Chapter 20 — Qian Renxue: No, I am an orphan
[Su Yan: There's actually not much to explain about the Clear Sky Hammer. What's truly terrifying is its self-created soul skill. What I just described was from the future—during the battle between two gods. Right now, Tang Hao shouldn't be that exaggerated. And Ring Explosion causes severe backlash. If he explodes all nine soul rings, he might die on the spot. Unless it's a life-or-death situation, Tang Hao won't use it.]
[Su Yan: As for dealing with Tang Hao or the Clear Sky Hammer… It's very simple. If you can outrun him, you win. If you can't outrun him, you die.]
[Everyone: ???]
[Seven Treasure Little Princess: Are you serious?]
[Cat in the Shadows: Why does this sound so weird?]
[I Am an Orphan: What does escaping have to do with soul power battles?]
[Su Yan: You all know Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen, right? Qian Daoliu couldn't beat Tang Chen. But if I were Qian Daoliu, I could definitely play Tang Chen to death.]
[Su Yan: I have a set of top-tier military strategies. Want to learn?]
[Everyone: Want!]
[Bibi Dong: You're bragging.]
[Bibi Dong: Qian Daoliu can't beat Tang Chen, but if you were Qian Daoliu, you could beat him? Why not say that if you were Qian Daoliu, you could beat Bo Saixi too?]
[Su Yan: Bibi Dong, just because you can't doesn't mean I can't. Bo Saixi is invincible at sea, but as long as the battle doesn't take place on the ocean, beating her isn't impossible. If you want to defeat Bo Saixi, just force her off the sea.]
[Su Yan: On the battlefield, the wise know how to avoid weaknesses and maximize strengths—that's how you shine brightest. It's the same with fighting Tang Hao. If he explodes a soul ring, you immediately burn your soul power and run. By the time you escape, he'll pretty much be crippled. Then you strike back, and he's dead for sure.]
Pope's Bedroom
Bibi Dong fell silent instantly.
She really only wanted to mock Su Yan earlier to regain some face.
But once Su Yan spoke about the "Sixteen-Word Strategy," she could no longer refute him.
Avoid the strong. Attack the weak. Lure the enemy. Strike unexpectedly.
As the Pope of Spirit Hall and someone who intended to unite the continent, she naturally studied military strategy. And she knew very well how weighty those sixteen characters truly were.
Unparalleled!
The rest of the group also fell silent.
They didn't understand military arts deeply, but even so, these sixteen words struck them hard.
These principles could apply to any battle!
Nuoding Academy
Xiao Wu lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Her little rabbit brain didn't quite grasp how impressive it was, but she didn't dare speak up—otherwise she'd expose her lack of education.
…Wait?
Her expression suddenly turned pale.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
What were they just talking about?
Tang San's father was a Titled Douluo…
And he'd been secretly protecting Tang San the whole time…
Didn't that mean—her identity had already been exposed?!
It was over.
A Titled Douluo… And not just any Titled Douluo, but the one Su Yan said was extremely powerful…
She was dead.
She sat up from her dream in terror.
Turns out the clown… was me.
[Carrot Lover: You… what did you just say?]
[Carrot Lover: Tang San's dad is a Titled Douluo? Always watching from the shadows??]
[Su Yan: Correct. But according to the timeline I saw, he'll stay hidden until the Soul Master Tournament two years later. That's when he'll appear in Spirit City and smash Bibi Dong's face with his hammer.]
Back Mountain
Su Yan couldn't help laughing.
The little rabbit was only realizing it now?
Ridiculous.
They had already moved on from the Tang Hao topic.
And she reacted this late?
Little rabbit, you should stop eating carrots and start eating walnuts and fish. Your brain clearly needs help.
[Bibi Dong: Smash your face! Su Yan, enough!]
Xiao Wu was panicking.
She didn't fully understand Su Yan's words.
Would Tang Hao come out to capture her or not?
But…
She didn't dare ask.
If she asked in the group chat, the others would immediately know she was a 100,000-year soul beast.
That would be even worse.
What should she do…?
[Carrot Lover: I… I have a friend who wants to know… will Tang Hao help Tang San hunt a 100,000-year soul ring?]
[Su Yan: Not right now. In the future, it's possible.]
[Su Yan: Tang San can't absorb a 100,000-year soul ring yet. But Tang Hao has already reserved one. As long as it doesn't slip out of his control, everything is fine. If it escapes his control… then it becomes dangerous.]
[Su Yan: Do you understand what I'm saying?]
[Carrot Lover: …Yeah.]
Xiao Wu replied in the group, then immediately lay stiffly on her bed, not daring to move.
A moment ago, she had actually been planning to run straight back to the Star Dou Forest. But after seeing Su Yan's reminder, she finally understood.
She herself was the 100,000-year soul ring that Tang Hao was keeping penned up.
As long as she didn't run and stayed right under his nose, nothing would happen.
But if she tried to escape, he would act.
However—
Didn't that mean she would definitely die sooner or later?!
The little rabbit felt completely hopeless.
She still hadn't become a Titled Douluo…
She still hadn't taken revenge on Bibi Dong… Wuuu…
And even if she became a Titled Douluo, she still couldn't beat Bibi Dong!
I'm just too miserable…
Run.
She had to run.
She must find a chance to escape back to the Star Dou Forest… Yes! Just find an opportunity!
But where was that opportunity supposed to come from?
The little rabbit was drowning in despair.
[Seven Treasures Little Princess: Weird… why do I not really understand what you two are talking about?]
[Yan Zi is Not a Swallow: I get it. Tang Hao's already prepared a 100,000-year soul ring for Tang San.]
[Cat in the Shadows: I heard 100,000-year rings are red. Has anyone actually seen one?]
[Group Member 9: Nope.]
[Bibi Dong: Call me "Your Holiness, the Pope," and I'll send you a picture so you can broaden your horizons.]
[Carrot Lover: Bibi Dong, I'm going to kill you!!]
[Seven Treasures Little Princess: Girl, why are you so agitated? We're not looking.]
[Yan Zi is Not a Swallow: Blind-Douluo Bibi Dong.]
[Cat in the Shadows: +1]
Crown Prince's Residence
Qian Renxue, wearing a thin nightgown and her long golden hair draped over her shoulders, sat at her table brewing tea.
Hu Liena, dressed in a black robe, walked into her room.
Qian Renxue: "You came."
Hu Liena: "I came."
Qian Renxue: "You shouldn't have come, but you still came."
Hu Liena: "???"
Qian Renxue pushed a cup of tea toward her and asked calmly, "What did you come to see me for?"
Hu Liena pushed the teacup aside and said seriously, "Xue'er, I know you dislike me because you think I stole your mother's love— but it's not like that."
"Listen to me…"
Hu Liena took a deep breath and recounted everything from the group chat, without missing a single detail.
Then she added anxiously:
"Xue'er, you have to believe me! If the teacher weren't acting strangely, I wouldn't dare take such a big risk—I rushed from Spirit City all the way to Heaven Dou City just to warn you!"
"I… you…"
She thought Qian Renxue didn't believe her and was about to explain further— but Qian Renxue's expression remained calm.
So calm it made Hu Liena feel like everything she said went in one ear and out the other.
"…Something's wrong."
Hu Liena's face tensed.
"Xue'er, something is definitely wrong! After hearing everything I said, how can you have absolutely no emotional reaction?"
Qian Renxue took a sip of tea, looked at her, and replied:
"Then what do you think the reason is?"
Hu Liena froze. She quickly took out her jade mirror and checked one person after another—
And then her eyes widened in shock.
"You… you're Group Member 9?!"
Qian Renxue smiled faintly.
"No, I Am an orphan."
Hu Liena: ???
—
End of Chapter