"Thank you, Teacher."
After eating, Luo Chen found that he had recovered considerably. At least speaking was no longer as difficult as before.
"What are you thanking me for?"
Bibi Dong gently wiped the corner of Luo Chen's mouth. "It's only right for a teacher to take care of her disciple."
No one would have imagined that the exalted Pope of Spirit Hall would do such a thing.
But Bibi Dong did not care about any of that.
After the secret chamber incident, Bibi Dong's convictions had crumbled.
What had sustained her was her hatred for the Qian Family and her obsession with Yu Xiaogang.
And once Luo Chen shattered her rose-tinted view of Yu Xiaogang, Bibi Dong finally saw his true colors.
"Does it still hurt?"
Bibi Dong looked at Luo Chen, who had lain down after eating. His tightly knitted brows stabbed deep into her heart.
"It hurts."
Those two words nearly made Bibi Dong break down again.
The stunningly beautiful Pope had never known she could be so fragile.
But she simply could not help herself.
At that moment, Bibi Dong even had a thought.
As long as Luo Chen could recover, she was willing to cast aside everything for this child-ambition, power, and hatred alike.
"Your Holiness, Ye Renxin has arrived."
Chrysanthemum Douluo came to report that Gui Mei had brought Ye Renxin to Spirit City.
Ye Renxin was the current head of the Nine Heart Begonia Ye Family, and his granddaughter was none other than Ye Lingling of the future Heaven Dou Royal Team.
At present, however, Ye Lingling had yet to awaken her Martial Soul, and Ye Renxin had not died either.
"Show him in, quickly!"
Joy appeared on Bibi Dong's face when she heard that Ye Renxin had arrived. "Xiao Chen, Ye Renxin's Martial Soul is the Nine Heart Begonia. It has the strongest healing ability on the Douluo Continent."
If only two bearers of the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul could not exist at any one time, the throne of the greatest support-type Martial Soul might not have belonged to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Soon, Ghost Douluo came in from outside the hall with an elderly man in his sixties.
"Greetings, Your Holiness."
Ye Renxin bowed to Bibi Dong with an extremely respectful attitude.
There was nothing else he could do.
The Nine Heart Begonia Ye Family could not compare to great sects like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect or the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
They were only a single family and could not afford to offend a colossus like Spirit Hall.
"Mr. Ye, please treat my disciple."
Bibi Dong shed the tender, womanly demeanor she showed before Luo Chen. Her gentleness belonged to Luo Chen alone.
To everyone else, Bibi Dong remained that cold, domineering, ruthless female Pope who killed without hesitation!
"Yes."
Ye Renxin dared not look directly at Bibi Dong and could only lower his head. "I shall certainly do everything I can."
The old man approached the bed and began examining Luo Chen's condition.
"Such severe injuries!"
Ye Renxin hurriedly summoned his Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul.
He held the delicate begonia flower aloft, then channeled Soul Power into it, unleashing an immensely powerful healing Soul Skill.
The Nine Heart Begonia possessed unparalleled healing abilities. Within its range, any injury could rapidly recover, so long as it was not something like a missing arm or leg.
Of course, even if a limb had truly been severed, the Nine Heart Begonia could still reattach it as long as it had been preserved intact.
"Master, this Martial Soul really has something going for it."
"Mm."
Bathed in the Nine Heart Begonia's light, Luo Chen could indeed feel his body recovering.
Although the extent of his recovery was modest, he had reached the point Na'er had mentioned where he could get out of bed. He was no longer at death's door as he had been earlier.
"The Nine Heart Begonia truly is a miracle among Martial Souls. Its healing effects defy belief."
Luo Chen quickly assessed his physical condition. "Although my damaged foundation hasn't recovered, my injuries have indeed healed."
In other words, the Nine Heart Begonia's treatment addressed Luo Chen's symptoms rather than the root cause.
Of course, Luo Chen had his own way of dealing with the root cause. What he needed right now was precisely treatment for those surface injuries.
"Xiao Chen!"
Seeing the color return to Luo Chen's face, Bibi Dong's hand trembled slightly as she held his.
"Teacher, I feel much better."
Luo Chen was not trying to comfort Bibi Dong. He was telling the truth.
The Nine Heart Begonia had restored Luo Chen's internal organs and meridians damaged by the Death Spider Emperor Poison, and the agonizing pain that had tormented him immediately vanished without a trace.
"Mm."
Bibi Dong carefully tucked the blanket around Luo Chen and gently patted his chest. "Get some proper rest, Xiao Chen."
With that, Bibi Dong left the bedchamber with Ye Renxin and went into a reception room to the side.
"May I ask how this child sustained his injuries, Your Holiness?"
Ye Renxin was experienced. Rather than saying anything in front of Luo Chen, he asked Bibi Dong in private, "I have never seen injuries like these."
In his lifetime, Ye Renxin had encountered only two cases that the Nine Heart Begonia could do nothing about.
One was the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Poison afflicting Dugu Bo's son, and the other was the previous Pope Qian Xunji's injuries.
The former could be considered a weakness of the Nine Heart Begonia: it could only suppress certain deadly poisons, not eradicate them completely.
As for Qian Xunji...
Ye Renxin truly had never figured it out. He could not even comprehend what the strange power inside his body was.
Then there was Luo Chen now.
Based on the Nine Heart Begonia's feedback, Ye Renxin discovered that Luo Chen's body was utterly ravaged. "In my judgment, this child must have been afflicted with some unimaginably potent poison, causing his bodily functions to deteriorate."
"In my opinion..."
Ye Renxin sighed. "This child doesn't have much time left."
"..."
As those words fell, Bibi Dong felt her vision swim, and her mind went completely blank.
Although she had already prepared herself, hearing the diagnosis from a medical master like Ye Renxin still left Bibi Dong unable to accept this cruel reality.
The words "afflicted with some unimaginably potent poison," in particular, seemed to pierce straight through Bibi Dong's heart.
"Is there no other way?"
Bibi Dong took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down before struggling to maintain her papal dignity. "Mr. Ye, please name any requests you have. As long as you can save this child, you will be a benefactor of Spirit Hall!"
For Luo Chen's sake, Bibi Dong no longer cared about her own relationship with Spirit Hall.
Bibi Dong had never been a rational person.
To keep someone company and satisfy them, she could devote all her effort and everything she possessed to that person.
And once Luo Chen occupied her heart, how could the deeply emotional Bibi Dong possibly remain calm?
It was easy to imagine that if Luo Chen died because of her, Bibi Dong would spend the rest of her life beneath the shadow of having killed her own disciple, then once again become the Rakshasa God of the original story and launch her plan to destroy the world.
To sum it up in one sentence:
Bibi Dong: A world without Xiao Chen is hell.
Good grief, even Obito would call her an expert if he heard that!
"..."
Meanwhile, Ye Renxin recognized Luo Chen's place in the current Pope's heart.
Could he be her biological son?
With that thought, Ye Renxin looked at Bibi Dong again.
He discovered that this young Pope was not merely similar to mothers who brought their children for treatment only to receive terrible news-she was exactly the same!
He must be her biological son!
If he was her biological son, Ye Renxin would not find Bibi Dong's concern in the least surprising.
Such were the hearts of parents everywhere. Even as the Pope of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong was still a woman.
"Forgive me for speaking frankly."
Ye Renxin was not afraid that Bibi Dong would do anything to him.
Given his reputation and connections on the Douluo Continent, Bibi Dong could not possibly touch him unless she was a fool.
Moreover, as a physician, Ye Renxin had a responsibility to tell Bibi Dong the truth. "This child's condition should be the result of an extremely potent poison being suppressed inside his body by an immense life force, before erupting again for some unknown reason."
"Previously, it would still have been possible to seek a treasure containing immense life force to replenish his losses."
"But now..."
To pronounce a death sentence on a child as a physician, and in front of his mother at that, left Ye Renxin sighing helplessly. "Your Holiness, please let this child spend what time he has left happily."
"..."
Every sentence, every word Ye Renxin spoke repeatedly danced along the brink of Bibi Dong losing control.
Yet he was right.
Even the entire sequence of events was accurate down to the last detail.
Bibi Dong restrained herself, preventing her Divine Slaughter's Domain from running wild.
In fact, Ye Renxin had guessed one thing wrong.
Bibi Dong was by no means normal. If she went mad, she really might kill Ye Renxin outright.
"Thank you for your efforts, Mr. Ye."
Fortunately, Bibi Dong's heart was now wholly occupied by Luo Chen.
Rather than killing Ye Renxin, Bibi Dong wanted to return to Luo Chen's side and simply stay beside her disciple, never to part again.
"Elder Ju, see Mr. Ye out on my behalf."
Bibi Dong had Chrysanthemum Douluo escort Ye Renxin out. Chrysanthemum Douluo would arrange his consultation fee.
"As you command."
Chrysanthemum Douluo gave Bibi Dong a worried look.
He wanted to offer a few words of comfort, but noticing how unstable her emotions were, he could only leave of his own accord.
Soon, Bibi Dong was the only one left standing numbly in the empty hall.
"I truly deserve to die."
Bibi Dong had always felt that this world was filled with malice toward her, and for that reason, she had longed to destroy everything.
Yet Luo Chen's arrival had been like a ray of light illuminating her dark past, rekindling her yearning for life.
"Only three years. Only three years left..."
Tears slid down her face as Bibi Dong sobbed softly. "I'm sorry, Xiao Chen. Your teacher has wronged you."
Why did this world have to be so cruel to her?
She had already fallen into despair, yet it had brought Luo Chen to her side.
But just as she was ready to give Luo Chen all her love, heaven wanted to snatch him away from her again.
"Damn it! Damn it, damn it!"
The Rakshasa resentment inside Bibi Dong began spiraling out of control, and her gaze grew increasingly dark. "I won't let you take my Xiao Chen away. No one can take him from my side!"
"Teacher."
Just as the negative emotions in Bibi Dong's heart were about to erupt, a voice completely stilled her mind.
"Xiao Chen?"
Bibi Dong spun around. With no time to wipe the tears from her face, she could only stare blankly at the little figure behind her, her eyes filled with terror and despair.
At that moment, Bibi Dong turned cold in body and soul, as though she had plunged into an ice cavern.
"Xiao Chen, I... I..."
She was afraid that Luo Chen would learn the truth, and even more afraid that he would hate her.
Bibi Dong wanted to explain, only to realize that it was perfectly natural for Luo Chen to hate her.
What right do I have to be this child's teacher?
Bibi Dong did not dare look into Luo Chen's eyes. Simply standing within his sight made her want to flee.
"Y-you... why did you get up?"
With no other recourse, Bibi Dong could only change the subject, but her constantly trembling voice completely exposed her guilty conscience. "Go back and get some proper rest."
"Teacher, I heard."
Luo Chen's words made Bibi Dong's heart lurch.
"Y-you know..."
Her face instantly turned deathly pale, and she even unconsciously backed away a few steps.
Seeing Bibi Dong like this, it was truly difficult to imagine that she was the Pope of Spirit Hall and the future Empress of the Spirit Hall Empire.
This has gone a little too far.
Luo Chen admitted that he had been psychologically manipulating Bibi Dong all along.
But he did not want to truly hurt her.
"Teacher, I don't blame you."
"This was my own choice."
Rather than helping Bibi Dong recover, Luo Chen's two sentences only made her more abject.
Even now, this child is still worrying about me.
Bibi Dong pulled Luo Chen into her arms, her voice choked with sobs. "I'm sorry, Xiao Chen. Your teacher has wronged you!"
She did not ask for forgiveness. She even hoped Luo Chen would berate her harshly.
Yet Luo Chen did nothing of the sort.
This child was like a gift bestowed upon her by heaven, someone who truly loved her.
When she thought of how she had buried that love with her own hands, Bibi Dong's heart twisted in agony. The despair in her heart even surpassed what she had felt during that nightmare in the secret chamber.
"Teacher, it's all right."
Luo Chen cupped Bibi Dong's face and wiped away her tears. "The eruption of the Death Spider Emperor Poison did hurt me badly, but it actually isn't a bad thing."
"What?"
Bibi Dong gazed dazedly into Luo Chen's eyes. His sincere gaze held not a trace of falsehood. "B-but your body..."
Luo Chen knew he could reveal some of his Martial Soul's secrets to Bibi Dong now.
Na'er had been watching Bibi Dong's behavior all along.
She had given him her true heart, so Luo Chen should not let her down by continuing to deceive her.
"My Martial Soul told me this."
As Luo Chen spoke, he coughed twice. He was still leaning on a crutch, one he had brought back from Nuoding City and kept in his Storage Soul Tool all this time.
"Teacher, could you help me back first? I can't hold on much longer."
That was the truth. His injuries had indeed been healed by the Nine Heart Begonia. This Martial Soul truly deserved to be called a miracle; its effects were astonishing.
But injuries and physical weakness were two different things.
Luo Chen could get out of bed and walk, but he needed a crutch. Even the short distance from the inner hall to this spot had pushed him to his limit.
"You... you child..."
Only then did Bibi Dong notice the cold sweat on Luo Chen's forehead, and her heart ached so much she could barely breathe.
She hurriedly picked Luo Chen up and carried him back to the bedchamber. Looking at her exhausted disciple, Bibi Dong mustered her courage and said, "Your injuries have only just healed! How could you dare get out of bed, let alone walk so far!"
"If you dare do this again, I... I..."
To make Luo Chen recognize his mistake and stop hurting himself, Bibi Dong forced a stern expression onto her face. "I'll spank you, understand?!"
"I'm sorry, Teacher."
Five words, a single sentence, once again sank the good ship Stern Bibi Dong.
What Bibi Dong could least bear to hear now was Luo Chen's apology.
It was practically a critical hit to her soul, leaving Bibi Dong firmly in his grasp.
"Teacher, my Martial Soul is a God-Level Martial Soul. While I was unconscious, it told me many things."
Luo Chen gently patted Bibi Dong's hand, which rested over his heart through the blanket, and explained, "My Martial Soul has incredibly powerful vitality. It suppressed the hidden injuries inside me, but that was also why my body couldn't recover its health."
"W-why was that?"
"Because the two canceled each other out."
With that simple sentence, Bibi Dong immediately grasped the crux of it. Somewhat excited, she asked, "Is that true?! You're not lying to me?!"
"Of course I'm not lying to you, Teacher."
Luo Chen smiled. "In fact, the eruption of my hidden injuries wasn't a bad thing at all. It was a good thing instead."
Luo Chen did not explain what the hidden injuries were, but to Bibi Dong, they were the Death Spider Emperor Poison concealed inside his body.
"Without the hidden injuries, my God-Level Martial Soul's self-healing effect will keep repairing my foundation."
"So I won't die, Teacher."
Luo Chen's words filled Bibi Dong with joy. Her only worry was that he was deliberately saying this to comfort her.
"Teacher, you can see it for yourself."
As long as his body kept recovering without any outside influence, it would prove that Luo Chen's Martial Soul really did possess a self-healing ability.
Thus, whether it was true or false would be clear at a glance.
"Good, that's wonderful!"
Bibi Dong wept with joy. She truly could not imagine what she would do if Luo Chen really died.
Having let go of Yu Xiaogang, Bibi Dong was no longer obsessive about romantic love.
At this moment, she was like a woman who had passed the age of romance and officially entered the stage of motherhood.
And to a mother, her child was her entire world.
If anything happened to her child, it would be as though the sky had fallen.
It could be said that Luo Chen had already replaced Yu Xiaogang and revenge, becoming Bibi Dong's new emotional pillar.
(End of chapter)