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

Chapter 47 Arrival
As the men in black retreated like a receding tide, the Royal Knights quickly regrouped, and the teachers leading the various academies finally breathed a sigh of relief. But soon, everyone's gaze fell on Tang San not far away—it was now obvious who this sudden attack was for.

Dugu Bo turned to the Huang Dou group, his serpentine eyes flashing with a warning: "Get in the carriages. Don't wander around during the rest period. If you get kidnapped, I might not be able to save you." He gave them a meaningful look, "Some things are better left unsaid; don't bring trouble upon yourselves."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The entire imperial guard bowed in unison, their expressions solemn as they returned to their carriages. Only Feng Yao and Dugu Yan remained where they were.

Feng Yao looked at Dugu Bo thoughtfully: "Senior, do you, as a titled Douluo, need to be so cautious?" In his memory, the Poison Douluo in the original work was a ruthless character who dared to directly fight ghosts and demons.

Dugu Bo glared at him irritably: "Yanyan has now severed ties with that brat from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. I'm just a helpless old man." He then gave Dugu Yan a meaningful look, "Who knows, one day I might have to ask that damned eunuch for help. Can't we be a little more careful?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Yao quickly smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Senior is very insightful." He knew perfectly well that he had indeed played a significant role in the breakdown of the relationship between Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng.

Dugu Bo snorted and glanced at the Royal Knights who were reorganizing in the distance: "Boy, do you know how many Title Douluos there are on the entire continent?" He lowered his voice, "Among all the people present today, apart from that old fellow from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, do you see anyone who dares to utter a single word?" As he spoke, he looked at Dugu Yan with affection, "I'm getting old, and I have to think more about Yan Yan's future."

These words gave Feng Yao a jolt. He suddenly realized that the seemingly reckless Poison Douluo in front of him actually knew better than anyone how to survive in the cracks between various forces.

Feng Yao's gaze fell on the luxurious yellow carriage not far away, and he whispered to Dugu Bo, "Senior, I'm going to check on His Highness the Crown Prince."

Dugu Bo curled his lip, dismissively saying, "What's so interesting about that kid? He hangs out with that old fox Ning Fengzhi all day; he probably knows more inside information than you do."

Before Feng Yao could respond, Dugu Bo turned his gaze to Dugu Yan, his eyes softening instantly, and even his voice unconsciously lowered: "Yan Yan, go back to the carriage and rest. You must perform well in the upcoming competition."

He then turned and glared at Feng Yao, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "You brat, remember this! If you encounter those Shrek Seven Devils on the field, beat them to a pulp! Especially that little bastard from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan." The old poisoner sneered sinisterly, "I want to see what face that old scoundrel Yu Yuanzhen will have left to swagger around in the Soul Master world!"

Feng Yao's lips curled slightly, and he nodded imperceptibly, probably because Lan Dian hadn't given Dugu Bo any explanation.

"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan blushed slightly and couldn't help but let out a coquettish cry, a hint of embarrassment and annoyance flashing in her purple eyes.

"Alright, alright, Grandpa won't say anymore," Dugu Bo quickly waved his hand, looked at his granddaughter with affection, and then his figure disappeared into the air like smoke.

Dugu Yan glanced at Feng Yao discreetly and saw him gazing thoughtfully into the distance. She bit her lip lightly, turned around, and quickly walked towards the carriage.

Feng Yao slowly walked to the luxurious carriage with gilded trim. Inside the carriage, Qian Renxue was frowning, her fingers gripping the celadon teacup so tightly that fine cracks appeared on the cup, and her fingertips turned white from the force.

"Young Master, that kid is here." From the shadows, the Serpent Spear Douluo's voice transmission quietly sounded.

Qian Renxue's fingertips trembled slightly as she slowly released the teacup, which was already overburdened. When she looked up again, all emotions had vanished from her eyes, leaving only a calm, still expression: "Please let him in." Her voice was as clear and cold as ever, as if her earlier outburst had never happened.

Led by a waiter, Feng Yao slowly stepped into the carriage. Inside the spacious carriage, Qian Renxue sat upright with the face of Xue Qinghe, but a trace of irritation could not be hidden between her brows.

"Your Highness seems to be in a bad mood?" Feng Yao's lips curled up slightly, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.

Qian Renxue glared at him irritably, deliberately lowering her voice to match Xue Qinghe's: "The Royal Knights have been attacked. How could I, the Crown Prince, be in a good mood?"

"Although it's a move to alert the enemy," Feng Yao chuckled, "the target of the attack happens to coincide with what Your Highness was thinking."

Qian Renxue's pupils contracted slightly, a complex expression appearing on her face: "You knew everything?"

Feng Yao's smile deepened, a cunning glint in his eyes: "To be able to perfectly replace a crown prince, and to harbor the same hatred for the target of this attack," he deliberately drawled, "can only mean that Your Highness is of extraordinary birth. However…"

"But what?" Qian Renxue's voice suddenly turned cold.

"It seems that some power has been lost to others," Feng Yao said softly, his gaze sweeping meaningfully towards the direction of Wuhun City outside the carriage.

A cold glint flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes, and her jade fingers tightened unconsciously, but she ultimately did not utter a word in rebuttal.

"To be able to mobilize two Title Douluos simultaneously," Feng Yao continued, his voice lowering, "only that elusive female Pope could possibly possess such power. Let me guess, given Your Highness's age..."

"Enough!" Qian Renxue suddenly hissed, her feigned male voice almost giving way. She stared intently at the boy before her, who always seemed to see right through her, her chest heaving. The air in the carriage seemed to freeze instantly.

Upon seeing this, Feng Yao immediately raised his hands in surrender, a fawning smile on his face: "Alright, alright, I won't say anything more." He then changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious, "However, there's something that might change Your Highness's opinion on this attack."

Qian Renxue stared at him coldly, without saying a word.

"Your Highness, guess what interesting thing I saw outside just now?" Feng Yao blinked, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense.

Qian Renxue frowned, finally unable to hold back any longer and blurted out, "Spit it out!"

Feng Yao calmly lowered his voice: "The teachers leading the teams from various colleges all recognized the attackers' origins, but none of them dared to step forward and testify."

“Of course they wouldn’t dare.” Qian Renxue subconsciously replied, then suddenly paused, a flash of understanding appearing in her eyes.

"You mean," her voice trailed off, "that the real purpose of this attack wasn't to kill Tang San, but rather to test the attitudes of the various powers towards her?"

Feng Yao nodded approvingly: "Perhaps that person did indeed want to get rid of Tang San, but even if they failed—" He paused meaningfully, "we'll still see some interesting reactions. For example, right now, everyone is silent as a cicada in winter. If someone dares to stand up—like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School—they'll probably have to make an example of them next time." Qian Renxue's pupils contracted slightly, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the rim of her teacup. Feng Yao's words suddenly made her realize the deeper meaning behind Bibi Dong's actions.

Feng Yao gently stroked the "Fuxi" in his arms and smiled, "Your Highness has a close relationship with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. If you truly wish to bring this force under your control," he paused meaningfully, "I'm afraid you'll need to have a proper conversation with that person."

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue's slender fingers unconsciously clenched her sleeves. The image of the Pope, high above her, flashed through her mind. She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling slightly. After a long while, she slowly released her clenched fists, her voice regaining its usual calm:

"I see."

Those four simple words contained far too many complex emotions. Feng Yao knew that the grudge between this mother and daughter ultimately needed to be resolved by themselves.

A brief silence fell over the carriage as the two men's eyes met, and an invisible string seemed to vibrate gently in the air.

Feng Yao suddenly chuckled, a curious glint in his eyes: "To be honest, I'm quite curious. How exactly did she rise to that position?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue's brows furrowed involuntarily again, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes: "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Feng Yao shook his head slightly, "It's just simple curiosity." He lowered his eyes, his tone light, "I'm looking forward to meeting her; it will help me understand you better."

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue's heart skipped a beat, and her golden pupils contracted slightly. She gazed into Feng Yao's smiling eyes, a strange tremor rising in her chest, yet her expression remained icy.
"All you'll learn from her is disappointment."

Feng Yao's fingertips lightly caressed the strings: "Perhaps. However..." He raised his eyes to look directly at Qian Renxue, his gaze gentle yet firm, "No one is perfect. True understanding, isn't it precisely about choosing to accept the whole truth even after seeing it clearly?"

The music softened, and Feng Yao's voice was almost inaudible: "Or is Your Highness afraid?"

Qian Renxue's breath hitched, her fingertips unconsciously digging into her palm. These words were like a sharp sword, piercing the softest corner of her heart. The wall she had built up over the years trembled slightly at this moment.

"The matter between us..." Before Qian Renxue could finish speaking, Feng Yao gently pressed down on the strings of her zither, interrupting her unfinished words.

He looked up at her, his eyes filled with tender determination: "I won't interfere with your choice." His voice was as gentle as a spring breeze caressing the strings of a harp. "Whatever you decide, I will be on your side."

Qian Renxue's breathing became slightly labored, and her fingertips unconsciously curled up. Feng Yao's words were like a clear spring, quietly nourishing the long-parched corners of her heart.

"Who needs your support?" she muttered softly, her tone no longer as cold and hard as before.

Feng Yao looked at Qian Renxue, who possessed the refined appearance of Xue Qinghe, but now revealed a shy demeanor unique to young women. He couldn't help but cough lightly to cover his embarrassment. The shy expression on that handsome face belonging to the Crown Prince of Tiandou truly made him feel somewhat at a loss.

“Ahem,” Feng Yao awkwardly shifted his gaze, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the strings of his zither, “Your Highness, you should first return to your original appearance. The way you look now…” He gestured as if he wanted to say something more, his lips twitching slightly.

Qian Renxue realized the problem and smiled. A flash of golden light appeared, and Xue Qinghe's disguise receded like the tide, revealing her stunning beauty. But her flushed earlobes and flickering eyes still betrayed the turmoil in her heart.

"Serves you right," she muttered reproachfully, her voice regaining its usual coolness. Only the slight upturn of her lips betrayed her good mood.

In the shadows, She Long and Ci Xue looked at each other, both seeing disbelief and shock in each other's eyes.

Is this still the young master they've protected since childhood? When has Qian Renxue, who is always calm and composed, perfectly hiding her emotions behind a mask, ever shown such a vivid side?
Ci Xue transmitted his voice, asking, "Should we excuse ourselves for a moment?"

"We must protect our young master, especially in times like these. What if he gets discovered?" She Long transmitted his voice.

The two exchanged a glance and nodded, becoming even more vigilant about their surroundings. They were afraid that something might disturb the rare, peaceful atmosphere in the carriage. For the first time in many years, they saw Shao Zhu reveal his true emotions, instead of the flawless "Xue Qinghe."

The Soul Master team of the Heaven Dou Empire continued their journey towards Spirit City without encountering any further incidents. To ensure their safety, Qian Renxue specially mobilized three thousand elite armored soldiers from various cities along the way to strengthen their protection. At the same time, she urgently ordered Heaven Dou City to dispatch several high-level Soul Masters to provide immediate reinforcements.

The Shrek Academy group also became more low-key within the group.

After several days of trekking, the grand procession finally arrived at Spirit City. Due to the special regulations of the Spirit Hall, Xue Qinghe ordered the Ironclad Army and the Royal Knights to camp outside the city, while he personally led fifteen teams of Spirit Masters into the city.

Compared to the vast Heaven Dou City and the bustling Soto City, Spirit City is indeed dwarfed in scale, its area even less than one-tenth of Heaven Dou City's. However, the awe this city brings to Spirit Masters is in no way inferior to that of any capital city.

The city walls were built entirely according to the specifications of the main city. The majestic walls, which are eighty meters high, are made of whole blocks of granite and are more than thirty meters thick. They gleam with a cold, bluish-gray luster in the sunlight.

What's most astonishing is the unique hexagonal structure of Spirit City. Each of the six city walls features a giant relief sculpture, echoing the design on the Spirit Hall's token, symbolizing the six top-tier spirit souls. The patrols on the walls are exclusively conducted by spirit masters directly under the Spirit Hall, their uniforms strikingly conspicuous in the sunlight. The entire city resembles a meticulously crafted work of art, showcasing the Spirit Hall's profound heritage and supreme authority.

Stepping into Wuhun City, one is immediately struck by a solemn and desolate atmosphere. The wide streets are sparsely populated, and shops are even fewer.

A bishop dressed in a scarlet robe had been waiting for some time. Under his respectful guidance, more than two hundred participating teachers and students were settled in an elegant hotel in the west of the city.

Feng Yao, carrying the Fuxi Qin, strolled along the streets of Wuhun City. As he walked further and further away, he suddenly noticed an interesting layout—the entire Wuhun City was built against a mountain, surrounding a majestic peak in a formation resembling stars surrounding the moon.

The mountain wasn't particularly high, yet it possessed a majestic aura. Its surface had been meticulously restored, with several winding stone steps leading to the summit. Most striking was the building at the top, its facade covered in a golden material that shimmered and gleamed in the sunlight, resembling a sacred crown atop the mountain.

(End of this chapter)