Bibi Dong: Smiles Don't Disappear, They Just Shift

Saintess Hall, bedchamber.

The sunlight outside the window was somewhat blinding, yet the atmosphere within the room was as cold as an ice cellar.

Bibi Dong sat propped against the headboard, her complexion as pale as paper. In those purple eyes, the chaos that had previously flickered between madness and tenderness was gone, replaced only by a heart-stopping, deathly silence and indifference.

The door was pushed open.

Qian Daoliu, Golden Crocodile Douluo, Guang Ling, and a red-eyed Qian Renxue stood at the threshold, not entering.

Qian Renxue looked at her mother, whose face was as cold as frost, and the sliver of hope that had just risen in her heart was instantly extinguished; her suspended heart turned half-cold.

The mother who would hold her to watch the stars and feed her mung bean cakes... was truly gone.

"Awake?"

Qian Daoliu broke the silence, his tone carrying a hint of awkwardness.

"Hmph."

Bibi Dong let out a cold sneer. She did not answer, instead raising her head, her purple eyes like two ice blades piercing straight at Qian Daoliu.

"Grand Pontiff, should I be thanking you?"

"Thanking you for your 'mercy' just now?"

"What do you mean by that?" Golden Crocodile Douluo frowned.

"What do I mean?" Bibi Dong's face was cold.

"Although that avatar was beyond my control and erratic, she originated from my soul. You destroyed her... are you punishing me?"

Qian Daoliu opened his mouth, only to find himself speechless.

What could he say? That he only wanted to verify her background? Who knew that the avatar would have such a volatile temper and self-destruct at the slightest disagreement?

"Grandfather..."

Hearing this, Qian Renxue turned her head sharply to look at Qian Daoliu, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Did you really... really hurt Mother?"

"Xue'er, I..." Qian Daoliu took a deep breath, his tone dry. "I only wanted to confirm her safety. After all, not only did she possess an independent consciousness, but she was also... too close to you. I had to be on guard."

"On guard?"

Bibi Dong sneered, the mockery in her eyes undisguised. "On guard to the point of forcing her to self-destruct? On guard to the point of nearly destroying me along with her?"

"Grand Pontiff, your methods are truly swift and decisive."

"Mother! Don't blame Grandfather!"

Qian Renxue could not bear to listen any longer. Although she was heartbroken, she did not want to see her mother and grandfather quarreling. With a tearful voice, she said, "Grandfather didn't mean it... Mother, what is wrong with your body? Are you in pain?"

Bibi Dong cast a glance at Qian Renxue.

"What is wrong with me?"

"For that, you should ask your dear Grandfather."

"Thanks to the Grand Pontiff's divine power, the one in my head who was always noisy and even wanted to fight me for control of my body... is now completely quiet."

"I expect that for a long time to come, she won't be appearing to offend the Grand Pontiff's eyes again."

"This, too, has... fulfilled your wish, has it not?"

"What?!" Qian Renxue felt as if she had been struck by lightning, her small face turning deathly pale. "Then... then will Mother... will she never return to that gentle self again?"

Bibi Dong did not answer; she simply closed her eyes and leaned back against the headboard.

"I am tired."

"Since the Grand Pontiff has achieved his goal, there is no need to remain here and watch me in this wretched state, is there?"

"I wish to be alone."

"Also..."

She opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping over the people at the door before finally landing on Qian Daoliu, her tone profound:

"I also need to have a good talk... with that thing in my head."

"To see what has truly become of me, and to see if this so-called dual personality can... coexist."

Qian Daoliu's pupils constricted slightly upon hearing this.

A talk?

Yes, although that avatar had exploded, she was essentially just a manifestation of soul power.

As long as the original body remained, and as long as Bibi Dong had not gone completely insane, that consciousness might still be slumbering within her Sea of Consciousness.

If they could reach an agreement, perhaps... there was still a turning point?

Thinking of this, a glimmer of hope rose in Qian Daoliu's heart.

As long as there was hope, Xue'er would not fall into despair.

"Very well."

Qian Daoliu nodded, casting a complex look at Bibi Dong. "Then rest well. As for Xue'er... I will take good care of her."

"Let's go, Xue'er."

Qian Daoliu took Qian Renxue's hand, intending to lead her away.

"No! I'm not leaving! I want to stay with Mother!" Qian Renxue struggled desperately, crying and refusing to go.

"Behave!"

Qian Daoliu's tone grew heavier. "Your mother needs quiet now; she needs to heal. You will only disturb her by staying here. Once she recovers... that mother of yours might just return."

"Really?" Qian Renxue looked up, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Really." Qian Daoliu gave a dishonest promise. "Grandfather promises you."

Under Qian Daoliu's half-coerced, half-coaxed guidance, Qian Renxue was finally led away, looking back with every step.

Golden Crocodile and Guang Ling also retreated one after another, thoughtfully closing the heavy doors behind them.

As the sound of footsteps gradually faded away.

The bedchamber returned to a deathly silence.

Bibi Dong remained leaning against the headboard, maintaining that frail posture. Only after confirming that everyone had left the vicinity of the Saintess Hall did a strange, eerie smile slowly emerge on her previously indifferent face.

"Nan Feng, are you satisfied?"

"Now, not only will Qian Daoliu not dare to touch you casually, but to appease Qian Renxue, he will have to find ways to cater to you—this avatar of mine—in the future."

"In Martial Soul Hall, you can truly walk sideways now."

"..."

"Nan Feng?"

Deep within the Sea of Consciousness.

On the massive bed inside the palace constructed entirely of spiritual power, the purple light-being that was usually arrogant and always wore an "everything is under control" expression was currently sprawled out like a dead dog with its tendons pulled, its purple glow dimmed significantly.

"Don't bother me..."

Faced with Bibi Dong's call, Nan Feng couldn't even be bothered to move a finger, letting out a weak, listless wail.

"My head is killing me, like someone is mining inside it with a chisel."

"First, the overwhelming malicious intent from the Rakshasa Secret Realm almost turned The Emperor into an idiot, and then came that old pervert Qian Daoliu's Angel God power. That scorching holy energy burrowing into my soul and colliding with Rakshasa's cold, evil thoughts..."

Nan Feng rolled over in agony, burying his face in the pillow, his voice muffled:

"It's like being trapped between ice and fire, big sister! Even a soul made of iron couldn't withstand such torture!"

"I'm having such a hard time... truly, it's too hard..."

The more Nan Feng spoke, the more aggrieved he felt, and he began to mutter complaints:

"Ever since I got tied to the same boat as you, The Emperor hasn't had a single day of peace."

"I have to be busy helping you scheme against Qian Xunji, guard against that old schemer Qian Daoliu, and act as a full-time nanny for your love-starved daughter—coaxing the little one, then coaxing the old one!"

"I want to slack off too! I want to lie flat too! I'm only a hundred-thousand-year-old child!"

"And now, to build your persona, I had to be spiritually violated by that old thing Qian Daoliu, and finally, I had to self-detonate... I'm exhausted, okay? My life is a life too!"

"Get lost, get lost, get lost! Don't talk to The Emperor! I want to be autistic! I want to sleep! Don't call me even if the sky falls!"

Looking at the purple ball of light on the bed, wrapped in a quilt and radiating an aura of "keep away" and "soaring resentment," Bibi Dong, standing by the bedside, felt not a shred of sympathy. Instead...

"Heh."

She couldn't help it and laughed out loud from the bottom of her heart.

This laugh was like melting ice, yet it carried a touch of gleeful satisfaction.

In the past, it was always this old spider who angered her, schemed against her, and drove her to the brink of fury.

From the conspiratorial sacrifice and parasitism to the forced signing of the Soul Blood Pact, and then to those shameless plans just now, she had always been the passive one, led by the nose by this guy, forced to watch him act smug and triumphant.

But now?

Watching this guy get humbled, watching him be tortured to the point of near-death, Bibi Dong felt incredibly refreshed.

"So you have days like this too?"

Bibi Dong sat on the edge of the bed and reached out to poke the bulging lump under the quilt, her tone filled with undisguised delight:

"Who was it that said they would take me to the top? Who said these little scenes were just a breeze?"

"What? Can't take it anymore? Calling it exhausting already?"

"Nan Feng, where did that arrogant, 'I'm-the-best' attitude of yours go? Bring it out."

The quilt was suddenly flung aside, revealing Nan Feng's face, which looked somewhat dim due to the exhaustion of his spiritual power. He glared at Bibi Dong with dead-fish eyes:

"Do you have a conscience? Who did I become like this for?"

"For yourself."

Bibi Dong crossed her arms and retorted righteously, "You said it yourself, we are grasshoppers on the same rope. You're struggling for your own survival; I'm just an incidental beneficiary."

"Besides..."

Bibi Dong leaned down, looking at Nan Feng's frustrated face, the curve of her lips growing wider and wider:

"Just as you used to tell me often—"

"Smiles do not disappear; they simply transfer from your face to mine."

"This feeling of watching you suffer... is truly wonderful."

Below is the image of Nan Feng; everyone is welcome to provide materials.