Chapter 281: Mutual Salvation
In the secret chamber.
Bibi Dong sat with her head slightly lowered, gazing at Dai Yao, who had fallen into a deep sleep on her lap. Her expression was a mix of emotions. One hand cradled Dai Yao's head, preventing it from slipping, while the other rested gently on his hair.
She maintained this posture like a statue. After a long time, she turned her head slightly and sighed softly, a trace of melancholy in her voice.
Retrieving the mask Dai Yao had once worn while posing as a divine envoy, she held it above his face. In her eyes, the cold, mysterious aura of the "divine envoy" seemed to return for a fleeting moment.
The mask bore a few worn spots, its once-pristine surface dulled by time and wear. Those marks were from her countless nights of running her fingers across it.
But once she discovered the "divine envoy" was Dai Yao's disguise, the person who had so easily dismantled her defenses was gone forever.
Moving the mask aside, her gaze returned to Dai Yao's face. His features, hardened and stoic in wakefulness, were now softened by a rare tranquility in sleep.
Bibi Dong sighed again, this time with a complexity she couldn't quite put into words.
Leaning against the cold stone wall behind her, she closed her eyes and drifted into a light sleep.
The next morning.
When Dai Yao awoke, he felt an unprecedented sense of comfort. Stretching, he instinctively rubbed the soft pillow beneath his head before suddenly freezing, realization dawning on him.
Opening his eyes abruptly, he met Bibi Dong's icy gaze. Her sharp eyes, like twin swords, locked onto his.
"Had a good rest?" she asked flatly.
Dai Yao swallowed nervously. Sitting up quickly, he said, "I'm sorry, Bibi Dong. I slept so soundly that I didn't realize you hadn't woken me up."
He couldn't understand it. Last night, his accumulated killing intent had pushed him to the brink of losing control, leading to his brazen actions. Yet Bibi Dong, fully lucid, had not woken him. Why had she endured this all night?
"I told you yesterday," Bibi Dong said calmly. "Don't overthink it. Your killing intent has almost become tangible. If it isn't alleviated, you'll turn into nothing more than a mindless killing machine."
"If I want to complete my god-level trials, I need your help. And as Pope, I can't watch someone as talented as you, one of the rarest geniuses in Spirit Hall's history, lose themselves to madness."
When Dai Yao rose, the empty space on her lap left Bibi Dong feeling an inexplicable sense of loss.
Looking at Dai Yao's slightly awkward expression, even she didn't notice the faint trace of disappointment flickering in her own heart.
"Well, how's the killing intent now?" she asked, feigning indifference.
Dai Yao took a moment to examine himself. Though there was some improvement, his mood quickly darkened as he replied, "It's better, but as long as I'm in this zombie-infested world, the killing intent will keep growing. Sooner or later, I won't be able to suppress it."
Bibi Dong's fingers tightened subtly, though her face remained impassive. "It seems effective. In that case, you should rest the same way tonight."
Dai Yao froze, staring at her, trying to read her intentions.
In the original story, Bibi Dong's heart belonged solely to Yu Xiaogang. Even after he was with Liu Erlong, her devotion to him never wavered. For her to now suggest something as intimate as letting him rest on her lap—it felt entirely out of character.
In the future, once her trials were complete, would this mean his death?
Taking a deep breath, he shook his head and refused. "Your Holiness, that won't be necessary. You're the Pope, and I am but your subordinate. Such an intimate act crosses a line. I apologize for my rudeness in accepting your offer last night."
"So now I'm 'Your Holiness'?" Bibi Dong sneered, her tone dripping with mockery.
"If you truly respected me as Pope, would you have dared disguise yourself as a divine envoy to deceive me? Over the past month, I haven't seen you treat me as your superior even once."
Her tone turned cold as she added, "If you're worried about the consequences, don't be. As long as you help me complete my god-level trials, I won't hold anything that happens here against you. Moreover, I'll spare the women who follow you."
Her words left Dai Yao with no choice but to relent. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded and said, "As you wish."
Hearing his reluctant agreement, Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes, letting out a faint huff of displeasure. As she prepared to stand, her legs gave out beneath her, and she nearly fell.
Dai Yao, who had been watching her, quickly stepped forward to steady her. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Bibi Dong stamped her foot, trying to regain circulation in her numb legs. "It's nothing," she replied coolly.
Unbeknownst to him, keeping her legs perfectly still all night had left her with severe numbness. In this zombie-infested world, where she was no more than an ordinary human, she had willingly endured such discomfort without waking him.
For Bibi Dong, this physical pain paled in comparison to the emotional agony she had suffered in the past.
Realizing this, Dai Yao fell silent.
A month later.
Another month passed in this bleak world.
One day, around noon, Bibi Dong returned to the secret chamber, supporting a gravely injured Dai Yao.
On his back was a wound so deep that bone was visible, stretching nearly 30 centimeters. Even after fifteen minutes, blood continued to seep from it.
Guilt filled Bibi Dong's otherwise flawless features as she looked at his injury. Dai Yao's condition was entirely her fault.
"Why did you have to provoke such a massive horde of zombies?" Dai Yao muttered weakly, lying across a stone platform.
The platform belonged to the chamber's guardian Douluo. Using it as a resting place made him feel uneasy.
Bibi Dong closed her eyes, her voice faltering as she whispered, "I'm sorry."
For the past month, they had been hunting zombies relentlessly. By now, they had eliminated most of the smaller hordes around the residential area. Recently, however, the numbers had dwindled, and they struggled to meet their daily quotas.
In desperation, Bibi Dong had ventured to attack a larger horde.
But on the very first day, she failed. The entire group of zombies was alerted, triggering an overwhelming tidal wave of undead. If not for Dai Yao exhausting his soul power to save her, she would have perished in that residential zone.
Her expression softened slightly as she asked with concern, "Dai Yao… does your injury… hurt badly?"
Dai Yao exhaled deeply, suppressing the pain from his injuries as he spoke:
"I'll be fine. On the way back, I used my soul power to suppress the wound. Once my soul power recovers, the healing process will accelerate significantly."
Hearing this, Bibi Dong stood and left the Papal Palace. Under Dai Yao's puzzled gaze, she ventured into the nearby forest, gathering firewood. Returning to the secret chamber, she carefully stacked the wood at its center, then used pine needles to ignite a flame.
Moments later, orange flames flickered to life. However, in this zombie-infested world, the firelight appeared unnaturally pale, lacking the comforting warmth of the real world. Still, it was better than nothing.
The secret chamber's sophisticated design included a ventilation mechanism activated by a hidden lever, so there was no concern about a lack of oxygen.
Bibi Dong carefully helped Dai Yao to the fire.
As the warmth of the flames enveloped him, Dai Yao felt a wave of relief wash over him. Even the pain in his back seemed to lessen. He smiled appreciatively.
"Thank you."
Bibi Dong shook her head, staring into the fire. Her gaze carried an inscrutable emotion. After a long silence, she spoke:
"Why… did you save me today?"
Dai Yao was taken aback. He recalled how Bibi Dong had acted recklessly, plunging herself into the zombie horde.
Had she not been surrounded, he might have dared to rescue her with less risk. But under such dire circumstances, even with his full soul power, cutting through the endless horde was nearly impossible.
A rational person wouldn't gamble their life to save Bibi Dong.
But for the past month, Dai Yao had rested on her warm, soft lap each night to suppress his killing intent. Despite the discomfort, she had never woken him, even when her legs went numb.
Whether out of gratitude for her selflessness, concern for those he cared about, or a deep sympathy for her tragic past, Dai Yao had chosen to risk his life.
In truth, he owed some of his success to Bibi Dong. If not for the Snake Spear Douluo she had arranged to teach him spear techniques, he wouldn't have been able to fight his way through the zombie horde without soul power.
Still, the intimacy between them was merely circumstantial—a result of their mutual reliance in this apocalyptic world. Would it endure in the real world?
In reality, Bibi Dong was still the untouchable Pope of Spirit Hall, unwaveringly devoted to the pathetic Yu Xiaogang.
After a brief silence, Dai Yao avoided looking at her face and replied coolly:
"I saved you so the people I care about can live safely."
"For those you care about…"
Bibi Dong softly echoed his words. The flickering firelight danced across her face, casting a playful shadow as if mocking her delusions. The fire's warmth did little to thaw the growing chill in her heart.
Dai Yao, oblivious to her expression, sternly advised, "Tomorrow, you must not act recklessly again. If you're surrounded by zombies, neither of us will make it out alive."
Bibi Dong's voice turned steely as she retorted:
"No. I must go."
"The zombies we can safely hunt in the residential area are all gone. If I want to complete the god trials, I have to take risks!"
Dai Yao's anger flared. "Are you insane? Stop gambling with your life!"
"You don't understand," Bibi Dong replied coldly, her voice like ice from the depths of the abyss.
She slowly stood and walked toward the skeletal remains she had once hurled into the corner of the chamber. Gazing down at the decayed bones, memories of her despair burst forth like a flood, overwhelming her.
Her eyes turned blood-red, brimming with deep-seated hatred. Her expression twisted into one of madness as she raised her leg—encased in violet silk stockings—and brought it down with brutal force. The sharp heel of her high-heeled shoe pierced through the skull.
Yet, even after that, her fury was unabated. She raised her foot again, stomping down repeatedly until the skull was reduced to powder. Through gritted teeth, she growled:
"You don't know what the god trials mean to me. Only by completing them can I… can I take my revenge!"
Ignoring the pain in his back, Dai Yao rose and approached her. Watching her unleash her fury on the bones, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the woman before him.
Bibi Dong had made mistakes, but Qian Xunji's unforgivable actions had crossed every boundary of decency.
Seeing her descent into madness, Dai Yao stepped forward and grabbed her shoulders, locking eyes with her blood-red gaze.
"That's enough. Get a hold of yourself!" he commanded.
But Bibi Dong, consumed by her emotions, shouted back: "Who are you to tell me what to do?!"
Left with no choice, Dai Yao pulled her into a tight embrace, hoping to calm her down.
Even in his arms, Bibi Dong continued to struggle, but he spoke gently:
"It's over. Stop tormenting yourself."
His words made her freeze. Her wide eyes slowly softened, and after a moment, muffled sobs emerged from her trembling body.
For over two decades, Bibi Dong had endured unimaginable pain—betrayed by the man she loved, violated by the teacher she once respected, and consumed by her unrelenting desire for revenge.
With no family, estranged from her own daughter, and surrounded by deceit, she bore the weight of her grief and hatred alone.
Dai Yao's simple words shattered the fortress she had built around her heart.
Tears flowed freely as years of suppressed emotions erupted like a dam breaking.
She was certain Dai Yao didn't know her past, believing his words were a mere coincidence that struck a chord. Yet no one else had ever dared speak to her so candidly.
In the zombie-infested world, stripped of her lofty status, she had found a rare moment of equality.
Perhaps it was exhaustion, or perhaps it was the trust inspired by the "divine envoy" she once believed in. Whatever the reason, Bibi Dong fell asleep in Dai Yao's arms, her defenses completely lowered.
Looking at the sleeping woman, so vulnerable and at peace, Dai Yao remained silent.
"Let her rest. She deserves at least one good night's sleep after this month."
The next morning.
Bibi Dong awoke slowly, feeling unusually refreshed. It was as though she had slept in the warmest embrace.
As she opened her eyes, a strange sensation behind her made her bolt upright. Turning, she saw Dai Yao lying nearby.
Her eyes widened in shock, her gaze locking onto him.
(Chapter End)
Friends, if you enjoyed the novel, you can subscribe to my Patreon channel.
Until November 30th, get 30% off your subscription and the purchase of the novel.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Canserbero10