Before they knew it, it was already evening, and the two reluctantly parted ways. Huo Yuhao didn't seem to mind, but Qian Renxue's departure left him with a sense of imbalance, a fear that she would disappear again because of this separation.
She no longer wanted to experience the pain of waiting; it was so agonizing. Of the three thousand ailments that cause death, only unrequited love is incurable. As the saying goes, "The silkworm spins silk until death, and the candle burns until it is ash."
Longing is so painful, especially after just experiencing a reunion. But if I don't go back, will my identity be exposed?
This was something she dared not gamble on, because she didn't just love one person; she also had her own mission to fulfill.
Huo Yuhao said, "See you tomorrow, Miss Xue'er."
Qian Renxue's voice trembled almost imperceptibly as she gripped Huo Yuhao's sleeve. "Yes, Brother Huo, see you tomorrow. You must come tomorrow!"
Huo Yuhao gently took her hand and said softly, "Don't worry, I won't break my promise."
Finally, she reluctantly let go of his hand and forced a smile, "See you tomorrow."
They agreed to meet here again in the afternoon.
When he returned to the Spirit Hall...
Hu Liena arrived at Huo Yuhao's bedroom and knocked on the door. Huo Yuhao opened the door and saw Hu Liena looking at him shyly from outside. Hu Liena said:
"Brother Huo Lai, His Holiness the Pope wants you to come with me to the Pope's Hall; she's waiting for you there."
Huo Yuhao wondered, "What is Bibi Dong up to?"
He pondered for a moment, "Could it be that the Rakshasa God is causing trouble again?"
"No, no, I'm still worried. I should go check it out."
Despite his doubts, Huo Yuhao still said to Hu Liena, "Let's go."
The two walked side by side toward the Pope's Hall.
As Hu Liena walked, she said, "Perhaps Brother Huo disappeared for a whole day, and the teacher wanted to inquire about it."
Huo Yuhao said casually, "Probably, but I'm not entirely sure. I just took a stroll around the Heaven Dou Empire."
Hu Liena's eyes lit up. "Oh, the Heaven Dou Empire! Next time, I want to go with Brother Huo!"
Huo Yuhao chuckled softly, "Yes, I'll definitely take you there when I have the chance."
Hu Liena said, "Then it's a deal. Next time Brother Huo goes to the Heaven Dou Empire, take me with you."
Huo Yuhao thought to himself, "Wait a minute, wait a minute, when did I say I'd take you next time? I clearly said I'd take you with me if I had the chance, girl, don't misinterpret what I mean, okay? If you and Qian Renxue see this, who knows what will happen?" Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
Without saying a word, Huo Yuhao Hu Liena and hopped to the Pope's Hall.
Upon reaching the Pope's Hall, Hu Liena said, "Alright, Brother Huo, I have to go now. Don't forget our next appointment; your teacher is inside. She wants to speak with you alone."
Then Hu Liena left.
Only Huo Yuhao remained, bewildered in the night wind. Huo Yuhao sighed, "This girl is really lively."
He then pushed open the door and entered the Pope's Hall.
Pope's Hall, Bibi Dong was indeed the only one present. When the doors of the Pope's Hall closed, a strange atmosphere always seemed to envelop the space.
As they spoke, Bibi Dong rose from the Pope's seat and slowly descended the steps. She was stunningly beautiful today, breathtakingly so. However, the expression in her eyes was clearly off. She suddenly spoke, her voice trembling slightly. " Hao Yi, where did you go today?"
Huo Yuhao watched Bibi Dong approach, noticing the complex emotions surging in her eyes. " The Heaven Dou Empire "
Bibi Dong stood in front of him. "What are you doing there?"
Huo Yuhao calmly replied, "I went to see an old friend."
Bibi Dong's voice suddenly turned sharp. "You went to see her, didn't you?"
Huo Yuhao asked in confusion, "I don't understand, who are you talking about?"
"Heh," Bibi Dong let out a bitter laugh, "It seems she hasn't revealed her identity."
Huo Yuhao's acting was so good it deserved Oscar: "Identity? What's going on?"
Bibi Dong sighed and said, "She, Qian Renxue, is my daughter, the granddaughter of Qian Daoliu, a retainer of the Douluo Hall, and the daughter of the culprit from my painful memories."
The air inside the hall seemed to freeze.
Huo Yuhao's expression shifted slightly. "Why are you telling me all this?"
"Because I love you!" Bibi Dong shouted uncontrollably, then took a half-step back as if startled by her own words. When she spoke again, her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible. "I just don't want to hide anything from you, Hao Yi, because I love you, so I won't hide anything from you."
Huo Yuhao said, "Are you spying on me?"
Bibi Dong turned her face away. "I'm protecting your safety."
Huo Yuhao noticed that Bibi Dong's body was trembling. What emotion was that? Fear, terror, or...?
Huo Yuhao said, "Okay, I completely understand how you feel."
Bibi Dong trembled, tears welling in her eyes. " Hao Yi, actually, I'm afraid to tell you these things. I'm afraid you'll mind my past, I'm afraid you'll stop loving me because of it. I need you."
Huo Yuhao walked up to her, hugged her, and said, "Don't worry, I won't stop loving you because of this."
He felt the slight trembling of the person in his arms. "The pain of the past was not your choice. As long as you love me forever, I will repay you for what you have given." He cupped Bibi Dong's face, looking directly into her reddened eyes. "Love is mutual. If one day you stop loving me, then I will leave. It's that simple."
Bibi Dong hugged him tightly, as if trying to merge herself into his very bones. Her voice trembled slightly, "Yes, I will love you forever, until death do us part, until the end of time."
Huo Yuhao looked down at her, his once sharp purple eyes now filled with tenderness. He gently stroked her cheek, his fingertips touching her slightly cool skin, and then slowly leaned down to kiss her lips.
The kiss was tender and lingering, as if it wanted to pour out all the unspoken words and unexpressed feelings. Bibi Dong's hands unconsciously tightened around his clothes, while his palms steadily supported the back of her neck, as if he were holding the greatest treasure in the world.
(Of course, this is just a description; how could it possibly be the world's largest treasure? I've written about this in another book as well, but that one was indeed very fitting to the context.)
After a long while, their lips parted. They slowly released each other, yet remained close enough to touch, their breaths mingling.
Bibi Dong blushed. " Hao Yi, can you come with me somewhere? I have something to give you."
Huo Yuhao didn't suspect anything. "Okay."