Qian Renxue?
Salas swallowed hard, his heart pounding.
Just as I suspected.
They shared the same surname—Qian.
What puzzled Salas the most was why Qian Renxue had gone undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire in the first place.
He quickly searched his memory, trying to recall when Qian Renxue had begun acting as an infiltrator.
Eventually, something surfaced.
Nearly ten years ago, the Second Prince, Xue Qinghe, had gone on a trip. After returning, he shut himself inside the palace for an entire month, only reappearing afterward with the excuse that he had been ill.
At the time, Salas hadn't given it much thought. Back then, he had been busy currying favor with the then–Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong, hoping to become her direct subordinate. In order to retain his position as Platinum Bishop of the Heaven Dou Empire's Spirit Sanctuary, Salas—who had lived in Heaven Dou City for many years—could no longer afford to leave. The extravagance and comfort of the city had long since ensnared him.
"Greetings, Young Miss!"
Reminded by Porcupinefish Douluo, Salas snapped back to reality and hurriedly bowed in respect.
Qian Renxue nodded lightly.
"Previously, my identity required a certain degree of secrecy. But now, that is no longer necessary. In about a week, Supreme Pontiff Yin Zhang will personally lead the Spirit Hall army to take over the Heaven Dou Empire. As the Platinum Bishop, you will naturally be informed as well. The letter from Spirit Hall notifying you should already be on its way."
She paused briefly.
"Although being emperor for a few months was… interesting, it was never my true goal. I asked Porcupinefish Douluo to bring you here because there is something I wish to ask you."
Salas was startled. He had no idea what Qian Renxue wanted to know, but he immediately lowered his head.
"Please ask, Young Miss. I will answer everything I can."
Qian Renxue spoke calmly.
"A few months ago in Heaven Dou City—did Spirit Kite Douluo Yuan Qiqi have any contact with Yin Zhang?"
She had heard from Porcupinefish Douluo and Snake Lance Douluo that Yuan Qiqi and Yin Zhang seemed unusually close. At the time, she hadn't cared. But recently, out of sheer boredom, Yin Zhang had come to her mind again, and with him, a trace of curiosity.
Salas, as the head of the Spirit Sanctuary in Heaven Dou City and a Platinum Bishop, had undoubtedly interacted with both of them.
Salas froze.
From Qian Renxue's tone, it was clear she already knew he had long been in contact with Yin Zhang.
He hurriedly explained, "Young Miss, you misunderstand. Before this, I did not have any explicit contact with the current Supreme Pontiff. It is true that he came to Heaven Dou City a few months ago and met with me, but it was only brief. He merely asked me about certain matters."
Qian Renxue let out a cold laugh.
"You don't need to play word games with me. Anything I want to know, I can find out. You and Yin Zhang met several times in Heaven Dou City back then, and you even personally visited him more than once. Don't think I'm unaware. I simply didn't want to interfere before. But now, I do."
Her gaze sharpened.
"I want to know exactly what you and Yin Zhang discussed."
Salas went stiff. Realizing there was no way to hide it any longer, he sighed and spoke with forced honesty.
"Young Miss is indeed perceptive. Yes, I did have contact with the current Supreme Pontiff a few months ago. But it was because he said it was the will of the Hall of Worship—he instructed me to monitor Tang Yuehua of the Moon Pavilion."
Salas continued carefully, "Young Miss, you yourself have a deep connection with Tang Yuehua. However, what I must report is that Tang Yuehua has extremely close ties with the Clear Sky Sect and has been passing messages to them."
Qian Renxue nodded slightly.
"I naturally know Tang Yuehua's identity. She is the younger sister of Clear Sky Sect Master Tang Xiao and Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao. Her purpose in establishing the Moon Pavilion in Heaven Dou City was likely to act as the sect's eyes and ears, ensuring they wouldn't become blind and deaf while in seclusion."
She frowned faintly.
"I simply didn't expect her contact with the Clear Sky Sect to still be so frequent."
Her gaze returned to Salas.
"Tell me more. What exactly is the connection between Tang Yuehua and the Clear Sky Sect?"
Salas nodded.
"Our people have been closely monitoring her. A few months ago, we discovered that Tang Yuehua sent a letter to the Clear Sky Sect, advising them to be cautious, not to act too ostentatiously, and to immediately recall those operating outside."
Qian Renxue's expression changed instantly.
Not to be ostentatious… recall those outside immediately?
That didn't sound like a sect that had truly gone into seclusion.
"And then?" Qian Renxue pressed. "Anything more specific?"
Salas coughed lightly.
"No. After that, the Supreme Pontiff instructed me to continue monitoring the Clear Sky Sect closely, to keep Tang Yuehua under constant watch, and to ensure she never left our sight. If she attempted to leave secretly, I was to detain her and send her directly to Spirit City."
Qian Renxue nodded.
"In recent months, Tang Hao has been wreaking havoc across both Empires, causing Spirit Hall significant losses. It's very likely the Clear Sky Sect is directing this from behind the scenes. Their intentions are unforgivable."
She paused, then shifted the topic back abruptly.
"Enough of that. Tell me—what exactly is the relationship between Yin Zhang and Spirit Kite Douluo Yuan Qiqi? Are they… unusually close?"
Her gaze became subtly strange.
Only then did Salas finally understand what Qian Renxue truly wanted to know.
So that's it.
Salas himself was confused.
What kind of relationship could Yin Zhang and Yuan Qiqi possibly have?
One was barely in his teens; the other was already over fifty.
After a moment of thought, Salas answered truthfully.
"They might be somewhat close. I've never seen them speak openly in front of me, and I don't know what their private relationship is like. But from what I can tell, the relationship between the Supreme Pontiff and Spirit Kite Douluo seems normal. Perhaps they simply hold each other in high regard."
He didn't dare say anything more.
One was the reigning Supreme Pontiff; the other was a relatively young Titled Douluo. Neither was someone he could afford to offend.
Qian Renxue looked at Salas for a moment, then lost interest.
Since she couldn't get anything more out of him, there was no reason to continue.
She waved her hand dismissively.
"Alright. That's all. You may leave."