"Audacity?"
Bi Bidong laughed, the sound echoing through the empty hall.
"Have I spoken falsely?"
She took a step forward, her violet eyes swirling with hatred suppressed for years.
"You guard this Hall of Worship, guard this so-called inheritance, guard these ethereal beliefs, yet you cannot even protect those closest to you."
"Qian Daoliu, I don't think you've grown old—I think you've grown foolish!"
Qian Daoliu's face turned from ashen to pale, the veins on his hand gripping the scepter bulging, his knuckles nearly embedding into the cold stone shaft:
"Bi Bidong, if you've come to mock me, you may leave now!"
"Leave?"
Bi Bidong suddenly burst into loud laughter, the sound dripping with undisguised malice.
"Haha, Qian Daoliu, I came to bring you good news."
"Your precious granddaughter, Qian Renxue, has agreed to go to the Heaven Dou Empire."
She deliberately emphasized the words "has agreed," like a poisoned dagger.
"Qian Daoliu, what does it matter if you oppose me? All I need to do is lift a finger, and she will agree to any demand I make."
Qian Daoliu clenched his fist, his knuckles whitening from the force, gripping his palm tightly:
"Bi Bidong! Xiao Xue carries the blood of our Qian family, but she is also your daughter!"
"Will you truly stand by and watch Xiao Xue die in the Heaven Dou Empire?"
"Yes!"
Bi Bidong met his gaze, tears unknowingly gathering in her eyes.
As the word fell, her chest felt as if seized by an invisible hand.
Staggering, she pressed a hand to her heart, her fingers digging into her robes with force, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion:
"I want to see it! I want to see your Qian family destroyed! It was you... you who ruined me!"
Tears streamed down her cheeks, splashing onto the cold floor, mingling with her desperate accusation.
Carrying years of pent-up hatred and resentment, it echoed through the empty hall.
Qian Daoliu watched Bi Bidong's near-breakdown and suddenly offered a faint smile.
"What are you laughing at! What are you laughing at!"
Bi Bidong seemed stung by the laughter, demanding sharply. The pain in her chest made it hard to stand, yet she stubbornly lifted her head, refusing to yield.
Qian Daoliu slowly reined in his smile, his gaze settling calmly on her. His voice was soft but each word clear:
"Bi Bidong, you cannot reconcile with your past self, yet you cannot let go of a mother's love."
Bi Bidong shuddered as if stripped of all her layers of pretense, exposing her most vulnerable core.
She instinctively wanted to retort, but her throat felt blocked, unable to utter a sound.
"Though there is hatred in your eyes!"
Qian Daoliu continued, as if seeing through all her defiance:
"I also see love within them."
"You're lying!"
Bi Bidong finally found her voice, sharp and piercing.
"I hate! I only hate! I hate all of you!"
"Is that so?"
Qian Daoliu shook his head gently.
"Perhaps you refuse to admit it with your words, but your heart cannot deceive you."
"If there were truly only hatred, how do you explain the fleeting panic and sorrow in your eyes just now when Xiao Xue's safety was mentioned?"
His words were like a key, abruptly prying open the long-sealed door to Bi Bidong's heart.
All the tenderness and concern buried deep beneath her hatred, which even she had deliberately forgotten, surged forth in that moment.
Yes, how could she not feel the pain?
That was the flesh from her own body, the name she had secretly whispered during countless lonely nights.
Bi Bidong abruptly stepped back, colliding with the cold wall. The chill seeping through her back made her shiver.
She looked at Qian Daoliu, tears welling up in her eyes. This time, it wasn't anger but an overwhelming mix of pain and struggle.
"I..."
She opened her mouth but found herself unable to form a complete sentence.
Seeing her like this, Qian Daoliu let out a soft sigh:
"After all these years of hatred, the one suffering has always been you."
With that, he turned and slowly walked away.
Sunlight streamed through the cracks in the palace door, casting a long shadow behind him.
Left alone in the hall, Bi Bidong leaned against the wall and gradually slid to the floor.
She covered her face, suppressed sobs finally escaping her lips, filled with endless regret and confusion.
Could the heart truly not deceive itself?
Then why did this mix of love and hatred cause her such agony, such difficulty in choosing?
Three days later, at dawn when the thin mist had yet to disperse, quite a few people had already gathered at the gates of Martial Soul Holy City.
A cold wind swept fine snowflakes across the city walls, causing everyone's robes to flutter slightly.
Qian Daoliu held Qian Renxue's hand. The old man's palm was rough yet warm as he gently patted the back of her hand, his eyes overflowing with concern:
"Xiao Xue, when you reach the Heaven Dou Empire, prioritize your safety above all else."
"If you encounter even the slightest danger, immediately send word to She Long and Ci Xue. Don't try to be brave."
Qian Renxue wore a light purple outfit suitable for movement, her long hair tied into a practical ponytail. The usual innocence had faded from her face, replaced by a quiet composure.
She nodded firmly, her voice carrying a barely noticeable tremor:
"Grandfather, don't worry. I'll remember."
Nearby, She Long and Ci Xue stood solemnly in black attire. When Qian Daoliu glanced their way, they immediately bowed:
"Grand Elder, rest assured. We will definitely protect the young mistress without fail."
Not far away, Bi Bidong stood under the corridor in black robes, her gaze fixed on Qian Renxue. She didn't approach to speak, only unconsciously twisting the cuff of her sleeve with her fingers.
The wind lifted the edges of her cloak, revealing a glimpse of pale skin at her neck, her expression unclear.
Qian Renxue walked before Qian Daoliu and gently knelt on the ground.
She lowered her eyes, long eyelashes casting faint shadows beneath them, her voice carrying an indescribable solemnity:
"Grandfather."
Seeing this, Qian Daoliu quickly reached out to help her up, his brow slightly furrowed:
"Silly child, what are you doing? Get up quickly."
But Qian Renxue gently pushed his hand away, pressed her forehead against the cold ground, and kowtowed three times heavily.
Each knock carried determination, as if pouring all her guilt and resolve into those three muffled sounds.
"Grandfather, Xiao Xue has been unfilial!"
When she raised her head, her eyes were slightly red, but she stubbornly refused to let the tears fall.
"All these years, I've made you worry endlessly about me. From now on... I'm afraid I won't be able to stay by your side often."
"You're getting older, you must take good care of yourself. Don't worry about me anymore."
Looking at his granddaughter's stubborn demeanor, Qian Daoliu felt both heartache and pride.
He sighed, ultimately not forcing her to rise, his voice slightly hoarse:
"You child... always so stubborn."
"Go, do what you wish to do. Your grandfather isn't so old that he needs someone watching over him every moment."
"Just remember, no matter when, this will always be your home."
"Grandfather will be waiting here for you, keeping your favorite osmanthus cakes ready. If they grow cold, I'll steam them warm again for you..."