Chapter 53: Mother and Daughter

Chapter 53: Mother and Daughter

Heaven Dou Empire, Crown Prince's Residence

Clatter, clatter, clatter...

Xue Qinghe walked with hurried steps into the bathroom. Massaging his temples, he fixed his gaze on the pristine mirror above the sink.

A surge of soul power fluctuated from his body, and a pure, sacred light blossomed, enveloping him entirely.

When the light dissipated, his long silver hair shifted to a pale golden hue, and Xue Qinghe's features began to blur. His originally male physique shrank visibly, transforming into a slender, graceful, and impeccably proportioned female figure.

In the blink of an eye, the handsome young man turned into a noble, elegant, and peerlessly stunning beauty.

Locking eyes with her own reflection in the mirror, Qian Renxue's mood visibly improved as she gazed upon her lovely visage. After all, isn't it delightful to take off a mask and be oneself again?

"Splash..." Qian Renxue stepped into the tub filled with warm water, wearing a smile of relaxed ease as she leisurely played with the water.

The warm spring water washed over her jade-like skin, concealing beneath the surface a graceful form that no one else could appreciate.

"The Saint chosen by that woman... Hmph! Having Hu Liena as your Saintess wasn't enough, and now you must take on a Saint. Whether it's that little fox or the man from today, both carry your shadow. You must have spent a great deal of effort personally teaching them, haven't you?"

......

"Grandpa, why is Mom always working?"

"Because your Mom wants to give Xue'er a stable and secure home."

......

"Mom."

By the office desk, a tiny figure tugged at Bibi Dong's sleeve. Bibi Dong turned back to look at the child, a flash of fleeting tenderness in her eyes, only for it to be instantly replaced by disgust.

Bibi Dong tried her utmost to conceal the aversion she felt toward the child within her, turning her head away so she wouldn't have to look at her anymore, and coldly dropped a single sentence: "I still have work to do."

......

Qian Renxue, who had been eavesdropping, pushed open the office door and declared to Qian Daoliu and Bibi Dong, who were looking over, "I'll take on this mission."

"After all, Mother doesn't like me anyway, does she?"

......

"Splash..." Having finished her bath, Qian Renxue stepped out of the tub, her figure alluring and veiled in mist. She picked up a thin silk robe, draping it half over her body and revealing one side of her alluring breasts. Like a lotus emerging from clear water, she possessed a natural and effortless beauty without any excess adornment, her fragrant cheeks half-hidden, looking shy and breathtakingly enchanting.

The Next Day

"You're here." Just as Zhong Yan stepped into the deeper recesses of the Crown Prince's Residence, a graceful figure stood beneath a willow tree.

Clad in a white-moon robe embroidered with golden patterns that could not conceal her slender figure, she wore her pale golden hair draped over her shoulders like a golden waterfall cascading down to her waist.

Her pair of golden eyes harbored a sacred aura, giving off a sense of noble majesty.

The corners of Qian Renxue's mouth curled up into a cold sneer. "Speak, what instructions does that woman have this time?"

The already quiet atmosphere grew even more serene following that cold sneer.

"Sigh," Zhong Yan shook his head, walked into the courtyard, found a spot to sit down, and pulled out a jade box, tossing it over to her. "There was really no need for things to be this way between you and your mother."

Qian Renxue caught the jade box with a single hand and sneered, "What could an outsider like you possibly understand? What is inside this?"

"We discovered a blessed land of geomancy in the Sunset Forest, and there are quite a few immortal herbs inside. When the Teacher saw it, she specifically named this one to be kept for you. Inside is an immortal herb called the True Sun Dragon-Blood Sunflower. The Teacher said it holds immense benefits for you, allowing your sun fire, which originally carried a sacred attribute, to step into the realm of ultimate fire, mutating into the True Sun Fire, which possesses both sacred and tyrannical dual attributes."

"Ha, she actually remembers she has a biological daughter like me?"

Watching Qian Renxue pout like an aggrieved child, Zhong Yan chuckled and said, "Let me tell you a secret. Actually, the Teacher specifically asked me and Chrysanthemum Douluo what kind of immortal herbs would be useful to you."

"Really... You're lying to me. That woman would never care about me." Yet, even as prideful as she was, Qian Renxue's voice softened gradually as she uttered those words.

Seeing her like this, Zhong Yan felt certain in his heart. [It turns out this mother-daughter pair is indeed just as I thought. If not for that bastard Qian Xunji, Teacher might have become a good mother after all.]

"Actually, your mother has her hardships..."

"Shut your mouth!" Qian Renxue, who had been staring blankly at the jade box, suddenly roared, "Hardships, hardships! It's one thing for Grandpa to say that, but what right do you have to say it? You don't know anything at all! An outsider who has only been in the Spirit Hall for a year, what could you possibly understand?"

With those words, Qian Renxue walked toward the courtyard entrance, clearly unwilling to pay any more attention to Zhong Yan.

Watching Qian Renxue leave, Zhong Yan let out a faint sigh. He had originally thought Bibi Dong's side would be the hardest to deal with, but he had severely underestimated the depth of the rift between this mother and daughter.

"Actually, I know quite a bit. Forget it... Even if I told you now, you wouldn't be willing to listen. If only you were willing to understand your mother's past. Both of you are equally prideful, and both of you refuse to lower your heads."

Qian Renxue paused for a moment at the doorway before clutching the jade box and quickening her pace, vanishing from the spot.

In truth, Zhong Yan had no right to pass judgment; everything between Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong was caused by that bastard from the secret chamber. Qian Renxue had always been an innocent victim. As so many years had passed, Bibi Dong had also let go of a lot. Her attitude toward Qian Renxue had undergone a clear change, yet her pride—or rather, her uncertainty over how to face Qian Renxue—remained a barrier.

Chapters are getting shorter and shorter, sigh. My state of mind hasn't been great lately, constantly getting stuck and finding it hard to write. I feel like my writing style is truly lacking. Last chapter, I wanted to capture the feeling of a three-way play of acting, but after writing for an hour, I decided to give up. The delicate emotional resonance that should have been there wasn't expressed very well either.

(End of this chapter)