Leaving!

Before he could finish, Qian Renxue threw her arms tightly around his waist.

The girl's shoulders trembled slightly, but she kept her voice steady:

"Grandpa, take care."

Qian Daoliu closed his eyes, feeling the slender back in his arms. At last, an old man's tear escaped and fell onto the crown of Qian Renxue's head, spreading into a small, dark patch.

"Go." He patted her back, his voice as soft as a sigh. "Grandpa will wait for you to come home."

The wheels rumbled dully over the bluestone streets of Martial Soul Holy City.

Qian Renxue lifted the carriage curtain and watched the familiar city gates shrink in the distance. Finally, unable to hold back, she said to She Long and Ci Xue, who were driving:

"Stop."

"Young mistress?"

She Long drew in the reins, a trace of surprise in his eyes.

Qian Renxue offered no further explanation and jumped straight out of the carriage.

The earth beneath her feet carried the distinctive scent of the Holy City. She took a deep breath, walked straight to the old locust tree beside the road, and slowly knelt.

Her skirt spread across the cool ground. She lifted her face toward the sky and its shifting clouds, her voice as light as a breeze, yet carrying an unmistakable stubbornness:

"Mom, I don't know whether you can hear me, but I still want to tell you."

The wind brushed through the ends of her hair, scattering her words into the air.

She paused, her fingertips clutching her skirt so tightly that her knuckles turned white:

"No matter how you treat me, you are still the mother I love. As long as you ask, I'll do anything."

"Even... even if it means standing against the whole world."

She Long and Ci Xue stood silently nearby without approaching to disturb her.

Only after a long while did Qian Renxue slowly rise, brush the dust from her knees, and turn to the two men:

"Let's go."

Once their figures had vanished completely around the street corner, a violet-gray figure landed soundlessly where Qian Renxue had just stood.

"Xiao Xue!"

Bibi Dong repeated the name softly, the end of it trembling slightly.

The wind swept up her violet-gray robes, making them snap and flutter, yet the sound could not conceal the sob in her voice.

She raised a hand to her chest. Her heart beat fast and hard beneath it, as though accusing her of saying one thing while feeling another.

"Mom has wronged you!"

"Forgive Mom..."

Bibi Dong closed her eyes. At last, a tear broke free and struck the bluestone pavement.

"Your Holiness! Why not catch up with Koyuki and say goodbye?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan appeared beside Bibi Dong, a measure of caution in his voice.

"Say goodbye?"

Bibi Dong slowly turned. She had already wiped away the moisture at the corners of her eyes, leaving only her usual indifference, though a lingering trace of hoarseness remained hidden in her voice:

"What should I say? Wish her a smooth journey, or tell her not to push herself?"

Yue Guan opened his mouth to say something, only to be stopped by the complicated emotions that flashed through her eyes.

Having served at the Pope's side for years, he naturally knew that her feelings for Qian Renxue had never been as cold as they appeared.

But that love was wrapped in layer upon layer of hatred and pride, buried so deep that even she could barely see it anymore.

"Your Holiness!" Yue Guan finally could not help saying softly.

"Those things Koyuki said just now... you heard them all. She does hold you in her heart!"

Bibi Dong's fingertips suddenly trembled. Her grip on the Pope's Scepter tightened, its carved patterns pressing painfully into her palm.

She turned her face away and looked toward the towering spires of Martial Soul Holy City, her voice as light as a breeze:

"I heard her. What difference does that make?"

The wind swept fallen leaves past her feet. Bibi Dong turned and walked back, her violet-gray figure casting a shadow across the stone pavement.

After a few steps, however, she stopped again, speaking so quietly that only Yue Guan beside her could hear:

"Have Ghost Douluo follow them in secret."

Yue Guan froze, then hurriedly bowed:

"Yes, Your Holiness."

Watching Bibi Dong's receding figure, Yue Guan let out a soft breath.

He knew that this seemingly stonehearted Pope ultimately could not escape her own heart as a mother.

Meanwhile, Qian Renxue and her companions had traveled for about five minutes when a figure appeared ahead of them.

"Young mistress! His Holiness the Pope's disciple, Su Yu, is up ahead. Shall we stop?"

Qian Renxue had been gazing absently at the scenery flying past her window. At She Long's voice, she looked up.

A figure in blue robes stood at the fork ahead. It was Su Yu.

He was carrying a cloth bundle. Seeing the carriage approach, he hurried forward a couple of steps with a somewhat awkward smile.

"Stop!"

"Yes, young mistress!"

Qian Renxue stepped out of the carriage and looked at Su Yu, asking with some puzzlement:

"What are you doing here?"

"Hey, we're friends now, aren't we? How could I not come to see you off?"

"I even brought you a surprise. Say something nice, and I'll give it to you!"

Qian Renxue froze for a moment, then her cheeks grew slightly warm, and she turned her face away awkwardly:

"Wh-who are you calling a little tsundere puppy..."

She paused, glanced at the bulging bag in Su Yu's hand, and softened her voice.

"...Thank you for coming to see me off. Will that do?"

"That's more like it!"

Su Yu whistled toward the back of a nearby tree, and a gray figure came running out.

"Little Gray!"

Qian Renxue crouched in delight. Little Gray happily leaped into her arms and licked her cheek.

Woof! Woof, woof! Woof, woof, woof! Woof!

Little Gray's leap made Qian Renxue stagger, but her eyes curved with her smile as she reached out to rub the dog's fluffy head:

"Little Gray, why are you here too? Did you sneak out after Su Yu?"

Little Gray nuzzled back and forth in her arms, tail wagging like a little motor.

Affectionate whimpers rose from the dog's throat, as though answering her question.

Sunlight spilled through the leaves onto the girl and the dog, warm and gentle.

Qian Renxue's smile grew even brighter, and even her gaze toward Su Yu softened considerably:

"At least you have a bit of a conscience. You knew I missed Little Gray most."

"Of course. After all, Little Gray was someone's very first friend. I only come second!"

Qian Renxue stood with Little Gray in her arms, tapped the dog's nose with a fingertip, then shot Su Yu a sidelong glance, a smile on her lips:

"What nonsense. How could Little Gray and you be the same?"

Despite her words, she could not hide the smile in her eyes, and even her voice grew a little lighter.

Little Gray seemed displeased at being used for comparison and wriggled in her arms.

The dog rubbed a wet nose against her chin, letting out aggrieved little whimpers.

Qian Renxue rubbed Little Gray's head, handed the dog to Su Yu, and turned toward the carriage:

"I'm leaving."

"Take care on the road!"

Holding Little Gray, Su Yu watched her step up into the carriage.

"Mm! You'd better take good care of Little Gray, or I won't let you off lightly when I get back!"

"Don't worry, little tsundere puppy! I'll take good care of your Little Gray. Isn't that right, Little Gray?"

Qian Renxue had already stepped onto the carriage footboard. At his words, she turned and glared at Su Yu, though a faint blush rose in her cheeks:

"Who are you calling a little tsundere puppy!"

Despite her words, the corners of her mouth could not help lifting slightly.

"Remember what you said. If Little Gray loses even a pound, just see how I deal with you."