49: Chapter 49: Bibi Dong's Proactive Approach: On the contrary, I will help you! [4000 words in one]

Listening to Lu Jing's answer, the surprise on Bibi Dong's face gradually turned into a deep and complex appreciation. Finally, the corners of her lips curled into a curve of approval, and she gently clapped her hands, saying, "I have to say, Lu Jing, you are truly very smart, seeing further and more clearly than I imagined."

She lowered her hands, a sharp light flickering in her purple eyes.

This in itself was an admission, admitting the accuracy of Lu Jing's deduction.

"Since you see things so clearly."

Bibi Dong stood up and elegantly walked around the desk. Instead of heading toward the window or the door, she slowly walked to the side of the sofa where Lu Jing was sitting.

The soft fabric of her purple dress brushed against the edge of the sofa, bringing with it a faint, imperceptible fragrance and a powerful aura.

She did not sit on the opposite sofa, but unexpectedly sat down gently in the empty seat next to Lu Jing.

This action instantly closed the physical and psychological distance between the two, also bringing an invisible sense of oppression.

Her gaze fell on Lu Jing's young yet steady face, and her tone became exceptionally soft and gentle, as if she were talking about a trivial matter: "So, regarding what happened during the day, I am also aware of it."

Lu Jing blinked, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow under the lamplight.

His mind raced, and the conflict with Yan outside the Scripture Pavilion during the day instantly surfaced in his mind.

Why did Bibi Dong mention it now? Was it to hold him accountable? Or...

Thinking of this, Lu Jing's voice carried just the right amount of confusion as he tentatively asked, "Since that is the case, what is the Supreme Pontiff planning to do? Help Yan deal with me, or what is going on?"

He calculated rapidly in his heart. Over the past few years, the relationship between the Supreme Pontiff Palace and the Elder Hall had indeed been, as recorded in history books, getting worse and worse, with constant open and secret struggles.

But strangely, Bibi Dong's attitude toward him personally had always been quite good, even carrying a deliberate gentleness and attempt to win him over.

This was definitely unusual. Could it be that she wanted to poach him from the Elder Hall's camp?

But the problem was, what made her think he could be won over?

And what could she offer that would make him care? Power? Wealth? Or women?

Lu Jing was puzzled in his heart, but on the surface, he remained calm, just quietly watching the Supreme Pontiff who was within arm's reach, waiting for her answer.

The candlelight danced on her stunning side profile, casting light and shadow that intertwined, making it difficult for one to fully discern the deep meaning in her eyes.

Bibi Dong shook her head gently, her posture elegant, and her tone remained just as soft and gentle, yet carried an unquestionable power: "Since it was Yan who provoked the incident and tried to snatch your things first, you were acting in self-defense. His skills were inferior, and his injuries were of his own doing. Naturally, I will not stand on his side to help him deal with you."

She leaned forward slightly, bringing a cold, faint fragrance with her, her purple eyes looking straight into Lu Jing's eyes: "On the contrary, I will even help you."

"Help me?"

The doubt in Lu Jing's heart deepened, and he furrowed his brows almost imperceptibly.

What exactly was Bibi Dong up to? What was the price of her "help"?

"How do you intend to help me?" he asked cautiously.

Yan was of the Golden Generation and belonged to those loyal to her; why would she choose to help him?

Bibi Dong did not answer directly but turned her head slightly, her gaze cast toward the heavy carved wooden door of the study, her voice not loud yet clearly penetrating the door: "Come in."

"Creak—"

The door was pushed open silently.

Having waited outside, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, dressed in the attire of a high-ranking Spirit Hall official, walked in without a sound.

His movements were gentle, and his demeanor was respectful.

And behind him, or rather, being dragged by him like a broken sack, was none other than Yan, covered in blood and in a wretched state!

At this moment, where was the arrogant bluster Yan had when he provoked him outside the Scripture Pavilion during the day?

The injuries he had suffered from Lu Jing's thunderous methods had clearly not been properly treated. His clothes were torn, dried and fresh blood were mixed on his body, many of his joints were unnaturally twisted, his face was as pale as paper, and his breathing was weak and rapid.

Severe pain and blood loss made his eyes unfocused, but when he was mercilessly thrown onto the expensive carpet with a "thud" by Yue Guan, the intense pain made him let out a muffled groan. His unfocused eyes were instantly filled with immense fear and despair as he saw the scene in the study, especially upon seeing the seated Bibi Dong and Lu Jing.

After dropping Yan, Yue Guan did not even glance at him on the floor. He simply bowed respectfully to Bibi Dong and, just as he had arrived, retreated silently and gently closed the door.

The entire process was crisp and efficient, without a single wasted movement, demonstrating his absolute obedience and efficiency as the Supreme Pontiff's confidant.

The study returned to silence, leaving only the sound of Yan's rapid and painful gasps rising and falling weakly on the carpet.

Bibi Dong's expression was calm without a ripple, as if what lay on the floor was not a living person, but a piece of useless trash.

She looked down from above at Yan, who was trembling with fear, her gaze cold and without a trace of warmth.

She turned to look at Lu Jing, her voice calm and waveless, yet carrying a chilling sense of judgment:

"Lu Jing, as long as you nod your agreement, I can kill him right now."

She paused, every word clearly striking Yan's heart and also hitting Lu Jing's nerves, and said softly: "The future grand blueprint of Spirit Hall does not need this kind of trash that has no brain, only knows how to cause trouble, and affects internal unity."

"Pfft—"

Yan's pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpoints, and immense fear instantly overwhelmed the severe pain in his body.

He wanted to struggle, wanted to scream and beg for mercy, but his severely injured body and the lingering Soul Power suppression from Yue Guan left him unable to move even a finger. He could only let out wheezing sounds, his face covered in the despair of tears and snot.

Lu Jing's brows furrowed instantly.

He looked at Yan on the floor, who was like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, and then looked at the calm, even slightly cold-blooded Bibi Dong beside him. He had completely not expected that Bibi Dong's so-called "help" would be this!

Kill Yan?

This option struck across Lu Jing's mind like a bolt of cold lightning.

He indeed did not like Yan; the other party was arrogant, stupid, and repeatedly provoked him.

To be honest, Lu Jing did not care about Yan's life or death. But... was the matter really that simple?

Bibi Dong's intention was definitely not as simple as just helping him vent his anger.

He didn't know if it was simply to win him over, or if she wanted to use this opportunity to interfere with the Elder Hall's line of sight, thereby causing him to develop doubts and boundaries with the Elder Hall.

However, he could be certain that if he nodded at this moment, Yan would die immediately, but the trouble and whirlpool that would follow were definitely not what he wanted.

What he needed now was not to take sides, and certainly not to be drawn into the deeper infighting between the Supreme Pontiff Palace and the Elder Hall, but to accumulate strength and make himself the strongest.

In a flash, Lu Jing made his decision.

Meeting Bibi Dong's seemingly gentle yet actually oppressive gaze, he slowly shook his head, his voice returning to its usual calm:

"Supreme Pontiff, there is no need for this."

He glanced at Yan on the floor, in whose eyes a faint spark of hope for survival suddenly erupted because of his words, and added in a flat tone: "Although this person is stupid and arrogant and has repeatedly provoked me, he is, after all, a core member of the Golden Generation cultivated by Spirit Hall and a future seed for a Titled Douluo. Moreover, he has a close relationship with Hu Liena."

He specifically emphasized Hu Liena's name and said: "Since I have already taught him a lesson during the day, if he is sensible, this matter should end here. After all, regardless of anything else, he is also a genius. However, if there is a next time, it will not be too late to kill him then."

Lu Jing's answer was clear and explicit, both refusing to kill and pointing out the reason for not killing—for the sake of Spirit Hall's interests, and giving face to Hu Liena.

Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong gave Lu Jing a deep look. That gaze seemed as if it wanted to see through his soul.

Lu Jing's watertight answer surprised her a bit, yet it also seemed to be within her expectations.

This little guy was even more slippery than she imagined, and could hold his ground even better.

The sharpness and coldness in her eyes gradually faded, replaced once again by a veil of gentleness, and she nodded lightly:

"Very well. Since you say so, I will respect your decision."

She did not persist, as if the person who had proposed killing just now was not her.

"Yue Guan."

As her voice fell, the study door was pushed open again.

Yue Guan flashed in like a ghost, still with that respectful and silent demeanor.

He didn't even ask, but simply walked to Yan's side again and, as if picking up a piece of cargo, lifted up this outstanding talent of Spirit Hall's younger generation.

At this moment, Yan seemed to have no strength left even for fear, only the immense exhaustion and bewilderment of having survived a disaster, allowing Yue Guan to drag him away from this study that had determined his life and death.

The door closed again, isolating Yan's last faint breath.

At this moment, only Lu Jing and Bibi Dong were left in the study.

The air seemed even more stagnant than before.

The doubts in Lu Jing's heart were not eliminated; instead, they piled up even deeper.

This series of actions by Bibi Dong, while seemingly backing him, was actually full of weirdness and probing everywhere.

Summoning him from the Elder Hall to the depths of the Supreme Pontiff Palace for a high-level conversation about unifying the continent, and then suddenly throwing out the question of Yan's life and death... all of this seemed too deliberate and too abrupt.

"Supreme Pontiff."

Thinking of this, Lu Jing suppressed the waves in his heart and spoke again, his tone carrying a hint of imperceptible probing as he asked: "Besides these, is there anything else you summoned me here for in the middle of the night?"

Bibi Dong picked up the teacup that had long since cooled on the table and took a gentle sip, her posture remaining elegant.

She raised her eyes to look at Lu Jing, her purple eyes as deep as an abyss, and the corners of her lips seemed to curl into an extremely faint, elusive arc.

"Nothing else."

She put down the teacup and said in a soft voice: "I just wanted to see you, and also let you see... my sincerity and attitude in handling this matter."

This answer left Lu Jing completely confused.

See him? See attitude? Sincerity?

What kind of reason was this? If it were Qian Daoliu or Qian Renxue doing this, he could still understand—after all, they were in the same boat; Qian Renxue even had obvious good feelings toward him, and Qian Daoliu had high hopes for him, so their active overtures, or warnings, were all reasonable.

But Bibi Dong... this female Supreme Pontiff who had a tense relationship with the Elder Hall and a mind as deep as the sea—Lu Jing found that he couldn't figure out her logic of behavior at all.

Could it really just be because of what she said before about valuing his potential, and his vision that was different from ordinary people?

But just to show sincerity, to win over a potential stock who couldn't be seen taking sides for the time being, and even going so far as to use the life of a core member of Spirit Hall, Yan, as a prop?

This cost and risk were too great, which completely did not fit the cautious image of Bibi Dong in the history books.

Or was it... she had other motives?

Was it to alienate him from the Elder Hall?

Or did she want to use the matter of Yan to convey some information to Qian Daoliu?

Lu Jing felt his thoughts were a bit chaotic.

Bibi Dong's thoughts were like the candlelight in the depths of the Supreme Pontiff Palace, seemingly bright, but actually flickering and shadowy, difficult to distinguish true from false.

"Many thanks for the Supreme Pontiff's... kindness and sincerity."

Lu Jing suppressed the thousands of questions in his heart, stood up, bowed respectfully, and said: "If there are no other instructions, this junior will take his leave."

He chose to leave temporarily; in the face of such an unfathomable chess game, keeping a distance and responding to changes with constancy was perhaps the best choice.

Bibi Dong nodded slightly, not detaining him: "Go. As I said before, you can go to the Scripture Pavilion at any time, and if you have any needs, you can also come to me."

Her expression was calm and indifferent, and her voice remained just as gentle.

She finally understood now why the Rakshasa God had that idea six years ago; just based on the talent and caution Lu Jing displayed, if she were the God of Destruction, she would also choose him as her successor, although the God Position inheritance had not yet descended.

"Yes, this junior will remember."

Lu Jing bowed again, then turned and walked toward the heavy carved wooden door.

When he pulled open the door and walked out of this study filled with faint fragrance, candlelight, and invisible pressure, he clearly felt that the gaze from Bibi Dong behind him landed on his back like a physical substance, carrying scrutiny, exploration, and perhaps a trace of... indescribable expectation and calculation.

He reached back and gently closed the door, isolating that gaze, and also isolating the suffocating atmosphere inside the study.

Outside the door was the empty and deep corridor of the Supreme Pontiff Palace, with moonlight casting a cold radiance through the high windows.

Lu Jing took a deep breath of the cool air, but felt that the fog in his heart had not dissipated in the slightest.

"This woman's attitude... is truly hard to fathom."

Lu Jing muttered to himself, his brows tightly locked, whispering: "First she asked about the future direction of Spirit Hall, then she handled the matter of Yan... is she really showing favor to me? But this way of showing favor is too..."

He shook his head, stopped thinking about it, took a step, and walked toward the direction of the Elder Hall.

Regardless, improving his own strength and reaching level fifty as soon as possible was the most important thing at the moment.

Only with sufficient strength could he possess the power of choice and the confidence for self-preservation in this treacherous and unpredictable era.

As for Bibi Dong's true intention... perhaps only time could give the answer.

Under the moonlight, the young man's tall and straight figure walked between the majestic pillars of the Supreme Pontiff Palace, moving further and further away, and finally disappeared at the end of the corridor.

And inside the study, the candlelight flickered, reflecting the seated figure in the purple dress. She picked up that cup of tea that had long since cooled, casting her gaze toward the deep night sky outside the window, while deep in her purple eyes, no one knew what kind of undercurrents were surging.