In the evening, after a day of fun, Qian Renxue and the others relaxed at the forest cabin, preparing to invite Qian Daoliu for dinner.
As they passed the Pope's Hall, a soft, almost pleading voice reached their ears.
"Could you come to the Pope's Hall? This is my request. Please."
Lin Feng glanced at the sky. It was late—was she still working?
And that tone—was it really Bibi Dong? It sounded more like a gentle neighbor than the stern Pope.
Had she changed? The Aromatic Silk Beauty couldn't have had such a dramatic effect, could it? At most, it suppressed some of the Rakshasa's malevolent influence.
The three paused, and Qian Renxue frowned, glancing toward the Pope's Hall.
"Xiao Feng, what do you think she wants?"
Lin Feng shook his head. This time, he truly had no idea.
Qian Renxue bit her lip, her gaze flickering toward the Pope's Hall. After a moment of hesitation, she took Lin Feng and Ling Yan's hands and continued toward the Elder Hall.
Bibi Dong's voice grew more urgent:
"Xue... Lin Feng, please listen. I mean no harm. I just have something important to discuss."
Her voice trembled with anxiety:
"I know there's been a lot of bad blood between us, but this time, I'm sincere. Please."
Qian Renxue stopped in her tracks, her heart filled with confusion and unease at Bibi Dong's sudden change in demeanor.
Why was she pleading now? Why this sudden humility? That gentle tone was something she had never heard from Bibi Dong in her childhood!
Lin Feng and Ling Yan looked at Qian Renxue, waiting for her decision.
Qian Renxue frowned, struggling to believe Bibi Dong's sudden transformation, but a sliver of hope lingered in her heart.
She tightened her grip on Lin Feng and Ling Yan's hands. Her feelings for Bibi Dong were too complex to completely sever.
"Let's go hear her out. If she's still as arrogant as before, we'll leave immediately."
Lin Feng and Ling Yan nodded, and the three turned toward the Pope's Hall.
When they reached the entrance, they were surprised.
"Grandpa Chrysanthemum, why are you here?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo looked somewhat helpless:
"The Pope begged me to stand guard here, saying she needed a witness. I'm not sure what she's planning.
But it seems she wants to talk to you. I'm just here to observe."
Qian Renxue nodded slightly, her guard lowering a little.
When the three entered the Pope's Hall, Bibi Dong stood in the center, not on her usual high throne.
Seeing them, her eyes flickered with relief and complex emotions.
"Thank you for coming," Bibi Dong took a deep breath. "This time, I'm the one asking for a favor. You can demand an equal reward in return."
Qian Renxue frowned. The more humble Bibi Dong acted, the more uncomfortable she felt. Shouldn't she be happy to see this change?
"What do you want?" she asked coldly.
Bibi Dong hesitated:
"The Yearning Heartbroken Red... have you plucked it?"
Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed:
"If you know about it, then you should also know that once it recognizes its master, it's forever. You can't take it."
Bibi Dong shook her head slowly:
"I don't want to take it. I just... want to use it to examine my feelings."
Qian Renxue scoffed:
"You? Have feelings of love? I've never seen you show any affection, especially not toward Father."
Qian Renxue, unaware of Bibi Dong's past, assumed she was referring to her feelings for Qian Xunji.
Bibi Dong didn't correct her:
"Please. Whatever you want in return, just name it."
Qian Renxue clenched her teeth:
"Fine. The extra immortal herb from your bet with Xiao Feng—we'll take it back."
"No problem."
Bibi Dong agreed without hesitation.
Qian Renxue exhaled and waved her hand. A vibrant flower appeared from her storage device.
The Yearning Heartbroken Red floated gently in her palm, glowing faintly.
Bibi Dong's eyes lit up with excitement, and she took an involuntary step forward before stopping herself, looking at Qian Renxue.
Qian Renxue's expression was complicated:
"Go ahead, Little Red."
As she spoke, the Yearning Heartbroken Red floated between them.
Having already recognized its master, the flower understood its task under Qian Renxue's guidance.
It began to examine Bibi Dong's feelings.
Bibi Dong closed her eyes, and for a moment, Qian Xunji's image flashed in her mind. The flower shuddered as if it had encountered something horrifying.
Thankfully, it was just a fleeting moment.
Next, memories of her time with Yu Xiaogang surfaced, hazy and unclear.
The Yearning Heartbroken Red reacted as if it had encountered something repulsive. It shook violently, as if trying to rid itself of something foul.
It quickly retreated to Qian Renxue's hand, distancing itself from Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong was stunned. The flower's reaction suggested that her memories were... fake?
How could that be? Those were her own experiences, her own emotions. Was it...dislike her?
"Heh... hahaha—"
Bibi Dong laughed, her laughter tinged with madness, relief, and a strange sense of satisfaction.
Qian Renxue and the others frowned, unsure if Bibi Dong was losing her mind.
Bibi Dong took out the Aromatic Silk Beauty, using its calming fragrance to regain her composure. She smiled faintly:
"Thank you."
With that, she left the hall, her eyes shadowed with hidden darkness.
"Now I'm certain. Yu Xiaogang, you truly deserve to die!"
Qian Renxue watched Bibi Dong leave, feeling a mix of emotions.
"What was that about?"
Ling Yan was puzzled.
Qian Renxue shook her head, storing the Yearning Heartbroken Red. She didn't want to dwell on Bibi Dong's strange behavior.
"Let's go. Who knows why she wanted to humiliate herself like that."
Qian Renxue grabbed Lin Feng and Ling Yan's hands, leading them toward the Elder Hall.
As they left, Chrysanthemum Douluo sighed:
"I'm getting less and less able to understand the Pope. She had me standing here for half an hour, doing nothing.
Now I can just leave. And she wants me back tomorrow."
He shook his head:
"Just so you know, I'm not following you to spy. I'll be your hidden guard, but I won't be watching you all the time. Being a third wheel isn't my style.
I'll only show up if there's real danger."
Qian Renxue smiled:
"That's fine."
Chrysanthemum Douluo waved and left:
"Such is my fate. Always stuck with these kinds of tasks. I'm used to it."
After dinner with Qian Daoliu, the next morning, Lin Feng and the others, accompanied by the unseen Chrysanthemum Douluo, set off on their journey.