Qian Renxue's footsteps suddenly stopped, as though invisible strings had yanked her to a halt.
She slowly turned around. A few strands of her long golden hair slipped over her shoulder, obscuring half her face.
Complex emotions churned in her eyes: joy, distance, and a trace of deeply buried grievance.
"I'm doing very well. You don't need to worry about me."
Her voice suddenly turned cold, as though instantly wrapped in a layer of frost.
After saying that, she did not linger. She strode toward the door, her steps so hurried that she staggered slightly.
Bibi Dong stared at the empty doorway. The hand she had extended froze in midair, her fingertips trembling faintly.
The hand outside the quilt slowly clenched, twisting one corner of the brocade cover into deep folds.
After a while, the door was gently pushed open, and Ye Linglong and Su Yu walked in together.
Seeing that Bibi Dong was already awake and leaning against the bed frame, Ye Linglong slightly bowed and cupped her hands.
"Greetings, Your Excellency the Pope!"
Bibi Dong raised her eyes to look at her. Though her amber eyes still held traces of weariness, she had regained some of her former bearing.
She gave a light nod. Though her voice was soft, it carried gratitude.
"Your Excellency Sect Master Ye, there's no need for such courtesy. If not for your intervention and rescue this time, I'm afraid I would already be dead. I'll remember this kindness."
Ye Linglong waved her hand. Her gaze swept over Bibi Dong's complexion as she said seriously, "Your Excellency the Pope, you're too kind. My Nine Heart Begonia is responsible for healing. Regardless of status, I only look at the injuries."
"I've come today to reinforce your treatment. I expect you'll be fully recovered in a