Qian Renxue frowned slightly.
"What does Bibi Dong being forced off the stage have to do with me? If you want to do it, then go ahead."
Yin Zhang laughed softly.
"Very well. Since you have no objections, there's nothing more to discuss."
He turned to leave.
Qian Renxue hesitated as she watched his departing figure. She suddenly recalled that she had met Yin Zhang once before, three years ago, during the Elite Soul Master Competition. At that time, she hadn't paid him much attention. Yet now, he felt unfamiliar to her—yet inexplicably compelling.
She had lived more than a decade without any emotional entanglements, and she was only two years older than Yin Zhang. Still, after their recent encounters, unfamiliar feelings had begun to stir within her heart.
In the end, she didn't stop him and simply watched as he left.
Qian Renxue let out a quiet sigh.
In this world, the only person she truly loved was her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, who had always doted on her. If possible, she also wished that one day she could meet someone to spend her life with.
But she knew Yin Zhang's circumstances all too well.
Not only did he already have a girlfriend, he also maintained an ambiguous relationship with Hu Liena, her mother's only disciple and the future Holy Maiden—just as Bibi Dong had once been.
That made her feelings deeply conflicted.
She found Yin Zhang attractive, yet he already had one, perhaps even two, women by his side. If she pursued him, it would seem beneath her dignity. And if Yin Zhang had no feelings for her at all, she would only be humiliating herself.
"Miss, Yin Zhang has already left."
Serpent Spear Douluo appeared silently at her side.
"Also, the situation has worsened again tonight. According to Dugu Bo, Emperor Xue Ye has at most two months left. Miss, do you intend to let matters continue as they are, or…?"
Qian Renxue nodded calmly.
"Let things proceed naturally. I've already secured the loyalty of all the grand marshals of the empire's major armies. Once I replace Xue Ye as emperor, the purge can begin."
She spoke evenly, her thoughts clear.
"These marshals hold enormous power due to the empire's long-standing lenient policies, making them difficult to touch. Even if they suspect me of killing the other princes—or even Xue Xing—I am now the only remaining royal besides the gravely ill Xue Ye. If they don't wish to rebel, they have no choice but to accept it."
She paused briefly.
"From now on, Elder Serpent Spear and Elder Porcupine must keep a close watch on the military. If necessary, issue orders through Salas. Though he's nominally still Bibi Dong's man, even if she knew, she wouldn't interfere. In truth, he's already aligned with the Hall of Worship. If he wants to avoid being purged later, he'll work without complaint."
Serpent Spear nodded.
"Yes, Miss. I understand."
—
The relationship between Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan was a complicated one.
They had both studied at the Tiandou Royal Academy. In this world, Dugu Yan's Azure Scale Serpent venom had been cured early thanks to Yin Zhang, yet she and Yu Tianheng still met after joining the Seed Team. Attraction grew naturally, and the two became lovers.
To Dugu Bo, however, the relationship was unbearably glaring.
He understood Dugu Yan's emotional state.
Under his arrangement, Dugu Xin had married another woman and had a son. Though Dugu Bo and Dugu Xin loved Dugu Yan deeply and tried to treat her no differently, she inevitably felt a sense of neglect after her younger brother's birth. After meeting Yu Tianheng at the academy, she quickly found emotional solace in him.
Standing alone, Dugu Bo's expression turned cold.
"Yan Yan, forgive me—but there's no other choice. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is destined to be destroyed. We've already chosen Spirit Hall's side. You can't remain connected to Yu Tianheng."
He clenched his fist.
"You haven't known him for long. Make a clean break. I'll personally arrange for Yu Tianheng to be eliminated."
Dugu Bo disliked Yu Tianheng.
He was only kind to those he truly cared about. As for outsiders with no deep ties to him, he would show no mercy if necessary.
Yin Zhang's suggestion to proceed slowly and lure Yu Tianheng away from Dugu Yan had merit, but after careful consideration, Dugu Bo judged the success rate to be too low. If too much time passed without results, decisive action would be better.
"I'll have someone lure Yu Tianheng to the outskirts of the city—or into a secluded alley. Kill him, impersonate him, leave a letter to reassure Yan Yan, then have the 'Yu Tianheng' depart Tiandou City and return to his sect."
His voice was icy.
"By then, Yan Yan will believe she's seen his true nature. She may hate me, but this is necessary. If she must blame someone, she can blame herself for loving someone she was never meant to have."
He turned away.
"Xiao Zhang is the great benefactor of our Dugu family. Without him, Yan Yan would have died long ago—and our family would never have endured."
—
Yin Zhang was no stranger to the Royal Academy.
Years earlier, he had helped Qin Ming join Royal Fighting Team Two, achieving excellent results in the Elite Competition and eventually recruiting him into Spirit Hall.
In the original timeline, the twin brothers Shi Mo were also recruited by Yin Zhang and later accepted as disciples by Dragon Turtle Douluo Tang Zhen. Due to the Xuanwu Secret Realm, their martial souls eventually evolved into Xuanwu. One of the Xuanwu Pearls in Yin Zhang's possession had been reserved for them.
As for Dugu Yan, given her background, she was effectively already aligned with Spirit Hall.
Among the remaining members of the Royal Fighting Team, only Yu Tianheng, Ye Lingling, Yu Feng, and Oslo remained unchanged.
Setting Yu Tianheng aside, Yin Zhang was particularly interested in Ye Lingling.
On the entire Douluo Continent, there were only two Soul Masters whose martial soul was the Nine-Hearted Begonia.
That alone made the Ye family worthy of attention.
After learning the Ye family's location from Dugu Bo, Hu Liena accompanied Yin Zhang to visit them.
"I've studied the Ye family before," Hu Liena said thoughtfully. "If it weren't for the restriction that only two Nine-Hearted Begonia Soul Masters can exist at the same time, the number one support-type martial soul on the continent wouldn't be the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
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