Dong might burst in at any moment and crush them for overhearing this earth-shattering secret.

Ye Lingling's hand holding the book trembled slightly, and for the first time, such a violent emotional fluctuation appeared on her usually cold face—a pale complexion mixed with extreme shock, disbelief, and even a hint of fear.

The fluctuations in Soul Power she sensed now further confirmed the truth of Lin Xia's words; the root of that unfathomable pain and chaos was actually so... shocking.

The light of the Nine Heart Begonia flickered in her palm and then went out, as if even this healing divine Martial Soul felt powerless before the Abyss of ethics.

The dormitory fell into a deathly silence, with only Lin Xia's heavy, painful breathing, the gulping sound of her swallowing strong liquor, and the soft patter of the liquor dripping.

The air seemed to solidify into a heavy block of lead, making it hard to breathe.

Shocking! Absolutely shocking!

Hu Liena, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling exchanged glances. Without a word, they all saw the same turbulent emotions in each other's eyes:

What kind of outrageous gossip is this?!

Is this something someone of their rank and status should be listening to?!

The relationship between the Pope, the young master, and the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall is so complex, twisted, and taboo that it's chilling!

For a moment, Hu Liena even had the urge to grab the other two and run away immediately.

The more you know, the faster you die!

This is not just an emotional entanglement; it involves the dignity of the highest levels of the Spirit Hall and a shocking scandal that could overturn the entire continent's understanding!

They were merely candidates for sainthood, daughters of noble families, and successors of the Nine Heart Begonia. Getting caught up in this vortex would mean certain death, to the point of being shattered to pieces!

However, seeing Lin Xia completely consumed by pain, almost drowning in alcohol and self-blame, seeing the traces of alcohol or tears constantly sliding down his cheeks, seeing his eyes that were once as bright as the sun but now dim and desperate... the three women felt as if they had taken root in their feet.

Hu Liena recalled Lin Xia's guidance and trust in her; he was never stingy with those precious Spirit Bone and cultivation techniques.

Dugu Yan recalled Lin Xia's focus and strength when he helped her resolve the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison and rebuild the foundation of her Martial Soul.

Ye Lingling could never forget the immense kindness he showed her when he broke the family Curse and gave the Nine Heart Begonia a new life.

They cannot leave.

Even if this secret is like Toxic, they cannot abandon Lin Xia, who is at her most vulnerable at this moment.

He needed an outlet for his emotions, a temporary haven, even if that haven was built on a volcano about to erupt.

The silence lasted only a moment, yet it felt like an eternity.

Hu Liena took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and her eyes regained their firmness.

She put down her wine bowl, gently sat down on the carpet next to Lin Xia, and reached out her hand, not to stop him from drinking more, but with a silent comfort, gently placing it on the back of his hand, where the veins were bulging from his exertion.

The movements were gentle, yet carried an undeniable sense of support.

Dugu Yan also took a deep breath, the shock in her eyes slowly subsiding, replaced by an almost reckless roguishness and concern.

She stopped worrying about the broken pastry, sat down cross-legged, picked up the wine jug, refilled Lin Xia's bowl, poured herself half a bowl, tilted her head back and took a big gulp. The spicy aroma of the wine seemed to dispel the chill in her heart.

"Tsk, this mess..."

She muttered something under her breath, without judgment, but with an air of "I'll risk my life to accompany you."

Ye Lingling didn't speak. She suppressed the brilliance of the Nine Heart Begonia, gently put down the book, and got up to walk to Lin Xia's other side.

She didn't touch him like Hu Liena did; instead, she quietly knelt down, her cool gaze fixed on Lin Xia, like a still lake, silently conveying the message "I am here." Her very presence was a powerful comfort.

They didn't offer empty words of comfort, nor did they attempt to Analytic the right or wrong of that shocking relationship.

At this moment, their presence, their silent acceptance, was the only lifeline Lin Xia had when she was drowning.

"Teacher... she's in so much pain... Rakshasa... she's crying..."

Lin Xia suddenly grabbed Hu Liena's hand, which was resting on the back of his hand, with such force that it made her frown slightly, but his eyes were unfocused, filled only with endless sorrow.

"Xue'er... she looked at me... like I was a monster... she told me to leave... she should hate me..."

Hu Liena gripped his cold, trembling hand tightly, conveying strength to him.

"Lin Xia, you're not the only one suffering. His Holiness the Pope and His Highness are both enduring... a great deal."

She didn't comment on whether the relationship was right or wrong; she simply stated the facts, letting him know that his pain was not isolated.

"Self-blame? What good is self-blame now!"

Dugu Yan took another swig of wine, her voice carrying a rough, straightforward quality that strangely pierced through Lin Xia's engrossed emotions.

"The situation has already blown up! Either we all perish together, or... we find a way out! Haven't you been saying you wanted to find a way out? Just drinking and complaining about the pain won't make a way out of a wine jug, will it?"

With the most straightforward words, she revealed the uncertain hope deep in Lin Xia's heart—to break free of shackles and find a way to coexist.

Ye Lingling's gaze remained calm as she looked at Lin Xia's pained and contorted face. Suddenly, she spoke softly, her voice flowing like a clear spring.

"The arising of love is not a sin. The struggle to survive is not a sin either."

Her voice was soft, yet it carried a power that went straight to the heart.

In the ancient tradition of the Nine Heart Begonia, the understanding of life transcends simple ethical constraints.

She did not judge whether Lin Xia's feelings for Bibi Dong or Qian Renxue were right or wrong; she simply clarified that the existence of such feelings and the resulting struggle for survival were not inherently sinful.

For Lin Xia, who was overwhelmed by immense guilt, this was like a ray of light.