In the back garden of the Crown Prince's Estate.
Qian Renxue sat upright on Li Xun's lap, her slender arms around his neck. Her bright eyes stared at the Heavenly Screen, where Bibi Dong stood in the Divine Realm, cold and aloof.
Spirit Hall's leaders knew only that she was at odds with Bibi Dong and was determined to overthrow her, take control of Spirit Hall, and become its exalted Pope.
But only Qian Renxue knew what lay beneath her stubborn, icy exterior: a longing she had never shared with anyone.
She yearned for a mother's love. Even her years undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire had been for the sake of earning a word of approval and a little tenderness from Bibi Dong.
Watching the distance between mother and daughter on the Heavenly Screen brought years of hurt surging back. Qian Renxue's nose stung. She lowered her head and buried her face deep in Li Xun's warm, solid chest, quietly drawing comfort from him.
Li Xun knew she was hurting. He gently stroked her soft golden hair, saying nothing as he soothed the dispirited young woman in his arms.
They stayed like that for a long time before Li Xun finally broke the silence.
"Xue'er, I have to leave in a couple of days. I'm afraid it'll be a year or two before I can come back."
Qian Renxue stiffened. She lifted her head from his chest, panic and disbelief filling her golden eyes. "Where are you going? Why will it take so long?"
Li Xun held her gaze, his voice steady and grave. "Slaughter City."
"No! I won't agree to it!"
Qian Renxue protested at once. Worry filled her eyes, and she began to struggle instinctively in his arms.
As Spirit Hall's young mistress and the bearer of