Chapter 43: The Laughter of People with Heavy Hearts
Gu Yuena was a little bored as she cultivated in a room. Percy had bought a residence in the spirit hall city. Since they didn't know how long they would spend in this place, then it was better to prepare some things, such as housing. He definitely didn't want to live in the forest or an inn. And since he possessed a large amount of money, it was better to buy a residence.
After a few more minutes, Gu Yuena opened her eyes. They had already spent more than four hours training to recover their power as quickly as possible. But she wouldn't achieve anything if she spent all hours of a day, every day, training either, that could only be a bad thing for some of her injuries that were still unhealed.
Suddenly, the door of the house rang with a few knocks and she stood up. Percy was cooking, strangely enough. Cooking wasn't something he learned from Chaos, but he knew some recipes, mostly thanks to his mother.
"What are you doing here?" Gu Yuena frowned slightly upon seeing Bibi Dong.
"I found out where they might be. I need to thank them for saving me," Bibi Dong bowed, showing her respect and gratitude.
"He… could I see him?"
Gu Yuena just nodded and let her in. The two women, one younger than the other, walked through the house until they reached the kitchen only to see a strange scene. Percy had his long hair tied up on top of his head and wore an apron with a duckling printed on the front. It was a contrast to his cold gaze and killing intent when he was fighting.
"What are you doing here?" Percy asked curiously.
"I came to thank you for your help. That animal that still holds the position of daddy is now lying down recovering from what you have done to him. Before long, his mind will become more unstable and I will be able to act," Bibi Dong replied, "Also, I wanted to ask you if you needed anything, as long as it is something accessible, I don't mind giving it to you."
Bibi Dong looked into Percy's eyes, thinking that the man in front of her was really handsome. It wasn't that she fell in love with Percy directly, or because of appearances. Yu Xiaogang, in fact, wasn't the most handsome of men. Bibi Dong was attracted by his apparent intelligence and wisdom. Furthermore, after what just happened a little while ago, it was impossible for her to fall in love at first sight. She found that people were more difficult than she thought.
You might know his face and know about his mind, but even with that, the heart could still be hidden from the rest. Bibi Dong knew about her former master Qian Xunji's posture, she knew how he carried himself; she even understood some of his plans for the future. But the black heart he possessed had slipped through his fingers.
Percy looked at her with his slightly cold eyes for a moment, trying to see how she was doing. He knew what could happen to a person who is betrayed.
"Did you cry?"
"What?" Bibi Dong looked at him with a strange expression.
"You were betrayed by one of the people you trusted the most. I know what that can do; the conflicting feelings inside you, the horror, sadness, and rage that explode in your heart as your mind tries to stay calm and rational, but tells you to scream and cry, to roar to the heavens and vent your heart out until there's nothing left..."
"It's okay... you can do it," Percy softened his expression with a slightly wry and sad smile.
"In this house there are no guards or anyone else to watch you, besides us."
"And if you don't do that... your heart will end up bearing that within you. Over time, those feelings will turn dark and your rationality deteriorates as your core twists until it can't return to normal."
If it weren't for Liu Erlong, Percy wouldn't realize these things. Within the road of hell he remembered that he still had a life to live. And while he would do many things to achieve his revenge, doing so at the cost of his life was pointless. He still had to apologize to his mother for choosing not to visit her before traveling to the douluo planet and hug her saying that he had missed her, even if she had believed in the words of the gods. He still had to raise his son, teach him many things, and take care of him as he grew up.
Although he didn't quite know the reason behind saying these words to Bibi Dong. Perhaps it was the fact that she was betrayed by someone who trained her, took care of her, and gave her most of the things she had ever possessed; almost the same way he was betrayed. He was betrayed out of fear of her power, the things she had achieved, and the jealousy of the gods. She, on the other hand, was betrayed so that she would never think of leaving the spirit hall.
Qian Xunji had studied his disciple thoroughly. He knew that if he did such a thing, Bibi Dong would feel dirty and would not leave the spirit hall to go with Yu Xiaogang. She understood that the desire for revenge and the grudge in his heart would keep her close to him so that, in the future, she could take revenge. Qian Xunji was a man who could not be part of the challenges to become the angel god. And his father, Qian Daoliu, had gone through the missions, but he could not become a god; either because of his talent, or because he had simply decided to be a sacrifice in order to open the doors to a higher plane.
Qian Xunji did not mind dying as long as the spiritual hall remained powerful. But he hated being underestimated and passed over. That was something he did not take into account in Bibi Dong's revenge. Even if she stayed, her life would be a complete hell with Bibi Dong's mind in turmoil.
Now, looking into Percy's eyes, Bibi Dong saw her vision go blurry before tears began to fall from her eyes. She didn't cry out, nor did she make any murmurs or sounds, she simply let her tears fall at last.
When she saw this, Percy let out a small sigh.
Gu Yuena just watched from the side with her arms crossed beneath her prominent chest. But in her mind, some memories of the past slowly emerged. Especially at that time when she was besieged by the gods, right at the moment when the dragon god was divided and she was born from it. The helplessness of not being able to help the rest of the dragons, and seeing their lifeless bodies descend towards the douluo planet when she escaped. The roars of anger, sadness and helplessness of the few who were still alive as they fell, she would never forget.
This is also one of the reasons why she accepted Percy's deal. When he finishes his time as the god of this sector of the universe, then they could create a new kingdom of gods in the sector of his home planet. Perhaps, the beast race and humans can live together if things are fairer and there is a new system of power and promotion. Plus she wouldn't be living with the gods who fought against her and her race.
She looked up, seeing Percy helping Bibi Dong as they sat down. The two of them were talking in low voices, one crying, and the other just listening intently. Gu Yuena moved her lips slightly, it bothered her a little that Percy cared so much for the girl they had just met and she was forgotten even when they had lived a moment of life and death together.
"Eh..." Gu Yuena snorted in her heart as she thought, "It doesn't even make sense for me to feel this way, it's not like we have any friends."
Gu Yuena's thoughts stopped as an idea passed through her head and she narrowed her eyes before she smiled slightly and looked at Percy as if she was waiting for something that would amuse her quite a bit.
Percy felt the gaze but decided to ignore the dragon woman. He stood up and went to the kitchen once again, taking a tray out of the oven, causing a sweet aroma to spread throughout the house.
"What is that?" Gu Yuena twitched her nose at the smell.
"Cookies."
She walked over and looked at the cookies before looking at Percy.
"They're blue."
"Yeah, blue, what's wrong?" Percy raised an eyebrow and tried one before his eyes sparkled like a little kid and he smiled genuinely. In fact, the same taste as mom, was what he thought of at that moment.
"Huh!"
"Huh..."
The two women looked at Percy's expression in surprise. He didn't know it, but her expression looked like a baby seal with a teary look.
"Pff... No~", Gu Yuena covered her mouth as she tried not to laugh.
"Why are you laughing?", Percy frowned, thinking that they were making fun of the cookies.
"Your expression...", Bibi Dong said, smiling, with his eyes still red from crying so much, "It was quite adorable for someone as cold as you."
"...", Percy just looked at the two of them before snorting and turning to the other side, looking for other things. But still, the two of them noticed that their ears were a little red.
"Hehehe!"
"Don't laugh!", Percy groaned in embarrassment.
No use, the two of them laughed hard at seeing a man who looked cold, but looked like a baby when eating homemade cookies. Such a thing was a little absurd, but it eased their heavy hearts. And Percy, who only snorted through his nose, couldn't help but let a genuine smile form on his lips either.
"It's been a long time since I was at peace," he murmured.
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