Bibi Dong Takes Action

Inside the Pope Palace of Martial Soul City.

Bibi Dong sat upright upon the throne that symbolized supreme power. Her fingertips tapped lightly against the armrest, her icy gaze fixed on the intelligence report that had just been presented to her.

The report detailed the earth-shattering upheaval that had occurred within the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace—the deaths of the Fourth Prince Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing, and the fact that the Poison Douluo Dugu Bo had been severely wounded and forced to flee.

The culprit behind all of this was, unexpectedly, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast of terrifying strength that had never been recorded in the archives of Martial Soul Hall: the Holy Wing King, Yu!

What made her eyes darken further was the report from her secret agents stating that this soul beast seemed to have a deep connection with the Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, who was currently lurking within the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Every sign indicated that her daughter, Qian Renxue, not only knew of this soul beast's existence but might have even been in close contact with it, yet she had never revealed a single word to Martial Soul Hall, nor to her, her mother and Pope!

A fire of anger, born from being deceived and slighted, mixed with intense unease that the plan might be spiraling out of control, ignited instantly within Bibi Dong's heart.

She could not tolerate any factor that exceeded her control.

"Good, very good..." Bibi Dong's voice was like tempered ice. "Someone, send a letter to that Crown Prince for me."

Before long, a letter carrying a unique fluctuation of soul power appeared on the desk before Qian Renxue.

She was both surprised and apprehensive, not knowing why Bibi Dong would suddenly send a letter at such a time.

The contents of the letter appeared before her eyes, and her chest trembled violently.

: The events of one month ago at the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace are known to Martial Soul Hall.

The Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast 'Holy Wing King, Yu', slaughtered the prince and the royal uncle, and severely wounded the empire's titled expert; its ferocity is monstrous.

Investigations suggest this beast is an old acquaintance of yours.

Why did you never report such vital intelligence? Do you realize what kind of hidden danger this variable poses to the grand cause of Martial Soul Hall, and to your own mission of infiltration?

What exactly are you thinking?

Detail the origins of this beast and your connection to it immediately. There shall be no further concealment!

--Pope's Decree

As the letter unfolded, what hit her was not concern or greetings, but cold, bone-chilling questioning and reproach.

The chill radiating from between the lines seemed even colder than the wind and snow of the Far North, instantly freezing the faint warmth in her heart.

Every word felt like a cold needle, stabbing fiercely into her heart.

A massive wave of grievance drowned her.

She was lurking alone in this den of tigers and wolves, moving step by step with caution, walking on thin ice, enduring pressure and loneliness that ordinary people could hardly imagine.

How she longed to receive even the slightest bit of recognition from her mother, even if it were just a look of affirmation.

Yet, what she received in return was always this condescending, icy interrogation.

It was as if she were merely a tool that needed to be strictly monitored, rather than a daughter of flesh and blood who craved familial affection.

Tears swirled uncontrollably in her eyes; she bit her lower lip hard to keep them from falling.

That sense of grievance almost suffocated her.

But the next second, reason washed over her like ice water, instantly bringing her to her senses.

Her mother's letter meant that the intelligence network of Martial Soul Hall had already discovered Xiao Yu!

They had discovered everything he did at the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace a month ago! And they had even discovered... the connection between them!

A massive sense of crisis instantly overwhelmed her grievance.

Xiao Yu's existence was exposed! For Xiao Yu, this was a catastrophe!

Given the methods of Martial Soul Hall, when faced with a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast of such terrifying strength, there was only one possibility: to eliminate it at any cost!

Xiao Yu... the soul beast companion who had accompanied her during her loneliest times, who had brought her an unusual warmth when she was lost, and who possessed incredible potential... she absolutely could not let him be caught in a siege by Martial Soul Hall because of her!

A strong protective instinct overcame all personal emotions.

Qian Renxue took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the sorrow and panic in her heart. She could not let her mother see her wavering or her concern for Xiao Yu; that would only bring greater danger to him.

Your Holiness the Pope:

The letter has been received.

The events at the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace were indeed caused by the soul beast 'Yu'. My failure to report this in time is a grave oversight; I beg for your punishment...

I humbly request: Could Martial Soul Hall... perhaps refrain from taking action against 'Yu' for the time being?

Its goal was merely to take revenge on Xue Beng and Xue Xing. As it is an enemy of the Heaven Dou royal family, for our Martial Soul Hall, we might sit back and watch, using it to weaken Heaven Dou.

Rashly clashing with it might carry a heavy cost and instead benefit the empire. Furthermore, its movements are unpredictable and its strength is unfathomable, making a siege difficult.

--Respectfully submitted by Qian Renxue.

The letter was finished. Qian Renxue looked at the final sentence, "humbly request to refrain from taking action against 'Yu' for the time being," and her fingertips trembled slightly.

She knew how powerless this request was, and how likely it was to enrage Bibi Dong.

She tried her best to portray Xiao Yu as a "lethal weapon" that could be used to keep Heaven Dou in check, downplaying their past connection, hoping only to win a sliver of space for Xiao Yu so he wouldn't be immediately marked as a target for extermination by Martial Soul Hall.

After sending the letter, Qian Renxue leaned back against her chair, exhausted, and closed her eyes.

The grievance in her heart, born from her mother's cold interrogation, had now been replaced by a deeper anxiety.

She did not know if this letter could change her mother's decision; she could only pray, pray that Xiao Yu would be safe, and pray that the gaze of Martial Soul Hall would not, for the time being, focus on that figure deep within the Sunset Forest.

This worry felt far heavier and more paralyzing than her mother's indifference.

Inside the Pope Palace, the cold air seemed to have frozen solid. Bibi Dong held Qian Renxue's reply between her fingertips; her world-toppling face betrayed no joy or anger, only a pair of deep purple eyes where cold light flickered like a sharp blade.

"Use him to weaken Heaven Dou? Sit back and watch the outcome?" Bibi Dong's voice was soft and slow, yet carried a bone-chilling sarcasm that echoed through the empty hall, causing both Ghost Douluo Gui Mei and Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, who stood to the side, to feel a tremor of fear.

"My dear daughter... when did you learn such skills of dodging the point and beating around the bush?"

A wisp of deep purple soul power flame ignited at her fingertips, and the letter bearing Qian Renxue's plea instantly turned to ash, fluttering down in a flurry.

"A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast... possessing such intelligence, strength, and the ability to speak human language, its soul ring and soul bone are of immeasurable value! Allowing it to exist is not an asset, but a blade hanging over the head of my Martial Soul Hall!"

"If it can slaughter princes and dukes today, who is to say it won't turn its blade toward my Martial Soul Hall tomorrow?" Bibi Dong's voice suddenly turned sharp, the powerful pressure causing the air in the entire hall to sink.

"Gui Mei, Yue Guan!"

"Your subordinates are here!" The two Title Douluo immediately bowed to receive their orders.

"Each of you take a team to search for the tracks of that beast. As soon as there is news, tell me immediately. I will go there myself." Bibi Dong said coldly.

With the strength to easily inflict heavy injuries on Dugu Bo, Yue Guan and the others would not be enough; she would have to take the field herself.