"…Your Excellency?!"
Bibi Dong's cold and indifferent face froze the moment she saw who it was—Aether had arrived.
She had never expected him to be the one.
"Your Holiness, it's been a while. Seems like your spirit power has grown even stronger~"
Aether greeted her with a light smile.
"Ah…"
Bibi Dong's usually frigid expression instantly showed a hint of awkwardness. Her red lips parted slightly as she explained,
"Your Excellency, I didn't realize it was you… I'm terribly sorry."
So the 'important person' that brat Mao Mao mentioned… was him all along?!
Looking at the man before her, Bibi Dong felt a strange lightness in her heart. The lingering worry that had been weighing on her inexplicably vanished.
Just moments ago, she had thought that those people had tracked Mao Mao here and were using him as leverage.
"It's fine. I already heard the story from Mao Mao," Aether waved it off casually.
"Your Holiness, there are a few things I'd like to ask you. Shall we step outside?"
"Y-Yes, of course."
Bibi Dong glanced around the area. After her earlier spirit power attack, the courtyard was in chaos—not exactly a good place for a conversation.
"Your Excellency, I know a pretty decent restaurant here in Soto City. How about we head there?"
As they exited the courtyard, Bibi Dong offered the suggestion.
"A restaurant? Wonderful! I'm starving~"
Paimon's eyes lit up as she rubbed her little belly and chimed in happily.
"Alright,"
Aether nodded, and the group followed Bibi Dong toward the restaurant.
….
"Your Excellency, Paimon… what brings you two here?"
On the way, Bibi Dong asked curiously.
She hadn't expected to encounter them in this place—or more accurately, for them to come looking for her.
"Big sis, we're looking for Qinghe,"
Paimon replied from the side.
"You mean Xue'er, right?"
Bibi Dong smiled bitterly. She, of course, was aware of her daughter's movements in Heaven Dou—especially given her connection to the man walking beside her.
The moment this 'Your Excellency' entered the world's stage, her daughter had already been at his side.
As for her daughter's true identity…
Well, this man knew everything, even the dark past Bibi Dong had tried so hard to bury—he could certainly see through her daughter's disguise.
"Mhm!"
Paimon nodded earnestly.
"So, she did follow my advice and left Heaven Dou…"
Bibi Dong nodded slightly. The reason she had gone to Heaven Dou in the first place was because Aether had told her the truth—truths that had caused a massive shift in her heart.
Before, just seeing Qian Renxue would dredge up unbearable memories. Because of that, she'd rejected her daughter outright.
But after hearing Aether's words, she had done a lot of thinking. In the end, she chose to let go.
Unifying the continent… Destroying the Spirit Hall… None of those things mattered anymore.
The past was the past. She couldn't let it shackle her any longer. What mattered now was atonement—doing everything she could to make up for her mistakes.
So she made a decision. She would go to Heaven Dou immediately, reveal everything to Qian Renxue, and try to mend the shattered bond between mother and daughter.
Though their conversation wasn't exactly warm and fuzzy, Paimon's words now confirmed that her daughter had likely heeded her advice—and returned to Spirit Hall.
"Eh? But didn't Qinghe leave Heaven Dou because she was wanted?"
Paimon frowned in confusion. Why were their stories not matching up?
"Hm? Wanted?"
Bibi Dong's face darkened at Paimon's words. "Paimon, are you saying Xue'er was hunted?"
"Yep!" Paimon nodded, her tone casual, "Traveler and I heard about it back in Heaven Dou. The news seemed pretty legit~"
Then she recounted what had happened in Heaven Dou and the current state of affairs.
"It's all my fault… If not for me, Xue'er wouldn't be in this mess…"
Bibi Dong's heart twisted as she heard how Qian Renxue had fled the empire, only to vanish without a trace. Bitterness filled her chest.
Her stubborn nature hadn't just harmed herself—now even her daughter was suffering for it. Surely by now, Xue'er must hate her…
Just when her heart had started to feel lighter thanks to Aether's presence, she once again sank into despair.
"Your Holiness, does that mean you don't know where Qinghe is right now?"
Paimon, oblivious to the emotional mother-daughter tangle, was solely worried about her friend Xue Qinghe's safety.
Bibi Dong shook her head with a pained expression.
"Then what do we do? What if something happened to Qinghe?!"
Paimon grew anxious again.
"Didn't She Long and Ci Xue—the two Titled Douluo—stay by her side?" Aether interjected calmly.
According to Dugu Bo, after Bibi Dong left, those two Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall followed shortly behind. But now, Bibi Dong had only brought Mao Mao with her.
Clearly, those two must have secretly returned to Qian Renxue's side.
"Yes. At the time, having them stay would've risked exposing Xue'er, so I had them retreat."
"But later, I ordered them back to protect her. Who would've thought she'd still end up exposed… That damned Emperor Xue Ye! Is he not afraid that Spirit Hall will crush the entire Heaven Dou Empire?!"
Bibi Dong clenched her teeth, fury flashing in her eyes.
Though her heart had changed, her killing intent and commanding aura as a ruler remained undiminished.
"Then she should be safe…"
Aether nodded. If She Long and Ci Xue were indeed with Qian Renxue, then even in a dangerous situation, they should at least be able to get her out safely.
…
While chatting, the group arrived at the restaurant Bibi Dong had recommended. With the manager's enthusiastic welcome, they were quickly escorted to a luxurious private room.
Having done her research on Aether and Paimon, Bibi Dong had already guessed at Paimon's preferences. Under her orders, a variety of snacks and desserts were brought out even before the main dishes arrived.
"Your Holiness, Mao Mao mentioned that you were attacked on the road?"
Watching Paimon and Mao Mao happily nibbling on treats, Aether picked up the tea that Bibi Dong had poured and asked calmly.
"Yes."
Bibi Dong set down the teapot and sat, a shadow passing through her gaze.
"A group of unknown scoundrels… Seven in total. Four of them were Titled Douluo. I let my guard down and fell into their trap…"
Thinking back to the ambush, Bibi Dong seethed with anger.
Once she returned to Spirit Hall, she would conduct a thorough investigation. To dare lay hands on her—on the Pope of Spirit Hall—such arrogance would be severely punished!
"Titled Douluo are incredibly rare. You didn't recognize any of them?"
Aether asked, as if confirming something.
"No… I didn't." Bibi Dong shook her head.
"Our intelligence network spans the continent. As you said, Titled Douluo are exceedingly rare. But those people… it was like they appeared out of thin air."
_
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