What Comes Next

As Qian Xunji watched every movement inside, he thought over everything that had happened that day. He had awakened memories of another world, and their influence seemed to have changed his personality. In the past, he had defended his authority as pope and teacher at every turn.

Now that he knew the world he lived in was merely a novel in another world, he felt both small and absurd.

Those memories had also given him a perspective outside the Douluo Continent, allowing him to observe it as an outsider. That, combined with the shock of another world's values, was probably why he had changed.

Perhaps that was a good thing. If he kept up his authority as pope, maintained a stern face in every word and deed, and refused to lower himself enough to talk openly with anyone, he would likely repeat his fate in the original story.

Take his relationship with Bibi Dong over the years. Even after what he had done to her in that secret room, he had continued to insist on his authority as her teacher and as pope. If he had pursued her sooner, perhaps so much of this could have been avoided.

Thinking of how people in that other world judged him, he felt wronged. What a load of crap, calling this a continent of romance!

"I've shared everything I can share today. Tomorrow, I need to have a proper talk with Dong'er about our plans for the future. We can't repeat what happened in the original story. Even if she can't forgive me, I need to try to work with her..."

Inside the room

Qian Renxue held Bibi Dong close and buried her face in her mother's chest, greedily breathing in the maternal warmth she had gone without all these years.

"Mom, have you and Dad made up now?" She raised her head, blinking her wide eyes as she looked at Bibi Dong expectantly.

"Xiao Xue, all you need to know is that Mom loves you. As for him, let's not talk about him." Bibi Dong drew a deep breath before answering. She clearly did not want to say more.

But Qian Renxue wanted to press her advantage and win her mother over once and for all.

"Mom, can you tell me what Dad did wrong back then? I'll make him apologize to you." Qian Renxue kept wheedling.

"Hah."

Bibi Dong gave a soft laugh and turned her head away without answering.

"Mom, don't be angry. Xue'er won't ask anymore."

Bibi Dong composed herself and held Qian Renxue even tighter.

"Mom isn't angry. It's just..."

"Ah, you'll understand someday..."

"Mm-hmm!"

The next day, Qian Xunji ignored Bibi Dong's glare and ate breakfast with her and Qian Renxue.

"Xiao Xue, go train with Grandpa today. You can come see Mom again tonight. Dad needs to talk to her."

"Oh~ Okay!"

"And Dad, you're not allowed to bully Mom. If you do, I won't like you anymore!" Qian Renxue had already risen, but she turned back with a pout to warn him.

"Haha, of course. Don't worry, Xiao Xue. How could Dad bully Mom?" Qian Xunji replied awkwardly.

Qian Renxue glared at him once more, then reluctantly said goodbye to Bibi Dong before leaving.

Qian Xunji used Soul Power to shield the area around them and looked at Bibi Dong.

"Teacher, what do you want to talk about? Are you afraid I'll hurt Xiao Xue? Or do you want to keep me under house arrest again?" Bibi Dong said with biting sarcasm.

"Dong'er, you've been through so much. I know you haven't forgiven me, but I believe you can understand, at least to some extent, the position I was in back then..."

"Hah~"

Bibi Dong folded her arms and shot Qian Xunji a sidelong glance.

"Ahem. Let's get to the point, Dong'er. I want to know how you feel about Yu Xiaogang now."

"He's scum, just like you. He disgusts me. Satisfied?"

Bibi Dong remembered how, across countless lives, Yu Xiaogang had betrayed her, stabbed her in the back, schemed against her, and used her again and again, driving her into humiliation and death each time. She wanted to tear him apart. She hated him far more than she hated Qian Xunji.

After all, throughout those countless lives, as long as Qian Xunji was still Qian Xunji, he had done the same thing to her in that secret room each time, like some NPC. She had nearly gone numb to it.

Qian Xunji almost laughed and said, "Very satisfied."

But he held it in. Why am I so happy when she's insulting me?

"Dong'er, whether we like it or not, we're in the same boat now. I'm Xiao Xue's father. I hope you can set aside our differences for the time being so we can face those children of destiny together."

Qian Xunji took a deep breath and spoke solemnly.

"How? Those people are all over the place, pulling absurd powers out of nowhere. One moment someone might be a Soul Grandmaster, and the next, a God King."

"Even without those people and their ridiculous advantages, that little bastard Tang San would be hard to beat. The Asura God protects him. I tried it in one life. I had memories of the so-called original story and hunted Tang San down time and again, but he escaped every time, found even more opportunities, and killed me in the end."

Qian Xunji fell silent. She was right. According to discussions he had seen online in the other world, Tang San had probably been sent to the Douluo Continent by the Asura God himself. He had enjoyed the god's help almost from beginning to end, and his luck was outrageous.

"Then what do we do? We can't just wait to die. Even if we can't beat him, we have to put up a fight."

Bibi Dong did not answer, apparently taking his point.

Countless failures had left her close to breaking, but surrendering from the outset was not in her nature either.

"So what's your plan?" Bibi Dong finally grew serious.

Qian Xunji drew a deep breath. He feared that kind of defeat too. He had lived a charmed life; he could not bear the thought of some child of destiny appearing out of nowhere, killing him, and then humiliating him.

Then he said something that shocked Bibi Dong—and himself.

"Why don't you kill me? You can begin the Rakshasa Inheritance, and you and Xue'er can become gods sooner. If you can beat them then, fight. If not, hurry and ascend to the Divine Realm."

"What did you say?!" Bibi Dong was stunned.

If this had been yesterday, just after her memories awakened and before Qian Xunji discovered them, she might have chosen to do exactly that.

But she had never expected him to make that decision himself after learning everything she knew.

"Um... if we do that, do you have to devour my soul too? If not, could you leave it intact so Xiao Xue can resurrect me later?"

Bibi Dong had yet to absorb his first suggestion when the next one brought her back to reality.

She looked at Qian Xunji beside her. He had turned away, unable to meet her eyes, and was scratching his head with an awkward smile.

She could not hold it in. She laughed despite her anger.

"Don't worry. For Xiao Xue's sake, I'll be sure to tear your soul apart piece by piece, put it back together, and keep playing with you." Bibi Dong stood and fixed Qian Xunji with a hard stare. She repeatedly curled the fingers of her right hand, as though she held him in her palm.

"Forget it. I won't scare you anymore. You're Xue'er's father, after all. Even if I really do have to kill you, I'll try to make it quick."

Bibi Dong folded her arms again, turned away, and sat back down.

"Ahem. No more jokes, Dong'er. Here's what I'm thinking. I'll take my father and every Titled Douluo in Spirit Hall to hunt down Tang Hao. We won't give Ah Yin the chance to sacrifice herself. We'll kill them both outright!"

"As for whether any other strange characters appear, we'll have to leave that to fate. We'll stay on guard, and at the slightest sign of trouble, we'll immediately gather all of Spirit Hall's forces and wipe them out."

"I refuse to believe the Asura God will have any other way to intervene then, short of sending his divine will straight down himself."