Clearing misunderstanding

The morning sun cast long shadows across the marble floors of the Spirit Hall as Bibi Dong made her way through the familiar corridors, each step echoing with memories of before that incident. After a night of profound introspection and the first peaceful sleep she had experienced in years, she felt a clarity of purpose that had been absent from her life for far too long. Today, she would confront the past that had shaped her into the person she had become, and perhaps begin the difficult process of reshaping herself into who she truly wanted to be.

Her destination was the Worship Hall, that sacred sanctuary where the most powerful figures in the Spirit Hall hierarchy convened to make decisions that would affect the entire continent. It was a place she had entered countless times before, but always with different motivations—sometimes seeking approval, sometimes delivering reports, and in recent years, often harboring barely concealed hostility toward those she held responsible for her suffering.

As she approached the imposing doors, Bibi Dong reflected on the revelation that had struck her with such force the previous night. She had sworn to destroy the Angel lineage completely, to make them pay for the crimes she believed they had collectively committed against her. But now, with the fog of hatred lifted from her mind, she understood that this burning desire for wholesale destruction had been nothing more than a manifestation of her hatred toward one specific individual—Qian Xunji.

The realization brought with it a complex mixture of emotions. There was relief in finally understanding the true source of her anger, but also shame at how long she had allowed that misdirected rage to consume her life and poison her relationships with other. The Angel lineage as a whole bore no responsibility for Qian Xunji's heinous actions, yet she had spent years planning their annihilation as if they were all equally guilty.

Speaking of Qian Xunji, there was absolutely no possibility that Qian Daoliu remained ignorant of what had transpired. The Grand Worshiper was far too perceptive and well-informed to be unaware of his son's fate, particularly given the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and the dramatic shift in Bibi Dong's behavior afterward. This knowledge created an unspoken tension that had lingered between them for years, a sword of Damocles hanging over every interaction they shared.

Even one would wondered why Qian Daoliu had chosen to allow her to live after she had killed his son. The most logical explanation was that he understood, perhaps better than anyone, the devastating impact that Bibi Dong's death would have on Qian Renxue. Either Qian Daoliu genuinely didn't want his granddaughter to lose her mother, regardless of the complicated nature of their relationship, or perhaps he was deeply ashamed of what Qian Xunji had done and felt that sparing Bibi Dong was a form of justice—or at least a gesture of acknowledgment that his son had brought his fate upon himself.

Not only had Qian Daoliu spared her life, but he had also elevated her to the position of Pontiff, a role that placed her among the most powerful individuals on the continent.

However, Qian Daoliu had never been entirely comfortable with Bibi Dong's presence in the Spirit Hall, particularly when it came to matters concerning Qian Renxue's safety. After Qian Xunji's death, Bibi Dong's very existence had emanated a malevolent aura that seemed to disturb the Angel spirit itself. This spiritual discord had created an atmosphere of constant tension, with Qian Daoliu remaining perpetually vigilant for any sign that Bibi Dong might direct her hatred toward his beloved granddaughter.

But now, as Bibi Dong approached the sacred chamber where Qian Daoliu spent most of his time in meditation and cultivation, he experienced something that shocked him to his very core. The abnormal malice that had radiated from Bibi Dong for so many years—that dark, oppressive energy that had made the Angel spirit recoil in distress—had completely vanished. In its place was something he hadn't felt from her in decades: genuine peace.

This transformation should have been cause for celebration, but instead, it made Bibi Dong even more mysterious and unpredictable in Qian Daoliu's mind. What could have caused such a dramatic shift in her spiritual state? Was this some kind of elaborate deception, a new strategy in whatever long-term plan she might be hatching? Or had something genuinely fundamental changed within her soul?

When Bibi Dong finally entered the Worship Hall, the two most powerful figures in the Spirit Hall faced each other across a space that seemed charged with years of unspoken accusations, guilt, and carefully maintained diplomatic facades. Qian Daoliu's voice, when he finally spoke, carried all the weight of their complicated history.

"What do you want now, Bibi Dong?" The words themselves seemed neutral enough, but anyone with even basic sensitivity to spiritual energy could feel the undercurrent of anger and wariness that colored each syllable. It was the voice of a man who had grown weary of managing a dangerous subordinate while protecting the people he cared about from potential collateral damage.

Bibi Dong's response carried none of the barely contained hostility that had characterized their previous interactions. Instead, her voice held a respectful tone that hadn't been present in their conversations for many years. "Greetings, Grand Worshiper. I have come with a small request, and also something important that I need to say."

The formal courtesy in her address caught Qian Daoliu off guard, but years of experience in dealing with political intrigue had taught him to remain cautious when people changed their behavior patterns so dramatically. "Bibi Dong, I sincerely hope you're not here to make another outrageous request that will complicate an already delicate situation."

"Please don't worry, Grand Worshiper. I'm here to inform you that I need to take a leave of absence—four years should be sufficient. I want to travel throughout the continent to clear my mind and gain some perspective on my life. During my absence, you can arrange for a substitute Pope to handle the day-to-day operations of the Spirit Hall."

This request was so completely unexpected that Qian Daoliu found himself momentarily speechless. Bibi Dong voluntarily stepping away from power? The woman who had seemed to live and breathe political maneuvering and the accumulation of influence was asking to abandon her position for years at a time? It was almost impossible to believe.

"Fine," he said after a long pause, still trying to process this unprecedented development. "Your request is granted. It would actually be quite beneficial if you could handle some diplomatic commissions along the way—there are always delicate situations that require someone of your capabilities to resolve."

But Bibi Dong wasn't finished. Taking a deep breath that seemed to draw strength from some deep reservoir of courage, she continued with words that would forever change the dynamic between them.

"And there's one more thing I need to say, something that has been weighing on my conscience for far too long. I want you to know that I killed Qian Xunji, and I don't regret that decision. I understand now that my choice to follow Yu Xiaogang instead of remaining loyal to the Spirit Hall that raised me was foolish and ultimately self-destructive. BUT—" Her voice rose to a shout that echoed through the sacred chamber, carrying with it years of suppressed pain and rage. "QIAN XUNJI, WHO I HAD IDEALIZED AS A FATHER FIGURE, COMMITTED SUCH A HEINOUS ACT AGAINST HIS OWN DISCIPLE! I COULDN'T ENDURE THAT MALICE, WHICH LED ME TO DEVELOP A HATRED FOR YOUR ENTIRE ANGEL LINEAGE! I BECAME CONSUMED WITH THOUGHTS OF HOW SUCH VILE ACTS COULD BE COMMITTED BY SOMEONE WHO POSSESSED SUCH A SUPPOSEDLY NOBLE SPIRIT!"

The raw emotion in her voice was undeniable, and Qian Daoliu found himself witnessing something he had never expected to see—Bibi Dong's genuine vulnerability. She continued, her voice breaking with emotion that had been bottled up for decades.

"That's why I've been harboring such deep resentment against all of you for so long. But after my recent enlightenment, I've come to realize that what Qian Xunji did cannot and should not be attributed to Qian Renxue, no—to my Xue'er. I know that even now, she must hate me with every fiber of her being, but my resentment overwhelmed my motherly love for so many years. I hope you can find it in your heart to call Xue'er back to the Spirit Hall. I don't deserve to be called a mother after everything I've done, but I can no longer ignore the longing I feel for my child."

Qian Daoliu was absolutely stunned by this transformation. Never in his wildest imagination had he expected to see the day when this proud, arrogant woman who had seemed incapable of any emotion other than cold cruelty would break down in tears and beg for the chance to reconnect with her daughter. While he wouldn't have been particularly surprised to hear her admit to killing Xunji—he had suspected as much for years—what shocked him to his core was witnessing Bibi Dong openly weeping about her suppressed maternal feelings.

In that moment of raw honesty, Qian Daoliu realized that he was finally seeing the true Bibi Dong—the woman she had been before tragedy and betrayal had twisted her into someone unrecognizable. If it hadn't been for Xunji's unconscionable actions, she never would have been driven to become the cruel, calculating person she had appeared to be for so many years.

Qian Daoliu released a long, weary sigh that seemed to carry the weight of decades of guilt and regret. He felt even more ashamed of what his son had done, and the ripple effects that single act of cruelty had created throughout so many lives. When he finally responded, his voice was calm but heavy with emotion.

"Regarding Xunji's fate, I want you to know that I was already aware of what happened to him. And as for Xue'er—if I had the power to call her back, I would have ensured she remained in the Worship Hall long ago. The only reason she continues with her current mission is because she wants to prove herself worthy of your love and respect by completing what she sees as her duty. If you truly want her to return, you'll need to go to her yourself and convince her. Alternatively, you could remain by her side until she decides on her own that it's time to come home."

Having said everything that needed to be said, Qian Daoliu turned and left the chamber with obvious haste. Whether his rapid departure was motivated by shame over what Xunji had done or guilt over his failure to properly educate and guide his son, the reasons didn't matter. What mattered was that both parties had finally spoken truths that had been festering in darkness for far too long.

Bibi Dong was equally shocked by Qian Daoliu's response, but for different reasons. She realized that the Grand Worshiper had shown her extraordinary mercy by sparing her life despite her having killed his son. This recognition made her understand with crystal clarity that it had never been the Angel lineage as a whole that had wronged her—it had been Qian Xunji's personal failings and crimes that had set her on this destructive path.

With these fundamental misunderstandings finally resolved, Bibi Dong felt a weight lift from her shoulders that she hadn't even realized she had been carrying. However, the prospect of facing Qian Renxue still filled her with shame and trepidation. How could she possibly make amends for years of neglect and emotional abandonment? How could she face the daughter she had pushed away in her quest for revenge?

But rather than being paralyzed by these questions, Bibi Dong found herself energized by a new sense of purpose. For the first time in decades, she had a goal that wasn't rooted in hatred or revenge—she wanted to make up for her past mistakes. She wanted to find a way to face Qian Renxue properly this time, as the mother she should have been all along.