"Tell me..."
"What right does a useless wreck with shattered meridians and no talent have to come looking for you again?"
"What right does an ant who can't even break through to Soul Saint have to stand beside you?"
"I didn't want... to become a stain on your name."
His words faded.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
Bibi Dong stared blankly at him, at the pain and struggle in his eyes, at the vulnerability beneath his pretense of strength.
So... that was why.
It wasn't that he hadn't wanted to come looking for me.
He simply... hadn't dared.
He had feared she would despise him, feared he would become a burden to her.
That fool!
The biggest fool in the entire world!
"Mm..."
An irrepressible sob escaped Bibi Dong's throat.
The next moment.
This empress who reigned over the world broke down completely.
Crystal-clear tears rolled down her exquisite cheeks like pearls spilling from a broken string.
She no longer cared about her dignity as Pope or the countless eyes watching her.
Once again, she rushed forward like a woman possessed, wrapped her arms tightly around Ning Lin, rose onto her tiptoes, and kissed his cracked lips with all her strength.
This time, there was no dominance, no fervor.
Only boundless tenderness, boundless heartache, and a deep love that would never dissolve.
With that kiss, she told him.
I don't care.
I don't care about any of it!
After a long while, their lips parted.
Bibi Dong leaned into Ning Lin's arms, her slender body still trembling faintly.
But her gaze gradually grew resolute again, grew sharp.
A moment later.
She slowly straightened.
She wiped the tears from her face and straightened Ning Lin's disheveled collar.
Then she turned.
Once again, she faced Tang San below the High Platform, faced all of Heaven Dou City.
The Pope's immense presence, looking down upon all living beings, returned to her.
It was even more chilling than before, even more... filled with murderous intent!
Her eyes pierced Tang San like two tangible divine swords.
Her red lips parted, and her commanding voice rang throughout the Square, reaching every ear.
"He is my man."
"Today, no one will so much as touch him!"
Bibi Dong's voice was not particularly loud, yet it reached everyone in the Square.
At those words, heaven and earth fell silent.
After a brief, deathly silence came a towering uproar like a volcanic eruption!
"Boom—!"
The entire Square of Heaven Dou City erupted!
The chatter, cries of shock, and sharp gasps of tens of thousands merged into a terrifying wave of sound that almost swept the clouds from the sky!
"My heavens! What did I just hear? His Holiness the Pope... admitted it herself?"
"Ning Lin... really is the Pope's man? How... how is that possible?"
"You must be joking! One is the lofty Pope of Spirit Hall, and the other is a prisoner of the Heaven Dou Empire. The gulf between their stations is enormous!"
"No wonder! No wonder His Holiness the Pope came in person! She came to save her man!"
This earth-shattering piece of gossip made everyone temporarily forget the trial and the charges. They craned their necks, the flames of gossip blazing in their eyes.
Below the High Platform.
Tang San clenched his fists even tighter.
Everything he had so carefully planned was torn to shreds by Bibi Dong's declaration.
Yet just then, a shrill, crazed roar suddenly exploded beside him!
"No!!"
"I don't believe it!!"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes were bloodshot. Like a vengeful ghost, he stared fixedly at the two embracing on the Judgment Platform.
That face of the "Grandmaster," which he had once held up as a model of authority, was now twisted beyond recognition by extreme jealousy and spite.
He abruptly shook off Flender's supporting hands and staggered forward a few steps. Mustering every ounce of his strength, he pointed at Bibi Dong and roared himself hoarse.
"Bibi Dong!!"
"You shameless woman!!"
"What right do you have to call him your man? You lost your virginity long ago!"
"You're nothing but... a filthy woman someone else has already used!!"
Those vicious words exploded like a thunderclap above the noisy Square.
The crowd, still clamoring a moment before, instantly fell into deathly silence again.
Every gaze focused on Yu Xiaogang.
What... did he mean by that?
That was far too much to take in!
People's eyes began moving back and forth between Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong, filled with curiosity and probing interest.
Even Tang San turned toward his teacher in astonishment.
He had never seen his teacher lose control like this, become so... crazed.
Feeling every gaze converge on him, the spite and jealousy in Yu Xiaogang's heart instead bred a sick pleasure.
If I can't have her...
Then I'll destroy her!
He would tear open Bibi Dong's deepest wound before the entire world and leave her reputation in ruins!
A savage smile appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face. He straightened his back and spoke loudly, his tone boastful and smug.
"None of you knew, did you?"
"You've all been fooled by that noble, holy appearance of hers!"
"I'll tell you the truth!"
"Back then, her teacher, Qian Xunji, the previous Pope of Spirit Hall, was a beast hiding behind a mask of virtue!"
"He lusted after his own disciple's beauty and used despicable means to defile her in the Secret Chamber!!"
Yu Xiaogang's voice echoed above the Square.
"I learned of this when I personally overheard Qian Xunji conspiring with Qian Daoliu!"
"Bibi Dong, am I right or not!"
"You've been unclean for years! You filthy woman, how do you have the nerve to stand here?!"
When he finished speaking.
The entire crowd was silent as the grave.
Everyone was stunned.
Utterly, completely stunned.
The previous Pope... raped his own disciple?
What... what a deranged, horrifying scandal!
Spirit Hall had been hiding such a sordid secret?
Then question after question rose in everyone's hearts.
Wait.
Was Qian Xunji really that perverted? He laid hands on his own personal disciple?
No, the real question was... how did you, Yu Xiaogang, an outsider who was only rank twenty-nine back then and couldn't even enter Spirit Hall's inner circle, learn something so secret?
You even personally overheard Qian Xunji conspiring with Qian Daoliu?
Who do you think you are?
How could a mere Soul Grandmaster eavesdrop on a private conversation between Titled Douluos?
Even boasting ought to follow some basic rules!
Yet when everyone's eyes instinctively turned toward Bibi Dong on the Judgment Platform, their doubts began to waver.
Bibi Dong's slender body was trembling faintly.
All the color had drained from her exquisite face, leaving it deathly pale.
The gaze she fixed on Yu Xiaogang was filled with pain, filled with... disappointment.
Her expression seemed to say...
What Yu Xiaogang had said was true.
Before you continue