Chapter 282: But Just a Fleeting Dream
Seeing Dai Yao leaning against the wall in a deep sleep, Bibi Dong inspected her clothes and found nothing out of place. As she looked back at him, a softer expression flickered across her eyes. She realized that, in looking after her, he had also held her close all night without moving, just as she had done for him before.
Her long-frozen heart felt the warmth of a rare and unexpected glow.
Biting her lip, she lifted her bloodstained yet fair hand, as if to gently brush aside the stray locks on Dai Yao's forehead. But just as she reached out, she noticed his eyelids twitch, signaling he was about to wake up. Her heart skipped a beat, and her expression quickly reverted to its usual coldness. The hand that intended to brush his hair instead turned to lightly pat his face as she said in a stern tone, "Time to wake up."
Dai Yao opened his eyes, still groggy with sleep. As he scratched his head, Bibi Dong's icy tone immediately brought him to full alert. Observing her usual dignified demeanor now, so different from the vulnerable state he'd seen last night, he relaxed and thought to himself, "Thank goodness, she's back to normal."
"So you think I was 'abnormal' yesterday?" Bibi Dong asked coolly. Yet despite her tone, a subtle warmth touched her heart upon realizing his first thoughts upon waking were of her well-being.
"No, no…" Dai Yao stammered, waving his hands in denial. He observed Bibi Dong again and, with a steadying breath, asked, "Are you planning to take on another large horde of zombies today?"
"Yes." Bibi Dong nodded, glancing over at him and, in an unexpectedly gentle voice, added, "You're injured. You shouldn't go today. I'll be careful on my own."
Dai Yao sighed, and Bibi Dong, noticing his hesitation, furrowed her brow and asked, "Is there something you want to say?"
After a brief pause, Dai Yao spoke, "I thought of a way that could let you hunt zombies more safely and quickly."
"What way?" Hearing this, Bibi Dong's heart softened, her curiosity piqued. Even if Dai Yao's motivation was to keep his loved ones safe, he'd spent all night devising a way to help her.
"Do you remember the weapon Tang San used during the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament?" Dai Yao replied, his voice firm.
Bibi Dong paused, recalling how Tang San had used a crossbow-like device to attack the Oakland team during the tournament. She instantly understood Dai Yao's idea, though she frowned and replied, "You mean to use that kind of weapon? But isn't it a soul tool? With the little soul power you can access here, a few attacks would exhaust you."
Dai Yao shook his head. "No, it's not a soul tool; it's a regular weapon that doesn't rely on soul power. Despite being a conventional weapon, it has the power to take down a Soul Elder. Against zombies, it would mow them down like a scythe through wheat."
"It's perfect for our situation."
Last night, as Dai Yao pondered every possible method to help Bibi Dong, the idea of Tang San's hidden weapons had come to him. Although hesitant to mention it—after all, these weapons were part of what helped the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan survive in the original story—he knew that without taking this risk, Bibi Dong might end up in a fatal situation, altering the fate of countless others, including his loved ones. Ultimately, he chose to reveal his idea to her.
Listening to Dai Yao's suggestion, Bibi Dong felt a flicker of joy, though she understood his reluctance. This insight dampened her excitement somewhat, and she replied calmly, "Then let's not waste time. Send me out right away. Those weapons were confiscated after the tournament. I'll retrieve them and return tonight."
"Alright," Dai Yao agreed, and just as he prepared to summon the power of the Chaos Green Lotus to transport them back to reality, Bibi Dong unexpectedly spoke again.
"Wait…"
He stopped, looking back at her to see what she had to say.
Her lips moved slightly, as if she were wrestling with herself. After a long breath, she resumed her dignified composure and said, "You should return to the real world too. I'll have someone attend to your injuries. A day of rest should be enough for you to recover."
Looking into Bibi Dong's deep, enigmatic eyes, Dai Yao smiled lightly and replied, "Thank you."
With that, he activated the Green Lotus, and in an instant, both figures disappeared from the zombie realm.
Back in reality, Bibi Dong took a long, cleansing bath. As she gazed at her flawless reflection in the mirror, a faint sigh escaped her lips. It was this same beauty, coupled with her high status, that had attracted countless pests into her life and led her to such bitter ends.
In the mirror, fleeting shadows of different men crossed her memory.
The refined and intellectual Yu Xiaogang, deeply absorbed in his studies… the proper, polite Yu Xiaogang during their passionate love… the ruthless, heartless Yu Xiaogang who left her without a backward glance…
And finally, the mature Yu Xiaogang in his later years, standing beside another woman—a familiar figure, his cousin Liu Erlong—brazenly flaunting their happiness before her.
Once, this man had been Bibi Dong's only hope for survival in her darkest moments. Despite their opposing paths, she had always tried to protect him from the shadows. But then, the mentor she had so deeply revered appeared, wearing a sinister smile as he personally cast her into hell.
No amount of begging or promises could change Qian Xunji's mind. In the end, after giving birth to that "child of sin," she dragged her broken body back to the world, tainted and betrayed.
No matter how Yu Xiaogang might truly be, in her heart, he was still that pure, youthful figure she'd once admired. She had etched his image into her memory—not only as the pillar that had kept her going, but as a silent defiance against Qian Xunji: You may have taken my body, but you will never have my heart.
This resentment extended to the Angel Clan as well, who she vowed one day to completely erase from the continent. It was this obsession with vengeance that had carried her to where she was now.
But today, a new figure began to emerge, unsettling the once steadfast image of that young man in her heart. A golden-haired youth, brimming with vitality and strength, was slowly taking root there…
Time passed swiftly.
Bibi Dong's brief return caused quite a stir within the Papal Palace. However, she merely conducted a brief assessment of Hu Liena's progress, checked on the status of her training to purge the accumulated killing intent, and offered a few words of encouragement. Then she issued orders to retrieve the weapons Tang San had used, which had been confiscated by the Spirit Hall.
With the Pope's command, none dared delay. Within moments, five of Tang San's Zhuge Divine Crossbows, along with their ammunition, were located. After testing them briefly, Bibi Dong confirmed Dai Yao's claim—the crossbows indeed required no spirit power to operate.
Yet, she remembered there had been six crossbows during the Oakland battle. Now, only five were here. She frowned, and immediately, the soul master responsible for overseeing the weapons hurriedly explained.
It turned out that someone from the Blacksmith's Guild had paid a high price to acquire one of the crossbows.
Her eyes coldly scanning the arrows, Bibi Dong mused aloud before giving orders: "If these blacksmiths dared to meddle with Spirit Hall's property, they will need to make amends. They will forge a hundred thousand matching bolts for these crossbows within a month and deliver them to me, and I will forgive their trespass."
She continued, "As I recall, Tang Hao is among their so-called divine blacksmiths, and the subordinate clan of the Clear Sky Clan—the Strength Clan—boasts of their divine smithing skills as well."
"Yue Guan," she said, "visit the Blacksmith's Guild daily."
She paused, letting her meaning settle in. "Apply the necessary pressure, ensure they stay focused on the task, and bring back the bolts they complete each day."
Chrysanthemum Douluo might not have understood her full intention, but he knew he must carry out her orders meticulously. Meanwhile, the soul master in charge of guarding the crossbows exhaled in relief, thankful to have narrowly escaped death. With Bibi Dong's former temperament, he'd have been doomed.
On the other side, Dai Yao, restraining the killing intent within him, healed quickly under the care of a support-type soul master. By dusk, the two returned to the zombie realm as planned.
Seeing each other arrive almost at the same time, they exchanged a knowing smile. Bibi Dong handed Dai Yao a storage ring, asking, "How is your injury?"
Dai Yao moved his shoulder slightly and replied easily, "Much better."
Drawing on his soul power, Dai Yao took out the Zhuge Divine Crossbows and their matching bolts. After inspecting them, a glint of satisfaction flashed in his blood-colored eyes. "Just as I thought."
The Zhuge Divine Crossbow was one of the most iconic hidden weapons from the original story, used by Tang San against the Man-Faced Demon Spider, the Fiend Team, and finally the Dark Devilgod Tiger. Dai Yao had made up his mind—after completing the Rakshasa God Trial, he'd keep one for himself, just in case he encountered the Dark Devilgod Tiger one day.
Bibi Dong added, "I've ordered the Blacksmith's Guild to make a hundred thousand bolts. They'll deliver a batch each day, so I'll need to return to the real world daily."
The number of arrows corresponded to the zombies in the residential district. Given the Zhuge Divine Crossbows' power, each bolt could potentially take out multiple zombies. They likely wouldn't need the full hundred thousand.
Hearing this, Dai Yao smiled. "Perfect. Now we don't have to worry about running out of ammo. Tomorrow's zombie hunt will be like an old-fashioned firing squad."
"A… firing squad?" Bibi Dong looked at him, puzzled.
Dai Yao froze, unsure how to explain this term from his former life. After a moment, he said, "You'll see tomorrow."
As night fell, a drowsy calm enveloped them.
Bibi Dong spread out a blanket from the real world onto the floor of the chamber, knelt on it with her graceful, long legs folded beneath her, and patted her lap. "Time to sleep."
Her expression soft and serene, Bibi Dong seemed almost gentle as she looked at him. Dai Yao paused, swallowing hard as a surge of warmth stirred within him. He couldn't deny the feelings that had been steadily growing since their time together in this world.
Yet he knew his place. He pushed the desires aside, approached her, and rested his head gently on her lap, allowing this to soothe the raging killing intent within him and keep his mind from slipping into madness.
As he drifted off, peering up at her from the space between her collar, he caught a fleeting, barely visible smile on her lips.
The following day, Dai Yao and Bibi Dong began their hunt. With Dai Yao loading the bolts and Bibi Dong pulling the trigger, they initiated their "firing squad" of zombies. Bolt after bolt flew from the crossbow, and rows of zombies fell like wheat before a scythe.
Despite the Zhuge Divine Crossbow's power, it wasn't enough to completely overpower the onslaught of zombies, so Dai Yao and Bibi Dong fought cautiously, retreating as necessary to maintain a safe distance while eliminating the undead. In just a single day, they managed to kill over three hundred zombies—despite running out of ammunition. With a full supply of arrows, their daily tally could easily reach a thousand kills.
Today's success left Bibi Dong deeply pleased, eagerly anticipating the next day's delivery of arrows to continue what Dai Yao had dubbed "firing squad mode." She found the phrase surprisingly apt.
However, that night brought an unexpected surprise for Dai Yao. Unlike the previous evenings, where Bibi Dong prepared for him to rest on her lap, she simply walked over to him and said, "Hold me while we sleep," before closing her eyes.
Momentarily stunned, Dai Yao then realized her intention: alternating nights, one evening he'd rest on her lap, the next she'd rest in his embrace. So, he gently gathered her up, bringing her to the makeshift bed on the floor, his arms around her as they drifted to sleep.
Time flowed by. The six months passed swiftly.
With the help of the Zhuge Divine Crossbows, nearly all the zombies had been eradicated. Only a few hundred remained, which would be completely eliminated by the next day, ending the infestation in the residential district once and for all.
Dai Yao and Bibi Dong's relationship had grown closer without them even noticing. No, it was more than closeness; they had developed an unspoken harmony. Their teamwork during battles had become seamless. After each day of killing and collecting crystals from the zombies' heads, they'd share a meal and rest. One night, Dai Yao would rest on her lap; the next, Bibi Dong would lie in his arms.
Though Dai Yao's murderous aura was kept in check, after five months, he could no longer fully suppress it. And as they lay together, he felt his desire steadily growing, threatening his control. [Omitted details]. Though Bibi Dong said nothing, Dai Yao knew his limits.
He knew what he could and could not do.
That night, the scent of blood from nearly a thousand kills filled the air, and the intensity of his own impulses was close to overwhelming him. His breathing grew heavier as the bloodlust took hold, his red eyes filled with a smoldering, dangerous desire.
At that moment, his hands [omitted details]...
Suddenly, Bibi Dong's tightly closed eyes flew open, and her gaze was icy.
In her mind, Dai Yao's actions echoed the past, bringing back the trauma of Qian Xunji's abuse. Was he not, at this moment, imposing himself upon her?
Yet, as she was about to push him away, Dai Yao, rather than advancing further, pulled back. She watched him intently as he wrestled to control his desires, his body trembling with the effort. Though caught between desire and the murderous aura raging within him, he finally managed to retreat, stumbling back.
"Sorry," he whispered through clenched teeth, his forehead breaking into a cold sweat as he managed to utter those words before practically fleeing her side, as if she were some kind of avenging demon.
Dai Yao's response shook Bibi Dong to her core.
She knew the immense toll the murderous aura took on him, making it difficult, if not impossible, to hold onto reason. Her own attachment to his warmth had led to this moment. She also knew that her presence had an undeniable allure for men, yet Dai Yao had ultimately restrained himself—a stark contrast to Qian Xunji's unrestrained cruelty.
Dai Yao's respect warmed her deeply.
The once-stable image of Yu Xiaogang in her heart wavered. Dai Yao's presence, on the other hand, seemed to rise steadily, taking a place of growing importance.
Pretending indifference to mask her conflicted emotions, she said coolly, "I'll let you off this once. Try that again, and I'll kill you myself."
Dai Yao nodded in agreement.
Seeing him still struggling, she softened, her voice gentle. "Just one more day. Hold on a bit longer. Here, rest on my lap—it might help soothe you."
Dai Yao hesitated before he finally lay his head down on her lap. The warmth and softness quelled some of the darkness stirring within him.
The next day arrived.
They had vanquished the entire horde, all one hundred thousand zombies. Each crystal had been collected, and all of them now lay in Bibi Dong's possession.
It was time to leave this desolate world.
Standing in the gray, barren landscape of Spirit City, Bibi Dong gazed out over the place with a hint of melancholy in her eyes. It was hard to tell if her sentiment was directed at this world itself or at something—or someone—else. After a moment, she sighed quietly, saying, "Let's go…"
Casting one last look at the chamber where they had lived for six months, Dai Yao felt a wave of nostalgia. From this day forward, Bibi Dong would return to being the revered, aloof Pope, and he would be the star pupil who had defected from the Star Luo Empire.
Between them lay an impassable chasm—perhaps it had all been nothing more than a foolish dream on his part.
With a resigned smile, Dai Yao nodded in agreement, activating his Chaos Lotus. The two vanished from the zombie world, never to return.
In the real world, in the dim light of the Spirit Hall's hidden chamber, two figures suddenly reappeared.
Dai Yao looked over at Bibi Dong, now once again wearing her regal purple gown, every inch the graceful, powerful, and dignified Pope. A sudden ache struck him, and he bowed his head, dropping to one knee.
"Congratulations, Your Holiness, on completing the first trial."
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