# Chapter 17: When the Pope Falls
Look, Luo Yan wasn't stupid. He knew exactly what was happening.
Three days after that incredibly intimate evening with Bibi Dong in the valley, the woman had become... clingy. Not in an obvious way—she was still the Pope of Spirit Hall, still commanded absolute authority in council meetings, still made grown men tremble with a single glance.
But with him?
Oh, she was completely different.
She'd started showing up at the guest manor "coincidentally" every evening. Always with some excuse—needing to discuss Qian Renxue, wanting advice on Spirit Hall matters, claiming she wanted to understand more about his "home reality."
The excuses were getting progressively thinner.
Last night, she'd literally said, "I was just passing by and thought you might want company."
The Papal Palace was on the opposite side of Spirit Hall from the guest manor. There was no "just passing by."
Hu Liena found it hilarious.
"Teacher has it bad for you," the fox-like Holy Maiden giggled as she curled up against Luo Yan's side on the sitting room couch. They'd developed a comfortable routine—she'd finish her cultivation practice, sneak over to his chambers, and they'd spend the evening together. Sometimes talking, sometimes... not talking.
"You think?" Luo Yan replied dryly, running his fingers through her hair absently.
"Oh, absolutely. Yesterday she spent twenty minutes asking me what kind of tea you preferred. *Twenty minutes*, Luo Yan. About tea. The woman conquered half the continent through political maneuvering and can't figure out how to just ask you directly."
"She's been traumatized for two decades. Give her time to figure out how normal courtship works."
"Normal courtship?" Hu Liena laughed so hard she almost fell off the couch. "There's nothing normal about any of this! She's the Pope. You're a god from another universe. I'm her sixteen-year-old student who's also sleeping with you. And somewhere in Heaven Dou Empire, her daughter—who you're also involved with—is pretending to be a male Crown Prince. This is the *opposite* of normal courtship!"
She had a point.
"Besides," Hu Liena continued, sitting up with that mischievous gleam in her eye, "I think Teacher is just working up the courage to ask you something important."
"Like what?"
"Like whether she can officially join your harem."
Luo Yan raised an eyebrow. "She hasn't asked that."
"Not in words, no. But come on, Luo Yan. The woman has been practically throwing herself at you for days. She's waiting for you to make the official offer. You know, the whole 'you're mine now' speech you gave me." Hu Liena's cheeks flushed at the memory.
"That was different. You explicitly asked me to claim you."
"And Teacher will too, if you give her the right opening. Trust me—I know her. She's just trying to figure out how to ask without looking desperate." Hu Liena grinned wickedly. "Though honestly, she's not doing a great job of hiding it."
As if summoned by their conversation, a knock sounded at the door.
Hu Liena scrambled off the couch, quickly straightening her robes and trying to look professional. "I'll get it!"
She opened the door to reveal Bibi Dong standing there, looking absolutely stunning in an evening gown of deep purple silk. Her long hair was artfully arranged, her makeup subtle but perfect. She looked like she was dressed for a formal event.
Or a seduction.
"Teacher!" Hu Liena greeted warmly. "What brings you here this evening?"
Bibi Dong's eyes flicked to where Luo Yan sat on the couch, then back to her student. "I was hoping to speak with Luo Yan privately. If he's not busy."
"Oh, he's definitely not busy!" Hu Liena said cheerfully, ignoring Luo Yan's amused look. "I was just leaving anyway. Need to, um... check on something. At the training grounds. Which are definitely open at this hour."
She practically skipped out of the room, throwing a knowing wink at Luo Yan as she passed.
Bibi Dong watched her student leave, then turned back to Luo Yan with a rueful smile. "She's not subtle, is she?"
"Not even a little bit," Luo Yan agreed, standing and gesturing to the couch. "But she means well. Please, sit."
Bibi Dong entered, closing the door behind her with perhaps more care than necessary. She moved to the couch, settling beside him—close, but not quite touching. There was a nervous energy radiating from her that was almost endearing.
The Pope of Spirit Hall, nervous.
Who would have thought?
"You look beautiful tonight," Luo Yan said, deciding to spare her the awkward small talk.
The compliment made her blush—actually blush, like a young girl rather than a powerful woman in her forties. "Thank you. I... may have put some effort into my appearance."
"I noticed."
"I also may have dismissed all my guards and told my advisors not to disturb me for the rest of the evening."
"Also noticed."
Bibi Dong laughed softly, some of the tension easing. "Am I being that obvious?"
"Incredibly," Luo Yan confirmed. "But I don't mind. In fact, I find it rather charming."
She turned to face him more fully, violet eyes searching his face. "I've been thinking a lot these past few days. About what happened between us. About how you made me feel."
"And?"
"And I want more of it," she admitted quietly. "More of feeling safe. More of feeling desired without fear. More of... you."
There it was. The opening Hu Liena had predicted.
"Bibi Dong," Luo Yan said seriously, taking her hands in his. "Before we continue this conversation, I need you to understand something."
She tensed slightly. "What?"
"If you want to be mine—truly mine, not just occasional encounters—it means accepting that you're joining something larger. You already know about Qian Renxue. You know about Hu Liena. There will be others eventually. Can you accept that?"
"I know," Bibi Dong replied. "And honestly? I'm relieved. After what happened to me, the idea of being someone's sole focus feels suffocating. Knowing I can have you without having to be everything to you... it's actually perfect."
She squeezed his hands. "Besides, if I'm sharing you with my daughter and my student, at least I know they're in good hands. Literally."
The dry humor surprised a laugh out of him. "You've been spending too much time with Hu Liena."
"Maybe. But I'm serious, Luo Yan. I want this. I want to be part of what you're building. I want to belong to someone who I trust not to hurt me." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I want to belong to you."
There it was. The explicit request.
Luo Yan pulled her close, until she was practically in his lap. "Then you're mine," he declared. "From this moment forward. Understood?"
"Yes," Bibi Dong breathed.
He kissed her, and she responded eagerly. None of the hesitation from their first time—she'd already tested the waters and found them safe. Now she was ready to dive in.
"Bedroom?" he suggested against her lips.
"Please."
---
## *The Second Time is Always Better*
The first time with Bibi Dong had been about healing. About proving she could feel pleasure without pain, that intimacy didn't have to be traumatic.
This time?
This time was about *claiming*.
Luo Yan took his time undressing her, savoring each reveal of flawless pale skin. Bibi Dong had the body of someone who'd cultivated to the absolute peak of this world—toned, graceful, perfect. But it was the way she looked at him that really did it—those violet eyes full of trust and desire and just a hint of vulnerability.
"You're staring," she observed, though she didn't sound displeased.
"Can you blame me? You're gorgeous."
"I'm forty-two years old."
"And I'm technically over forty in my previous life's memories, plus however you count my current existence. Age is meaningless to cultivators. You know that."
She laughed, pulling him down to the bed with her. "Fair point. Now stop talking and kiss me."
He obliged. Enthusiastically.
What followed was considerably more intense than their first encounter. Now that Bibi Dong knew she was safe, knew she could trust him completely, she let herself go. The dignified Pope vanished, replaced by a passionate woman who'd been denying herself pleasure for two decades.
She was vocal about what she wanted. Demanding, even. It was incredibly hot.
"Mine," Luo Yan growled at one point, when she was writhing beneath him, nails digging into his back.
"Yours," she gasped. "Completely yours. Now stop teasing and—oh—*there*—yes, exactly like that—"
The woman had a surprising amount of stamina for someone who'd been celibate for twenty years. But eventually, inevitably, they both reached their limit.
In the aftermath, they lay tangled together, both breathing hard. Bibi Dong had a satisfied smile on her face that made her look years younger.
"That was..." she trailed off, apparently lacking words.
"Amazing? Incredible? Life-changing?" Luo Yan supplied helpfully.
"All of the above." She propped herself up on one elbow to look at him. "You're quite skilled at this."
"I've had practice."
"With Renxue and Nana?"
"And others, in my previous life." He traced patterns on her back absently. "Though if you're fishing for comparisons, you should know—"
"I'm not," Bibi Dong interrupted quickly. "I don't need to know how I rank. I just need to know that you want me."
"I want you," he confirmed. "Very much. You're beautiful, powerful, intelligent, and surprisingly fun when you let your guard down."
She blushed again. Even after everything they'd just done, compliments still got to her. It was adorable.
"I should probably tell you something," she said after a moment of comfortable silence.
"What's that?"
"The Rakshasa inheritance... it's been very quiet lately. Almost dormant. I think your threat actually terrified it into submission."
"Good. That was the point."
"But it's still offering me the full inheritance. The godhood, the power, everything. Just without the mental corruption." She looked at him seriously. "Should I accept it?"
Luo Yan considered. "Do you want godhood?"
"I thought I did. For years, it was my ultimate goal—become a god, gain power that could never be taken from me, ensure no one could ever hurt me again." She paused. "But now? I'm not sure. The power is tempting, but if it means being bound to that parasitic deity..."
"Accept the power, reject the strings," Luo Yan advised. "Take what's useful from the inheritance—the techniques, the divine energy cultivation methods. But don't let it own you. You're strong enough to dominate the inheritance rather than being dominated by it."
"You think so?"
"I know so. You're Bibi Dong. The woman who conquered Spirit Hall through sheer determination. A parasite god is nothing compared to what you've already survived."
The confidence in his voice seemed to bolster her. She smiled. "Alright. I'll do it. Take the power, tell the Rakshasa to shut up and stay in its corner."
"That's my girl."
The possessive endearment made her shiver happily. "Say that again."
"My girl."
"Mm. I like the sound of that."
They dozed for a while, comfortable in each other's presence. When Bibi Dong woke, she found Luo Yan watching her with an amused expression.
"What?" she asked.
"I was just thinking—Hu Liena is going to be insufferable when she finds out about this. She predicted you'd end up in my bed within the week."
Bibi Dong groaned. "Of course she did. That girl is too smart for her own good." Then she paused. "Wait, does this mean Nana knows about Renxue too?"
"Probably?"
"And Renxue knows about...?"
"Not yet. I've been waiting for the right time to tell her."
Bibi Dong sat up, pulling the sheet around herself. "Luo Yan, you do realize my daughter is going to have Opinions about the fact that you're sleeping with her mother *and* her mother's prized student, right?"
"I'm aware."
"And you're not worried?"
"Should I be?" He pulled her back down against his chest. "Qian Renxue wants you to be happy. She wants Hu Liena to be happy. If being with me makes you both happy, she'll accept it. She might be a bit shocked initially, but she'll come around."
"You're very confident about that."
"I know Renxue. Better than almost anyone. Trust me on this."
Bibi Dong sighed but didn't argue further. "Fine. But *you're* the one who gets to tell her. I'm not explaining to my daughter why I'm sleeping with her boyfriend."
"Deal."
They stayed like that until well past midnight, talking about everything and nothing. Eventually, Bibi Dong reluctantly admitted she needed to return to her chambers before the morning staff started wondering where the Pope had disappeared to.
"Can I come back tomorrow?" she asked, and there was something almost shy in the question.
"You can come back whenever you want," Luo Yan assured her. "You're mine now. That means you're always welcome."
She kissed him softly. "Good. Because I plan to take full advantage of that."
After she left—properly dressed and dignified once more—Luo Yan lay in bed with a satisfied smile.
**[BIBI DONG - FAVORABILITY INCREASED]**
**[CURRENT FAVORABILITY: 98 → 100]**
**[LEVEL 4 ACHIEVED: PERFECT HARMONY]**
**[CONGRATULATIONS! BIBI DONG HAS BECOME YOUR THIRD HAREM MEMBER IN DOULUO DALU!]**
**[REWARDS UNLOCKED:]**
**[+1000 System Points]**
**[+50% Cultivation Speed Boost (Permanent, Cumulative)]**
**[Soul Resonance Activated]**
**[Eternal Connection Marking]**
**[Unique Fusion Technique: Rakshasa's Redemption - Access to purified divine power]**
**[TOTAL CULTIVATION SPEED: +135% BASE (+160% IN DOULUO DALU WITH RESONANCE)]**
**[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: TRINITY OF POWER]**
**[REWARD: +2000 System Points for securing three Perfect Harmony bonds in single universe]**
**[CURRENT SYSTEM POINTS: 9,950]**
**[SPECIAL NOTICE: Host has secured mother, daughter, and student in unprecedented harem configuration. Emotional dynamics will require careful management but offer unique benefits for cultivation advancement and universal influence.]**
Luo Yan read through the notifications with immense satisfaction. Three women. All at Perfect Harmony. All deeply devoted to him.
And the cultivation boost was *insane*. 135% base speed, 160% when in Douluo Dalu. That was more than doubling his normal cultivation rate.
*Not bad for a month's work,* he thought.
A knock at his door interrupted his contemplation. He opened it to find Hu Liena standing there in her nightclothes, grinning like a fox who'd just raided the henhouse.
"Sooooo," she drawled. "How was your evening with Teacher?"
"Don't you have your own room?"
"I do. But I also saw Teacher leaving here looking very satisfied and wanted to congratulate you on completing your Douluo Dalu trinity." She pushed past him into the room. "Three for three! That's got to be some kind of record."
"You're insufferable."
"You love it." She flopped onto his bed, completely at ease. "So when are we telling Miss Qian Renxue about the new family configuration?"
"Soon. Very soon. I just need to figure out the right way to explain that her mother and her mother's student are now both—"
"Sleeping with her boyfriend?" Hu Liena supplied cheerfully. "Yeah, that's going to be a fun conversation. I want to be there when you tell her. Her facial expressions are going to be *priceless*."
"You're enjoying this way too much."
"Absolutely! This is the most entertainment I've had in years." She patted the bed beside her. "Come on, sit. Tell me everything. Was Teacher as nervous as I predicted?"
Despite himself, Luo Yan laughed and joined her on the bed. "You predicted everything correctly."
"Ha! I knew it. Nobody knows Teacher better than I do."
They talked until Hu Liena fell asleep mid-sentence, still curled up on his bed. Luo Yan covered her with a blanket and settled in beside her, feeling the triple bond humming through his consciousness.
Qian Renxue in Heaven Dou Empire, content and secure.
Hu Liena right here, peacefully sleeping.
And Bibi Dong in the Papal Palace, feeling genuinely happy for the first time in decades.
*Three perfect bonds,* he thought as sleep claimed him. *Now the real fun begins.*
Because tomorrow, he was going to have to tell his angel girlfriend that her mother had joined the harem.
That was going to be... interesting.
---
**To Be Continued**