Chapter 147: A Mother's Love and a Daughter's Rebellion
In the Pope's Palace.
Bibi Dong, dressed in her lavish pope's robes, sat in the main seat, her sharp gaze fixed on Qian Renxue, who had reverted to her feminine attire, bearing a striking resemblance to her.
Qian Renxue didn't back down, her eyebrows raised and her phoenix eyes wide with anger as she returned Bibi Dong's hateful glare.
"Was it you who did this to Yu Xiaogang?"
Bibi Dong's icy voice echoed through the hall, barely concealing her murderous intent.
Although Bibi Dong didn't know Yu Xiaogang had once tried to see her, she had learned from Salas's report listing the instructors and students of various academies that Yu Xiaogang was now the coach for Shrek Academy.
When the team from the Heaven Dou Empire arrived in Spirit City, Bibi Dong's long-buried feelings from twenty years ago unexpectedly resurfaced. On a dark night, she secretly entered the hotel where Shrek Academy was staying, hoping to catch even a glimpse of Yu Xiaogang.
But as soon as she entered the room, she saw a pitiful sight.
Through conversations between Flender, Liu Erlong, and Yu Xiaogang, she learned that Yu Xiaogang had arrived early in Spirit City to try to see her, only to be driven out and beaten by the palace guards.
In her fury, Bibi Dong immediately ordered an investigation, and soon had her answer.
She found that the instigators were Jin Cang and Qian Gu XX, both direct affiliates of the Worship Hall. It became clear to her that Qian Renxue must have orchestrated the whole thing.
Thinking about Yu Xiaogang, who was left with broken limbs, lying helplessly in bed and even relying on Liu Erlong to feed him, a trace of pain flashed across Bibi Dong's face, and she looked at Qian Renxue with even greater anger.
Qian Renxue, noticing the concealed pain in Bibi Dong's angry gaze, smirked triumphantly.
It seemed what Xiao Yu had told her was true—Bibi Dong, so this is your weakness!
Instead of answering Bibi Dong's question directly, Qian Renxue questioned her in return: "If I'm not mistaken, during the ambush against the Heaven Dou Empire's team en route to Spirit City, the target was supposed to be Tang Hao's son, Tang San. So why did all the Titled Douluo elders go after Nine Star Academy?"
Bibi Dong's expression shifted slightly as she defended herself, "Nine Star Hall is filled with experts. I was worried that their hidden forces might interfere and disrupt our mission to eliminate the target!"
Qian Renxue's eyes gleamed with amusement. "There's no one here but us, so why keep up the act, dear sister?"
She dragged out the last two words, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Bibi Dong was instantly infuriated, leaping up. "Yes, my target was indeed Xiao Yu! This failure only reinforces my belief that the mysterious power of Nine Star Hall is potentially a match for Spirit Hall's. Such a force must be eliminated, or it will inevitably become a major threat to us!"
"So, based on your suspicions, you're willing to bring a powerful enemy to Spirit Hall?"
Qian Renxue's aura matched Bibi Dong's as she retorted loudly, "Xiao Yu not only concealed my identity in front of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, but he also helped me secure my position in the Heaven Dou Empire. His sincerity is met with your mistrust? Bibi Dong, are you trying to push Spirit Hall to ruin!"
Looking at her daughter arguing with her, Bibi Dong felt as if she were looking at herself twenty years ago. A soft spot deep within her was touched—though only for an instant.
Towards her daughter, who shared her blood, resentment and frustration always outweighed any love. "So much trust in him… Could it be that you have feelings for him? I've heard this boy already has two close female companions—one from the Nine-Hearted Begonia Clan and another the heiress of Blazing Academy!"
"This is none of your concern!"
Whether out of defiance or genuine feeling, Qian Renxue boldly admitted before Bibi Dong, "Yes, I do have feelings for him. This Spirit Master Tournament is my way of testing him. If he can defeat me and win the championship, I'll accept his pursuit!"
"No, absolutely not! I refuse to allow it!" Bibi Dong, once again on the verge of a breakdown, nearly flew into a frenzy. It was unclear how much sedative it would take to calm her down.
Qian Renxue gazed coldly at Bibi Dong's crazed demeanor and said icily, "What right do you have to refuse? The only one who can decide for me is Grandfather. He's the only family I acknowledge!"
After saying this, Qian Renxue seemed to lose all patience, turning and walking away.
Bibi Dong was momentarily stunned, wanting to call her back, but the words caught in her throat, leaving her unable to utter a sound.
"Oh, one more thing!"
Qian Renxue reached the hall doors, stopping without looking back. "What happened to Yu Xiaogang this time was just a warning. If you dare make a move against Xiao Yu again, I will make sure Yu Xiaogang disappears from this world entirely. Let's see which is easier—you killing Xiao Yu, or me killing a Rank 29 waste!"
"You wouldn't dare!"
Hearing Qian Renxue use Yu Xiaogang as leverage, Bibi Dong's complex emotions shifted to pure anger. After all, to her, nothing was more important than Yu Xiaogang.
"Try me."
With a cold final remark, Qian Renxue pushed open the doors and left without another word.
"Guards!"
Once Qian Renxue was out of sight, Bibi Dong struck the armrest of her throne in fury, calling out in a loud voice.
The two Douluo guards, Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo, rushed in, both nervous and careful, fearful of becoming targets of Bibi Dong's wrath.
They hadn't dared to eavesdrop on the conversation between Bibi Dong and her daughter, but from Qian Renxue's expression as she left and the barely-contained anger in Bibi Dong's voice, they could guess that the mother-daughter exchange had been anything but pleasant.
Fortunately, Bibi Dong didn't vent her frustration on them. Taking a deep breath to quell her anger, she commanded, "Arrange this immediately: ensure Nine Star Academy faces strong opponents in every round of the tournament. I want their capabilities exposed fully."
With Xiao Yu, a Spirit Emperor with six rings, in their team, Bibi Dong didn't expect the other academy teams to eliminate them.
The only person capable of matching Xiao Yu was Qian Renxue herself, so Nine Star Academy's entry into the finals was practically guaranteed. Bibi Dong's goal was simply to probe the strength of Xiao Yu's teammates to prepare Spirit Hall Academy's team for a decisive encounter in the finals.
"Yes!"
Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo accepted the order and left. Although the Spirit Master Tournament publicly claimed to be absolutely fair and jointly supervised by Spirit Hall, the Heaven Dou Empire, and the Star Luo Empire, that was mostly for show.
If Spirit Hall wanted to manipulate things behind the scenes, they had plenty of ways to avoid detection.
Moreover, among the three supervising parties, Spirit Hall itself was naturally above scrutiny. On the Heaven Dou Empire's side, though Qian Renxue was participating in the tournament, the one stationed there was just a substitute, who would never dare question Spirit Hall's authority.
As for the Star Luo Empire, they and the Heaven Dou Empire were long-time rivals. In the original story, the two empires only cooperated because the Spirit Empire had grown to threaten their survival. Currently, Spirit Hall was still a neutral soul master organization, and neither empire felt an imminent existential threat, so they continued to view each other as enemies. Even if Star Luo representatives noticed Spirit Hall targeting the Heaven Dou Empire's teams, they would likely keep silent.
(Chapter End)
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