Chapter 59: The Secret Chamber, Secret Chamber, Secret Chamber
When Bibi Dong woke again, she found herself lying on a bed. Her pretty face tensed up, and she hastily checked her clothing. Seeing it was intact, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"This is a secret chamber?"
She got off the bed, feeling muddled. She recalled arguing in the Seven Treasure Hall with Ning Fengzhi about Yu Xiaogang's theories, and then, in the blink of an eye, she had fainted and ended up here.
"Dong'er."
From the darkness at the front of the chamber, Ning Fengzhi walked out, cane in hand. His expression no longer showed the boundless doting affection he'd had before—only a chill severity.
"Fengzhi-ge, where is this? Why am I here?"
Seeing him, Bibi Dong grew calmer. The old saying goes that women and petty people are hard to provide for. Over the years, Ning Fengzhi's lavish pampering, hoping to win her heart, had left Bibi Dong used to being treated like a princess. He never dared speak harshly, partly because he wanted to court her, partly because Sword and Bone Douluo spoiled her, and if he scolded her, those two older men might lecture him. Over time, she took his efforts for granted.
If Sword Douluo was like a father figure in the original story, then Ning Fengzhi might only count as one of Bibi Dong's many admirers.
"Dong'er, let me ask you something. Do you really plan on leaving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan with Yu Xiaogang?"
"Dong'er, you need to understand: I've indulged you, protected you, favored you because I see you as my niece, a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. But Yu Xiaogang is from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
Bone Douluo also emerged from that shadowed corner. He didn't look as cold as Ning Fengzhi, as if this was his final attempt to keep her, giving her one last chance.
Bibi Dong was puzzled. "Bone-Grandpa, Fengzhi-ge, don't you always say the top three sects stand united—Clear Sky, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile, and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon are as close as one family. Xiaogang's from Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, so being with him still makes me part of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, doesn't it?"
"Stand united…?"
Ning Fengzhi never anticipated his own words would rebound on him so ironically. He gave a mocking laugh, devoid of his usual grace. "United? That's bull. The entire world—every family, every clan—is my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's enemy. Anyone who is not of our clan harbors different designs. At best, we partner with others for the sake of benefits! Without Wuhun Hall as a common threat, if the Clear Sky brothers Tang Hao and Tang Xiao roamed the continent, I would have let Bone-Grandpa here lead a squad to assassinate them and blame another clan.
"A duo of Titled Douluo from one sect? I'd have their line cut off, with no heirs left!
"Dong'er, I'll ask you one final time: do you truly plan to be with Yu Xiaogang—and by extension, side against the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, the home that raised you? And me, your family?"
Bibi Dong was shocked by this ruthless side of Ning Fengzhi, quickly shaking her head. "No, I don't want that!"
Ning Fengzhi seemed relieved. "Then have Yu Xiaogang scram. For your sake, I'll overlook whatever theories he stole from the clan. If you really want romance and you dislike me or any disciples here, I'll let you roam the continent like Tang Hao and Tang Xiao. If you find some suitable commoner soul master, no matter their talent, we can recruit him as your husband. That's my bottom line."
"Fengzhi-ge, can't you be less cruel? I've always seen you as a brother."
Ning Fengzhi retorted coldly, "And how cruel were you to our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan? I've protected you as if you were part of our clan, but if you want to run off with some outsider from Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon…?"
Bibi Dong fell silent. She worried about Yu Xiaogang waiting for her outside, and about not knowing the state of affairs in this hidden place. Would he think she'd changed her mind if she failed to show up on time?
"Fengzhi-ge, I can't do it. If I ever do go to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, I swear I'll do my best to keep them from conflicting with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—"
Sword Douluo, Are we not giving her enough chances?
Ning Fengzhi closed his eyes in exhaustion. When he reopened them, his gaze was neither gentle nor sad, but purely cold.
"Bone-Grandpa, do it," he said, turning to leave the chamber. He'd said everything he could, and Bibi Dong remained obstinate. Sword Douluo sighed, following, his face dark with grief.
"Dong'er, this is your own doing. We—Old Sword, Old Ghost, Fengzhi—have given you countless opportunities, yet you've chosen what hurts us most."
Bone Douluo hesitated a moment, then stepped forward. Bibi Dong so-called "ensuring the two clans don't clash if she joined Blue Lightning Tyrant" was futile. In matters of interest, families and clans never yielded. If Wuhun Hall fell, a war could erupt between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and Blue Lightning. Bibi Dong alone couldn't stop that. At best, if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan lost, she might beg for mercy to spare a handful.
From outside the secret chamber, Ning Fengzhi paused long enough to hear Bibi Dong's distressed cry:
"Bone-Grandpa, what are you doing?!"
Rip—
"Aaah—!"
Sounds of her clothes tearing and Bibi Dong's frightened shrieks quickly followed.
"No! Bone-Grandpa, don't do this! Stop…!"
Before long, the shrieks and sobs echoed through the chamber.
"Bibi Dong, this is all on you."
Wearing a stony expression, Ning Fengzhi walked away, shutting the mechanism behind him. He lingered at the entrance, ensuring that Bone Douluo would follow through. Hearing Bibi Dong's despairing screams within, he realized that in his heartbreak, Bone Douluo's resolve had turned merciless as well.
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