The air in the clearing, still heavy with the lingering scent of tension and power, shifted. The great gamble was over. Bibi Dong's condition had been agreed upon, and a new, fragile peace had settled between the human Saintess and the soul beast kings.
Bibi Dong's voice, now light and conversational, broke the silence. "Before I leave," she said, her eyes meeting Ah Rou's, "I believe we have forgotten the most basic of human courtesies. I have yet to hear your name."
Ah Rou, a creature of ancient power and refined grace, was slightly taken aback by the question. It was a simple question, but one that held no malicious intent. It was an olive branch. She bowed her head, her movements as fluid as the soft grass beneath her feet. "Oh, I apologize," she said, her voice a gentle, melodic whisper.
"I had forgotten in the heat of the moment." She then straightened and with a profound sense of pride, she introduced herself with a grace that was both powerful and gentle.
"My name is Ah Rou. Rou for 'gentle,' and my heart is softer than the clouds, but my will is stronger than the earth itself."
Bibi Dong's eyes held a genuine smile. It was a beautiful, poetic line, a testament to the powerful, yet kind, spirit of the soul beast matriarch. She raised her hand, a gesture of respect, and gently shook Ah Rou's. "An excellent name. It suits you perfectly. I hope we can come to understand each other more in the future, Ah Rou."
A small, delighted gasp came from Xiao Wu. She had been watching the interaction with wide eyes, a sense of wonder and excitement bubbling in her heart. She looked at her mother, then at Bibi Dong, and with a burst of childish confidence, she stepped forward and bowed, just as her mother had.
Her voice, a high-pitched, enthusiastic sound, filled the clearing.
"My name is Xiao Wu. Wu for 'dance,' and my movements are as light as the wind, but my love is as unyielding as the mountains!"
Bibi Dong's internal thoughts were a kaleidoscope of amusement and admiration. This mother-daughter pair is quite the poetic duo, she mused. They speak in verses, as if their very lives are a form of art. It was a sentiment she had only ever felt in her past life when she read the ancient texts of the Douluo Continent.
She then introduced herself to the four soul beasts, a sense of quiet triumph in her heart. "My name is Bibi Dong," she said, her voice filled with a calm, unyielding power. "The current Saintess and future Pope of Spirit Hall."
The four soul beasts looked at her with a mix of awe and respect. The words were simple, but the fire in her eyes, the sheer, unadulterated ambition that radiated from her, was commendable.
They knew that she would not be satisfied with anything less than absolute power. She was not a pawn in the game of destiny; she was the player who would change the game itself.
Da Ming, seeing the conversation was over, decided to introduce himself and his companion. He knew she already knew their names, but it was a matter of respect, a gesture of goodwill that he was now willing to extend. "I am Da Ming, the Sky Blue Bull Serpent," he said, his voice a deep, resonant rumble. "And this is my sworn brother, Er Ming, the Titan Giant Ape."
Bibi Dong nodded, a silent acknowledgment of their introductions. "I know who you are," she said, her voice a calm whisper. "I have heard of your legends." She then looked at the sun, which was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and violet. "The sun will set soon, and I must be on my way. My children are waiting for me."
Ah Rou's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh," she said, a sense of genuine shock in her voice. "Saintess, You have children also? I cannot imagine a human who carries such a deep hatred also having a heart full of love."
Bibi Dong's face softened, and a warm, genuine smile appeared on her lips. "Yes," she said, her voice filled with a profound sense of maternal love. "I have twin children. They are the sunlight in my life, and they are the reason I do everything I do."
She then looked at the four soul beasts, a sense of vulnerability in her gaze. "And please, you can call me by my name. I am not so much a title as I am a person."
Ah Rou's heart, which had been some hatred in her, now felt a tremor of emotion. She couldn't reconcile the image of the ruthless, cold woman who had held her at her mercy with the image of a loving, devoted mother. It was a dichotomy that she could not comprehend, but it filled her with a sense of respect.
"My mother and father never told me that humans have a warm side to them," Xiao Wu said, her eyes filled with a deep sense of wonder. "Maybe the twins can be my playmates one day." A sense of innocent excitement filled her, and she looked at Bibi Dong with a new sense of curiosity.
Da Ming, always the pragmatic one, decided to end the conversation. "Okay, Bibi Dong," he said, his voice firm and resolute. "You can go. But do not forget our agreement. We will meet on another day."
Bibi Dong nodded, her smile still in place. "I will not forget. Take care, all of you." She then turned and with a single burst of soul power, she left, her form a blur in the twilight.
The moment Bibi Dong's form disappeared, a heavy silence descended upon the clearing. The immense tension that had bound them for the last hour finally broke, and all three soul beasts let out a long, collective breath.
"What was that?" Er Ming said, his voice a low, confused growl. "I don't understand. She threatened to kill Ah Rou, then she made a bargain with us, and then she... she talked to us like a friend? What is she?"
Ah Rou sighed, her body trembling with a mixture of relief and disbelief. "She is a good woman, I think," she said, a sense of hope filling her heart. "I hope she finds her peace."
Da Ming looked at his companions, his eyes filled with a profound sense of respect. "She is a rare one," he said, his voice quiet. "A woman who is both ruthless and compassionate. A woman who can love deeply but can also hate with a burning fire." He then turned to Er Ming.
"Her heart is filled with hatred for the Pope, but it is a hatred born from pain. And her love for her children is genuine. I sensed it. She told us she would keep her word, and she did. She released Ah Rou without a single hesitation, a testament to her honesty and her immense confidence in her own ability to get what she wants."
Er Ming, a creature of simple logic, struggled to comprehend this. "But she is a human. They are all the same. They only care about power."
"She is not all the same," Da Ming said, his voice filled with a deep sense of wisdom. "She is different. Her word is her bond. And her ambition is not for power for the sake of power. It is for her children. It is a love that she wants to protect, and that is a power that is greater than any we have ever seen."
He knew that her promise for their area and the soul beasts was a risky one, but he also knew that she was a woman who would not break her word. It was a gamble he was willing to take, for the sake of his people.
They all went their separate ways, their conversation lingering in the air. Da Ming and Er Ming to supervise their clans and the forest, and Ah Rou and Xiao Wu to their hut to rest. They were tired from the encounter, but their hearts were filled with a new sense of hope. The future was uncertain, but they had made a deal with a human who had the power to change the world.
Bibi Dong, on her way back to Spirit Hall, felt a profound sense of triumph. The plan was working perfectly. She had not only secured a new ally, but she had also avoided a costly battle. She knew that her decision to release Ah Rou had been the right one as she knew that they are true to their words.
She had recalled her future self's and their relationship with Tang San and how it had ended in a battle that had cost her dearly. She did not want to make the same mistakes again. She wanted to build a world where her children could be safe and happy, and that meant she not only had to be ruthless with her enemies, but also kind to her allies.
This is a good outcome, she mused. A very good outcome. I have now established a rapport with the soul beast kings. The little rabbit will not be a hinder to me, and I will gain her trust. She also made a mental note to herself.
The unexpected encounter with the soul beasts had changed everything. Her old plan was now obsolete. She needed to get her 100,000-year-old soul ring, and then she would begin her revenge. She had to change her current plotting, and she had to be more careful.
Her mind began to work, a brilliant machine of strategy and calculation. She had to take everything into account. The soul beasts were now allies, but they were not her pawns. They were powerful beings with their own motives and desires.
She had to make sure that her plan would benefit them as well. She also had to be careful not to reveal her true intentions to anyone in Spirit Hall. She was a master of deception, and she would use it to her advantage.
She was also excited about the upcoming events that would unfold in the future, as she had gained a few allies and had a lot of work to do. She would change her current plotting, and she would be more careful. Her final goal was to make sure that her children's future was safe and secure.
She finally reached her room, her body weary, but her mind full of energy. She saw her children sleeping peacefully, and her heart swelled with a profound sense of love.
She merged with her clone, and with a loving expression, she patted their heads. The day was over, but a new dawn was about to begin, and she would be ready for it.
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Author's Note:
Ah my dear readers, i was so busy today even i couldn't write for my novel's chapter but seeing ur support and interest for my fanfic i decided to write this one before sleeping. uh, my eyes are closing and very tired before i end it with this 'Publish' button. Goodnight!!!