Bibi Dong, I Owe You Nothing Anymore

Bibi Dong, I Owe You Nothing Anymore

"Cheng Xiao."

"Cheng Xiao."

When Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue arrived at Qian Chengxiao's side, before Qian Renxue could lift him up, Bibi Dong pulled the Black Iron Mask-wearing Qian Chengxiao into her arms and murmured his name.

In the past, being held and cared for by Bibi Dong had been Qian Chengxiao's greatest wish.

But now, with his life force exhausted, he had already let go of everything.

Perhaps coming to this world, becoming her Childhood Sweetheart, falling in love with her, and becoming her lapdog had been a mistake from the very beginning.

Could it be that a Childhood Sweetheart could never overcome fate's chosen one?

Or rather, more accurately, a Childhood Sweetheart could never overcome the plot's predetermined kill.

Back when he had crossed over into Douluo and become Bibi Dong's Childhood Sweetheart, they had been adopted by Chihiro Ji together.

He had even thought himself fortunate, believing it was an incomparably lucky thing.

But after Yu Xiaogang appeared, he had come to understand that ten years of constant companionship and care could never overcome fate's chosen one.

He was like a clown. In Bibi Dong's eyes, perhaps he had merely been a complete and utter lapdog.

Held in Bibi Dong's arms, he let out a heavy breath.

"Finally free."

Hearing those softly spoken words from Qian Chengxiao, whom she held in her arms, Bibi Dong felt as though she were suffocating.

It was as if an invisible hand had gripped her heart, squeezing so hard that she could barely breathe.

"N-No, Cheng Xiao."

When Bibi Dong came back to herself, she looked through the Black Iron Mask covered in cracks and into Qian Chengxiao's dark eyes.

His gaze was filled with relief.

"Father, can I see your face one more time?"

Kneeling at the side, Qian Renxue looked at Qian Chengxiao in Bibi Dong's arms and reached out to remove the mask from his face.

She wanted to see the Father who had nearly faded from her memories.

"N-No!"

Though Qian Chengxiao had already been on his last breath, upon hearing Qian Renxue's words, he seemed to have a final burst of life. His voice was filled with panic.

Unfortunately, he had spoken too late.

More precisely, the Black Iron Mask's mission had already been completed.

Before Qian Renxue could remove it, her jade-like fingers had only just touched it when the cracked mask shattered.

"H-How could this be?!"

When Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong saw the face beneath the mask, their shocked eyes were full of disbelief.

As for Tang San and the others, they stood nearby, quietly watching the family of three.

They all knew that the man was beyond saving.

Even if he had been merely a mortal challenging gods to protect his wife and daughter, that courage alone was worthy of their respect.

After all, Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue could no longer cause any trouble.

So they gave them enough time to wait.

Tang San and the others, standing aside and watching them, were likewise filled with disbelief and shock when they saw Qian Chengxiao's face beneath the mask.

Because that face had been completely disfigured. Other than his relatively intact eyes, even his nose was gone.

That ruined face looked as though it had been burned and melted by raging flames, like a lump of kneaded dough twisted out of shape, monstrous in appearance.

"Y-Your face..."

As she spoke, Bibi Dong reached out to touch Qian Chengxiao's disfigured, terrifyingly grotesque face. Her voice trembled as tears poured down her cheeks.

"Father, why has your face become like this?"

In Qian Renxue's memories, Father's face had been the most handsome face in the world, without equal.

That Father, who had been gentle with her, always taken her side, and cherished her—after Mother killed him, she had begun to hate Mother.

But now, seeing Qian Chengxiao's ruined face, Qian Renxue wept uncontrollably.

She knew this was her Father. His Martial Soul was unique and irreplaceable.

That feeling of blood connection could not lie either.

But how had Father's face become like this?

"I told you not to look."

"I didn't want you to see me like this."

Hearing Qian Renxue's words, Qian Chengxiao's hoarse voice was filled with helplessness.

As for Bibi Dong, from this moment onward—no, perhaps from the moment he had nearly died by her hand—he no longer owed her anything.

This time, he had come only for Qian Renxue and to bring an end to his miserable life as a lapdog.

After all, he was also the man of this family.

"Someone once hated this face of mine. Seeing it made her sick."

"After staying by your side for several years, once I disappeared from Spirit Hall, I destroyed it."

Qian Chengxiao's voice was very soft, very soft.

But when those words fell into Bibi Dong's ears, they were deafening, leaving her entire body frozen in place.

"Bibi Dong."

Bibi Dong, who had fallen into a dazed collapse, slightly came back to herself upon hearing Qian Chengxiao call her name. She hurriedly lowered her head to look at him and meet his gaze.

"Cheng Xiao, tell me."

"You said you hated my voice, so I destroyed it."

"You said seeing my face made you sick, so now I've destroyed it too."

"N-No..."

"That's not what it was."

Every word Qian Chengxiao spoke was like a heart-piercing blade stabbing viciously into her chest, hurting so much she could not breathe.

She could only hold him and keep murmuring.

"You said that destroying a woman's purity was no different from taking her life."

"This time, I've returned this life to you completely."

"From now on, neither of us owes the other anything."

"N-No, that's not it."

"Cheng Xiao, that's not it."

"It was me. I've always been the one who owed you."

Listening to Qian Chengxiao's words, Bibi Dong felt as though ten thousand arrows had pierced her heart. The pain and regret inside her hurt more than when she had led Spirit Hall to defeat against Tang San.

Holding Qian Chengxiao, Bibi Dong murmured in agony, "Cheng Xiao, I was wrong. I truly know I was wrong."

"In the next life, in the next life, can we be together? I'll serve you like an ox or horse, all right?"

"The next life?"

"Heh."

Hearing Bibi Dong's words, Qian Chengxiao laughed.

His laughter was full of self-mockery as he said, "Forget about the next life."

"If I could do it over again, I hope I never meet you again."

"I don't love you anymore. I will never love you again."

As Qian Chengxiao lay in Bibi Dong's arms, the light in his eyes gradually faded, and his pupils slowly began to dilate.

"Father!!!"

Seeing Qian Chengxiao lose his breath in Bibi Dong's arms, Qian Renxue broke down and burst into tears.

As for Bibi Dong, after hearing Qian Chengxiao's words, she became utterly dazed and completely collapsed.

"No, no..."

Feeling Qian Chengxiao's breath slowly fade in her arms, Bibi Dong kept murmuring, wanting to refute his words, yet powerless to do so.

Qian Renxue stared at the scene before her in silence for a long time, tears silently sliding down her cheeks.

(End of Chapter)