Bibi Dong's Fury!

At that thought, Ning Chen said to Dugu Bo:

"Senior Dugu, I have some personal matters to handle in Notting City, so I need to leave for a while."

"Notting City?" Dugu Bo froze for a moment, then immediately said:

"Young Master, you're going to Notting City? Perfect. This old man will return to the Heaven Dou City palace to pack up, then accompany you there!"

He then patted his chest, wearing an utterly loyal expression.

"Wherever Young Master goes, this old man goes! With me by your side, whoever dares touch a single hair on your head will learn what Myriad Poisons Devour the Heart means!"

Dugu Yan's eyes immediately lit up when she heard that.

She quickly poked her head out from behind her grandfather and chimed in:

"Yes, yes, yes! Ning... Young Master, take us with you! An extra person means extra support."

By the end, her voice had grown softer, and her cheeks reddened slightly.

Ning Chen could not help but laugh at the sight of the old man and the young woman.

He stepped forward and lightly flicked Dugu Yan's smooth forehead with a finger.

"Ow!" Dugu Yan cried out, covering her forehead as she glared at him in dissatisfaction.

Ning Chen said irritably:

"Take you along? Are you two afraid people won't know we have something going on?"

"You, Dugu Yan, are a star student of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and the vice-captain of the Imperial Battle Team. You're already something of a celebrity in Heaven Dou City."

Then he pointed at Dugu Bo. "And you, Senior Dugu. A dignified level ninety-one Titled Douluo—the name Poison Douluo is known across the entire continent. That face of yours is a living signboard."

"Now, with one Titled Douluo, one genius girl, and a mysterious young man as devastatingly handsome as me, the three of us strolling around together... do you call that keeping a low profile?"

Ning Chen spread his hands and said in an exaggerated tone:

"That isn't low-key. That's like sticking a sign on our foreheads because we're afraid people won't realize we're extraordinary."

"Pfft..."

Dugu Yan burst out laughing at his antics, and her earlier shyness and embarrassment vanished without a trace.

After hearing this, Dugu Bo also felt that his young master had a point. His old face reddened as he scratched his head awkwardly.

"Young Master is right. This old man did not think it through."

He truly had been worried for Ning Chen's safety and wanted to remain by his side to protect him, but he had forgotten just how conspicuous the three of them would be together.

Seeing this, Ning Chen nodded and continued:

"The matter I'm handling this time is urgent. I can't delay for even a moment. It'll be more convenient for me to act alone."

Looking at Dugu Bo, he gave his first order:

"How about this? You two return to Heaven Dou City first and pack everything that needs packing. Then go directly to the small town called Windbell Town outside Wuhun City and wait for me."

"Once you get there, find a decent inn and stay there. When I'm done, I'll meet up with you there."

This arrangement would both send them away and give them something to do, so they would not sit around worrying.

The moment Dugu Bo heard that there was a task, his spirits rose. He straightened his back and solemnly cupped his fists.

"Yes, Young Master! This old man understands!"

"Since that is the case, this old man will not try to persuade you further. Young Master, you must be careful on this journey! Yan Yan and I will wait for you in Windbell Town!"

He paused, his tone becoming incomparably firm.

"If Young Master does not come, we will not leave!"

"Mm." Ning Chen nodded in satisfaction.

He then glanced at Dugu Yan, who stood beside them looking utterly dejected. Her lips were pouted, and every inch of her face screamed unhappiness.

After thinking for a moment, Ning Chen walked up to her, suddenly leaned close to her ear, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Be good and go wait for me in Wuhun City with your grandfather. When I come back, I'll bring you something nice."

His warm breath brushed against her ear, making Dugu Yan's body stiffen suddenly as a jolt of electricity raced from her ear through her entire body.

Her face instantly turned crimson, and her heart began pounding uncontrollably.

"Who... who wants your things..."

Though she said that, the disappointment in her eyes had disappeared completely, replaced by a sparkling trace of anticipation.

Ning Chen chuckled at her adorably insincere appearance and stopped teasing her.

He turned around and walked to the pile of immortal herbs. With a thought, he stuffed all the remaining top-grade medicinal herbs, including the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, and Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, into his storage soul tool.

After finishing this, Ning Chen turned back and waved to Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan.

"I'm leaving. You should set out as soon as possible too."

The moment his words fell, the Emperor-Slaying Sword appeared out of thin air and hovered beneath his feet.

Ning Chen leaped up and landed steadily atop the blade.

Buzz!

Accompanied by a ringing sword cry, the black Emperor-Slaying Sword carried Ning Chen into the sky, vanishing beyond the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Dugu Bo raised his head and gazed in the direction Ning Chen had left for a long time without looking away.

Dugu Yan, meanwhile, kept staring at the place where that streak of light had disappeared. Her small hand unconsciously touched her burning ear, and the corners of her lips could not help but curl upward.

Wuhun City, Pope Hall.

Inside the magnificent yet solemn grand hall, the atmosphere was so oppressive it seemed as though water could drip from it.

Bibi Dong reclined against the lavish papal throne, her posture languid, yet she naturally radiated the supreme majesty of one who ruled the world.

She wore an exquisite papal robe woven from platinum and dark purple, perfectly outlining her breathtaking figure.

The robe's hem was slit high, revealing flashes of her slender legs wrapped in white silk. They were casually crossed together, exuding a fatal allure.

Yet at this moment, her flawless and peerlessly beautiful face was covered in an unmelting frost.

"Still no news?"

In the center of the hall, Yue Guan, the Chrysanthemum Douluo, knelt on one knee. His normally seductive face was now drenched in cold sweat, and he did not even dare lift his head.

He answered tremblingly, "R-reporting to Your Holiness, we have... we have mobilized the forces of every branch hall to search across the entire continent, but... but there is still no news of His Highness the Holy Son."

"Useless!"

Bibi Dong abruptly sat upright, slamming the scepter in her hand heavily against the floor with a sharp, thunderous bang.

"A bunch of useless fools!"

A terrifying wave of soul power erupted from her body, instantly sweeping through the entire hall.

Yue Guan trembled beneath the pressure and nearly collapsed flat onto the ground.

Bibi Dong's chest rose and fell violently with fury, and her beautiful violet eyes brimmed with anger.

"After so many days, you still can't find one person! Does Spirit Hall keep you around just to eat for free?!"

She was truly on the verge of going mad with rage.

That brat—her disciple, whom she had personally raised—had actually dared to run away from home!

Leaving was one thing, but he had not even sent back a single message!

"Brat... must you really make your teacher worry this much? If your Evil Fire truly goes out of control... I... what am I supposed to do?"

A rare flicker of vulnerability passed through Bibi Dong's eyes.

Yue Guan, kneeling on the ground, sensed the increasingly unstable aura around the pope and was frightened out of his wits.

Her Holiness the Pope was genuinely furious, and her rage was mixed with worry.

He hurriedly tried to comfort her. "Your Holiness, please calm your anger! Please don't worry yet!"

"His Highness the Holy Son... he is extraordinarily talented and exceptionally clever. He will definitely be fine! Perhaps... perhaps he is simply playing around outside for a few days and will soon return on his own!"

"Return?"

Bibi Dong let out a cold laugh and continued:

"He had better crawl back obediently on his own!"