Bibi Dong: Yu Xiaogang, Coward! I Won't See You!

Upon hearing that name, Bibi Dong's movements paused noticeably.

If this had been nine years ago, anyone who dared to mention Qian Renxue in her presence—even her closest confidant—would have immediately triggered the most intense rejection and disgust from the depths of her heart.

That child was the product of the most humiliating and darkest memory of her life.

But over these past nine years.

The presence of Lin Yuan had acted like an invisible tether, bit by bit melting the glacier in her heart without her even realizing it.

Especially as she watched Lin Yuan and Qian Renxue grow up together, their relationship becoming increasingly intimate, Bibi Dong's resistance toward Qian Renxue had long since dissipated under his subtle influence.

Now, hearing Lin Yuan bring her up directly, she couldn't even summon a shred of anger.

"You brat."

Bibi Dong reached out with a huff and lightly poked Lin Yuan on the forehead.

She picked up the delicate teacup from the table, took a small sip, and then spoke with a hint of playful teasing.

"Counting the time, that little girl has been infiltrating the Heaven Dou Empire for quite a few years now."

"Though, I must say, that girl certainly has a good appearance; she is quite beautiful indeed."

Bibi Dong set down the teacup and looked at Lin Yuan's smiling face, the doting affection in her eyes nearly overflowing.

"Since you like her so much and are always thinking of her."

"Why don't you just make her your wife in the future?"

"With Aunt Dong here to back you up, no one will dare to stop you."

Upon hearing this, the smile in Lin Yuan's eyes deepened.

"That's a promise from Aunt Dong, then. I've noted it down."

Just as the two were enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, teasing and joking with one another.

A hurried yet deliberately hushed sound of footsteps suddenly echoed outside the Saintess Palace.

Immediately after, a personal guard knelt on one knee outside the door, his respectful voice carrying through the heavy entrance.

"Reporting to Her Highness the Saintess."

"A middle-aged man has arrived at the city gates, accompanied by a child."

"The man claims his name is Yu Xiaogang, and he specifically demands an audience with Your Highness."

Yu Xiaogang!

The moment those three words were spoken, the atmosphere inside the Saintess Palace plummeted.

The soft, gentle smile that had been on Bibi Dong's face vanished, replaced instantly by a layer of bone-chilling frost in her beautiful eyes.

Even the surrounding air grew stagnant under the pressure of her invisible soul power.

If this were the Bibi Dong of the past, who still harbored fantasies about her history, hearing that name might have caused a ripple of emotion.

But the current her, having been under the constant companionship and subtle influence of Lin Yuan for years, had long since seen the true face of that piece of trash.

Especially after that incident on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest nine years ago.

That shameless, spineless coward, lacking the ability himself, had actually stooped so low as to attempt a lethal strike against Lin Yuan, who was only six years old at the time!

From that moment on, the last shred of lingering affection Bibi Dong held for Yu Xiaogang had completely vanished, replaced by extreme disgust and revulsion.

Now, this shameless wretch actually had the gall to come to Martial Soul City and request an audience with her?

"Refused!"

Bibi Dong spat out the word coldly, her tone devoid of any emotion, dripping with profound loathing.

"What kind of stray cat or dog thinks they can come to the Saintess Palace to stir up trouble?"

The guard outside felt the terrifying chill radiating from within the hall and trembled slightly.

"This subordinate understands. I shall go and drive him away immediately."

Just as the guard prepared to rise, Bibi Dong seemed to think of something; her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, a flash of mocking, cold light dancing in their depths.

"Wait."

"Go tell him, not today."

"If he truly has business, he may return in three days to the main hall of Martial Soul Hall, and we shall discuss it then."

Bibi Dong wanted to see exactly what kind of tricks this "brilliant" piece of trash could pull now that he had the audacity to show his face here.

"As you command!" The guard acknowledged the order and retreated.

Lin Yuan sat to the side the entire time, watching Bibi Dong's decisive and clean handling of the situation, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

Outside Martial Soul City.

Yu Xiaogang maintained his air of a master, hands clasped behind his back, eyes slightly closed as he waited for the highest-standard welcoming ceremony of Martial Soul Hall.

Tang San, standing behind him, was also influenced by this, feeling that his teacher truly possessed heaven-defying capabilities.

Soon, the guard who had gone to report returned.

Yu Xiaogang heard the clanking of armor and a smug smile immediately curled the corners of his lips.

He slowly opened his eyes, preparing to adopt the posture of an elder as he stepped into the city.

However, the guard stopped abruptly, staring at him with icy indifference, and slammed his spear heavily against the ground once more.

His attitude was cold and strictly professional.

"An oral decree from Her Highness the Saintess."

"She will not see you today."

"If you have urgent business, return in three days to the main hall of Martial Soul Hall to discuss it then."

The guard's crisp and decisive delivery was like a resounding slap across Yu Xiaogang's face.

Yu Xiaogang's foot, which had just been lifted, froze in mid-air, and the confident smile on his face solidified completely.

"W-what did you say?"

Yu Xiaogang widened his eyes, staring fixedly at the guard.

"Are you certain you announced my name? I am Yu Xiaogang! How could she possibly refuse to see me?"

This was nothing like the scene he had imagined, where Bibi Dong would rush out to welcome him!

The massive disparity caused his heart to twitch violently.

Several soul masters entering and exiting the city gate stopped in their tracks, eyeing him with mocking gazes as if he were a fool, and some even let out quiet snickers.

Tang San stood to the side, watching the pointing and whispering of the crowd, and felt a rush of blood surge to his head, his entire face instantly flushing red.

He looked at his teacher, speechless, wishing he could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.

Was this what his teacher meant by "someone who would obey his every whim with a mere crook of his finger"?

They hadn't even entered the city gate before being unceremoniously turned away in front of everyone!

Feeling the mocking gazes all around him, Yu Xiaogang felt a burning sensation on his face.

He hurriedly retracted his stiff leg and coughed heavily twice, attempting to salvage his shattered dignity.

"Well... ahem."

Yu Xiaogang turned his head to look at the visibly embarrassed Tang San, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying as he desperately tried to smooth things over.

"Little San, there is something you don't understand."

"Pope Qian Xunji is in seclusion year-round, and all the affairs of Martial Soul Hall, big and small, now rest solely on Bibi Dong's shoulders."

"She is busy with a thousand tasks, so she must be handling some extremely critical sect matters at this moment and cannot get away; this is perfectly understandable."

"Since she said to discuss matters in the main hall in three days, it only proves that she attaches great importance to my arrival and is preparing to receive me with the highest level of formal protocol."

As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang nodded as if trying to hypnotize himself.

Tang San twitched his lips; although he felt this explanation was full of holes, he had no choice but to take the out offered to him.

"Teacher is right. Let us find an inn outside the city to stay in, and we shall return in three days."

The master and disciple turned and left, crestfallen, their retreating figures looking utterly wretched.