Chapter 334: The Truth of the Past
Yang Potian hesitated to shatter Qian Renxue's illusions, feeling a pang of sorrow.
After some time, Qian Renxue's face turned cold and resolute. "Whether it's my father's unjust death or my painful childhood, Bibi Dong owes me an explanation. She has failed both as a mother and as a wife."
Yang Potian sighed. "Who told you that Bibi Dong was Qian Xunji's willing wife? Or that she willingly bore him a child?"
Qian Renxue's expression shifted sharply. "What do you mean? Who else would she have chosen if not my father?"
Yang Potian's gaze softened with a hint of sadness. "Xue'er, let me tell you a story. It's not a happy one, but after hearing it, you may finally understand."
Qian Renxue nodded, still a little dazed.
Yang Potian continued, "Long ago, Wuhun Hall's Pope, Qian Xunji, took in a talented young girl as his disciple. He dedicated himself to nurturing her, protecting her, and even sharing secrets of the Angel Clan with her. He poured all his efforts into her training."
"That girl was Bibi Dong. Because Qian Xunji protected her so carefully, Bibi Dong became incredibly powerful but also naive. Eventually, she fell in love with a man who was only a low-level soul master, and worse, an enemy of the Angel Clan."
"You may have guessed—the soul master was Yu Xiaogang, son of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's patriarch. As disciples from opposing clans, their love was forbidden and met with harsh opposition."
"Yu Xiaogang, born with barely half a level of innate soul power, initially joined Wuhun Hall to prove his strength and surpass his limitations. He even published extensive research on martial souls, but his father, Yu Yuanzhen, saw this as a disgrace and expelled him from the clan."
"Their love was doomed from the start. Both Qian Xunji and Yu Yuanzhen tried to separate them. The two even attempted to elope, but fate intervened."
"Yu Xiaogang was driven from Wuhun Hall and later fell in love with his cousin, Liu Erlong. But her father, Yu Luomian, forbade the relationship, leaving him isolated in a small village, a shadow of the man he once was."
"Bibi Dong, though a powerful soul master, couldn't forget Yu Xiaogang. Distraught and heartbroken, she couldn't bear the idea of another man in her life. Qian Xunji saw this as an opportunity. Driven by his own desires, he forced himself upon her, taking her against her will. Later, he forced her to have his child—you."
Qian Renxue's face twisted with rage. "That's impossible! My father was a great Pope, the purest of angels!"
Yang Potian calmly brushed a hand over her face, letting the words sink in.
After a long silence, Qian Renxue finally spoke again. "And what happened next? What else do you know?"
Yang Potian sighed deeply. "I'll tell you everything, so there won't be any more confusion or regret."
"After you were born, Bibi Dong was consumed by bitterness. She became more cunning, more patient, and determined to change her life."
"Qian Xunji, trying to strengthen Wuhun Hall, learned of a soul beast that had taken human form—the Blue Silver Emperor, a rare hundred-thousand-year soul beast. This Blue Silver Emperor was Ah Yin, Tang Hao's wife. Qian Xunji led Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and others to hunt her down. In the ensuing battle, Ah Yin sacrificed herself for Tang Hao, and he gained her hundred-thousand-year spirit ring."
"With this new power, Tang Hao struck back, nearly killing Qian Xunji and severely injuring Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo. The confrontation led to the eventual war between Wuhun Hall and the Haotian Clan, causing the clan to retreat from the world."
"When Qian Xunji returned to Wuhun City, gravely wounded, Bibi Dong seized her chance. She finally exacted her revenge, killing Qian Xunji and absorbing his power."
Qian Renxue's face was wet with tears, and sobs escaped her lips.
Yang Potian continued, "That's the full story. This hidden history sparked the feud between the Haotian Clan and Wuhun Hall, leading to a war that drove the clan into seclusion."
"Bibi Dong despised Qian Xunji and harbored an even deeper hatred for the so-called 'holy' Angel Clan. After all, as the saintess of Wuhun Hall, her devotion to the Angel Clan had once been her core belief. This is why she despised you from a young age—seeing you reminded her of that bitterness."
"And that's also why your grandfather, Qian Daoliu, allowed her to kill Qian Xunji and later supported her rise to the papacy. In his eyes, this was their way of compensating her. The Angel Clan owed her that much."
After hearing all of this, Qian Renxue's quiet tears turned into a torrential downpour, wracking her with uncontrollable sobs.
After a long while, her tears finally dried, and she looked at him with steely resolve. "Potian, do you have any evidence to prove what you've told me?"
Yang Potian shook his head. "There's no physical evidence for something like this. If you want proof, the best evidence is Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu themselves. Bibi Dong is the one who suffered it all, and Qian Daoliu witnessed it. And you, Xue'er, are a living testament to that tragedy."
"Potian, what should I do? After hearing all this, I feel like there's nothing in this world worth trusting. It all feels so tainted."
"Xue'er, you'll have to understand these things in your own way. As a young woman, you can empathize with what your mother went through."
"But Bibi Dong has tried to kill me so many times. I am a living reminder of her suffering."
Yang Potian smiled gently. "As the saying goes, 'Even a tiger does not eat its cubs.' She may resent you, but she's still your mother and your closest family. You're also the only family she has left. If anyone can heal her wounds, it's you."
Qian Renxue's eyes filled with confusion and sadness. "Can I really do that? I've defied her so many times, and she despises me. Could she ever accept me?"
Yang Potian looked toward the sky, his expression calm. "You have to believe in her. For Bibi Dong, you're the last glimmer of light."
Yang Potian thought back to the original story: after the battle of the three gods, Bibi Dong only came to peace with herself at the very end, realizing how much pain she had caused her daughter.
In Yang Potian's arms, Qian Renxue's heavy heart finally began to ease, and she slowly drifted off to sleep, looking as innocent as a cherub.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Franklin1