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

Chapter 45 Departure
The night was cool and still. Feng Yao sat quietly in the cultivation room, his fingertips unconsciously caressing the strings of the Fuxi Qin. During this time, he could clearly sense the subtle change in Qian Renxue's attitude—from initial aloofness and wariness to now sharing the progress of the advancement matches with him daily. This change filled him with an indescribable joy.

Just as he was lost in thought, the door was gently pushed open. Moonlight poured in, outlining the tall, slender golden figure. But Qian Renxue was different today; she exuded a chilling aura, and her bright golden eyes seemed to be filled with icy coldness.

"What's wrong? Are you in a bad mood today?" Feng Yao stopped playing the zither and asked gently.

Qian Renxue took a deep breath, her fingertips unconsciously digging into her palm: "In today's promotion match, Tang San used the Clear Sky Hammer to achieve a one-versus-seven victory." Her voice was as cold as ice, "He truly has inherited the true essence of the Clear Sky Douluo." The last few words were almost squeezed out between her teeth, carrying a deep-seated hatred.

Feng Yao's pupils contracted slightly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He was surprised that Tang San had abandoned the Blue Silver Grass in favor of the Clear Sky Hammer in the individual competition, and he understood even more the hatred surging in Qian Renxue's heart at this moment—in her eyes, Tang Hao was still the murderer of her father.

“Killing Tang San now will be difficult.” Feng Yao carefully chose his words, his voice soft yet firm. “Since he can openly use the Clear Sky Hammer, he must have Tang Hao’s approval. With the finals approaching, it would be too risky to act rashly now.”

Qian Renxue closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, the icy coldness in them had softened slightly. She looked at Feng Yao, a rare gentleness flashing in her golden eyes: "I understand." Her voice gradually calmed. "After so many years of lying in wait, a little more time won't make a difference."

Qian Renxue tilted her head slightly, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders, shimmering softly in the candlelight. She hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "Aren't you going to ask me why?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Yao raised an eyebrow, a gentle smile playing on his lips: "Between us, there's no longer a need for explanations." His voice was soft yet firm.

He raised his eyes to look directly into Qian Renxue's, his gaze clear as autumn water: "As for the reason... I will know when you are willing to tell me."

The candlelight flickered, casting interlaced shadows between the two. Qian Renxue stared blankly at the boy before her, who always seemed to understand her thoughts, and the ice that had never melted in her heart for years seemed to melt a little more.

"My father died at the hands of Tang Hao." Qian Renxue's voice was soft, yet it carried a chilling edge.

Feng Yao paused slightly on the strings, seemingly casually asking, "Did you see it with your own eyes?"

Qian Renxue was visibly stunned. This question seemed to have shattered her long-held obsession. Her slender fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes. After a long while, she slowly shook her head, recalling her grandfather's explanation, and said slowly, "My father was severely injured by Tang Hao back then. Although he recuperated for many years, he ultimately succumbed to his injuries." Her voice gradually lowered, "Even if he hadn't died on the spot, this blood debt should still be settled with Tang Hao."

Feng Yao nodded slightly, his fingertips unconsciously caressing the strings. Qian Renxue's words were indeed not without reason—although it was Bibi Dong who truly poisoned Qian Xunji, without the severe injury from the battle with Tang Hao, given the power of the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, it would have been almost impossible for Bibi Dong to silently devour a Super Douluo.

“Tang Hao is indeed to blame.” Feng Yao lowered his gaze, concealing the complex emotions in his eyes. This feud was too deeply entangled; even if he knew the truth, he dared not reveal it rashly at this moment. After all, to Qian Renxue, Bibi Dong was both her father's killer and her blood-related mother.
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. How about I play a piece for Your Highness?" Feng Yao's gentle voice carried just the right amount of softness, and a reassuring smile played on his lips.

Qian Renxue was slightly taken aback, then looked up to meet Feng Yao's smiling eyes. Those eyes were clear as a spring, as if they could wash away the hatred that had accumulated in her heart for many years. She took a deep breath and nodded slightly.

The melodious sound of the zither filled the room, bringing a sense of tranquility. Soon, Qian Renxue's tense shoulders finally relaxed.

"Um"

As the music faded, the two began their cultivation in perfect unison, their long golden hair shimmering softly in the candlelight. She gracefully adjusted her robes and sat cross-legged opposite Feng Yao. Their auras gradually merged, forming a profound balance.

The month-long qualifying rounds flew by. Remarkably, in fourteen intense matches, the transformed Shrek Academy swept through the competition, achieving a resounding fourteen-game winning streak and claiming the Heaven Dou Empire division championship with the top spot on the leaderboard. They successively defeated established powerhouses such as Blazing Fire, Plants, Heavenly Water, Thunder, and Divine Wind, completely washing away the gloom of the final stages of the preliminaries with a series of exhilarating victories. Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer, Dai Mubai's domineering White Tiger Martial Soul, and Yu Tianheng's ferocious Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul all struck fear into the hearts of their opponents.

At the grand closing ceremony, Emperor Xueye once again delivered a passionate speech. The aged emperor's piercing gaze swept over the young Soul Masters below, his voice booming like a bell: "But the real test has only just begun! The finals are the ultimate battlefield to determine who will be the continent's number one academy!"

Due to the inconvenience of his imperial status for long journeys, Emperor Xue Ye publicly announced that Crown Prince Xue Qinghe would serve as the special envoy of the Heaven Dou Empire, representing the royal family as a judge for the competition. The fifteen qualifying teams, including Shrek Academy, would be personally led by the Crown Prince and escorted by five hundred elite royal knights to the headquarters of the Spirit Hall—Spirit City.

The three-day rest period passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, banners fluttered outside the gates of Tiandou City, and a vast army of over a thousand people was ready to depart. The teachers and students of the fifteen academies were in high spirits, while the elite five hundred Royal Knights stood in imposing armor.

As dawn broke, a grand procession slowly set off on the official road outside Tiandou City. Feng Yao, dressed in a plain white robe and carrying the Fuxi Qin, stepped onto the gilded carriage exclusive to the Royal Fighting Team.

Inside the carriage, Dugu Yan sat leaning against the window, her purple hair cascading down like a waterfall; Yu Feng, as always, jokingly chatted with the Shi Mo brothers. Seeing Feng Yao board the carriage, everyone cast friendly glances their way.

"Xiao Feng, over here!" Dugu Yan patted the empty seat next to her. Feng Yao sat down with a smile.

The carriage slowly started moving, the sound of wheels rolling over the cobblestone road mingling with the hoofbeats of the Royal Knights. Feng Yao lifted the curtain and gazed at the receding silhouette of Tian Dou City, a touch of melancholy creeping onto his face.

"I've never been to Spirit City before," Yu Feng said excitedly, leaning closer. "I'm really going to have a good look around this time."

Feng Yao smiled slightly but did not answer. His gaze passed over the many carriages and horses and landed on the magnificent royal carriage at the front of the procession—there, Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, must also be experiencing a myriad of emotions at this moment.

"By now, Yu Xiaogang should have arrived in Wuhun City," he thought to himself, a meaningful smile unconsciously curving his lips.

Thinking about meeting the legendary Pope of the Spirit Hall, Feng Yao felt a strange curiosity rising in his heart. Qian Renxue was the most stunning woman he had ever seen—her noble and sharp temperament was like a drawn sword, making people afraid to look directly at her yet unable to look away.

Feng Yao's fingertips gently caressed the delicate wood grain on the Fuxi, his thoughts drifting away like smoke.

"What kind of charm would Bibi Dong possess?" He carefully sketched in his mind the woman who stood at the pinnacle of the Soul Master world. The Pope, who had ruled the Spirit Hall for over twenty years, was a sacred and inviolable supreme being in the eyes of the world. In Qian Renxue's memory, she was a cold and ruthless mother, but in Yu Xiaogang's heart, she would perhaps always be that gentle and tender girl from back then.

Humans are complex. Feng Yao smiled silently. The same soul can reflect such different appearances in the eyes of different people—just like the Fuxi Qin in his hand, which is a death knell in the ears of enemies, but a clear spring to cleanse the soul in the ears of kindred spirits.

Feng Yao suddenly wondered what kind of breathtaking charm would unfold when seemingly contradictory qualities—sacred radiance and obsessive gloom, tender affection and ruthless decisiveness—converged within a single person. Of course, some scenery is destined to belong only to certain people—like the bright moon, which evokes homesickness in the eyes of a poet, longing in the eyes of a lover, and, to a lonely traveler, is merely a solitary lamp on a dark road. Bibi Dong's truest self may forever exist only in the depths of Yu Xiaogang's memory, a unique mark that even time cannot erase.

The sound of the carriage rolling over gravel interrupted Feng Yao's thoughts. He looked out the window. For some reason, he suddenly felt a strong desire to see the legendary Pope, not to confirm anything, but simply to see with his own eyes what kind of brilliance a soul repeatedly tormented by fate could be forged into.

Thinking of this, Feng Yao frowned slightly, feeling a headache coming on from the complex conflict between Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong.

Feng Yao knew very well that the grudges and entanglements between this mother and daughter were far more complex than they appeared on the surface—Bibi Dong's hatred for Qian Xunji had been transferred to Qian Renxue, while Qian Renxue blamed Bibi Dong for her father's death. This knot had been tied up for a full twenty years.

He gently stroked the pattern on the "Fuxi" amulet in his arms, lost in thought. If this feud could be resolved, not only could Qian Renxue be freed from hatred, but perhaps Bibi Dong could also rediscover her former gentle and kind self. But the path was incredibly difficult—he had to consider Qian Renxue's sensitive pride while also avoiding touching Bibi Dong's deeply hidden pain.

This feud between mother and daughter is like a treacherous peak standing in their way, and he may be the most suitable mediator.

"I have to give it a try," Feng Yao murmured to himself. Not only for himself, but also for Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong.

"Xiao Feng, what are you daydreaming about? Training is finally over, and you're ignoring everyone." Yu Feng pouted and nudged Feng Yao's shoulder with his elbow.

Dugu Yan tossed her loose purple hair aside, then turned her head with interest to look at Feng Yao curiously: "What's Little Feng thinking about?"

Feng Yao snapped out of his reverie and smiled, "I've heard that the Pope of the Spirit Hall is a woman. I'm quite curious about who she is."

Before the words were even finished, the atmosphere inside the carriage immediately became lively. Yu Feng widened his eyes dramatically: "That's right! That's the female pope who stands at the pinnacle of the Soul Master world!" The Shi Mo brothers sat up straight in unison, and even the usually silent Oslo cast an interested glance at them.

In the Douluo Continent, the gender gap in the Soul Master world has always been significant. Not only are male Soul Masters more numerous, but their inherent physical disadvantages also make high-level female Soul Masters extremely rare. Therefore, women who can break through these limitations and ascend to the pinnacle of power are often more remarkable than their male counterparts of the same level.

"It's said she assumed the papacy before she was even forty," Oslo rarely joined the discussion, "and managed to win over those arrogant elders of the Spirit Hall; that's quite a skill."

Dugu Yan snorted lightly, her words carrying a hidden meaning: "If you ask me, a woman who can fight her way through a group of men is definitely much stronger than those stinky men."

Feng Yao smiled slightly: "With Sister Yan and Sister Lingling's talent, they will surely become renowned powerhouses in the world of Soul Masters in the future."

"Of course~" Dugu Yan proudly raised her chin, her purple eyes gleaming with confidence, her slender fingers entwining a strand of hair.

Ye Lingling's fair face flushed slightly. She pursed her lips and lowered her head, the pale pink halo of the Nine-Heart Begonia gently rippled around her. She secretly raised her eyes and met Feng Yao's smiling gaze. She hurriedly looked away, her ear tips turning even redder.

Yu Feng sighed dramatically, "It's all over, all over! The girls in our team have been completely charmed by Xiao Feng's sweet talk."

This caused the Graphite Brothers to chuckle heartily. Osro, watching his teammates' playful antics, unconsciously softened his usually stern expression.

Dugu Yan's eyes darted around, and she mischievously nudged Yu Feng beside her with her elbow: "If you could learn even a fraction of Xiao Feng's skills, would you still have trouble finding a suitable female Soul Master as a partner?"

Yu Feng blushed instantly and stammered, "I...I was just focused on cultivation!" This drew a burst of laughter from the crowd.

The Graphite Brothers scratched their heads sheepishly, while Oslo rolled his eyes silently. It was likely that no noble in the entire Heaven Dou City was unaware of Yu Feng's reputation.

Feng Yao chuckled and shook his head, comforting him, "Perhaps it's just that our time hasn't come yet."

Laughter filled the carriage. His gaze inadvertently swept across the window and he happened to see the curtain of the royal carriage in front of him flutter slightly, revealing a strand of golden hair that flashed in the sunlight.

On the other side, Wuhun City.

A light morning mist shrouded the magnificent capital city as a man dressed in simple clothes slowly walked through the city gate. His face was calm, his aura restrained, and his soul power was only around level twenty, making him inconspicuous among the passing soul masters. The soul masters guarding the city simply checked his identity and waved him through.

Without stopping or even taking a break, he headed straight for the highest power center of the Spirit Hall—the Papal Palace.

In front of the Papal Palace.

"Halt!" Two paladin knights in silver armor blocked the way with their halberds, while a hundred elite knights simultaneously drew their swords, their blades gleaming coldly. "This is forbidden territory. Trespassers will be killed without mercy!"

Facing over a hundred paladins whose strength far surpassed his own, the master remained indifferent. He slowly raised his hand, and a token appeared in his palm.

The leading knight's gaze sharpened, and when he saw the six lines on the token, his pupils contracted sharply. He immediately knelt on one knee and said in a deep voice, "Greetings, Elder!"

A hundred knights knelt down in unison, the clanging of their armor ringing out. The once ordinary master now appeared majestic against this solemn backdrop.

"Take me to see the Pope." His voice was calm, yet brooked no argument.

(End of this chapter)