The filter was locked in; you would always be as you were twelve years ago

For a while after that, An Yi took Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue wandering around Heaven Dou City.

Of course, both women wore masks whenever they went out.

As the Pope's daughter, Qian Renxue had been seen without a disguise by quite a few people before, to say nothing of Bibi Dong, Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden.

An Yi himself did not particularly care, but disguising himself was still better for avoiding unnecessary trouble.

During those days of wandering around, An Yi also found time to visit the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Guided by the Sea God's Divine Sense within him, he easily located the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and took it out.

Inside the hotel room.

Bibi Dong looked at the triangular object on the table, which radiated a soft, sea-blue glow. Her expression was somewhat unnatural. "This is the Sea God's inheritance token?"

An Yi nodded. "That's right. After the Sea God ascended back then, he originally left this on Sea God Island. But some unexpected events later occurred on the island, and it was lost. After changing hands for ten thousand years, it ended up with the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and became their national treasure."

Bibi Dong looked at the triangular object and asked, "What does it do? Is it just an inheritance token?"

"Of course not." An Yi smiled.

"It's also a God-Level Soul Tool in its own right, with four abilities."

Bibi Dong was somewhat surprised. "A God-Level Soul Tool?"

"Yes." An Yi held the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and began introducing it.

"First, the Vast Sea Protective Shroud. It can form an invisibility barrier, concealing the user's body and presence."

"Second, the Cosmic Immobilization Shroud. Once it locks onto a target, it can restrict their movements. As long as their spiritual power hasn't reached three times the user's, they'll find it very difficult to break free."

"Third, Vast Sea Raging Waves, an area-of-effect attack skill. It can draw on immense ocean power to attack targets within its range."

"And finally, Cosmic Demon-Breaking, a single-target attack skill. It can concentrate power into a single point to unleash tremendous destructive force."

After hearing this, a flicker of surprise involuntarily crossed Bibi Dong's eyes.

"It's that powerful?"

An Yi smiled. "The Sea God himself was also a god-level soul engineer back then. It's just that the Douluo Continent's soul tool technology was lost long ago, while the Soul Masters of Sea God Island gradually abandoned these things because they had the Sea God's protection."

Bibi Dong looked at him with a complicated expression. "You really intend to give it up?"

"Bo Saixi has treated me very well all these years. I don't want her dying for me." An Yi leaned back in his chair. "Besides, she's the Sea God's most devoted believer. She's the one best suited to becoming the Sea God."

Bibi Dong's expression stiffened slightly, and her gaze became somewhat unnatural. "You're giving it up because of her?"

Noticing the odd note in her voice, An Yi leaned closer, a little amused. "Don't tell me you're jealous?"

Bibi Dong rolled her eyes at him and said coldly, "Don't flatter yourself!"

An Yi did not tease her further. He raised a hand and put away the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud on the table.

"To be honest, she really is a large part of why I'm giving it up."

An Yi's smile faded, and he said seriously, "After all, even if the Sea God Godhood isn't powerful enough right now, I can still make it stronger. But I can't watch Bo Saixi die in front of me."

Bibi Dong fell silent for a moment. Without saying anything more, she turned toward the bed, took off her shoes, and lay down.

Seeing this, An Yi leisurely followed her over. With practiced familiarity, he lifted the covers and lay down beside her, reaching out as he always did to gather her into his arms from behind.

The woman in his arms stiffened slightly.

A few breaths later, Bibi Dong suddenly turned beneath the covers to face him.

"Tell me honestly." Bibi Dong stared into his eyes and asked softly, "What... exactly do you feel for me?"

An Yi paused, then gave it some serious thought. "I don't know. I just want you to be a little happier. As for anything else... I haven't thought about it."

Bibi Dong said nothing, merely gazing quietly into An Yi's eyes.

Ever since Rakshasa's evil thoughts had latched onto her in Slaughter City, she had possessed a special ability that allowed her to clearly sense the desires and various dark thoughts in other people's hearts.

Yet from An Yi alone, she could not sense the slightest desire.

That was also the fundamental reason she could calm down in his presence, even letting him get handsy and act shamelessly in every possible way.

She did not know whether the Sea God's Divine Sense within An Yi was concealing him and rendering her perception ineffective, or whether his heart truly held not a single impure thought.

But there was one thing she knew very well: all this time, An Yi had been accommodating her and tending to her feelings.

Even though he had no need to do so.

He owed her nothing.

Quite the opposite. During that battle on Sea God Island back then, she had forcibly brought An Yi aboard the ship, nearly causing him to die at sea.

The more An Yi seemed to want and demand nothing, the more frightened and lost she felt.

She did not dare accept such pure kindness. She feared it was all false.

Yet she truly could not control her longing for that warmth.

Every time she was with An Yi, every time he held her in his arms, all those chaotic, violent thoughts in her mind seemed to vanish, granting her a peace she had not known in so long.

But the more she craved it, the more terrified she became.

Even though An Yi had previously admitted his purpose, she still did not dare believe him completely.

Because this man trusted her too much.

He had no idea that, over these twelve years, she had long since become a monster, changed beyond recognition.

Countless times, she had wanted to harden her heart and push him away, yet she could never bear to.

As her thoughts churned, Bibi Dong's eyes gradually reddened.

Seeing her eyes suddenly turn red, An Yi was immediately a little bewildered. "What's wrong? I didn't bully you, did I?"

Before he finished speaking, Bibi Dong suddenly wrapped her arms around him and forcefully drew his head against her chest.

Her arms tightened more and more, and scalding tears streamed down uncontrollably, dripping into An Yi's hair.

Only stifled sobbing remained in the room.

After crying for a long time, Bibi Dong finally loosened her arms and released him. Then she quickly turned over, leaving him facing her back again.

An Yi looked at her faintly shaking shoulders and sighed helplessly.

He reached out and gripped Bibi Dong's shoulders, applying a little force to turn her back around. Then he wrapped both arms around her, gathering her firmly into his embrace.

"Go to sleep. Stop thinking about all that nonsense."

An Yi rested his chin on the crown of her head, his voice gentle. "No matter what you become, no matter what you're like now, I don't care."

"In my eyes, you'll always be the way you were twelve years ago anyway."

"The filter's already locked in."

At those words, Bibi Dong's fingers abruptly tightened around his clothes. She buried her face in his chest and began sobbing silently once more.

Only after she had cried until not a shred of strength remained in her body did she finally fall deeply asleep in An Yi's arms.