"What did His Holiness just say?"
"She said the marriage is not to be discussed for now."
"So she didn't refuse?"
"Right."
"What about the betrothal gifts?"
"They entered the city."
"If she didn't refuse, she accepted them!"
"No flaws in that logic, brother."
Half an hour later, the rumors inside Spirit City had morphed: the Pope accepted the betrothal gifts from the Clear Sky Sect, and the marriage was only missing a date.
When the news spread to the post station outside the city, the second half of the sentence vanished.
The Pope had agreed.
As for what Bibi Dong actually said, quite a few people knew.
Yet the gossipers felt the four words "not to be discussed for now" were too convoluted, lacking the sheer convenience of "she agreed."
Worship Hall.
Qian Daoliu held the newly arrived intelligence report and glanced at Yue Heng.
After waking up, Yue Heng insisted on delivering his debriefing in person; at that moment, he stood within the hall, his complexion still somewhat pale.
"Bibi Dong agreed?" Qian Daoliu asked.
"No," Yue Heng said. "She said the marriage is not to be discussed for now, and invited Tang Xiao to enter the city to negotiate matters between the Clear Sky Sect and the Pope's Hall."
"Did she accept the betrothal gifts?"
"The convoy entered the city, and the items are still in the carriages."
Qian Daoliu flipped the intelligence report over and pointed at the phrase "the Pope gladly accepted the gifts" written upon it.
"Then who wrote this!"
"This subordinate doesn't know."
"Did you and Tang Hao argue again?"
Qian Daoliu watched Yue Heng, and Yue Heng lowered his head.
He originally had no wish to bring up the matter of passing out.
Yet with so many people surrounding the South Gate, it was not as if things could be treated as though they never happened just by keeping silent.
Qian Daoliu set the intelligence aside. "Forget it, go tend to your injuries first."
"Great Enshrined, Tang Xiao has already entered the Pope's Hall..."
"I know," Qian Daoliu said. "Tang Xiao brought people and gifts to demonstrate the Clear Sky Sect's stance to Bibi Dong."
"Bibi Dong did not bar them from the door, which is also a display of her own stance."
Yue Heng asked, "Should we send someone to disrupt things at the Pope's Hall?"
"Unnecessary. I will know whatever they discuss sooner or later."
"Rushing in right now serves no purpose, and will only force them to set aside their prejudices and join forces to deal with us."
Yue Heng thought of Tang Hao's sharp tongue and requested no further action.
As he reached the hall doors, Qian Daoliu suddenly called out to him, "Next time you see Tang Hao, do not argue with him again."
"This subordinate understands."
"You said you understood last time, too."
Yue Heng was left speechless, bowed, and withdrew.
From now on, he truly understood: resort to fists rather than words, as external wounds were at least slightly more tolerable than internal ones.
Meanwhile, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect also received correspondence dispatched from Spirit City.
Ning Fengzhi opened the first letter, which read: Tang Hao led the higher-ups of the Clear Sky Sect to Spirit City in person. Bibi Dong did not directly consent, but the Clear Sky Sect's convoy has entirely entered the city.
He then opened the second letter, which read: The Pope accepted the betrothal gifts, and the wedding date will soon be set.
Sword Douluo asked, "Which letter is true?"
"The first was witnessed by our own people," Ning Fengzhi said. "The second was heard by someone on the street."
"Then why did he send both back?"
"This is called thoroughness."
Ning Fengzhi placed the two letters side by side.
Though the talk of the streets lacked reliability, it was not entirely useless.
Once status and strength reached the level of Bibi Dong and Tang Hao, marriage ceased to be merely a personal affair.
At times, public opinion would instead emerge as the critical driving force.
Sword Douluo fell silent for a moment before asking, "Does Spirit Hall truly intend to join forces with the Clear Sky Sect?"
"It cannot be confirmed yet, however..."
Ning Fengzhi smiled. "As long as they sit down to talk, even if they merely drink tea and chat, it is already enough to give Qian Daoliu a headache."
"Should we do something?"
"Wait!"
Ning Fengzhi raised his gaze toward the distance. "The outcome of this matter concerns the future landscape of the continent. We cannot afford to be hasty."
"You may not be in a hurry, but my sect is already badgering me for what kind of wedding gift they should prepare."
Spirit City, Pope's Hall.
Bibi Dong sat high upon the main seat, while the members of the Clear Sky Sect lined both sides.
Gazing upon this solemn and majestic hall, the men of the Clear Sky Sect could not help but feel a stirring of emotion in their hearts.
They likely never dreamed that in this lifetime they would actually have the opportunity to swagger in and sit here.
Tang Xiao cupped his fists, taking the lead.
"His Holiness the Pope, Tang Hao said you required sincerity. Do you now feel the sincerity of my Clear Sky Sect is sufficient?"
Bibi Dong swept her gaze across the figures below; the sect master and five Titled Douluo elders had all arrived in full force, a sincerity far exceeding her expectations.
"Sufficient," she slowly nodded.
"In that case, does Your Holiness consent to this match?"
Bibi Dong tapped her armrest, speaking indifferently, "Give me a reason."
"If your reason is as absurd as Tang Hao's, then there is no need to speak it."
At these words, Tang Xiao's brow furrowed.
He had a hammer's worth of reasons; he had simply believed whatever Tang Hao told him, acting purely as an elder brother protective of his younger sibling.
At that moment, Tang Hao stepped forward.
"Last time you demanded a reason, I gave you two. At the time, you countered that my sincerity was lacking."
"Now that both the reason and the sincerity have been given to you, what more could you possibly want?"
Bibi Dong glared at him. "Shut your mouth!"
"This throne is speaking with the Clear Sky Sect Master in the capacity of the Pope. There is no place for you to speak here!"
Oh ho, you little piece of work, refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit, are we?
Tang Hao turned to look at Tang Xiao. "Brother, you all head outside first. I need to speak with her alone."
"Tang Hao, do not act rashly! Do not forget what you promised me in the sect."
"Rest assured, this time I guarantee I won't talk nonsense."
Tang Xiao sighed, cupped his fists toward Bibi Dong, and subsequently led the elders of the Clear Sky Sect out of the hall.
Once everyone had departed, Bibi Dong looked toward Tang Hao, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Tang Hao, what do you wish to say? I am not that Yue Heng, to be provoked into coughing up blood by a couple of casual remarks from you."
"Say your grandfather's!"
Without wasting words, Tang Hao summoned the Clear Sky Hammer directly and charged at Bibi Dong.
"Audacious!"
Bibi Dong let out a cold cry, her martial soul flashing behind her. "Tang Hao, who gave you the guts to dare make a move in my Spirit Hall!"
Yes, just like that, don't hold back at all, fight back directly and trade blows with me!
It would be best to smash this Spirit Hall to smithereens and let Qian Daoliu watch the spectacle from the sidelines.
Let everyone across the entire continent know that you trampled my Clear Sky Sect's face into the dirt, so that from now on the Clear Sky Sect and you will be irreconcilable enemies.
Bibi Dong: ...
His barrage of words instantly caused her to calm down, her turbulent soul power receding like a receding tide.
The reality was precisely as Tang Hao had stated: her position as Pope was, in truth, far from secure.
Internally, she had Qian Daoliu meddling in her affairs; externally, various major sects glared like tigers eyeing their prey.
Though she appeared infinitely glorious, in truth she currently dared not push anyone to a bitter end.
Once she fell into an irreconcilable blood feud with the Clear Sky Sect, and the Clear Sky Sect threw its full weight behind Qian Daoliu, she would thoroughly be reduced to a puppet Pope.
The Clear Sky Hammer halted before her, then slowly dissipated.
Tang Hao looked down at her from above. "Come, answer me now: is this reason sufficient?"
Little thing, your old man is handsome, strong, knows the plot, and understands your current predicament-how could I not handle you?
"Sufficient!"
Bibi Dong slowly raised her head to look at Tang Hao. "I can agree to the political marriage, but you must also agree to one condition of mine."
"What is it?"
"We can become husband and wife in name only, but you are not allowed to touch me."
Are you kidding me, sister? You seriously don't think this bro is here for the mainland's political landscape, do you? Bro is clearly here for you!
Yet Tang Hao was not in a hurry; there would be plenty of time later on.
Once they had official status, whether or not he could touch her would no longer rely on promises, but on strength.
"Very well, I agree."
Hearing Tang Hao's response, Bibi Dong breathed a sigh of relief.
"That being the case, this throne consents to this match. All details of the wedding shall be decided entirely by your Clear Sky Sect."
Before you continue