Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

The moment Feng Yao stepped out of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's mountain gate, his figure transformed into a streak of light. Under the blazing sun, his black robes fluttered in the wind, tracing a sharp path across the bright blue sky. With a light touch of his toes on the glazed tile surface, he leaped several miles in a few bounds, speeding towards Tian Dou City.

The shadows of the trees along the way rushed past him, and sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled patterns on his body. The Fuxi Qin in his arms trembled slightly with the speed of his journey, its strings producing a clear, resonant sound in the wind. The blood-red, 100,000-year-old soul ring gleamed brightly under the blazing sun, startling countless birds into flight wherever he went.

Feng Yao's figure swept across the towering walls of Tian Dou City like a ghost. The guards felt only a gentle breeze on their faces, but when they looked up, he had vanished without a trace. He darted along the rooftops, traversing the bustling streets in a few leaps, finally landing steadily on the glazed tiles outside the East Palace. The noisy sounds of Tian Dou City gradually faded beneath his feet. Feng Yao straightened his slightly disheveled clothes and turned his gaze to the magnificent, golden Crown Prince's Palace not far away.

Feng Yao moved like lightning, skillfully using the shadows of trees and buildings to completely conceal his aura, and in a few quick movements, he shook off all the sentries' sight.

A short while later, a dark figure swept across the palace wall. Feng Yao lightly touched the glazed tiles with his toes, using the momentum to flip into the East Palace courtyard. When he landed, his clothes didn't stir up any dust, as light and silent as a falling leaf. He raised his eyes and looked towards the direction of the Crown Prince's bedroom, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Qian Renxue was reviewing memorials in her study, sunlight filtering through the carved window lattice and casting dappled shadows on her desk. Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew open the palace door, and Feng Yao's figure hurried in, carrying the fresh scent of morning dew.

"Xiao Feng?" A touch of crimson spread from the vermilion brush in her hand onto the memorial, and a hint of surprise flashed in her golden eyes as she raised her eyebrows. Having known each other for many years, this was the first time she had seen the usually composed Feng Yao in such a hurry.

The scent of pine wood from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School still lingered on Feng Yao's robes, yet his brow was furrowed with an unyielding gravity: "Xue'er, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has already detected clues about the Starry Sky Journey."

She Long and Ci Xue silently emerged from behind the pillars. They exchanged a glance, then bowed and withdrew in tacit agreement. As the palace doors closed softly, the incense smoke on the altar trembled slightly.

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue's expression changed drastically, her gaze suddenly becoming extremely serious: "What exactly happened?"

Feng Yao sat down with a flick of his sleeve and began to recount the confrontation between himself and Ning Fengzhi and the other two within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. When he spoke of Ning Fengzhi seeing through the clues, he lightly tapped the table with his fingertips, producing a crisp sound.

"I didn't expect that old fox Ning Fengzhi to have such a keen sense of smell." Feng Yao shook his head and chuckled, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. "However, this is exactly what His Holiness the Pope wanted."

"You still have the mind to joke?" Qian Renxue glared at him, unable to hide the anger in her eyes. "Even in this situation, you're still speaking up for her."

Feng Yao casually toyed with the gilded paperweight on his desk, a faint smile playing on his lips. "After all, stealing the soul ring and soul bone that His Holiness the Pope coveted always comes at a price." He glanced at Qian Renxue, a sly glint in his eyes. "However, thankfully, judging from Ning Fengzhi's reaction, Xue'er's disguise is flawless."

"No wonder you rushed here so quickly." Qian Renxue gently touched her chest. Only then did she realize that Feng Yao's unusual act of concealing his whereabouts was to avoid any eyes and ears that might expose her identity.

Outside the window, a gentle breeze swept through the crabapple tree in the courtyard, scattering pink and white petals. Feng Yao reached out and caught a petal that had drifted in through the window frame, lightly rubbing it between his fingertips: "This drama is getting more and more interesting."

Feng Yao leaned back lazily in the carved chair, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest: "Xue'er, what price do you think I should ask that old fox for?"

Qian Renxue glanced at him sideways, her arm tracing a faint line across the memorial: "Weren't you planning to have Ning Fengzhi negotiate with her directly?"

“That old fox really knows my mind.” Feng Yao chuckled, sunlight dancing between his brows. “Although I don’t know our relationship, I know that if this matter were to pass through my hands—” He paused meaningfully, “given His Holiness the Pope’s temperament, if he were to truly confront Ning Fengzhi face to face…”

Before he could finish speaking, Qian Renxue had already shot him a glare. The smoke from the incense burning on the table suddenly swirled—clearly, someone was using the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School as a pledge to please his "mother-in-law."

Qian Renxue slammed the vermilion brush down on the inkstone, splashing a few drops of crimson ink. She turned her face away, her golden eyes gleaming coldly in the sunlight: "Since you already had a plan, why bother asking me?"

For some reason, whenever Bibi Dong interfered in her affairs, a strange sense of resistance would well up inside her. Even though reason told her that these arrangements were beneficial to Feng Yao, and even... not necessarily a bad thing for her.

Seeing this, Feng Yao moved swiftly and moved close to Qian Renxue's side. His long arms gently encircled her slender waist, his chin rested on her shoulder, and his warm breath brushed against the delicate skin of her neck.

"What's wrong?" His deep voice held a hint of amusement, his lips almost touching her slightly flushed earlobe. "My Xue'er... are you unhappy?"

Qian Renxue felt a tingling sensation in her neck, and her pretty face immediately flushed red. She bit her lower lip lightly, and in a fit of pique, she rested her forehead on Feng Yao's shoulder, but she couldn't hide the slight upturn of her lips.

"All you know how to do is use these crooked tricks," her voice trailed off, her fingertips unconsciously tightening their grip on Feng Yao's sleeve. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a gentle golden glow on the two embracing figures.

Feng Yao chuckled softly upon hearing this, the vibration of his chest transmitted through their pressed bodies. He gently lifted Qian Renxue's chin with his fingertips, gazing into her watery golden eyes: "How can this be considered heretical?" His warm breaths mingled, and he deliberately lowered his voice: "It's clearly an inability to control one's emotions."

"Smooth-tongued." Qian Renxue spat lightly, but a hint of sweetness flickered in her eyes. She made a move to push him away, but Feng Yao seized the opportunity to steal a kiss on her palm. Startled birds fluttered past the window, just like her heartbeat, which was now out of rhythm.

Feng Yao slowly released his embrace, but his hands still gently rested on Qian Renxue's fragrant shoulders. He took a small step back, creating just the right distance between them, allowing their eyes to meet.

Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, casting dappled patterns between the two. Feng Yao gazed intently into Qian Renxue's golden eyes, bright as morning stars, his expression more serious than ever before: "Xue'er, have you ever considered," he gently brushed his fingertips across the golden hair falling over her shoulder, "why the faith in angels gradually fades with the passage of time?"

Qian Renxue's pupils trembled slightly, and a look of confusion appeared on her face. She subconsciously clenched Feng Yao's sleeve, only to see that his eyes seemed to hold a thousand stars, hiding unspeakable depths.

Feng Yao cupped Qian Renxue's face in his hands, his fingertips gently caressing her cheeks. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting dappled patterns on her golden eyelashes. "Because," his voice was gentle yet firm, "never, through generations of angelic descendants, have truly learned to 'love' like your ancestor." His fingertips slid down, grasping her slightly cool, soft hand. "Your love is now only given to me and Grandpa Qian. But to restore the glory of the angels..."

He guided her hand to his heart, letting her feel its strong beating. "Everyone on this continent needs to feel the warmth of angels." His gaze burned into her eyes. "With your talent, surpassing your ancestors is only a matter of time."

The doubt in Qian Renxue's eyes gradually turned into bewilderment, and a layer of mist veiled her golden eyes. She looked down at their clasped hands, her voice almost inaudible: "Xiao Feng...am I really useless? You've already far surpassed me."

Feng Yao gently pulled Qian Renxue into his arms, his long, slender fingers running through her cascading golden hair, softly stroking her back. He lowered his head and placed a light kiss on her hair, his voice as gentle as the warmest spring breeze: "Xue'er, do you remember a few years ago? Did you ever imagine then—his fingertips lightly tracing the contours of her cheek—that one day you would set aside your pride for me, even forgive Yanyan and Lingling?"

The delicate body in his arms trembled slightly, and Feng Yao tightened his embrace: "You've never lost the ability to love, it's just..." His voice lowered, "...the shackles of hatred, the burden of power, the fog of desire—all these have shrouded your heart layer upon layer."

Qian Renxue tilted her head back, her pretty face shimmering in the sunlight, yet unable to conceal the confusion flickering in her eyes: "Xiao Feng," she whispered, "then what exactly is love?"

Feng Yao's gaze was gentle yet firm: "Xue'er, to me," his voice flowed like a clear spring, "I allow you to be the gentlest critic, the closest accomplice, and the most steadfast companion in my life."

Sunlight streamed through the windowpanes, dancing on his deep-set eyes: "And I," he took her hand and pressed it to his heart, "want to enter your world in the same way."

Qian Renxue's pupils trembled slightly; these words pierced through the walls she had built around her heart like sharp arrows. Anyone who dared to judge her would long since be reduced to dust; anyone who dared to conspire with her was a fool's dream. In this world, who was ever worthy to stand shoulder to shoulder with her?

But now, the person before her had done just that: pointing out her mistakes, plotting everything together, and walking hand in hand with her.
Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. She could only rest her forehead on his shoulder, quietly calming her emotions.

After a long while, Qian Renxue secretly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, her expression regaining its usual composure. She leaned back slightly, creating some distance between herself and Feng Yao, a sly glint in her golden eyes.

“So,” she lightly tapped Feng Yao’s chest with her fingertip, a playful smile curving her red lips, “you seem to have quite a few ‘fellow travelers.’”

Feng Yao chuckled softly, taking her mischievous fingers in his hand and kissing her palm. "But the only one who can conspire with me," he looked up into her eyes, his voice deep and resolute, "is you."

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue's pretty face blossomed with a smile as bright as spring flowers in March, her golden eyes gleaming with cunning: "Then, my accomplice, how do you require my cooperation?" She lightly touched her lips with her fingertip, "...to deal with that old fox, Ning Fengzhi?"

Feng Yao took her soft hand in his and placed a light kiss on her fingertips: "Why scheme?" A wise glint flashed in his eyes. "Just wait and see, that old fox will find a way to curry favor. During this time..." He paused meaningfully, "Xue'er can begin preparing for her succession. When he comes looking for you, you only need to..."

“I understand.” Qian Renxue suddenly withdrew her hand, a mischievous glint in her golden eyes. “Since that’s the case,” she turned gracefully, her skirt tracing a beautiful arc in the sunlight, “you should visit the East Palace less often these days.” A smile, captivating all, followed. “How about spending more time with your confidantes?”

Feng Yao clicked his tongue softly, looking at Qian Renxue with a smile in his eyes: "Xue'er, it seems you are beginning to resemble the warm and radiant image of an angel." He deliberately dragged out his words, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.

Qian Renxue's golden eyes narrowed slightly, her delicate eyebrows arching slightly. "You talk to me about these things all day long—" She slowly approached, her fingertip lightly touching Feng Yao's chest, "Could it be—" Her voice suddenly turned cold, "that it's just to get me to accept your female confidantes?"

Feng Yao took her soft hand in his grasp, his smile deepening. "If I said yes..." He suddenly lowered his voice, "What would Xue'er do?"

Qian Renxue's eyes flashed with golden light. She gave a soft snort, but didn't pull her hand away, merely turning her face away: "Smooth talker."

Feng Yao chuckled and shook his head, his fingertips brushing against Qian Renxue's flowing golden hair. "Grandpa Qian entrusted me with an important mission." A profound light flashed in his eyes. "As for my words, one day you will understand their deeper meaning."

"One day?" Qian Renxue frowned slightly, her beautiful eyes sparkling with a probing light, as if trying to see through the mystery in his words.

Feng Yao took a step back and winked mischievously at her: "I'll take my leave now. Remember what I said." Before he finished speaking, his figure had already drifted towards the palace gate like a gentle breeze.

"I know—" Qian Renxue drawled, a smile unconsciously creeping onto her lips. She casually picked up the memorial on the table, but her fingertips paused slightly the instant Feng Yao's figure disappeared.

Qian Renxue stared in the direction Feng Yao had left. Her fingertips unconsciously traced the gold seal on the table, her mind churning: "Could Grandpa's arrangement be related to what Xiao Feng said, something to do with the ancestral legacy?"

A gentle breeze swept past the window, ruffling a few strands of her golden hair. Light and shadow swayed through the leaves, illuminating her delicate profile. Qian Renxue gently pressed down on the document fluttering in the wind, suddenly recalling the meaningful glint in Feng Yao's eyes when he said, "One day you will understand."

As soon as Feng Yao stepped out of the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace and returned to the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, he saw a familiar figure in the distance.

Ning Rongrong, dressed in a light green dress, stood on the stone steps in front of the academy gate, seemingly waiting for someone. Sunlight filtered through the sycamore leaves, casting dappled shadows on her. Her delicate face showed a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

(End of this chapter)