As Bi Bidong and Xu Ran were in their intimate moment, a girl clad in a pristine white dress approached Bi Bidong's chamber at a slow pace.
Worry was evident in her eyes.
Qian Renxue felt somewhat tense. After all, the fact that she shared bloodline with Bi Bidong was an unchangeable truth, one she couldn't reject even if she wished to. Though she hated Bi Bidong, she was also clueless as to what to do with her.
Her sharp tongue belied a soft heart, and if it really came down to it, she couldn't be as ruthless towards Bi Bidong as required. Moreover, she had promised Xu Ran that she would try to treat Bi Bidong well.
She didn't want to leave behind a poor reputation in the outside world, nor did she want to tarnish Xu Ran's honor because of her.
"When you heartlessly sent little me off to the Tiandou Empire, you should have known this day would come."
"It's not that I was heartless, you were too cruel."
Qian Renxue's tone was filled with melancholy and complaint. Everyone liked to grow up in a loving environment, and sometimes she envied those children who were pampered to the skies. But for her, Qian Renxue, such things were luxuries.
At the age of nine, she had been sent off to the Tiandou Empire, becoming the handmaid of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
Back then, she didn't know how scared she was.
She was only nine years old at the time.
But at that age, she had to learn the art of intrigue. She needed to memorize Xue Qinghe's mannerisms and movements every day so that she could impersonate him after assassinating him. Later on, she succeeded; she took the place of the Tiandou Empire's Crown Prince.
As a girl with the beauty of a blooming flower, she had to disguise herself as a man every day, adorning men's attire, mimicking a man's demeanor and mannerisms.
Without a doubt, her world back then was dark.
Fortunately, she met Xu Ran.
At the thought of Xu Ran, a touch of joyous happiness spread across her face, and even her hatred toward Bi Bidong diminished slightly. If Bi Bidong hadn't cast her out to the Tiandou Empire, how could she have possibly met Xu Ran? How could she and Xu Ran have left behind so many profound memories in the Tiandou Empire?
Xu Ran and Bi Bidong were "Cultivating" in the room!
Suddenly, Xu Ran stopped, his spiritual power radiated outward, and his expression changed slightly.
He had previously suggested that Qian Renxue have a heart-to-heart with Bi Bidong, to clear the air. However, he didn't expect Qian Renxue to come at this moment—neither earlier nor later.
At this juncture, if Qian Renxue discovered anything, it would be over.
The knot between Bi Bidong and Qian Renxue had not been untied. With new grievances piled on old, Qian Renxue would probably never let go in her lifetime.
Xu Ran looked around for a place to hide.
"Xu Ran, why have you stopped?"
"Shh!"
Xu Ran placed his index finger on his lips, signaling Bi Bidong to keep silent.
Bi Bidong quieted down: seeing Xu Ran's serious expression, she also reined in her soulful look, and started to probe the outside as well.
Her "Cultivation Level" was also very high, and she quickly sensed a series of footsteps, as well as that familiar aura, which made her face change dramatically.
That was the person she most wanted to see, and also the one she least wanted to face.
She owed a debt to her.
"What should we do?" Bi Bidong's expression changed dramatically, her pretty face turned deathly pale, and tears of urgency welled up in her beautiful eyes.
If Xue'er discovered Xu Ran, she would never forgive her in this lifetime.
"There's nowhere to hide here," Xu Ran touched his nose. With his strength, he knew he could leave if he wanted to.
"What should we do?"
Bi Bidong certainly didn't share Xu Ran's nonchalance.
"I'll just hide."
"Bi Bidong, are you in there?"
Qian Renxue stood outside and knocked on the door. She called out to Bi Bidong directly; there was nothing much she had to say to Bi Bidong. Although Xu Ran always wanted to ease the tension between Qian Renxue and Bi Bidong, the resentments Qian Renxue held towards Bi Bidong over the years couldn't possibly be so easily resolved.
"Xue'er, is that you?" Bi Bidong's voice trembled slightly.
"Bi Bidong, I think it's time we had an honest conversation about certain things."
In truth, she felt there wasn't much to talk about with Bi Bidong, but she had promised Xu Ran, and she would honor her commitments to him.
"Xue'er, just come in. The door isn't locked." Bi Bidong adjusted her own appearance.