Night had fallen, the stars filled the sky, and countless points of starlight shimmered overhead.
Wang Dong'er sat across from Lu Jing, looking at the books he had brought back from the Scripture Depository. Her exquisite face was full of curiosity as she asked, "You were busy all day just for this?"
"What else would it be?"
Lu Jing shrugged his shoulders and reminded her, "Don't underestimate this thing. No one pays attention to it, and it can only gather dust in the Scripture Depository, but it will be crucial to what comes next for us."
"Hm? How so?" Wang Dong'er grew interested and could not help asking.
"It's..."
Just as Lu Jing was about to answer Wang Dong'er's question, a voice sounded from outside. "Young Master Lu Jing, Your Majesty the Pope summons you!"
"Bibi Dong? Why does she want to see you?" Wang Dong'er asked, her willow eyebrows slightly furrowed in confusion.
"Maybe because of what happened during the day." Lu Jing stood up 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 happened.
"So that's how it was."
Wang Dong'er nodded thoughtfully. After a moment of silence, she asked worriedly, "You won't be in trouble, will you? Should we ask Qian Daoliu for help and have him back you up?"
"There's no need for that."
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 someone like Yan. She probably has some other reason for summoning me."
"Sister Dong'er, get some sleep 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, and her hands resting on her lap involuntarily clenched.
At that moment, the Pope Palace was brightly lit, yet it could not dispel the profound silence hanging over it.
Lu Jing stood before the study's heavy carved wooden door, his thoughts shifting slightly.
He had not taken the conflict with Yan during the day to heart, yet he had not expected it to reach the Pope so quickly.
He gently knocked on the door leaf, and a cool yet authoritative female voice came from within. "Come in."
Lu Jing pushed the door open and entered.
Warm, bright light filled the study, illuminating the room as brightly as day.
Bibi Dong sat behind a broad desk. Unlike her formal daytime attire of papal robes and a violet-gold crown, she now wore a fitted purple casual dress. The soft fabric perfectly outlined her mature, voluptuous, and exquisitely curved figure.
Her head was slightly lowered, her waterfall-like purple hair falling over her shoulders and revealing her fair, beautifully lined neck. She was intently reviewing the documents in her hands.
Her profile under the lamplight was incomparably exquisite. She had lost some of the Pope's stern, untouchable majesty and gained a touch of domestic softness and tranquility, yet the authority and bearing settled between her brows had not diminished in the slightest.
Hearing his footsteps, she raised her eyes. Those deep purple eyes looked toward Lu Jing as she set down the feather pen in her hand.
"Little Jing is here." Her voice was calm, even carrying a trace of gentleness that was difficult to detect.
She rose to her feet, her long skirt trailing across the floor, and gracefully walked around the desk. Gesturing toward the soft velvet sofa beside her, she said, "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. The rising hot air spread a faint tea fragrance through the room.
This only made Lu Jing more puzzled. 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 Majesty 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. The smile made her already exquisite face even more radiant, yet 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 guess?"
Lu Jing pondered for a moment before looking directly at Bibi Dong. "Is it because of... Yan's matter during the day?"
Bibi Dong nodded slightly, 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 made a move to seize your things. You were simply defending yourself. He was inferior in skill, and his injuries were the result of his own actions."
This truly left Lu Jing somewhat confused.
Since she was not holding him accountable, why bring it up specifically?
His expression remained calm as he probed, "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 unruffled, "That child Nana may have a somewhat overly simple mind, but she would not trouble me over this. She only feels guilty, believing it started because of her."
"Then..." Lu Jing was completely bewildered.
Bibi Dong did not answer immediately. She stood and slowly walked to the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, her gaze falling upon the deep night outside and the scattered lights of Spirit City within it.
Her figure, wrapped in the purple long skirt, appeared graceful and aloof, as though it bore an endless weight.
After a long silence, she finally spoke slowly, her voice carrying a distant, weighty meaning. "Little Jing, do you know Spirit Hall's current situation? And... the path it should take in the future?"
Lu Jing was slightly stunned. He had not expected Bibi Dong to suddenly ask such a grand question.
After thinking for a moment, he answered cautiously, "Your Majesty the Pope, shouldn't you discuss such matters with the Great Enshrined, or with Sister Xue'er? I am insignificant and inexperienced. Speaking to me about these matters... probably will not have any practical effect."
Bibi Dong did not turn around, but her voice was exceptionally clear. "Perhaps you cannot now, but what about the future? What I value is your potential, as well as your insight that differs from ordinary people. Speak freely. There is no need to restrain yourself."
Lu Jing looked at Bibi Dong's back, which seemed somewhat lonely before the window yet incomparably resolute, and knew this was not the time to evade the matter.
He drew 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 before the window moved almost imperceptibly.
She slowly turned around, undisguised surprise and intense interest on her exquisite face. A sharp light flickered in her purple eyes. "Oh? Tell me your thoughts."
Since he had already begun, Lu Jing no longer concealed anything and laid out his analysis in full. "Spirit Hall has existed for ten thousand years, with profound foundations. Its Soul Master forces surpass the entire continent, and it enjoys an extremely high reputation among the people. It has both foundations and status. However, Spirit Hall lacks a large, organized military force. Without an army, it cannot carry out large-scale territorial occupation or administrative rule. This is the greatest weakness holding Spirit Hall back from advancing further."
He paused, observing Bibi Dong's expression. Seeing that she was listening intently, he continued, "Sister Xue'er has infiltrated the Heaven Dou Empire and assumed the identity of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, so her ambitions must be great. Once she successfully gains control of the Heaven Dou Empire's highest authority, or even smoothly ascends the throne in the future, the Heaven Dou Empire's enormous army and administrative system will serve Spirit Hall. At that time, Spirit Hall's final weakness will also be remedied. Given Spirit Hall's ambitions and strength, it naturally cannot remain content with staying in one corner. Starting a war, sweeping aside Star Luo, and unifying Douluo Continent are almost inevitable choices."
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