Late at night, Wuhun City!
It was winter in Wuhun City.
Half a month ago, light snow had begun to fall, and by today… it had intensified.
Wuhun City was already covered in thick snow, and a biting wind howled through the silent streets.
The city was deathly still, save for the cold moonlight shining on the snow, casting a pale glow.
A three-year-old boy, dressed in thin, tattered clothes, slowly emerged from a corner of the magnificent yet cold Wuhun Hall.
His small body trembled in the cold wind, his thin legs seemingly bearing a thousand pounds of weight, each step so difficult.
His face was red from the cold, his lips purple, and his eyes were filled with helplessness and confusion.
The boy was none other than Qian Renshang!
Over the past few months, relying on information from Aunt Mei and others, he had thoroughly figured out the major and minor intersections of the Spirit Hall, and had already mentally rehearsed the escape route countless times.
Moreover, that place was mainly for defense against Bibi Dong, so it would be much less of a hindrance for Qian Renshang.
"Hmm... so it's already this cold outside."
Qian Renshang rubbed his small hands, looking at the vast expanse of white in front of him, his eyes somewhat blank.
Although he had successfully escaped, Qian Renshang had no direction or goal. He only knew that he wanted to get as far away from Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue as possible.
Otherwise, he would feel terrible...
"Mom... Sister, please allow me to address you this last time."
After walking a long way, Qian Renshang suddenly turned back to look at the brightly lit Spirit Hall behind him.
"I know you hate Xiaoshang... so I'm going to leave.
If nothing unexpected happens, I probably won't come back to find you again."
"From now on... we..."
Qian Renshang gritted his teeth, his eyes red as he spoke with difficulty.
"Let's pretend we don't know each other... Xiao Shang... I... don't like being with you guys anymore!"
Qian Renshang didn't know how much resolve it took to say these words.
The kinship he had longed for for so long... he was giving it up from now on!
Qian Renshang stood there, looking at the brightly lit Spirit Hall, letting the wind and snow hit his face... almost burying him.
He didn't know what he was hoping for... hoping someone would notice his departure and chase after him?
Qian Renshang closed his eyes in despair.
He remembered it was his birthday, so he spoke to himself.
"Qian Renshang... happy birthday..."
he said with a bitter smile, two lines of clear tears streaming down his face.
After an unknown amount of time,
Qian Renshang finally lifted his foot and walked away into the distance.
This time he didn't look back, his steps gradually becoming resolute from hesitation.
Qian Renshang walked forward expressionlessly!
The houses on both sides of the street had their doors and windows tightly closed, and the lights of thousands of homes... offered him no warmth or care.
Qian Renshang walked alone, the snow crunching under his feet, the only sound keeping him company in the silent night.
His hair was tousled by the cold wind, tears welling in his eyes but quickly freezing into icy beads on his face.
He didn't know where to go, only instinctively moving forward, each step filled with despair.
The relentless wind whipped at him; he hugged his arms tightly, trying to gain some warmth, but his feeble efforts seemed futile in the cold winter.
His small feet were numb with cold, yet they moved mechanically.
The surrounding darkness seemed to swallow him whole; his small figure appeared so tiny and desolate on the empty street.
No one cared about his existence, no one heard his inner cries; he was like a fallen leaf abandoned by the world, drifting alone in the cold winter night.
He was out of Wuhun City!
Qian Renshang continued walking, head down, into the distance. He didn't know where to go… but only one thought echoed in his mind.
"Far away... farther still... just away from here."
Fortunately, Qian Renshang possessed the bloodline of the Golden Dragon King, making his physique far stronger than ordinary people, thus making walking in the snowstorm easier.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
After an unknown amount of time,
only small footprints remained in the snow, and then Qian Renshang was nowhere to be seen!
...
The Spirit Hall! The Imperial Palace!
Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue remained immersed in their own private world, both smiling broadly, seemingly enjoying a harmonious atmosphere.
Qian Renxue was happy that Bibi Dong was willing to spend her birthday with her, and that she had received maternal love again.
Bibi Dong, on the other hand, was engrossed in imagining Qian Xunji's impending death; she was already prepared to assassinate him, and spending Qian Renxue's birthday with her was merely a side effect.
Their thoughts differed, but both wore smiles.
More than an hour passed before the atmosphere gradually calmed down, as that was all the two could talk about.
Bibi Dong subconsciously brought up Qian Renshang, recalling his foolish, pretentious look as he stood at the door.
She knew at a glance he was there to ask for something; did he really think she couldn't see through his clumsy performance?
"You…go and take this last little piece of cake to him."
Thinking of Qian Xunji's imminent death and her impending revenge, Bibi Dong was in high spirits and didn't mind giving Qian Renshang a little "favor."
She believed she should be a good mother!
"Fine..."
Qian Renxue reluctantly agreed, knowing she couldn't disobey her mother's orders, or Bibi Dong would hate her.
So Qian Renxue picked up a small cake and stormed off towards Qian Renshang's room.
"Heh... Mom actually let you eat cake, how awful... You don't deserve such good food!"
"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey..."
Qian Renxue spat on the cake a few times, then continued towards Qian Renshang's room, satisfied.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Arriving at Qian Renshang's door, Qian Renxue impatiently banged on it.
"Qian Renshang... came out to get the cake!?"
"Let me tell you... I begged my mother for this cake, and she only agreed to give you a piece.
You should thank me!!"
Qian Renxue rambled on, but received no response for a long time.
Qian Renxue panicked instantly.
She felt that Qian Renshang was retaliating against her, deliberately leaving her standing there.
So, Qian Renxue threw the cake on the ground and left. "If Qian Renshang
isn't going to open the door, then don't bother!"
she thought angrily, and quickly returned to her small room.
Bibi Dong looked up at her and subconsciously asked,
"Was the cake delivered?"
"Yes...he said he really liked it."
Qian Renxue lied casually, and Bibi Dong obviously didn't mind.
"That's good."
Then she ignored her, and the cold night...seemed the same as always.
(End of Chapter)