Chapter 353: Meeting the Beauty Under the Moonlight
Upon hearing Hu Liena's words, Dai Yao froze. Though he kept his face expressionless, his mind was in turmoil.
"Is Hu Liena really drunk, or is she faking it? Are her words meant to test me?"
He slowly helped Hu Liena to her feet, but she seemed to go limp, leaning softly against him. He lifted her carefully and set her down on a chair. "Nana, you're drunk," he said flatly.
Hu Liena feigned a dazed look, though she was secretly laughing inside. As a Spirit Emperor, a few glasses of wine couldn't possibly affect her—she'd only pretended to be drunk to tease him.
"That's what you get for making things hard for me before," she thought to herself with a smirk. "If you keep this up, you'll suffer even more in the future!"
Hu Liena leaned in, her breath warm and fragrant with a hint of wine as she sighed. She put on an innocent expression and playfully scratched her head as if in confusion. "I think… I might actually be drunk…"
"Really? If you can't handle alcohol, then why did you insist on drinking? I'll have someone take you home," Dai Yao replied. He found it hard to believe that a Spirit Emperor would get tipsy from just a few drinks, but with the way she was acting, it didn't look like she was pretending.
At his words, Hu Liena pouted and wrapped her arms around Dai Yao's neck. Her eyes, misty and shimmering, locked onto his as she whispered, "Do you really dislike me that much? The 'Asura Emperor' didn't care for me, and now you dislike me too? Am I really that unattractive?"
Dai Yao fell silent. Could she really be feeling hurt because of her experience with the "Asura Emperor" and looking for an outlet? He thought it over—perhaps she was simply venting her frustration.
He sighed, averting his gaze from the sorrow in her eyes. Looking directly into those vulnerable, earnest eyes would make it hard for any man to refuse her. Now, he could almost understand how Shrek's character, Xiao Lu, might have felt, faced with a gaze like that.
"Alright," he relented. "You can stay here for now and rest until the wine wears off."
Seeing Dai Yao avoid her gaze, Hu Liena's heart danced with glee. So, it's that easy to unsettle you? Back when you didn't care about my feelings, did you ever think of this?
Dai Yao called over four of his attendants. Over the years, the four young women hadn't changed much in appearance; in fact, they seemed more mature and graceful. Generous with opportunities, Dai Yao had provided for them well.
Not only had he helped advance their soul powers, but his status also brought benefits to their families. Due to these acts, the four attendants were loyal to him, although they couldn't always control how they reacted to his personal life.
The previously proud Peacock, in particular, had softened considerably. Her once high ponytail was now pulled back in a simpler style, and the sharpness in her expression had softened. After all, with the powerful women around Dai Yao, it was hard to maintain any airs.
As Dai Yao instructed them, their attention turned to the "drunken" young woman. "Isn't that the Holy Maiden?" one thought. "Does she and the young master have… a relationship?" Though they were well aware of Dai Yao's charm, none would have expected the Holy Maiden to fall for him, knowing he already had many women around him.
Sensing their curious stares, Dai Yao sighed and said, "Don't read too much into this. She came to share a drink and got tipsy. Just take her to rest indoors."
The four nodded, and Peacock carried Hu Liena into the house while the other three cleaned up the pavilion.
As the sun began to set, a slim silhouette appeared from above. Zhu Zhuqing had returned from Spirit City and found Dai Yao by the lake. At the sound of her footsteps, he turned with a smile. "You're back?"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, her gaze curious as she walked over. "What's going on? You're not training today?"
Dai Yao sighed, casting a glance at the house. "Since I've settled the side effects of my spirit power increase, I decided not to rush training. But we had an unexpected guest drop by."
"Oh? Who?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, intrigued.
"Hu Liena," he replied.
"Her?" Zhu Zhuqing looked surprised, giving him a playful smile as she sized him up. "Is this another one you invited?"
Dai Yao's face froze. He knew he couldn't deny he was involved—if he hadn't taken up the role of "Asura Emperor," would any of this be happening? Even so, he kept a calm face and replied, "Don't jump to conclusions. Hu Liena's here to drink, and she's resting now. Luckily, you're back so I can clear up any misunderstandings."
Zhu Zhuqing chuckled softly, giving him a knowing glance. Leading him inside, she opened the door to find Hu Liena tidying her hair, seated in front of a mirror.
"Nana, good to see you again," Zhu Zhuqing greeted her warmly. As Ghost Douluo's disciple, Zhu Zhuqing knew Hu Liena, who shared close ties with both Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo.
"Oh, so you've already sobered up," Dai Yao noted with a hint of suspicion.
Hu Liena rolled her eyes at him. Had she not been so determined to continue her teasing, she would have left by now. But when he hadn't come back inside, she'd had no chance to deploy her plan.
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing, Hu Liena's gaze softened, though a glint of conflict passed through her eyes. After realizing that Dai Yao was indeed the "Asura Emperor," she had to acknowledge that he was surrounded by other women—both Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong in Spirit Hall and even the successors of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan.
None of them were easy rivals.
Yet, despite her worries, she knew she wouldn't walk away. She'd spent years searching for the "Asura Emperor," and now that she had her answer, she wasn't about to give up. She was staying, ready to see things through. She didn't reveal what she knew, opting to tease him first and gauge how things stood with the women around him.
"Good to see you, Zhuqing," she said with a warm smile, taking Zhu Zhuqing's hand, leaving Dai Yao out of the conversation as they started to chat privately. Taking the hint, Dai Yao took his leave, sensing they wanted a moment alone.
As night fell, Hu Liena finally left, bidding farewell to Zhu Zhuqing. She gave Dai Yao a brief nod, then summoned a flying soul beast and ascended into the sky, her slender figure fading into the horizon.
Watching her disappear, Dai Yao glanced at Zhu Zhuqing and asked, "So… what did you two talk about for so long?"
Zhu Zhuqing chuckled, giving him a mysterious look. "Oh, nothing much," she said coyly, brushing her hair back as she smiled. "Just girl talk."
Zhu Zhuqing covered her mouth, smiling softly without answering Dai Yao's question. In her brief conversation with Hu Liena, Zhuqing had sensed Hu Liena's growing affection for Dai Yao. Though a slight pang of jealousy lingered in her heart, she wouldn't intentionally cut off Dai Yao's blossoming connections, choosing instead to let things unfold naturally.
She gently leaned her head against Dai Yao's shoulder, gazing at the rising moon. Her eyes held a rare softness, treasuring this quiet time with him, knowing that soon, they might not have many more moments like this.
As the moon climbed high in the sky, Dai Yao, who was relaxing on a lounge chair after a brief wash, suddenly stood up. Noticing a faint ring of purple light around the moon, he turned to Zhu Zhuqing and said, "Zhuqing, I'll be heading out for a bit."
Zhu Zhuqing, seated cross-legged on the bed in meditation, opened her eyes and smiled. "Go ahead."
Lately, Dai Yao had often left at night, which had puzzled her at first. Though he always returned promptly, Zhuqing eventually detected a faint, pleasant fragrance lingering on him after these late outings. Dai Yao did his best to mask it, but Zhuqing could still sense the traces of another woman's presence—a refined, elegant scent that hinted at her distinguished nature.
This fragrance led Zhuqing to surmise that Dai Yao was meeting a woman during these nighttime escapades. She felt reassured and had ceased worrying about his nightly disappearances, though she remained curious about the mystery woman who only met Dai Yao under the cover of night.
Dai Yao went to the waterfall's base, summoned his martial spirit, and, with a sweep of his wings, launched himself up toward the waterfall's source. Within moments, he reached the top, landing beside a newly cleared area next to the cascade. A large, smooth boulder stood in the middle of the clearing, and atop it sat a figure of unmatched elegance.
Bibi Dong was seated there, her purple-gold crown set aside. Her violet hair danced in the gentle night breeze, and under the moonlight, her purple attire made her look both mysterious and regal. Her gemstone-like eyes sparkled with visible joy upon seeing Dai Yao arrive.
"You're here," she said softly, turning to him.
Dai Yao retracted his martial spirit and leaped lightly to sit beside her on the boulder.
"You signaled, so of course, I came. After all, you're the grand Holy Pope, and I'm merely a humble soul master in Spirit Hall. If I didn't come, who knows how you'd punish me," he joked.
The purple halo around the moon was Bibi Dong's signal for Dai Yao. Whenever he saw it, he knew to come to this secluded spot to meet her.
Bibi Dong rolled her eyes, smirking at him. "You're such a smooth talker."
Dai Yao, noticing her expression, grew more serious. "What's bothering you this time?" he asked.
She sighed, rubbing her temples in frustration. "It's nothing major, but several elders have voiced strong objections to you establishing a sect. They even came to me, saying that if I don't address their concerns, they'll report the matter to the Grand Worshipper."
These elders weren't the Titled Douluo but rather several Soul Douluo elders. The Titled Douluo of Spirit Hall all had some level of camaraderie with Dai Yao, so they wouldn't openly oppose him.
Dai Yao guessed that Bibi Dong had already handled the situation, or she wouldn't be meeting him here now. "Thank you for helping me. Did it cause much trouble for you?" he asked, concerned.
Bibi Dong smiled gently. "Just a few Soul Douluo. If they hadn't done anything worthwhile in the past, they'd already be silenced."
Dai Yao frowned slightly, his tone earnest. "I know you've done me a great favor, and I don't mean to meddle in your affairs, but as a friend, I feel obligated to say this. As the Holy Pope, you can't just use force to silence opposition. Suppressing dissent may work for now, but eventually, it will lead to an eruption. And if it does, the consequences will be irreversible."
Bibi Dong's expression shifted into a faint scowl, and she huffed, "You know, I'm trying to help you here, and now you're lecturing me?"
Despite her irritation, Dai Yao held his ground, sighing deeply. "I understand that inheriting the Rakshasa God's position has affected your temperament, but as your friend, I must be honest. If you continue down this path, it will only isolate you from everyone."
His mind flashed with the memory of Bibi Dong's tragic fate in the original storyline: her divine power shattered, her life ending at Jialing Pass. Only in her last moments did she reconcile with Qian Renxue. Since she regarded him as a friend, he felt it was his duty to urge her to choose a different path.
Seeing his unyielding expression, Bibi Dong glanced at him from the corner of her eye, her lips curving slightly. "Fine, I promise you I'll try to use more diplomatic methods going forward."
"There, isn't that better?" Dai Yao said, smiling with relief.
But then he paused, as if recalling something. "By the way, Bibi Dong, Hu Liena came to see me today. We even drank together. I can't shake the feeling that she may have figured out my identity as the 'Asura Emperor.'"
Bibi Dong's gaze darkened at the mention of Hu Liena. Although she now had Dai Yao by her side, Hu Liena was still immensely important to her, like a daughter. She had raised Hu Liena as her own, unwilling to see her suffer.
In her eyes, Dai Yao wasn't the right match for Hu Liena. With so many women already in his life, Bibi Dong couldn't bear to watch Hu Liena endure such a fate. Ironically, she didn't see that her own actions mirrored those of Chihiro Ji when he'd opposed her relationship with Yu Xiaogang years ago.
After a pause, Bibi Dong replied coolly, "You're probably overthinking it. I took great care to ensure that anyone involved in this would remain silent. No one will mention anything about the 'Asura Emperor.' Unless you yourself tell Nana, she won't know a thing."
Since Bibi Dong seemed so certain, Dai Yao refrained from arguing further, nodding reluctantly. "Alright, if you say so."
As the moon reached its zenith, Bibi Dong had unknowingly leaned her head on his shoulder and drifted into a peaceful sleep. Her purple hair spilled over his back, filling the air around him with a delicate fragrance that he couldn't help but breathe in.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Canserbero10