Dai Yao looked up in astonishment, seeing Bibi Dong's joyful expression like that of a young girl, and felt a strange sensation in his heart.
Is this still the same Rakshasa God from the original story, who killed without hesitation and was cruel and ruthless?
Moreover, just now, when he admitted to deceiving her, he addressed her as His Holiness the Pope, but Bibi Dong insisted on calling her by her name.
The title 'Your Holiness the Pope' is too distant, implying a vast difference in status, like a chasm separating the two. But calling her by her name means that there is no difference in their status.
"Could it be that Bibi Dong considers me her friend?"
Dai Yao's eyes flickered as he made his own speculations.
Seeing Dai Yao's strange expression, Bibi Dong instantly snapped out of her daze, reverting to her usual aloof indifference. She said calmly:
"Alright, you can go back now. Since it was just an accident that you obtained that 100,000-year soul ring, I won't pursue the matter. You can keep that 100,000-year soul bone yourself."
"After all, a 100,000-year soul ring and a matching 100,000-year soul bone have a complementary effect."
"Moreover, the fact that you obtained a 100,000-year soul ring at the Soul Emperor level is also good news for our Spirit Hall."
"Once you grow up, there should be no one on the entire continent who can rival you."
"Keep the 100,000-year-old soul beast you wanted to give me. It's your opportunity, and as the Pope, I have no habit of taking away my disciples' opportunities."
As soon as he finished speaking, Dai Yao was stunned.
In the original novel, Bibi Dong desperately sought a 100,000-year soul ring. Now, with a 100,000-year soul bone right before her, she disdains it!
Although Bibi Dong spoke casually, as if she didn't care, Dai Yao couldn't take it as something Bibi Dong should do.
The tense atmosphere from just moments ago vanished with Bibi Dong's words, as if she didn't care at all about Dai Yao stealing her 100,000-year soul ring, but was more concerned about Dai Yao himself—
Was I deceiving her...?
Dai Yao's feelings were somewhat complicated. His choice just now seemed to have made Bibi Dong feel even more radiant, but if things continued like this, his relationship with Bibi Dong would inevitably change.
After emerging from the Rakshasa God's test, he and Bibi Dong tacitly stopped mentioning what had happened in the zombie world. They acted like superiors and subordinates, as if what had happened in the zombie world was not just a dream.
But today's events have gradually pulled their relationship back to what it was like in the zombie world...
That intimacy, while igniting a burning passion in Dai Yao's heart, also contained a faint sense of fear. If he couldn't control himself, he would sink into hell alongside Bibi Dong...
Bibi Dong laughed off his act of stealing the 100,000-year soul ring; he had to accept this favor. Gritting his teeth, he looked at Bibi Dong, high above on the Pope's throne, and solemnly said:
"Thanks."
There are quite a few 100,000-year-old soul beasts in Douluo Continent II, especially in the ocean. He vowed in his heart that once he became a Title Douluo, he would definitely find several 100,000-year-old soul beasts in the ocean for Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong looked at Dai Yao, a barely perceptible tenderness flashing in her beautiful eyes.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, you can go now..."
She said calmly.
Dai Yao remained rooted to the spot, not moving. This caught Bibi Dong's attention, and she asked with some confusion:
"What's wrong?"
Dai Yao was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke:
"How did your Rakshasa God test go?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Bibi Dong's body stiffened, and the jade hand supporting her head trembled slightly, almost wanting to pull it back behind her. She didn't want Dai Yao to see her blood-stained hand.
She closed her eyes, suppressing her slightly rapid breathing, and forced a calm expression as she said:
"very good."
How could Dai Yao not notice Bibi Dong's reaction? At the same time, a bad feeling crept into his mind. Although it wasn't mentioned in the original work, the anime did, suggesting that Bibi Dong was able to inherit the Rakshasa God's position because of her killing.
He frowned and asked:
"I didn't lie to you. Are you trying to deceive me? What exactly did you do, Bibi Dong?"
Bibi Dong avoided eye contact with Dai Yao, and said through gritted teeth:
"I said it's nothing. As the Pope, do I need to explain to you what I do?"
Upon hearing this, Dai Yao was somewhat lost in thought and looked slightly disappointed. He respectfully replied:
"Yes, Your Holiness the Pope..."
"I...I didn't mean that!"
Seeing Dai Yao's reaction, Bibi Dong was in a panic. She only wanted Dai Yao to stop asking questions, but in her haste, she used her identity as the Pope to force Dai Yao to shut up.
She appeared in front of Dai Yao, her left hand trembling as she reached out to him, saying in a flustered voice:
"I'm sorry, that's not what I meant..."
Seeing Bibi Dong's utterly distraught state, Dai Yao sighed inwardly. He was now certain of his importance in her heart. He grasped Bibi Dong's trembling left hand, soothing her emotions, and solemnly said:
"You need to understand that some things, once done, can never be undone! If you've done them, you must stop. Otherwise, the end result will only be your own destruction!"
"I······"
Bibi Dong was slightly taken aback. Although Dai Yao hadn't explicitly stated it, she understood his meaning. She withdrew her hand from Dai Yao's grasp, sighed softly, and said in a low voice:
"But I won't do that..."
Dai Yao knew that if Bibi Dong didn't do that, she might not be able to inherit the Rakshasa God's position. He took off the ring he was wearing and placed it on Bibi Dong's hand.
That was a ring that Bibi Dong had given him to store 50,000 prisms. Over the years, Dai Yao had not obtained a spirit ring, and his spirit power level remained at level 59, so he had never used these prisms.
Dai Yao looked at Bibi Dong and said solemnly:
"These prisms should be enough for your cultivation. Now that they're in your possession, they've been returned to their rightful owner. As your friend, I advise you to stop those things; otherwise, you'll be forever lost..."
Bibi Dong clutched the 50,000 prisms tightly, her red lips trembling. This was the first time she had felt so vulnerable since becoming Pope.
She didn't care about the price she had to pay to become a god, nor how much blood she had to shed, nor the opinions of others. The only thing she cared about was how the people she cared about treated her.
The man she once loved, Yu Xiaogang, abandoned her; the teacher she once respected, Qian Xunji, plunged her into the abyss.
That's why she cared so much about whether Dai Yao was deceiving her. Fortunately, Dai Yao eventually opened up to her, which made her believe that the Dai Yao in the zombie world was the same Dai Yao in the real world!
My concern for her will not change because of changes in status or location!
What are those 100,000-year soul rings and a few soul bones compared to Dai Yao?
Moreover, Dai Yao returned the priceless 50,000 prisms to her without asking for anything in return, simply because he didn't want her to continue to shed blood.
"Thank you... Dai Yao."
Bibi Dong stared blankly at Dai Yao and slowly said.
For a moment, she was so excited that she seemed to have lost all her strength, barely able to stand by supporting herself with the papal scepter. Even her Title Douluo-level soul power seemed so powerless in the face of her surging emotions.
Dai Yao quickly helped Bibi Dong up, and said worriedly:
Are you alright?
"fine."
Bibi Dong took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
For the first time, a woman's fragility appeared in this noble pope. Dai Yao sighed softly and said:
"Bibi Dong, I don't mean for you to stop killing. If the Rakshasa God's succession to the divine position requires killing, you can go after those who deserve to be executed."
Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong's pupils constricted sharply, and she pursed her lips. Hearing Dai Yao's words, her emotions remained unsettled for a long time. Ever since she was rediscovered in the secret chamber years ago, she had suppressed her inner feelings.
Dai Yao's few words stirred up a storm in her heart! The deeper the suppression had been, the more violently it erupted now!
After a long pause, she said somewhat weakly:
"Can I lean against you for a bit?"
Dai Yao was stunned for a moment:
"sure."
Bibi Dong knelt on the ground, her shapely legs gleaming alluringly beneath her purple stockings. She closed her eyes and leaned her entire weight on Dai Yao's shoulder.
For years, she had been sustained by hatred, never resting; she was exhausted. Now, Dai Yao's existence gave her someone she could trust, someone in whose presence she could let her guard down.
Now, caught off guard, if Dai Yao harbors malicious intent, Bibi Dong will suffer severe damage even if she relies on her title as a Douluo to defend herself.
The thick ice that had been built up in her heart for decades finally melted away completely, revealing the vulnerability of the girl after her past wounds.
Her breathing gradually became even, and her sharp brows softened. Bibi Dong seemed to have fallen asleep.
Dai Yao gazed at Bibi Dong's peaceful sleeping face beside him, falling silent. This was the first time he had felt so close to Bibi Dong in the real world. The tacit understanding that had initially maintained a distance, along with their mutual misunderstanding, had gradually faded away.
Dai Yao stared at the tightly closed stone door, his body tense, supporting the weight of Bibi Dong's body.
What should be done if the doors of the Papal Palace are opened and people see him and the current Pope in this state?
As if noticing Dai Yao's worry, Bibi Dong, who had been sleeping, suddenly spoke:
"Don't worry, no one will dare to come in without my order. Carry me to the Pope's throne..."
Dai Yao turned around and looked at Bibi Dong's pretty face, only to find that her eyes were still tightly closed, her cherry lips were parted, and her breathing was even. It was as if the words just now had not come from her mouth.
Dai Yao sighed softly, holding Bibi Dong's jade-like back with one hand and her two round jade legs with the other. He rested her head on his chest, stood up, and walked to the papal throne.
When he sat on the papal throne and tried to put Bibi Dong down, he found that he could not stand up.
"Did Bibi Dong make this?"
Dai Yao looked at the person so close to him and thought to himself.
With the soft, fragrant body in his arms, he felt no romantic thoughts. Since Bibi Dong had chosen to believe him, and he knew about her past, coupled with his gratitude for her leniency today, he felt only pity for her.
He reached out his right hand and carefully removed the purple-gold crown that bothered him from Bibi Dong's head, placing it on the armrest beside him.
When Dai Yao picked up the purple-gold crown, he realized that it was incredibly heavy.
"Wow, it's this heavy? I really don't know how this guy managed to carry that thing for so long..."
After removing her purple-gold crown, Bibi Dong lost her usual dignified demeanor as the Pope and instead became more human.
Dai Yao shook his head and chuckled softly. No one would have imagined that the Pope of the Spirit Hall, one of the most authoritative figures on the continent, would lie so peacefully in his arms.
······
This time, it not only signifies the first time the two have been intimately connected in the real world, but also means that Dai Yao has finally shattered the ice sealed within Bibi Dong's heart, touching her deeply wounded soul. (End of Chapter)