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At this moment, the shadow on one side of the bedroom rippled like water, and a tall and cold figure emerged silently.
Bibi went east and returned.
She was still wearing the papal robes and looked as majestic as ever, but there was a hint of imperceptible fatigue in her eyes compared to what she had seen in the square just now.
"Your plan is very vicious and effective." Gu Yuena spoke first, her tone flat, and it was impossible to tell whether it was praise or judgment.
Bibi Dong walked to the bedside, her cold gaze lowered, meeting Xuan Ming's. "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures."
"Ning Fengzhi is a smart man. He knows which side is the dead end and which side still has a glimmer of hope. For the sake of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's inheritance, he will make the right choice, even if it means drinking poison to quench thirst."
"You brought the soul-hunting plan forward and forcibly tied the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to the chariot. Aren't you afraid of forcing them to rebel or sowing greater disasters in the future?" Xuan Ming asked.
Although he understood Bibi Dong's decision, this move was undoubtedly walking a tightrope.
Militarism that advocates violence can indeed concentrate strength to the greatest extent during wartime, but once a slight accident occurs or the war stops, the ills brought about by this extreme violence will destroy a country from within.
The impact of external forces can be resisted by violence, but what about internal collapse?
Rely on greater violence to suppress?
"Afraid?" Bibi Dong said with a cold expression.
"That's why I sent them to attack the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Clan. With the blood of their former allies on their hands, there's no turning back. Apart from clinging closely to the Spirit Hall, there's no place for them in the world, no matter how vast it is. This isn't a choice, it's the only way to survive."
"As for future troubles? Once the continent is unified, under an iron fist, what troubles will there be? Internal collapse? Then use even greater power to forge it anew! Suspicion, betrayal, hatred... these weak emotions are meaningless in the face of absolute power."
Bibi Dong's philosophy is simple and cruel: to defeat cleverness with force and to suppress all instability with power.
In her opinion, any internal problems ultimately stem from insufficient strength and incomplete control.
Xuan Ming looked at her silently without refuting.
He really had no interest in arguing about the philosophy of governance; human disputes sometimes seemed to him like a raucous drama.
He intervened more for specific people and things rather than for a certain idea.
Bibi Dong has her own path, and he has his own path.
Bibi Dong didn't intend to say much about this matter. This was a public matter, not a personal matter.
She changed the subject and said, "Qian Renxue is looking for you, Ning Fengzhi, and your girlfriends."
"They all have something to tell you."
Their original plan was that after the Ice Dragon King crippled the Golden Crocodile, Qian Daoliu would take action, and then Xuan Ming would expose Qian Renxue's identity and leave Wuhun City.
Given the threat posed by the Ice Dragon King, Qian Daoliu will never go against her again.
But they didn't expect such a big commotion, and Qian Daoliu didn't even show up.
Moreover, Yu Xiaogang suddenly went crazy and exposed Qian Renxue's identity. She still hasn't figured out how Yu Xiaogang knew about this?
It can't be that Tang Hao discovered it when Xuan Ming and Qian Renxue were attacked outside Tiandou City, right?
…
The next day, deep inside the Pope's Palace.
After a night of rest and recuperation, Xuan Ming's condition has recovered a lot. Although he is still far from his peak, he is no longer in danger.
The sound of light footsteps broke the deep silence. Unlike Bibi Dong's silent footsteps, these footsteps were deliberately slow and cautious.
The light and shadow moved slightly, and a figure appeared at the entrance.
She was no longer the gentle, noble and elegant "Tiandou Prince Xue Qinghe", nor was she the pale Qian Renxue whose identity was torn apart under the watchful eyes of the crowd last night.
She changed into a plain white dress, her long golden hair simply tied behind her back. Her face was still beautiful, but all disguises were washed away, revealing some real fatigue and confusion.
Deep within those clear golden eyes, there was an indescribable struggle, humiliation, and a trace of desire for answers... which she herself might not even be aware of.
She stood there and did not come in immediately. Her eyes passed through the slightly dim light and fell on Xuan Ming who was leaning on the couch, and Gu Yuena who was standing quietly beside him, as if she had merged with the shadows.
Xuan Ming opened his eyes and looked at her without saying a word, just waiting quietly.
Qian Renxue took a deep breath, walked in, and stopped a few steps away from Xuan Ming.
The two looked at each other, and the air seemed to freeze.
"...Grandpa Golden Crocodile, are you okay?"
In the end, it was Qian Renxue who spoke first. Her voice was a little dry, but she asked this question.
Although Golden Crocodile Douluo acts in an extreme way, to her, he is an elder who truly protects her.
"He shouldn't die for the time being. However, he is old and his soul power is completely exhausted. He won't live for many days." Xuan Ming answered concisely. He just didn't kill the golden crocodile directly, but the old thing wouldn't live long either.
Qian Renxue's fingers curled slightly. This answer seemed to both relieve her and sting her. She was silent for a moment, and when she looked up again, her eyes had a sharper look.
"Why?"
"Why?"
"Why did you hold back?" Qian Renxue stared at him. "With the power you displayed back then, you could have... killed him. Just like you killed Yu Yuanzhen."
She didn't understand. Since they were already enemies, why would she show mercy? Was it pity? Or... something else?
"Didn't you treat me the same way before?" Xuan Ming said.
The reason for abandoning him instead of killing him was certainly because of Bibi Dong's need and the threat from Qian Daoliu, but more importantly, it was because of Qian Renxue.
No matter how much Qian Renxue plotted against him, she never really killed him. Even though he challenged her bottom line again and again, she endured it.
In the past, the two of them tortured each other.
Qian Renxue didn't let him go, and he didn't let Qian Renxue have an easy time either.
Qian Renxue's eyes trembled slightly, as if these words had pierced her deepest heart. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed it back.
Her pride and stubbornness made her unwilling to admit this "specialness", but deep down in her heart, this answer caused an indescribable ripple.
Qian Renxue looked away and was silent for a moment before she whispered, "...Thank you."
It was extremely difficult to say thank you, but it brought a sense of relief.
"No need." Xuan Ming shook his head, "We each take what we need."
Qian Renxue took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind. She looked back at Xuan Ming with a complicated expression, "I... need to go back to the Elder Hall. Grandpa wants to see me."
Her identity has been exposed and her plan has completely failed. Now that Golden Crocodile Douluo has been deposed, the power of the Spirit Hall has been handed over to the Pope.
Just as Golden Crocodile Douluo said before, she is not young anymore and it is time for her to shoulder her responsibilities as the heir of the Seraph family.
Xuan Ming looked at her and said nothing more, "Take care."
Qian Renxue looked at him deeply, as if she wanted to engrave his appearance in her heart. Finally, she turned around and disappeared step by step into the shadows of the corridor.
She knew that after this separation, they might not see each other again for many years.
Gu Yuena walked out from the shadows, came to Xuan Ming's side, and whispered, "She doesn't seem to hate you."
"Whether I hate you or not, it doesn't matter anymore." Xuan Ming closed his eyes and sighed softly.
"She's going to go her way, and I'm going to go mine."
"Don't you want to go and meet them?" Gu Yuena asked.
"They probably have a lot of questions for you."
"But I don't know how to answer." Xuan Ming said.
According to the original plan, after the commotion in Wuhun City, he should leave directly, and the rest of the matters would be handled by Bibi Dong.
But now...
Gu Yuena's eyes flickered slightly, and she slowly sat down next to Xuan Ming, gently holding his hand, "I'll go help you."
"You?" Xuan Ming was slightly stunned.
"Don't you still believe in my ability?" Gu Yuena asked.
Xuan Ming's expression was a little unnatural, "I just trusted your ability too much."
Gu Yuena was taught by the Ice Dragon King!
"Don't worry, I will help you take care of these things." Gu Yuena said.
"Besides, I'm the only one who can handle this, right?"
These relationships of Xuan Ming are really complicated. It is easy to deal with them, but it is also difficult to deal with them.
Moreover, besides her, the only one capable of handling this matter is Bibi Dong.
The bedroom fell into silence for a moment, with only the faint sound of the wind coming from outside the window.
Xuan Ming looked at her, and a trace of extremely complicated emotions flashed across his ice-blue eyes.
He knew Gu Yuena's methods and mind very well. If she took action, she could indeed sort out those complicated and tangled relationships clearly, and might even handle them more "properly" than he could personally.
But that kind of "property" is often accompanied by her unique, almost cold efficiency and some arrangements that do not allow for questioning.
He could almost imagine that Ning Rongrong's grievance, Zhu Zhuqing's stubbornness, Dugu Yan's aggressiveness, Ye Lingling's quietness... All these different emotions and demands might be calmly analyzed and classified in front of Gu Yuena, and then the most "reasonable" solution would be given.
This plan may be able to calm the storm, but will it also erase the warmth that should have been in those emotions?
The brief but heavy conversation between him and Qian Renxue just now made him feel inexplicably tired.
Xuan Ming said, "What are you going to do?"
Gu Yuena raised the corners of her lips slightly and whispered, "That depends on what kind of outcome you ultimately want. Do you want to cut the Gordian knot and end it completely, so that they can each live in peace and not disturb each other? Or... do you want to barely maintain a situation that seems balanced but is actually full of hidden dangers?"
"Xuan Ming, you need to think clearly about what you want first. Otherwise, my approach may deviate from your true wishes."
Xuan Ming was silent.
What did he want? His initial desire was to survive, become strong, no longer be controlled by others, and be able to control his own destiny.
But before I knew it, more and more people gathered around me, and more and more emotions were involved.
These were variables beyond his plan, but they were also a rare touch of warmth in his cold fate.
Completely give up? He found that he seemed... unwilling.
But what if he doesn't stop? The road ahead is destined to be filled with thorns and bloodshed. Even he himself doesn't know how far he can go, so how can he promise others a future?
That's why he initially just wanted to make a big scene, leave directly, and leave the rest of the matter to Bibi Dong.
But now...
"I understand." Gu Yuena gently hugged Xuan Ming.
"I'll take care of it for you."
Xuan Ming was silent for a moment, "Have you ever thought about what would happen if... I failed, you..."
Gu Yuena extended her cool fingers and gently stroked Xuan Ming's slightly furrowed brows, interrupting his unfinished words which carried a hint of ominous meaning.
"No ifs."
Her voice was soft, but carried an unquestionable firmness, as if she was stating an established rule.
"I believe in you. You are the one chosen by the Soul Beast Lord, the Ice Dragon King, and my chosen one. Your path will only lead to supremacy."
Her fingertips slid down his brow bone, across his straight nose, and finally stopped at his lips.
The touch was cold, but it strangely ignited a restless flame in Xuan Ming's body.
The tension, killing, calculations of the past few days, as well as the indescribable complex emotions when facing Qian Renxue's departure, seemed to have found an outlet at this moment.
Xuan Ming raised his eyes and met hers, which were so close to him. There was no longer the usual cold and distant look in his eyes, but something deeper and more domineering, like a turbulent undercurrent beneath the frozen sea.
"As for now..." Gu Yuena's voice deepened, carrying a hint of bewitching intent, "What you need is rest, to empty your mind, not to dwell on worries that haven't even occurred yet."
Before he finished speaking, she leaned down, and her slightly cool lips, with an irresistible force, sealed all his unspoken words.
This kiss was not gentle, it even had a bit of a punishing bite, as if it wanted to drive away all his chaotic thoughts, leaving only the most primitive sensory impact.
Xuan Ming groaned and subconsciously tried to struggle, but Gu Yuena held him tighter in her arms. The unique, cold and rich fragrance on her body completely enveloped him.
A brutal force came from her, and Xuan Ming was pressed down on the soft bed.
The cool touch of the brocade came through the thin material, but was instantly covered by the rapidly rising body temperatures of the two people.
"Na..." Xuan Ming tried to turn his head to get a chance to breathe, but his voice became unclear and hoarse because of the kiss.
Gu Yuena did not give him any chance to escape.
Her movements were swift and powerful, her slender fingers deftly reaching into his collar, and with a slight force—
"Sizzle—"
The sound of clothes tearing was particularly clear in the silent bedroom.
The cool air touched the exposed skin, causing a shudder, but it was immediately covered by a hotter touch.
Gu Yuena's hand wandered over his tense chest with the dominance of a patroller, igniting clusters of flames that were hard to ignore wherever she passed.
Xuan Ming's breathing was completely disordered.
His mind told him that this might not be the right time, but his body honestly responded to this sudden, soothing invasion.
Struggle and resistance quickly collapsed in the face of absolute power and surging emotions.
Xuan Ming closed his eyes, took the initiative and grabbed the back of her neck, deepening the kiss that was filled with the smell of blood and cold fragrance, while his other hand almost roughly pulled open the belt around her waist.
The clothes fell off in a messy manner, revealing a large area of smooth skin, which was intertwined with the new and old scars on Xuan Ming's body, forming a thrilling contrast.
The temperature in the bedroom seemed to be rising rapidly, and the panting sounds and the rustling sounds of fabrics mingled together, charming and scorching.
Just as he was lost in passion, the shadow at the entrance to the bedroom fluctuated imperceptibly for a moment.
A tall figure appeared there silently, the golden papal crown still on her head, and her luxurious robe made her look majestic and cold.
Bibi Dong.
She was obviously here to deal with follow-up matters, or to explain something, but she was caught off guard by the scene in the inner hall.
Her footsteps paused, her cold purple eyes fell on the overlapping figures on the bed, and her pupils contracted for a moment.
The bed curtains swayed, the light and shadow were blurred, and the intense and primitive scene crashed into her vision without any cover.
She saw Gu Yuena's snow-white back and scattered silver hair, saw Xuan Ming's rare wild and passive posture when he was pressed under her, and heard his uncontrollable and broken breathing.
There was no expression on Bibi Dong's face, as if covered with a layer of ice that would never melt.
However, the fingers holding the scepter tightened almost imperceptibly for a moment, and the knuckles turned slightly white.
She stood there quietly, like a silent ghost, and watched for about two or three breaths.
Then, without any words, she slowly retreated step by step, her figure re-merging into the shadows of the entrance, as if she had never appeared.
Inside the bedroom, the wind and rain were raging.
Gu Yuena seemed to have sensed something. Her purple eyes glanced towards the entrance, and a faint, understanding arc appeared at the corner of her mouth. Then she devoted herself more attentively to this sudden "comfort".
The sound of the wind outside the window seemed to be blocked out, and only the surging waves in the hall continued all night.