The light outside the door cast a shadow on the ground.
Qian Renxue turned around and looked up to see Bibi Dong's somewhat thin figure standing by the door.
It was like seeing a child.
Her hair was disheveled, her eyes were swollen, and her gaze was filled with panic.
Her tearful eyes, with tears brimming, swept over Qian Renxue and fell on Qian Renjue, who was crouched on the ground.
"Xiao Xue, Xiao Jue..."
Bibi Dong's hoarse voice echoed in the secret chamber, her footsteps faltering as she tried to approach.
But the blood on the bed seemed to remind her that she did not deserve to be there, by the children's side.
As he was searching for the Soul Absorbing Pearl on the ground, Qian Renjue looked up and turned to see Bibi Dong's presence.
His lips moved, but the light in his eyes quickly dimmed.
He continued to look down, using his Eye of Insight to carefully inspect the ground.
"Xiao Jue."
Bibi Dong's voice trembled, and her steps suddenly stopped, her face turning pale.
Her eyes were filled with panic, and her heart was frightened.
Her body trembled slightly.
Qian Renjue had never treated her with such indifference before.
Did he know something? Did Qian Daoliu tell them the truth?
Bibi Dong's breathing became rapid, and tears flowed uncontrollably.
Qian Renxue silently watched the scene.
Biting her lips, she felt a sense of lingering attachment to the past, but it was always accompanied by pain.
Bibi Dong wanted to move forward, but the blood on the ground seemed to glue her steps.
The chamber was extremely quiet, only the faint sounds of Bibi Dong's sobbing and Qian Renjue's rustling sound.
"Found it."
Finally, Qian Renjue, with tears in his eyes, blinked and murmured softly.
He quickly crawled to a corner and held the transparent pearl with the size of a ping pong ball.
He carefully examined it in his hand, the pure and flawless transparent pearl seemed to have faint golden rays.
Qian Renjue excitedly stood up quickly.
But he stumbled and accidentally fell to the ground.
"Xiao Jue!" "Jue!"
Bibi Dong's voice was filled with tears and muffled sobs.
Qian Renxue hurriedly called out and quickly went forward to help Qian Renjue up.
"Jue, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Sister."
Qian Renjue shook his head, stood up, and looked at Bibi Dong with tearful eyes.
He fixed his gaze on her for a while,
Then he walked towards the bloodstained bed, wanting to confirm something.
"Jue."
Qian Renxue did not know what Qian Renjue intended to do.
She just quietly accompanied him.
Qian Renjue stood by the bed, circling and inspecting the stone bed.
Bibi Dong's eyes showed guilt, trembling as if she wanted to escape.
When he looked at the bloodstains scattered around the scene, which seemed somewhat chaotic and frightening.
Qian Renjue couldn't understand.
It was not an instant fatal blow; why didn't Qian Xunjie eat the candy to save himself?
Wasn't Qian Xunjie most fond of staying with them?
Why did he want to die?
"Jue, what are you doing?!"
Qian Renxue looked at Qian Renjue lying on the cold bed with astonishment.
"..."
Qian Renjue said nothing.
He quietly lay in the place where Qian Xunjie last rested.
His index and thumb held the Soul Absorbing Pearl, and tears slid from his eyes.
Even if there were remnants of souls, Qian Xunjie would forever lie inside, immersed in darkness.
Bibi Dong stood by the door.
Seeing such a scene, her heart ached unbearably.
She felt a bit of regret in her heart, but it quickly faded and disappeared.
No matter what, she would kill Qian Xunji sooner or latter. This kind of thing was bound to happen
"Jue, let's go."
Qian Renxue also felt uncomfortable and gently wiped away Qian Renjue's tears.
She wiped his wet face with her sleeve and persuaded him to leave.
His teary eyes looked at the Soul Absorbing Pearl in his hand, when it suddenly bloom like a flower.
Qian Renjue's tears suddenly stopped.
He quickly sat up, grabbed Qian Renxue's soft hand, and spoke with a hoarse voice.
"Sister, let's go!"
"..."
Qian Renxue was stunned for a moment, then wiped her tears and nodded firmly.
"Okay."
Holding each others hand, they walked towards the door.
As Qian Renjue was about to pass Bibi Dong, he heard her crying voice.
"Xiao Jue, my son...."
Bibi Dong quickly reached out to stop Qian Renjue from leaving.
When Qian Renjue stopped to looked at what she was about doing, she withdraw her hand.
She turned around quickly to Qian Renxue and Qian Renjue with her back to them.
Her eyes held anticipation and even pleading.
In a sorrowful tone, she said, "Jue, Mom made some delicious food for you."
Bibi Dong took out some pastries from her Soul Tool and nervously handed them to Qian Renjue.
The chamber was silent for a few moments.
Qian Renjue glanced at the cream puffs that he liked and gently shook his head.
"Big sister, Jue doesn't have an appetite right now."
"But, but..."
Bibi Dong's voice was panicked, and Qian Renjue watched her quietly
Her eyes noticeably filled with more tears.
She hurriedly said, "Then, when you have an appetite, you can come to find Mom anytime. I'll make anything for you."
Qian Renjue's throat choked as he opened his mouth.
In the end, he nodded.
"Mm."
"Mom will always wait for you, just like you waited for Mom before."
Bibi Dong sobbed, and her heart felt like it being shredded. This made her realized that she was just an ordinary person.
She turned to look at Qian Renxue.
"Xiao Xue, take something you liked, okay?"
"..."
Qian Renxue was silent for a moment.
It was the first time she saw Bibi Dong like this.
In her impression, Bibi Dong was always dignified, noble, and strong, never did she appeared this weak.
Qian Renxue couldn't help but feel some pity.
Qian Renjue noticed that her hands gripped stronger than before
"Thank you, big sister."
Qian Renxue reached out to take the pastries and put them into the soul device necklace around her neck.
Only then did the force that Qian Renjue felt disappeared
The two walked past Bibi Dong.
"I'm sorry."
Bibi Dong's eyes were red.
She seemed devoid of strength, covering her face and collapsing, sitting on the ground.
In the empty chamber, she sobbed alone, without anyone by her side.
--
Qian Renjue dragged Qian Renxue without looking back, he quickly walked out of the Pope's Palace.
Before resolving the doubts in his heart, Qian Renjue didn't know how to face Bibi Dong.
"Jue, where are we going next?"
Qian Renxue closely followed, seemingly taking on the role of the younger sister.
"To find Sister Chrysanthemum"
Qian Renjie held the Soul Searching Pearl in his hand and said softly.
" Chrysanthemum Douluo?!"
Qian Renxue was puzzled.
...
Soon.
The two arrived at Chrysanthemum courtyard.
They retrieved what they needed.
Chrysanthemum Douluo stood by the flower rack, looking apologetic.
"Young Master Jue, I am truly sorry. My skills are lacking; I only managed to keep one plant alive."
Qian Renjue, holding a potted plant, gently shook his head.
"It's okay. One is enough."
Seeing that the siblings looked much more haggard than a few days ago, Chrysanthemum Douluo felt deeply remorseful.
It was their failure to keep Tang Hao in check and to safeguard Qian Xunjie.
"Miss Xue, Young Master Jue, please accept my condolences."
"Rest assured, I will make sure the Clear Sky Clan pays for their blood debts!"
Qian Renxue nodded slightly.
"Thank you, Chrysanthemum Douluo. I wish you a successful return."
As Qian Renjue was fiddling with the flowers, he suddenly looked up.
He instructed, "Sister Chrysanthemum, if my mom also joins the battle, you must protect her."
"Young Master Jue, please rest assured. We will protect the Saintess!"
A raspy voice spoke, and a ghostly figure appeared in the courtyard.
Kneeling on one knee in front of Qian Renjue.
"If there are any accidents, we are willing to die to atone for our mistakes!"
"Old Ghost is right!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo followed closely.
This was their chance to atone for their sins.
Even if Qian Renjue did not mention it, they would not dare to let the Saintess suffer any mishap.
Qian Renjue gently shook his head.
"Grandpa Ghost, Sister Chrysanthemum, there is no need for such formality. Just do your best."
--
7/10