The atmosphere felt almost frozen.
Qian Renxue stood there rigidly, not knowing what to say. Just what was the relationship between this mysterious young man and her father? Since he knew about this matter, had he also informed the Heaven Dou Emperor? Was this really going to end with the fish dying and the net being torn?
Countless thoughts flashed through her mind.
She even considered fleeing to Spirit Hall right now…
But her willpower still forced her to calm down. And after going back then what? Endure her mother's harsh scolding? Admit she was a useless waste? She was not willing!
"You… have met my father?"
When it came to a dead man, you could make up whatever you wanted anyway~
Naturally, he would not confess to Qian Renxue that he came from ten thousand years in the future—not yet, at least. And if he wanted to quickly gain her trust, this deceased old friend was extremely useful.
First win her favor with a script, then solidify it with time.
However, Su Wen did not fall into Qian Renxue's rhythm. Instead, he smiled and said lightly, "You two outside the carriage, don't even think about dealing with me here. With your measly rank ninety-one, ninety-two strength, you're far from enough…"
"…"
Qian Renxue was silent.
He had easily seen through the backgrounds of her two greatest supports. This man's strength and status were probably far beyond what she imagined…
The carriage slowly came to a halt, and there was no more movement outside.
"Xunji's death took us all by surprise. There are more than a few suspicious points in it as well." Su Wen sighed softly.
"These past years, I accidentally entered a certain secret realm and wasted some time inside. By a stroke of luck, I managed to escape."
"I never thought that in the blink of an eye, his daughter would have grown so big."
"…"
Qian Renxue's expression froze for a moment. Things did not seem to be heading toward the worst possible outcome.
The relationship between this mysterious man and her father was better than she had imagined…
Because she had lacked a father's love while growing up, whenever she saw her peers with healthy families, she would quietly hide in a corner and secretly look at them with envy in her eyes. She yearned for her mother's love as well, but her mother treated her with a harshness close to hatred—giving birth but not teaching. At the slightest sign of anything displeasing, she would be met with extremely severe scolding and punishment.
This made her desperately yearn for care—genuine, heartfelt care.
"You… you knew my father?" The young girl unconsciously clenched her fingers, her expression a little at a loss.
"Yes. Before he left, he told me to take good care of you… but I failed him." Su Wen said softly.
Bibi Dong was a madwoman.
But it was still too early to sow discord between mother and daughter. If he did it now, his intentions would be too obvious. If he slowly deepened his relationship with Qian Renxue and then let her learn that the one who killed her father was actually her own mother, only then might there be a chance for internal conflict.
So right now, he only planted a single seed in Qian Renxue's heart.
"Uncle Su…?"
Qian Renxue hesitated for a moment before speaking in a tentative tone.
"Hehe…"
Su Wen looked at Qian Renxue with gentle eyes, then drained the cup of tea in his hand.
"There's poison in that…" Qian Renxue opened her mouth slightly, but still spoke up in the end.
"I know." Su Wen revealed a faint smile.
What shocked Qian Renxue was that when she hurriedly took out the antidote, Su Wen remained calm and unruffled. Several seconds passed, and the poison that was said to turn a person into pus within three seconds—the poison she always carried with her, refined by top poison masters of Spirit Hall—actually had no effect on Su Wen whatsoever.
"Since I've returned, I have only one purpose." Su Wen sighed.
"What?" Qian Renxue asked subconsciously.
"To protect you."
Su Wen's tone was light.
"Since you're Xunji's biological daughter, I'll treat you as if you were my own. In this world, as long as your life is in danger, you can come find me. As long as you stay in the Heaven Dou Empire for now, no one will be able to hurt you."
"But the mission Bibi Dong arranged for you has nothing to do with me. I don't want to get involved in that…"
When he mentioned Bibi Dong, Su Wen's face darkened and he frowned slightly.
"If you don't want to keep hiding, I'll go back with you. I'll go reason with Bibi Dong. From the age of eight all the way to twenty-seven, the most innocent and carefree years of a child's life have all been ruined!"
A terrifying pressure surged out of his body.
It swept past Qian Renxue and pressed down on the two Titled Douluo outside the carriage so hard that they could barely breathe. The faintly released imperial might of a Snow Empress-level aura was already more than enough…
"…"
The two Titled Douluo trembled like leaves in a storm.
From being on full alert at first, to gradually relaxing, to finally wishing they could cover their ears.
As expected of a bigshot on the level of being the former Pope's close friend. His current strength was surely at least around rank ninety-six or ninety-seven. At that level, even among the Elders of Spirit Hall, there were almost none who could match him. Only Her Holiness the Pope could slightly suppress him.
And he was probably the only one present who dared to call the Pope by her name.
They heard it clearly, yet only shivered and didn't dare make a sound.
If it were anyone else, they would have long since rushed up to let him know why flowers are so red, but this man's mysterious and terrifying strength, as well as his status in the soul master world, were far beyond what they could compare to.
They could only retreat into their shells and pretend they hadn't heard anything.
Qian Renxue felt her eyes grow hot. She tried hard to hold back her tears and turned her head away. No one knew how starved for affection the biological daughter of the current Pope truly was.
Right now, Su Wen's actions were like a sharp blade, plunging precisely into her fragile heart and shattering the final layer of defense deep inside her.
The fact that she hadn't cried yet was already her last bit of stubbornness.
"Enough. Ci Xue, take Xiao Xue back first." Su Wen said with a casual wave of his hand.
"She Long, you stay."
"…Yes!"
The two men outside exchanged a glance and hurriedly replied.
With this man sitting in Heaven Dou City, not to mention Qian Renxue—even the two of them couldn't help but feel much more at ease. As the former Pope's old friend, and so close that he could be entrusted with his biological daughter, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he was temporarily acting in the former Pope's stead. As Elders of Spirit Hall, the two naturally had no reason to refuse.
"Uncle Su…"
Qian Renxue finally removed her leather mask, revealing a devastatingly beautiful face. Her skin was whiter than snow, her nose was straight, her slender phoenix eyes were bright and piercing, and her rosy lips complemented the slightly hesitant expression on her face.
"So beautiful. How does that guy have the good fortune to have such a stunning daughter?" Su Wen carefully studied her, a flash of amazement appearing in his eyes.
"Uncle Su…"
Qian Renxue finally discarded the last trace of unfamiliarity. A hint of shyness and playful coquettishness appeared on her delicate face…
Just like a little girl meeting an elder of her family.
…
Su Wen stood atop a hillside, watching the carriage slowly disappear in the distance. Qian Renxue was still leaning out the window, waving at him, her stunning face filled with genuine joy.
She Long stood respectfully behind Su Wen, quietly awaiting his orders.
"I don't need you to do much." Su Wen watched as the carriage gradually vanished from sight. His smile slowly faded, replaced by a chill.
A terrifying pressure swept through She Long's heart.
A shadow seemed to spread over a radius of nearly a hundred meters. She Long looked up in shock and saw a terrifying beast silently overlooking him, an indescribable fear flooding his chest.
If before, his respect had stemmed mostly from Su Wen's identity as the former Pope's friend, now it came from the bottom of his heart.
He had no doubt that this beast could easily tear him in half.
…