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After being kicked out of the seventh floor of the library, Hu Liena's small body tumbled down the stairs, rolling down twelve steps before crashing into the wall between the sixth and seventh floors. The staircase, designed in a serpentine layout, echoed with the clanging sound of the token she had been flaunting as it fell to the ground.
Once pristine and elegant, Hu Liena was now covered in dust. Her delicate and adorable face bore a clear shoeprint, blood dripped from her nose, and her cherry-red lips were bitten during the fall, leaving a trace of blood.
"Brother," Qian Renxue called out tentatively, startled. She was confused. Her brother wasn't the type to hit little girls. Over the past nine years, the most he had done was lightly knock her on the head.
Although Hu Liena's words had been irritating and displayed an utter lack of self-awareness, they were still the naive ramblings of a six-year-old with a strong sense of possessiveness, likely influenced by adults. It was understandable. But why did her brother act so harshly, even going so far as to kick her in the face?
Qian Renhan's expression remained indifferent, his eyes narrowing slightly. Qian Renxue's guess wasn't wrong—he had identified Hu Liena as soon as he heard her voice while putting the bamboo slip away. But he hadn't been overly concerned. After all, she was nothing more than a foolish, love-struck little fox who lacked self-awareness.
Initially, he had no intention of stooping to her level. However, her last remark, "I will become the next Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall," had pushed him past his limit.
What arrogance! She had been taken in by Spirit Hall, fed, sheltered, and slightly favored by Bibi Dong, and yet she dared to dream of becoming the next Holy Maiden—the successor to the Pope, and the future leader of Spirit Hall. Did she truly believe she could claim the foundation of their family?
Don't talk about her being too young to understand. By entering the seventh floor and making such statements, it was evident Bibi Dong had already taught her the basics. Hu Liena clearly understood what the title of Holy Maiden represented. She was likely being groomed to learn the critical knowledge stored on the seventh floor before heading to the Spirit Academy.
Even a dog knows to wag its tail at its owner and bark at strangers. This fox clearly didn't know who truly owned Spirit Hall, nor why the siblings were called the Young Masters of the Hall.
"Who let this person into the seventh floor?" Qian Renhan asked coldly as he stepped out of the library, addressing the two Spirit Douluos stationed at the entrance.
"Young Master, she had the Pope's token, so we…" The two Spirit Douluos bowed deeply, their voices trembling. While they were fearless even before a Titled Douluo elder, they dared not offend the young master.
"From now on, this person is forbidden from setting foot on the seventh floor of the library. She is unworthy," Qian Renhan declared firmly, leaving no room for argument.
"But Young Master, the Pope…" The two Spirit Douluos broke out in a cold sweat, caught between the young master and the acting Pope. They couldn't afford to offend either.
"The Pope? You mean that woman?"
With a wave of his hand, Qian Renhan summoned the token that had fallen from Hu Liena's grasp. Holding it, he clenched his hand, crushing the token until it was unrecognizable.
Although the token was crafted from special materials, its hardness was only average. If it were truly indestructible, it would have been stored in a soul tool for safekeeping, not carried as a mere accessory.
Qian Renhan tossed the mangled token onto Hu Liena and said coldly, "Get lost. If you have any complaints, let that woman come find me herself."
Hu Liena, her face still marked by a shoeprint, met Qian Renhan's icy, emotionless crimson eyes. In that moment, her idolized image of him shattered. Overcome by humiliation, she burst into tears and ran out of the library, heading straight for the Pope's Palace.
"What bad luck. My mood for reading is ruined," Qian Renhan muttered as he returned the bamboo slip to its place and walked out of the library.
"Brother, you're not reading anymore?" Qian Renxue asked.
Without turning around, Qian Renhan replied curtly, "Soon, a certain someone will come looking for trouble. Do you think it's wise for me to stay in the library?"
"Oh…"
With her brother gone, Qian Renxue no longer felt like reading either. However, compared to her earlier frustration and jealousy, her emotions had settled somewhat.
In the Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong was meticulously handling affairs. She needed to manage everything flawlessly to gain Qian Xunji's complete trust and eventually exact her revenge.
At that moment, Hu Liena burst into the hall, crying uncontrollably. "Teacher! Teacher!"
"Nana, what happened?" Bibi Dong asked, her expression softening as she looked up from her work.
Bibi Dong looked up and saw Hu Liena's tear-streaked face, her disheveled appearance, and the clear shoeprint on her face. Blood was bubbling from her injured lips, and she was utterly pitiful. At that moment, rage erupted within Bibi Dong. Over the past two months, she had shared such close quarters with Hu Liena that she nearly treated the child as her own foster daughter. How could she allow her foster daughter to suffer such humiliation?
"Nana, who hit you? Tell me, and your teacher will seek justice for you!"
Clinging to Bibi Dong's chest as if finding her pillar of support, Hu Liena cried out in anguish, "Teacher, it was Qian Renhan! He said I wasn't allowed to enter the seventh floor of the library and kicked me out. He even crushed the token you gave me into this!"
Hu Liena extended her hand, revealing the mangled remains of the token, now nothing more than a crumpled ball.
"Qian Renhan!"
Bibi Dong's fury intensified. "Nana, I'll have a healing-type Soul Master treat your injuries first, and then I'll go deal with him!"
---
On the edge of a cliff, Qian Renhan sat cross-legged as usual, cultivating. He had already sent Qian Renxue back to the Hall of Worship.
It wasn't long before the sound of approaching footsteps echoed in the distance—one heavy and filled with violent energy, the other lighter but hesitant.
Opening his eyes, Qian Renhan turned his head slightly and said coldly, "Why are you here?"
"You know what you did. Why would you treat Nana like this?" Bibi Dong snapped, her voice sharp and domineering. She held Hu Liena by the hand. The girl had changed into clean clothes and appeared refreshed, though her eyes were still red from crying.
Qian Renhan sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "You know what you've been telling Hu Liena, don't you? Even a dog knows to protect its master and its master's house. But this fox you're raising isn't even worth a dog."
"What did you just say?" Bibi Dong's voice trembled with rage, her body shaking as fury burned within her.
"I'll say it just once: control this fox. Control what comes out of her mouth. If she dares overstep again, I'll throw her to the soul beasts to feed them."
If a dog goes mad and betrays its master, the solution is simple—you put it down. While Qian Renhan wouldn't stoop to killing a human child, he had no qualms about using her as fodder for soul beasts. At least that way, she would serve a purpose.
His blood-red eyes glinted with a cold, piercing light that sent shivers down Hu Liena's spine. Clinging to Bibi Dong's leg, she trembled and cried out, "Teacher!"
Bibi Dong roared, her eyes flickering with a hint of murderous intent. "You dare?"
Qian Renhan met her gaze with disdain, his voice dripping with mockery. "And what do you think you are? You think you're qualified to control me? Don't mistake me for that old fool or Qian Renxue, those two imbeciles. You mean nothing to me."
(End of Chapter)