Bibi Dong's Perspective

At first, she felt that she could not possibly go on living after leaving Yu Xiaogang.

But once the fragments vanished, Bibi Dong felt that leaving Yu Xiaogang was no big deal; she even felt that his departure was a good thing.

An indescribable sense of relief welled up in her heart, and Bibi Dong froze for a moment.

This feeling came too suddenly and was far too bizarre.

One second ago, she felt as if her heart were being gripped by someone, causing her immense pain; the next second, that suffocating agony receded like a tide, leaving not even a trace behind.

She even felt that her loss of composure over Yu Xiaogang just now was truly inexplicable.

Bibi Dong lowered her head and glanced at Deng Tianxin, whom she was holding suspended in mid-air.

The little brat was staring at her with wide, round eyes, a faint, elusive smile hanging on the corners of his mouth. He looked exactly like a little fox that had just stolen a chicken.

"What are you looking at?" Bibi Dong asked irritably.

"Looking at a beauty," Deng Tianxin said righteously. "Auntie, you look really pretty, prettier than any auntie I've ever seen."

Bibi Dong's mouth twitched.

She had already learned that this little brat said one thing to your face and another behind your back.

However, for some reason, looking at his punchable little face now, she found she wasn't as angry as before.

Perhaps it was because the heavy stone that had been pressing on her heart for so long had suddenly vanished, leaving her feeling entirely at ease.

On the way back to Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong no longer carried Deng Tianxin in mid-air, letting him walk instead.

Deng Tianxin looked at Bibi Dong and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Um, could you let me go back to the village?"

Bibi Dong crossed her arms and looked at Deng Tianxin. "What for?"

Deng Tianxin scratched his head and said, "Aren't you taking me to Spirit Hall? I need to say goodbye to the village chief. The old man has taken care of me for a year; it wouldn't be right to leave without a word."

Bibi Dong stared at Deng Tianxin for a while, as if scrutinizing how much of his words were true and how much were false.

Deng Tianxin felt a bit unnerved under her gaze and was just about to say that it didn't matter if it was inconvenient, when he heard her utter two words coldly.

"Lead the way."

"Huh?" Deng Tianxin was stunned.

"I said, lead the way." Bibi Dong's tone remained flat. "Aren't you going back to the village to say goodbye? I'll go with you."

Deng Tianxin nodded hurriedly and led Bibi Dong toward Iron Ox Village.

On the way to Iron Ox Village, Bibi Dong couldn't help but start reminiscing.

She recalled every little detail between her and Yu Xiaogang.

This recollection was fine, but after she finished, her brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

She had met Yu Xiaogang three years ago.

Yu Xiaogang was a year younger than her and hailed from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. Although his martial soul mutation resulted in low strength, he was highly learned. When he spoke of spirit master theory, he was articulate and persuasive, appearing exceptionally distinct among a crowd of spirit masters who only knew how to fight and kill.

Her younger self had been attracted by this very uniqueness.

She felt that Yu Xiaogang was different from others; he was gentle, refined, and erudite. He always quoted classics when he spoke, making her look up to him with great admiration.

But now, looking back and thinking carefully...

Bibi Dong's footsteps suddenly came to a halt.

Deng Tianxin stopped as well, looking up at her. "Auntie, what's wrong?"

Bibi Dong didn't answer, for she was turning the person of Yu Xiaogang over and over in her mind.

Erudite?

Yes, Yu Xiaogang had indeed read many books and knew many spirit master theories.

But then what?

What theory had he proposed? None.

What results had he researched? None.

What practical things had he transformed that knowledge into? Still none.

He simply memorized the work of his predecessors by heart and then brought it out to talk eloquently in front of her.

Those theories sounded impressive, but upon closer inspection, they were all someone else's work; not a single one was his own.

It was like someone who had crammed all the books in a library into their brain but had never once opened a blank notebook to write down even a single line.

To put it nicely, he was learned; to put it bluntly...

Bibi Dong's mouth curled downward slightly.

Wasn't he just a bookshelf that knew how to recite?

And as for his character and conduct.

Because of his martial soul mutation, Yu Xiaogang was not well-regarded in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect; that was a fact.

But what had he done himself?

He did not socialize, did not cultivate relationships, and did not strive for resources.

He retreated when faced with matters and hid when faced with difficulties.

When he was with her, it was she who took the initiative to find him, she who arranged their meetings, and she who considered his needs in every way.

And what did Yu Xiaogang do?

He read books quietly under her protection, accepted her kindness with peace of mind, and couldn't even bring himself to give a single promise without stammering.

The more Bibi Dong thought about it, the more she felt she had been blind back then.

She was the dignified Saintess of Spirit Hall, possessing exceptional talent and outstanding beauty; countless people had lined up just to pursue her.

Yet, she had somehow taken a fancy to a good-for-nothing who knew nothing but reciting books?

No, "good-for-nothing" was too harsh a word.

Bibi Dong searched for a more accurate description in her mind.

Yu Xiaogang was a mediocre man with grand ambitions but little talent, high standards but low abilities, who did nothing but talk big.

What kind of future could a person like that have after leaving her, Bibi Dong?

Would he rely on that belly full of theoretical knowledge to serve as a living dictionary for others?

Thinking of this, Bibi Dong suddenly laughed out loud.

There was no bitterness in that laughter, only a sense of relief and liberation.

Seeing this, Deng Tianxin's brain short-circuited as he said, "Auntie, your laugh is so sleazy."

Bibi Dong's smile froze on her face instantly.

She lowered her head to look at the little thing by her feet who didn't even reach her waist, the killing intent in her eyes nearly solidifying into reality.

"Say that again?"

Deng Tianxin immediately realized he had used the wrong word and scrambled to remedy it: "I said you look so beautiful when you laugh, just like a flower!"

"That is not what you said just now."

"That is exactly what I said!"

"Do you take me for deaf?"

"You misheard, Auntie," Deng Tianxin said without changing his expression, his large eyes blinking with extreme sincerity. "I said you look 'so wonderful,' not 'so sleazy.' You heard it wrong."

Bibi Dong took a deep breath.

She counted from one to ten in her mind, then back from ten to one, before she managed to suppress the urge to strangle him on the spot.

She suddenly realized that she had taken more deep breaths today than in the past nineteen years combined.

"Deng Tianxin," Bibi Dong said calmly, "have you ever heard a saying?"

"What saying?" Deng Tianxin tilted his head, looking innocent.

"Disaster comes from the mouth."

Deng Tianxin thought about it seriously and then said, "I haven't heard of it, but Auntie, I also have a question for you."

"Speak."

"Now that you've broken up with that uncle, does that mean you can marry me in the future?"

Bibi Dong stumbled, nearly falling over on the spot.

Bibi Dong steadied herself and looked at Deng Tianxin in disbelief: "What did you say?"