Bibi Dong's Palace Coup

Bibi Dong was currently handling official business inside the Pope Palace.

She sat upon the magnificent papal throne, flipping through files sent in from various regions.

Martial Soul Hall had been swamped with matters lately; the Heaven Dou Empire had suddenly begun rectifying its administration and investigating corruption, causing quite a stir.

The Star Luo Empire was not sitting still either, with constant friction along the borders.

On top of that, there was that madman Tang Hao, who had been attacking Martial Soul Hall branch halls everywhere. He had already hit dozens of them; although they were only minor branches, the impact was immense.

Bibi Dong rubbed her temples, feeling somewhat weary.

Although she was at level ninety-nine, the position of Pope was not an easy one to sit in; there were simply too many things to handle every single day.

Just then, a guard hurried in and knelt on one knee.

"Your Holiness the Pope, Golden Crocodile and Azure Luan have arrived."

Bibi Dong's brows furrowed. People from the Worship Hall?

What were they here for? Usually, the Worship Hall and the Pope Palace kept to their own affairs, never crossing lines unless something major had occurred.

"Let them in."

The guard retreated, and soon Golden Crocodile and Azure Luan walked in.

Bibi Dong remained seated on her throne without rising; she was the Pope now, and her status was not inferior to the elders of the Worship Hall.

Bibi Dong spoke calmly.

"What brings the two elders here?"

Golden Crocodile did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

"We are here to relay an order from the Great Elder: starting today, Martial Soul Hall will pursue and kill Tang Hao and his son Tang San with full force, dead or alive."

"Especially Tang San. He is the son of Tang Hao, possesses Twin Martial Souls, and his talent is not weak. He must be strangled in the cradle before he can grow."

"If any accidents occur because of some good-for-nothing, then your time as Pope will be at an end."

Bibi Dong's heart sank, but on the surface, she remained composed as she looked at Golden Crocodile Douluo, her tone cold.

"What is the meaning of this, Elder Golden Crocodile? Tang Hao's son, Tang San? How is it that This Seat is unaware of this?"

Hearing this, Golden Crocodile let out a cold laugh.

"Your Holiness need not play the fool. With your methods, how could you possibly not know that Yu Xiaogang has been staying in Nuoding City for so many years?"

"How could you not know that he took on a disciple named Tang San, and how could you not know that Tang San is the son of Tang Hao?"

"You have been pretending not to know, merely because you wanted to use Yu Xiaogang's hands to cultivate Tang San, waiting for him to grow up so you could deal with our Worship Hall and the Great Elder."

"It was a well-played game of chess, but the Great Elder is not a fool. He couldn't be bothered to care before, but he has awakened now, so this game must come to an end."

Bibi Dong's heart was in turmoil. She did indeed know that Yu Xiaogang was in Nuoding City, and she knew about the disciple he had taken in.

But that Tang San was the son of Tang Hao? She truly did not know about that.

However, since Golden Crocodile was so certain, it was likely the truth. Furthermore, the fact that Qian Daoliu had issued the order personally meant it had already been confirmed.

She forced herself to remain calm and spoke.

"This Seat was indeed unaware that Yu Xiaogang was in Nuoding City, but as for who his disciple is, This Seat has no interest. As for Tang San being the son of Tang Hao? That is nothing but a baseless rumor."

"If the two elders have no evidence, do not go around slandering others. This Seat is the Pope, not someone you can frame at will."

Seeing that she refused to shed a tear until she saw the coffin, Golden Crocodile could not be bothered to play games with her.

"Evidence? The word of the Great Elder is the evidence. If he says it is so, then it is so. Your Holiness had best cooperate, otherwise..."

"You should know the Great Elder's temper. He was able to elevate you to this position back then, and he can just as easily pull you down."

Bibi Dong clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

She hated it most when others brought up the past; it was her scar, her humiliation.

Over these years, she had cultivated desperately and managed things with all her might, all to escape the shadow of Qian Daoliu.

Yet now it seemed she could not escape it at all. She had no choice but to take a deep breath and suppress the rage in her heart.

"This Seat understands. This Seat will cooperate with the kill order, but the two elders must remember: This Seat is the Pope, not your puppet."

"Next time you relay a message, have Qian Daoliu come himself. You have no right to point fingers in front of me."

Golden Crocodile and Azure Luan exchanged a glance and both laughed—a laugh full of sarcasm and disdain.

"Bibi Dong, remember this: Martial Soul Hall belongs to the Qian family. Everything you have, including your life, was given to you by Martial Soul Hall."

"In other words, as long as you are still alive, Martial Soul Hall owes you nothing. If it weren't for Martial Soul Hall, you would likely have been locked away by some noble as a breeding tool by now."

"After all, you possess Twin Martial Souls; which noble wouldn't want such talent? The children you bore would certainly have had exceptional talent."

Azure Luan added.

"Just do your job as Pope honestly, and it will be good for everyone. If you dare to pull any tricks..."

"You should be clear that back then, Xue'er was still young, and the Great Elder simply didn't want Xue'er to lose her mother. Now that Xue'er is grown, he truly wouldn't mind playing the villain for once."

"Yu Xiaogang and Tang San are currently in Suotuo City of the Balaque Kingdom, at an academy called Shrek."

"This is your one chance to choose: do you want the position of Pope, or do you want the man? You can only pick one."

The two turned and left after speaking, leaving Bibi Dong alone on the throne, her face ashen.

Her palms were already bleeding from her own grip, but this pain was nothing compared to the agony in her heart.

She could not give up the position of Pope; it was something she had exhausted every means to obtain over these many years, her power, her dignity.

But to lay a hand on Yu Xiaogang? That was even more impossible.

He was the last shred of warmth in her heart, the reason she kept on living.

Even if Yu Xiaogang had broken her heart, even if he no longer loved her, she... she still could not let go.

Bibi Dong closed her eyes and leaned back against the chair. At this moment, she felt exhausted, so very exhausted.

It was as if she had returned to that helpless night twenty years ago.

She had thought that becoming Pope meant she could control everything, but now it seemed she had been too naive; in the face of absolute strength, power was nothing but a joke.

A single word from Qian Daoliu could decide her life or death.

She was only Pope because Qian Daoliu allowed it; if he did not permit it, she was nothing.

Bibi Dong opened her eyes, a flash of resolve crossing her gaze.

She could not sit and wait for death; she had to find a way, and she had to make Yu Xiaogang leave Suotuo City.

Tang San... must die!

Only if Tang San died would Qian Daoliu be satisfied. Although Yu Xiaogang would be heartbroken, he would at least survive.

As for herself... she had to accelerate the progress of her god trials.

Only by breaking through to level one hundred and becoming a god could she truly break free from Qian Daoliu's control.

Bibi Dong stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the scenery of Martial Soul City. This city was vast and prosperous, but it did not belong to her.

She was merely a temporary resident here, liable to be cast out at any moment. To truly possess it, she needed strength that could rival anyone.

"Come here."

Bibi Dong summoned her confidant.

"What are your orders, Your Holiness?"

Bibi Dong said in a deep voice.

"Pass down the order: dispatch Ju Gui to Suotuo City in the Balaque Kingdom. The target is Shrek Academy, and Tang San."

"Remember, I want him alive. This Seat will interrogate him personally to see if he truly is the son of Tang Hao."

"Yes!"

The confidant acknowledged the order and hurried away.

Bibi Dong sat back on the throne, her eyes icy.

She could not kill Yu Xiaogang, but she could kill Tang San.

As long as Tang San was dead, Yu Xiaogang would have no one to rely on, and when that time came, Yu Xiaogang would have no choice but to return and beg her.

And she would be able to control him once again.