Yu Xiaogang saw the smile on Bibidong's face, and for some reason, the bitterness in his heart grew even stronger.
However, considering that Bibidong had rescued him from the Heaven Dou Empire, he believed that she must still harbor some feelings for him. Suppressing his emotions, a glimmer of hope and pride rose within him.
Yu Xiaogang's face showed a trace of guilt as he sighed heavily, "Bibidong, I know you've suffered a lot these years."
Bibidong showed no reaction to his words. She walked past him and headed straight for the throne in the council hall, reserved exclusively for the Pope.
Then, without turning around, she said to Yu Xiaogang, "Bibidong? I had almost forgotten that name. And what suffering are you talking about? I am now the Pope of the Spirit Hall. If possible, I would prefer you to address me as 'Your Excellency' or 'Pope.'"
Yu Xiaogang's pupils constricted sharply. He had thought Bibidong was reminiscing about their past, but instead, she was being cold and even humiliating him when he had nothing left.
However, considering his current situation, he gritted his teeth and bowed, "Yes, Your Excellency, the Pope."
"I brought you here for two reasons. First, I heard you came to Spirit City to see me last time. Second, it's about Tang Hao," Bibidong said, her back still turned to Yu Xiaogang. As she spoke, a flicker of pain flashed in her eyes, and her grip on the scepter tightened.
She then sighed softly, "So, let's start with why you came to Spirit City to see me last time."
Mentioning this, Yu Xiaogang recalled the scenes of Tang San stubbornly switching to the Clear Sky Hammer against his advice and succeeding. He felt a bit awkward.
But years of experience had taught him to control such emotions, and he spoke calmly, "You should already know that my disciple, Xiao San, possesses Twin Spirits. I came last time to ask you about the cultivation methods for Twin Spirits."
"But that matter has already been resolved."
Hearing this, a strange look flashed in Bibidong's eyes. She suddenly remembered the stack of documents Qian Renxue had given her about Yu Xiaogang.
She slowly turned around, seeing Yu Xiaogang standing tall and proud, just as he had in the past.
"Twin Spirits are rare on the continent, and their cultivation methods are even more challenging. I didn't expect you to have found the right way to attach Spirit Rings to the second Martial Soul."
Yu Xiaogang's eyes flickered.
How should he respond? Should he tell Bibidong that despite nearly twenty years of research, he hadn't found the cultivation method for Twin Spirits, and it was his disciple who had managed to succeed through sheer determination?
Seeing Yu Xiaogang remain silent, as if tacitly admitting that he had cracked the method for cultivating Twin Spirits, Bibidong stared at him intently, as if trying to see through him.
He's still as prideful as ever! After a long while, Bibidong sighed inwardly, comforting herself.
"Since that matter is resolved, let's talk about the second issue."
Bibidong composed herself and slowly took her seat on the Pope's throne. "You should know that Tang San is Tang Hao's son, right? Knowing the enmity between the Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect, why did you make such an unwise move?"
"You should know that I've been devoted to researching Martial Souls all these years, but I've struggled to find the right person to put my theories into practice. Xiao San is exceptionally talented and is currently the only one who can showcase my theories to the world."
Yu Xiaogang anxiously took two steps forward: "Bibidong, Your Excellency, the enmity between Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect has been over for more than a decade, and it was a matter of the previous generation. It has nothing to do with a child."
"As long as you don't push too hard, I can assure you that Xiao San will never become an enemy of Spirit Hall in the future."
A look of disappointment flashed in Bibidong's eyes. It seemed Yu Xiaogang had never truly understood her. He had always lived in his own small world, centered around himself.
What she cared about was never Tang Hao or the Clear Sky Sect, nor was it just a mere Tang San. What she had always cared about was the white moonlight in her heart!
Shaking off the chaotic thoughts in her mind, Bibidong re-examined Yu Xiaogang. In a way, she should thank Tang Hao for severely injuring Qian Xunji; otherwise, she wouldn't have had the chance to devour that beast.
However, for the sake of her plans and the dignity of Spirit Hall, the Clear Sky Sect could only remain an enemy.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's anxious expression, Bibidong closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She now deeply regretted reading the information Xiao Xue had given her.
That information detailed Yu Xiaogang's flaws and a series of absurd actions, even analyzing his true nature.
It was this information that made her thoughts constantly dwell on his hypocrisy and shortcomings, and the more she thought about it, the more she believed it to be true.
After a long while, Bibidong opened her eyes, now clear and composed.
She sighed inwardly, deciding it was better to let Xiaogang leave early. She didn't want to shatter the image she had held of him for so long.
"Yu Xiaogang, your assurance holds no weight, and the enmity between Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect is irreconcilable. You should leave," Bibidong said softly, looking at him.
Yu Xiaogang was stunned, then stepped forward anxiously: "Bibidong! Xiao San is still a child! And you should know how important he is to me!"
As Yu Xiaogang was about to approach her, Bibidong raised her staff and slammed it on the ground, startling him.
Bibidong paused, then smiled self-mockingly: "Yu Xiaogang, the child you speak of looks at me with hatred in his eyes. Do you think I would let him grow up and wait for him to kill me?"
Perhaps because he had just been frightened by Bibidong, or perhaps because he couldn't bear to let go of his hope, Yu Xiaogang trembled all over, his eyes widening and turning blood-red.
"Bibidong, remember this: Xiao San is my only hope. If anything happens to him, I will spend the rest of my life, at any cost, to destroy Spirit Hall."
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's hysterical state, Bibidong narrowed her eyes. She hadn't expected him to resemble the person in her heart in this state, but in the end, it was only a resemblance.
"Destroy Spirit Hall?" Bibidong smiled. But that was something she would handle herself.
"Yu Xiaogang, don't be in such a hurry. In a way, all of this is thanks to you. If you hadn't abandoned me and run away back then, would things have turned out like this? I heard you and your cousin Liu Erlong are getting back together? Shouldn't you hurry back and see her?"
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang's accumulated anger momentarily faltered. However, upon noticing the same mockery in Bibidong's tone as in Yu Yuanzhen's, his expression turned ferocious: "I abandoned you? Could I have ignored the warning from Pope Qian Xunji back then?"
"Although it was wrong of me to leave without a word, if you truly had me in your heart, why couldn't you let go of the power of Spirit Hall and come to me? In the end, it was your lack of resolve, wasn't it?"
Bibidong was taken aback, scrutinizing Yu Xiaogang as if he were some rare creature, while his menacing expression sent a chill down her spine.
Her mind was in turmoil.
After a long pause, Bibidong suddenly burst into laughter, flicking her sleeve and sending a surge of Soul Power straight at Yu Xiaogang: "You're definitely not him. Get out of here, and never show your face in front of me again!"
Bibidong found everything before her utterly ridiculous. When a living person stood before her, their words and actions often defied her expectations.
Far from the beauty she remembered.
Let this world and the Xiaogang in my heart be buried together.
With Bibidong's cultivation, even a casual strike was something no ordinary Soul Master could withstand, let alone Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang felt a tremendous force slam into him, sending him flying backward. He crashed into the door like a rolling gourd, blood surging up his throat. He spat it out onto the ground with a loud retch.
(End of Chapter)