Chapter 37: Shattered Pride, Smoldering Hatred
The silence in that moment was deafening.
Qian Renxue stood frozen, dazed and pale, until Ye Lingling's anxious voice came from the distance—
"Your Highness, I'm coming!"
She turned her head slowly toward the voice and saw Ye Lingling rushing toward her.
"Save… save him…" Qian Renxue whispered, her voice trembling. All the strength in her body seemed to vanish at once. Her legs gave out beneath her, and she collapsed to the ground.
A great battle had taken place.
A battle involving nine Titled Douluo—the kind of devastation that could only be described as apocalyptic. According to the statistics collected later by the Wuhun Hall's disaster relief teams, nearly all structures within a 30-mile radius of the epicenter had been utterly destroyed.
Fortunately, Wuhun City was populated primarily by soul masters, and there were few civilians. Thanks to that, casualties were minimal—but not nonexistent.
Even so, Wuhun Hall paid tens of millions of gold soul coins in relief and restoration costs. The loss was staggering.
Qian Renxue's collapse was due to sheer exhaustion and overwhelming grief. But as the days passed, her resilience returned, and she once again took charge.
Her first order was for the delegation to withdraw from Wuhun City.
But Ye Lingling blocked her, shaking her head.
"Your Highness, you may return first," she said with a serious expression, glancing at the blood-soaked figure of Qin Chuan resting nearby. "His Majesty Qin Chuan's injuries are too severe. It's not suitable for him to endure long travel in this state. I suggest that the two of us remain here until he recovers."
Qian Renxue's expression tightened. Letting Qin Chuan and Ye Lingling stay behind without her? That was impossible.
It wasn't because she didn't trust Ye Lingling—it was because of the woman on Wuhun Mountain.
After a moment of hesitation, Qian Renxue shook her head. "No. We'll stay here together and wait for His Majesty Qin Chuan to recover."
Then she turned to address the other team leaders she had brought.
"You may choose whether to stay or leave."
The team leaders exchanged looks, clearly torn. After a long pause, one of them stepped forward and bowed politely.
"Your Highness, there are too many pressing matters at Fengshen Academy. I truly regret that I cannot remain."
Qian Renxue nodded. "President Feng, you may leave."
With Fengshen Academy taking the lead, the other delegations soon followed suit, each bidding their farewells and leaving.
Only Flanders remained frozen, still in shock.
He had just seen the corpses of Tang Hao and Xiao San.
Crushed by boulders in a fainting state, their deaths were brutal and tragic. Not a single bone remained intact. Xiao San's head, in particular, had been twisted into an unrecognizable shape.
"Shrek Academy will disband after returning," Qian Renxue said coldly, her eyes fixed on Flanders.
"From this day forward, this prince never wants to hear of Shrek Academy again. If anyone dares speak of its revival—"
Her tone dropped, her words thick with killing intent.
"—I will personally lead an armored division to flatten it, leaving no one alive."
Her threat hung in the air like a blade.
Flanders bowed deeply, his shoulders trembling. But as he straightened, he found he couldn't. His back stayed hunched, as though the weight of grief and failure had physically aged him in an instant.
Qian Renxue stared at his retreating figure with an indifferent gaze. Then she waved a hand, and an attendant quickly approached.
"Your Highness?"
"Return to Tiandou City," she ordered coldly. "Once Shrek Academy is disbanded, kill every student and teacher who leaves the city."
"Do not let even a spark remain."
The attendant nodded solemnly and left without another word.
With her orders issued, Qian Renxue had several people carry the unconscious Qin Chuan to a hotel within the city.
That stay lasted half a month.
During those two long weeks, Qian Renxue refused all other matters, choosing to stay at Qin Chuan's side with Ye Lingling to nurse him back to health.
Naturally, to the outside world, a different story was told.
It was said that Qian Renxue had been wounded during the chaos of battle—injuries to her internal organs that required constant treatment from Ye Lingling.
Luckily, there were not many pressing issues in Wuhun City that required her personal involvement.
During this time, Bibi Dong came twice.
The first time was to see Qin Chuan—but she was stopped cold at the door.
"Pope, haven't you hurt him enough?" Qian Renxue said icily, barring her way.
"Leave. Don't draw attention here and risk exposing my identity."
"I just want to see him—what's wrong with that?" Bibi Dong snapped, her voice rising with emotion.
"The reason he was hurt so badly… it was all for me! Can't I even look at him?"
"For you?" Qian Renxue blinked, then laughed bitterly. "You really think that?"
"He knows I've been hunting for Tang Hao and trying to kill Tang San. He clearly did this to help me," Bibi Dong insisted, her tone softening, her heart stirred.
Ah Chuan still loved her.
For her, he had risked his life—eliminating enemies, even geniuses like Tang San.
Perhaps… once he recovered, she wouldn't bring up Yu Xiaogang again. She could let go of her anger, and forgive his earlier betrayal.
"Heh…" Qian Renxue chuckled coldly.
If she hadn't already known the truth…
If Qin Chuan hadn't risked everything to capture a 100,000-year-old soul beast just for her…
Perhaps then, she might've believed Bibi Dong's fantasy.
But now? Bibi Dong was lost in her own delusions.
Without a word, Qian Renxue slammed the door in her face.
A few days later, Bibi Dong returned again—but not to see Qin Chuan.
This time, she wanted something else.
"The 100,000-year-old Soft Bone Charm Rabbit," she said flatly. "Give it to me. Ah Chuan found it for me."
The sheer entitlement in her tone lit a fire in Qian Renxue's eyes.
"Get lost!" she barked, trying to slam the door again.
But Bibi Dong held it open with one hand.
"That soul beast was meant for this Pope! Why are you holding onto it, Qian Renxue?"
Qian Renxue gave up trying to close the door and turned to face her fully, voice icy cold.
"Why do you think it was meant for you?"
"It was for me!" Bibi Dong insisted. "I have twin spirits, but only one has reached the Titled Douluo level. The other is still at Soul Saint. Ah Chuan knows this. He brought that beast for me—why are you clinging to it?"
"Hah."
Qian Renxue laughed, shaking her head in disbelief.
She had expected Bibi Dong to at least make a reasonable argument, but instead, she found nothing but delusion.
"Fine. When Brother Qin Chuan wakes up, if he says the rabbit was for you, then this prince won't hold onto it."
"Good. You'll regret it." Bibi Dong sneered triumphantly and turned to leave.
But just as Qian Renxue began to close the door again, rapid footsteps echoed down the corridor.
A subordinate burst into view, panting heavily.
"Your Highness… something strange has happened!"