"Brother, say something."
Gu Yuena's sapphire-like eyes blinked calmly.
Ye Tian: "..."
A moment of silence.
He gazed at the calm-faced Gu Yuena.
Placing his hand on her shoulder, he took a deep breath.
The fragrance unique to Gu Yuena entered his brain through his sense of smell, making him much calmer.
"My brain might be a bit slow to react."
"I won't lie to you. Up until now, honestly, our relationship in my heart was more about mutual benefit."
As he said this, Ye Tian felt much more relieved.
If he didn't say it, he wouldn't be able to live with himself.
The principles deeply rooted in his mind wouldn't allow him to deceive Gu Yuena.
Gu Yuena's eyes quickly dimmed.
Her heart, once beating with excitement, now felt a trace of coldness.
Even though she was wrapped in a blanket, she still felt cold.
"Maybe... I shouldn't have come into this world at all."
Gu Yuena whimpered softly.
Her eyes filled with bewilderment, as if the entire world had lost its color.
It turned out the person she cared about the most didn't really care about her at all.
The stubborn Gu Yuena tried her best to lift her chin, not letting the tears swirling in her eyes fall.
But she could only hold on for a short while.
Eventually, tears of defeat still slipped down her cheeks.
Her vocal cords trembled, even her breathing grew shaky.
With a pained smile on her face, she looked at Ye Tian:
"Maybe my very existence was only meant to be a vessel for the Silver Dragon King to heal."
"Someone like me... doesn't deserve emotions, nor do I deserve you."
"... I was thinking too much."
Gu Yuena seemed to have resigned herself.
She stubbornly wiped at her tears, trying to erase this symbol of humiliation.
But the tears, like an endless spring, couldn't be wiped away no matter how hard she tried.
Seeing this—
Ye Tian gently reached out and wiped the tears from Gu Yuena's cheeks.
"A beautiful girl like you—if you cry and mess up your face, it won't look good anymore," he said softly to comfort her.
"I don't need your comfort," Gu Yuena said stubbornly.
But her resistance was only verbal. She made no move to stop him and let Ye Tian help her wipe her tears.
Ye Tian sighed lightly and patted Gu Yuena's head:
"Your problem is you have too many thoughts but too little experience."
"After all, for you, growing up only took one night."
"Such rapid growth might not necessarily be a good thing for your life."
Hearing this, Gu Yuena looked at Ye Tian intently, waiting for him to continue.
"After tonight's battle in Spirit Hall, you should go train around the continent for a year or two."
"With your strength, there's almost no force left on the continent that could hurt you now."
"Once you gain more experience, you'll realize how silly your crying today is."
"We're still young. The road ahead is still very long..."
Ye Tian spoke slowly, his voice gentle.
He wasn't just saying this to Gu Yuena.
He was also saying it to himself.
They both needed time to calm down.
"So... we still have a chance, right?"
Gu Yuena suddenly lifted her hopeful eyes, staring intently at Ye Tian.
"...I guess so," Ye Tian said, somewhat uncertain.
Then, he suddenly felt something brush lightly against his face.
By the time he realized what had happened—
Gu Yuena had already nestled into his arms and fallen asleep.
Seeing this—
Ye Tian smiled faintly.
Normally, people don't fall asleep that quickly.
Obviously, Gu Yuena was pretending.
But Ye Tian didn't expose her.
He gently laid Gu Yuena on the bed.
Then lay down beside her, falling into a peaceful sleep.
...
Evening.
"Brother, time to wake up~"
A soft, tender voice sounded in Ye Tian's ear.
When he opened his eyes slightly—
He found Gu Yuena's soft, silky body quietly nestled in his arms.
"Hmm?" Ye Tian's eyes suddenly widened.
Gu Yuena's ears flushed red, and she bit her lip:
"Did you sleep well?"
Ye Tian hurriedly checked his clothes—they were still intact.
Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.
He pinched Gu Yuena's cheek lightly:
"Who told you to sneak over here?"
"I was worried brother might get cold," Gu Yuena said with a sweet laugh.
"Ugh." Ye Tian slapped his burning face, trying to wake himself up.
He was genuinely afraid that his lower body might drive him to do something out of line.
He suddenly sat up, walked to the window, and flung it open.
Breathing in the cold night air deeply.
"Quick, get dressed. We still have serious business to attend to tonight."
"I don't have any clothes," Gu Yuena said, still wrapped in the blanket, following Ye Tian to the window.
She looked up, confused:
"Brother, why must I go train on the continent?"
"I have my own independent judgment."
"And that judgment won't change with time," Gu Yuena said firmly.
"Time will dilute some of our feelings," Ye Tian said, gazing at the sky with his hands behind his back.
"And that way, we'll be able to see each other more clearly."
Gu Yuena pondered for a moment, then nodded resolutely:
"I'll show brother my outstanding performance."
Ye Tian turned back smiling, ruffling her silver hair.
Then, as if remembering something—
He pulled out a silver spear from his storage space.
"This is the Silver Dragon Spear. It was part of the deal when the Silver Dragon King gave it to me."
"Now, it's yours."
Hearing this, Gu Yuena fell silent for a moment.
An indescribable sadness flowed across her face:
"So I really was just an accessory of a transaction after all..."
Then she slowly accepted the Silver Dragon Spear and fell silent.
"Don't belittle yourself."
Ye Tian gave Gu Yuena a big hug:
"You have the right to make choices as an independent being."
"If... I mean if..." Gu Yuena suddenly looked up:
"If one day I have to face the wrath of the Silver Dragon King, will you stand by me?"
"I will," Ye Tian answered without hesitation.
"As long as you're willing to resist, I'll always support you."
A blissful smile bloomed on Gu Yuena's face as she buried her head tightly into Ye Tian's chest.
She knew—
He was still the same brother as before.
Not the slightest bit changed.
...
The moon hung high, stars scattered across the sky.
On the silent streets of Spirit Hall City, two black-robed figures appeared.
Their goal: the temporary military camp beside the Pope's Palace.
Half a mile away from the camp—
Several sharp voices suddenly rang out.
"This road is under night curfew! No one is allowed to pass!"
"Those who violate the order will be killed without mercy!"
"Leave immediately!"
As the words fell—
Five knights riding majestic horses blocked the path of the two black-cloaked figures.
Their sharp halberds reflected the moonlight, gleaming coldly in the night.
The air was filled with a chilling killing intent.
If the two figures took one more step—
Their heads would roll.
Under the knights' watchful gaze—
The two black-robed figures exchanged a glance.
In the next moment—
Their cloaks were thrown aside.
Four strange weapons were revealed.
The knights immediately grew uneasy.
Their horses stomped restlessly.
The leading knight barked:
"What are those things in your hands?!"
"Leave now, or don't blame us for being ruthless!"
The two black-cloaked figures still didn't answer.
Whoosh whoosh!
Sparks flared in the night.
Under the silent night sky five tall knights lay in pools of blood.
...
Elder Hall.
Golden Crocodile Douluo's sleeping quarters.
Golden Crocodile Douluo, who usually fell asleep early, found himself unable to sleep tonight.
An unexplainable restlessness in his heart made him extremely irritable.
"What's going on?"
Sitting in a grand chair in the courtyard, Golden Crocodile Douluo slapped his chaotic head.
"Could it be that something major is about to happen?"
Normally not one to trust his sixth sense, tonight even Golden Crocodile Douluo felt a hint of superstition.
Thinking of this, a broad smile appeared on his wide face.
"Looks like I'm really getting old, living every day lost in wild thoughts."
In these days, due to Qian Daoliu's abrupt disappearance, and the incidents involving the two worshippers, Qianjun and Jiang Long, Golden Crocodile Douluo's nerves had been stretched tight.
But he also clearly knew — this constant tension was actually unnecessary. After all, as long as he and Azure Luan Douluo still presided over Elder Hall, no faction could stir up real trouble, not even the increasingly powerful Hall of the Pope.
"Living all my life under big brother's umbrella, now that he's left, I really can't get used to it!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo sighed.
With the night already halfway through, he knew he probably wouldn't be able to fall asleep. So he decided to enjoy the moon under the chilly night sky.
Just then —a dark shadow in the distance caught his attention.
It was a slender figure, with smooth, full curves that could make anyone turn their head.
Step.
Step.
Step.
The rhythmic clicking of high heels echoed in the night.
Golden Crocodile Douluo's brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
He stood up abruptly, staring towards the figure hidden in the shadows of the building.
"Bibi Dong, you're the Pope, visiting an old man like me in the middle of the night — aren't you afraid of being ridiculed?"
"Who dares ridicule the Pope?"
Bibi Dong's crimson lips curved into a faint smile.
With each step she took forward, the illusory figure of her Martial Soul body became clearer.
The purple-black soul power shimmered like a blooming black lotus, radiating outward.
"You really think I won't dare strike you down?"
Seeing Bibi Dong release her Martial Soul body directly, Golden Crocodile Douluo's vigilance skyrocketed.
He understood instantly — she didn't come with good intentions.
"Considering you're big brother's daughter-in-law, I'll pretend tonight never happened!"
"But if you really want to fight, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo's words were full of warning.
He stood with hands behind his back, showing no intention of summoning his Martial Soul.
In his eyes, Bibi Dong had simply been blinded by immediate benefits, not realizing that the strength of the Hall of the Pope couldn't compare to Elder Hall.
Golden Crocodile Douluo didn't want the entire Spirit Hall plunged into chaos, nor did he want to embarrass Qian Daoliu. So he chose to reason first before resorting to violence.
Boom!
At that moment, an enormous explosion rocked through Spirit City, causing Golden Crocodile Douluo's expression to change instantly.
Looking up, he saw the explosion had erupted from the barracks controlled by Elder Hall, and the west gate of Spirit City.
Seeing this, Golden Crocodile Douluo stared at Bibi Dong in shock, pointing a trembling finger:
"You actually dared commit such treacherous acts — plotting a coup!"
"The ones plotting a coup are you lot!"
A frosty pride appeared on Bibi Dong's beautiful face as she crossed her arms and said, word by word:
"I am the Pope. It is my rightful duty to command Spirit Hall."
Hearing this, Golden Crocodile Douluo was furious:
"Without the Grand Worshipper, could you even have become Pope?"
"After the Grand Worshipper nurtured you with so much effort, you show no gratitude —
instead, you betray him!
If the Grand Worshipper knew, how heartbroken he would be!"
Hearing this, Bibi Dong's face curved into a mocking, half-smile:
"So what? Am I supposed to spend my whole life thanking Qian Daoliu?"
At that moment, her soul power surged even more intensely.
"Of course—"
Golden Crocodile Douluo had just begun to reply, but then fell silent.
He remembered Bibi Dong's tragic past — he had heard some rumors.
He had thought those matters were long behind her,but from her tone just now, he realized he had been wrong.
To Bibi Dong, what happened could never be forgotten.
Her calm all these years had only been silent endurance for the sake of survival.
At this realization, Golden Crocodile Douluo understood — Bibi Dong wasn't merely trying to seize power.
More importantly, she wanted to destroy the Angel Clan!
"Unleash your full strength — don't say I didn't give you a chance."
The battle intent on Bibi Dong's body condensed into a tangible force.
At this moment, she was no longer the noble, dignified Pope, but a Valkyrie walking the path of darkness for revenge.
Hearing this, Golden Crocodile Douluo shook his head, his eyes firm, staring deeply at his wrinkled hands.
"It seems... there's no avoiding this fight."
"But for the glory of Elder Hall, I'll unleash my full strength!"
"Golden Crocodile, Martial Soul True Body — Manifest!"
...
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Elder Hall.
Azure Luan Douluo hurried out of his residence, gazing at the intertwining golden and purple lights hundreds of meters away.
"Could it be that Second Brother and Bibi Dong have clashed?"
Azure Luan Douluo's eyes flickered, fists clenched tightly.
"I told him long ago — Bibi Dong can't be trusted!
We must strike first!
But Second Brother just wouldn't listen!"
"I can't just stand by — I must help him!"
He made his decision.
Although in his mind, Bibi Dong was merely an inexperienced Super Douluo, while Golden Crocodile Douluo was a seasoned level-98 powerhouse, at this level of combat, arrogance was fatal.
He remembered how, years ago, when Qian Xunji tried to capture Tang Hao, his arrogance had cost Spirit Hall many powerful Titled Douluo talents.
If not for Spirit Hall's deep foundations, that one battle alone could have downgraded them from a first-class force to second-rate.
Thus, experience taught him —if you can gang up on an enemy, never fight one-on-one.
Just as Azure Luan Douluo was about to leave—
A sudden voice sounded.
"No need to go — your opponents are us."
Ye Tian slowly stepped out from the shadows, his hand tightly holding Gu Yuena's.
"My mission — is to defeat you,"
Gu Yuena said calmly, as if stating a trivial fact.
"You two?" Azure Luan Douluo's eyes narrowed, then he burst into loud laughter.
"This is the biggest joke I've ever heard."
"Are you two even forty years old combined?
And you dare speak so boldly?"
Azure Luan Douluo had no intention of wasting words.
His expression turned cold:
"Since you've come courting death — I'll grant your wish!"
Unlike the Grand Worshipper or Golden Crocodile Douluo, he had never cared about Ye Tian's potential.
Especially after what happened to his two sworn brothers, Qianjun and Jiang Long —he had long wanted to crush this "ant" Ye Tian.
Now that the chance had arrived, he certainly wouldn't let it slip!
(End of Chapter)