The Pope's Thousand-Layered Schemes!

Spirit City, Holy Son Hall.

The night was as dark as ink, yet the great hall was not brightly lit as it usually was.

In its place were hundreds of red candles.

They were arranged into various strange shapes, their flickering flames casting ambiguous and eerie shadows upon the walls.

The air was permeated with a faint incense—not the kind of sandalwood used for meditation, but a seductive fragrance that made one want to commit indiscretions.

Su Yun stood at the entrance of the hall, looking at the scene before him that resembled a spider demon's lair, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl upward wildly.

"Good grief."

"Ditched the lamps, swapped in candles, and even lit this kind of improper incense."

"Dong'er, oh Dong'er, are you trying to interrogate me, or are you trying to devour me?"

He didn't rush to enter, instead adjusting his attire and even checking himself in the bronze mirror by the door, ensuring his image remained that of the dashing, graceful Holy Son of Spirit Hall who could make thousands of young maidens scream.

Then, he took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

"Creak—"

The heavy doors opened slowly, emitting a teeth-grinding friction sound.

In the center of the great hall, sitting upon the throne that symbolized power, was a person.

Bibi Dong.

Tonight, she was not wearing her solemn and intricate Pope's robe, but had changed into a tight-fitting black long dress.

The hem of the dress was slit extremely high, revealing a length of calf as white as jade.

Around her slender neck was a black lace choker, making her skin appear even more like frost and snow.

She sat with her legs crossed, holding a whip that emitted a faint, eerie glow in her hand.

Crack!

Bibi Dong flicked her wrist, and the whip snapped in the air, emitting a crisp, explosive sound.

"Kneel."

Her voice was cold and detached, carrying an irresistible queenly air.

Su Yun raised an eyebrow.

Oh, playing it this big?

Is this meant to upgrade the 'rebellious disciple' plot from the daytime into a nighttime queen's discipline script?

Exciting!

Not only did he not kneel, but he reached back and closed the hall doors, even locking them with a flick of his wrist.

Click.

The sound of the lock was exceptionally clear in the silent hall.

Bibi Dong's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, the whip in her hand pointing at Su Yun:

"What are you doing?"

"Closing the door."

Su Yun spread his hands and walked toward her step by step, wearing that signature, infuriatingly wicked grin:

"Didn't Teacher say you wanted me to 'reflect properly'?"

"Since it's reflection, naturally, I can't let outsiders see. After all..."

His gaze swept unscrupulously over Bibi Dong, from her delicate collarbones to those breathtaking curves, and finally to those long legs glistening in the candlelight.

"Teacher is so beautiful tonight; if anyone else were to see, this disciple would get jealous."

"Insolent!"

Bibi Dong scolded in shame and anger, and the whip in her hand lashed out without hesitation.

She didn't use any soul power for this strike, relying purely on physical strength.

Yet, even so, the sound of it cutting through the air was still fierce.

Su Yun was quick-witted; he shifted his body to the side and grabbed the tip of the whip.

"Teacher, resorting to violence isn't good."

He gave a sharp tug.

Caught off guard, Bibi Dong's body involuntarily lurched forward.

The distance between the two closed in an instant.

It was close enough for Su Yun to see her long eyelashes trembling, and close enough to smell the faint fragrance radiating from her body, born of nervousness and shame.

"You..."

Bibi Dong panicked.

She had originally intended to give the boy a show of force, to let him know exactly who was in charge.

To that end, she had specifically staged this scene, changed into this outfit, and even rummaged through the treasury to find this instrument of torture, said to be capable of lashing the souls of gods.

Yet, she never imagined that the boy's audacity would reach such heights!

Not only was he unafraid, but he actually dared to resist?

He even dared to flirt with her?

"Let go!"

Bibi Dong gritted her teeth, attempting to snatch the whip back.

But Su Yun's hand was like an iron vice, remaining completely motionless.

"I won't."

Su Yun looked into those purple eyes just inches away, his voice low and magnetic:

"Teacher, you were in such a hurry to call me back—was it because you missed me so dearly?"

"Why is it that now that I've returned, you want to beat me instead?"

"Is this what they call 'a beating is affection, a scolding is love'?"

"Shut up!"

Bibi Dong's face flushed so red it looked as if it might bleed.

Who missed you!

Who loves you!

How could this scoundrel dare to say anything that crossed his mind!

She was mortified, her soul power instinctively surging, ready to blast this lecher away.

But just then, Su Yun suddenly released his grip.

Bibi Dong had been using too much force; her body instantly lost its balance, and she tipped backward.

"Ah!"

She let out a startled cry, on the verge of falling into an ungraceful heap.

The next second.

A strong arm wrapped around her waist.

The world spun.

When she regained her senses, she found herself caught firmly by Su Yun, the two of them locked in an incredibly intimate pose.

It was just like the classic prelude to a dip-and-kiss in a television drama.

"Teacher, be careful."

Su Yun leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe:

"If you were to get hurt, your disciple would be heartbroken."

Bibi Dong stiffened, her mind going blank.

Her heart hammered, as if it were about to leap out of her throat.

Was this still that timid, submissive disciple?

This was clearly a veteran of the romantic game!

"Let... let go of This Seat!"

Her voice trembled, stripped of her previous queenly aura, sounding instead like a startled kitten.

Su Yun chuckled, not actually leaning in for a kiss.

If he did that, he would truly be beaten to death; a sense of proportion was important.

He helped Bibi Dong stand upright, then stepped back like a gentleman and performed a standard noble bow:

"Teacher's reprimand is justified; this disciple knows his wrong."

"Since Teacher wishes for reflection, then this disciple shall go over there and kneel."

With that, he pointed to a prayer mat in the corner, walked over obediently, and dropped to his knees with a thud.

His movements were fluid and natural, his attitude incredibly sincere.

It was as if the person who had just flirted with the Pope wasn't him at all.

Bibi Dong: "..."

She stood where she was, still clutching the whip, her mind in complete disarray.

What was this?

Flirt and run?

He had stirred her heart into a chaotic mess, only to go off and kneel on a prayer mat?

"Su! Yun!"

Bibi Dong gritted her teeth, wishing she could rush over and take a bite out of him.

This scoundrel was absolutely doing it on purpose!

She took a deep breath, forcing her wildly beating heart to calm down, and sat back on her throne.

Although the process had been a little bumpy, the objective had been achieved nonetheless.

This brat was kneeling there now, looking quite obedient.

"Hmph."

Bibi Dong snorted coldly, doing her best to appear majestic:

"Do you know you were wrong?"

"I do."

Su Yun lowered his head, looking like he had truly repented.

"What was wrong?"

"Wrong for being too charming, making Teacher think of me day and night, and delaying Teacher's official duties."

"..."

The whip in Bibi Dong's hand rose again, then was slammed down fiercely.

"Silver-tongued!"

"This Seat asks you, what's the deal with that rabbit?"