Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

Then, he took a deep breath and got out of bed.

The cold water splashed on his face brought a bit of clarity to his muddled mind.

He looked up at his haggard face in the mirror.

His short, bright red hair stood on end in a mess, his eyes were bloodshot, and he had a bluish stubble on his chin.

Yan stared at himself in the mirror, a self-deprecating smile curving his lips.

ugly.

It looks terrible.

He wiped the water off his face, turned around, and walked out of the room.

The sun was shining brightly in the courtyard.

The unnamed flower in the corner has bloomed, its pink and white petals swaying gently in the morning breeze.

Yan stood under the veranda, looking at the flower, and suddenly remembered that Hu Liena had once said that she liked the color of this flower.

He looked away and strode out of the courtyard.

Today is the day Hu Liena leaves Wuhun City.

He was going to see her off.

Outside Wuhun City, beside the official road.

The procession to see them off was already very long.

The knights of the Spirit Hall, clad in silver-white armor and riding tall horses, stood in neat formation on both sides of the official road.

Their spears gleamed coldly in the morning light, and their banners fluttered in the wind.

In the middle of the official road, a beautifully decorated carriage stood quietly.

The carriage was made entirely of the finest sandalwood, and its body was carved with the intricate emblems of the Spirit Hall and the royal crest of the Heaven Dou Empire. The two emblems stood side by side, gleaming golden in the sunlight.

The four horses pulling the carriage were pure white, with manes as smooth as silk, and each had a pale gold mark on its forehead. These were horse-shaped spirit beasts trained by the Spirit Hall, whose speed was far superior to that of ordinary horses.

Hu Liena stood beside the carriage, her deep purple dress swaying gently in the morning breeze.

Her long hair was styled into an elegant updo today, with a few wisps falling around her ears, making her delicate face appear even whiter.

She wore light makeup, but her eyes still held that charming and alluring allure.

But at this moment, the composure she once had in those alluring eyes was gone.

Her gaze fell on the purple figure at the very front of the crowd.

Bibi Dong.

His Holiness the Pope was not wearing his majestic papal robes today, but only a dark purple casual dress, with his long hair simply tied back.

She stood there, her hands clasped in front of her, her face calm and serene, as if she were merely seeing off a disciple on a long journey, rather than bidding farewell to a key figure who would soon change the balance of power between the two great empires.

But Hu Liena knew that the fact that the teacher came was already the greatest honor.

"teacher."

Hu Liena stepped forward, stood in front of Bibi Dong, and bowed deeply.

Bibi Dong looked at her, a complex emotion flashing in her purple eyes.

“When we arrive in Tiandou City,” Bibi Dong said, her voice still cold, but warmer than usual. “Remember your identity and your mission.”

Hu Liena straightened up, met the teacher's gaze, and nodded vigorously.

"Nana understands."

Bibi Dong looked at her, a faint smile slowly curving her lips.

The smile was faint, almost invisible, but Hu Liena saw it.

She saw a fleeting tenderness deep in the teacher's eyes.

"Go."

Bibi Dong said softly.

Hu Liena's eyes were slightly red.

She took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in her heart, and bowed deeply to Bibi Dong once again.

Then she turned and walked toward the carriage.

Her skirt swayed gently in the morning breeze, and she walked steadily with her back straight.

But only she knew that her hands were trembling slightly inside her sleeves.

"Nana!"

A voice came from the crowd, hoarse and urgent.

Hu Liena paused slightly in her steps.

She turned her head and saw Yan.

He stood at the edge of the crowd, his short, bright red hair seeming to burn in the morning light. His eyes were red and bloodshot, and there was stubble on his chin.

He just stared at her, his lips moved several times, but he only managed to utter those two words.

Nana.

Hu Liena looked at him and sighed.

In the end, she simply nodded slightly to Yan.

Then, she looked away and continued walking towards the carriage.

Yan stood there, watching her figure gradually disappear into the distance.

He wanted to catch up with her, to grab her hand, and to tell her not to go.

But his feet seemed to be nailed to the ground, and he couldn't take a single step.

Because he knew he wasn't qualified.

He was never qualified.

Xie Yue stood beside Yan, watching her sister's back, her deep eyes filled with complex emotions.

He guessed the truth.

He guessed that Nana had gone on a mission and that she would come back.

Even so, seeing his younger sister board the carriage alone for her long journey still felt like something had clenched his heart.

“Nana…”

He murmured the name, his voice so soft it was as if he were talking to himself.

Then, he took a deep breath and patted Yan on the shoulder.

"Let's go."

Yan did not move.

He just stared intently at the carriage, at the figure that had already walked up to it.

Hu Liena stopped beside the carriage, turned around, and took one last look at Wuhun City and the people who had come to see her off.

Her gaze swept over Bibi Dong, over Xie Yue, and over Yan.

Then, she looked away, bent down, and climbed into the carriage.

The moment the carriage curtain was lowered, her tears finally fell.

She quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand, not wanting anyone to see.

"Let's go!"

The head guard shouted, and the four white horses started moving at the same time, and the carriage slowly drove onto the official road.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone pavement, making a rumbling sound.

Hu Liena sat in the carriage, watching Wuhun City recede into the distance through the cracks in the window.

The city where she had lived for many years, the city where her teachers and brother lived, was becoming smaller and smaller, and farther and farther away.

Finally, it disappeared at the edge of the horizon.

Hu Liena withdrew her gaze, leaned against the car wall, and closed her eyes.

Tears silently slid down her cheeks, dripping onto the deep purple hem of her skirt, spreading into dark, mottled patterns.

……

Xingluo City, Imperial Palace.

The atmosphere inside the Imperial Study was so heavy it seemed like it could drip water.

Dai Tianfeng sat behind his large desk, holding a secret report that had just been delivered from Wuhun City.

The secret report contained few words, but each word felt like a stone weighing on his heart.

"The Holy Maiden Hu Liena of the Spirit Hall has set off for Heaven Dou City today to marry Emperor Xue Qinghe of the Heaven Dou Empire."

Dai Tianfeng put down the secret report, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

Sunlight streamed through the carved window, casting dappled shadows on his face.

His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, making a rhythmic tapping sound.

The Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire have formed a marriage alliance.

The thing he had worried about for so long finally happened.

In the past, the two great empires, Star Luo and Heaven Dou, were roughly equal in strength. Although the Spirit Hall was powerful, it could only maintain a balance between the two empires and dared not offend either of them easily.

But now, with the marriage alliance between Heaven Dou and Spirit Hall, the balance has been broken.

Regardless of whether the Spirit Hall has a conspiracy or not, it will inevitably lean towards the Heaven Dou Empire between Heaven Dou and Star Luo.

This is the last thing Dai Tianfeng wanted to see.

He opened his eyes and his gaze fell on the huge map of the Star Luo Empire on the desk.