Pope's Hall, Back Mountain – Plum Garden
As Qian Xunji walked through the plum blossom garden with Ling Yuan, who was pregnant, the air was filled with the delicate fragrance of plum blossoms, creating a scene reminiscent of paradise.
Suddenly, a Holy Emperor Warrior approached, knelt on one knee, and reported,
"Your Holiness, Bibi Dong has actually returned!"
"She is at the city gate, admitting her mistakes to you and the elders, hoping for forgiveness and a chance to return to Spirit Hall."
"How should we deal with her?"
"Bibi Dong… she's back?"
Hearing this, Qian Xunji was slightly surprised, but deep down, he wasn't shocked at all.
After all, he knew very well that Bibi Dong had only managed to escape from the possible secret chamber of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan because he had warned Yu Yuanzhen.
Otherwise, given Yu Yuanzhen's personality, who knew how many more years Bibi Dong would have suffered there, treated merely as a breeding tool?
"Hmph! So, she actually knows to come back?"
Beside him, Ling Yuan's delicate and stunningly beautiful face was filled with anger and resentment. Her eyes were full of hatred and disdain for Bibi Dong.
As Qian Xunji's former maid, she had witnessed firsthand how well he had treated Bibi Dong—practically like a cherished daughter, unwilling to say a single harsh word to her.
No matter how unreasonable her demands were, as long as they were possible, whether it was Qian Xunji or the elders, they would do their best to fulfill them.
And yet, despite all this love and care, she had repaid them with betrayal, choosing to abandon Spirit Hall for the sake of a useless man. She had even been willing to commit suicide just to force Qian Xunji into agreeing to let her be with Yu Xiaogang.
If that weren't enough, she had even threatened to elope with that worthless man if they refused!
Even after Qian Daoliu and the elders had tried to persuade her, even after they had thoroughly exposed Yu Xiaogang for what he really was, this ungrateful traitor still chose to believe him instead of the people who had always cared for her.
She even claimed that Spirit Hall had only treated her well because of her talent, and that by preventing her from being with Yu Xiaogang, they were proving that they didn't truly care about her happiness.
To Ling Yuan, Bibi Dong was nothing but a selfish, ungrateful, and despicable wretch. The mere thought of her made Ling Yuan feel disgusted—almost to the point of nausea.
"I understand."
After a moment of thought, Qian Xunji spoke calmly, "Bring her to me. I will be waiting in the Pope's Hall."
"Yes, Your Holiness!"
The Holy Emperor Warrior was slightly puzzled as to why Qian Xunji would even want to see Bibi Dong, but he still obeyed the order respectfully. He then turned to leave for the city gate to bring her back.
"Why do you want to see her?" Ling Yuan couldn't understand, her beautiful eyes full of confusion. "Are you planning to forgive her?"
"Of course not."
Qian Xunji laughed coldly and shook his head.
"I just want to settle things with her once and for all."
Taking a deep breath, his gaze turned sharp.
At the City Gate of Spirit City
"Get out! Get out of Spirit City!"
"You ungrateful traitor! Spirit City does not welcome you!"
"That's right! Don't make us force you out!"
When Bibi Dong revealed her identity, countless Spirit City soul masters quickly gathered at the city gate, shouting and cursing at her in anger.
They picked up anything they could find in the garbage—rotten cabbage leaves, spoiled eggs, and other trash—and threw them at her.
Covered in filth, Bibi Dong was pelted further and further away from the city gate.
She knew she was at fault and deeply regretted everything. But after experiencing so much torment and darkness in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, resentment and hatred still surged within her heart.
'Why? Why, even after I admitted my mistakes, won't you forgive me?'
'Do you have any idea how much I have suffered?'
However, after the harsh reality she had faced in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Bibi Dong had indeed grown wiser.
No matter what she thought inside, on the surface, she remained kneeling on the ground, her tear-filled eyes red with sorrow. Her face was full of grief and remorse, and in a pitiful state, she kept retreating while sobbing uncontrollably.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, everyone!"
"I was wrong before—I trusted the wrong person."
"But this time, I truly understand my mistakes!"
"Please… please give me another chance! Please! Sob… sob…"
At that moment, a squad of Holy Emperor Warriors arrived.
The moment the crowd saw them, they stepped aside, puzzled.
The leader of the warriors pushed through the crowd and reached the city gate.
Looking at Bibi Dong—kneeling in filth, covered in garbage, her once proud figure reduced to a wretched sight—the warrior frowned and spoke coldly,
"Bibi Dong, His Holiness the Pope wishes to see you. Come with me."
"My teacher wants to see me?!"
Bibi Dong was overwhelmed with excitement and hurriedly stood up from the ground. Limping slightly, she quickly followed the Holy Emperor Warriors toward the Pope's Hall.
Inside the Pope's Hall, Qian Xunji sat calmly on an ornate golden throne. Beside him sat Ling Yuan, who was pregnant.
"Your Holiness, Bibi Dong has been brought here!"
A respectful voice sounded from outside the hall.
Qian Xunji spoke immediately.
"Let her in."
As the grand doors opened, Bibi Dong stepped inside. She had been allowed to bathe and change into a fresh set of clothes, but her eyes were already red with emotion.
She limped forward, and the moment she reached Qian Xunji, she dropped to her knees. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Teacher! I'm sorry!"
"I was wrong before—I misunderstood you and the elders!"
"That Yu Xiaogang… he really is just a worthless, shameless, weak, and useless man."
"This time, I truly know I was wrong!"
"Please, please give me another chance! Forgive me!"
But as Bibi Dong pleaded, Qian Xunji's handsome face remained indifferent. He simply held Ling Yuan's delicate hand and gently caressed it.
"Now you know you were wrong?"
After a long pause, Qian Xunji let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"Back then, I told you. My father and the elders also told you."
"But you didn't believe us, did you? You chose that useless man instead. You were even willing to die just to be with him."
"Didn't you say you would never regret it? That you would definitely find happiness with him?"
"So why have you come back now?"
"Teacher! I was deceived before. I never thought he would turn out to be that kind of person."
"You and Grandpa Qian treated me so well, but I didn't cherish it."
"But I truly understand my mistake now. Please, just give me one more chance."
Bibi Dong knelt on the ground, crying bitterly in deep regret.
"Haha! Another chance?"
Qian Xunji suddenly burst into laughter, laughing so hard that tears almost formed in his eyes. Then, his voice turned full of mockery and coldness.
"Do you know how many chances we already gave you?"
"But you never cherished a single one."
"In this world, some things, once lost, can never be regained."
"No! No!"
"Teacher! Please! I beg you!"
"I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong!"
Hearing Qian Xunji's words, Bibi Dong seemed to finally understand his true stance. She sobbed desperately, unable to accept it.
When she entered the hall, she noticed Ling Yuan sitting beside Qian Xunji. Her stomach was already round and full—clearly, she was pregnant.
And when she saw the gentle gaze Qian Xunji directed at Ling Yuan, a wave of unbearable regret crashed over her. It felt as if her heart was bleeding.
Because once, Ling Yuan had only been an ordinary maid by her teacher's side.
It was her—Bibi Dong—who had once been cherished, treated with care and affection.
She was the one who had come first!
But because she had foolishly trusted that weak and deceitful Yu Xiaogang…
She had betrayed Spirit Hall. She had betrayed her teacher.
And in the end, she had lost the one who had loved her the most.
All she had gained in return was endless suffering in darkness and pain.
She regretted it so much!
She truly, truly regretted it!