The Life energy rapidly repaired Bibi Dong's damaged body and alleviated her mental exhaustion.
Bibi Dong slowly opened her eyes in the healing light. Although her purple eyes were tired, they were also clearer.
She could sense that under the pressure of Xuan Ming's violent killing intent, her Divine Slaughter's Domain, which had been corrupted by Rakshasa Evil Thoughts, had indeed undergone a subtle change. Many of those sinister auras had been forcibly dispersed, and the core of the domain seemed to have become purer.
"Why have you been hiding?" Xuan Ming asked, puzzled.
Bibi Dong's expression froze, and she couldn't help but look at her like she was an idiot. "Don't you want to hear what you're saying?"
That bastard went for the kill!
Moreover, his terrifying strength made it seem as if every strike could break her bones!
Why isn't she hiding? Is she just waiting to die?
Xuan Ming looked at Bibi Dong's resentful eyes and calmly explained, "I'm not telling you not to hide, but you can't be afraid."
"The essence of the Divine Slaughter's Domain lies in using offense as defense, crushing everything with the most ferocious killing intent. And every time you dodge, the power of the domain retreats. Even though your strength is above mine, I can even sense that you have developed fear of me. What are you afraid of me for?"
"Even defense should be a preparation for offense, but you..."
No wonder you seemed so weak.
If Bibi Dong went all out, even under restrictions, as long as he didn't use those few rogue Hundred Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skill, with her strength, she could definitely defeat him.
However, from the very beginning of this battle, Bibi Dong's momentum was off.
She was overly cautious; one could even say she was timid.
"..."
Xuan Ming looked at Bibi Dong's eyes, which were filled with resentment yet also held a hint of barely perceptible evasion, and remained silent for a moment. A hint of understanding seemed to flash deep in his eyes, but in the end he simply calmly withdrew his gaze.
He did vaguely guess the underlying reason for Bibi Dong Dong's "cowardice," but it involved her most unbearable past, the most vulnerable and untouchable scars in her heart.
He didn't know how to begin, nor how to "resolve" the brokenness and shadow that had long been rooted in his soul.
" Bi Ji, Zi JI, Snow Empress, Ice Empress." Xuan Ming turned around. "Let's go."
Bi Ji nodded gently, and Zi JI, Snow Empress, and Ice Empress followed silently.
They could sense the subtle tension in the atmosphere and didn't ask any further questions.
Xuan Ming glanced one last time at Gu Yuena Bibi Dong, who was sitting on the ice, her breathing still somewhat disordered. He then nodded slightly to Gu Yuena, and with a flash, he led the four of them away from the edge of the ice field, leaving this vast and cold world to Gu Yuena and Bibi Dong.
A cold wind howled, whipping their hair.
A long silence fell over the ice field, broken only by the faint sound of waves lapping against the edge of the ice in the distance.
Bibi Dong sat on the cold ice, hugging her knees, her purple eyes gazing at the horizon dyed red by the setting sun, her expression empty and complex.
After Xuan Ming left, her tense nerves seemed to relax a little, but the helplessness and confusion she felt after being seen through became even clearer.
Gu Yuena sat quietly beside her, her silver-purple eyes calmly gazing ahead. She offered neither urging nor comforting, but simply kept her company in peace.
After a long while, when the sun had completely sunk below the horizon and the icy plains were shrouded in darkness, Gu Yuena's clear, cold voice slowly broke the deathly silence:
"You're afraid he'll see, aren't you?"
Bibi Dong's body trembled almost imperceptibly. She didn't turn around or answer, but simply tightened her arms around her knees.
Gu Yuena didn't look at her and continued, "I'm afraid to let him see your shattered dignity, afraid to let him know about your past, when you were so pathetic and vulnerable."
"You desperately try to maintain your current strength, ruthlessness, and arrogance, wrapping yourself in the madness and resentment of Rakshasa, because only by immersing yourself in that extreme hatred and Destruction desire can you temporarily forget that unforgettable humiliation and vulnerability."
"The power of the Rakshasa is not just a power to you, but also a... camouflage. A mask that allows you to hide within it, without having to confront the madness of that ravaged past."
"So you're unwilling to give it up, even dependent on it. Because once you peel away this mad shell, you'll revert to that helpless, desperate girl in the locked room... something you absolutely cannot accept."
Bibi Dong's breathing became rapid, her nails dug deeply into her palms, and her purple eyes surged with pain, humiliation, and a trace of panic at being completely seen through.
Yes... she was afraid! Afraid that after Xuan Ming found out everything, he would look at her with pity, sympathy, or... contempt!
She would rather he always see her as the cold, powerful, and even somewhat insane Pope of the Spirit Hall than let him see her most vulnerable and fragile side!
That shattered dignity is a scar that will never heal for her.
"However," Gu Yuena's tone shifted, her voice still cold, " Xuan Ming hopes you can break free. He hopes you can escape the corruption of Rakshasa, truly control your own power, and embark on a path that may be more difficult, but one that truly belongs to you."
He could see your pain and struggle, but he didn't know how to help you. He was afraid that any mention or touch would hurt you again. So he could only use this clumsy and brutal method to try to forcefully forge a new possibility for you.
He gave you the choice, but you... are stuck in the middle.
Gu Yuena slowly turned her head, her silver-purple eyes fixed on Bibi Dong's slightly trembling profile.
Because of him, you cannot completely succumb to the madness of the Rakshasa, nor can you comfortably embrace the darkness. Nor can you muster the courage to break free from the shackles of the past and step into the sunlight.
You've trapped yourself in a gloomy quagmire, caught between a rock and a hard place.
"Therefore, your power is contradictory, your domain is hesitant, and your aura... is naturally weak."
Bibi Dong abruptly closed her eyes, and two lines of clear tears silently slid down from the corners of her eyes, instantly freezing into ice crystals in the cold air.
She couldn't let go of her hatred, couldn't let go of the power she had built up with madness, yet she also secretly longed for some kind of redemption, some kind of... change that Xuan Ming desired.
This contradiction tore her apart, leaving the very foundation of her power cracked.
Silence returned, broken only by Bibi Dong's barely suppressed, faint sobs.
Gu Yuena didn't speak again, but simply stayed quietly by her side. Some wounds must be faced alone. Some choices must be made by oneself.
After a long while, Bibi Dong slowly raised her head, her eyes blurry with tears, and looked at Gu Yuena, her voice hoarse and almost broken:
"Then... what should I do?"
Her voice was filled with confusion and helplessness; this was the first time she had shown such vulnerability since becoming Pope.
Gu Yuena looked at her, a subtle hint of tenderness flashing in her silver-purple eyes.
"The answer isn't with me, nor with Xuan Ming," she whispered. "The answer lies within your own heart."
"Should you continue to hide behind the madness of the Rakshasa, numbing yourself with hatred and Destruction? Or... try to believe just once, believe in a world that may have changed, believe in the person willing to help you in a clumsy way, and believe... that you yourself possess the power to be reborn from the ashes."
"Broken dignity cannot be repaired by covering it up or running away. Only by facing it, accepting the past, and then rebuilding new dignity for yourself."
"It hurts, it's tough, and there's even the possibility of getting hurt again. But it's the only way to truly get through this."
Gu Yuena stood up and patted off the non-existent ice shards on her dress.
"Think it over carefully. Whichever path you ultimately choose, you'll need an unwavering heart. Hesitation and fear are your greatest enemies."
Chapter 345 Why hasn't she come out yet?
"Why... why are you telling me all this?" Bibi Dong looked at Gu Yuena.
Gu Yuena paused, "Because this is his God's Trial, and I am his assistant. It is my duty to help him resolve this matter."
"That's all?" Bibi Dong asked with some doubt.
She couldn't understand Gu Yuena. This woman often seemed unreal to her; she was too perfect.
"What other reason do you want?" Gu Yuena looked into Bibi Dong's eyes.
Bibi Dong was speechless for a moment, a hint of confusion and deeper bewilderment flashing in her purple eyes.
Yes, what other reason could she possibly want? Gu Yuena was Xuan Ming's assistant, helping him complete the God's Trial; that reason was perfectly justified and beyond reproach.
But... she always felt that the way Gu Yuena looked at her, and the motivation behind her words, seemed to go beyond just the "mission."
"Are you questioning my motives?" Gu Yuena's voice remained cool, but it lacked some of its previous aloofness, carrying instead an indescribable... complexity. "Or do you think someone like me shouldn't be telling you these things?"
Bibi Dong pursed her lips and did not answer, but the wariness and doubt in her eyes did not disappear.
Gu Yuena sighed softly, the sound barely audible, as if it had blended into the cold wind of the icy plains.
"I did get involved because of Xuan Ming's God's Trial," she said slowly, "But what I'm saying to you isn't entirely out of a mission."
She tilted her head slightly, gazing at the undulating sea in the distance, her long silver hair swaying gently in the breeze.
"You two are very similar; you both hide a vulnerability beneath your strength, a vulnerability you don't want others to see. Perhaps this is the root of your mutual attraction. His reluctance to hurt you, and even his repeated tolerance of Qian Renxue, are largely because of you."
"He knows you don't want to face Qian Renxue, and you can't truly sever ties with her, so he thought of helping you take care of Qian Renxue."
At this point, Gu Yuena almost laughed.
"His thought process is often really strange; even now, there are many parts where I can't keep up with his train of thought."
"But ultimately, he can't be ruthless towards the things and people he cares about. He's terrified of losing them, so most of the time he'd rather endure it and keep it bottled up."
"He won't go to extremes unless absolutely necessary."
Just like with you.
Gu Yuena's gaze returned to Bibi Dong. "He could have helped you in a more direct way, but he chose the clumsiest and most strenuous method. Because he knew that your pride couldn't withstand any handouts, and your dignity needed to be reclaimed with your own hands."
"He..." Bibi Dong's voice choked with emotion, "He never looked down on me?"
"If he looked down on you, he wouldn't have gone to so much trouble." Gu Yuena gently shook her head. "He just didn't know how to express it. After all..."
A faint, bitter smile appeared on her lips, "He himself is not good at handling emotions."
Xuan Ming is very smart; he actually knows everything, but he just can't handle these things. It's not that he doesn't know how, but that he can't bring himself to be ruthless.
He knew what was right and that he knew he had done something wrong, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it.
So, in the end, he simply took all the responsibility upon himself.
If someone has to take responsibility, if someone has to bear the pain, he is willing to be that person; that is his choice.
"..."
Silence fell once more on the icy plain, broken only by the mournful sound of the wind.
After an unknown amount of time, Gu Yuena slowly stood up. "Keep it up."
"Just don't let yourself regret it; that's what he hopes for."
After speaking, Gu Yuena's figure slowly faded, disappearing silently from the icy plain as if blending into the moonlight.
This time, she left for good.
On the vast, empty ice plain, only Bibi Dong remained, bathed in the cold moonlight.
She stopped crying and just sat quietly, letting the cold wind brush against her cheeks and wash away her tears.
After experiencing tremendous shock and turmoil, I found myself in a strange state of calm.
"You're such a jerk."
Night had fallen, and the moonlight, like quicksilver, spilled onto the white sand and buildings, creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
Xuan Ming's residence.
Hu Liena finally couldn't hold back any longer and came over, her eyes filled with worry. " Xuan Ming, what happened to Teacher? How did you all end up fighting like that?"
Xuan Ming remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "This is the content of my God's Trial. The specifics are somewhat complicated, so I cannot elaborate. But it will not harm her."
" God's Trial?" Hu Liena paused, then became even more anxious. "But the teacher looks..."
" Nana," Xuan Ming interrupted her, "What you need to do now is focus on completing your assessment. The situation on the continent is turbulent, and the Spirit Hall Empire has many affairs to attend to. The sooner you complete your God's Trial, the sooner you can go back to help her."
Hu Liena bit her lip, a struggle flashing in her eyes. "But it's the rule of Sea God Island... After completing the trial, one must guard Sea God Island for life and cannot leave. Otherwise, it will incur the Sea God's Wrath..."
"Don't worry," Xuan Ming said calmly, " The Sea God won't say anything more."
Hu Liena was stunned, unsure how to respond. Looking into Xuan Ming's calm and unwavering eyes, the grievances, worries, and heartache she had felt over the past six months, as well as the countless times she had watched him fight alone without being able to help, finally broke down at this moment.
She suddenly stepped forward, hugged Xuan Ming tightly, and buried her face in his chest.
"Can I... just stay here for a little while?" Her voice choked with emotion. "Just for a little while..."
Xuan Ming's body stiffened slightly. Hu Liena's tears quickly soaked the front of his shirt, and her suppressed sobs were particularly clear in the quiet night.
"For the past six months... I could only watch you struggle... I couldn't even say a word to you..." she sobbed intermittently, "I know I can't help you... but... but I..."
She knew he was under immense pressure and knew she couldn't help him, so she suppressed her worry and longing, focused on completing her assessment, and dared not disturb him in the slightest.
Until today, seeing that he seemed to have some "free time" for the time being, and witnessing the terrible state of the teacher being "tempered" by him, the emotions that had been building up for too long finally broke down. I rushed in without thinking, just wanting to make sure he was alright, just wanting to... be closer to him.
Xuan Ming sighed softly, and his raised hand finally landed gently on her back, soothing her gently.
"Go to sleep," he whispered. "I'm here."