Song Qing spent the better part of the afternoon with Bibi Dong in his herbal garden. He eagerly pointed out the various herbs he had consumed, explaining their effects and the changes he had experienced. Bibi Dong listened intently, her gaze often drifting from the plants to his face, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"So, the 'Ten Thousand Year Ginseng King' helped with your overall vitality and growth, and the 'Jade Bone Immortal Flower' strengthened your physique," Bibi Dong mused, gently touching a leaf of a nearby plant. "And the 'Dragon's Blood Spirit Grass'… that must be what caused the change in your hair and eyes."
"Exactly, Teacher!" Song Qing replied enthusiastically. "They were all incredibly potent. And now that you've consumed the Heavenly Essence Root and the Earthly Wisdom Fruit, you should focus on herbs that can further enhance your mental energy and soul." He led her to a patch of luminous, silver-leafed plants. "These 'Moon Spirit Silver Leaves' are excellent for that. They have a calming yet invigorating effect on the mind."
Bibi Dong nodded, her violet eyes gleaming with interest. "Thank you, Qing'er. You truly have a gift for this." She reached out and hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest for a moment, inhaling his now more mature scent. "You smell so… different now," she murmured, a hint of wistfulness in her voice. Then, she tilted her head back and gently kissed his cheek. "But it's a good different."
As they continued to stroll through the garden, their conversation flowing easily between them, Bibi Dong would occasionally hug him again, sometimes just a quick squeeze, other times a longer, more lingering embrace. She would often sniff his hair or plant a soft kiss on his cheek as she spoke, her affection for him palpable.
Finally, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the garden, Song Qing found the opportunity he had been waiting for. As Bibi Dong hugged him again, he leaned in close, his voice barely a whisper against her ear.
"Teacher," he murmured, his tone serious, "why are you so cold towards Qian Renxue?"
Bibi Dong stiffened slightly in his embrace, her hold on him tightening almost imperceptibly. She pulled back a little, her violet eyes flickering with a hint of discomfort.
"Qing'er," she said, her voice low, "we don't need to talk about that."
"But Teacher," Song Qing persisted gently, taking her hands in his. "Renxue… she told me. She told me that you are her mother. But she doesn't understand why you treat her the way you do. And honestly, Teacher, neither do I. I know nothing of your past, of what might have happened. But… why are you treating your own daughter so coldly?"
Bibi Dong's brow furrowed, her expression becoming clouded with pain. She looked away, her gaze fixed on a distant flower. "It's… it's a complicated matter, Qing'er. One that I don't wish to discuss."
Song Qing felt a pang of sympathy for her. He could sense the deep pain that lay beneath her cold exterior. He stepped closer and pulled her into another hug, holding her tightly.
"Teacher," he murmured into her hair, "I know it must be something really important, something painful, if you don't want to tell me. But… please, share it with me. I want to understand. I want to share your burden, if you'll let me." He held her a little tighter. "I know I can't force you to say anything you don't want to. But… I care about you so much, Teacher. And Renxue… she's become a really close friend. I just… I want to do whatever I can to help you both have a good relationship."
Bibi Dong remained silent for a long moment, her body tense in his embrace. Song Qing could feel her internal struggle, the battle between her desire to keep her pain hidden and her deep affection for him. Finally, she sighed, a shudder running through her. She leaned back slightly, her violet eyes filled with a raw, unguarded pain as she looked at him.
"Oh, Qing'er," she whispered, her voice barely audible, thick with emotion. "It's because… because Qian Renxue is proof… proof that I am an impure woman. She is the living reminder… of how I was violated… by my own master."
Bibi Dong's whisper hung in the air, heavy with the weight of years of suppressed trauma and pain. Song Qing held her gently, his heart aching for the suffering she had endured. He didn't speak, allowing her the space to continue when she was ready.
After a long, shuddering breath, Bibi Dong began to speak, her voice low and trembling, each word laced with a bitter resentment and a deep-seated shame. "It happened… many years ago. When I was still a disciple, under the tutelage of my master, Qian Xunji." Her voice caught, and she paused, as if the memory itself was a physical blow.
Song Qing simply held her tighter, offering silent comfort and support. He could feel the tension radiating from her body, the years of pain and anger coiled tightly within her.
Bibi Dong continued, her voice barely above a whisper now. "He… he was supposed to guide me, to protect me. But instead… he betrayed that trust in the most horrific way imaginable." Tears welled up in her violet eyes, tracing glistening paths down her pale cheeks. "He forced himself upon me, Qing'er. He… he violated me."
Song Qing's heart clenched. The image of the powerful, formidable Bibi Dong being so vulnerable, so violated, filled him with a surge of protective anger. He wanted to lash out, to rage against the injustice of it all, but he knew that what Bibi Dong needed now was not anger, but understanding and comfort.
Bibi Dong's voice grew even softer, almost a broken sob. "And then… and then I discovered I was pregnant. With Renxue." She looked at him, her eyes filled with a profound sadness. "She… she is the living embodiment of that terrible night, Qing'er. Every time I look at her… I am reminded of what he did to me, of the impurity he forced upon me."
Song Qing gently cupped her face in his hands, his emerald eyes filled with compassion. "Teacher," he said softly, his voice filled with genuine emotion, "that was not your fault. You were the victim. You were betrayed and hurt in the most unimaginable way. Qian Renxue… she is not a symbol of impurity. She is your daughter. She is innocent."
Bibi Dong shook her head, tears streaming freely down her face now. "But she is his child, Qing'er. She carries his blood. How can I… how can I look at her and not remember?"
Song Qing held her gaze, his voice firm but gentle. "Teacher, I understand that it must be incredibly painful for you. But Qian Renxue has done nothing wrong. She deserves her mother's love, just as much as any other child." He paused, then added, his voice laced with a heartfelt plea, "And honestly, Teacher… I think you deserve to have a relationship with your daughter too. You've carried this pain for so long. Perhaps… perhaps accepting her might be a step towards healing for you as well."
Bibi Dong looked away again, her expression conflicted. "It's not that simple, Qing'er. The pain… it's too deep. The resentment… it's too strong."
Song Qing pulled her back into a hug, holding her close against his chest. "I know it's not simple, Teacher. But please… think about it. Think about Qian Renxue. Think about how much she longs for your affection. And think about yourself, about the possibility of finding some peace." He tightened his embrace. "If not for Qian Renxue's sake, then… then please, do it for me."
Bibi Dong's body tensed in his arms. She looked up at him, her violet eyes wide with surprise. "For you, Qing'er?"
Song Qing nodded, his emerald eyes filled with sincerity. "Yes, Teacher. You are the most important person in my life. Your happiness means everything to me. And I know that this… this coldness towards Renxue… it's hurting you too, deep down." He gently stroked her cheek with his thumb. "Please, Teacher. Consider opening your heart, even just a little. For her… and for me."
Bibi Dong's heart pounded in her chest, a rapid, erratic rhythm that surprised even herself. His words, his touch, the sheer sincerity in his eyes… it was all having a profound effect on her. He was her disciple, someone she had nurtured and cared for like a son. Yet, in this moment, as he stood before her, a handsome, reliable young man offering her comfort and support, a wave of strange, unfamiliar emotions stirred within her, emotions that felt… impure, forbidden.
She looked at him, truly looked at him, and saw not just her student, but a man who cared for her deeply, a man who was making her heart race with a confusing mix of gratitude and something else she couldn't quite name.
"Qing'er," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, "you… you ask a great deal of me."
Song Qing nodded, his gaze unwavering. "I know I do, Teacher. And I understand if you can't. But please know this… no matter what you choose, I will always be on your side. Even if I think you're wrong, I will still be here for you. Always."
His words resonated deeply within Bibi Dong's heart.
Despite the darkness of her past and the pain that still clung to her, the unwavering loyalty and affection of this young man shone like a beacon.
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, the scent of the herbal garden and Song Qing's comforting presence filling her senses.
The path ahead was still unclear, the pain of the past still a heavy burden, but for the first time in a long time, a tiny seed of hope began to sprout within her heart.
Perhaps… perhaps for Qing'er's sake… she could try. Just try.
~~
Now that the floodgates of her carefully guarded past had been opened, Bibi Dong seemed to find a strange sort of solace in sharing even the smaller, less traumatic secrets she had kept locked away for so long. With Song Qing's comforting arm around her, they settled onto the soft grass amidst the fragrant herbs, the setting sun painting the sky in hues of orange and purple.
Song Qing gently caressed her cheek, his thumb tracing the delicate curve of her jawline. Her rose-pink hair, usually styled in an intricate updo, had come loose in her emotional turmoil, and strands of it fell softly around her face. He gently brushed a stray lock away from her pink eyes, his gaze filled with concern and affection.
Bibi Dong leaned into his touch, a sigh escaping her lips. "There are… so many things I've kept hidden, Qing'er," she murmured, her voice still a little shaky. "So many burdens I've carried alone."
"You don't have to carry them alone anymore, Teacher," Song Qing reassured her softly. "I'm here for you. Always."
She looked up at him, a faint smile gracing her lips. "I know, Qing'er. That's… that's why I feel I can tell you these things." She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "There was a time… a long time ago, when I was young and perhaps foolish… I fell in love."
Song Qing listened patiently, his hand still gently caressing her face. He waited for her to elaborate, his expression neutral.
Bibi Dong took another deep breath. "His name… his name was Yu Xiaogang."
A frown immediately creased Song Qing's brow. He couldn't quite place the name at first, but then a memory surfaced, a memory from when he was barely six years old, poring over ancient texts in the Spirit Hall's library.
"Yu Xiaogang?" Song Qing asked, his voice a little sharper than he intended. "Is that the guy whose… theories… I found when I was just a child? The ones that were almost word-for-word copies of ancient Spirit Hall texts?"
Bibi Dong's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "You… you remember that?"
Song Qing nodded, his frown deepening. Even at that young age, he had been incensed by what he had perceived as blatant plagiarism. "Yes. I remember thinking he was incredibly selfish, taking the knowledge of our ancestors and presenting it as his own 'Ten Core Competitiveness Theory' without giving any credit. And if I recall correctly," his expression turned even more disapproving, "he also ran away from a marriage ceremony with a woman named Liu Erlong, betraying her at the last second. I had a very bad impression of him, even back then."
Bibi Dong's pink eyes widened further. She had forgotten that Song Qing had stumbled upon that information so early in his life. She knew how much he valued honesty and integrity.
"Yes, Qing'er," she said softly, a hint of shame in her voice. "That is the same man. And… I was foolish enough to fall in love with him in my youth." She sighed, a sound filled with regret. "I was so naive, so easily swayed by his… supposed brilliance. I thought he was different, special."
"He certainly was different," Song Qing muttered under his breath, still feeling a surge of annoyance at the memory of the copied texts.
Bibi Dong chuckled softly, a self-deprecating sound. "Indeed. But not in the way I thought back then. He… he wasn't the man I believed him to be." She looked at Song Qing, her gaze softening. "I was a fool, Qing'er. A young, foolish girl who didn't know any better."
She paused for a moment, her eyes filled with a lingering sadness. Then, her gaze shifted, focusing intently on Song Qing's face. She reached up and gently cupped his cheek, mirroring his earlier gesture.
"But that was a long time ago, Qing'er," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't love him anymore. Not at all." Her pink eyes, filled with an intensity that made Song Qing's heart skip a beat, held his gaze. "The only one who deserves my… my entire love… is you."
Song Qing blinked, a little taken aback by the intensity of her words. He smiled gently, assuming she meant it in the way a loving teacher would speak to her cherished disciple. "Thank you, Teacher," he said softly, his heart warmed by her affection. "I love you too, Teacher. You're the most important person in my life."
He didn't realize the true depth of her confession, the hidden meaning behind her words. He believed she was simply expressing her deep affection for him as her student, the boy she had taken in and raised. He didn't see the longing in her eyes, the unspoken desires that flickered beneath the surface of her words.
Bibi Dong simply smiled, a bittersweet expression on her face. She knew he hadn't understood the full weight of her confession, but for now, just saying the words, feeling the truth of them resonate within her, was enough. She pulled him closer, burying her face in his chest again, inhaling his scent, a complicated mix of emotions swirling within her.