"Um... you'd better ask the Pope yourself."
"Your Highness, I'll leave you to it."
Without waiting for Xue Qinghe to reply, Su Wen turned and left with Ye Yuan'er.
The days that followed were peaceful, but as large numbers of Soul Masters returned to Spirit City, the whole city became enveloped in an eerie atmosphere of strategic preparation.
That day, Su Wen came out of Pope Hall and ran into Xue Qinghe again.
They exchanged smiles and greetings, then Xue Qinghe entered Pope Hall.
Bibi Dong sat upon the Pope's throne. She glanced at Xue Qinghe as she approached, said nothing, and continued attending to her duties.
Xue Qinghe stood in place, equally silent. When the doors of Pope Hall suddenly closed, a faint golden light rose around her.
In an instant, a woman in a radiant golden dress appeared in the hall.
Her phoenix eyes were slightly narrow, and her peerless beauty was tinged with an imposing air. As she looked toward Bibi Dong, her gaze held a hint of complexity.
Her red lips moved, and she spoke in a strange, sarcastic tone. "I've never seen the lofty Pope care so much about a man. I've even heard you specially allow him to cultivate in your bedchamber every night!"
Bibi Dong set down her work and looked over calmly. "If that's all you came to say, then please leave."
Qian Renxue clenched her fist, then slowly relaxed it. "What have you decided about the marriage alliance? Xue Ye has more or less agreed. As long as the Holy Son and Xue Ke become engaged, the Heaven Dou Empire will have no choice but to stand with Spirit Hall!"
Bibi Dong replied evenly, "If you think you're incapable of controlling the Heaven Dou Empire, I can send someone else in