"Your Holiness, we have discovered some traces of that child,"
a man in a black robe said in a deep voice.
Almost instantly, Bibi Dong looked over, her expression filled with excitement.
"Really? You found that child?"
"...No, but we have now determined the direction he left in and where he might have last gone,"
the man replied awkwardly, Bibi Dong's excitement waning slightly.
"Where did he last disappear to?"
"Reporting to Your Holiness, it was east of our Spirit City... past Caster Town, in the direction of entering the Star Dou Great Forest. We found a trace of him there."
"The Star Dou Great Forest?"
Bibi Dong's expression changed slightly, because she clearly knew what the Star Dou Great Forest meant.
If Qian Renshang had entered the Star Dou Great Forest,
the probability of his survival was extremely low!
In other words, Qian Renshang was very likely dead.
In an instant, Bibi Dong's pretty face dimmed, and she seemed somewhat absent-minded.
The man explained in a deep voice.
Qian Renxue, who was listening nearby, was initially confused, but she quickly realized what they were talking about.
That child, the child that Bibi Dong cared about, besides that annoying guy, could it be anyone else?
"Mom, you...you're looking for that guy Qian Renshang?"
Qian Renxue looked up, staring at Bibi Dong's pretty face with a very complicated expression.
"That's right!"
Bibi Dong came back to her senses and replied coldly.
Qian Renxue asked, "Why did you bring him back?"
"Of course, it's to punish him...I, Bibi Dong, always see things through to the end.
Without my order, he can't leave even if he wants to.
Even if he dies, he'll die by my side."
Bibi Dong paused for a moment and then replied coldly.
For the past three years, she had never stopped searching for Qian Renshang.
Her initial purpose was simply to confirm whether he was alive or dead so she could report back.
After all, he didn't want the child to be found by Qian Daoliu, but things gradually changed... Bibi Dong still frequently dreamed of Qian Renshang.
She dreamed that the child was actually very happy after leaving her, which infuriated Bibi Dong.
Could it be... that she was really such a bad mother?
This was absolutely unacceptable, so Bibi Dong wanted to find him and see how he was doing.
Qian Renxue, however, broke down completely.
"Why... why do you still care so much about that hateful guy, even though he's already gone!"
"Shouldn't you only love me, your only child?"
"I... I said I don't care about Qian Renshang, I just want to see how he's doing now!"
Bibi Dong subconsciously explained, and Qian Renxue shouted.
"You're lying!! You've been lying to me since we were little... You clearly care more about Qian Renshang, I saw it all."
"You tore down his house and rebuilt it, then tore it down again... I even saw you sleeping in his house."
Slap!*
Bibi Dong slapped Qian Renxue across the face, her expression filled with anger and a touch of shame.
She hadn't expected Qian Renxue to discover her little tricks.
Yes… in the years since Qian Renshang left, Bibi Dong had frequently dreamt of him, making it difficult for her to sleep.
She could only rest in Qian Renshang's room… Bibi Dong's feelings for that child were complex.
On one hand, she wanted him to disappear, but on the other hand, she couldn't bear to let him go.
"You… you hit me again, and it's because of that guy Qian Renshang again!
Why… what is it about me that he doesn't have!"
Qian Renxue covered her face, crying and shouting.
She just wanted Bibi Dong's unbridled favoritism, why was it so difficult?
She also wished to be targeted like Qian Renshang, at least Zhang Jia'er showed that Bibi Dong cared about her feelings, instead of being summoned and dismissed at will!
"You're inferior to him in every way! Are you satisfied now?"
Bibi Dong was too lazy to argue with Qian Renxue.
She was now only feeling agitated, because Qian Renshang was very likely really dead.
Pain, so much pain!
Bibi Dong felt as if a large piece of her heart was missing.
She, Bibi Dong, seemed... to genuinely regret it.
"I... I'm inferior to him?"
Bibi Dong's words directly broke Qian Renxue's defenses. She shouted at Bibi Dong,
"I will prove to you... I am much stronger than him, I will make you proud of me!!"
Hearing this, Bibi Dong merely raised an eyebrow slightly, said nothing, and turned to leave.
Qian Renxue stood there, stunned. This time, she didn't follow.
With a hardened heart... she also turned and left.
"Qian Renshang...you're already gone, why does Mom still care about you so much?
It's awful...it's awful, you're clearly inferior to me in every way."
"I must prove to Mom that I, Qian Renxue, am far superior to you."
Qian Renxue wiped away her tears, her little face full of stubbornness.
She had made up her mind; she was determined to achieve great things so that Bibi Dong would be proud of her, and then Bibi Dong would love her.
After pondering for a long time, Qian Renxue also figured out a path.
The Spirit Hall was now flourishing, showing signs of aiming for the entire Douluo Continent.
Perhaps Qian Renxue could do something to accelerate this process.
With this thought,
Qian Renxue rallied, turning back to look at Bibi Dong's disappearing figure and murmuring,
"Mom... I will prove myself..."
...
...
Star Dou Great Forest, outer core area!
In an ancient and mysterious forest, a towering tree reached into the clouds, its lush branches like a giant green umbrella, blotting out the sun.
"How is Sister Xiaowu doing now?"
"Not very well... She needs even more energy to overcome that hurdle, even with our help."
"How long will it take?"
"Within ten years... By then, we'll have a good chance of successfully transforming."
Two enormous beings conversed under the tree.
One of them was like a green mountain peak, its thick body covered with a layer of fine, hard green scales, each scale shimmering with a mysterious light, as if containing endless power.
Its head was broad and majestic, with two enormous bull horns curving forward, wisps of electricity crackling around them, inspiring awe.
Its large, bell-like eyes were deep and wise, revealing a piercing light.
The other colossal creature had a massive body, its muscles bulging like solid rocks, brimming with explosive power.
Its thick, long brown fur flowed in the wind like surging waves.
Its face was ferocious and savage, its wide mouth revealing sharp fangs that gleamed with a cold, icy light.
Its enormous eyes were like burning fireballs, filled with anger and majesty.
These two were none other than the two original beast kings of the Star Dou Great Forest: the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python!
(End of Chapter)
Read 30+ chapters ahead at Patreon
patreon.com/TaroYamato
patreon.com/TaroYamato