Bibi Dong's voice disappeared entirely behind the closing door, leaving only her final words to echo in the vast, silent hall:
"Cunning tricks and petty cleverness will always crumble before absolute strength."
The heavy side door slowly closed, sealing off all light and sound.
In the immense Pope's Hall, Yu Xiaogang was left alone, standing beneath the towering, cold relief of the six-winged angel, solitary and isolated.
The golden floor tiles reflected his pale face and rigid body.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Yu Xiaogang finally drew a deep breath, but his body staggered uncontrollably, nearly causing him to fall.
Thinking back to his bet with Tang Hao, the ambitious dream he had just kindled—to humble even the mighty Tang Sect Elder Tang Hao—was now utterly shattered by Bibi Dong's ruthless, icy demeanor…
It had become nothing more than a complete, soon-to-be-mocked joke.
"What happened to Bibi Dong? What changed? How dare she treat me like this…"
Yu Xiaogang stared fiercely at the closed side door. His face, which usually tried to maintain calm and wisdom, twitched violently, his eyes filled with anger.
In the past, no matter how much they clashed or how cold he acted, Bibi Dong still harbored some complex, unspoken feelings for him—feelings rooted in her instinctive tolerance.
Yu Xiaogang knew this well…
And it was precisely this lingering affection that allowed him, despite his decline, to retain a shred of special status within the Spirit Hall and even throughout the entire world of soul masters!
It was also the confidence behind his bold promises to Tang Hao!
But today, this "special" treatment had been ruthlessly trampled underfoot!
At certain moments today, the way Bibi Dong looked at him was as cold as if she were regarding a complete stranger—or even someone repulsive!
What had happened?!
Who was responsible?!
A fierce surge of curiosity and resentment rose in Yu Xiaogang's heart. His bloodshot eyes fixed on the closed side door, as if trying to pierce through its thickness to see the unfamiliar Pope—Bibi Dong—on the other side.
At the same time, he replayed every detail of their encounter.
Bibi Dong's attitude had suddenly turned icy and clear-headed almost immediately after…
After he mentioned that name!
Dai Chengfeng!
That name instantly ignited another raging inferno of fury buried deep within Yu Xiaogang's heart.
It must be him!
It must have something to do with that damned Dai Chengfeng!
Ever since this brat from the Star Luo Empire appeared and became Bibi Dong's disciple, everything had changed!
He had publicly humiliated him in Nuoding City, stripping him of his dignity, and now even Bibi Dong treated him this way…
Yu Xiaogang had no doubt…
Dai Chengfeng must have used some sinister, manipulative technique—perhaps a secret method involving spiritual manipulation—to cause such a drastic shift in Bibi Dong's attitude toward him, the "old flame"!
This suspicion poured fuel onto the fire of Yu Xiaogang's rage, pushing his anger to its peak.
"Dai… Cheng… Feng…"
Yu Xiaogang practically spat out the name through gritted teeth, his voice icy, each syllable dripping with hatred.
At this moment, it seemed he wasn't just enraged by Bibi Dong's "betrayal", but he blamed all the humiliation and the failure of his plans on this young prince who had suddenly barged into his world!
It was him who had taken away his "special" status in Bibi Dong's eyes!
It was him who had turned his bold promises to Tang Hao into a joke!
Everything was because of him!
"Dai Chengfeng… you'll pay… you must kneel before me and beg for forgiveness… you must…"
An overwhelming, almost insane desire for revenge consumed the last remnants of Yu Xiaogang's rationality.
He would make Dai Chengfeng pay!
He would reclaim what belonged to him—or rather, he would force Dai Chengfeng to kneel before him, trembling and whimpering like a dog, begging for forgiveness for everything he had done to him!
Begging for threatening Tang San!
Begging for daring to treat him, the "theoretical master", with such disdain!
Yu Xiaogang walked out of the Pope's Hall, head bowed, weaving through the streets of Spirit City. His gaze was hollow yet flickered with an almost obsessive madness.
---
Meanwhile, outside the side hall of the Spirit Hall.
Bam—
As the side door closed, Bibi Dong leaned back against it, taking a deep breath to suppress the complex emotions stirred up by Yu Xiaogang.
But the next moment, as her gaze fell upon the corridor outside the hall, her entire body froze.
A familiar figure was leaning casually against the shadow cast by a pillar.
Dai Chengfeng.
Contrary to what he had said earlier about leaving, he stood there quietly, his tall frame illuminated by the faint glow from inside the hall, his gaze piercing directly onto her.
Bibi Dong's chest tightened inexplicably.
"You…"
She barely managed to utter a single syllable before Dai Chengfeng was already in front of her.
The next second, Bibi Dong felt a strong masculine presence envelop her, followed by a firm grip around her waist as Dai Chengfeng's powerful arms pulled her tightly into his embrace!
"Hmm?!"
Bibi Dong's pupils contracted sharply, letting out a short gasp of surprise.
This sudden intimacy, right outside the side door of the Pope's Hall, set off alarm bells in her mind!
Yu Xiaogang's voice still lingered faintly in her ears—was he still lingering inside the hall? What if he saw them… The thought flashed through Bibi Dong's mind.
"What are you doing! Let…!"
But her protest barely began.
Dai Chengfeng had already lowered his head, capturing her slightly parted lips with an unyielding force, sealing her unfinished words and struggles within the fiery, soft touch of the kiss.
Instantly, Bibi Dong instinctively pushed against Dai Chengfeng's broad chest, tilting her head back in an attempt to break free from the overwhelming intimacy.
The dignity of the Pope, the fear of being discovered, and the lingering presence of Yu Xiaogang…
All of these made her tense up completely.
Yet, Dai Chengfeng's arms remained immovable. The passionate kiss carried both dominance and an almost meticulous patience, grinding against her lips with intense precision.
The warmth of their breaths intertwined, sending a strange, electrifying current coursing through Bibi Dong's body in an instant.
It seemed her body had grown accustomed to Dai Chengfeng's advances… more honestly than ever.
The force of her resistance gradually… softened.
Unbeknownst to her, Bibi Dong's taut body relaxed quietly within Dai Chengfeng's possessive embrace.
She closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling slightly.
The Pope's staff, symbol of supreme authority, had been set aside against the cold wall at some point. Her body, drained of all resistance, melted into the arms of this audacious disciple.
Even an unconscious hint of dependence crept in, mingled with a forbidden thrill—a mix of fear of being discovered by Yu Xiaogang and the excitement of the taboo.
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