Different Thoughts

"Legendary king of taking abuse, enjoy yourself while you can. Your turn to cry will come," Qian Renxue sneered inwardly.

The thought of what she was about to do filled Qian Renxue with delight. The frustration she had built up earlier vanished like smoke.

Qian Renxue began her story:

"I have a friend from a wealthy family. He was born with Innate Full Soul Power and became a Soul Douluo at a young age. But he fell in love with an ordinary man who still hadn't advanced beyond Soul Grandmaster at fifty.

"That man was plain-looking, but he often came to see my friend. He made up all kinds of stories to cheer her up and held forth in front of her about life, his ambitions, and their future.

"My friend didn't look down on him. Again and again, she met him in secret behind her family's back, so lost in their beautiful romance that she couldn't pull herself free."

As Qian Renxue spoke, her chest rose and fell sharply. Tears glimmered in her eyes, and soft sobs escaped her lips.

Bibi Dong frowned slightly, her gaze sweeping over Qian Renxue.

It's only your friend, not you. Why are you so worked up?

Bibi Dong pondered for a moment. Then something seemed to occur to her, and shock swept through her.

Could the friend you're talking about actually be you?

Bibi Dong looked at Qian Renxue's face. The pain there did not seem feigned, leaving Bibi Dong with a tangle of feelings. Even the disgust in her eyes faded without her noticing.

Qian Renxue, Qian Renxue. How could you fall for that kind of trash? Your taste is terrible.

Bibi Dong kept her expression impassive. Leaning sideways against her throne with her chin propped on one hand, she said coolly:

"Go on!"

Bibi Dong had no intention of exposing Qian Renxue.

After all, Qian Renxue was not yet twenty. How much could a child understand about love?

This was something Bibi Dong would have to handle herself.

Hold it in. I can't laugh now. I can't give myself away!

But what does that look in her eyes mean? Why does it make me feel even more uncomfortable?

Bibi Dong was watching Qian Renxue, but Qian Renxue was watching Bibi Dong just as closely.

Whenever their eyes met, though, Qian Renxue felt a strange sense of absurdity.

Never mind. I'll finish the task my dear grandson gave me first.

Qian Renxue steadied herself and took several slow breaths.

She suppressed her excitement, settled her breathing, and continued:

"Then one day, I happened to meet that man. Only then did I learn he had been lying to my friend all along.

"He bought those stories from a street vendor, using the money my friend had given him.

"Everything he knew came from the books in my friend's family collection. Whenever he held forth in front of her, he only wanted to show off what he'd learned and feed his pitiful vanity.

"To him, my friend was just a fool with more money than sense—someone who gave him Gold Soul Coins and books from her family collection, and indulged his unreasonable demands.

"He's selfish, hypocritical trash. He approached my friend with an ulterior motive. After that, he spent time with her and made her happy only because he didn't want to lose those benefits.

"He never loved my friend, not from the very beginning.

"I discovered the truth, but I don't know how to tell my friend."

Qian Renxue swallowed. She stared straight at Bibi Dong, confusion on her face and a searching look in her eyes, then asked:

"Big sister, you know a lot. Can you tell me what I should do to make my friend see the truth?"

Nothing in the world pleased Bibi Dong more than Qian Renxue's approval and praise.

At that moment, Bibi Dong's heart was bursting with joy.

Those words—"you know a lot"—coming from Qian Renxue's mouth left her dazed for an instant.

Bibi Dong's thoughts raced as she pieced together what Qian Renxue really meant.

So Qian Renxue had discovered she'd been deceived and had come to her for comfort.

She was still a child, after all. She could hardly bear a blow like this.

Scum who toyed with someone's feelings deserved a death sentence the moment they were found out.

"Heh..."

Contempt crossed Bibi Dong's face. She shifted position, sat up straight, and said with a sneer:

"Your friend is a fool through and through. If she can't see through a trick that would fool a child, she might as well die.

"Qian Renxue, I'd advise you to stay away from a fool like that. You might catch her stupidity."

Bibi Dong showed Qian Renxue no kindness. Taking the opening, she tore into the "friend" Qian Renxue had described.

If Qian Renxue had come to her for comfort, she would find none.

Qian Renxue had expected Bibi Dong's mockery, but hearing it still hurt.

I came to you for advice. Couldn't you be a little gentler and give me a way to solve this?

At the same time, the last trace of pity Qian Renxue felt for Bibi Dong disappeared.

My dear grandson was right. This woman is beyond saving. She needs strong medicine and a harsh lesson.

Qian Renxue raised her chin and said firmly:

"Your Holiness, I came to ask your advice, not listen to your nonsense."

That instantly stirred Bibi Dong's competitive streak.

Oh, so you come asking for advice and still act this haughty? I'll show you.

Bibi Dong gave a soft snort, lifted her pale neck slightly, and said with a sneer:

"Qian Renxue, is that how you ask someone for help?"

Now that Bibi Dong had caught Qian Renxue in this position, she had no intention of letting her off so easily.

Azure Luan and Guang Ling exchanged a glance. Each saw the other's unease.

In the past, they would have stepped forward without hesitation to back Qian Renxue up.

Bibi Dong might be Pope, but she had no authority over either of them.

This time, however, both remained silent throughout.

Afraid Guang Ling might intervene, Azure Luan warned him through a voice transmission, "Fifth Brother, don't interrupt them."

"I know. But I never thought the conflict between them had grown this bad. Are they still mother and daughter?"

Even Guang Ling, who had yet to outgrow his childlike nature, understood that this was a struggle between mother and daughter. He had no place interfering.

Azure Luan sighed. "With a mother like that, the young mistress must have suffered all these years."

Qian Daoliu had never told a third person the truth of what had happened back then. Across the entire continent, only four people knew: Qian Zong, Qian Renxue, Bibi Dong, and Qian Daoliu.

Qian Daoliu had always felt guilty toward Bibi Dong. From his position, he would never reveal the truth.

As the people directly involved, Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue would never air their family's shame in public, either.

As for Qian Zong, more than five hundred generations separated him from Qian Renxue, but his bloodline had undergone a reversion to its ancestral form and could resonate with Angel Divine Power.

Round things off a little, and it counted as his family business too. He would not go around spreading it.

The truth behind Bibi Dong's pregnancy, now or in the future, would never be known to anyone beyond the four of them.

Guang Ling seethed with indignation on Qian Renxue's behalf:

"I'd like to put an arrow through Bibi Dong's skull and see what's inside it. How can she treat her own daughter this way?"

"Sigh..." Azure Luan sighed and warned him again. "Fifth Brother, we just watch. Don't do anything rash."

"I know."