Chapter 278: The Taste of the Catwoman
Boom!
Dai Yao's mind felt as if it had exploded like a cannon blast, shattering to pieces as he stared at Bibi Dong's beautiful yet furious face, her cold smile radiating anger. A few cold beads of sweat appeared on his forehead as he tried to regain control, forcing an awkward smile.
"Your Eminence, I'm not sure what you mean... Divine Envoy?"
Bibi Dong's foot withdrew as she crouched down, moving closer to him, her flawless face showing her rising fury, chest heaving with agitation. She spoke in a low voice, her anger deepening as she got closer.
"Shall I spell it out for you? From the day you left, Dai Yao, I lost access to the Rakshasa God's trial. Yet the moment you returned today, I could feel the connection with the trial world restored." Her cold gaze locked onto his. "So tell me, Divine Envoy—who else could it be but you?"
Frozen in shock, Dai Yao felt her gaze bore through him, leaving no room to hide. He had thought his identity as the Divine Envoy was hidden seamlessly, that even if he left, Bibi Dong wouldn't figure out his real identity. He hadn't expected that Bibi Dong would deduce the truth solely from a coincidence in timing. Her obsessiveness and scrutiny made her certain of his identity, and Dai Yao knew the fallout from her discovery was severe. His mocking acts in the undead realm wouldn't go unpunished, especially after he had meddled in her godhood trials—a privilege and power no inheritor would tolerate being tampered with.
Dai Yao swallowed, forcing himself to reply, "Your Majesty, I truly don't know what you mean…"
But before he could finish, he felt her hand tighten around his throat, lifting him up as her slender fingers held him in an iron grip. He tried to pry her fingers loose, but her hand remained unmoving, as if forged of steel. Her eyes, glistening with cold fury, sent chills down his spine.
"Admit it now, or I'll make sure Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong are killed without mercy," she hissed. "Now tell me—are you the Divine Envoy?"
Dai Yao, with no choice, squeezed out a barely audible answer: "I… admit."
"Hmph." Bibi Dong snorted as she tossed him aside, sending him crashing to the ground hard enough to crack the floor beneath him. Given Dai Yao's physical strength, capable of withstanding attacks from even the highest-ranking Spirit Sages and some Spirit Douluos, this showed how immense Bibi Dong's power truly was.
Dai Yao held his throat, breathing heavily, his gaze filled with fear as he looked up at her.
"Good, so you finally admit it." Bibi Dong's voice was laced with contempt. "Now, let me ask you, that increase in trial difficulty after your supposed 'attack'—was that just a little ploy of yours?" Her penetrating stare made him hesitate to lie.
Dai Yao knew that with his identity revealed, his fate lay entirely in her hands, along with the lives of Zhu Zhuqing, Feng Wutong, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Even though he could potentially escape using the teleportation ability of his Green Lotus Spirit, he knew that doing so would mean leaving his loved ones exposed to her wrath.
"Yes," he replied quietly, averting his gaze.
Hearing this, Bibi Dong's breath caught, her expression stiffening. Never had she imagined that Dai Yao, under the guise of the Divine Envoy, had been toying with her so brazenly. After a pause, she sneered.
"And those additional crystals—do you still have them?"
"...Yes," he replied, his back damp with cold sweat.
For a moment, Bibi Dong fell silent, her eyes assessing him as if weighing her next move. The silence in the hall was suffocating, and Dai Yao felt his anxiety intensify with each passing second.
After what seemed like an eternity, Bibi Dong finally spoke. "Dai Yao, if you haven't forgotten, that trial deadline was four years. Now only six months remain, which means that if I'm to pass, I'll need to complete three years' worth of the trial in half a year."
Her voice, icy and devoid of pity, continued. "Since you were so helpful in suggesting I kill those undead and gather crystals for you back then, you'll assist me now by gathering the necessary undead. Fail, and you already know the consequences."
Each word struck Dai Yao like a hammer, and his mind raced. His original plan to make Bibi Dong's trial more challenging had now come back as a deadly boomerang. He hadn't anticipated that his own life and those of his loved ones would depend on fulfilling a trial he had once sabotaged.
But there was no sign of her specifying any immediate punishment for him. However, Dai Yao knew her ruthless nature all too well; there would be no forgiveness for someone who had toyed with her. To survive, he would need to feign submission and buy time while protecting Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong.
"Your Majesty," he replied, bowing, "I swear to complete this task for you to the highest standards."
Bibi Dong cast a sidelong glance at him, her suspicion clear. She had no intention of letting Dai Yao complete her Rakshasa God trial unsupervised. A single misstep from him could ruin everything, and the consequence of failing the trial was death.
"Completing the required kills in six months will be difficult alone," she said coolly. "So I'll accompany you to the undead realm to ensure my tasks are met. For these next six months, we'll both remain in the undead realm until it's done."
Her words caused Dai Yao's heart to race. He had just emerged from the hellish trials of the City of Slaughter, after two years without seeing Zhu Zhuqing and the others. Now he was expected to spend another six months away from them. But he couldn't risk letting this silence destroy his relationships; they needed to know why he'd be gone.
Steeling himself, he said, "Your Majesty, please grant me one day to see Zhu Zhuqing and the others before entering the undead realm."
Bibi Dong did not respond, only staring at him with an intense gaze as a powerful, oppressive aura began to emanate from her. Despite the pressure, Dai Yao persisted.
"Please, Your Majesty," he said, voice firm, though his heart raced.
After a pause, Bibi Dong's gaze softened, taking on a contemplative look. How could she not understand his request?
"A man of loyalty," she thought, an unexpected wave of emotion welling within her.
His willingness to notify those he cared about, even under pressure, reflected qualities of loyalty and responsibility—traits she had once admired. Zhu Zhuqing and the others were fortunate to have a man like this by their side. How ironic it was, though, that the man she had once loved had been so different.
Not only had he failed to protect her, he had left her, abandoning the Spirit Hall entirely. At the Soul Master Tournament, that woman he replaced her with had even flaunted herself in front of Bibi Dong...
With a dispirited wave, Bibi Dong gestured dismissively. "Go, then..."
"Thank you, Your Eminence!"
Dai Yao felt a flicker of relief and gratitude as he bowed and turned to leave. But as soon as he stepped away, his expression grew somber. Since Bibi Dong had uncovered his identity, a pressing question lingered in his mind.
Yet she hadn't asked.
The question of how Dai Yao had gained access to the Rakshasa God's trial realm, even temporarily blocking her own access, was one he knew Bibi Dong was fully aware of. But she had not pressed for an explanation, and he, in turn, refrained from offering one. They both tacitly agreed not to cross this boundary, understanding that doing so would only lead to confrontation.
The Chaos Green Lotus could never be exposed.
As Dai Yao left the grand hall, he gazed up at the moon slowly disappearing behind gathering clouds, feeling a deep and confusing sense of unease. With a sigh, his eight wings unfurled and tore through his robes. In a rush of wind, he soared into the night, streaking toward the place he had not seen for over two years.
Suspended high in the sky, he looked down at the small cabin below, his heart swelling with emotion at the sight of his home. Finally, after these years, he was returning to her. He folded his wings and swooped down toward the valley.
Inside the cabin, a lone figure sat on the bed, her beauty glowing even in solitude. Zhu Zhuqing's face, framed by her silken hair, had matured into an even more alluring elegance. Her expression, however, carried a faint hint of melancholy, and her mind drifted as she completed her cultivation. Her aura now reflected her progress—she had advanced to level fifty-six.
"Brother Yao, I've reached level fifty-six. Why aren't you back yet?" she whispered, her gaze distant.
A slight rustle outside caught her attention, and she frowned, annoyed that someone might disturb her so late at night. She thought it might be yet another admirer trying to catch her attention. With an icy expression, she rose to confront the intruder.
But as the approaching presence grew closer, a strange feeling overtook her, her pulse quickening. Her heart recognized something about the presence, even before her mind did.
"Could it be...?"
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened as she ran to the door. She looked up at the dark silhouette descending from the sky—a figure at once unfamiliar and unmistakably familiar. Tears instantly filled her eyes.
Dai Yao, on the other hand, felt his long-numbed heart surge with life as he took in Zhu Zhuqing's stunning beauty. He held back the aura of slaughter he had accumulated in the City of Slaughter and quickly descended to the cabin. But before he even reached the ground, Zhu Zhuqing ran to him, throwing herself into his arms.
Caught off guard, Dai Yao stumbled slightly before wrapping his arms around her. All the words he had intended to say vanished, replaced by a simple, heartfelt phrase.
"I'm back," he murmured softly.
But this simple statement unlocked all of Zhu Zhuqing's pent-up emotions, and she burst into tears, clinging to him even tighter. He hadn't told her a single detail before leaving, and now, two and a half years had passed without any contact. Though she had known the dangers he faced, Dai Yao had always refused to share the full truth with her.
After some time, her tears finally stopped. Gently, Dai Yao wiped away the last traces of her tears. Pressing his forehead to hers, he smiled and teased, "If you keep crying like this, you'll spoil your beauty. Let's go inside—I have something important to discuss with you."
Back inside, Dai Yao glanced around the familiar room, the corners of his lips lifting in a soft smile. But soon, his expression grew serious again.
"Zhuqing, I only have tonight. Tomorrow, I'll need to leave for another six months, so I returned tonight specifically to give you instructions."
At his words, Zhu Zhuqing's heart sank, her smile fading. She forced herself to respond, "Go ahead."
Dai Yao took a deep breath. "After tonight, I need you to stay close to Elder Ghost Douluo. Don't linger in Spirit City for any reason. If anyone tries to keep you here, stay by his side.
"Tell Wutong the same—if something feels off, she must stay close to Elder Third Consecrated. And whatever happens, I need you to leave Spirit City in six months."
He spread a map of the continent on the table, pointing to a small town near Jialing Pass. "When the time comes, wait for me in this village outside Jialing Pass. I'll contact you there. For Wutong, I'm reluctant to disrupt her future—she's done well to earn the appreciation of Blue Luan Douluo and Ling Yuan Douluo in the Spirit Hall."
Zhu Zhuqing listened intently, sensing an underlying tension in Dai Yao's words. It was rare for him to speak with such urgency, hinting at a danger beyond his control. She understood that in the Spirit Hall, only two people held the power to pose such a threat—the Grand Priest and the current Pope herself.
Her eyes turned red as she asked in a low voice, "So you're planning to leave me behind and bear all the risks alone again, aren't you?"
Caught off guard, Dai Yao looked back at her, silent. His lack of response only confirmed her fears.
Pulling him close, Zhu Zhuqing kissed him deeply. When they parted, she whispered, her voice thick with emotion, "It's been over two years. I can't bear to be apart from you any longer. Do you know how much I've suffered in your absence? You always shoulder everything alone, hiding the truth from me."
"I'm your fiancée. We're a team—what could you possibly keep from me?"
"After Sister Yan gave herself to you, I regretted waiting so long—I was here first. Now, after two years, you're leaving again for another six months. I don't want to wait anymore." She looked into his eyes, her cheeks flushed as she spoke her next words with resolve. "I'm yours, Dai Yao."
Dai Yao's eyes widened in surprise before he pulled her close, lifting her into his arms and carrying her toward the bed. "Even if you wanted to change your mind, it's far too late for that now."
For Dai Yao, who had lived without warmth for over two years, Zhu Zhuqing's heartfelt confession, angelic beauty, and fiery passion were an irresistible temptation…
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