"Alright, it's a deal," Murong Qiu Di agreed readily.
After speaking, Murong Qiu Di made a hand seal, causing the surrounding energy to stir strangely. The golden dust that had gathered began to move at an extremely slow pace.
"What about him?" Ruo Lin asked with concern as she looked at the converging golden dust.
"Don't worry, he'll be fine. Since I've promised you, I won't harm him again. Once we leave this place, he will reform and regenerate," Murong Qiu Di said, waving his hand. A vortex appeared before him: "Miss, let's go."
Ruo Lin looked at the golden dust once more. The outline of a body had already formed. Despite her reluctance, Ruo Lin finally stepped into the vortex.
The old man followed closely behind, and then the blue-haired, blue-eyed man.
"Old man, in gratitude for raising our young lady, this is the Murong family's token of appreciation."
Murong Qiu Di's voice drifted out from the vortex, and a golden pill flew out from it, landing precisely in front of Ruo Lin's grandfather, Ruo Hao.
The energy contained within the golden pill was immense, causing the space around it to collapse. Clearly, this was a pill that surpassed the ninth rank.
Perhaps because this pill originated from the Primordial Dimension, it was not bound by the laws of the Doupo Dimension, which is why it did not take the form of a beast, as ninth-rank pills in the Doupo Dimension typically do.
Buzz
As the vortex portal disappeared, the golden dust indeed began to gather rapidly. Mu Chen was reforming and regenerating once again!
Mu Chen scanned his surroundings, his brow furrowing as he pondered something.
"Mu Chen, don't be sad. Instructor Ruo Lin left of her own accord!" Xiao Yu stepped through the air, walking over to Mu Chen to comfort him.
"You don't need to say more, I understand. One day, I will go find her," Mu Chen said, his hands clenching lightly, his eyes filled with determination. Noticing the trace of blood at the corner of Xiao Yu's mouth, his brow furrowed in surprise: "You're injured?"
"I'm fine," Xiao Yu replied.
"They actually hurt you?" Mu Chen's expression darkened.
"I'm fine, it's just some internal turbulence," Xiao Yu quickly added.
"Damn it. How dare they hurt my woman? I will definitely settle this score," Mu Chen said, his eyes resolute, his hands clenching even tighter.
"Little brother Mu Chen, what are your plans from here on out?"
Ruo Lin's grandfather, Ruo Hao, walked over to Mu Chen, asking with concern.
Mu Chen looked at Ruo Hao and the pill he held in his hand. It was a golden pill, and with the intuition of an Alchemist, Mu Chen could sense that if Ruo Hao absorbed the pill's energy, it could elevate his physical body to the terrifying realm of the Fearless Silver Body, or even the Indestructible Golden Body. "I'll head to the Central Continent first, help Yu'er and the others improve their cultivation, and then go search for Ruo Lin."
"Mm."
Ruo Hao nodded, feeling quite satisfied with Mu Chen. Unfortunately, Ruo Lin's future was no longer in his hands. Whether Ruo Lin and Mu Chen would be together now depended on fate. Thinking of this, Ruo Hao couldn't help but sigh inwardly, saying, "I still have matters to attend to in the inner court. So, little brother, until we meet again."
"Mm, until we meet again," Mu Chen said, clasping his fists in farewell to Ruo Hao.
Then, Mu Chen's gaze turned to Bibi Dong. Bibi Dong met his eyes, her lips twitching as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say to him. Though her heart was filled with countless words, not a single one could escape her lips.
After what had just happened, Bibi Dong already knew that she had fallen for the young man before her. Even if it meant going through fire and water for him, she would not hesitate.
Bibi Dong turned away, unable to face her feelings for Mu Chen. After all, he was the man of her daughter and student. How could she be so shameless? Wasn't this just a chaotic mess of impropriety???
Her eyes were filled with disappointment, but more than that, they reflected her helplessness toward societal norms. With a heavy heart, she slowly turned away, choosing to escape.
Buzz.
Just as Bibi Dong turned, the space in front of her rippled with energy, and Mu Chen appeared before her in an instant.
"Where are you going?" Mu Chen asked.
"To travel the continent," Bibi Dong replied.
"Can you not go?" Mu Chen pressed.
"If I don't go, will you protect me?" Bibi Dong asked with a bittersweet smile.
"Of course, I'll protect you!" Mu Chen responded with utmost seriousness.
Bibi Dong's heart stirred, her eyes filled with tenderness as she gazed into Mu Chen's.
"Alright, I'm not a little girl. Save those sweet words for the two of them. Farewell," Bibi Dong said with a smile.
"Do you really think I'm joking with you?" Mu Chen asked, his expression grave.
"Mu Chen, you should know my past," Bibi Dong reminded him.
"You are no longer who you were. You and her no longer share a blood relationship. Moreover, you never raised her," Mu Chen bluntly pointed out.
Bibi Dong was momentarily stunned, then suddenly realized the truth. Indeed, she and Qian Renxue no longer shared a blood tie. She had been reborn, and her bloodline was no longer what it once was. Instead, it was that of the ancient Soul Beast, the Nine-Colored Eighteen-Winged Butterfly.
"Mu Chen, your woman was just taken away. Do you think it's appropriate to be saying these things to me now?" Bibi Dong asked, her voice tinged with resistance.
"It is appropriate. For Ruo Lin, I've done all I could. The outcome is beyond my control. One day, I will find her," Mu Chen said with deep sincerity, then added, "For me, anyone I love, and who loves me in return, I won't let go of a single one!"
"Are you serious?" Bibi Dong's heart wavered.
"Of course. How could something like this be a joke?" Mu Chen retorted.
"Still, it's not possible," Bibi Dong said.
"Why not?" Mu Chen asked, his tone growing impatient.
"I still can't overcome the barrier in my heart," Bibi Dong paused, then continued, "How about this, Mu Chen? We met through a bet. Let's make another one."
"Oh? What do you propose?" Mu Chen asked.
"In the next five years, you cannot seek me out deliberately. If we happen to meet three times, it will be fate bringing us together. But if we don't meet three times within five years, then it's simply not meant to be," Bibi Dong proposed.
"The Tian Dou Continent is vast. For us to meet three times within five years is no small challenge. You've given me quite the difficult task," Mu Chen said with a wry smile.
"Dare to make this agreement with me? If we happen to meet three times within five years, I will unconditionally accept you." Bibi Dong's heart was filled with anxiety, torn between hope and fear.
Bibi Dong was afraid that Mu Chen would agree, as it was truly a difficult challenge. Yet, she was also afraid that he wouldn't agree, because she realized just how much she cared for him.
"Alright, I accept your condition. Let's make this agreement!" Mu Chen said.
(End of Chapter)