That was right. Teacher had definitely destroyed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan for her sake, which meant he still had her in his heart.
Everything she had gone through this past year had merely been atonement for that incident. Teacher had forgiven her for what she had done back then.
"Teacher, Dong'er really was wrong. You've forgiven Dong'er, haven't you?" Bibi Dong looked at Qian Xunji expectantly and slowly reached out her hands. They were covered in wrinkles.
Qian Xunji frowned as he looked at Bibi Dong. What had she gone through over the past year?
"Teacher, please forgive Dong'er. Dong'er has truly realized her mistake. She's been atoning for it this entire year."
"Teacher, Dong'er really knows she was wrong. She really, truly knows she was wrong. As long as I can go back, I'll gladly be your slave or servant, Teacher."
As Bibi Dong spoke, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. Only she knew what she had gone through during this past year.
She regretted it. Without the identity of a Saintess, without her cultivation talent and beauty, she was nothing. Once the residents of Spirit City learned what she had done, they had wanted to tear her apart with their bare hands.
If Teacher had not ordered the Security Team to watch over her, she would have already been torn to pieces by those furious residents.
At the time, she had been terrified. It was the first time she had realized how frightening and powerful the residents of Spirit City could be.
"Xunji..." Ah Yin looked at Bibi Dong. Seeing her so miserable, she could not bear it.
It was too tragic—far too tragic. Xunji's heart was far too hard. Who could have imagined that the beggar before them, whose gender was impossible to distinguish, was the Saintess Bibi Dong?
Who could have imagined that this person was only in her twenties? What had she gone through over the past year?
"Ah Yin, I told you long ago that you're simply too kind. Put away that ridiculous kindness of yours. It isn't worth it!"
Qian Xunji gently shook his head. He glanced at Ah Yin in his arms and said, "Everything that happened to her was her own doing. She had been a perfectly good Saintess, yet she insisted on going to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan with a good-for-nothing."
"She's the Saintess of Spirit Hall. She represents Spirit Hall's future. If I let her off so easily, what would everyone else think? Wouldn't that mean anyone could casually betray Spirit Hall?"
"She's an example—a tool I used to warn the others by punishing one to deter a hundred!" Qian Xunji said.
Although he had not thought that much at the time, everyone now believed he had acted with deep purpose. They had even come up with reasons for him. Since that was the case, then so be it.
"I..." Ah Yin's brows knitted slightly, but she said nothing more. She could not help Qian Xunji, but neither could she cause him trouble.
"Xunji, I won't cause you any trouble. I was only speaking from the heart just now. I hope you won't blame me."
"How could I blame you?" Qian Xunji raised a hand and stroked Ah Yin's head with a smile. "Kindness is a noble virtue."
"Let's go," Qian Xunji said indifferently. He glanced at Bibi Dong. Let her rot here.
As for forgiving Bibi Dong? What a joke. If he truly forgave Bibi Dong, then what would the destruction of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan mean?
If he really forgave Bibi Dong, how would everyone in Spirit Hall view him, their Pope? How would they view Spirit Hall?!
"Teacher, don't go... Don't go..." Bibi Dong cried hysterically as she watched Qian Xunji turn away.
"Teacher, Dong'er really knows she was wrong. Dong'er has realized her mistake. Teacher, why can't you give Dong'er a chance?"
"Teacher..." Bibi Dong watched Qian Xunji leave and completely lost her mind. "Teacher, you broke your word! You said you would always protect Dong'er!"
"Teacher... Teacher... Qian Xunji! Everything I've suffered is because of you! I hate you! Qian Xunji, I hate you! I hate Spirit Hall!"
Qian Xunji held Ah Yin's hand. Hearing Bibi Dong's vicious curses behind him, he did not stop. He led Ah Yin out of the alley.
"Qian Xunji..." Bibi Dong cursed angrily as she watched him disappear. "Qian Xunji, you beast! Why are you so heartless? Why can't you give me a chance?"
"Fuck you! Who do you think you are to blame His Holiness the Pope? His Holiness the Pope is so benevolent that he spared your life, and you don't even know to be grateful? You even dare curse His Holiness the Pope here!"
A member of the Security Team stepped forward and viciously kicked Bibi Dong, sending her sprawling to the side.
"You brought this fate upon yourself through your own actions. Who else can you blame? If you want someone to blame, blame yourself! You had been a perfectly good Saintess, yet you actually wanted to betray Spirit Hall and seek refuge with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"
"Bah!" The Security Team member spat directly onto Bibi Dong, his eyes filled with disgust.
The more he spoke, the angrier he became. He was about to hit and curse her again when another man grabbed him and began to dissuade him.
"That's enough, that's enough. Don't beat her to death. His Holiness the Pope hasn't said she can die yet. If she dies at our hands, we won't be able to answer for it."
"I was just too angry. This ungrateful beast, worse than an animal, actually dared insult our respected His Holiness the Pope. She's absolutely hateful!"
A sharp pain spread through Bibi Dong's lower abdomen. Her entire body convulsed as she curled into a ball, whimpering while listening to the two men curse her.
Her life flashed through her mind. When she was six, her village had been attacked by Fallen Soul Masters. Qian Xunji had arrived and saved her life, and she had sworn to exterminate all the Fallen Soul Masters in the world.
After becoming Qian Xunji's disciple, she had been at her happiest. Qian Xunji had loved and cared for her like a father.
She vaguely remembered that it had been summer, in the back garden of the Papal Palace, when Qian Xunji had held her in his arms.
"Dong'er, from now on, you're this seat's disciple. I won't let anyone hurt you. In the future, you'll also become the Pope of Spirit Hall, understand? You must always remember Spirit Hall's duty. Spirit Hall's duty is to protect the continent..."
"Why does Spirit Hall have to protect the continent? Spirit Hall is clearly so powerful. Why can't it..."
Qian Xunji patiently explained, "Because Spirit Hall was founded by our ancestor, the Angel God. It was a turbulent era, and Spirit Hall was born from it. Its duty was to protect the continent..."
"Don't worry, Teacher. Dong'er will protect the continent and exterminate all the Fallen Soul Masters in the world! Dong'er will make that her goal!"
Happy memories from the past flashed through Bibi Dong's mind.
"You're an unfaithful, unfilial, unkind, and unrighteous wretch! You've disregarded Spirit Hall's kindness in raising you, and disregarded your teacher's kindness in saving your life!"
"Today, I'll cripple your cultivation!" Within the Papal Palace, Qian Xunji had been furious as he crippled her cultivation and shattered her Martial Soul. "Why?" Bibi Dong curled up in the corner. "Why did it become like this? I used to be clearly so..."
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