Douluo: Bibi Dong Abandons, Snow Empress Raises to Adulthood

"You were a little messy here, so I helped tidy it up."

Although Qian Renxue didn't refuse, Xue Tianyu still felt the need to explain himself.

"Thank you."

Qian Renxue mimicked Xue Tianyu's tone from earlier when he spoke to the bartender.

Her spot-on imitation made Xue Tianyu burst into laughter.

Seeing his smile, Qian Renxue felt as though her heart was being healed.

From childhood to now, she always felt uncomfortable when seeing others smile.

She had never experienced happiness herself, so she couldn't understand why people enjoyed smiling.

Wasn't smiling just a way to mask one's true emotions?

Keeping up such an act was exhausting.

But after meeting Xue Tianyu, she finally realized that smiles could also be sincere.

It was only around him that Qian Renxue learned how to smile out of genuine joy.

For the first time, she felt truly happy.

Only in Xue Tianyu's presence did she experience the warmth of family.

It was comforting and relaxing.

So whenever she was feeling down, he was always the first person she wanted to see.

As if Xue Tianyu was the perfect cure for her troubled heart.

And as long as he was by her side, she felt content.

Qian Renxue didn't know why she felt this way, but over time, she became reliant on it.

"I'm leading my team this time to take the championship," Xue Tianyu said, raising his glass. "The next time I drink will be after my victory."

"If you come up against Spirit Hall's team, don't hold back. Fight them with everything you've got," Qian Renxue clinked her glass against his, then downed her drink in one go.

"When you win the championship, we'll celebrate for three days and three nights!"

Xue Tianyu drained his glass as well. "Definitely."

Qian Renxue's slightly intoxicated gaze shimmered, her smile refusing to fade.

The team Spirit Hall sent this time consisted of Bibi Dong's personally trained prodigies—her so-called Golden Generation.

Qian Renxue couldn't wait to see Bibi Dong's reaction when her so-called pride was utterly crushed by Xue Tianyu.

How would she feel when her carefully nurtured Golden Generation was trampled before her very eyes?

Just imagining it filled Qian Renxue with joy. She immediately called over the bartender.

"Hey, bring us ten more drinks!"

The bartender approached with a helpless smile. "What's got you so happy?"

"Why are you asking so many questions? I just want to cherish the time I get to drink with Tianyu." Qian Renxue didn't hide her excitement.

Xue Tianyu shrugged helplessly.

"Don't worry, just keep the drinks coming."

Since his sister was in such high spirits, he had no choice but to accompany her for a few more rounds.

…

Night.

Spirit City.

The Pope's Palace.

Bibi Dong was already asleep.

Even with her eyes shut, her brows were furrowed, her face full of disbelief.

"No… Impossible…"

"You're already dead!"

She was dreaming.

Dreaming of the son she strangled at birth.

Had his resentment turned into a vengeful spirit, returning to claim her life?

In the nightmare, she was cradling a newborn baby. But in the next instant, the infant's neck snapped, and his entire body became covered in frost.

Terrified, she flung the child away.

Yet no matter how far she threw him, the baby would always reappear right behind her, clinging to the hem of her robe with tear-filled eyes.

Then, his eye sockets hollowed out, and pitch-black blood gushed from within.

"Ah… Ah…"

"Mother~~"

At first, his cries were normal. But as the black liquid poured out, his voice turned eerie and full of hatred.

"Mother… why did you kill me? Why did you kill me?!"

"A life for a life!"

"Give me your life!"

In the nightmare, Bibi Dong seemed to be bound by an unseen force. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't break free from the vengeful infant.

"You're already dead! Stop haunting me!"

With a furious roar, she struck out with her palm at the blood-covered child lunging at her.

CRASH!

The sound of shattering porcelain jolted Bibi Dong awake.

Another nightmare?

She gasped for breath, her palms damp with the cold sweat she had shed in her sleep.

The sweat had soaked her bedding, leaving her shivering.

That last strike of hers had knocked over a decorative porcelain jar beside her bed.

The dream had felt so real.

Even now, fully awake, she still felt lingering fear.

"No, it's impossible. He's dead. I strangled him with my own hands!"

Panting, Bibi Dong kept mumbling to herself.

Since she became Pope, it had been a long time since she felt such panic.

If she had spared that child back then… would things have been different?

Thinking back to her decision, she felt an invisible thorn stabbing into her heart.

Regret?

Maybe, just a little.

After all, he was her own flesh and blood.

If she could turn back time and change everything…

She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling her racing heartbeat, and took a deep breath.

Even if she had another chance, she would still strangle him!

So what if she regretted it?

Her child had to die—that was the only way to take revenge on him!

Her eyes turned cold.

Yes, she made the right choice back then.

These nightmares were nothing more than her guilty conscience playing tricks on her.

She had already lost Xiaogang. Her heart should have died long ago!

It was still late at night. If she couldn't sleep, then she wouldn't.

With a chilling gaze, she rose from bed, changed into her Pope's robes, and left her chambers.

…

Spirit City. The Worship Hall.

Qian Daoliu was kneeling before the Angel God statue, offering his final prayer of the day.

But just as he pressed his palms together, the statue emitted a faint golden glow.

The gentle light enveloped Qian Daoliu, filling him with a warm sensation.

"Hm? What's going on?"

He frowned.

He hadn't invoked any connection with the statue. Normally, his routine prayers never elicited a response.

For the Angel God to react now…

That could only mean the deity had something to tell him!

Realizing this, Qian Daoliu immediately knelt with reverence.

"O Divine One, what guidance do you have for your faithful servant?"

As expected, after his question, the familiar voice of the Angel God echoed in his mind.

"Find… the Angel God's successor… as soon as possible…"

Qian Daoliu froze.

The Angel God's successor had always been chosen from his Qian Clan. There was never a need to search.

The inheritance had been passed down through generations without issue.

But now, in the era where Qian Renxue was supposed to inherit it, something had gone wrong.

Someone had stolen the position meant for her.

Yet despite years of searching, Qian Daoliu still had no idea who this person was…