Chapter 279: The Game with Bibi Dong
Sunlight streamed through the wooden cabin, causing Dai Yao to frown and squint as he instinctively raised a hand to block the light. As the drowsiness gradually left him, he turned his head and found Zhu Zhuqing's serene, beautiful face inches away, still carrying a hint of last night's intensity.
"...Don't worry, Zhuqing. I'll make sure there's a future for us."
With that silent promise, Dai Yao carefully got up, taking care not to wake Zhu Zhuqing. He dressed, quietly shut the cabin door behind him, and, with a beat of his eight wings, soared towards Spirit City.
Gazing at the vast landscape below, his expression grew heavy. Today, he was to join Bibi Dong for the next six months in the zombie world to complete the God Trial. Failure was not an option; the consequences would be severe.
Little did he know, Zhu Zhuqing had already woken.
Standing by the window, she watched Dai Yao disappear into the horizon, her eyes reddening as tears fell silently. She understood he was leaving to face danger, and yet there was nothing she could do to help. This helplessness, a haunting echo of her life in the Star Luo Empire, was painfully familiar.
Dai Yao bore everything on his own, leaving her with no choice but to fulfill her duty as his fiancée and offer him her warmth to ease his burdens. She had felt the cold, chilling killing intent he exuded the previous night—something that had even made her, the Nether Empress, shiver. His journey in the City of Slaughter had clearly been nothing short of brutal.
"Dai Yao, please... come back safely," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
As he vanished, Zhu Zhuqing's four maids—Peacock, and the others—emerged from the shadows, wistfully watching the place where he had disappeared. During his absence, Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong would return each night, but the maids had felt that something was missing. A single year with Dai Yao had left a deep impression on them, and they too had missed him.
Yesterday, they had almost approached Zhu Zhuqing when they saw her reaction to his arrival, but Peacock had discreetly held them back. Their master and mistress deserved their time together. Only now, in the morning, had they come to greet Dai Yao—only to find he was already gone.
Sighing as one, they shared a feeling of regret. As they turned to look at Zhu Zhuqing, they stopped short, shocked at what they saw.
Dressed in slightly disheveled clothing, Zhu Zhuqing's snowy skin glowed faintly, her flawless face touched with a soft flush. Gone was the high, unapproachable coldness, replaced by a newfound warmth. Watching her lean by the window, they could almost feel the love and longing she radiated.
For a brief moment, all four maids felt a pang of bittersweet jealousy. They understood; it was the unmistakable look of someone who had finally, truly found happiness.
Peacock, her gaze softening, stepped forward. "Mistress... did the master visit you last night?"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, wiping away her tears. "Yes, but he's leaving again for another six months. I won't see him until then."
Her words left them momentarily speechless. Each of them felt a deep pang of sadness. Dai Yao had returned, yet only for a single night, without even the chance to exchange a word with them.
Zhu Zhuqing, sensing their disappointment, gathered herself and instructed, "You all should focus on your training while he's gone. Peacock, you're nearing the rank of Soul Emperor—don't let your progress falter now."
Nodding, they each acknowledged her words and withdrew to continue their own cultivation. After dismissing them, Zhu Zhuqing looked out at the waterfall and felt a fierce determination rise within her.
"Dai Yao, I know you want to let Wutong be free. But everything she has is because of you. I won't let her leave you so easily. Besides, would someone like her stay in Spirit Hall without you?"
Her lips curved into a faint smile at the thought.
At the Spirit Hall's grand cathedral, Bibi Dong and Hu Liena stood alone. Gazing at her disciple, Bibi Dong spoke softly.
"Nana, I'll be leaving Spirit Hall for six months. As Saintess, you'll be responsible for my duties until I return."
"Teacher, I just became the Saintess... isn't this too soon?" Hu Liena's eyes widened in surprise.
Bibi Dong inwardly scoffed. If not for Dai Yao, she would not have entrusted Hu Liena with such a heavy responsibility so soon. Yet, she composed herself and gently patted Hu Liena's shoulder.
"Nana, as Saintess, you must eventually take on these duties. It may be challenging, but maintaining Spirit Hall's operations isn't too hard."
"I've also assigned four Titled Douluo elders to assist you. With their help, it will be easier for you to manage Spirit Hall in my absence."
Encouraged by her teacher's words, Hu Liena felt reassured and nodded resolutely. This would be a test of her capabilities, and she was determined not to disappoint.
Moreover, with the authority of the Pope, she might finally find the elusive Shura Emperor.
For days, she had combed through the Spirit Hall's entire registry of spirit masters, hoping to find even a trace of him. Yet her search had been fruitless; there was no record matching his description. But now, with more authority, she felt hopeful.
Seeing Hu Liena's nod, Bibi Dong's expression softened.
"Nana, you still carry the residual killing intent from the City of Slaughter. To fully control the Killing God domain, you must purify your mind. I'll assign four spirit masters skilled in calming techniques to assist you during meditation. They'll help you eliminate this killing intent."
"This journey of inner confrontation will be long and arduous. Be prepared," Bibi Dong cautioned.
"I won't let you down, Teacher!" Hu Liena replied with determination.
Seeing her disciple's spirited confidence, Bibi Dong's expression softened. "It's a heavy load to carry, Nana. You'll have to manage the demanding duties of the Pope while also purging the killing intent from within you."
"It's no trouble at all, Teacher," Hu Liena answered. "I only wish for your safe return."
Bibi Dong gave a small smile, touched to have someone who truly cared. "All right, Nana, go now and focus on dispelling your killing intent."
As Hu Liena left the grand hall of the Pope's Palace, she unexpectedly saw Dai Yao approaching from a distance. Her confidence, which had been shattered after her defeat by him, had been rebuilt in the City of Slaughter. Now that she had the Killing God Domain, she felt a powerful urge to fight him once more—not only to redeem herself but to close this chapter of her trials.
With a smile, she called out, "Dai Yao!"
A knowing smirk played on her lips, her captivating Fox Spirit aura subtly radiating. Those familiar with her knew this meant she'd set her sights on a worthy opponent. To strangers, she appeared cold and untouchable.
To her surprise, however, Dai Yao walked straight past her, exuding an unapproachable aura, and continued toward the Pope's Palace without so much as a glance in her direction.
Watching him walk away, Hu Liena felt a strange feeling stir within her—not anger, but intrigue.
"Teacher is leaving tomorrow… but why summon Dai Yao now? Could her departure have something to do with him?"
Her brow furrowed in thought, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't fathom the connection between Dai Yao and Bibi Dong.
"Forget it," she muttered to herself. "Probably just a regular summons. Besides, I have my own task to focus on—finding that stone-hearted Shura Emperor who didn't even bother to leave me his name!"
Still grumbling, she headed to the Hall of Records to continue her search among the spirit master registries.
Inside the Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong's tone was icy as she asked, "Are you ready?"
Dai Yao nodded grimly. "Let's start, Your Holiness. Time is of the essence."
Bibi Dong's expression grew colder. If not for him, her divine trial wouldn't have become this pressing ordeal. With a disdainful curl of her lip, she lifted her staff and said, "Follow me."
Under Bibi Dong's lead, Dai Yao wound through a series of corridors until they reached a secret chamber. Though he knew these halls well from his time in the zombie world, their sanctified grandeur in this reality left him awestruck, starkly contrasting the other realm's bleakness.
As they stood before the massive chamber door, a surge of emotions stirred within Dai Yao. This was his first time in the real-world counterpart of the secret room he had often ventured into during the trial.
"What's wrong? Afraid to enter? You seemed perfectly comfortable in this chamber as the 'Divine Emissary,'" Bibi Dong remarked with biting sarcasm, her expression reflecting her simmering anger at his deception.
"No… not afraid," Dai Yao muttered through clenched teeth as he stepped into the chamber. The moment he entered, his gaze was drawn to the skeleton on the stone throne. Seeing Qian Xunji's remains in reality carried a strange weight.
"Ah… the skeleton of the once-great Douluo…" Dai Yao thought to himself.
"If you fail the divine trial," Bibi Dong's voice came cold and sharp, "your fate will be no different from that of this skeleton."
Her icy stare pierced Dai Yao, filling him with dread. He had no choice but to succeed—for himself and for those he held dear, Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong included.
Noting the steely resolve in his expression, Bibi Dong nodded approvingly. "To maximize our time killing zombies, we'll remain in the zombie world for the full six months, minimizing contact with this reality as much as possible."
She leaned closer, her voice dripping with menace. "And remember, during the trial, my strength will be limited. You may be stronger than I am there, but don't think you can use that to leverage me. Fail to bring me back, and Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong will pay the price."
"...And the entire Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan won't be spared either."
The divine trials were rare opportunities, and Bibi Dong was unwilling to forfeit the chance to complete the Rakshasa trial. Dai Yao's actions in the City of Slaughter proved he was emotionally driven; with Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong as leverage, along with the fate of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, he would be forced to comply.
Dai Yao seethed, barely containing his fury. He was tired of her threats against those he cared about. Each concession he made only emboldened her further. Gritting his teeth, he finally spoke, his voice laden with meaning.
"Your Holiness, I trust you'll honor your word."
"Of course. Now, let's not waste any more time. Begin the Rakshasa trial," she commanded, her voice imperious as ever.
Suppressing his anger, Dai Yao activated the powers of the Chaos Green Lotus in his mind. As the lotus flickered to life, he and Bibi Dong vanished from the chamber, embarking on their shared ordeal.
The Zombie World, in the hidden chamber.
Dai Yao's vision grew dim as the chilling, malevolent aura of the Rakshasa's divine trial seeped into his bones. The foul energy was strikingly similar to that of the Slaughter City, intensifying the bloodlust simmering within him. Just stepping into this world made him eager to begin.
"Well, then, go take down those undead creatures, and make sure to bring me the crystals," Bibi Dong said, wrinkling her brow as she approached the stone throne, sweeping away the skeletal remains with a careless flick. Seated now with her hand resting on the armrest and holding her Pope's scepter, she looked coldly at Dai Yao.
Momentarily pulled out of his killing intent by her remark, Dai Yao blinked, his voice low with disbelief, "Your Holiness, are you not going to join me? Do you mean for me to hunt the zombies alone?"
"Of course." Bibi Dong's tone was one of unquestionable authority as she leaned on the throne, her eyes distant.
To complete three years' worth of tasks in just six months was no simple feat. If Dai Yao accidentally provoked a horde, even his spirit powers might not be enough to save him. Frustrated by Bibi Dong's indifference, Dai Yao felt anger ignite within him, and he growled, "Bibi Dong!"
His shout echoed through the chamber, catching Bibi Dong slightly off guard. She remained unperturbed, though she sensed the sheer bloodlust emanating from him, recalling that he, unlike her, hadn't yet purged his killing intent from the Slaughter City. If pushed far enough, he could very well lose control.
"This trial is yours," Dai Yao seethed. "You expect me to handle it all alone? If you're so indifferent to your own divine trial, then why not give it up altogether?"
The fierceness in his eyes struck Bibi Dong, and after a pause, she slowly stood and walked over to him, locking her gaze with his. "Do you think I'd be in this situation if not for you? The trial would be done by now if you hadn't interfered."
Were it not for his interference, her first trial would have long been completed. She wouldn't be here now, wasting time hunting zombies.
Her accusation made Dai Yao laugh, the sound reverberating in the dark chamber. When he finally stopped, he fixed her with a glare and replied, "Think about it, Your Holiness. From the very first night I joined the Spirit Hall, did you ever truly treat me with any sincerity? Even if I was just another soldier, did you ever show me even a fraction of the respect you give to Hu Liena, or even Yan and Xie Yue?"
"Did you ever?" he demanded, breathing heavily. "No. On my first night, you tried to pry my secrets from me, and when that didn't work, you sent Hu Liena to charm me, to make me willingly become a weapon for her. But even that wasn't enough for you."
"I turned my back on the Star Luo Empire, on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. I have no other options now. You could've treated me like a regular recruit, and I would have gladly fought for the Spirit Hall. But instead, you employed deceit at every turn. You even planted that crafty maid, Du Juan, among my servants!"
Dai Yao's eyes flashed with bitterness. "I don't know why I can access your Rakshasa trial or why I retained some of my powers there, but after all you put me through, I saw no harm in making you suffer a little in return."
"And these past two and a half years, was it my choice to be away?" he continued, his voice harsh. "It was you who manipulated me into protecting Hu Liena in the Slaughter City, risking my life to ensure she completed her trial. You could've been direct about it instead of forcing me into a corner with threats."
Dai Yao's breathing grew labored as he finished, his rage and frustration boiling over. Ordinarily, he would have swallowed his pride to protect those he cared about. But here in the zombie world, his lingering bloodlust pushed him to vent every grievance he'd bottled up for years.
His words struck Bibi Dong like thunder, each one hammering into her chest. His despair mirrored the hopelessness she'd once felt in this very chamber, that helpless sensation of watching herself descend further into darkness with no way out.
After the trials she'd endured here, she'd abandoned all faith in genuine emotion, using manipulation as her only means of control. Ironically, those very tactics had brought her trial to this dire point.
"Fine!" she said suddenly. "If we're to hunt zombies, we'll do it together!"
As Bibi Dong struggled to process her thoughts, Dai Yao grasped her arm and pulled her forward. Momentarily off-balance, she trailed him wordlessly, her mind replaying the image of his bloodshot, despairing eyes.
The memory of the comfort she once felt in his arms softened her resistance. For reasons she didn't fully understand, she followed him without objection, letting him lead her through the twisting halls and into the world overrun by the undead…
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