410. Thanks Mom

“Mmng~”

Qian Renjue lightly grasped Ah Yin’s delicate face, giving it a gentle shake as he instructed,
“Alright, get up now.”

“Mm~ Ah Yin obeys~”

Ah Yin responded sweetly, tilting her head to softly lick Qian Renjue’s palm. Her expression was shy, and her eyes glimmered with affection and tenderness.

“Come now, drink.”

Qian Renjue opened his arms toward her, unusually taking the initiative to offer himself.

Ah Yin tilted her head in surprise, her eyes lighting up with delight.

“Thank you, Master!”

With a joyful cry, Ah Yin sprang to her feet and leapt into Qian Renjue’s embrace. Her small fangs gleamed faintly.

“Drink your fill. For now, stay here and take care of her,” Qian Renjue instructed gently, holding her close and tilting his neck to expose it.

“Understood, Master,” Ah Yin replied, licking her lips before leaning in.

As if applying a numbing salve, she first licked the spot lightly before sinking her sharp fangs into his pale neck. Warm blood began to flow freely.

Ah Yin’s face flushed slightly as the warmth of his blood coursed through her, spreading throughout her body and making her already soft figure even more delicate.

She melted in his arms, her entire being soaking in the intoxicating scent of her master. Her delicate hands rested on his chest, stroking lightly.

Master’s blood is as delicious as ever…

Frowning slightly, Qian Renjue grasped her wrist, preventing her from wandering her hands toward his legs.

Minutes passed, and the blood drained from Qian Renjue’s neck, leaving him pale. Ah Yin, dazed and slightly intoxicated, collapsed into his embrace.

She licked the wound she had created, cleaning it carefully, her tongue swirling over the skin as her fangs retracted.

“Hic—Ah!”

Ah Yin let out a soft hiccup, quickly pressing her lips together as she buried her head against Qian Renjue’s neck. Her hands clung to his robes, her face flushed with embarrassment.

“Master~ Ah Yin is full now~ I... feel a little weak to walk,” she murmured shyly.

“I see,” Qian Renjue sighed, rolling his eyes in mild exasperation.

Bending slightly, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed.

He placed her beside Liu Erlong, brushing aside the stray locks from her flushed face and covering Liu Erlong with the quilt.

“When you’ve regained your strength, before she wakes up, help clean her up a bit,” he instructed.

“Mm~ I’ll remember, Master,” Ah Yin replied dreamily, her eyes shimmering as she gazed at him with longing.

Master is so kind to her...

After giving brief instructions, Qian Renjue reopened the dark vortex and disappeared, reappearing directly in Spirit City.

Ah Yin rolled over slowly, gently wrapping her arms around Liu Erlong’s figure. Activating her second soul skill, Blue Silver Fragrance, she pouted slightly.

“Master found another food source as good as Ah Yin~”

The gentle life force emanating from Ah Yin’s body caused Liu Erlong’s haggard appearance to soften slightly.


---

Spirit City, Noon

The sun blazed in the sky as Qian Renjue appeared outside the Pope’s Palace.

It seemed Bibi Dong had anticipated his arrival; the area had already been cleared.

“Your Highness~”

Ling Yuan appeared swiftly before him, her beautiful eyes still tinged with guilt. Bowing her head slightly, she spoke softly,
“Your Highness, the Pope is waiting for you inside.”

“Heh, Sister Ling Yuan, since when did you become so reserved?”

Seeing the uneasy look in her eyes, Qian Renjue chuckled and stepped forward, lightly grasping her smooth shoulder.

Looking at her side profile, he reassured her gently,
“Sister Ling Yuan, this isn’t your fault. Don’t dwell on it too much.”

“Mm... I understand, Your Highness,” Ling Yuan replied, her short hair swaying slightly as she nodded.

Yet her teeth lightly bit her lip as she watched him enter the palace. Her heart was still filled with guilt.

The more forgiving His Highness was, the more she blamed herself.

I must do something…

Recalling the Instrument Playing Manual she had taken from Hu Liena’s room, Ling Yuan’s face turned a faint shade of red.

She seemed to have an idea now.

Even if the quantity is high, it’s the same experience... It’s not enough to show sincerity.

His Highness embodies ice; she herself is fire.



Would Ice and Fire Work?

Ling Yuan bit her lip, her flushed face resembling a blooming rose—radiant, delicate, and irresistibly alluring.

It’s all for redemption!


---

Inside the Pope’s Palace

Hearing footsteps, Bibi Dong, who had been resting her cheek in a feigned slumber, opened her beautiful eyes.

She glanced at the young man approaching from the stairs, her lips pressed tightly together as she gripped her scepter.
Her voice, slightly sharp, rang like a chime—clear and resonant.

“Jue, you went to see her?”

“Mm.”

Standing beside the throne, Qian Renjue nodded gently, his tone soft as he said,
“Mom, I remember everything now.”

“Heh, it seems Mom has done something foolish again,” Bibi Dong said mockingly. A shadow passed over her violet eyes as her expression dimmed.

Years of memories.
She couldn’t be certain what place Liu Erlong held in Jue’s heart.

Straightening her posture, Bibi Dong extended her delicate hand, holding Qian Renjue’s smooth fingers. Though resentment lingered in her heart, her once-sharp voice softened again.

Looking up, she asked,
“Jue, do you blame Mother?”

“Not at all.”

Without hesitation, Qian Renjue shook his head and replied. He held her hand and, as usual, sat down beside her.

“Are you being truthful?”

Bibi Dong gazed at him intently, her eyes searching.

She couldn’t bear for any rift to form between them as mother and son.

“Of course, it’s the truth!”

Qian Renjue chuckled and gently pinched Bibi Dong’s cheek.

He understood.

Bibi Dong’s actions were understandable.
And besides, it was rare to see this side of her—like a child who had made a mistake.

“...”

Seeing Qian Renjue’s warm smile, Bibi Dong finally felt a sense of relief.

How could she have doubted Jue just now?
Doesn’t she know her son better?

If that woman found out, wouldn’t she mock her for not understanding Jue as well as she did?

Hmph! She just cares too much!

Her thoughts raced.

When Bibi Dong came back to herself, she realized her cheek was still being gently pinched in his warm palm.

In an instant, her face grew warmer with both embarrassment and annoyance.

Before she could express her irritation, Qian Renjue’s soft voice surprised her.

“If it weren’t for you, Mom, I might never have recovered those memories.”

“Hm?”

Holding her warm cheek, Bibi Dong frowned slightly in confusion.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t you know, Mom?”

Qian Renjue’s expression turned to one of surprise.

It seemed the conflict between Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong wasn’t as intense as he’d thought.

Softly, he explained,
“The object that stored my memories was broken.”

“That happened?!”

Bibi Dong’s voice carried a trace of shock, but her expression quickly turned pained as a realization struck her.

Had she unintentionally helped that woman?

Damn it!

Was this also her fault?

Qian Renjue sighed inwardly, recalling the system’s advice to “let things flow naturally.”

Sometimes, life really was inexplicably strange.

In a gentle tone, he said,
“Regardless, I still need to thank you, Mom.”

Bibi Dong pushed his hand away, her expression both awkward and irritated as she chided,
“Jue, must you twist the knife in Mom’s heart?”