Bibi Dong's Moment of Breakdown

Qian Mo took the brand-new Zhu Zhuqing straight to the Papal Palace.

He had to report to Bibi Dong.

After all, she was someone he had just picked up from the outside; he had to give the lady of the house an explanation.

Even if that lady of the house was usually as cold as a block of ice.

When Qian Mo pulled Zhu Zhuqing into the Papal Palace, the atmosphere inside the great hall instantly froze.

Bibi Dong was sitting upright on the high papal throne, handling the documents in her hands.

Today, she was wearing a purple-black papal robe and a Purple Gold Crown, her entire being radiating a majesty and coldness that warned others to keep their distance.

Several Cardinals who were reporting their work to her didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

Seeing Qian Mo enter, the cold look in Bibi Dong's eyes finally fluctuated just a little.

She put down the documents, her gaze falling upon Qian Mo... and the Zhu Zhuqing beside him.

"You're back." Her voice betrayed no emotion. "Who is she?"

"Picked her up on the road," Qian Mo answered simply and directly.

Picked her up?

The Cardinals nearly popped their eyeballs out.

Your Highness the Holy Son, you call this picking someone up?

Such a beautiful little girl, looking like a porcelain doll—where did you pick her up from? Could you tell us the address? We want to go pick one up too.

Bibi Dong's brows furrowed slightly.

She did not like people of unknown origin appearing on her turf, especially by Qian Mo's side.

She looked at Zhu Zhuqing, her eyes filled with a trace of scrutiny and vigilance.

Zhu Zhuqing felt a bit frightened under her gaze and subconsciously hid behind Qian Mo.

Qian Mo patted her small hand, signaling her not to be afraid.

Then, he whispered to Zhu Zhuqing, "Go on, call her pretty sister."

Zhu Zhuqing was stunned for a moment.

Pretty sister?

She looked up at the majestic woman on the throne.

Although she looked fierce, she was... really beautiful.

More beautiful than anyone she had ever seen.

Zhu Zhuqing gathered her courage and stepped out from behind Qian Mo.

She imitated Qian Mo, walking to the center of the grand hall. Looking up with her little face, she called out in a soft, sweet, and slightly timid voice:

"Pretty... big sister."

This "pretty big sister" was like a small pebble cast into the lake of Bibi Dong's heart, which had been frozen for years, stirring up ripple after ripple.

Big sister?

How many years had it been since anyone had called her that?

Ever since that incident, she had never been anyone's younger sister or older sister again.

She was the Saintess of the Martial Soul Hall, the inheritor of the Rakshasa God, the embodiment of slaughter and vengeance.

She had thought her heart had long since become as hard and cold as stone.

But why, upon hearing the soft, sweet voice of this little girl, was there a trace of... being moved?

Bibi Dong looked at the tiny figure in the crimson dress below, her gaze somewhat dazed.

She remembered a long, long time ago, back at the Martial Soul Academy, when she had a junior sister just as cute as this one, who would always follow behind her, sweetly calling her "Senior Sister."

But later...

A surge of icy killing intent welled up uncontrollably from the bottom of Bibi Dong's heart.

However, the moment this killing intent emerged, it was dispersed by a warm and auspicious aura.

It was Qian Mo.

He was standing beside Zhu Zhuqing, the Auspicious Qi radiating from his body acting like an invisible shield, protecting Zhu Zhuqing while simultaneously soothing Bibi Dong's heart, which had been on the verge of losing control.

Bibi Dong took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging emotions.

She looked at Zhu Zhuqing, her voice still cold, but seemingly devoid of the scrutiny from moments before.

"What is your name?"

"I... I am Zhu Zhuqing."

Just then, Qian Mo muttered in a low voice from the side: "It's insincere to just call her that; give her a flower."

As he spoke, he produced a vibrant Golden Rose from who knows where and shoved it into Zhu Zhuqing's hand.

This was a minor ability granted by the Holy Light Unicorn soul ring, allowing the user to manifest harmless constructs made of holy light out of thin air.

Zhu Zhuqing held the rose that seemed to glow, feeling a bit at a loss.

She looked at Qian Mo, then at Bibi Dong on the throne.

Then, she took short, quick steps, trotting up the stairs until she reached the front of Bibi Dong's throne.

She stood on her tiptoes, trying her best to hold the flower up high.

"Pretty sister, this is for you."

Bibi Dong's body stiffened.

She lowered her head, looking at the little girl before her.

The little girl's eyes were large and bright, like two black gemstones, reflecting her own image within them.

In those eyes, there was no fear, no sycophancy, only the purest, childlike sincerity.

And that flower.

A golden rose, still carrying a trace of a sacred, warm aura.

Bibi Dong's heart—the heart she had encased in cold armor for over a decade—seemed to develop a crack at this very moment.

A small, yet impossible-to-ignore crack.

As if possessed, she reached out her hand and took the flower.

The petals felt warm to the touch, just like holding a small piece of sunlight.

Inside the great hall, everyone stared in stunned silence.

The Cardinals were even more shocked than words could describe.

They had been by the Pope's side for many years; when had they ever seen her accept a gift from anyone?

Let alone one given by a little girl of unknown origin.

Furthermore, they actually saw a trace of... emotion on the Pope's perpetually icy face?

They must be seeing things! Absolutely!

Qian Mo watched this scene and nodded in satisfaction.

Done.

As expected, no one could resist the charm attack of a cute little girl.

If there were, then she would add another flower.

He was just about to pull Zhu Zhuqing away to go grab a bite to eat.

Suddenly, Bibi Dong spoke from her throne.

For the first time, her voice carried a hint of complex emotion.

"From today on, Zhu Zhuqing is my, Bibi Dong's, adopted daughter."

"Her status shall be equal to that of a Saintess. She will reside in the side hall of the Papal Palace and be taught by me personally."

This sentence was like a thunderclap, exploding in everyone's minds.

An adopted daughter?

His Holiness the Pope... has taken an adopted daughter?

The few Cardinals felt their worldviews being refreshed repeatedly today; they were already shattered like dumpling filling.

First, the Holy Son brought back a "stray" little girl.

Then, with just a "pretty big sister" and a flower, this little girl managed to break through the Pope's defenses?

And she was even taken as an adopted daughter, with a status equal to a Saintess?

What kind of god-tier plot is this, for fuck's sake?

If Hu Liena found out, wouldn't she cry herself into a faint in the restroom?

Qian Mo was also stunned.

What the hell?

I just wanted her to get familiar with the place so she could mooch food and drinks in the Martial Soul Hall later.

Why did you go and promote her directly?

Adopted daughter? Status equal to a Saintess?

This script is all wrong!

I just wanted to raise a little kitten; I didn't mean to find you a successor!

After making this decision, Bibi Dong herself seemed to be taken aback for a moment.

She looked at the Golden Rose in her hand, then at the bewildered Zhu Zhuqing and Qian Mo below. The corners of her mouth, quite rarely, actually curled up ever so slightly.

Although the arc was very small, she had truly smiled.

She felt that this decision of hers was... not bad at all.

This little girl named Zhu Zhuqing was very clean, and her eyes were pure.

Perhaps keeping her by her side could bring a touch of vitality to this cold Papal Palace.

It could also provide a little... solace to her own heart.

"Alright, you may all withdraw." Bibi Dong waved her hand at the Cardinals, who had already been turned to stone.

Then, she stepped down from her throne, walked over to Zhu Zhuqing, and for the first time, took the initiative to hold her small hand.

"From now on, you will live here."

"I... I..." Zhu Zhuqing was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor, unable to even get her words out.

Qian Mo watched these two figures, one large and one small, feeling that the scene was somewhat surreal.

A future Rakshasa God and a future God of Speed.

Now, one had become a mother, and the other a daughter?

This relationship... was truly messy.

However, this was fine too.

With Bibi Dong shielding her, Zhu Zhuqing's status in the Martial Soul Hall would be secure.

In the future, when he wanted to slack off, there would be someone to play with her.

Hmm, not a loss.

Qian Mo thought with peace of mind.

He was completely unaware that his act of "doing one good deed a day" had not only changed Zhu Zhuqing's fate but had also created a crucial fork in the road on Bibi Dong's path toward the dark abyss.