Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

In the courtyard, the ancient pine tree swayed gently in the wind, its needles rustling softly.

"Although Xue Qinghe has a gentle appearance and outstanding temperament, his talent is not considered high."

Ning Fengzhi's voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable analytical quality.

"A young Soul King, the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, a proud young woman who has seen countless talented young men, would fall in love at first sight with a Soul Master who is only in his forties?"

He turned around, looked at Chen Xin, his gaze piercing.

"Moreover, Xue Qinghe already has Empress Eva and several other concubines in his harem. If Hu Liena truly loves him, wouldn't she mind all of this?"

Chapter 474 The Painful Flame

Chen Xin remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "So you think this is a conspiracy by the Spirit Hall?"

Ning Fengzhi did not answer immediately.

He walked back to his chair, sat down, picked up the now-cold teacup, and took a small sip. The bitterness of the tea melted on his tongue, but it couldn't compare to the indescribable complexity in his heart.

"conspiracy?"

He put down his teacup and shook his head.

I'm not sure.

Chen Xin raised an eyebrow, remained silent, and waited for him to continue.

Ning Fengzhi leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the ancient, vigorous pine tree in the courtyard outside the window.

Sunlight filters through the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

"This matter is suspicious in every way. Anyone would think it's a conspiracy by the Spirit Hall. Sending a stunningly beautiful woman into the Heaven Dou harem to influence the emperor's decisions and even secretly control the Heaven Dou Empire. This tactic is nothing new."

Chen Xin didn't speak, but just looked at him quietly.

Ning Fengzhi picked up his teacup again, only to find that the tea had gone cold. He put the cup down and tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a rhythmic tapping sound.

"but……"

He changed the subject, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

"I thought of someone else."

Chen Xin raised an eyebrow slightly: "Who?"

“Bibi Dong”.

When Ning Fengzhi uttered this name, his voice was very soft, yet it carried an indescribable sense of emotion.

"The previous Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, now Her Holiness the Pope."

Chen Xin frowned slightly, clearly not understanding why Ning Fengzhi suddenly brought up Bibi Dong.

Ning Fengzhi noticed his confusion and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

"Uncle Jian, do you know that before Bibi Dong became Pope, when she was still a saintess, she once loved a man?"

Chen Xin frowned even more deeply: "Who?"

“Yu Xiaogang.” Ning Fengzhi said the name, his voice carrying a complex emotion.

"The son of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Clan's leader, and now the theoretical master at Shrek Academy."

Chen Xin was silent for a moment, as if recalling something, and then slowly spoke: "That piece of trash who once had a mutated martial soul and could never break through level 30 in his life?"

“It’s him.” Ning Fengzhi nodded. “Back then, Bibi Dong was exceptionally talented and had an outstanding appearance. She was the most dazzling jewel of the Spirit Hall. As for Yu Xiaogang, he was just a useless person with a mutated spirit.”

He paused, then lowered his voice.

"But Bibi Dong fell in love with him. She loved him wholeheartedly and without regard for the consequences."

A hint of surprise flashed in Chen Xin's eyes.

He had heard some of these stories, but he didn't know the details.

Ning Fengzhi continued, "Later, the previous Pope of the Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji, forcibly stopped this relationship. What exactly happened is unknown to outsiders. But the result was that Bibi Dong became Pope, and Yu Xiaogang left the Spirit Hall, wandering around until he finally settled in Notting City."

“But Bibi Dong changed after that. She became cold, ruthless, and feared by everyone.”

Ning Fengzhi sighed softly as he finished speaking.

"So I think it makes some sense to connect this matter with Bibi Dong."

Chen Xin looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"A woman who once suffered terribly because of love has now become the Pope. She watches as her disciple falls into the same predicament, falling in love at first sight with the emperor of an enemy country, suffering torment day and night..."

Ning Fengzhi's voice was soft, carrying a complex emotion.

What will she do?

Chen Xin was silent for a moment: "You mean, Bibi Dong couldn't bear to let her disciple suffer the same pain as she did, so she took the initiative to propose a marriage alliance?"

Ning Fengzhi shrugged: "This is just my guess."

Chen Xin looked at him, her gaze sharp as a sword: "Do you think Bibi Dong is the kind of soft-hearted person?"

Ning Fengzhi smiled.

“Bibi Dong is certainly not a soft-hearted person.” He shook his head. “But when it comes to feelings, who can say for sure? She herself has experienced that kind of pain, and perhaps she really doesn’t want to see her disciple repeat the same mistake.”

He paused, then added, "Moreover, this matter also benefits the Spirit Hall. A marriage alliance can bring the Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire closer together, so why not?"

Chen Xin fell silent.

He didn't speak again, but simply held his long sword, leaned against the door frame, and looked out the window.

Ning Fengzhi also fell silent.

He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and continued to tap his fingers lightly on the table.

The reception room was quiet, with only the occasional birdsong coming from outside the window and the rustling of the ancient pines in the courtyard as the wind blew through them.

After a long while, Ning Fengzhi opened his eyes and sighed softly.

"Oh well, never mind."

He stood up and straightened his robes.

"What's the use of thinking so much? It's all just speculation. Only the Spirit Hall knows the truth."

Chen Xin looked at him: "So what do you plan to do?"

Ning Fengzhi walked to the window and opened it. The afternoon sunlight streamed in, gilding his figure with a golden hue.

"Tomorrow, we will enter the palace."

His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness.

"Ask Qinghe in person."

Chen Xin raised an eyebrow: "Will he tell you the truth?"

Ning Fengzhi turned around, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“He won’t,” he answered crisply. “But I’ll see how he reacts. A person’s mouth can lie, but their eyes won’t.”

Chen Xin nodded and said nothing more.

Ning Fengzhi walked back to the table, picked up the cup of tea that had gone cold, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Spirit Hall... Hu Liena..."

He uttered those words in a low voice, as if he were talking to himself.

"What exactly do you want?"

No one answered him.

……

Wuhun City.

Hu Liena and Xie Yue's courtyard is located in a corner of the core area of ​​the Spirit Hall.

At this moment, three figures sat facing each other around the stone table in the courtyard.

Hu Liena sat to one side, her long, deep purple dress perfectly outlining her graceful figure.

Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, shimmering softly in the sunlight.

Her face no longer held its usual charming smile, but instead possessed a deep, unyielding calm.

Xie Yue sat opposite her, arms crossed, his short silver hair gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

His eyes, which were exactly like Hu Liena's, were now fixed on his sister, with extremely complex emotions surging deep within them.

There were doubts, worries, and a vague sense of unease.

Yan, on the other side, sat.

This man, who was usually as fiery and violent as a volcano, was now like a volcano about to erupt but forcibly suppressed.

His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and his short, bright red hair seemed to be burning in the afternoon sun.

Those eyes were fixed on Hu Liena, filled with disbelief and suppressed pain.

"Nana".

Yan spoke, his voice hoarse as if sandpaper were being rubbed.

"Did you really... fall in love with Xue Qinghe at first sight?"

Hu Liena raised her head and met Yan's bloodshot eyes.

She took a deep breath.

Countless thoughts flashed through my mind.

She remembered what her teacher had said to her in the Papal Palace. She remembered every single word of those words clearly.

"Nana, this mission is of paramount importance. The future of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Hall may rest on your shoulders. You cannot tell anyone the truth, including your brother. This is an order."

She remembered her teacher's purple eyes, which held no room for negotiation, only unquestionable resolve.

She remembered her answer back then.