Douluo Continent: The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda? A Soul Beast Pagoda!

Chapter 31 Qian Renxue's Panic

Qian Daoliu closed his eyes, but the scene of Bibi Dong coming to find him involuntarily appeared in his mind.

Bibi Dong, unusually, took the initiative to come to the Hall of Offerings to find him.

She wore a formal papal robe, held a scepter, and wore an impeccable, ceremonial smile, but deep within her purple eyes lay the cold calculation that Qian Daoliu was familiar with.

"Great Venerable One, I wish to make a deal with you." She went straight to the point, without even exchanging pleasantries.

Qian Daoliu dismissed his attendants, leaving only the two of them in the empty temple.

"Speak," he said succinctly.

Bibi Dong took two steps forward, her scepter striking the smooth ground with a clear, resonant sound. "About—Qian Renxue."

Qian Daoliu's eyes suddenly sharpened.

"I know that over the years—I haven't been good enough to her."

Bibi Dong's tone was as calm as if she were stating someone else's story, "But blood is blood. She is my daughter, and that will not change."

She paused, then looked up and stared directly at Qian Daoliu.

"I can change my attitude towards her. I can try—treating her as a mother."

Qian Daoliu's heart skipped a beat.

These were the words he had longed to hear from Bibi Dong all these years.

Xue'er, that child, appears strong on the surface, but deep down she always longs for her mother's approval and love.

Every time Bibi Dong treated her coldly, it left a deep wound in her heart.

If Bibi Dong could truly change —

"What are the conditions?" he asked in a deep voice.

There is no free lunch in the world.

Bibi Dong's lips curled into a cold smile: "Jiang Bai."

Two words, light and airy, yet they made Qian Daoliu understand everything in an instant.

Qian Daoliu fell silent.

His pupils contracted slightly in the light, and he was engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

After a long while, long enough that the light and shadows in the hall shifted an inch further, Qian Daoliu finally spoke, his voice dry and hoarse: "—What do you intend to do?"

He didn't say "agree" directly, but that statement was tantamount to tacit approval.

Bibi Dong smiled. Her smile was beautiful yet cold, like a poisoned ice flower.

"I have my own arrangements."

She turned and left.

Qian Daoliu stood there, watching her disappear into the light outside the palace gate, and suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

As his thoughts raced, Qian Daoliu opened his eyes.

The downpour outside the window had subsided a bit, but the pattering of rain continued.

Jiang Bai—is indeed a good kid.

He is exceptionally gifted, mature, and genuinely loves Xue'er. If Xue'er were just an ordinary girl, he would be happy to see things progress.

But Xue'er is not.

Cher will be the successor of the Angel God in the future, destined to ascend to the realm of gods and be an eternal and immortal being.

Jiang Bai—despite his astonishing potential—is ultimately just a support-type Soul Master. His lifespan is at most a hundred years, and his achievements are limited to Soul Saint, at most a Title Douluo.

A hundred years later, when Xue'er was still young, he had already turned into dust.

For Xue'er, this kind of relationship was not happiness, but a curse.

Long-term pain is worse than short-term pain.

"Xue'er—" he sighed softly, his voice fading into the sound of rain, "One day you will understand that Grandpa did this for your own good."

"And one day—you will forgive your grandfather."

Qian Daoliu shook his head vigorously, trying to dispel the weak thoughts in his heart.

He clasped his hands together and forced himself to continue praying.

But this time, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't truly calm his mind.

The next day, the rain stopped and the sun came out.

As usual, Qian Renxue arrived at the back mountain early.

At this time of day, Jiang Bai would usually be warming up there. When he saw her coming, he would wave and call out, "Sister Xue'er."

But today, this place is deserted.

Qian Renxue frowned, but didn't pay much attention.

Maybe I stayed up too late at the lantern festival last night and overslept?

She practiced a set of sword techniques herself and waited for about fifteen minutes, but still couldn't see Jiang Bai.

A sense of unease crept into my heart.

She sheathed her sword and strode towards the college dormitory area.

Jiang Bai's dormitory is in the elite student area, and she rarely goes there directly, but she can't care about that now.

I knocked on the door, but there was no answer.

"Jiang Bai? Are you there?" She raised her voice and knocked a few more times.

Still silent.

Qian Renxue's heart began to race. She hesitated for a moment, then reached out and pushed the door open. It wasn't locked.

The room was excessively tidy.

The bed was neatly made, and the writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones on the desk were arranged in an orderly manner.

She left the room and stood in the hallway, feeling somewhat lost for a moment.

Next, she went to Jiang Bai's class, but he wasn't there.

She went to the library, the training ground, and even some of the places they frequented.

nothing.

The boy who always appeared on time and always smiled at her vanished without a trace, as if he had evaporated into thin air.

Panic, like a cold vine, slowly climbed up my spine and wrapped around my heart.

Qian Renxue forced herself to calm down and sent people to inquire around the academy.

Everyone said they hadn't seen him today: I asked several other teachers, but they had no news either.

Finally, a student known as a "night owl" in the academy provided a clue.

"Last night?" The student rubbed his sleepy eyes, trying hard to remember. "Oh right, around midnight, I saw Jiang Bai heading towards the back mountain. He was walking quite hurriedly. I was wondering why he would go to the back mountain so late—"

The back mountain? What are you going to the back mountain for so late?

Qian Renxue's heart sank.

She immediately sent people to turn the entire back mountain area upside down.

Forests, clearings, streams—there was nothing there.

It's as if Jiang Bai walked to the back mountain last night and then disappeared into thin air.

Impossible—this is impossible—

Qian Renxue landed on the open ground beside the waterfall, her legs went weak, and she almost couldn't stand up.

This kind of disappearance without a trace can only mean one possibility.

Someone with strength far exceeding Jiang Bai's has made a move.

Moreover, the operation was swift and clean, leaving not a single clue behind.

A name flashed into my mind like lightning.

Bibi Dong.

Qian Renxue's breathing suddenly stopped, and her pupils contracted sharply.

If it really is Bibi Dong—

No—no way—no matter how much she hates me, she wouldn't go so far as to lay a hand on me, would she?

But another voice in her heart coldly retorted: Why not? She can ignore, exploit, and hurt even her own daughter, so what is there that she wouldn't do to an insignificant outsider?

Qian Renxue clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms, and she didn't even notice the blood seeping out.

She forced herself to stand up and staggered out of the college.

Her mind was in complete chaos; fear, anger, worry, and despair were intertwined, almost tearing her apart.

She was going to find Bibi Dong and ask her the truth.

Make sure to ask clearly.

Pope's Palace.

It was spacious, cold, magnificent, and oppressive.

Qian Renxue, wearing high heels, walked step by step into the main hall.

The sound of heels striking the marble floor echoed in the empty hall.

She walked to the center of the hall, stopped, and looked up at the papal throne.

Bibi Dong sat there, eyes closed, resting, one hand supporting her head, the other resting on the armrest, her fingertips tapping lightly.

Hearing footsteps, she slowly opened her eyes.

Qian Renxue's figure was reflected in her purple eyes.

Her long, golden hair was slightly disheveled, her eyes were red-rimmed, and her face showed undisguised anxiety and anger.

Bibi Dong's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile.

Bibi Dong.

Qian Renxue spoke, her voice trembling slightly due to suppressed emotions.

"Jiang Bai has disappeared. Someone saw him heading towards the back mountain last night, and he hasn't come back since."

She paused, looked directly into Bibi Dong's eyes, and asked, word by word, "Did you kidnap him?"

Bibi Dong did not answer immediately.

She slowly sat up straight, scrutinizing Qian Renxue with a critical gaze. After a long while, she chuckled softly.

"Watch your attitude toward the Pope, Saintess of the Temple."

"I'm asking you!" Qian Renxue's voice suddenly rose, her suppressed anger finally erupting, "Did you kidnap Jiang Bai?!"

This time, Bibi Dong smiled.

That smile was beautiful, cold, and carried a cruel pleasure.

"Arrest him?" She shook her head, her voice as soft as if she were whispering sweet nothings. "No, I don't have the time to arrest him."

Qian Renxue's tense nerves relaxed slightly for a moment.

She didn't take him? Perhaps Jiang Bai just left on business, or perhaps—

But Bibi Dong's next words completely crushed her newly risen hope.

"I simply killed him."

Eight characters.

Those seven light, casual words, "Wolf's Ruthlessness," entered her ears.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Qian Renxue's eyes widened, and her pretty face turned deathly pale.

She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Her ears were ringing, her vision began to sway and spin, and the whole world seemed to be collapsing.

Impossible—Impossible—

Jiang Bai—is he dead?

He was killed by the woman in front of him?

"No—it can't be—" she murmured, her voice broken and incoherent, "You're lying to me—you must be lying to me—"

Bibi Dong relished her breakdown, a twisted pleasure welling up inside her.

Look, this is what happens when you have happiness. This is the price you pay for daring to flaunt your sweetness in front of her.

"The person is dead." She repeated calmly, as if stating a perfectly ordinary fact. "The body was cleaned up last night. If there's nothing else, you may leave."

Step back?

These two words were like a spark, igniting the last thread of reason in Qian Renxue's heart.

"Bibi-Dong!!"

A piercing scream shattered the silence of the hall!

Qian Renxue's eyes instantly became bloodshot, her long golden hair moved without wind, and her six-winged angel martial spirit suddenly unfolded behind her!

The sword of angels materialized in her hand!

"I kill you--!!!"

Like a wild beast that had completely lost its mind, she charged toward the papal throne without regard for anything else!

She raised the angel's sword high above her head, and with her anger and despair, she slashed down fiercely at Bibi Dong!

This attack was completely unpredictable and full of flaws, but the killing intent and power it contained still moved Bibi Dong slightly.

She never expected that Qian Renxue's feelings for that boy would be so deep.

But the emotion only lasted for a moment.

The next second, Bibi Dong's eyes turned cold, and the Killing God Domain was instantly activated!

A crimson light erupted from her center!

A cold, violent aura filled with endless killing intent permeated the entire hall!

Qian Renxue's body, which was leaping in mid-air, suddenly froze, as if she had crashed into an invisible wall, and her movements instantly became sluggish!

In that brief moment of hesitation, Bibi Dong made her move.

She didn't get up, but simply raised her right hand and pressed it into the air towards Qian Renxue.