The days that followed were a delicate dance between Bibi Dong's duties and her own clandestine pursuits. The sudden surge in Qian Xunji's power had left her with a gnawing sense of urgency.
The calm she had found in her children's presence was now a fleeting luxury, replaced by a ruthless determination to increase her own strength.
She continued her routine of sneaking out of Spirit Hall, her identity concealed, her movements precise and deliberate. She wasn't just training; she was hunting. Hunting for the perfect treasure, the perfect opportunity, the perfect advantage.
Her first destination was Dugu Bo's manor, a place that now felt less like a lair of a poison master and more like a potential sanctuary.
She had used the soul artifact she gave him to signal her approach, and her plan was to discuss the rare herbs of the Yin Yang Well. Upon her arrival, however, the manor was quiet.
A quick check with her spirit sense revealed that Dugu Bo had not yet arrived. She decided to wait for him in the guest room, a place of quiet solitude, but a faint, high-pitched giggle broke the silence, piquing her curiosity.
It was a sound she had not heard in her previous visits, and it was a sound she associated with the most precious beings in her life—her children.
Her heart, which had been so cold and calculating, felt a sudden warmth. She decided to follow the sound, her steps as light as a whisper, her curiosity overpowering her usual caution.
The giggling led her to a small, sun-drenched courtyard, a space she had not seen before. There, a little girl, no more than two or three years old, was playing on a lush, green carpet.
She was a vision of innocence, her purple hair a cascade of color against her pale skin, her green eyes sparkling with a mischievous light.
Beside her, a woman sat with a gentle aura around, watching the little girl with a loving, watchful gaze. The woman was unfamiliar to Bibi Dong; she had never seen her during her previous visits.
The woman, hearing Bibi Dong's light footsteps, paused her playful banter with the child. Her eyes, filled with a sudden alertness, fell upon the cloaked figure.
A flicker of recognition passed through her face, as she recalled Dugu Xin's description of his benefactor—the woman with the cold, piercing eyes and the regal presence.
She immediately calmed down, her fear giving way to a profound sense of gratitude. She stood, her movements graceful and respectful, and bowed her head.
"Saintess," she said, her voice filled with a deep sense of honor. "It is a profound honor to meet you. My name is Yue Qing, and I am Dugu Xin's wife. I... I cannot thank you enough for curing my husband and our family of that terrible curse. You have saved us all."
Bibi Dong's heart, which had been so cold and calculating, was filled with a warm, unexpected sense of satisfaction. She smiled, a genuine, warm smile that reached her eyes.
"It is quite alright," she said, her voice a soft, gentle melody. "Your family has given me a lot. The generosity of your husband and your family has been a great help to me. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Yue Qing."
She then asked, "I did not have the pleasure of meeting you earlier in this manor. Why is that?"
Yue Qing's expression faltered, a deep sadness filling her eyes. "Yes," she said, her voice quiet. "I was not here earlier. The poison... it was affecting me and our daughter as well."
She got a little emotional, her voice breaking. "I tried to stay, to be with my husband, but he was very adamant that we leave for our own safety. He was so worried about us."
Bibi Dong's heart, which had been so cold and calculating, felt a tremor of empathy. Ah... she thought, a deeper understanding of Dugu Bo's desperation settling in her mind.
This poison... it didn't just affect him. It affected his entire family, his entire lineage. No wonder he was so emotional, so desperate for a cure. It wasn't just his life he was fighting for. It was his family's.
She felt a wave of profound respect for Dugu Bo. He was a proud man, a man who had been a Poison Douluo for decades, but when it came to his family, he was willing to put aside his pride and beg for a cure.
It was a love that she could relate to, a love that she held for her own children. She then offered Yue Qing a few words of encouragement, her voice filled with a genuine warmth.
"Your husband is a good man, Yue Qing. And you are a strong woman. The love you all share is a great treasure. I hope you and your daughter are no longer suffering from the remnants of the poison."
She then crouched down, her movements graceful and fluid, to get closer to the little girl who was still playing on the carpet. The little girl, her head bowed in concentration, was completely lost in her own little world.
Bibi Dong's heart swelled with a profound sense of love, a familiar feeling that she held for her own children. She looked at the little girl, her purple hair a cascade of color against her pale skin, her green eyes sparkling with a mischievous light, and asked, "What is your name, little one?"
The little girl turned her head, her green eyes wide with a profound sense of wonder. She stared at the beautiful aunt who had crouched beside her, her gaze filled with a childlike innocence.
"Name?" she said, her voice a soft, incoherent babble. "Uh... my is Dugu Yan." She then straightened her tiny body and with a profound sense of pride, she declared her name. "Dugu Yan!"
Bibi Dong chuckled, the sound a soft, musical melody. The little girl's pride in her name reminded her of her own children when they were at that age.
She reached out and gently patted Dugu Yan's head, the little girl's hair as soft as a cloud. Dugu Yun, in turn, pouted, a cute expression on her face that made Bibi Dong's heart melt. She was so adorable.
Bibi Dong then took out a storage ring, a small, intricate piece of jewelry that had a small, shimmering stone on it. She gently put it on Dugu Yun's little finger, the ring fitting perfectly. "Little girl," she said, her voice a soft, gentle whisper.
"Since it's our first meeting, this aunty will give you a special gift." She then explained, "There are toys, dresses, and coins, and some other things also which you will find later. You can play with it."
Dugu Yun, in her little mind, didn't understand all of this. All she knew was that the ring was shiny and pretty, and she was attracted to it.
She looked at the ring, her eyes wide with a profound sense of wonder, and then looked at Bibi Dong with a confused expression.
"Okay?" she said, her voice a soft, quiet sound. She then went back to playing with the ring, her tiny finger caressing it.
Yue Qing, seeing this, tried to stop her daughter. "Saintess," she said, her voice filled with a sense of protest. "We cannot accept such a precious gift. It is too much."
Bibi Dong raised her hand, a gesture of quiet command. "It's alright, Yue Qing," she said, her voice filled with a genuine sincerity.
"It's just a small token of my appreciation for your family's hospitality. And I do not want to make a bad impression on you. You can take it. It can be a help to your daughter in the future."
She then chuckled, a sound filled with a rare, genuine humor, and began to chat with Yue Qing, as she was a little bored.
Just then, the grand doors of the courtyard opened, and Dugu Bo entered with his son, Dugu Xin. Dugu Bo's face, which had been so grim just a few weeks ago, was now filled with a sense of relief and calm.
He saw the ambiguous atmosphere in the room—his daughter-in-law and his benefactor chatting happily, and his granddaughter playing with a storage ring. He was quite relieved that there was no conflict and a sense of gratitude swelled in his heart.
Dugu Bo immediately bowed his head, a gesture of profound respect. "Saintess," he said, his voice filled with an immense sense of gratitude.
"I apologize for my absence. I was not expecting you so soon, but it is an honor to have you in my home." He then looked at his daughter-in-law and his granddaughter, his eyes filled with a profound sense of love. "It seems you have already met my family. I am glad."
Bibi Dong smiled, a small, genuine smile that reached her eyes. "Hello, Dugu Bo," she said, her voice a calm, serene sound. "There is no need to apologize. I am glad to see you well and your family safe. We have a lot to discuss."
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Author's Note:
Dear Readers, i know u are waiting too much i can understand but what can i do? I have been focusing on my novel very much and making new chapters for that is really time consuming whether it's fanfic or my novel. I just need some support there also which i will be grateful.