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

Chapter 65 Mother-in-law and Poor Boy

After an unknown amount of time, Qian Renxue's sobs gradually subsided. She slightly raised her head, her reddened eyes still glistening with tears, yet a relieved smile bloomed in the moonlight. Feng Yao said nothing, gently wiping away the tear stains on her cheeks with his fingertips, his movements as tender as touching fragile morning dew.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked softly, his voice full of tenderness.

Qian Renxue nodded gently, her golden hair swaying slightly in the night breeze. She took a deep breath, the crisp mountain air seeming to carry away the last trace of melancholy in her heart. The distant chirping of a nightingale added a touch of life to the tranquil night.

“Let’s go down the mountain.” Feng Yao extended his hand to her, palm up, in an inviting gesture.

Qian Renxue looked at Feng Yao's outstretched hand, and the corners of her lips unconsciously turned up. She gently placed her hand in his palm, and their fingers naturally intertwined. The two of them slowly descended the moonlit stone steps.

The mountain mist gently enveloped them, as if paving a path to a new life for the perfect couple. Qian Renxue felt the warmth from her palm and suddenly realized that the obsessions she once thought she could never let go of seemed less heavy at this moment.

The two walked slowly down the winding mountain path, a gentle night breeze carrying the unique fragrance of mountain plants. Qian Renxue's hair fluttered lightly in the wind, occasionally brushing against Feng Yao's shoulder, carrying a faint, delicate scent.

They hadn't gone far when suddenly two figures appeared from the forest. It was She Long and Ci Xue, both titled Douluo. They glanced at Qian Renxue, hesitating slightly. Then they knelt on one knee and respectfully said, "Young Master, His Holiness the Pope requests that you two come to the Papal Palace for a discussion."

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue frowned slightly, her eyes flashing with a cold light, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on Feng Yao's hand. Sensing her unease, Feng Yao gently returned the grip, giving her a reassuring look.

Feng Yao's lips curled slightly, his fingertips gently caressing Qian Renxue's palm: "His Holiness the Pope must feel at ease entrusting you to me." He deliberately used a marriage proposal-like tone, his eyes filled with a gentle smile.

Qian Renxue's expression softened slightly, but she still awkwardly turned her face away: "Why should she worry about my affairs?" Although her voice was cold, the tips of her ears quietly blushed.

Feng Yao gently smoothed her hair, which had been ruffled by the night wind, his movements as tender as if handling precious glass. "But I want to gain the approval of all my elders in a fair and square way," he whispered in her ear. "Do you really want our marriage to be subject to the Pope's scrutiny and selection?"

"Who, who wants to marry you!" Qian Renxue shoved him away abruptly, two blushes rising on her jade-like cheeks. She glared at Feng Yao, embarrassed and annoyed: "Go yourself if you want to! I don't want to see her!"

She Long and Ci Xue exchanged glances, both seeing shock in each other's eyes—when had they ever seen their young master act so girlishly? Even more alarming was that, judging from their conversation, Feng Yao seemed to have already gained the Grand Elder's approval?

Qian Renxue noticed the probing gazes of the two elders and was immediately filled with a mixture of embarrassment and anger. She slapped Feng Yao's hand away, saying, "You're getting bolder and bolder these days!" But her reproachful tone carried a hint of coquettishness.

Knowing when to stop, Feng Yao respectfully bowed to the two elders, saying, "Then I'll trouble you two seniors to lead the way." He gave Qian Renxue a deep look, his eyes full of tenderness and understanding. He knew better than anyone that some knots in one's heart needed time to untie.

Seeing this, She Long and Ci Xue also respectfully said, "We wouldn't dare. In that case, young master, please wait here."

The night wind swirled up fallen leaves. Qian Renxue watched Feng Yao's departing figure, unconsciously touching the temple he had just touched. In the moonlight, her golden eyes gazed at the Papal Palace not far away, a complex emotion flashing within them.

Feng Yao followed She Long and Ci Xue through the mountain road shrouded in night. The moonlight cast a desolate veil over the slightly dilapidated Papal Palace after the battle.

"His Holiness the Pope is already waiting in the council chamber. You may enter on your own, young friend," She Long reminded him in a low voice, exchanging a glance with Ci Xue before retreating to stand guard outside the hall.

Feng Yao took a deep breath, his fingertips brushing against the subtle folds of his robes, and stepped alone into the deep, dark hall. Moonlight filtered through the broken stained glass, casting dappled shadows onto the solitary figure in the center. Bibi Dong, dressed in a simple purple robe, stood where the light and shadow intersected; the simple cut only accentuated her aloof and ethereal气质 (qi zhi - inherent quality/temperament). The crisp sound of her staff striking the ground echoed sharply in the empty hall.

“You’re here.”

As she turned, her clothes fluttered lightly, and her purple-gold eyes gleamed with an ambiguous light in the shadows.

"Greetings, Your Holiness the Pope." Feng Yao stood upright as he bowed, his gaze calmly meeting the scrutinizing eyes.

Bibi Dong's lips curled slightly, and she tapped her scepter lightly on the ground. "It seems that old man Qian Daoliu—" she deliberately slowed her speech, each word carrying an invisible pressure—"quite likes you."

Feng Yao bowed slightly, his tone respectful yet dignified: "I am deeply grateful for His Holiness the Pope's favor in bestowing upon me the position of Honorary Elder; it is truly a case of great minds thinking alike."

Bibi Dong lightly tapped her scepter with her fingertips, a sharp glint flashing in her purple-gold eyes: "You're quite eloquent. However..." Her voice suddenly turned cold, "I heard that you gifted that skull to Dugu Bo's granddaughter?" The air in the hall seemed to freeze instantly, and an invisible pressure surged in like a tide.

Feng Yao remained composed and calmly replied, "Recruiting talent for the Spirit Hall is indeed my duty. With the assistance of Poison Douluo, it would be a tremendous boost to the Spirit Hall's unification efforts."

"Ha," Bibi Dong's pupils contracted slightly, "You actually fooled that girl with this excuse?"

“Every word I have said is true.” Feng Yao’s eyes were clear as he met Bibi Dong’s scrutinizing gaze with neither humility nor arrogance.

An eerie silence fell over the hall. Bibi Dong gazed at the near-perfect young man before her—a clean background, exceptional talent, impeccable manners, and unwavering loyalty. All of this seemed almost unrealistically perfect. What troubled her even more was why such a flawless person would fall for Qian Renxue, whose personality was so deeply flawed.

Being too perfect is itself a flaw.
She couldn't help but think of Yu Xiaogang from back then; at least his purpose was obvious. But Feng Yao before her was like a bottomless spring, seemingly clear, yet making it impossible to see what lay beneath.

"Don't you want to say anything more?" Bibi Dong lightly stroked the scepter with her fingertips, a dangerous glint flashing in her purple eyes.

Feng Yao bowed slightly, his posture respectful yet composed: "No matter how I try to explain, I fear I cannot dispel Your Majesty's doubts. Proving one's innocence is never the best way to dispel suspicion." He raised his eyes to look directly at Bibi Dong, a glint of wisdom flashing in them. "With Your Majesty's great talent and ambition, why not observe the situation calmly?"

Bibi Dong's eyes flickered slightly. Indeed, with her strength, no matter how talented this young man was, he couldn't escape her grasp.

“Since that’s the case,” she changed the subject, “are you aware of the biggest predicament she’s facing right now?” Feng Yao looked puzzled and gently shook his head: “Please enlighten me, Your Majesty.”

Bibi Dong walked slowly, the moonlight casting a long shadow of her: "You saw today's competition. If I were to unify the continent, where do you think I should begin?"

Feng Yao feigned deep thought, then solemnly said after a moment, "Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is an auxiliary sect, it is incredibly wealthy. If we can bring it under our control, we can not only unleash the Spirit Hall's war potential but also severely cripple the Heaven Dou Empire's spirit master power."

This analysis was exactly what Bibi Dong wanted to hear. She nodded in satisfaction: "She advocates using her status to peacefully subdue the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, but unfortunately…" Her scepter slammed heavily on the ground. "Time waits for no one. This is her predicament." A sharp glint flashed in her purple eyes. "Since you can see through this, help her take over the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and I may reconsider our relationship."

Feng Yao thought to himself, "Good heavens, other mothers-in-law at least give a few million to get rid of poor boys, but this one is different. She just wants me to work first and then talk about terms. Even the capitalists from my previous life would be ashamed of themselves."

However, he maintained a polite and respectful demeanor, bowing slightly and saying, "This junior will certainly do his utmost."

Bibi Dong's lips curled into a meaningful smile: "Very well, I await your good news." As she turned, her papal robes traced elegant arcs in the moonlight, but her voice carried an undeniable authority: "Remember, you only have one chance."

As Feng Yao bowed in greeting, a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes. When he raised his head again, he was the only one left in the hall, with only the echoing sound of his scepter striking the ground still reverberating among the stone pillars.

Feng Yao lowered his eyelashes to conceal the sharp glint in his eyes, and sneered inwardly: "What a fine 'one chance'."

Sects and the Spirit Hall are fundamentally incompatible. Sects seize profits based on the bloodline of a single family, while the Spirit Hall expands this scope to all Soul Masters, especially top sects like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, which uses the characteristics of their own Martial Soul and business acumen to almost monopolize all businesses in the Heaven Dou Sect. Standing with the Spirit Hall means asking them to share the money they have worked so hard to earn with all Soul Masters, so how could they possibly be willing?

It is virtually impossible to get the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to hand over its interests without resorting to force.

"Xue'er is still a bit naive," Feng Yao thought to himself.

He slowly retreated from the main hall, the moonlight casting a long shadow. He thought to himself, "At worst, I'll wait for Xue'er's plan to fail, then find a place to hide and cultivate. Whether you fight or not, Bibi Dong, is up to you. What does the unification of this continent have to do with me?"

A night breeze rustled through his robes. Feng Yao paused briefly outside the palace gates, glancing back at the towering spire of the Papal Palace, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips. "However... since Xue'er desires it, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School... isn't something we can't give up on."

Feng Yao had barely stepped out of the Papal Palace when he saw a familiar figure in the moonlight. Qian Renxue was leaning against an ancient tree, her long golden hair fluttering gently in the night breeze, her toes tapping nervously on the ground.

"Xue'er?" Feng Yao felt a warmth in his heart and quickly stepped forward.

Qian Renxue looked up at the sound, her tense brows instantly relaxing. She rushed over, her golden eyes filled with worry: "She didn't make things difficult for you, did she?" Her voice carried an unusual tension.

Feng Yao gently grasped her slightly cool fingertips: "Don't worry, His Holiness the Pope only instructed me to cooperate fully with your operations in Tian Dou." He winked deliberately, "to help you complete your mission as soon as possible."

Qian Renxue's tense shoulders visibly relaxed, and she unconsciously glanced towards the direction of the Papal Palace. In the moonlight, a complex emotion flickered across her delicate profile, ultimately settling into a soft sigh: "That's good."

A night breeze blew by, carrying the faint fragrance of her hair. Qian Renxue suddenly turned around, her palace dress tracing a graceful arc in the moonlight: "Let's go back." She reached out her hand to Feng Yao, her voice as soft as a dream.

Feng Yao understood and took her hand. Their fingers intertwined, and they walked further and further apart on the path bathed in silvery light. The moonlight blended their shadows together, as if they could never be separated again.

Behind them, atop the spire of the Papal Palace, stood a solitary figure. Bibi Dong's amethyst eyes pierced the night, taking in Feng Yao's impeccable words. The night wind ruffled her magnificent papal robes, but could not dispel the doubt between her brows.

A perfect answer. Too perfect. It even covered for me.
Bibi Dong's slender fingers unconsciously caressed the gems on the scepter. She had seen too many sycophants and countless hypocrites, but she had never seen anyone as perfect as Feng Yao.

With his talent, intelligence, and looks, he should have been surrounded by countless beautiful women. Even after Xiaogang and I parted ways, he developed a relationship with Liu Erlong.
Under the moonlight, Bibi Dong's brows furrowed deeper and deeper. She recalled her past with Yu Xiaogang when she was young. But Feng Yao's attitude towards Qian Renxue was almost abnormally pure.

Unless he has ulterior motives?
This thought caused Bibi Dong's aura to suddenly turn icy. She stared at the two figures embracing in the distance until they completely disappeared into the night. She lightly tapped the air with her scepter.

“Investigate.” She whispered to the void, “From now on, She Long will be in charge of watching him. I need to know everything about this Feng Yao.”

A faint sound came from the darkness, and two dark figures silently followed.

As night deepened, She Long and Ci Xue, carrying Feng Yao and Qian Renxue, flew through the air and quickly returned to the hotel in Wuhun City. The bright moonlight shone through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows in the room.

"Young Master, your subordinates take their leave." The two Title Douluos bowed respectfully and their figures silently disappeared into the darkness.

Qian Renxue stood before the French windows, the moonlight outlining her slender figure. Feng Yao slowly stepped forward and draped a light cloak over her shoulders: "It's chilly at night."

Qian Renxue didn't turn around, but simply adjusted her cloak slightly: "Xiao Feng." Her voice was somewhat unsteady, "Do you think she truly accepts you?"

Feng Yao paused slightly, clearly understanding that Qian Renxue also knew Bibi Dong to some extent. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, gently resting his chin on the top of her head. "That's not important," he said, his voice gentle yet firm. "What's important is that I will always stand by your side."

Qian Renxue turned around, her golden eyes gleaming in the moonlight. She hesitated, then buried her face in Feng Yao's chest. Feng Yao could feel her body trembling slightly.

(End of this chapter)