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Days later, Heaven Dou City, dawn was breaking.
Feng Xiao returned, treading on morning dew, carrying a pinkish-white rabbit in his arms, and slowly passed through the city gate. Heaven Dou City was just waking up, pedestrians were sparse on the streets, and early vendors were setting up their stalls, with hot steam lingering in the crisp air.
Xiao Bai stirred her ears in his arms, her ruby-like eyes scanning her surroundings vigilantly. Feng Xiao noticed her unease, and his fingertips gently stroked her fur, as he chuckled, "Don't be nervous, it's much safer here than in the Star Dou Great Forest."
Xiao Bai glanced at him. Although reluctant, she didn't struggle anymore. However, her ears remained vigilantly perked, clearly not having fully let down her guard.
Feng Xiao, familiar with the route, passed through the many palace gates of the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace and went straight to the East Palace. His steps were calm and unhurried, as if he were returning to his own home, and soon he stood before Qian Renxue's study door.
"Creak—"
As the door gently opened, Qian Renxue, who was reviewing memorials, immediately looked up. When she saw who it was, her golden eyes instantly brightened, and she instinctively moved to stand up and greet him. However, the next second, her movements suddenly paused—her gaze fixed firmly on the pinkish-white Soft Bones Rabbit in Feng Xiao's arms.
"This is…?" Qian Renxue's voice held a hint of hesitation, her slender fingers unconsciously tightening around the memorial in her hand.
"A Soft Bones Rabbit?" Qian Renxue frowned slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her golden eyes, clearly having guessed something.
"Is it that girl?" Her voice suddenly turned a few degrees colder, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the edge of the table. Clearly, she already had the answer in her heart.
Feng Xiao chuckled, gently placing Xiao Bai on a soft chair nearby: "Now she's just an ordinary rabbit." He casually rubbed Xiao Bai's ears, "Since I took her spirit ring and Spirit Bone, I should at least leave her a way to live, shouldn't I?"
Then, turning to the little rabbit, he warned half-jokingly, "Don't run around. If you get caught by the palace staff and kept as a pet, I won't be responsible."
Qian Renxue snorted softly, her gilded phoenix hairpin swaying slightly with her movement: "You're quite kind. I sent you on an errand, and she got the Spirit Bone and spirit ring, while you only got a rabbit." She picked up her teacup, her tone clearly laced with jealousy, her pursed red lips making her look like a little wife who had been wronged.
Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, casting dappled shadows in the study. Xiao Bai curled up in the corner of the chair, her ruby-like eyes vigilantly observing the pair, but her furry ears unconsciously perked up, seemingly quite interested in the conversation unfolding before her.
Feng Xiao couldn't help but smile at the sight, taking a step forward and gently embracing Qian Renxue: "You've misunderstood His Holiness, the Supreme Pontiff." He took Qian Renxue's slender hand and gently pressed it against his chest, "Feel it carefully."
A hint of confusion flashed in Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes, but when she carefully sensed the spirit power fluctuations Feng Xiao intentionally released, a look of shock immediately appeared on her face.
"Spirit Douluo?!" She suddenly looked up, her gilded phoenix hairpin gently swaying with the movement. "She actually gave you a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring and Spirit Bone?"
Feng Xiao's lips curved slightly, his eyes holding a hint of playfulness: "It's thanks to His Holiness, the Supreme Pontiff." He meaningfully glanced at Xiao Bai, who was curled up on the chair, "If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have had this opportunity."
"What exactly happened?" Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, her gilded phoenix hairpin gently swaying as she tilted her head. "I don't believe she would be so generous as to hand over a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring and Spirit Bone." Her slender fingers suddenly clutched Feng Xiao's lapels, "Also, you haven't told me, what was her purpose in sending you?"
Feng Xiao chuckled, holding her soft hand: "Don't rush, let me tell you slowly." As he recounted the events, Qian Renxue's expression grew increasingly solemn.
Upon hearing that Bibi Dong had intentionally leaked the news to Heaven Dou City, Qian Renxue suddenly broke free from Feng Xiao's embrace: "So, her true purpose was to expose you to the attention of all parties!" Her golden pupils contracted slightly, her voice filled with suppressed anger, "What a clever scheme!"
Xiao Bai shifted uneasily in the chair, her red eyes vigilantly observing the changes in their expressions. Feng Xiao reached out to comfort Qian Renxue, but she turned away, avoiding him.
"She's using you as bait!" Qian Renxue gritted her silver teeth, her fingers unconsciously digging into her palm within her sleeve, the turbulent emotions in her beautiful eyes fully exposed.
Feng Xiao immediately stepped forward, gently taking Qian Renxue's slightly cold hands, and softly said, "Alright, don't overthink it." His thumb gently caressed the back of her hand, "This is also my fault. His Holiness, the Supreme Pontiff, saw that I had a deep friendship with Ling Ling and Yan Yan, and was worried..."
He paused, looking into Qian Renxue's eyes: "She was afraid that something might change between you and me. Ultimately, it was all for you."
Qian Renxue was startled by his words, unconsciously biting her red lip. She lowered her eyelids, her long lashes casting a faint shadow on her face, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond. Complex emotions surged in her heart—dissatisfaction with Bibi Dong's machinations, yet also a turmoil of feelings due to the hidden concern in his words.
Feng Xiao gently stroked Qian Renxue's hair, his voice growing even softer: "She knows better than anyone that doing this might affect your plans in Heaven Dou. But in her heart..." He paused, "The bond between you and me is far more important than those schemes."
"Including what happened later," Feng Xiao continued, his fingertips gently wiping away the unshed tears from her eyes, "Although her own decision was flawed, she showed no dissatisfaction whatsoever with me obtaining the spirit ring and Spirit Bone. Even if she returned empty-handed this time..."
Before he could finish, Qian Renxue suddenly threw herself into his arms. Feng Xiao could clearly feel the front of his clothes gradually becoming soaked with warm tears, and the person in his arms trembled slightly, yet stubbornly refused to let out a single sob.
He gently embraced her, whispering in her ear, "It's alright."
Outside the window, the sunlight quietly fell upon the embracing couple. Xiao Bai watched them with her red eyes, her ears still perked high.
Feng Xiao gently stroked Qian Renxue's back, speaking softly like he was coaxing a child: "Alright, don't cry anymore." His fingertips gently wiped away the tear stains from her eyes, "We still have a long time, everything will be fine." Then, he looked at the little white rabbit curled up on the chair, "Now, we need to find a suitable home for this little fellow."
Qian Renxue lifted her head from his embrace, her eyes still a little red, but she had regained some of her usual composure. She nodded gently, her gilded phoenix hairpin swaying slightly with the movement, reflecting tiny specks of light in the sun.
Xiao Bai's ears suddenly perked up, her ruby-like eyes vigilantly fixed on the two, as if she understood they were discussing her whereabouts. Feng Xiao couldn't help but smile at the sight, reaching out to gently tap her pink nose: "Don't worry, you won't be mistreated."
"What are you doing?" Qian Renxue suddenly slapped away Feng Xiao's hand that was teasing the rabbit, her gilded phoenix hairpin swaying gently as she tilted her head. Although it was just a pure white rabbit in front of her, in her heart, she always remembered it was that young girl.
Feng Xiao chuckled, cupping Qian Renxue's tear-streaked face in his hands, his thumbs gently wiping away the tear stains from her cheeks: "Alright, my little jealous one..." He leaned close to her ear, his warm breath caressing her earlobe, "Are you even jealous of a rabbit?"
"Go away!" Qian Renxue broke into a smile through her tears, playfully pushing him away, yet unable to hide the curve of her lips. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting tiny flecks of light on her flushed ear tip.
Xiao Bai squatted on the chair, her red eyes darting around, and her three-lobed mouth unconsciously moved, as if silently complaining about the overly affectionate couple.
Feng Xiao's gaze turned to Xiao Bai not far away, only to see her transparent, ruby-like rabbit eyes staring intently at them, with complex emotions seemingly flowing within them. But no one could discern any deep meaning from a rabbit's expression.
"Come here." Feng Xiao reached out to pick up Xiao Bai, but a white blur flashed, and the little rabbit nimbly leaped far away, letting out a dissatisfied "coo" sound. She squatted on the windowsill, her ears vigilantly perked, her three-lobed mouth trembling incessantly, looking like a little girl who had been wronged.
"Hey," Qian Renxue looked at the bristling Xiao Bai, and couldn't help but smile at Feng Xiao, "She seems to have a lot of opinions about you?"
Feng Xiao shrugged: "This little fellow is clever; she must have understood everything we just said—" He winked meaningfully, "Especially about your relationship with His Holiness, the Supreme Pontiff."
Before he finished speaking, Qian Renxue's figure flashed, appearing like an illusion in front of the windowsill, and precisely pinched the scruff of Xiao Bai's neck. The little rabbit immediately thrashed its four legs, its pure white hind legs flapping desperately in the air, looking like a poor little creature whose fate had been seized by the scruff of its neck.
"Coo coo coo!" Xiao Bai cried out in protest, her red eyes wide. Qian Renxue, however, smiled even more brightly, her gilded step-shake gently swaying with her movements: "Run, why aren't you running?" She deliberately shook the little white rabbit in her hand, making Xiao Bai's ears stand up in anger.
"Alright, don't bully her anymore," Feng Xiao said, unable to suppress a chuckle, reaching out to take the bristling little rabbit.
Qian Renxue suddenly turned sideways, avoiding him, and eyed Feng Xiao suspiciously: "You wouldn't have any..." She deliberately drew out the sound, her gilded phoenix hairpin swaying gently as she tilted her head, "...special interest in her, would you?"
Feng Xiao was immediately exasperated: "What are you thinking?" He shook his head helplessly, "She's just an ordinary Soft Bones Rabbit now."
"Coo!" Xiao Bai suddenly struggled violently in Qian Renxue's hand, her red eyes glaring angrily at Feng Xiao, her three-lobed mouth trembling incessantly, as if protesting the title of "ordinary rabbit."
Seeing this, a mischievous glint flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes. She deliberately held Xiao Bai up and swung her in front of Feng Xiao, provoking another flurry of struggles from the little rabbit.
Feng Xiao looked at the sight of the woman and the rabbit bickering, and could only sigh, rubbing his forehead.
Feng Xiao sighed softly, his gaze gently falling upon Xiao Bai in Qian Renxue's hands: "Although obtaining her spirit ring and Spirit Bone was not my original intention, since it has become a fact, and we also have some acquaintance..." He paused, "I am willing to fulfill some of her reasonable requests. Allowing her to live on in this way, watching Tang San from afar, might also be a form of solace for her."
Qian Renxue's fingertips gently stroked Xiao Bai's soft fur, and she whispered, "Sometimes... not looking is the best choice."
Feng Xiao nodded slightly: "If she can let go of her obsession, that would naturally be best. But..." He looked at the little rabbit, who had suddenly quieted down, "She clearly can't let go. If we don't let her see him, she'll find a way to find Tang San herself. If she's lucky, she might arrive safely, but if she's unlucky..."
He didn't continue, but Xiao Bai already understood the unspoken meaning—in her current state, crossing the perilous Spirit Beast forest alone would very likely make her prey for other Spirit Beasts.
Xiao Bai's body visibly stiffened for a moment, then completely quieted down, her ruby-like eyes losing their previous vitality, her ears drooping as she curled up in Qian Renxue's palm. Sunlight streamed through the window screen, casting dappled shadows on her pure white fur, but it couldn't illuminate those dim rabbit eyes.
Qian Renxue looked at Feng Xiao with a strange expression, her golden eyes flashing with bewilderment: "Don't you think this is... very contradictory?"
Feng Xiao chuckled as he took Xiao Bai from her hands, his fingertips gently stroking the rabbit's soft fur: "Do you feel there's a hint of false compassion?"
Qian Renxue hesitated and nodded, her gilded phoenix hairpin swaying slightly with her movement.
"Humans are inherently contradictory beings, a mix of sensibility and rationality," Feng Xiao's voice was gentle and profound. "Since the strategic objective has been achieved..." He looked down at the quiet little white rabbit in his arms, "I don't mind letting sensibility take over for once at this moment."
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows on Feng Xiao's profile. Xiao Bai's red eyes flickered slightly, her ears unconsciously perked up, seemingly pondering the deeper meaning of his words. Qian Renxue gazed intently at the man before her, who was sometimes decisive and ruthless, yet at other times gentle as water, and her red lips unconsciously curved into a soft arc.
Feng Xiao's hand gently rested on Qian Renxue's shoulder, the warm palm conveying a reassuring temperature through the thin fabric of her clothes. He gazed into her eyes, his voice low and gentle: "Xue'er, while rationality can help you discern right from wrong, but..." His fingertips tightened slightly, "It is precisely sensibility that allows humanity to bloom with its most moving brilliance."
Qian Renxue's eyes flickered, and a thoughtful expression appeared on her face. She lowered her gaze to Xiao Bai in Feng Xiao's arms; the pure white rabbit was now quietly looking back at her, her ruby-like eyes seemingly holding countless unspoken stories.
Qian Renxue nodded gently, the phoenix hairpin in her hair scattering tiny golden flecks as she moved. She suddenly understood that perhaps it was this tenderness, still preserved in a cruel World, that made the man before her so unique.
Feng Xiao gently patted Qian Renxue's hand, and said softly, "Alright, I'll go settle her down first." He looked down at Xiao Bai, who had quieted down in his arms, her ruby-like eyes twinkling in the sunlight.
Qian Renxue's lips curved into a gentle arc, her gilded phoenix hairpin swaying gently as she nodded: "Go." Her gaze shifted between Feng Xiao and Xiao Bai, a knowing smile flashing in her eyes.
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting a warm golden edge on the departing figures. Xiao Bai peeked out from Feng Xiao's arm, her red eyes taking one last look at Qian Renxue standing in place, her ears gently twitching.