Bibi Dong's Invitation

Night had fallen, and the sky was densely strewn with stars, their radiance flickering across the heavens.

Wang Dong'er sat before Lu Jing, looking at the books he had brought back from the Scripture Depository. Her peerless face was full of curiosity as she asked, "You spent all day busying yourself just for this?"

"What else would it be for?"

Lu Jing shrugged and reminded her, "Don't underestimate this thing just because no one pays attention to it and it can only gather dust in the Scripture Depository. It will be of crucial importance to us going forward."

"Hm? How so?" Wang Dong'er grew interested and could not help pressing him.

"It's—"

Just as Lu Jing was about to answer Wang Dong'er's question, a voice rang out from outside. "Young Master Lu Jing, Your Excellency the Pope summons you!"

"Bibi Dong? What does she want with you?" Wang Dong'er asked, her delicate brows knitting in confusion.

"Probably because of what happened during the day." Lu Jing rose to his feet and guessed.

"What happened during the day? What happened?" Wang Dong'er pressed.

Lu Jing did not hide it from her and briefly explained what had occurred.

"So that's what happened."

Wang Dong'er nodded thoughtfully. After a moment of silence, she asked worriedly, "You won't be in any danger, will you? Should we ask Qian Daoliu for help and have him back you up?"

"There's no need."

Lu Jing shook his head and said softly, "Bibi Dong isn't that foolish. She wouldn't choose to turn against Qian Daoliu and me over Yan. If she called for me, it should be for something else."

"Sister Dong'er, get some rest early. I'll be back soon!"

With that, he turned and walked out of the room.

Watching Lu Jing's departing figure, Wang Dong'er lightly bit her lip, her hands resting on her lap unconsciously clenching into fists.

At this moment, the Pope's Palace was brightly lit, yet it could not conceal the deep silence hanging over it.

Lu Jing stood before the study's heavy carved wooden doors, his thoughts turning slightly.

He had not taken his conflict with Yan that day to heart, yet he had not expected it to reach the Pope so quickly.

He gently knocked on the door. From within came a cool, dignified woman's voice. "Come in."

Lu Jing pushed the door open and entered.

Warm, bright light filled the study, illuminating the room as though it were daytime.

Bibi Dong sat behind a broad desk. Unlike the daytime, when she wore the Pope's magnificent robes and a violet-gold crown, she had changed into a fitted purple casual gown. The soft fabric perfectly outlined her mature, voluptuous, exquisitely curved figure.

Her head was slightly lowered, and her waterfall-like purple hair draped over her shoulders, revealing her fair, elegantly shaped neck. She was focused on reviewing the documents in her hands.

Her profile was incomparably beautiful beneath the lamplight. She possessed less of the Pope's forbidding majesty and more of a gentle, tranquil domestic grace, but the authority and bearing settled between her brows had not diminished in the slightest.

Hearing his footsteps, she lifted her eyes. Her deep violet gaze settled on Lu Jing as she set down her quill.

"Xiao Jing, you're here." Her voice was even, carrying even a trace of barely perceptible gentleness.

She rose to her feet, her long gown trailing along the floor, then elegantly walked around the desk. She gestured toward the sofa beside him, covered in soft velvet. "Sit."

Lu Jing walked over to the sofa as instructed, but did not sit down immediately.

Bibi Dong personally picked up the white jade teapot from the tea table and poured him a cup of clear tea. Steaming vapor carrying a faint fragrance of tea spread through the air.

This only deepened Lu Jing's confusion. The Pope had summoned him late at night, yet not only did she show no intention of holding him accountable, she was treating him with such courtesy?

"Your Excellency the Pope."

Lu Jing accepted the teacup, feeling the warmth of the porcelain against his fingertips. Deciding to be direct, he asked first, "May I ask why you summoned me so late?"

Bibi Dong sat on the sofa opposite him and elegantly crossed her legs. At his words, she smiled faintly. That smile made her already peerless face shine all the more brightly, but it also made Lu Jing more wary.

She looked at Lu Jing with interest, her tone carrying a hint of teasing. "You're so clever. Why don't you take a guess?"

Lu Jing pondered for a moment before raising his eyes to meet Bibi Dong's directly. "Is it because of... what happened with Yan during the day?"

Bibi Dong nodded lightly, confirming his guess. "Yes, and no."

She lifted her own cup of tea and gently blew on it before continuing, "I already understand what happened. Yan was the one who provoked you first and tried to seize your belongings. You were simply defending yourself. He was weaker than you, and his injuries were of his own making."

Now Lu Jing was truly somewhat puzzled.

Since she was not holding him accountable, why bring it up specifically?

His expression remained calm as he tested the waters. "Then what is this about...? Did Hu Liena ask you to stand up for him?"

Bibi Dong shook her head, set down her teacup, and said softly, her gaze calm and undisturbed, "That child Nana may be somewhat overly simple-minded, but she would not trouble me over something like this. She merely blames herself, believing it started because of her."

"Then..." Lu Jing was completely confused.

Bibi Dong did not answer right away. She stood and slowly walked to the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, her gaze falling upon the heavy night outside and Spirit City's scattered lights within it.

Wrapped in her purple gown, her back appeared graceful yet aloof, as though it bore an endless weight.

After a long silence, she finally spoke slowly, her voice carrying a distant, weighty quality. "Xiao Jing, do you know Spirit Hall's current situation? And... what path it should take in the future?"

Lu Jing was slightly taken aback. He had not expected Bibi Dong to suddenly ask him such a grand question.

After considering it for a moment, he answered cautiously, "Your Excellency the Pope, matters like this should be discussed with the Great Enshrined Elder, or with Sister Xue'er. I am insignificant and poorly informed. Discussing such matters with me... probably will not serve any practical purpose."

Bibi Dong did not turn around, but her voice was exceptionally clear. "Perhaps the current you cannot, but what about the future you? What I value is your potential, as well as your perspective that differs from ordinary people. Speak freely. There is no need to hold back."

Lu Jing looked at Bibi Dong's figure before the window, somewhat lonely yet incomparably resolute. He knew this was not the time to evade the matter.

He took a deep breath, organized his thoughts, and said, "If I'm not mistaken, Spirit Hall's future goal—and its only choice—should be... to unify the continent."

Bibi Dong's shoulders by the window trembled almost imperceptibly.

She slowly turned around, undisguised surprise and intense interest appearing on her peerless face. Sharp light gleamed in her violet eyes. "Oh? Tell me what you think."

Since he had already begun, Lu Jing no longer held anything back and laid out his analysis in full. "Spirit Hall has stood for ten thousand years, with deep foundations. Its soul masters are unmatched across the continent, and it enjoys extremely high prestige among the common people. It has both foundation and status. However, Spirit Hall lacks a large, organized army. Without an army, it cannot carry out large-scale territorial occupation or administrative rule. This is the greatest weakness restricting Spirit Hall from advancing further."

He paused and observed Bibi Dong's expression. Seeing that she was listening attentively, he continued, "And Sister Xue'er has infiltrated the Heaven Dou Empire, taking the identity of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, with grand ambitions in mind. Once she successfully gains control of the Heaven Dou Empire's highest authority, or even ascends the throne in the future, the Heaven Dou Empire's vast army and administrative system will become available to Spirit Hall. At that point, Spirit Hall's final weakness will be remedied. Given Spirit Hall's ambition and strength, it naturally cannot remain content in one corner any longer. Starting a war, sweeping aside the Star Luo Empire, and unifying the Douluo Continent will be an almost inevitable choice."