"Bastard! If you're a real man, don't hide behind Nana!"
Yan's face flushed crimson, his eyes blazing with barely restrained fury as he glared at Victor.
His goddess, his Nana, was standing between them. Protecting another man.
And that man had the audacity to look pleased about it.
Unforgivable.
Upon hearing Yan's challenge, Victor's lips curved into a smile, revealing a row of perfectly white teeth.
"Are you sure you want to fight me?"
"Damn right I am!" Yan's voice cracked with emotion.
"The winner gets Nana! The loser stays away from her forever!"
"Yan!" Nana whirled on him, her face darkening. "What do you think I am? Some kind of prize to be won?"
She was a living, breathing person, not a trophy to be wagered between two men fighting over their egos. If the situation weren't so infuriating, she'd have already given Yan a taste of her fists.
Only Xie Yue's restraining hand on her shoulder kept her from doing exactly that.
"Nana, I didn't mean it like that, " Yan stammered, realizing his mistake too late.
"How childish." Victor couldn't help the derisive laugh that escaped him.
Doesn't this guy realize how old he is? And yet here he was, acting like a lovesick teenager.
Still... this could be entertaining.
"Alright, I'll fight you," Victor said, his tone shifting to something darker. "But let me paint you a picture of how this plays out. If I win, your goddess will admire me even more. And if I lose? She still won't like you, but she'll feel even more protective of me."
Nana's cheeks turned pink at his words.
Yan stood frozen, the implications slowly sinking in.
Wait.
That... that made sense.
Too much sense.
Looking at Nana's flushed face only confirmed the horrible truth.
"No! What do I do? What am I supposed to do?!" Yan's voice rose to a wail as he dropped to his knees, pounding his fists against the floor in frustration.
"I don't know how to solve this problem! I can't figure it out!"
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The rhythmic thudding of his fists echoed through the corridor.
Victor's smile grew even more satisfied.
Even Xiao Wu couldn't suppress a giggle, covering her mouth with one hand.
Her master really was terrible sometimes, not content with just winning, he had to destroy people's hearts while he was at it.
Xie Yue let out a long sigh as he watched his friend's breakdown.
This was why pursuing his own sister had been a mistake from the start. Everyone knew Nana didn't have those kinds of feelings for Yan, everyone except Yan himself, apparently.
As a friend, Xie Yue couldn't discourage Yan from chasing true love. But as Nana's brother, he'd known this day would come eventually.
He moved forward to console his friend when the sound of approaching footsteps made him pause.
"What's all this commotion about?"
A figure approached with quick, graceful steps. The newcomer wore elaborate makeup and flowing robes, with delicate features and bright, expressive eyes.
"Elder Yue Guan!" both Xie Yue and Nana exclaimed, bowing respectfully.
"Grandpa!" Nana added warmly.
Yue Guan?
So this is that damn Chrysanthemum Douluo?
Victor studied the elder with renewed interest after hearing the siblings' greeting. At least this version was more aesthetically pleasing than the comic adaptation, that one had been... difficult to look at.
Yue Guan nodded at his grandchildren before his gaze swept past them to land on Victor and Xiao Wu.
His eyes widened almost immediately.
"A hundred-thousand-year transformed spirit beast?!"
The instant he sensed the powerful spirit beast aura radiating from Xiao Wu, Yue Guan's entire demeanor changed.
"What?!" Nana and Xie Yue's heads snapped toward Victor and Xiao Wu, shock written across their faces.
Even Yan, still kneeling on the floor, looked up at them with renewed interest.
Feeling the Titled Douluo's murderous intent pressing down on her, Xiao Wu's face went pale. She instinctively moved closer to Victor, seeking protection.
"I suggest you rein in your greed," Victor said coldly.
An invisible pressure descended, crushing down on Yue Guan like the weight of mountains.
"Pft!"
Blood sprayed from Yue Guan's mouth as his body buckled. His knees hit the marble floor hard enough to crack it.
Kneeling there, looking up at Victor with wide, terrified eyes, he couldn't believe what was happening.
What kind of monstrous pressure is this?
Even more overwhelming than the Supreme Pontiff's!
Under this crushing weight, he couldn't even summon his martial soul. It was as if his spirit had been completely suppressed.
Could this person be a Peerless Douluo?
Where did such a monster come from?
Though Nana and Xie Yue weren't the direct targets of Victor's pressure, the residual aura alone was enough to make their hair stand on end and cold sweat bead on their skin.
"Since you're here, you can take me to see your Pope," Victor said, his voice returning to its normal, casual tone as he withdrew his pressure.
Yue Guan endured the feeling of his body threatening to fall apart as he struggled to his feet.
I'm completely outmatched, can't fight him at all!
And his intentions are unclear. With Nana and Xie Yue here, I absolutely cannot provoke conflict with him!
Otherwise, even if I could escape, they'd become targets for his rage!
Coming to this conclusion, Yue Guan nodded stiffly. "Please... follow me."
"You're very sensible." There was a hint of approval in Victor's tone.
Taking Xiao Wu's hand, he followed Yue Guan deeper into the Spirit Hall.
As his figure receded, Nana felt her heart, which had been gripped by terror, suddenly surge with an inexplicable burst of courage.
"Wait! Please, wait a moment!" she called out.
Victor paused, turning to look at her.
"What is it? Is there something else you need, beautiful young lady?"
Beautiful young lady?
He thinks I'm beautiful?
Nana's heart began racing, the fear from moments ago evaporating entirely. She found herself staring at him like an infatuated schoolgirl again.
"My... my name is Hu Liena. What's yours?"
"Victor Stone."
"Mr. Victor," Nana pressed on, her right fist clenched over her heart, "are you... a friend of Spirit Hall?"
She held her breath, praying his answer would be what she hoped to hear.
"Whether I'm a friend of Spirit Hall depends entirely on what choice your Pope makes."
With that cryptic statement, Victor turned away, continuing after Yue Guan without another glance back.
Nana stood rooted to the spot, watching him disappear down the corridor, reluctance clear in her eyes.
"Sister," Xie Yue said quietly, stepping up beside her, "that person is extremely dangerous. You should keep your distance from him."
But how could Nana listen to such advice now?
Her mind was completely occupied by Victor's charming smile from earlier.
Being one of Spirit Hall's legendary "three love-brains" wasn't just for show.
Following Yue Guan through luxurious corridors, they finally arrived at the grand doors of the Pope's Palace.
When the maids guarding the entrance saw that Yue Guan was leading the group, they didn't dare stop them. They simply pushed open the heavy doors and stepped aside.
The three walked through the entrance and into the magnificent hall beyond.
A stunning woman sat on the elevated throne, wearing a purple dress, a tall ceremonial crown, and holding an ornate scepter. Her beauty was breathtaking, her presence commanding.
This was none other than the contemporary Pope of Spirit Hall: Bibi Dong.
The moment Xiao Wu laid eyes on the woman, her expression twisted with fury and hatred.
The enemy who killed my mother.
Bibi Dong had been about to question Yue Guan about this unusual visit when she caught sight of Xiao Wu's glare. She looked at the young woman more carefully.
That single glance was enough.
"A hundred-thousand-year transformed spirit beast?!"