"Mom, look! My First Soul Ring is a thousand-year one! Even Grandpa said I did really well!"
Qian Renxue gazed up at the figure before her, her eyes brimming with anticipation, her childish voice filled with an urgent longing for approval.
She deliberately released her martial soul, and the phantom of a Six-Winged Angel slowly unfurled behind her.
Golden holy light surged like a tide, bathing the surrounding white jade floor in a layer of dazzling radiance.
Amid the light, a deep purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring slowly rose from beneath her feet, resonating with it and giving off terrifying fluctuations.
"Mom, I got a new ability, too!"
When Bibi Dong still showed no reaction, Qian Renxue's little face paled, and she grew even more nervous. Her small fingers twisted together, then, as though something else had occurred to her, she tapped her head and pointed at her martial soul's wings, wanting her mother to see clearly.
"Mom, do you see? This part is a slightly different color now, and there are little flames, too!"
"This is my ability. It can burn away the sins in an enemy's heart. Grandpa said this Soul Skill of mine is especially powerful and will be really useful in the future!"
Having said it all in one breath, Qian Renxue had nothing more to introduce. She merely clutched the hem of her clothes nervously with her little hands, waiting for even the simplest word of praise.
Yet Bibi Dong merely swept a cold glance over her.
When those beautiful eyes touched upon the Angel Martial Soul behind Qian Renxue, even deeper disgust and rejection flashed through her already indifferent gaze.
Bibi Dong did not care about the little girl before her, so she could not even be bothered to conceal it. To her, Qian Renxue was an absolute bastard. Without her and her father, she would surely have been able to stay with Yu Xiaogang forever, living out a simple, happy life.
"Hmph. Utter nonsense."
Bibi Dong snorted coldly, unwilling to say even a few more words, and walked straight past Qian Renxue. The long hem of her purple dress snapped in the wind, and she showed no intention of stopping.
Qian Renxue froze in place.
The purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring still pulsed faintly beneath her feet, and the Angel Phantom behind her still radiated sacred golden light, but the little girl's face turned deathly pale in an instant. The light in her once-sparkling eyes dimmed little by little.
She stood there at a loss, her little hands hanging stiffly at her sides, her lips trembling slightly, yet unable to make a sound.
Only after a long while did she mechanically withdraw her martial soul, lower her head, and hug Chen Qianqiu tightly in her arms as she walked back in silence.
"Xiao Xue..." Chen Qianqiu ventured cautiously.
Qian Renxue did not respond, merely walking with her head lowered, her long golden hair hiding her expression.
"Xiao Xue, you've actually done really well already. Honestly..."
Chen Qianqiu tried to comfort her.
Still silence.
Chen Qianqiu could feel the little girl's body trembling faintly around him as she desperately held back her tears.
But the sorrow and hurt seeping from the softest depths of her heart could not be hidden. Before long, Chen Qianqiu felt teardrops falling one after another.
"Sigh."
With no other choice, Chen Qianqiu could only bring out his trump card.
He suddenly wriggled free of Qian Renxue's arms and beat his wings, performing all sorts of utterly ridiculous maneuvers in midair. Somersaults, spins-Chen Qianqiu racked his brains for circus acts from his previous life and threw them all in.
It really was humiliating, but he had no choice. A mouth fed by others could hardly speak freely; hands that took their gifts could hardly act freely. At worst, he would eat a few more basins of top-grade medicinal herbs later to make up for it.
"Watch my ultimate move!"
As Chen Qianqiu flew, he deliberately spoke in a very silly, adorable voice.
Qian Renxue finally raised her head and looked at the little black dragon desperately clowning around in midair.
At first, she froze for a moment. Then, at last, she could not help smiling, and light returned to her red, swollen eyes.
"Xiao Hei, you're so silly..."
She spoke softly, her voice still thick with tears.
Hearing this, Chen Qianqiu felt it was about enough. He flew back in front of her and clumsily wiped the tear tracks from her cheeks with his claws.
"A silly dragon and a silly girl. We're just right for each other."
Qian Renxue burst into a giggle, but as she laughed, tears began falling again.
Chen Qianqiu sighed, flew back into her arms, and looked earnestly into her eyes.
"Xiao Xue, listen to me. Love isn't something you can force. Don't yearn for approval from someone who doesn't love you at all. You'll only torment yourself until you're covered in wounds. It'll be so, so exhausting."
"Instead of desperately chasing someone who doesn't love you, cherish the people who truly care for you and love you."
Chen Qianqiu paused.
"Like your grandpa, and your father."
"What about you, Xiao Hei? Xiao Hei, are you one of those people? Will you always love me?"
The little golden-haired girl's voice was innocent, and her pure eyes looked straight into his heart, making Chen Qianqiu's heartbeat skip for an instant.
"Of course."
Chen Qianqiu nodded. Seeing this, Qian Renxue felt much better and nodded with only a hazy understanding.
But she still could not help asking:
"But Xiao Hei, she's my mom. Why does she hate me? Don't all the books say mothers love their own children most?"
"I know."
Chen Qianqiu circled through the air a few more times.
"But you have to remember that blood ties don't mean love. Some people might not love you even if the same blood flows through their veins. Xiao Xue, you need to learn to tell the difference, and you need to learn to let go."
"It's cruel, but sometimes love and hate are just that unreasonable. You have to accept the fact that your mother doesn't love you. I don't want you to keep deceiving yourself."
Qian Renxue said nothing more. She merely hugged Chen Qianqiu tightly and buried her little face against him.
By the time they finally returned to the room, Qian Renxue had mostly calmed down, and color had returned to her little face.
But soon, she remembered another matter that worried her.
"Xiao Hei."
Qian Renxue sat on the edge of the bed, anxiety appearing on her little face once more.
"Dad's going to capture a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast tomorrow. I'm really worried something will happen to him. I heard Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts are really, really powerful. What if Dad gets hurt?"
Just then, inspiration suddenly flashed through Chen Qianqiu's mind, and he thought of a method he had not considered before.
But this method did rather take advantage of Qian Renxue. He needed to discuss it with her.
"Xiao Xue, I have an idea."
After pondering for a moment, Chen Qianqiu decided to speak.
"What idea?" Qian Renxue's eyes lit up, and she leaned closer. Her Xiao Hei was not only adorable but also quick-witted and full of ideas.
"Tomorrow, first you mumble-mumble-mumble, then mumble-mumble-mumble, and finally mumble-mumble-mumble. That should pretty much do it. Got it?"
"Xiao Hei, you're a genius."
On the main road leading toward the Clear Sky Sect.
A vast procession was slowly advancing.