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

Chapter 140 Entering the Palace
Feng Yao watched the ripples created by Ye Lingling's departing skirt, his eyes darkening slightly. Suddenly, Dugu Yan in his arms tilted her head back, her blue-gold hair brushing against his chin like tassels: "Now...it's just us left~"

The last syllable of her voice was sweet and sticky, yet her trembling eyelashes resembled the wings of a startled butterfly. Feng Yao chuckled softly, then suddenly scooped her up in his arms, startling Dugu Yan who cried out softly and clung tightly to his neck. They entered through the carved wooden door leading to the inner room.

The unfinished words were swallowed between their intertwined lips. Feng Yao hooked the door shut with his foot, and the gauze curtains fell with a thud, concealing the entangled figures on the bed. Dugu Yan's exclamation broke into intermittent sobs, and the Azure Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul wandered uncontrollably, casting emerald-colored light and shadow on the gauze curtains.

The morning light, like a golden veil, filtered through the curtains, shattering into stars on Dugu Yan's trembling eyelashes. Unconsciously, she snuggled closer to the source of warmth, only to bump her nose against a warm chest reeking of pine resin.

"Awake?" Feng Yao's voice was still hoarse from the morning, his fingertips twirling a strand of her blue hair.

Dugu Yan suddenly opened her eyes, and the shameful scenes from last night flooded back. She abruptly pulled the brocade quilt over herself, revealing several ambiguous lines on her snowy back.

"Now you know shame?" Feng Yao chuckled, pulling her into his arms, his fingertips lightly tracing the bite mark beneath her collarbone. "Who was it last night, so incompetent and playful? Crying and saying no, while..."

"Shut up!" Dugu Yan covered his mouth in shame and anger. "Don't say it! You scoundrel!"

Feng Yao laughed and got up, revealing several crimson scratch marks on his muscular waist and abdomen. Dugu Yan cried out and tried to retrieve the slipped quilt, but he leaned down and bit her earlobe: "Lingling's floral scent is wafting over." He glanced mischievously at the creaking door, "If you don't get up soon, you might be seen naked~"

Dugu Yan immediately rushed to catch the scattered clothes.

Feng Yao stepped out of the room, refreshed and invigorated, the morning light gilding his shoulders. He saw Ye Lingling already sitting on the stone bench in the courtyard, the tips of her ears still tinged with the lingering blush.

"You rascal." She raised her eyes and spat lightly, a hint of reproach appearing on her pretty face. "Yan Yan always says I spoil you, but I think only she would indulge your nonsense."

Feng Yao smiled and leaned closer, pulling her into his arms. His nose brushed against the crabapple blossom scent in her hair: "Lingling's home." His palm stroked her slightly warm nape. "Isn't this our home?"

Ye Lingling bit her lower lip lightly, but honestly wrapped her arms around his wrist. She pretended to struggle a couple of times, but finally nestled softly into his chest, which could be considered as tacitly acquiescing to this shameless excuse.

"I ordered someone to prepare breakfast." She lightly tapped the stone table with her fingertips, and the glass cup was filled with sweet porridge. "After Sister Xue'er finishes court..." Before she could finish speaking, she was stolen a light kiss.

Feng Yao licked his lips and chuckled, "Lingling is so thoughtful."

When Dugu Yan shuffled out of the room, she looked like a cat caught stealing food. Her blue-gold hair was tied up in a slightly messy bun, and her sash wasn't tied properly.

Feng Yao's eyes sparkled with a smile, deliberately avoiding looking at her. Ye Lingling lowered her gaze, fiddling with the tea set, yet even her earlobes revealed a hint of rouge.

"Have breakfast first." As soon as Feng Yao spoke, Dugu Yan darted to his side like a rabbit. At first, she sat properly, but after only half a cup of tea, she was limply hanging on his arm—and her little hand under the table even brazenly reached under his clothes, her fingertips lightly tracing the lines of his abdominal muscles.

Feng Yao gasped, his fingertips brushing against a sensitive spot, nearly causing him to knock over his teacup.

"If Ye Lingling isn't around, I'm afraid I'll be swallowed whole by this snake spirit"—Feng Yao stared at Dugu Yan's seductive eyes and suddenly understood the power of a martial spirit to shape a person's character. After all, there's only one person in the world who could force him to suppress his evil fire with internal energy.

After Feng Yao and the two had a refined breakfast, seeing that the sun was still high in the sky and Qian Renxue should still be at court, he smiled and suggested, "Why don't we go for a stroll in the streets first?"

Ye Lingling carefully settled the sleeping Xiao Wu on the crabapple blossom couch. Dugu Yan had already eagerly taken Feng Yao's left arm, appearing quite excited, as if she were deeply in love.

The three of them became a moving focal point as they walked through the bustling streets.

"Tone it down a bit." Feng Yao sighed and squeezed Dugu Yan's palm. The girl was practically clinging to him, attracting the attention of passersby. Ye Lingling, on the other hand, maintained a delicate distance and gently took Feng Yao's hand from beneath his robes.

On the other side, in the main hall of the Tang Sect, Tang San sat alone in the dim light. His fingertips gently combed the fur of the white rabbit in his arms, the movements as tender as if he were touching fragile glass.

Strangely, the snow-white ball of fluff was trembling uncontrollably. Every hair stood on end in a sharp, bristling arc, and its ruby ​​eyes were fixed with a look of terror—as if it were being entwined by an invisible venomous snake.

Tang San slightly clenched his rabbit ears, his expression turning anxious the instant Titan stepped into the hall: "Senior, have you found the results?"

Titan's heavy footsteps were particularly noticeable in the empty hall: "Young Master is right, Feng Yao was indeed not at Heaven Dou Academy during the Spirit Hall's hunt for Star Dou." He stroked his beard with his iron hand, "But..."

"But?" Tang San frowned slightly and asked.

"The timing is suspicious." Titan's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "Reaching the level of Soul Saint to Soul Douluo is like climbing a high mountain, which cannot be conquered without years of effort. This old servant took twenty years, and even my master needed several years back then." He suddenly lowered his voice, "Even if he killed a 100,000-year-old soul beast, it would still be beyond his ability to absorb. I'm afraid that soul ring was obtained through sacrifice."

Tang San abruptly stood up, the white rabbit in his arms convulsing in alarm: "Could it be that the Spirit Hall has captured Xiao Wu and is forcing her to sacrifice herself?"

"How could the Spirit Hall simply hand over a 100,000-year-old spirit ring and spirit bone?" Titan shook his head as his armor clanged.

Tang San's knuckles turned white from clenching his fists, and the white rabbit in his arms trembled even more violently. Suspicion of Feng Yao was like a poisonous vine coiling around his heart—his whereabouts were unknown when the Spirit Hall was operating, and now he possessed a 100,000-year spirit ring; every aspect of him seemed eerie.

“But if the Spirit Hall were to relinquish the prize that was already within their grasp…” He stared into Rabbit’s crimson pupils, “Xiao Wu would rather die than grant her enemy’s wish.”

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, and he abruptly tightened his grip: "Could it be that Xiao Wu encountered Feng Yao while fleeing, and to prevent the Spirit Hall from succeeding, she..." He shook his head before finishing, "But why is Feng Yao in the Star Dou Great Forest?"

The doubts grew thicker and thicker, like a spiderweb. He almost rushed to confront Feng Yao, but then slumped down in despair—with a 100,000-year-old soul ring and soul bone before him, who would tell the truth? Could he really expect the murderer who absorbed the soul ring to repent?

Tang San took a deep breath, his fingertips stroking the rabbit's trembling back. Tang Yuehua's advice came to mind, and he slowly sat down.

Tang San lowered his eyes and gently stroked the rabbit's ears, his voice so calm it betrayed no emotion: "Thank you for your trouble, senior. Now that the die is cast, the truth will eventually come to light."

Titan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, even the scraping sound of his armor lessening. He noticed the rabbit trembling in the young man's arms and couldn't help but feel glad that the other had temporarily suppressed his impulse—now that Feng Yao held the merit of following the dragon and possessed the strength of a Soul Douluo, how could this tender seedling of the Tang Sect withstand the storm?
"This old servant takes his leave." Titan bowed, his gaze sweeping over the Power Clan disciples training outside. These young men still burned with the passion to revitalize their clan, completely unaware that their clan leader had just nearly dragged them into a deadly situation.

As he stepped out of the Tang Clan, the sunlight cast a heavy shadow on him. He finally understood that the other three clans were unwilling to get involved in the Tang Clan's mess. The lives of over a thousand clansmen sometimes depended on a single decision made by the clan leader.

Titan stumbled slightly as he stepped out of the hall, his heavy steps faltering. Sunlight cast his towering figure onto the newly painted plaque of the Tang Clan, making him appear somewhat hunched. A sigh escaping through the gaps in his armor startled the birds under the eaves. Had he known that the words "Tang Clan" would be written with the blood of his people, he would have preferred to remain the old Titan, a blacksmith forever. Alas, there is no going back in life, just like the weapons he had forged with his own hands—once unsheathed, they were destined to draw blood.

"I hope..." He glanced one last time at the young man petting the rabbit in the hall, but the faint murderous aura emanating from him made him swallow his words. As the clanging of armor faded into the distance, a broken soliloquy drifted on the breeze: "...May I find peace."

Tang San's fingertips suddenly sank into the cold downy hairs.

He looked down and saw that the white rabbit in his arms had widened its eyes, its scarlet pupils filled with the last of its fear, and its warm body was rapidly cooling down.

"."

He expressionlessly picked up the slightly cool rabbit carcass and casually tossed it into the Twenty-Four Bridges Under the Moonlit Night. In the instant the soul-guided device flashed its eerie light, dozens of equally unseeing rabbit corpses could be vaguely seen piled up inside.

"Xiao Wu isn't afraid of me."

The young man smoothed his sleeve, and Blue Silver Grass sprouted from his right hand, completely swallowing the bloodstains that the rabbit had just dripped. As sunlight brushed across the gentle curve of his lips, it illuminated the unfathomable dark sea in his eyes.

Inside the main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, the gazes of the three men were fixed on Ning Rongrong as if they were physical objects.

Ning Rongrong's eyelashes trembled slightly, and the iridescent light in her eyes gradually settled. The three approached in an instant, and the light from the glazed pagoda at Ning Fengzhi's fingertips illuminated their clothes: "How is it?"

Ning Rongrong felt the miraculous changes within her body and took a deep breath. "My soul power has increased by two levels. But the most amazing thing is that the fruit didn't disappear from my body. It seems to be cultivating on its own, and my soul power is recovering faster than before—more than three times faster."

"Three times?" Ning Fengzhi was shocked.

The three people's pupils shrank suddenly. Ning Fengzhi's glazed pagoda shone brightly. Chen Xin understood and pointed his finger at Ning Rongrong's brow. Vast spiritual power flooded into Ning Rongrong's meridians like a tide.

"My heart is pounding like a war drum." Chen Xin's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly. "Her meridians are more than twice as wide as an ordinary person's." He released a slight burst of sword energy from his fingertips, and golden veins immediately appeared beneath the girl's skin. "That celestial fruit is perfectly preserved in her dantian, and is converting into soul power on its own."

The Seven Kill Sword suddenly emitted a startled buzzing sound—Ning Rongrong's circulation speed was even half a fraction faster than Ning Fengzhi's, and the dissipated soul power condensed into dazzling stardust at the tips of her hair.

"How is it, Uncle Jian?" Ning Fengzhi asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"No hidden dangers have been detected yet." Chen Xin's voice trailed off with hesitation as he finished his attack. "But this thing has never been seen before." He pointed lightly with his sword finger to the location of the fruit. "However, for now, it seems to offer only benefits. But this strange object resides within the body, and I fear that one day it might turn against us. Perhaps we could ask someone; that guy will definitely know."

Gu Rong looked at Chen Xin and slowly said, "You mean—Chrysanthemum Pass?"

Chen Xin slowly said, "That's right, that guy knows these things, and his martial spirit is also known as a celestial flower. It would be more appropriate to let him take a look."

Gu Rong nodded and said, "Although this old monster is despicable, his knowledge of these plants and flowers is indeed unparalleled on the continent."

Ning Fengzhi's fingertips trembled slightly with a glassy light: "Rongrong, summon your martial soul and take a look." His voice carried an urgency he hadn't felt in a century.

Under the watchful eyes of the three people, a misty haze slowly rose from Ning Rongrong's palm—a tower of seven-colored light intertwined, and the glazed tile eaves tinkled.

"In the end, it's still the seventh floor." He staggered and grabbed Chen Xin's arm, the tower light reflecting the fine lines at the corners of his eyes.

Chen Xin suddenly pressed down on the buzzing hilt of the sword, and the Seven Kill Sword automatically drew three inches from its sheath: "No, Feng Zhi."

"Uncle Sword?" Ning Fengzhi looked at the trembling sword in surprise—this divine weapon that had slain countless powerful enemies was now humming to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda.

"Just now," Chen Xin's sword finger traced the blade, "Seven Kills was excited."

Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi's disappointed eyes instantly lit up. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, theoretically speaking, is just a flawed martial soul. Compared to a top-tier weapon martial soul like the Seven Kill Sword, it is actually much inferior. However, a martial soul that can resonate with the Seven Kill Sword must be a top-tier weapon martial soul.

Gu Rong observed carefully and said, "Look closely, Rongrong's martial soul is different. Among the seven colors of light, there seems to be an extra kind of light, which looks like starlight."

Gu Rong's finger suddenly pierced through the shimmering light, pointing to a wisp of drifting starlight: "Look at this eighth stream of light."

The Seven Kill Sword of Dust Heart hummed, revealing a strange sight—within the originally distinct seven-colored precious light, tiny starlight was now wandering. Upon closer inspection, these starlight were constantly merging into the tower body, transforming into glazed golden patterns, and occasionally climbing to the top of the tower to condense into the illusory eighth layer of eaves.

"It's not just light and shadow; it's reshaping the origin of martial spirits!" Chen Xin exclaimed joyfully.

Ning Fengzhi looked excitedly at the starlight flowing within the spirit and said, "Uncle Gu, it's a great favor that you made the trip to the Spirit Hall. It's better for him to see for himself than for us to speculate."

Gu Rong nodded, then channeled his soul power, tearing through the air with his bone claws, creating spiderweb-like black cracks in the void: "Don't worry, Rongrong should be fine. Wait for me to come back."

Gu Rong offered a word of comfort, then waved his hand, breaking through the void and disappearing into the distance.

The sun was shining brightly, and Feng Yao saw that it was almost time. He lightly raised his finger and pointed to the carriage yard not far away: "Let's go, it's about time. Let's take a carriage to the palace."

Before long, he gently supported Ye Lingling's slender waist with his left hand, while Dugu Yan held his right arm. The three of them boarded the carriage amidst the overlapping of their clothes, the fragrance of crabapple blossoms and the scent of medicine mingling inside.

The carriage arrived at the gilded palace gate, and Feng Yao flicked out a dragon-patterned token from his fingertip. Upon seeing this, the guards hurriedly knelt down, and the nine-zhang palace gate slowly opened, revealing the bottomless imperial road.

"Why are you shaking?" Feng Yao suddenly felt a slight tremor in his arm and looked down to see the two women's fingers clenching slightly. Feng Yao chuckled and squeezed their palms: "Xue'er won't eat anyone, she's very easy to talk to."

(End of this chapter)