The Pope Is Ruthless!

Bibi Dong's expression was icy.

The moment Qian Renyu grabbed her wrist, she tried to wrench it free from his grasp.

His hand clamped around her wrist like an iron vice, leaving her no chance.

When her efforts proved fruitless, Bibi Dong took a deep breath and met Qian Renyu's cold gaze.

"Let go of me!"

Qian Renyu didn't budge.

No matter how hard Bibi Dong struggled, he wouldn't let her get a proper hold of Yu Xiaogang's shoulder.

Yu Xiaogang's heart leaped into his throat.

Seeing that Bibi Dong really meant to take him away, he hurriedly said in a low voice, "Bibi Dong, you're the previous Pope."

"Qian Renyu has only just taken power, and he's already trying to purge your faction. He doesn't care about you at all!"

Bibi Dong furrowed her brow. Yu Xiaogang's words left her feeling deeply uncomfortable. She knew very well that Qian Renyu had never regarded her as the Pope.

If he had shown even the slightest respect for her, he wouldn't have forced her into a corner in the Pope's Palace a few days ago.

She knew that perfectly well, and over the past few days she had come to accept it. But Yu Xiaogang was standing right in front of her now.

With Yu Xiaogang watching, Bibi Dong didn't want to back down like this.

"I said, let go!"

Bibi Dong barked, and the phantom of the Death Spider Emperor appeared behind her.

She was determined to stand her ground. Bibi Dong could accept backing down at other times.

But not now!

No matter what, she had to protect Yu Xiaogang!

Qian Renyu had Bibi Dong's intentions figured out. Before she could even muster her Soul Power, he fixed her with a gaze so cold it seethed with murderous intent.

At the same time, the full force of the power he could wield swept toward her from every direction.

His rank might indeed be lower than Bibi Dong's, but she currently didn't dare use her full strength. That gave him a considerable advantage.

Their auras collided.

Bibi Dong's face abruptly paled, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

"Qian Renyu, you..."

Before Bibi Dong could finish, Qian Renyu cut her off in a cold voice.

"Bibi Dong, do you really think I don't dare lay a hand on you?!"

The hand gripping Bibi Dong's wrist was now enveloped in Soul Power.

"Don't forget, I'm the one who rules Spirit Hall now!"

"If you want to scold me or interfere in my affairs, you'd better think carefully about what authority you still have!"

"You no longer have the power to interfere with me. As for any other standing you might claim, you can figure that out for yourself!"

Bibi Dong was stunned.

Qian Renyu's words struck her like a hammer.

Her eyes narrowed involuntarily, a dangerous gleam flickering within them.

"Is Qian Renyu trying to threaten me with this?"

"He's right about my authority. He's the Pope now, and I no longer hold any power in Spirit Hall."

"If I can't scold him as the Pope, then the only other identity I have..."

Bibi Dong drew in a sharp breath.

At the thought of her relationship with Qian Renyu, a creeping horror swept through her.

Tell Yu Xiaogang about her relationship with Qian Renyu?

The idea had barely crossed her mind before she ruthlessly quashed it.

Bibi Dong wanted to keep Yu Xiaogang's image of her as it had been in the past.

Her thoughts grew turbulent. Her face flushed, then paled, and she didn't dare respond to Qian Renyu's words.

"If you won't let me take him, then what exactly do you want?!"

Bibi Dong forced a change of subject, her gaze passing over Qian Renyu and settling on Yu Xiaogang.

She knew Qian Renyu too well to believe Yu Xiaogang would come to any good in his hands.

Qian Renyu smiled faintly. "All I'm doing is punishing a traitor to Spirit Hall."

"An honorary elder of Spirit Hall who's constantly looking to steal our secrets and use them elsewhere."

"You know very well how traitors are dealt with!"

Bibi Dong's pupils contracted.

As the former Pope, she knew better than anyone how Spirit Hall dealt with traitors.

Qian Renyu watched her reaction and continued, "What you, Bibi Dong, couldn't accomplish, I will."

"What you, Bibi Dong, didn't dare to do, I will do."

"So now you can be quiet!"

Qian Renyu released Bibi Dong's wrist and stopped wasting his attention on her.

His indifferent gaze returned to Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang met Qian Renyu's gaze and couldn't help holding his breath.

"Qian Renyu really can be this ruthless!"

"I thought he'd at least show Bibi Dong some respect. I never expected him to give her none at all."

"What on earth is going on? Why has Spirit Hall changed so drastically?"

Yu Xiaogang raged inwardly.

Facing Qian Renyu's icy gaze, his confidence began to ebb like the tide.

He had heard every word of Qian Renyu and Bibi Dong's exchange. His breath was caught in his throat, and he had no idea what Qian Renyu planned to do to him.

Bibi Dong came to her senses, but Qian Renyu's final words still echoed in her ears.

She had always been accustomed to holding herself above others, and his words infuriated her.

She made no further attempt to take Yu Xiaogang away, but her tone remained firm. "I know perfectly well how Spirit Hall deals with traitors, but Yu Xiaogang is only an honorary elder of Spirit Hall."

"I granted him that title when I was still Pope. Don't take this too far!"

Qian Renyu ignored Bibi Dong. At that moment, he treated her words as if they were nothing but hot air.

He knew Bibi Dong's character all too well.

He also knew that if he hadn't been around, and hadn't forced Bibi Dong to step down, then after she finally saw Yu Xiaogang, she would have gone to drink the tea he had left unfinished once he was gone.

Such lovesick behavior was sickening.

Now that Spirit Hall was under his command, Qian Renyu had no intention of letting anything like that happen again.

As for Bibi Dong's threats and warnings not to go too far, he didn't take them seriously at all.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei seemed to grasp what Qian Renyu had in mind. Avoiding Bibi Dong's gaze, they both looked toward him.

"Your Holiness, we..." Yue Guan asked, feeling a chill run down his spine. Caught between Qian Renyu and Bibi Dong, he felt that whatever he did would be wrong.

Qian Renyu interrupted Yue Guan's question. He glanced at Yu Xiaogang, then at Bibi Dong, and spoke calmly:

"By my imperial decree, Yu Xiaogang is stripped of his honorary elder status!"

"As punishment, hang him on the walls of Spirit City for all to see!"

"Let this be the fate of those who betray Spirit Hall!"