Douluo Continent: The True Body and Blood Soul, Starting from Blacksmithing

Chapter 139 Standoff, Tensions Rise

Bibi Dong was originally just pondering why Xue'er suddenly appeared here, but she keenly noticed that Qian Renxue's whole demeanor seemed somewhat different from before.

It was an extremely subtle change, impossible to detect unless one was a close relative who knew it day after day.

As a mother, almost instinctively, Bibi Dong immediately noticed the abnormality in Qian Renxue's body.

Her steps were slightly lighter than before, and there was a hint of gentleness in her eyes that she hadn't shown before. Even the rhythm of her breathing was relaxed. This change made Bibi Dong's brows furrow unconsciously.

Before Qian Renxue could raise her hand to knock on the door, Bibi Dong waved her hand, and the heavy palace doors opened to both sides on their own.

"Come in."

As Qian Renxue stepped inside, the door behind her slammed shut with a loud "bang".

The spacious papal chamber fell silent once more, leaving only the mother and daughter scrutinizing each other's gazes.

They were both carefully observing each other.

A hint of amazement flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes. Her mother's face was still young, her skin was smooth and her blood was full of vitality. She was obviously very well-maintained and did not look like the cold and aloof person she remembered at all.

But Bibi Dong's gaze hadn't relaxed since the moment Qian Renxue stepped into the hall. She carefully observed the changes in her daughter's eyes and brows, and a certain string in her heart tightened more and more.

Before Qian Renxue could even offer her greetings, Bibi Dong spoke coldly, her tone unwavering: "You've met a guy you like outside?"

There were no pleasantries, no preamble, and none of the warmth that should exist between a mother and daughter. This question was like an icy blade, piercing straight into Qian Renxue's ears.

Qian Renxue, who had originally intended to speak to her mother politely, suddenly turned cold.

"I have indeed met someone I like, so what? Is it an eyesore to you?"

During her years as an undercover agent in the Heavenly Dou Empire, she was almost forced to become Emperor Xueye's son. How could she not harbor some resentment?

Fortunately, Lin Yu privately taught her many ways to respond. As Lin Yu gradually gained power, her confidence also increased. Some things that she could only keep to herself before, she could now say to Emperor Xueye and his group without any hesitation.

Now, facing her mother, she had hoped to feel a long-lost sense of kinship.

But her mother's barrage of questions made her suddenly realize that the relationship between her and her mother was not fundamentally different from that between her and Emperor Xueye.

Realizing this, Qian Renxue's voice became even colder and harder.

"You've never cared about me since I was a child, so why are you suddenly concerned about me now?"

Bibi Dong did not respond.

Because what Qian Renxue said was true. Cultivation, daily life, emotions, growth—almost every step of Qian Renxue's life was managed by her grandfather, Qian Daoliu.

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"I could guess even if you didn't say it." Bibi Dong's voice remained cold and condescending. "It must be that kid Lin Yu. After all, you've spent so much time with him, it's not surprising that you've developed feelings for him over time."

Qian Renxue made no attempt to deny it, and met her mother's gaze crisply.

"That's right, it's him. You already guessed it, so why ask?"

Her reply carried a defiant "What can you do to me?" tone, and she stood ramrod straight.

Seeing her daughter's strong stance, Bibi Dong suddenly found it somewhat amusing.

That old fellow Qian Daoliu was lax in restraining his son's behavior back then, and now he doesn't even care who his granddaughter gets close to?

To be on the safe side, Bibi Dong felt it necessary to confirm just how much Qian Renxue knew.

"Do you know he's one of my men?"

Qian Renxue nodded calmly, her expression even carrying a hint of self-assurance.

"I know, Grandpa told me a long time ago."

That confident look almost made Bibi Dong laugh in exasperation.

"You know about my relationship with him, and you still dare to get together with him? Aren't you afraid of attracting criticism?"

Qian Renxue snorted dismissively, a hint of youthful stubbornness flashing in her eyes.

"Not many people know about your relationship with him. As long as you don't bring it up, who will say anything?"

'

Bibi Dong had only wanted to test Xue'er's attitude, but upon hearing this, her eyebrows slightly rose.

"Heh, even if I don't bring it up, don't you feel awkward at all?"

Qian Renxue was taken aback. Awkward? Not really.

But Lin Yu's current status is only that of a nominal disciple, and if we delve deeper, he is indeed somewhat unworthy of me. "Anyway, very few people know about your relationship with him, so it's better to sever this connection."

Bibi Dong paused for a moment. Indeed, very few people knew about her secret relationship with Lin Yu.

"What if I don't want to break it off?"

Seeing that she was serious, Qian Renxue pondered for a moment and then gave a straightforward answer.

"Anyway, not many people know about your relationship. As long as you don't put it out in the open or make a fuss about it, it's fine."

Hearing her daughter's words, Bibi Dong fell silent for a moment, a rare occurrence. A strange thought crossed her mind, but she quickly suppressed it. After a moment, she was almost certain that she and Qian Renxue were not on the same page at all.

However, this makes it even more interesting.

"If I said I wanted to put my relationship with him out in the open, how would you feel?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Bibi Dong saw Qian Renxue's brows furrow tightly together.

Could it be that what this girl said just now is actually the same thing I was thinking?

How could she be so young? But Qian Renxue's next words made her secretly relieved.

"A nominal disciple is indeed not worthy of me, but if you insist on bringing this matter to the table, please make him your formal disciple. At least that would sound better to outsiders."

So that's how it is. It seems Qian Daoliu never explained his true relationship with Lin Yu to Qian Renxue. In that case, things get interesting.

Bibi Dong's lips curled into a half-smile, her eyes filled with amusement.

"Tsk, knowing my relationship with him, you still want to fight for him a formal status. How devoted—"

Qian Renxue raised her chin, her face full of pride, as if she were saying something that was perfectly natural.

Bibi Dong clicked her tongue softly, her gaze toward Qian Renxue becoming increasingly meaningful.

"It seems Lin Yu is really lucky to have found such a virtuous wife like you who is willing to support him."

Qian Renxue could vaguely sense a hint of sarcasm in her mother's tone, but she didn't understand what her mother was implying, so she simply didn't respond.

Seeing that Xue'er didn't respond, Bibi Dong also put away the playful look on her face and put on a solemn expression again.

"Alright, let's get down to business. What brings you here?"

Although she had just inexplicably talked about a lot of unrelated things with her mother, Qian Renxue had not forgotten the true purpose of her trip.

"Lin Yu trusts you, so you can freely place people around him, right?"

When the conversation turned to serious matters, Qian Renxue's expression became more earnest, and her gaze towards her mother carried a hint of pleading.

"I hope you can arrange for me to be by his side in a while, but don't tell him. I'm planning to surprise him."

Bibi Dong almost burst out laughing. This little girl, she even has to rely on her to arrange surprises for others. But, my good daughter, if you want to give Lin Yu a surprise, your mother also has a surprise waiting for you.

"Sure," Bibi Dong agreed readily. "The Spirit Hall happens to have a forging slot available, so we can have him help us forge a weapon. I'll take you there personally in a few days, and while we're at it, I'll also repeat everything you said today to him word for word."

Qian Renxue hadn't expected her mother to be so agreeable, and she agreed almost without thinking. A hardened corner of her heart quietly softened.

It turns out that my previous prejudice against my mother might have been too strong.

She looked at her mother more closely and suddenly realized that Bibi Dong looked gentle and kind, as if a wisp of spring water was slowly rippling beneath the ice.

This made her involuntarily recall a sentence Lin Yu had once mentioned to her, which seemed to be related to her mother, but she couldn't quite remember it at the moment.

The gist of the saying is: a child is a piece of flesh that fell from the mother's body, and no matter how many misunderstandings and disagreements there have been, there is always room for reconciliation.

Today, she wants to try taking that step.

"mom?"

Bibi Dong, who was secretly brewing a plan in her mind, was somewhat at a loss when she was suddenly called "Mom".

That single word was soft and gentle, like a pebble thrown into stagnant water, creating ripples that spread out in layers.

But she still instinctively let out a soft "Hey."

Before the words had even faded, a soft, delicate body had already crashed into her arms. Qian Renxue buried her face deeply in her chest, her shoulders slowly and uncontrollably trembling, her back shaking like a fledgling bird that had finally found its nest in the storm.

Bibi Dong was momentarily at a loss, her hands frozen in mid-air, unsure where to land.

However, soon, some fragmented memories surfaced in my mind.

Lin Yu may seem mature, but he also has moments when he misses his mother and longs for her love.

So we occasionally let her try playing the role of a mother, and unexpectedly, those experiences that she thought were useless have now come in handy.

Bibi Dong slowly and carefully placed her hand on the back of Qian Renxue's head, her fingertips running through the soft golden hair, gently supporting it.

His other hand rested on his daughter's trembling back, clumsily patting it gently, again and again.