Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

"Yes, teacher. Nana understands."

Hu Liena closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, there was no longer any hesitation in her charming eyes.

She looked at Yan, at the man who had been by her side since her youth, silently protecting her and never asking for anything in return.

A bittersweet feeling welled up in her heart.

She knew Yan's feelings for her.

How could she not know after all these years?

But she only felt friendship towards Yan.

There was only the trust of fighting side by side, only the camaraderie of sharing life and death, but not that feeling of my heart racing.

Hu Liena sighed softly.

The sigh was very soft, so soft it sounded like a soliloquy, yet it reached Yan's ears clearly.

"Yes."

Her voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness.

"I fell in love with Xue Qinghe at first sight."

The moment the words left his mouth, Yan's body stiffened abruptly.

The color drained from his face at a visible speed, turning him as pale as paper.

Those eyes, which always burned with fighting spirit, now seemed to have been pierced by something, filled with shattered light.

"How could this be..."

Yan muttered to himself, his voice so low it was almost inaudible.

His fists clenched even tighter, his nails almost digging into his palms. Blood seeped from between his fingers, dripping onto the bluestone ground, blooming into shocking blood flowers.

But he couldn't feel any pain.

Because the pain in my heart is a hundred times stronger than this.

“Yan…”

Looking at him like this, Hu Liena felt a surge of guilt.

She couldn't tell him the truth.

She couldn't tell him that it was just a task.

When did this happen?

Yan's voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible, as if he was using up his last bit of strength.

"Soul Master Competition".

Hu Liena's voice was unusually calm, as if she were stating a fact that had nothing to do with her.

"The moment I saw him in the ring, I... I couldn't take my eyes off him."

In her mind, Xue Qinghe's gentle and refined face and his deep, ocean-like eyes appeared.

She tried to make her voice sound like a girl's shyness and a sense of helplessness.

"I know it's ridiculous. I know I shouldn't. But I... can't control myself."

Hu Liena lowered her head, her long, dark hair obscuring her face, making it impossible to see her expression.

Her fingers curled slightly on her knees, her knuckles turning white.

She's acting.

But her pain was real.

It's not the pain of being tormented by love, but the pain of deceiving a close friend.

Yan fell silent.

He kept his head down, his short, bright red hair obscuring his eyes, making it impossible to see his expression.

But his shoulders were trembling slightly.

Xie Yue sat to the side, remaining silent.

He glanced at Yan, then at his sister, a sharp glint flashing in his deep eyes.

He didn't believe it.

He didn't believe that Nana could fall in love at first sight with a man she had only met a few times.

He understood his sister. Hu Liena wasn't the kind of woman who would let emotions cloud her judgment. She was calm, rational, and knew what she was doing and what she wanted.

How could Xue Qinghe, a Soul Master at level 40-something, possibly make her fall in love at first sight?

unless……

A thought flashed through Xie Yue's mind.

task.

This might be a task assigned to Nana by the Pope.

Only in this way can everything make sense.

Nana needs to go to Tiandou City, needs to enter Xue Qinghe's harem, and needs a legitimate reason.

And "love at first sight" is the best excuse.

Xie Yue slowly clenched his fist.

He guessed the truth, but he couldn't say it.

Because if this is the Pope's order, then it's not just Nana's business. This is a major event for the Spirit Hall, a secret concerning the Spirit Hall's future.

He can't say.

He could only watch as his sister endured all of this alone.

Xie Yue took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, and slowly said, "Nana, since you've made up your mind, I support you."

His voice was very calm, unusually calm.

But Hu Liena sensed the suppressed bitterness beneath the calm.

She looked up at her brother, at those eyes that were exactly like her own.

She was very familiar with the things inside.

It's heartbreaking.

It's because I'm reluctant to part with it.

It's the helplessness of having to let go even though you don't want to.

"elder brother……"

Hu Liena's voice trembled slightly.

Xie Yue shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. The smile was forced, so forced that even Yan could tell.

“You’ve grown up and have your own path to walk. I can’t always be there for you.”

He stood up, walked to Hu Liena, reached out and gently patted her head.

The movement was very gentle, as if it were a fragile treasure.

"Take good care of yourself once you're in Tiandou City."

Hu Liena nodded, her eyes slightly reddening.

"I will."

Xie Yue withdrew his hand and turned to walk out of the courtyard.

His steps were steady, and his back was straight.

But Hu Liena noticed that her brother's hand was trembling slightly inside his sleeve.

Only Hu Liena and Yan remained in the courtyard.

The afternoon sun was still warm, but the air between the two was as cold as ice.

Yan finally raised his head.

His eyes were red, as if he had been crying, or as if he was holding back tears.

He looked at Hu Liena, his lips moved several times, and finally he managed to squeeze out a sentence: "Nana, as long as you... are happy."

Then he stood up.

His movements were slow, as if he was using all his strength.

He turned and walked out of the courtyard.

Every step I took was heavy, so heavy it felt like it was stepping on my heart.

Hu Liena watched his retreating figure disappear little by little outside the courtyard gate.

Hu Liena sat there, head down, her long, dark hair obscuring her face.

Her fingers slowly clenched on her knees.

"I'm sorry, Yan."

Her voice was very soft, as soft as a whisper in the wind.

"sorry."

……

Night fell.

One by one, the lights of Wuhun City lit up, adorning this ancient city like a reflection of the Milky Way.

The streets were gradually emptying of pedestrians, and shops were closing one after another. Dim lights shone from the taverns, and occasional bursts of laughter and conversation could be heard.

In a secluded alley, Yan sat alone on the threshold of the tavern.

There were seven or eight empty wine jars scattered around him.