The week following her encounter in the Star Dou Forest was a rare period of calm for Bibi Dong. She had returned to Spirit Hall not as a calculating Saintess, but simply as a mother. The usual crushing weight of her duties and the constant, simmering resentment she held for her master,
Qian Xunji, seemed to recede, replaced by the simple, profound joy of being with her children. She spent her days not poring over ancient texts or plotting against her enemies, but playing with the twins in the sun-drenched gardens of Spirit Hall. The laughter of Renxue and Yurrichi was a balm to her weary soul, a precious, stolen happiness she savored with every moment.
One afternoon, a gentle, golden light filtered through the ornate windows of their private courtyard. Bibi Dong watched as Yorrichi, with a serious expression far too old for his five years, carefully tended to a small patch of Moon Grass.
Renxue, ever the more boisterous of the two, was chasing after a glowing firefly. Their joy was her greatest treasure, a source of light in the darkest corners of her heart.
A few weeks passed in this manner, a luxurious, peaceful interlude that almost made her forget the storm she was preparing for. During this time, it has been some weeks since they started going for Yue Guan classes.
With his deep knowledge of plants and herbs, the twins flourished. They learned the intricate properties of various flora, from the mundane to the mystical, absorbing the lessons with an eagerness that made Bibi Dong swell with pride.
Today, as the sun began its descent, painting the sky in soft hues of lavender and gold, Bibi Dong held her children's hands, walking them to Yue Guan's residence. The familiar path was quiet, a stark contrast to the busy thoroughfares of Spirit Hall.
She enjoyed these moments of shared tranquility, the simple rhythm of their footsteps a comforting melody. As they reached the grand, ornate gate of Yue Guan's home, she knelt down and hugged each of them.
"Be good, my darlings," she said, her voice a soft, loving whisper. "I'll see you for dinner." Yorrichi nodded, his serious little face focused, while Renxue gave her mother a bright, mischievous grin.
With a final wave, Bibi Dong watched as they disappeared through the gate, her heart a familiar mix of pride and longing.
Turning to head back, her steps were a peaceful, measured pace. It was then that an elder, clad in the traditional white robes of the Spirit Hall, approached her. He was an old man, his face a roadmap of wrinkles, his eyes wise and knowing.
He bowed respectfully, his voice a low, gravelly whisper. "Saintess Bibi Dong," he said, his gaze unwavering, "the Pope summons you to the throne room."
A prickle of unease ran down Bibi Dong's spine. The serene calm that had enveloped her for the past weeks was instantly shattered. A cold, sharp glint appeared in her eyes, a silent question ringing in her mind: What does he want from me now? And why is he summoning me at this hour?
She knew Qian Xunji rarely called her without a reason, and his reasons were never good. She gave the elder a slight, curt nod, her polite mask firmly in place, and then turned, her movements now sharp and purposeful, as she made her way toward the throne room.
The journey to the throne room was a short one, but it felt like an eternity. With every step she took, her mind raced, trying to decipher his intentions. Was it a new assignment? A test of her loyalty? Or something far more sinister?
The air grew heavier, colder, the deeper she went into the heart of Spirit Hall. The grand, imposing doors of the throne room loomed before her. She took a deep, steadying breath, composed her features into a mask of polite deference, and pushed them open.
The sight that greeted her was as familiar as it was nauseating. Qian Xunji sat upon his majestic throne, a cruel, triumphant smirk playing on his lips. He was as she had always known him to be: proud, haughty, and utterly insufferable.
One leg was lazily draped over the other, a pose of casual arrogance that was meant to remind her of his absolute power. Bibi Dong, however, saw through the charade.
She simply bowed her head, a familiar, empty gesture of fealty. "Master," she said, her voice a sweet, humble melody. "You have summoned me."
Qian Xunji's smirk widened. He enjoyed seeing her this way—so docile, so compliant. He believed she was a tool, a weapon he could wield at will. He took a long, indulgent moment, allowing the silence to stretch before he spoke.
"Bibi Dong," he said, his voice echoing in the cavernous room, a sound so full of pride that it was almost palpable, "I have reached the Soul Level 96 and become a Super Douluo." He then let out a sharp, triumphant laugh. "Be honored that you are the first to hear this news."
An invisible blow struck Bibi Dong. Her heart, which had been so calm just moments ago, felt a jolt of shock. Level 96? This was completely unexpected. In the timeline she knew, he had been stuck at Soul Level 95 for years, a point of festering resentment that had fueled her own ambitions.
This was a significant, and dangerous, deviation from the future she had so carefully planned. It meant he was stronger, faster, more unpredictable. Her plan, so meticulously crafted, so dependent on his stagnation, was now at risk.
A wave of cold dread washed over her, and she felt a tremor of fear, but she quickly quelled it. Her expression remained unchanged, a perfect mask of sweet admiration.
With a practiced ease, she forced a genuine-looking smile onto her face. "Master," she said, her voice full of feigned surprise and delight, "this is wonderful news! Congratulations on reaching the level of Super Douluo! I hope you become even stronger in the future and may the Spirit Hall be flourished more under Your regime."
She then clasped her hands together, a gesture of sincere adoration. "Thank you, master, for informing me first. The children will be so happy to hear this news! We should celebrate this grand occasion."
Qian Xunji's ego, ever-fragile, swelled at her words. He basked in her feigned admiration, his face lighting up with a proud, self-satisfied grin. "Yes," he said, his voice filled with a pompous cheer. "We should celebrate."
He then pondered for a moment, his fingers tapping on the arm of his throne. "The children will turn six in a few weeks, won't they?" he said, a new, cunning glint in his eyes. "Let us celebrate their martial soul awakening. At the same time, I will announce the heir of Spirit Hall to all the world."
An announcement? Bibi Dong's mind spun, a thousand possibilities flashing before her eyes. Is he planning to use my children for his own twisted purpose?
Qian Xunji then got up from his throne, his movements slow and deliberate, and walked toward Bibi Dong. She tensed slightly, her body on high alert, but she did not move. He came to a stop before her and placed a hand on her shoulder, a gesture that was meant to be one of benevolent paternalism but felt to her like a cold, iron grip.
"I am going to inform my father," he said, his smile still in place, but with a chilling undertone. "Don't neglect your duties, Bibi Dong. You have a new, and more important role to fulfill now. The future of Spirit Hall depends on it." He then turned and walked out of the throne room, his form disappearing into the darkness of the hallway.
Bibi Dong stood there, frozen, for a long moment, the scent of his cologne lingering in the air. When she was sure he was gone, her composure broke. She heaved a sigh, the breath a shuddering release of all the tension she had held in.
Her heart hammered against her ribs, her mind a whirlwind of fear and fury. How troublesome, she thought. He had become stronger, faster, and more arrogant than ever before. She needed to move fast. She needed to be more careful.
She had to change her plan. Every detail, every step, every single piece of her meticulous plot had to be re-evaluated. The sudden increase in his power meant she needed to act now, to strike a blow that would cripple him before he could make his next move. She had to plan maliciously, ruthlessly. She would not be his pawn. She would be the one who controlled her own destiny.
She then thought about her children. What if he tried to use them? What if he tried to use them as pawns in his twisted game? A cold, protective fire ignited in her chest. She would not allow it.
She would do everything in her power to protect them, to shield them from his poisonous influence. She would be ready for any unexpected situation. She would not be caught off guard again.
She left the throne room, her mind already working, a beautiful, terrifying machine of strategy and revenge. The serene calm of the last few weeks was now a distant memory, replaced by a storm of ambition and a mother's fierce, protective love.
The future was more uncertain than ever, but Bibi Dong was ready.
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Author's Note:
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