After a moment, Chu Chengzhou said in a low voice, "I will give you an answer."
Right then, he tagged the mastermind and the killer who carried out the assassination plan with one label: courting death.
This was different from the hatred between Xiao Wu and Bibi Dong, which had a way to be resolved.
His elder mother-in-law had a hundred-thousand-year Soft-Bone Rabbit form. Even if she became Bibi Dong's soul ring, it did not mean there was no chance of resurrection.
In the future, once Bibi Dong attained the Rakshasa God position, if she was willing, she could revive Rabbit Mom.
With no more mother-killing hatred, the enmity between Xiao Wu and Bibi Dong would naturally fade.
But his second mother-in-law was an ordinary human soul master. Chu Chengzhou truly could not think of any way to bring her back.
Time could not be turned back. Since the problem could not be solved, he could only choose to solve the people who created it. At least that would count as avenging his mother-in-law.
Of course, the mastermind was definitely already cold.
Back then Qian Daoliu had long since retired, and with his vision, ordinary geniuses could not catch his eye.
Likewise, when Bibi Dong had just become Pope, she was far from the Titled Douluo realm and could not order Titled Elders to act as assassins.
And not just then. Even now, Bibi Dong had not fully seized control of the Elder Hall.
In fact, before Bibi Dong struck at the Soul Master Tournament and felled Tang Hao in an instant, there were hardly any Titled Elders in the Elder Hall that could be counted as her faction.
Which meant this assassination order must have been issued by Qian Xunji while he was still alive. It was likely carried out only after his death due to a lack of opportunity earlier.
Since the mastermind and the hands that did it were not Qian Daoliu or Bibi Dong, Chu Chengzhou had no psychological burden.
Spirit Hall's elders, even those few consecrated ones—so what? They were not his relatives. If they dared kill his mother-in-law, then cutting them down was only fitting.
At most he would give Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu some face. He would not openly demand people by force. He would strike from the dark.
Outside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's mountain gate.
Qian Renxue did not leave at once but waited outside the gate.
"What did Teacher say?"
Seeing Chu Chengzhou come out, Qian Renxue hurried forward to ask.
If Chu Chengzhou could see that something was off with Ning Fengzhi, Qian Renxue had certainly sensed it too.
Near vermilion, one grows red; near ink, one grows black. With years of careful instruction from the old fox Ning Fengzhi, in reading hearts, Qian Renxue, not under any brain-dulling aura, was definitely above Chu Chengzhou, who in this respect was a novice.
"Forget it. I'll handle it. This has nothing to do with you."
Sighing, shaking his head, Chu Chengzhou did not say much.
"This…"
Qian Renxue hesitated.
"Relax. Leave it to me."
"All right then."
Helpless, Qian Renxue could only nod.
The next day after noon, a mighty silver dragon shadow flew across the northern sky outside Spirit City.
Landing outside the city and putting away the Space Saint Dragon spirit, Little Silver, Chu Chengzhou entered Spirit City and headed straight for the Hall of the Pope.
Though in Qian Renxue's heart, her grandfather was the dearest elder, Chu Chengzhou was here to present betrothal gifts. By custom, with the father-in-law gone, the gifts should be received by the mother-in-law.
Moreover, Hu Liena's parents were also gone. Her share could only be received by Bibi Dong as teacher.
"Halt, who goes there!"
Before the Hall of the Pope, Chu Chengzhou was stopped by the Hall-Guard Knights on duty.
At this, Chu Chengzhou produced the Elder Token Qian Renxue had given him.
"Greetings, Elder!"
Seeing the Elder Token in his hand, the Hall-Guard Knights all dropped to one knee and saluted.
Chu Chengzhou did not mind. He waved a hand, put away the token, and said, "Go inform the Pope that a guest has arrived."
Chu Chengzhou: Mother-in-law, receive the guest.
"Yes, Elder."
The captain of the Hall-Guard Knights, clad in silver armor, cupped his fist, then rose and went in to report.
Before long, with a faint rumble, the great doors slowly opened. Chu Chengzhou walked into the Hall of the Pope.
Somewhat unexpectedly, when he entered the council hall, besides Bibi Dong, two other figures were also sizing him up.
Looking at the silver-haired youth and the red-haired young man, Chu Chengzhou raised an eyebrow.
Well now, he had run into his elder brother-in-law and Yan.
"All right, you two may withdraw."
Bibi Dong waved her hand, dismissing Xie Yue and Yan.
"Yes, Your Holiness."
After a respectful bow, Xie Yue and Yan, whose training journey in the Lost Grand Canyon had once again paused, withdrew from the hall.
"Chu Chengzhou, you hold an Elder Token and impersonate a Spirit Hall elder. What punishment do you deserve?!"
Once the two left and there was no one else in the hall, Bibi Dong's expression turned grim. She barked at him without courtesy.
After the Hall-Guard Knights reported, out of regard for the Elder Token, Bibi Dong had extended her spiritual power to probe who the guest was.
But the moment she saw it was Chu Chengzhou, flames of anger roared up in her heart.
Nothing complicated. It was because this guy had, without a word, taken the little cabbage she had raised for years and taken her for himself, then gone even further, spiriting his little cabbage away somewhere. For more than half a year there had been no news.
So Bibi Dong did not think. She immediately gave Chu Chengzhou, bold beyond measure, a show of force.
As Pope, she clearly remembered that Chu Chengzhou was not one of Spirit Hall's elders.
"Your Holiness, you misunderstand. I am not impersonating a Spirit Hall elder. This token was given by my grandfather."
Chu Chengzhou lied without flushing or panting. In any case, Bibi Dong would not go verify it.
"Hm? Your grandfather?"
Bibi Dong choked for a beat. Which grandfather of yours can give you a Spirit Hall Elder Token?
"My girlfriend's grandfather. I call him Grandpa. That should be fine, right?"
Chu Chengzhou offered an explanation.
Bibi Dong: ???
What does that have to do with anything? Is that what I asked?
"Ahem. You know my grandpa too. His surname is Qian."
Clearing his throat, Chu Chengzhou said.
"What?!"
Bibi Dong sprang up from the papal throne. Her beautiful eyes locked hard on Chu Chengzhou.
Back at the Soul Master Tournament, Bibi Dong had already seen that this young man was unusual.
But she had never expected that when Chu Chengzhou made his move he would be this "ruthless."
Not only had he eaten and carried off the precious disciple she had nurtured for years, even her own daughter had fallen for him too.
Of course, that was not the most infuriating. Whether disciple or daughter, they were no longer young. Finding a boyfriend was only a matter of time.
What infuriated Bibi Dong most was that as teacher and mother, she had received no word beforehand, and she had been "caught in one net" at that.