As night fell, Jiang Chen ultimately parted ways with Qian Renxue.
He realized that whether in his previous life or now, he had already come to like Qian Renxue somewhat, this girl who appeared strong on the surface but was fragile inside.
Moreover, he knew that after training outside for several years, Qian Renxue would become increasingly strong, both in power and in mentality.
If he wanted to give Qian Renxue happiness, then he must become powerful.
The successive departures of his two older sisters inevitably left him somewhat heartbroken, but the thought that he himself would soon be sent to that death camp forced him to pull himself together and cultivate.
A man can have emotions, but he must always clearly understand what he needs most at the present moment.
That night, Bibi Dong did not summon him.
...
At this moment, inside Bibi Dong's study, Qian Renxue stood before Bibi Dong with a complicated expression.
"I will be leaving tomorrow."
Bibi Dong did not look at her, only nodding. "Mm, I know. Salas will be transferred to the Spirit Hall in Heaven Dou City as the chief bishop. You can contact him for any needs. Any plans I have will also be conveyed to you through him."
After saying this, she paid no more attention to Qian Renxue and continued flipping through the documents in her hands.
"You may go," Bibi Dong said without lifting her head.
Qian Renxue bit her lip, mustering her courage. "Then I'm leaving, Mom. Take care of yourself."
The instant she heard those words, Bibi Dong's body visibly trembled. It had been many years, and she had thought she would never hear that form of address again.
She abruptly raised her head and immediately saw Qian Renxue's expectant face.
But her own expression turned cold, and faint traces of killing intent uncontrollably leaked out.
"Remember, from now on, do not mention those two words in front of me again. I have work to do. If there's nothing else, you may withdraw."
Bibi Dong's expression was icy, her gaze toward Qian Renxue carrying not a trace of emotion.
Qian Renxue's face was filled with disappointment. Remembering Jiang Chen's words, she suppressed the urge to press for answers, turned, and walked out.
At the doorway, she suddenly looked back and immediately noticed something unusual about Bibi Dong.
At this moment, Bibi Dong's face was filled with complexity, her mouth open as if wanting to say something, yet unable to speak.
A surge of joy rose in Qian Renxue's heart. She turned and ran out.
"Little Chen really didn't lie to me. Mom definitely has some unspeakable difficulties."
"Little Chen, everything depends on you now."
...
Bibi Dong seemed to lose all strength in an instant, collapsing into her chair. Tears flowed uncontrollably down her cheeks. Who could have imagined that this iron-blooded Supreme Pontiff would also have such a weak side? (Excerpted from the original work, the argument between mother and daughter after the Heaven Dou plan failed)
When Qian Renxue left just now, an unwilling reluctance suddenly surged in her heart.
She had always believed she could remain stone-hearted, but at Qian Renxue's one word of "Mom," she still felt heartache.
Toward Qian Renxue, she had always told herself that this was merely the seed left by that beast and had nothing to do with her.
And indeed, she had never given Qian Renxue any care.
But after ten months of pregnancy and enduring unimaginable pain to give birth to the child, who would have no maternal love?
It was only that the hatred in her heart had suppressed this maternal love deep in the bottom of her heart, erupting only occasionally in the dead of night when humanity was at its most fragile, letting painful tears fall.
...
Passing by Jiang Chen's residence, Qian Renxue could not help but look over. In one glance, she saw Jiang Chen sitting cross-legged on the rooftop, cultivating.
Gazing at that small yet upright back, Qian Renxue felt reluctance in her heart.
Although they had only spent a few short days together, Jiang Chen had already left an indelible mark on her heart.
In the afternoon, she had already said goodbye to Jiang Chen. She did not want to make both sides sad again. After taking one deep look at Jiang Chen's back, she quietly left.
Jiang Chen, who was in the midst of cultivation, showed a faint bitter smile at the corner of his mouth. Since Qian Renxue chose not to meet again, there was no need for him to have another sorrowful farewell with Qian Renxue.
And if nothing unexpected happened, in two or three days, he himself would likely be sent by his teacher Bibi Dong to that death camp.
...
The next day, he did not go looking for Qian Renxue again. Perhaps the other party had already quietly left.
During the day, aside from eating and brief rests, he spent his time on the cultivation field inside the Pope's palace practicing his fist techniques and movement skills.
According to Qian Renxue, with his current level of fourteen, his true combat power could already be considered top-tier among Great Soul Masters.
What Qian Renxue did not know was that Jiang Chen still had a powerful trump card, his poison.
Back when he had not yet absorbed a soul ring to break through, his corpse poison had already left the nineteenth-level Jing Wuming with no resistance, his body instantly destroyed. One could see how terrifying his poison was.
He guessed that against his corpse poison, no one in the Great Soul Master realm should be able to resist, unless they had a poison-resistant martial soul, or some auxiliary soul masters with detoxification abilities, who might be able to hold out for a bit. But exactly how it would go still needed to be tested.
Without Hu Liena and Qian Renxue as sparring partners, Jiang Chen suddenly felt that cultivation had become dull. Still, cultivation had to be done.
That evening, right after finishing dinner, he was summoned by Bibi Dong.
Jiang Chen was somewhat puzzled. "Could the teacher be about to tell me about the death camp?"
Following the maid all the way, he soon realized this was not the path to the study, which made him even more confused.
"Sister, where are you taking me?"
"His Holiness the Pope is in her bedroom," the maid respectfully replied.
Moments later, Jiang Chen arrived at Bibi Dong's bedroom. The maid respectfully closed the door and withdrew.
Bibi Dong's bedroom was very large, several times bigger than Hu Liena's room. Unlike the girlish feel of Hu Liena's room, Bibi Dong's room was filled with a mature and elegant atmosphere.
This was Jiang Chen's first time here, so he could not help feeling curious.
Bibi Dong was sitting on the edge of her soft bed, holding something in her hand.
The moment Jiang Chen saw her, he sensed something abnormal.
Bibi Dong's condition seemed off.
For some reason, Jiang Chen felt an inexplicable panic, with a sudden urge to flee this place immediately.
Bibi Dong suddenly looked up at Jiang Chen. Her eyes were actually a little red, as if she had just been crying.
Jiang Chen was surprised in his heart. This iron-blooded Pope actually had times when she cried.
Why was she crying? For whom? Could it be because of Qian Renxue?
While he was guessing in his heart, Bibi Dong's gentle and pleasant voice sounded.
"You're here. Come over here quickly." A soft smile hung on her face, which calmed Jiang Chen considerably.
Jiang Chen walked up to Bibi Dong. Only then did he notice that what Bibi Dong was holding was a white floral dress.
The dress was very small; it looked like something a five- or six-year-old girl would wear.
That thought flashed through his mind again: Bibi Dong was very wrong today!
Bibi Dong pulled Jiang Chen over and said softly, "Little Xue, this is the dress Mom bought for you. Do you like it?"
Jiang Chen's heart jolted violently, and the panic in his mind expanded infinitely.