Mother and Daughter

The two of them headed to the Worship Hall together. There, Qian Daoliu, the Grand Priest and the true pillar of Spirit Hall, was playing with Qian Renxue.

"Xiao Xue, go back to your room for a while, all right? Grandpa has something to take care of." Qian Daoliu had sensed two figures flying toward the Worship Hall: Qian Xunji and that woman. He had also sensed everything Bibi Dong had done earlier.

He did not know why his son had brought her here, but he could not let that woman, fresh from her fit of madness, see Xiao Xue. What if she hurled abuse at the girl?

Qian Renxue, who had just thrown herself into his arms, nodded reluctantly. She let go of his robe and went into her room.

"Father, where's Xiao Xue?" Qian Xunji asked with a bow.

"Why did you bring her here to see Xiao Xue?" Qian Daoliu looked the two of them over, displeased. Had his foolish son been talked into this? Had he really brought Bibi Dong to the Worship Hall to find Xiao Xue?

"I want to see Xiao Xue, Father."

"It's not as though you haven't seen her in years. You can see her another time. Go deal with your official duties for now. I'll send Xiao Xue to you when you have a break," Qian Daoliu said, dismissing him.

Only then did Qian Xunji realize that bringing Bibi Dong here might not have been wise. His father still did not trust Dong'er. For that matter, neither did he, entirely.

But if he secretly brought Xiao Xue to see Dong'er tonight, without his father watching, what would happen if something went wrong? He might not be able to stop it.

How could he persuade his father to let Xiao Xue see Dong'er? He could not tell him everything. The risk was too great. Who knew whether his father would still be his father in the next moment?

Qian Xunji was about to try persuading Qian Daoliu bit by bit when—

Thud!

"Grand Priest! I've realized my mistakes, and I've made peace with my teacher. Please allow me to see Xiao Xue!"

Bibi Dong had actually dropped to her knees before Qian Daoliu to admit her fault!

The other two were stunned. Qian Xunji recovered quickly. He knew that, given Bibi Dong's nature, she would never kneel and apologize to Qian Daoliu merely because she had admitted she was wrong. She was doing this because she desperately wanted to see Xiao Xue.

She truly was the most ruthless person in the original story!

Qian Daoliu stared at her trembling, kneeling figure, equally bewildered. He turned to Qian Xunji in surprise and confusion, then condensed his Soul Power into a fine thread of sound that reached his son's ear.

"What exactly did you two talk about? Why is she so eager to see Xiao Xue after that fit of madness? Have you really made peace?"

Qian Xunji replied through the same means.

"Father, we've more or less made peace. Trust me. Let her see Xiao Xue. We'll both watch from the side. Nothing will happen."

Qian Daoliu fell silent for a moment, then used his Soul Power to lift Bibi Dong to her feet.

"Jier wronged you back then. You owe neither him nor me an apology. The only person you've wronged is Xiao Xue."

He then sent a message to Qian Renxue in her room, telling her to come out.

"Grandpa!" Qian Renxue ran out happily, but the moment she entered the hall and saw that her father and mother were there too, she slowed. Her expression and movements grew awkward.

"Dad, Mo..." Qian Renxue hesitated. She was afraid her mother would look at her with contempt, disgust, and resentment. She was afraid her mother would call her a bastard or a little beast again. After one fearful glance at Bibi Dong, she lowered her head and fell silent.

The sight made Bibi Dong's heart ache so badly she could barely breathe. How much had her daughter suffered all these years because of her?

"Xiao Xue!" Bibi Dong could hold back no longer. She rushed to Qian Renxue in tears and wrapped her tightly in her arms.

"Mom!" Qian Renxue froze for a moment. She did not know why her mother had suddenly embraced her, but as she felt the warmth of her mother's arms, all her fear turned into hurt and love.

As they watched the tender scene, Qian Daoliu and Qian Xunji stood ready to act at any moment. At the slightest sign that something was wrong with Bibi Dong, they would move against her.

Qian Daoliu had even summoned the Heaven-Measuring Sword. He held it behind his back, his palm sweating and his hand trembling with tension.

Neither knew how long passed. Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue remained in each other's arms, exchanging words of concern and comfort. Qian Xunji stood beside them, stroking Qian Renxue's little head.

Qian Daoliu had long since disappeared from sight, but he continued to watch from the shadows, keeping his guard up.

"Xiao Xue, would you like to sleep with Mom tonight?" Bibi Dong asked, gently stroking Qian Renxue's cheek. Her eyes were red.

Qian Renxue was about to agree, but she hesitated and looked up at Qian Xunji instead. Her large, watery eyes were full of pleading and hope.

Qian Xunji took a deep breath, then nodded.

"Sleep with Mom tonight, Xiao Xue. Listen to what she says." Qian Xunji stroked her head with stiff fingers. He did not know whether he had made the right choice. He could only hope Bibi Dong's change of heart was real.

That night, Qian Xunji had already arranged a new room for Bibi Dong.

At the door, he crouched down and stroked Qian Renxue's head.

"Xiao Xue, listen to Mom and don't make her sad. She's been through a lot over the years, all right? Sleep with her tonight."

"What about you, Dad? Aren't you sleeping with us?" Qian Renxue asked, curious and hopeful. She knew there had been trouble between her parents, but now she thought they might have made peace. She wanted to sleep beside them both.

Qian Xunji glanced up at Bibi Dong in embarrassment. It was already wonderful that Xiao Xue and Dong'er had reconciled today. If he went in and provoked her, they might end up fighting in front of Xiao Xue. That would be awful.

"Ahem. Xiao Xue, Dad has something to do tonight. I'll sleep with you and Mom another night, all right?"

"Mm-hmm, okay! Go to bed early too, Dad!" Qian Renxue waved goodbye to him and went into the room, holding her mother's hand.

"Go to bed early, huh..." Qian Xunji gave a self-mocking chuckle. He would be keeping watch outside the door all night. He could not let his guard down for a second.

The moment Qian Renxue entered the room, Qian Daoliu appeared.

"Have you really made peace with Bibi Dong?"

"Maybe. At least she won't take her anger at me out on Xiao Xue anymore."

Qian Daoliu nodded, then asked again what had happened today.

Qian Xunji gave him a selective account. He did not intend to tell his father about the memories that had awakened. The more people who knew, the more uncertain things would become.

Qian Daoliu could tell his son was hiding something, and he was displeased. But remembering how happy Xiao Xue had been today, he chose to trust his son's judgment.

"They're mother and daughter. It wouldn't be right for me to watch them sleep with my Soul Power. You keep an eye on them tonight. I'll stay here with you."

"Xiao Xue has the best chance in countless years of inheriting the Divine Ancestor's divine position. If anything happens to her, you can answer to the Divine Ancestor yourself."

With that, he sat down cross-legged and began to meditate.

Qian Xunji nodded awkwardly and sat down cross-legged as well. He closed his eyes, but kept his Soul Power trained on every movement inside the room.

And so a strange sight appeared in Spirit Hall: Qian Daoliu, the former Pope and current Grand Priest, sat meditating on one side of the doorway.

On the other side sat the current Pope, Qian Xunji. Together, they stood guard over the room like a pair of door gods.

Fortunately, the maids, guards, and everyone else had been sent away beforehand. If anyone saw them like this, they would probably need a new face afterward.

Qian Xunji sighed. The moment he had seen Xiao Xue today, he had found himself thinking of her story in the original work. That revolting ninth trial had surely been Poseidon's doing behind the scenes.

Just thinking about it made irritation surge through him. Damn Poseidon! This time, he would never let it happen.

Then he remembered that Xiao Xue had wanted to recruit Tang San even though, as far as she knew, he had killed her father. His heart sank. His precious little girl was going soft on him.

This time, he would raise Xiao Xue properly. He would not let her become a fool for love again.