Doulou Dalu 97

"Mm… ah…" Little Qianxue let out a soft, adorable sound. This little girl was remarkably smart—despite being a newborn, she already seemed to understand human speech and hardly cried or fussed.

Lin Fan held Little Qianxue in his arms, gently playing with her. Looking at his daughter's cute little face, his heart filled with joy. Before having a child, he had always been carefree. But now, seeing Bibi Dong give birth to such a lovely daughter, he felt as though he had suddenly matured.

In his heart, Lin Fan silently vowed that no matter what happened in the future, he would protect Bibi Dong and their precious daughter at all costs.

Bibi Dong watched Lin Fan doting on their child, her gaze complicated yet filled with deep affection. At this moment, she felt as if she were dreaming. She had never imagined that she could experience such happiness.

The warmth of family…

For the first time, Bibi Dong truly felt what it meant to be a mother. A gentle smile appeared on her noble and beautiful face. She reached out, placing one hand on Lin Fan's, while the other lightly touched Little Qianxue's small body.

Lin Fan was slightly surprised by Bibi Dong's affectionate gesture. Looking at her, he saw an unprecedented tenderness in her gaze, making him momentarily freeze.

Bibi Dong's elegant face held a soft smile. After a brief pause, she whispered, "Thank you, Lin Fan. It's good to have you with me…"

Lin Fan, meeting her gaze, nodded seriously and replied, "This is my responsibility, Dong'er. She is our child, and I will protect both of you with my life."

This time, Bibi Dong did not shy away from Lin Fan's heartfelt words. After all, their child was already there, cooing in their arms. She gently nodded, allowing Lin Fan to pull her closer, wrapping an arm around her slender waist while resting a hand on her long, delicate legs.

Beneath the blanket draped over her lap, Bibi Dong's body radiated warmth. The moment felt so serene and beautiful. She did not resist, instead pressing her legs together slightly and leaning into Lin Fan's embrace.

Tears of joy welled up in Bibi Dong's captivating eyes. She knew that during this difficult time, Lin Fan had taken great care of her. She had been at her most vulnerable, fearing that she wouldn't survive the childbirth or that she would bring disaster upon Lin Fan. Those worries had weighed heavily on her heart…

But now, looking at her daughter's innocent little face, she couldn't hold back her joyful tears. For the first time, she truly felt that all her struggles had been worth it.

---

Heaven Dou Empire – Forget Worries Tavern

A woman with fiery red hair sat at a wooden table, several jugs of wine before her. Today was her birthday. She poured herself glass after glass, her gaze fixed outside the window, gradually becoming clouded with sorrow.

A memory surfaced in her mind—a young boy's silhouette.

It had been a long time since that fateful battle atop Soul Hunting Mountain. Ever since returning, Liu Erlong had left the Clear Sky Sect behind, setting out alone into the world.

Although the sect had unparalleled cultivation resources, for Liu Erlong, it was a place of heartbreak. Every moment there reminded her of that boy—his figure lingering in her mind, making it impossible for her to focus on training.

And so, she had given up her status as an inner disciple of the Clear Sky Sect and left. She wanted to roam the continent alone, hoping that perhaps she could forget Lin Fan. Or maybe… she would find him.

Only now did Liu Erlong realize the truth—she still loved that boy. She had wanted to forget him, yet deep inside, she longed to see him again.

"Erlong, stop drinking…"

Across from Liu Erlong sat two men. The one who spoke was a bearded man wearing glasses, looking slightly older than the other. His name was Flender.

The second man, dressed in simple black training robes with short, neatly cut hair, had sharp and focused eyes. He also looked at Liu Erlong with concern and spoke in a low voice.

"Erlong, if there's something weighing on your heart, you can talk to us. We're just like you—people without a home. No matter where you go, we'll be by your side."

Liu Erlong remained silent, downing a few more cups before resting her head on the table. Her long hair draped over her shoulders as she mumbled drunkenly, "Thank you… Flender, Yu Xiaogang… But you don't have to follow me. I don't even know where I'm going. I'm just… useless. I thought I was a genius, but in that place, my talent turned out to be so ordinary…"

Hearing her words, Flender immediately objected, "Don't say that, Erlong! Your talent is incredible—you have to believe in yourself. You're stronger than most people in the world. You're already a Rank 46 Soul Ancestor! At your age, that's outstanding! When I was your age, I hadn't even reached Rank 40. Erlong, you'll definitely be the strongest among the three of us in the future."

"…It's useless. He won't love me."

Liu Erlong whispered softly, sighing as she continued drinking.

Flender and Yu Xiaogang didn't hear her words clearly, nor did they know what to say. They simply sat there, silently accompanying her.

They had met Liu Erlong at a casino. She had been in a foul mood, gambling recklessly and losing a huge sum of money. When she refused to pay and was about to start a fight, the casino's guards—a team of four Soul Ancestors and one Soul King—moved to stop her. Flender and Yu Xiaogang happened to be nearby and stepped in, paying her debt and helping her leave.

After talking outside, they realized that Liu Erlong was just like them—without a home, wandering the continent. They decided to travel together, looking out for each other.

After a few months, they became sworn siblings. Flender was the eldest, Yu Xiaogang the second, and Liu Erlong their youngest sister.

But Flender had already fallen for Liu Erlong. As she drunkenly slumped over, he reached out to gently tidy her hair.

Yu Xiaogang, too, secretly had feelings for Liu Erlong. But in his heart, another woman still held his thoughts—the dazzling and powerful Saintess of the Spirit Hall.

As he gazed out the window, lost in thought, Yu Xiaogang murmured to himself, Xiao Dong… I wonder how you're doing now. Over the past year, I haven't stopped thinking about you. You must be suffering, too… It's my fault. I failed you…

He didn't realize how laughable his self-pity was. In reality, Lin Fan had never even cared to ask about Yu Xiaogang's whereabouts. He wouldn't ask Bibi Dong either—after all, Yu Xiaogang was her ex, and it would be inappropriate to bring him up.

Lin Fan simply couldn't understand how someone like Bibi Dong, a woman so talented and exceptional, had ever fallen for someone as useless as Yu Xiaogang.

It wasn't just about Yu Xiaogang's poor cultivation talent—that wasn't his fault. But his character? That was another story. He had abandoned Bibi Dong for years, never once coming to find her, leaving Lin Fan to risk everything to save her instead.

And while Yu Xiaogang sat there reminiscing about his past love, outside the tavern, a sinister-looking man with an enchanting aura was slowly approaching…

(End of Chapter)