"Grandpa, what are you talking about?"
Qian Daoliu's eyes widened in anger.
"What did you just call me?!"
He stood up abruptly, his usually gentle expression now filled with rage.
Qian Daoliu was both amused and furious. Lin Feng had the audacity to call him "Grandpa" while openly holding hands with two women.
If he was calling him "Grandpa" today, would he be running off with his precious granddaughter tomorrow?
Oh, wait—he already had! And it was Qian Daoliu himself who had sent them out on this journey!
"Oh, Grandpa~"
Qian Renxue let go of Lin Feng's hand and gently pushed Qian Daoliu back into his seat.
"Hmph!"
Reluctantly, Qian Daoliu sat down, still glaring at Lin Feng.
Looking at Qian Renxue, his heart ached with concern.
"Xue'er, you're being foolish. How could you let this brat take advantage of you like this?"
"Grandpa, this is what we all want."
"You… brat! I wasn't talking to you!"
Qian Daoliu pointed at Lin Feng, his brows furrowed in anger.
Lin Feng's mouth twitched. He was pretty sure Qian Daoliu had been about to call him something much worse.
Ling Yuan bit her lip, finally looking up for the first time.
"Grand Worship, I have no other desires besides this. Please grant us your blessing."
"You…"
Qian Daoliu was at a loss for words as he saw the determination in Ling Yuan's eyes.
Ling Yuan, you're over thirty! Is it really appropriate for you to be competing with my granddaughter for a man?
"Grandpa, please bless Ling Yuan. She's really wonderful."
Qian Renxue shook Qian Daoliu's arm, her voice soft and pleading.
"Ah—Xue'er, you're really… What's so great about this brat that you're willing to go this far for him?"
To Qian Daoliu's shock, Qian Renxue suddenly let go of his arm and spoke firmly.
"I don't care. This is my decision, and I don't need you to interfere."
"You…"
Qian Daoliu clutched his chest, looking at the resolute Ling Yuan and the pouting, indifferent Qian Renxue.
His heart felt like it was being gnawed by ants. With a cold snort, he said, "Fine! Do whatever you want! I'm done with this!"
With a wave of his sleeve, a gust of wind swept through the hall.
Thud!
Lin Feng was sent flying dozens of meters, crashing into a pillar.
The back of his head hit the pillar with a loud thunk.
He was dazed, feeling only a slight pain.
Qian Renxue and Ling Yuan, who were close to Lin Feng, were completely unaffected.
Seeing Lin Feng get knocked away, they rushed to his side.
Qian Renxue even shot a reproachful look at Qian Daoliu as she ran.
Qian Daoliu, seeing this, was both furious and heartbroken. Deciding he couldn't bear to watch any longer, he vanished from the hall.
Qian Renxue's eyes lit up, and she stopped looking back, focusing entirely on checking Lin Feng for injuries.
Hidden in the shadows, Qian Daoliu's mouth twitched as he saw Qian Renxue's lack of hesitation.
He sent a voice transmission to Lin Feng:
"Brat, you'd better not let Xue'er suffer. If you do, you'll regret it!"
Lin Feng, who was currently being fussed over by Qian Renxue and Ling Yuan, felt a wave of relief. The tension that had caused him to break out in a cold sweat began to fade.
He called out loudly, "Thank you, Grandpa, for your blessing!"
Qian Daoliu, who was still in the air, stumbled mid-step.
Gritting his teeth, he thought of Qian Renxue's expression and decided not to say anything more.
Only a cold snort echoed through the Hall of Worship.
Ling Yuan gently massaged the spot where Lin Feng had been hurt, her voice soft.
"What does this mean? What is the Grand Worship's stance?"
Qian Renxue pinched Lin Feng's cheeks.
"Grandpa didn't really get angry, so he's tacitly agreed. Even if he didn't, it's my decision, and I'll stand by it."
Ling Yuan let out a long breath, her ears turning red.
She had seen the look in Qian Daoliu's eyes earlier.
It was clear he thought she was an old cow eating young grass.
Thanks to his first soul skill, Lin Feng quickly recovered.
Qian Daoliu had only been giving him a warning; he hadn't used any real force. To Qian Daoliu, it was probably no more than a flick of his finger.
---
Qian Renxue pulled Lin Feng to his feet and, under Ling Yuan's shy gaze, placed both their hands in Lin Feng's, interlacing their fingers.
"Let's go eat. Today, we'll punish Lin Feng by making him cook for us. We won't help."
Ling Yuan smiled and nodded.
"But what about reporting on the situation in Heaven Dou City? The Grand Worship left…"
Qian Renxue shrugged.
"Grandpa didn't want to listen. That's his problem. If he wants to know, he can ask around himself.
If he's really that embarrassed, he'll go find Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo. We don't need to worry about it."
"…Right."
Right, my foot!
Qian Daoliu, who hadn't actually left yet, scowled. He shot a malicious glare at Lin Feng.
In his mind, he imagined slapping Lin Feng and even using the Angel's Judgment on him.
"Achoo!"
Lin Feng sneezed, feeling like someone was talking about him.
Qian Daoliu sighed and closed his eyes.
"I don't know if the choice I made back then was right or wrong.
Ah—whatever. If Xue'er agrees, what can I say?"
It wasn't like he could destroy Qian Renxue's relationship the way that wretched scoundrel had ruined his disciple's.
Thinking about it made his head hurt. What had Qian Xunji been thinking, doing something like that?
Shaking his head, Qian Daoliu flew to a mountain peak, taking out a bottle of aged wine he hadn't touched in years.
After taking a sip, he pulled out a portrait of a stunning woman.
Her hair was like a waterfall, her figure voluptuous, her eyes gentle and elegant.
"I wonder how you're doing now…"
After a moment, he put the portrait away and flew off to find Chrysanthemum Douluo.
There was no way he was going back to Lin Feng to ask about Heaven Dou City. It was better to just ask Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo directly.
---
Meanwhile, in the Pope's Palace, on a balcony.
Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes.
On her daughter's first day back, she hadn't even come to see her?
Had Qian Renxue truly given up on her, no longer wanting anything to do with her?
Bibi Dong let out a cold laugh, though she wasn't sure what she was laughing at.
As she sensed Qian Renxue's growing detachment, she felt a strange mix of relief and melancholy.
Her gaze pierced through space, landing on Qian Renxue and her companions.
Her breath hitched.
"How is this possible? That kid is already level 29?
And Ling Yuan is level 85!?
Huh?"
After noticing their increased strength, Bibi Dong naturally turned her attention to their interactions.
The sight of two delicate hands intertwined with Lin Feng's, along with their cheerful conversation, made her heart sink.
Could it be…?
There was no way Qian Renxue would agree to that.
It's impossible…
"Heh."
Bibi Dong sneered.
Her gaze turned cold as she looked at Lin Feng. This guy really had no shame.
If he dared to go after Ling Yuan, what wouldn't he do?
Her earlier plan to use beautiful women to tempt Lin Feng resurfaced. She refused to believe Qian Renxue would tolerate this forever. Once Qian Renxue was thoroughly disappointed, their relationship would fall apart.
The moment she realized the nature of their relationship, that familiar, painful malice surged within her. She needed to calm herself.
Her eyes flickered, but she didn't dwell on Lin Feng and Ling Yuan's rapid progress. Instead, she turned and walked back to her throne.
The recent collection of whale glue by Spirit Hall had passed through her hands.
If Lin Feng had discovered something earth-shattering, it wouldn't be surprising.
Unbeknownst to her, Bibi Dong had already placed Lin Feng on a high pedestal.
A mere ten-level increase in a few months didn't even faze her anymore.