Dong'er, I love you

Yu Xiaogang put his hands on her shoulders.

"I can't answer that question. Because you are all indispensable parts of my life."

Liu Erlong snorted.

Yu Xiaogang continued,

"But I can tell you that I came to find you first."

Liu Erlong was stunned for a moment, then a grin spread across his face.

She smiled and rested her face on his chest, asking no more questions.

A few days later, the Radiant Sacred Dragon Luo Sanpao, flew into the vicinity of Spirit City.

Spirit City is even larger than Heaven Dou City, with high and thick city walls. The flags on the city towers flutter in the wind, and the Soul Master patrolling the city walls wear the uniform Spirit Hall armor, walking back and forth.

Luo Sanpao landed on an open space outside the city, folded his wings, and lowered his head.

Yu Xiaogang helped Ye Lin down from the dragon's back.

"Flying is prohibited for other Soul Master within the Spirit City."

"As a sign of respect for the Spirit Hall, let's proceed into the next area."

The two walked along the Official Road into Spirit City.

Ye Lin followed behind Yu Xiaogang, looking around curiously. Was this the most sacred place for Soul Master?

Yu Xiaogang led Ye Lin through the main street, made two turns, and arrived in front of a towering palace.

The Pope Hall.

Two rows of Hall Guard Knight in silver armor stood on either side.

The two had just reached the bottom of the steps,

A leading knight stepped forward, slamming his lance into the ground. "This is forbidden territory! Take another step closer, and you will be killed without mercy!"

Yu Xiaogang reached into his Storage Soul Tool with his right hand, felt around, and pulled out a palm-sized token, which he held up in front of him.

The moment the Hall Guard Knight saw the token, his expression froze. His spear fell to the ground, he knelt on one knee, and bowed his head. "Greetings, Elder."

The row of knights behind him knelt down as well.

Yu Xiaogang put the token away and said calmly, "Take me to see the Pope."

Soon, Yu Xiaogang and Ye Lin were led into the main hall of the Pope Hall.

The two sat down in the guest seats, and someone served tea.

Ye Lin held his teacup, his gaze fixed on Yu Xiaogang's face.

He pondered in his heart,

Where did that token come from?

In this life, Tang Hao did not give the Pope Token to Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang turned his head to look at him and smiled, as if he had noticed Ye Lin's confusion.

"Aren't you curious why they knelt down when they saw that token?"

"That token is called the Pope Token. Your grandfather gave it to me in case it comes in handy outside."

Ye Lin was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized.

He picked up the teacup, took a sip like Yu Xiaogang, then stuck out his tongue. "It's so bitter," he said, "I can't appreciate tea."

The doors to the Council Hall were pushed open.

A figure walked in from behind the door.

She was a woman dressed in a magnificent robe, wearing Purple-Gold Crown, and holding a two-meter-long Scepter. Her skin was fair, her face was perfect, and her eyes and brows exuded an air of nobility that made people want to worship her.

The base of the Scepter tapped lightly on the stone floor, making a continuous clinking sound.

Pope Bibi Dong.

She walked into the hall, her gaze falling on the person in the guest seat, and she froze.

Hearing the noise, Yu Xiaogang stood up from his chair, and the two looked at each other.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly changed.

Bibi Dong slammed her Scepter on the ground and said in a calm tone,

"What brings you here?"

"We haven't seen each other for twenty years, have we?"

Yu Xiaogang didn't say anything, but simply took a step toward her.

Bibi Dong's body trembled violently. She picked up her Scepter and tapped it lightly on the ground.

Please have some self-respect.

Yu Xiaogang didn't stop.

He took another step, and the distance between the two of them became very close.

"Dong'er, I'm so sorry."

Bibi Dong stood there, stunned.

Yu Xiaogang took another step forward.

This time, the two were only one step apart.

Yu Xiaogang continued,

"Dong'er, it's been over twenty years."

"It was only then that I finally realized what was happening."

"It's a pity I realized it so late, so very late. If only I had realized it sooner, I could have come to find you sooner."

"You are still so young and beautiful, just like you were back then, but I have grown old."

"But I know that if I don't come to find you, I won't be able to die in peace."

I don't ask for your forgiveness. I just want to say one thing to you.

He paused, gazing tenderly into Bibi Dong's eyes.

Dong'er, I love you.

Bibi Dong's body trembled more and more violently.

Her eyes reddened, and tears welled up at the corners of her eyes, gradually increasing until they rolled down her cheeks.

Her hand loosened, and the Scepter fell to the ground with a thud, rolling half a circle.

She reached out and hugged Yu Xiaogang, burying her face in his shoulder, her voice trembling and choked with sobs.

"Xiaogang, I love you too."

Yu Xiaogang raised both hands and placed them on her back, hugging her tightly.

Bibi Dong rested her face on his shoulder, her voice muffled and choked with sobs.

"Xiaogang, I thought I'd never see you again in my life, but I never expected you to come."

"You have no idea how much I wanted to rush over and hug you just now."

But I don't dare, I'm afraid you'll push me away.

Yu Xiaogang lowered his head and whispered something in her ear.

"Dong'er, you don't need to come over."

"If you want to hug me, just take one step forward, and I'll take the remaining ninety-nine."

Ye Lin stood to the side and watched the whole scene quietly.

He silently recited a sentence in his heart.

As expected of Grandmaster, awesome.

Bibi Dong hugged Yu Xiaogang, sobbing, "Xiaogang, I'm so sorry."

"Dong'er, don't say such things. I'm the one who's wronged you."

"Twenty years have passed, and I'm only now coming to find you. I'm too late."

Bibi Dong shook her head, lifted her head from his shoulder, her eyes red-rimmed and her face still streaked with tears.

"It's not that you arrived late. I've never blamed you."

"I wronged you back then, and I still wrong you now."

She took half a step back, trying to break free from Yu Xiaogang's embrace.

But Yu Xiaogang didn't let go; he pulled her back and hugged her even tighter.

Bibi Dong placed her hands on his chest, her voice lowering.

"Xiaogang, let me go. I'm not good enough for you."

Yu Xiaogang looked at her upturned face.

"How could that be? You are the Pope, admired by millions. I am just an unknown nobody."

Bibi Dong bit her lip and remained silent.

More than twenty years have passed.

She is no longer the girl she used to be.

Some things, if you don't say them now, you'll never have another chance.

There was no longer any possibility of her being with Xiaogang.

"But I am still not clean, I am already dirty, how can I be worthy of you?"

Yu Xiaogang withdrew his hand from her back and used his sleeve to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

He wiped away the tear stains little by little.

"Dong'er, in my heart you will always be the perfect Dong'er. That will never change."