"Ziji."
Brigitte caught her hand before the dragoness could erupt again. Her pale fingers wrapped around Ziji's wrist like soft vines restraining a wild fire.
"It isn't good to fight." Her voice was quiet, firm. "At best it stirs emotions and burns life faster. At worst, it ends in blood, injury… or death. We are all supposed to be civilized beasts—aren't we?"
For a moment, everything stilled.
Brigitte's long green gown swayed over the grass. Bare feet kissed the earth like she was part of the forest itself, a spirit of wood and meadow. Her tone remained gentle, polite.
"My name is Brigitte, and this is Ziji," she said softly to Bibi Dong. "The King has told us much about his experiences among humans. For that… we should thank you. If not for your protection these past months, perhaps ordinary humans might have seized him already—taken him as a child-groom, or worse… turned him into their plaything, their pet."
"…Hello? Hello?"
Subei's eyebrow twitched. Excuse me? Just yesterday we were happily tangled in sheets, and now you curse me like this? Truly, women put on pants and forget the night before.
Bibi Dong had expected ferocity from these beasts. Most centennial monsters she slaughtered decades ago had long since devoured their kindred to survive. But Brigitte… Brigitte had no malice in her. Her aura was soft, nurtured, serene.
Still, her eyes betrayed her when they turned to Subei. Possessiveness gleamed there, even if she tried to hide it under reason and civility.
Bibi Dong inhaled slowly, her jaw tightening. She didn't like it, but she reminded herself—who could truly meet Xiao Bei without falling into that same hunger? Any woman would. Only the blind would not.
"He is my disciple," she said flatly. "Protecting him is my duty."
"Disciple? Tch."
Ziji smirked mockingly, her disdain sharp.
And then—swish.
A snow-white thigh arched into view, pale and supple, neither soft nor rigid but taut with just the perfect firmness. Her skirt shifted dangerously as she swayed, revealing hints of forbidden shadows.
The air turned heated.
Xiao Wu, who mere minutes before had been a crying, sobbing little rabbit, froze mid-sniffle. Her watery eyes dried instantly, her lips tightening. This woman… is no good. Shameless demoness! Seducing my brother?!
She stole a glance upward. Subei's lips parted, eyes glazed, a faint flush already creeping over his skin as he stared exactly where he shouldn't. The boy every woman adored, mesmerized like prey.
Xiao Wu panicked. She rushed to cover his eyes, pressing her small body in front of him like a shield. Her voice trembled, embarrassed but stubborn.
"Brother, don't look at her. If you want to look, look at Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu is prettier… Xiao Wu is clean."
Her cheeks blazed fire-red, lips bitten nearly white. Oh god, what did I just say? Angels and devils clashed in her mind. At last the devil whispered: Someday, Xiao Wu will belong to Brother anyway. She shoved down shame and clung tighter.
Ziji only giggled. Breaking Xiao Wu's grip with ease, she leaned in, eyes locking onto Subei's soul.
"Oh, little girl, you greedy thing. Do you want to keep his gaze to yourself? Sorry—but your sister prefers Kings." She winked shamelessly. "King, tell me honestly—who is more fun, hmm? Your teacher… or me?"
"?!"
Subei's mind blanked. Did she dare phrase it like that? "Fun with Teacher" or "fun with Teacher"? Curse the double meanings of Chinese!
Sweat trickled down his temple. This was no longer a love triangle. It was demolition derby with women steering armored tanks.
He looked first to Bibi Dong… then Ziji… then Brigitte.
How should he answer?
Bibi Dong's eyes were heavy with restrained anticipation. Ziji's lips curled in wicked demand. Brigitte watched solemnly. Xiao Wu clung with crimson cheeks. Liu Erlong stood tense on the side, her role muted but eyes sharp like a godmother guarding territory.
Subei inhaled deeply. Enough. Enough of this Shura field. If I don't end it now, they'll tear each other's dresses apart within minutes.
He clasped both Bibi Dong's and Ziji's hands, pulling Xiao Wu and Liu Erlong closer as well. His face grew serious, his voice unusually firm:
"Stop. Enough. Do I not have the right to decide where I go, myself? I'm a man—not a commodity to be fought over, or property to be auctioned."
His words stunned them all.
Bibi Dong was the first to nod. "You're right. A disciple should have that freedom. But that is why you'll return with me to Spirit Hall."
"Pfft." Ziji sneered. "Among soul beasts, only power decides. If you're strong enough, you take what you desire—mates, lovers, partners. Three wives, four concubines—it's natural. I, the strongest, want no harem, no palaces. Just the King. And I will have him."
Only Liu Erlong's calm voice cut through the charged air. "Xiao Bei's right. He deserves freedom."
Tears threatened his eyes. At last, someone reasonable… Mother Erlong, you're the only one who understands.
Desperate, Subei turned to Brigitte. "Aunt Brigitte, you've always been the fair one. Surely you agree?"
Brigitte thought long before answering. "You're right, King."
Hope flickered.
Then she added: "…but I do not agree."
"Why?!"
"Because Emperor Tian allowed you to leave once, and look where that led. Humans discovered too much, dirtied the purity of our core. We don't know what future disasters this invites."
Her jade eyes hardened. "Therefore, until you are fully grown and can protect yourself, you should remain in Star Dou. Only then will freedom be safe."
Her argument was flawless. Cautious, logical. Unbreakable.
…And Subei was speechless.
Bibi Dong bristled. "Elder, you underestimate Spirit Hall! With our protection, none could harm Xiao Bei."
Ziji's laughter was sharp and cruel. "And what if you yourself betray him? How do we know your greedy human hands won't touch our King's fragile body?"
Subei nearly coughed blood. Ziji! You dare call me fragile when you're the one who— He bit his tongue hard. His virgin dignity was already in ashes.
Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes into daggers. "Sister Ziji, before accusing me, look carefully at yourself. You dare speak of greed when your own behavior—"
"Ha!" Ziji leapt upright, her fiery aura blazing. "I admit it! Yes, I covet him. I hunger for him. I want a nest of little dragons with him! I want him entirely. And I'm not ashamed!"
"You!"
Bibi Dong's chest heaved, humiliation twisting her features. Her face turned stormy, every word Ziji spoke cutting her pride.
The Pope of Spirit Hall, above all save the gods themselves—slurred as a conniving hypocrite!
This insult would not be pardoned.
"Fight then!" she snapped. "Fight, and I'll show you the price of your arrogance!"
Ziji sneered back. "With pleasure! When I grind your flat chest into the dirt, you'll regret ever insulting me!"
That did it.
Power exploded like a storm. Waves of energy tore across the field, sending Xiao Wu tumbling before Brigitte caught her with gentle strength.
Liu Erlong stood pale, muttering, "So it's true… Bibi Dong truly is at the edge of Level 99." Her fist clenched. I can never catch her… all my life, I'll never catch up.
And at the center of this inferno—
"ENOUGH!"
The roar split the sky.
Subei's aura surged, imperial, devastating, pressing even Bibi Dong down. His hair whipped in invisible wind, his eyes burning with unknown majesty.
He raised a finger, condensing soul power into a razor edge of Qi. He leveled it—at his own flawless face.
Gasps tore through every heart.
"Xiao Bei, what are you doing?!"
Subei's voice was deadly calm. "You won't listen. You treat me like a child. Then hear this—if you do not heed me, I'll stab. Right. Here."
The edge glittered, one stroke away from destroying the face that haunted their dreams.
Every woman froze.
The Pope. The dragoness. The healer. The godmother. The rabbit.
Tear away his beauty? Impossible. They'd rather die than let it happen.
"Xiao Bei, don't…!"
"We'll listen, we'll all listen!"
"Put it down, my King. Please!"
Their cries overlapped, trembling.
And at last, he eased down the sword of Qi.
Good. Fear of ruin worked better than any shouting match.
"In that case," he said softly, sweeping his gaze across all of them, "here's my choice. I will not go back chained to anyone. I will build a palace in a town by the forest's edge. A place of my own, where humans and soul beasts may visit. You may come whenever you wish. That is the best compromise."
Bibi Dong laughed softly, relief flooding her face. "If wealth is needed, I'll provide it. Money can solve all things."
Her eyes glowed. "Just never gamble your body again, Xiao Bei. Or you'll break every one of our hearts."
--
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