Chapter 124: Second Attempt to Dissuade Bibi Dong, Part 1
Watching his disciples ascend to the pinnacle of young spirit masters, Ye Wen's eyes shone with satisfaction. Seventeen years had passed since he first started cultivating his powers. He had grown from a feeble spirit warrior, easy to kill with just a flick, into a formidable warrior just one spirit ring away from becoming a Soul Douluo.
Obtaining this eighth spirit ring would be simple if Ye Wen were to settle for an ordinary 100,000 year spirit beast, but his body's current strength was capable of withstanding a ring from a 600,000 year old beast. This type of creature, with power equivalent to a Rank 99 Ultimate Douluo, was nearly impossible to defeat directly; only with cunning could one succeed.
So Ye Wen hadn't rushed to get his eighth ring, choosing instead to aim higher. Regardless, his soul power could continue advancing even without it. Meanwhile, he had also requested the Mermaid Clan's assistance in locating information on formidable 500,000 to 600,000 year oceanic beasts. Beasts of this rank could be found in both Star Dou Forest and the Extreme North, yet hunting one down would be a nearly impossible feat without the right strategy.
Ye Wen had already mapped out his next steps. Once he obtained his eighth spirit ring, it would be time to start thinking about undergoing a God level assessment.
In the luxurious hotel he had rented out for the occasion, the members of Tianxing Academy celebrated their hard won triumph. Although Ye Wen was only a few years older than his disciples, he chose not to join their lively festivities, as this was a moment for them to savor on their own.
Standing alone on the hotel balcony, sipping a glass of rich fruit juice and gazing into the night, Ye Wen's heart felt calm. "Come out, Bibi Dong," he called. "You've been following me for quite a while now. Is there something you'd like to discuss?"
After a moment of silence, a graceful figure dropped from the higher floor to stand beside Ye Wen. Although Bibi Dong was not officially Wuhun Hall's lead instructor for the competition, she had convinced Qian Xunji to let her attend, as it was a grand event for all of the Douluo Continent.
"It's been a while, Master Ye Wen," she greeted.
"Ha! There's no need for such formalities between us. Just call me Ye Wen, Bibi Dong."
An awkward silence hung between them for a moment, as Bibi Dong looked at Ye Wen with a complicated expression. Since Ye Wen's words years ago, Qian Xunji had accelerated Bibi Dong's training, grooming her as an heir. Bibi Dong was no longer the naïve girl she had once been; she now understood the complexity of power dynamics between factions.
Her gullibility in being deceived by Yu Xiaogang in the original story came largely from her single minded focus on training; her heart had been as pure as a blank slate, untouched by worldly schemes.
"Then... call me Bibi Dong as well. There's no need for honorifics between us since we're of the same age."
"As you wish, Bibi Dong. So, tell me, why did you seek me out? It's been five years since we last spoke."
Bibi Dong's gaze softened as she looked at him, her lips parted, and she seemed as though she wanted to say something, though she remained hesitant. She had once been captivated by Ye Wen's talent, but when she learned he was already married, her feelings became complicated. Why had fate played such a cruel joke, letting her feel this way with no chance for fulfillment?
"There's no real reason... I just saw an old friend and wanted to say hello," Bibi Dong finally replied.
Ye Wen looked at her, sensing the struggle in her expression. He wondered what was troubling her so much. His appearance wasn't enough to make a powerful soul master like Bibi Dong flustered. Why, then, had she been following him from the shadows? Women's hearts were truly a mystery.
"Soon, I'll be going to a dangerous place, one where I might be gone for a long time. I know it's a bit late, but I wanted to wish you and your family happiness." Bibi Dong's words seemed oddly distant, making Ye Wen pause in concern.
A dangerous place? With her status as Wuhun Hall's Holy Maiden and her soul power likely already at the Soul Saint level, what place could possibly be dangerous for her? Death Canyon? No, Wuhun Hall had long been in control of that area. Could she be heading to the City of Slaughter?
"Wait " Ye Wen called instinctively, only to stop in hesitation, as he was loath to get involved with the City of Slaughter; that place was entangled with the fates of two gods.
"What is it?" Bibi Dong asked, stopping in her tracks, though she wasn't sure why he had called out to her. There was a feeling she couldn't shake, as if there were something she needed to tell him.
Ye Wen hesitated a moment, weighing the consequences. If Bibi Dong truly entered the City of Slaughter, she might obtain the Slaughter God Domain. But he couldn't rule out the possibility of Rakshasa meddling. Tang Hao had made it through the City of Slaughter unhindered, but only because Tang Chen had already been trapped there, serving as a buffer against Rakshasa's schemes. And since the Rakshasa was female, Tang Hao, as a male, likely wasn't a suitable candidate for her trials.
However, without the animosity toward Qian Xunji as motivation, Bibi Dong had no reason to take such a huge risk. Even if she merely focused on her training, in a decade she would likely reach the threshold of a Titled Douluo. Why would she court disaster instead?
"With your position, why take such a risk?" Ye Wen asked. It was a question that was, by nature, private. He wouldn't normally pry, yet Bibi Dong didn't seem bothered. Instead, she appeared contemplative, as if pondering something herself.
"My teacher arranged it," she replied softly. "He told me it would make me stronger and help me become the pillar of Wuhun Hall."
Unbothered by Bibi Dong's candid answer, Ye Wen felt a shocking realization dawning on him. Under normal circumstances, Bibi Dong, as the Holy Maiden and potential successor to Wuhun Hall, shouldn't be put in danger. This hinted at an abnormality in Qian Xunji's intentions regarding his heir.
Qian Renxue's birth was likely the turning point. Though Qian Xunji, as a Titled Douluo, could easily live over 500 years, a Titled Douluo typically ruled Wuhun Hall for only fifty years. Qian Xunji, having only ruled for twenty, hadn't originally planned to groom Bibi Dong so aggressively. But with Qian Daoliu's urging, Qian Xunji had fathered Qian Renxue, leaving Bibi Dong as an unnecessary candidate.
In a place as powerful as Wuhun Hall, even a twin spirit soul master of innate full soul power like Bibi Dong could quickly become expendable, especially with a line of Titled Douluo backing the new generation.
Though Ye Wen had no desire to meddle in Wuhun Hall's affairs, a corrupted Bibi Dong under Rakshasa's influence would undoubtedly twist the future of the Douluo Continent. After all, the Rakshasa God was not only at odds with the God of Asura but also deeply antagonistic toward the Angel God.
To ensure the future moved in a direction he could manage, Ye Wen resolved to intervene.
"Bibi Dong, if you trust me, then don't go to the City of Slaughter. Once you set foot in that place, there's no turning back."
Stunned, Bibi Dong almost retorted, "Why should you care?" But something in his clear, earnest gaze stopped her short.
"Can you tell me why you don't want me to go there?" she asked, her voice low.
She didn't seem fully aware of the danger. After a long pause, Ye Wen explained the true origins of the City of Slaughter and the risks involved. Though it touched on the Asura God and seemed a bit far fetched, Bibi Dong's face grew pale as she listened. She had known conditions there were harsh, but she hadn't imagined it would mean drinking blood to survive.
End of Chapter.
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