Chapter 138: Two People, Two Agendas; A Tragic Yu Xiaogang
A hero saving a beauty never goes out of style. Having gone through the trauma of the secret chamber, Bibi Dong was no longer lost. She had confirmed her feelings. Just as she mustered her courage to agree, she heard Qin Xuan say, "Of course, I know you won't agree."
At that moment, Nong Yu walked in with a new court gown. "My Lord, the clothes you requested have been delivered."
Bibi Dong wanted to cry. I would agree! she thought. But with an outsider present, how can I say it?
"Just leave the clothes here," Qin Xuan said. After Nong Yu left, he continued, "The second option is to elope with Yu Xiaogang and never return to Spirit Hall. However, you must promise to never harm Spirit Hall. As compensation, I will give you an Immortal Herb that can resolve his Martial Soul mutation."
"You still have one?" she asked, surprised.
"I do," he nodded. "But it cannot be given for free. I can give you the Immortal Herb, but you need to promise me one thing."
"You speak," she replied almost unconsciously. It wasn't for Yu Xiaogang. After the secret chamber incident, she had realized her feelings for him were not love, but simply an appreciation for an intelligence that no longer existed. Now, her heart was thinking of Qin Xuan.
"I want to test whether Yu Xiaogang truly loves you, or if he loves the convenience you bring him as Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden," Qin Xuan said.
"How do you plan to test him?" she asked.
"Ask him out. I will give him a choice: take you and elope, or take the Immortal Herb. If he chooses you, I will still give him the herb. If he chooses the herb..."
"I agree," she replied before he could finish. She had always been a person who dared to love and hate. She knew what she wanted now. No matter the outcome, she would not leave Spirit Hall. As for the Immortal Herb, she considered it compensation for Yu Xiaogang. Their story ended here.
"Since that's the case, then get a good night's sleep. We'll see him tomorrow," Qin Xuan said, getting up and leaving.
Of course, he had no intention of giving the Immortal Herb to Yu Xiaogang, nor of letting Bibi Dong leave with him. It was a sham. No matter what Yu Xiaogang chose, he would lose, and a puppet Qian Xunji would "pressure" Bibi Dong into marrying Qin Xuan. Yu Xiaogang, hearing this news, would surely hate him to the core, contributing a large amount of emotional value.
The night passed, the two each with their own agendas. Early in the morning, Qin Xuan went to cultivate. It wasn't until dusk that he emerged, drenched in sweat. After the whole family had dinner, he and Bibi Dong went to the small woods halfway up Pope Mountain, where she and Yu Xiaogang had agreed to meet.
"Are you and Elder Ling Yuan always on such good terms?" Bibi Dong asked, somewhat surprised. That morning, she had seen Ling Yuan coming out of the master bedroom in her pajamas. If Jing Ni hadn't also been in the room, she would have thought... After all, there was nearly a forty-year age difference between them.
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