Together forever

Bibi Dong flushed slightly and averted her gaze. "What wish do you want to make?"

Yu Xiaogang looked down at her, gently placed the Pope Token in her palm, then clasped her hand, enclosing both her hand and the token in his grip. "Then I'll use this Pope Token to wish that I can be with Dong'er forever."

His tender words reached her ears. Bibi Dong, so commanding before others, was now like a woman in love. Tears welled up again, but this time she fought them back, only fluttering her wet lashes twice.

Yu Xiaogang smiled faintly at the sight of her. "Do you agree?"

Bibi Dong bit her lower lip. "You really... don't mind the past?"

"I told you, I don't care."

Yu Xiaogang looked earnestly into her eyes and said, each word distinct, "Let everything before this die like yesterday; let everything after this be born like today. Forget the past, Dong'er. Join me, and let's create a new future together."

Bibi Dong finally smiled. She raised a hand and gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, her tender voice carrying a hint of helplessness. "You still talk in such a literary way."

Yu Xiaogang smiled. "Looks like Dong'er has agreed."

"You've even brought out the Pope Token. How could I go back on my word?"

"Heh, if you do go back on your word..."

Yu Xiaogang lowered his head and leaned closer.

"I'll steal you away anyway."

Bibi Dong froze for a moment, then couldn't help laughing. "Yu Xiaogang, you've become domineering."

"Heh, everyone grows. You've grown too, Dong'er, haven't you?"

As Bibi Dong gazed into his smiling eyes, the stone that had weighed on her heart for over twenty years suddenly fell away.

Since Yu Xiaogang didn't mind, why should she remain trapped in what had happened?

Bibi Dong leaned into his arms and suddenly felt the knot that had troubled her for over twenty years quietly loosen at that very moment.

So all her obsessions, all her self-loathing, everything she couldn't let go of-all of it ultimately came down to one person.

He alone was the most important part of her heart.

They nestled together like that, talking in the empty Pope's Palace.

They began with the year they had parted and talked all the way up to the present.

They laughed together at the funny parts, and when they reached the difficult parts, Bibi Dong unconsciously tightened her grip on the hem of his clothes.

They talked for four hours.

Bibi Dong felt these were the most carefree hours she had spent in decades, as though she had returned to those early days, when she was still the girl who would tug on his sleeve and act coy.

Yu Xiaogang was still just as he had been before. His tone when he spoke, the look in his eyes and brows when he smiled-none of it had changed.

"Dong'er, I've realized you're even more beautiful now as the pope than you were before."

Bibi Dong flushed slightly and turned her head away. "How could I be... I'm getting on in years. In a few more years, I'll be old, a pearl gone yellow."

"Heh, how are you old, Dong'er? Aren't you just the same as before?"

Yu Xiaogang smiled and gently squeezed her hand. "They don't say Titled Douluo retain their youth forever for nothing."

Bibi Dong smiled faintly, warmth filling her heart.

Looking at Yu Xiaogang's profile beside her, a thought suddenly rose unbidden: abandon the papal throne, leave with him, fly far away, and never concern herself with worldly affairs again, living a carefree life.

But the thought only flashed through her mind before she suppressed it herself.

No.

If she left, that old fellow Qian Daoliu would never let the matter rest.

Bibi Dong was already a Level 98 Titled Douluo, but because she was undergoing the Rakshasa God Trial, she couldn't unleash her full strength.

Indeed, she had already begun her god trial by this time.

Looking at Yu Xiaogang beside her, she became even more determined that she had to become a god!

Only by becoming a god could she take Yu Xiaogang to the Divine Realm in the future, so they could truly be together forever.

"This time... how long are you planning to stay?"

As Bibi Dong asked this question, her grip on Yu Xiaogang's hand unconsciously tightened.

"Don't worry. I'll always be by your side. But I really can't stay too long this time."

"Why?"

Bibi Dong lifted her head to look at him.

"Heh, have you forgotten? I still have disciples in Heaven Dou City."

Yu Xiaogang smiled.

Bibi Dong smiled at his words, a teasing note entering her voice. "I'm afraid it isn't just your disciples, is it? For example... Liu Erlong?"

Yu Xiaogang felt a little awkward. Even he was somewhat flustered when faced with a situation like this.

Seeing his rare look of discomfiture, Bibi Dong couldn't help covering her mouth and chuckling. "Don't worry, I don't mind. If she let you come, she probably doesn't mind either, does she? She really loves you."

Yu Xiaogang breathed a sigh of relief and held the woman in his arms tighter. "I love you both very much too."

Bibi Dong buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled. "Yu Xiaogang, all I want is to be with you forever. I don't care about anything else."

"We will."

Yu Xiaogang lowered his head and placed an exceedingly light kiss on the crown of her head.

"We'll be together forever."

"When I go back this time, there really is something I have to do."

"What?"

"I need to return to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

Bibi Dong frowned.

She remembered that Yu Xiaogang had been forced out of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan back then. Over the years, she had more than once entertained the thought of wiping out the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to vent his grievances, but she also knew he wouldn't want her to do that.

"What are you going back for?"

Yu Xiaogang fell silent for a moment, lowering his gaze slightly. "To be honest, I don't care in the slightest about the clan's affairs, but... I can't disregard my father. Back then, he endured no shortage of contemptuous looks from the clansmen because of me. I don't care about anyone else in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, but my father is the one person I can't disregard."

His fists unconsciously clenched a little tighter. "I'm returning to the clan now for no other reason than to prove that I, Yu Xiaogang, am no longer the useless man I once was."

This, too, was one of the great obsessions in his heart.

If he didn't visit the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan at least once, he feared his thoughts would never flow freely during his future cultivation.

Bibi Dong looked at his clenched fists and taut jaw, and her heart ached faintly.

Those damned pieces of trash from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan actually dared to question Yu Xiaogang. They all deserved to die!

Hmph, I'll spare your lives this time for Yu Xiaogang's sake. If there's a next time...

"All right, Yu Xiaogang."

She raised her head, her gaze earnest. "Then I'll go with you."

In her view, as long as she was there, those pieces of trash from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would never dare defy him. If they did, she would kill them!

Yu Xiaogang froze for a moment, then smiled and reached out to tap her forehead gently.

People said women in love lost their minds. It seemed that really was true.

"How can you just leave on a whim? You're the pope now. Leave a little matter like this to me. Don't you trust my strength?"

"No, Yu Xiaogang, of course I trust you."

Bibi Dong said anxiously, "But I'm worried..."

"Heh, don't worry."

Yu Xiaogang squeezed her hand. "I'm already a Soul King, and I completed my Martial Soul's evolution long ago. I'm no longer the man I used to be."

"Of course, I still can't compare with my Dong'er."

Bibi Dong opened her mouth, but ultimately gave in. "All right."

Yu Xiaogang couldn't possibly let her make any rash moves.

Qian Daoliu was still alive. Bibi Dong didn't yet have the sole say in Spirit Hall.

"All right, let's stop thinking about this."

He patted the back of her hand, his tone growing lighter. "We so rarely get to see each other. Let's not talk about these dispiriting things. Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?"

Seeing how he was deliberately changing the subject, Bibi Dong's lips curved, and she nodded, following his lead. "Mm. There's a small kitchen behind the Pope's Palace. I'll have a maid bring some pastries."