"Y-you, how did you know my name?" Qian Renxue asked as she stared at Hanrui with confusion and anxiety.
Hanrui just gave a faint smile and motioned them to take a seat while creating a shadow clone to close the door. While he put a silencing seal on the room.
Seeing another Hanrui appear, especially when none of them present detected any soul power fluctuations.
They got surprised as they stared at the shadow clone,as it did its job and disappeared right after in a puff of smoke.
Ci Xue and She Long looked at the clone bewildered at this strange ability that doesn't seem to have any soul power flow.
Qian Renxue took a deep breath to calm down as she sat back down and waited for his explanation, she didn't want to delve into secrets of others when her own were seemingly exposed.
"You two must be Porcupinefish Douluo, Ci Xue and Snake Lance Douluo, She Long. Please take a seat. We are not enemies." Hanrui said as he looked at them with an innocent smile.
Ci Xue and She Long looked at each other surprised at the fact this boy recognized them.
But they still didn't take a seat, instead they cautiously took a step back and stood behind Qian Renxue.
"As for your question, Miss Renxue, daughter of the former Pope of the Spirit Hall.
I actually didn't know, it was just a guess. I didn't think you would still take this stupid mission." Hanrui said, not minding the actions of the two while making Qian Renxue annoyed.
'What do you mean stupid mission? It is a Glorious mission that will unite the whole continent.
As the descendant of the Seraphim Clan, it's my Glorious Purpose.'
(A/N: as i was writing this i recalled loki and his series so i couldn't help myself 🤷😂)
She wanted to scream but in the end she shut her mouth and let him continue, completely forgetting his earlier words about him guessing her identity.
"After all my future self apparently messed with time and knowing myself, I would try to avoid some tragic fates from taking their course.
Like, for example, your mother would've been the current pope Bibi Dong and she would've hated your very existence because of the way you were born." Hanrui said, shocking everyone present.
"It's You" Qian Renxue screamed all of a sudden with excitement as she stood up from her seat. "So it was you who granted my mother her wish to marry my father."
'…Did I become a wish granting shenlong?or something,When, my future-self, travelled back in time?' Hanrui thought exasperated.
"Glad i had fans even in the past." Hanrui said sarcastically, annoyed by the thought and getting interrupted.
Qian Renxue who got excited quickly noticed Hanrui's annoyance and sat back down.
"Sorry, I have wanted to meet you for a very long time. Sister Bibi Dong had this wistful smile when she talked about you.
So I asked my mother and got to know what you did for her." She explained herself.
'Yupp my charm is officially activated by my future self. After all, it's not easy to convert a vengeful ghost into a love sick woman without a certain amount of charm.
Then again even as a vengeful ghost she is considered a love sick woman. After all, this is the Love Continent.' Hanrui mused as he listened to her explanation.
…
Far away in the spirit hall, Bibi Dong, who is talking to her disciple with a smile suddenly sneezed. Puzzled at the phenomena at first quickly turned to the direction of Heaven Dou Empire and smiled knowingly.
'It seems even the younger version of you likes insulting me behind my back, husband. I'll deal with you later, hmph.' She thought as she looked longingly in that direction.
Then she got back to talking to her disciple who looked confused at her master's sudden incomprehensible actions.
…
Hanrui suddenly felt a chill on his back as if sending something he quickly turned to the direction of the spirit hall, but he quickly dismissed it and got back to talking with Qian Renxue.
"Well, now that you know who I am, you don't have to be on egg shells around me.
But I really want to criticize your stupidity. Why didn't Dong'er or your brainless grandfather stop you from taking action on this stupid plan?" He asked, puzzled and exasperated.
Qian Renxue looked away in embarrassment, not wanting to talk on the topic, although she felt slightly angry, her grandfather got scolded. She understood it's her fault so she reluctantly let it go.
She was just about to change the subject when she recalled what he just said about Bibi Dong being her mother.
"Wait, what do you mean sister Dong being my mother?" She asked anxiously.
Hanrui, seeing she didn't want to talk about it, sighed as he decided to follow her words and started explaining. "Literally, Bibi Dong would've been your mother, if it wasn't for my future self's intervention.
In the Original timeline Bibi Dong fell for a scumbag called Yu Xiaogong and was ready to elope with him, your father, knowing this locked her up.
Then he threatened her, if she didn't break up with him he would kill Yu Xiaogong, helpless, she obliged."
'No,if it's only that she shouldn't hate me, she shouldn't have a reason to hate me, so what happened after that?' She thought nervously fidgeting in her seat.
"That's right, as you might be thinking,If it's only that, there might've been a chance for them to reconcile in the future but your father did something worse." Hanrui said as if reading her mind drawing a gasp from her.
'This guy, if I didn't respect him so much I would've thrown a few holy light sabers at him by now. Hmph.' She thought as saw the teasing glint in his eyes.
"Right, before i continue, i suggest you two stop listening to the following, because, if word gets to Bibi Dong, even that old man Qian Douliu won't be able to help you." He shrugged as he looked at Ci Xue and She Long.
They took an audible gulp as they recalled the ruthless woman and looked at each other before looking at Qian Renxue.
Seeing them like this she sighed helplessly. "You two wait outside" she ordered.
Ci Xue and She Long, as if pardoned for their crimes, quickly left the room and closed the door behind them. Qian Renxue chuckled awkwardly seeing them like that.
Hanrui shook his head as he continued. "That's not the worst part, the worst part is knowing Bibi Dong is stubborn. He forced himself on her.
The very Bibi Dong who he originally saw as a daughter, until she got pregnant with you.
Only then did she give up and break up with Yu Xiaogong, finding herself dirty.
After that Bibi Dong who originally saw him as a father figure, loathed him and the angel lineage to the core, and you having a piece of him didn't help."
Except for Gu Yuena who already knows about the story, Qian Renxue and the rest of Hanrui's family clenched their fists in anger as they listened. 'Father, why, why did you do that to sister Dong.' She thought as she shed a silent tear.
Seeing everyone's mood Hanrui quickly added, "Especially you going to her after your Martial Soul awakening, telling her excitedly about your Martial Soul and your earth shattering innate soul power, Enraged her even more." getting their emotions to calm down.
As they realised the silliness and innocence behind Qian Renxue's act.
Hearing this Qian Renxue looked away in embarrassment as she recalled doing the exact thing back when she awakened her Martial Soul.
But the response she got was different because Bibi Dong is not her mother.
'Hmph, even if sister Dong doesn't like the seraphim clan, she loves me. But I guess that's thanks to him.' She thought as she stared at him with a smile.
"She originally wanted to get rid of you when you were born but she couldn't. One part motherly instinct, the other your grandfather and father.
So she treated you coldly, and sent you on this heaven Dou empire mission, you yourself requested after getting disappointed repeatedly to prove yourself to her.
In the original timeline she did love you but couldn't show it because of your angel Lineage but she did end up taking a sword for you and died in your arms so, her love for you is proven with her death.
By the way I skimmed a lot of details so this conversation doesn't get drawn out. We can talk about this later." Hanrui finished as he looked at her.
Hanrui took a sip of water, as Qian Renxue digested everything.
Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed and clenched her fists as she heard about Bibi Dong's death in her arms.
She didn't put much thought into other things as she understands, it's not her that Bibi Dong wanted to get rid of but her own daughter born through despicable means.
Suddenly Hanrui thought of something as he looked at Qian Renxue.
"That's not right, why would Bibi Dong allow you to take this mission? Unless, you ran away and your grandfather or Bibi Dong, anticipating your stubbornness, sent those 2 with you?" He said.
Qian Renxue lost in thought, jolted as she was exposed by Hanrui and then she realised her mistake. 'I underestimated Grandfather and sister Dong and over-estimated myself.
I should've known, Why would Ci Xue and She Long come with me, without their orders.
They were just newly minted Titled-Douluo at the time.I guess I delayed their progress by making them stay with me all this time.
I should find some time to write a letter to grandfather to reward them and replace them, so they can progress further.' She thought as she stared at the door.
She sighed and then turned to Hanrui and replied. "That's right, I ran away. After my mother died, I couldn't stay there, so I ran away taking this mission information.
I thought I cleverly convinced Ci Xue and She Long but I guess I was naive."
Hanrui nodded in understanding. Then asked her with a sly smile. "So when are you going to show your real self to me?"
Qian Renxue smiled and replied with a smug smile. "When we are alone."
Hanrui, raised an eyebrow at her, as he replied. "You do know I can arrange that in seconds?"
Qian Renxue, not expecting that answer, froze for a second and then laughed like the chyme of a golden bell.
"Maybe later, it's tedious to put the disguise back on and I wouldn't want anyone to notice. Well let's talk later, Good night." She said as she stood up and walked to the door and turned her head to look at Hanrui.
"Sister Dong said you're a handsome man,but all I can see is a cute little brother," she said as she practically ran out so Hanrui doesn't have the time to give her a comeback.