(A/n- that's all for Gojo pov, as I just needed it to explain what Gojo cheat is and will further appear in MC pov. And there might be some short pov, as I will keep switching from all the character. And there might more new character but I will not create a POV of them unless they play major role in the future chapter.
And another thing, I will refer Qian Renxue name according to which disguise she is in. So if I refer he or Xue Qinghe don't come crying that it should be she.)
The ornate doors of the royal study creaked open as a figure draped in the deep crimson robes of the Spirit Hall's intelligence division approached the mahogany desk where Prince Xue Qinghe sat. The afternoon sunlight filtered through tall windows, casting dancing shadows across the polished marble floor as the messenger bowed deeply.
"Your Highness," the intelligence officer began, his voice carefully measured and respectful, "here are the requested reports regarding Tang San, as you commanded."
Xue Qinghe's golden eyes—a feature that had always seemed slightly too intense for a mere mortal prince—lifted from the stack of documents before him. With a graceful gesture that spoke of both authority and dismissal, he raised his hand, the subtle movement carrying the weight of absolute command.
"Leave us," he commanded softly, his voice carrying an undertone that brooked no argument.
The assembled maids and servants, who had been quietly attending to various duties around the lavishly appointed chamber, immediately ceased their activities. With practiced efficiency born of years of service, they filed out of the room in perfect silence, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpets that adorned the floor. The heavy oak doors closed with a soft click, leaving Xue Qinghe alone with the intelligence reports that might hold the key to understanding a potential threat to the Spirit Hall's grand designs.
With deliberate care, Xue Qinghe broke the wax seal and opened the leather-bound folder. His eyes scanned the meticulously compiled information, each detail catalogued with the precision that only the Spirit Hall's intelligence network could provide.
"Tang San," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as he read. "Currently eight years old, a soul master hailing from Holy Spirit Village. His movements have been remarkably limited—only traveling between Nuoding Academy and his home village, with occasional excursions to the spirit beast forest for ring hunting. Most remarkably, he possesses innate full soul power, though his martial soul is merely Blue Silver Grass."
A frown creased Xue Qinghe's otherwise perfect features. His fingers drummed against the desk's surface as he contemplated the implications of what he was reading. "How can such a prodigy remain hidden for so long? With that level of innate soul power, even if he cannot reach the heights of a Titled Douluo, achieving Soul Douluo rank should be well within his capabilities. This doesn't make sense."
The shadows in the corner of the room seemed to ripple and shift, and suddenly Snake Douluo materialized beside the desk, his appearance so seamless it was as if he had always been there. The elderly man's serpentine features were grave as he produced another document from within his robes.
"Young Master," Snake Douluo began, his voice carrying the weight of years of service and unwavering loyalty, "there is another matter that requires your immediate attention. Our investigation has uncovered another individual of interest—one Gojo Satoru, also from Holy Spirit Village. Like Tang San, he possesses innate full soul power, making him equally exceptional."
Xue Qinghe's attention sharpened, his golden eyes focusing with laser-like intensity on his subordinate's words.
"However," Snake Douluo continued, "approximately three months after his martial soul awakening, this Gojo Satoru completely vanished from the village. No trace, no explanation—he simply disappeared as if he had never existed. Most intriguingly, his martial soul appears to be his eyes themselves."
The words hit Xue Qinghe like a physical blow. His breath caught in his throat as memories flooded back—memories of deep obsidian eyes that had seemed to pierce through his very soul during that fateful encounter at the auction house. Those eyes had been unlike anything he had ever seen, possessing a depth and intensity that had caused his own martial soul to react in ways he had never experienced before.
"Uncle She," Xue Qinghe said slowly, his voice taking on a thoughtful quality as the pieces of a complex puzzle began to fall into place, "I believe the person I encountered at the auction house was none other than this Gojo Satoru. His eye martial soul... it resonated with mine in a way that suggests they exist on the same level of power and rarity."
The prince stood from his chair, moving to the window where he could look out over the bustling capital city of the Heaven Dou Empire. "I can state with absolute certainty that there was something extraordinary about those eyes. They held a power that I've never encountered before, something that transcended the ordinary boundaries of martial soul classification."
Snake Douluo nodded gravely. "What are your orders regarding this matter, Young Master?"
"We cannot pursue him aggressively," Xue Qinghe replied after a moment of contemplation. "If we apply too much pressure, someone of his apparent capabilities could easily change his identity once again and vanish completely. We must exercise patience, waiting for him to reveal himself through his own actions."
"Understood, Young Master. I will ensure our agents maintain a subtle watch without alerting him to our interest."
Xue Qinghe's expression hardened slightly as he turned back to face his subordinate. "Also, this information must be kept from the Pope at all costs. She is the last person who should learn about either of these individuals, especially Gojo Satoru."
"As you command, Young Master."
Before Snake Douluo could withdraw, the chamber doors opened once more, admitting another figure whose presence immediately changed the atmosphere of the room. Ci Xue, the Porcupinefish Douluo, entered with urgent steps, his usually composed demeanor showing signs of barely contained anxiety.
"Young Master," he announced, his voice carrying an edge of concern, "the Pope has arrived at the Heaven Dou Empire's Martial Soul Temple. She has... requested your presence there."
The word 'requested' hung in the air like a discordant note in an otherwise harmonious symphony. Xue Qinghe felt a chill run down his spine, not from fear, but from the sheer impossibility of what he had just heard. In all his years of existence, Bibi Dong had never requested anything from him. She had commanded, demanded, threatened, and ignored—but never requested.
"Did you say 'requested'?" Xue Qinghe asked, his voice carefully neutral despite the turmoil in his heart.
"Yes, Young Master. Those were her exact words."
Xue Qinghe's mind raced through the implications. The woman who had harbored what seemed like an inexplicable hatred for him since birth, who had made his existence a careful balance between duty and emotional starvation, had actually requested his presence. Either Ci Xue had misunderstood the message, or something fundamental had changed about Bibi Dong.
"Very well," Xue Qinghe said finally, his voice carrying a mixture of curiosity and resigned determination. "Let's see what game she's playing this time. Uncle She, accompany me."
Despite years of disappointment and rejection, a small part of Xue Qinghe's heart still harbored hope—hope that perhaps, someday, the woman who should have been his mother might finally show him the love he had always craved.
The journey to the Martial Soul Temple was swift, with Snake Douluo carrying Xue Qinghe through the air with the effortless grace of a Titled Douluo. As they descended before the imposing structure, they were greeted by the sight of Platinum Bishop Salas, his ornate robes and ceremonial regalia marking him as one of the highest-ranking officials in the Empire's Spirit Hall branch.
"Greetings to both excellencies," Salas said, performing a perfect bow that spoke of years of diplomatic protocol. As a Platinum Bishop, he was privy to many of the Spirit Hall's secrets, including the long-term plan to usurp control of the Heaven Dou Empire. However, even he remained unaware that the prince he served was, in fact, the legendary Qian Renxue.
"The Pope awaits Your Highness in the guest chambers," Salas continued, his tone respectful but carrying an undercurrent of nervous energy. "She has been most insistent about seeing you personally."
"Lead the way," Xue Qinghe commanded, his princely mask firmly in place.
The corridors of the Martial Soul Temple were lined with elaborate tapestries depicting the history and glory of the Spirit Hall. Their footsteps echoed softly against the polished stone floors as they made their way deeper into the complex. Finally, they reached an ornate door carved with intricate designs representing the six great martial souls of the Spirit Hall's leadership.
As the door opened, Xue Qinghe's breath caught in his throat. There, seated gracefully in a chair upholstered in deep purple silk, was Bibi Dong. She wore her characteristic purple robes, but something about her demeanor was different. The usual oppressive aura that surrounded her like a suffocating blanket seemed to have dissipated, replaced by something softer, more vulnerable.
Xue Qinghe took his seat across from her, the ornate table between them serving as both a physical and metaphorical barrier. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the soft crackling of the fireplace that provided warmth against the evening chill.
With a subtle gesture, Bibi Dong indicated that the assembled servants and guards should withdraw. One by one, they filed out of the room, until only Snake Douluo remained, his loyalty to his young master overriding even the Pope's implied commands.
Bibi Dong's piercing gaze fixed on Snake Douluo, her eyes carrying the weight of absolute authority. The unspoken message was clear: leave us alone. Xue Qinghe, recognizing the futility of resistance and curious about what would unfold, nodded to his protector.
"Uncle She, you may withdraw."
Now alone with the woman who had shaped so much of his existence through her absence rather than her presence, Xue Qinghe waited. The silence stretched between them like a taut wire, each second adding to the tension that filled the room.
Finally, Bibi Dong spoke, her voice carrying a gentleness that Xue Qinghe had never heard before. "You can remove your disguise."
The words were simple, but their impact was profound. Without hesitation, Xue Qinghe's carefully maintained illusion fell away like morning mist before the sun. His masculine features softened and refined themselves, revealing the breathtaking beauty that lay beneath. Long golden hair cascaded down his shoulders, and his face transformed into something that transcended mere mortal beauty—the visage of Qian Renxue, the Angel of the Spirit Hall.
Even in her male attire, her beauty was so overwhelming that it could captivate both men and women alike. She was a living work of art, a divine creation that seemed to glow with inner light.
"How gracious of Her Majesty the Pope to visit me," Qian Renxue said, her voice now carrying its natural melodic quality, though it was layered with years of accumulated coldness and pain.
Bibi Dong's expression remained carefully neutral, but those who knew her well might have noticed the slight tremor in her hands, the way her fists clenched and unclenched as if fighting against some internal battle.
"It seems you are well, Xue'er," Bibi Dong replied, using the pet name with a tentative warmth that hadn't been present in years.
"'Xue'er'?" Qian Renxue's voice carried sharp surprise and no small amount of bitter incredulity. "Have you forgotten who I am? Sister Pope, what has brought about this sudden change in how you address me?"
"Xue'er..." Bibi Dong began, then stopped herself. The weight of her past actions, the complexity of truths she could not yet reveal, all of it crashed down upon her at once. Qian Daoliu had been explicit in his instructions—the truth must remain hidden until after Qian Renxue completed her trials to become the Angel God. Any emotional turmoil now could jeopardize everything they had worked toward.
"I came here to tell you that you can cease your activities in the Heaven Dou Empire," Bibi Dong said, her voice carefully controlled. "Return to the Spirit Hall. There is no longer any need for you to continue controlling this empire."
The words hit Qian Renxue like a physical blow. Years of sacrifice, of living a lie, of becoming someone she was not—all of it dismissed with a few casual sentences. The rage that had been building in her heart for years suddenly erupted.
"ENOUGH, BIBI DONG!" Qian Renxue shouted, her voice echoing through the chamber with the force of her fury. Then, with visible effort, she forced herself to calm down, knowing that anger would only cloud her judgment.
"I cannot simply abandon the Heaven Dou Empire after everything I have sacrificed to get to this point," she continued, her voice now deadly quiet. "Do you have any idea what I have endured? What I have given up? Do you think I am so foolish as to once again listen to your arbitrary commands?"
"Continuing this charade will only waste your time," Bibi Dong replied, though her voice lacked its usual conviction.
"Hahahaha," Qian Renxue laughed, the sound bitter and hollow. "Since when have you ever worried about me, Bibi Dong? I remember those threatening glares whenever I tried to approach you as a child. You think that after all these years of rejection and coldness, I will simply obey your arrangements?"
Her voice grew harder, more resolute. "I am Qian Renxue, granddaughter of Supreme Worship Qian Daoliu—the only family I have ever truly known. The daughter you speak of... she died long ago."
"Xue'er, don't say that—"
"There it is again," Qian Renxue interrupted, her voice filled with pain and confusion. "What is this 'Xue'er' after all this time? Why now?"
Unable to bear the emotional distance any longer, Bibi Dong rose from her chair and crossed to where Qian Renxue sat. Without warning, she pulled her daughter into a tight embrace, her arms wrapping around the young woman as if she could somehow protect her from all the pain she had caused.
"What are you doing?" Qian Renxue demanded, though her struggles were half-hearted. The unexpected warmth of the embrace stirred something deep within her heart, something she had thought long dead. "Don't think that this will solve anything between us."
"I'm sorry, Xue'er," Bibi Dong whispered, her voice breaking with emotion. "I cannot explain everything, and I know I am not worthy of being called your mother. But please... please don't hate me. Let me hold you, just for a moment."
Tears began to fall from Bibi Dong's eyes, each drop carrying years of suppressed regret and love. Even Qian Renxue, hardened by years of emotional neglect, could sense the genuine nature of these tears. Despite herself, she found her arms slowly encircling her mother, returning the embrace she had longed for since childhood.
"Can't you at least explain the reason behind all of this?" Qian Renxue asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"After you complete your Angel God trials," Bibi Dong replied, her voice filled with sorrow, "only then will Supreme Worship explain everything. I am bound by oaths I cannot break."
"Must I wait until then?"
"Yes."
After a long moment of contemplation, Qian Renxue made her decision. "Very well. You can arrange for the 'death' of Xue Qinghe. After I complete my Angel God trials, I will openly conquer this kingdom as myself."
"I will make the arrangements," Bibi Dong agreed, relief evident in her voice.
(A/n- Two more chapter will be uploaded in between this week. I wasn't able to complete other 2 chapter. And also the Auxiliary chapter, it will be uploaded by tomorrow.)