Douluo Continent: Reversing Yin and Yang, the Haotian Palace and the Angel Sect

He couldn't wait to report his achievements over the past five and a half years to his father:

"Dad, I'm already level 36. I've mastered the second and third soul skills perfectly. With the ideas you left me back then, I can now even use my mental power to instantly strip my opponent of control over their metal weapon."

"Poison Douluo has already told me that you did an excellent job. You truly deserve to be my son, Qian Xunji," Qian Xunji praised with a smile.

Upon hearing his father mention Dugu Bo, Qian San immediately changed the subject, his tone now carrying a mixture of awe and curiosity:

"Dad, how exactly did you meet Grandpa Poison? If it weren't for Grandpa Poison secretly protecting me these past few years, even personally taking me to the Star Dou Great Forest and Falling Moon Forest to hunt soul beasts, I would never have been able to grow up so smoothly. But Grandpa Poison... he's actually a Title Douluo! How could you possibly hire a Title Douluo to be my bodyguard?"

Not far away, dozens of meters away from the father and son, behind a cluster of dense bushes, Xiaoqing's body suddenly froze.

"A Titled Douluo?"

These four words exploded in Xiaoqing's mind. It was the second time she felt like the sky had fallen. The first time was when her mother was hunted down by Bibi Yin.

Dugu Bo was afraid of upsetting Qian Xunji, which would implicate his granddaughter. In recent years, he had never appeared in front of Xiaoqing, and even when he was hunting Qian San's soul, he told her not to reveal his presence.

Her breath caught in her throat, and her face turned deathly pale. For the past five years, she had occasionally sensed a pair of eyes watching this area from the shadows, but she had always thought it was just a teacher from Notting Academy. After all, in such a remote and impoverished junior academy, having a teacher at the Soul Venerable or Soul Master level was already a great achievement.

But now, Qian San actually said in person that the person who had secretly protected him for more than five years and whom he called Poison Grandpa was a Title Douluo!

A titled Douluo stayed by her side for a full five and a half years, even though she was a 100,000-year-old transformed soul beast!

Xiaoqing felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, a bone-chilling cold shooting straight from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. Her true identity had definitely been exposed long ago, so why hadn't the other party made a move? Why hadn't they killed her to take the ring and bone?

Fear and immense mystery overwhelmed Xiaoqing instantly. She bit her lower lip hard to stop herself from making a trembling sound. There was only one thought in her mind: she was finished, completely finished.

Under the tree, Qian Xunji had already noticed the little girl behind the bushes. He raised his eyebrows slightly, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of his mouth beneath his mask.

He turned to look at Qian San, and casually replied in a relaxed tone:

"Oh, that old poisoner. Back when I was roaming the mainland, I helped him out with a small favor, so he's an old friend who owes me a debt. Let's not talk about him anymore."

Qian Xunji reached out and patted Qian San on the shoulder.

"You seem to be quite close to that girl named Xiaoqing. What, have you started treating her like a younger sister this time?"

Qian San's previously smug expression froze instantly, his cheeks turning red at a visible speed. After stammering for a while, he awkwardly scratched his head and said, "I...I didn't recognize a sister."

"Oh?" Qian Xunji raised an eyebrow. "Then what is it?"

"I...I've accepted her as my older sister." Qian San's voice was so soft it was like a mosquito's hum.

Qian Xunji was stunned for a moment, then almost burst out laughing inside.

In this life, facing a high-quality woman like Xiaoqing—powerful, aloof, and a fighting force like a human tyrannosaurus—Qian San, who lacked love in his past life and actually yearns for warmth deep down, was actually completely subdued by her domineering nature? Is this what forced love between siblings is like?

"Being a big sister is great, really great." Qian Xunji suppressed a laugh and patted her son's shoulder.

"That girl is calm and collected. I feel at ease with her watching over you."

"Alright, Xiao San, you should go back to sleep first. Dad just came out of seclusion and has some urgent secret matters to attend to near Nottingham. I originally just wanted to stop by and see you first. Go back and get some rest. I'll come to your dorm to find you tomorrow morning."

Qian San was stunned for a moment, a hint of doubt flashing in his clear eyes. His father had finally come out of seclusion and called him out, and they hadn't even exchanged a few words yet, so why did he suddenly have to leave in a hurry?

However, Qian San's inherent filial piety and his almost blind worship of his father made him swallow all his doubts. In his view, even during his five years of seclusion, his father was able to plan ahead and arrange for a Title Douluo to be his protector. His father's vision and planning were beyond his current comprehension. If his father said there was an urgent matter, it must be something earth-shattering.

"I understand, Dad. Please be careful. I'll be waiting for you at the academy." Qian San bowed respectfully, then turned and used Ghost Shadow Stalking to quickly disappear into the night.

The woods fell silent again, deathly still, with only the rustling of leaves in the night wind.

Qian Xunji stood quietly for a moment, until he was sure that Qian San had completely returned to the dormitory, before slowly turning around.

"Alright, come out now, Xiaoqing."

Qian Xunji's voice wasn't loud, but to Xiao Qing's ears, it sounded like a death knell.

From behind the bushes, Xiaoqing slowly stood up. Her legs felt as heavy as lead, and each step seemed to drain all her strength. When she stepped out of the shadows and stood in the moonlight, her pale face was devoid of color, and her eyes were filled with a desolate despair.

She didn't run away. In front of a terrifyingly powerful figure who could make a Title Douluo willingly serve as her bodyguard, and whose strength might even far surpass that of an ordinary Title Douluo, running away would be a laughable joke.

She stopped five steps away from Qian Xunji, raised her head, and her once unfathomable eyes now held only the desolation of resignation and the last trace of arrogance of a 100,000-year-old soul beast.

"You knew my identity all along, yet you endured for five years without making a move..." Xiaoqing's voice trembled slightly, but she still forced her chin up.

"Kill me or torture me, it's all up to you, just please do it quickly."

Looking at the Azure Bull Python in front of him, which seemed ready to die, Qian Xunji suddenly smiled.

He slowly walked forward, and with each step closer, Xiaoqing's body tensed uncontrollably. The pressure from the powerful figure made it almost impossible for her to breathe.

However, the expected fatal blow that would tear the body apart did not come.

A large, warm hand reached over her tense shoulders and gently landed on the top of her head, then gently rubbed it like soothing a frightened kitten.

Xiaoqing froze, her eyes widening in disbelief as she stared blankly at the silver mask so close to her.

"Kill you? Why would I kill you?" Qian Xunji's tone was devoid of any murderous intent; instead, it conveyed the gentleness and helplessness of an elder looking at a junior.