156: Chapter 156 Yu Xiaogang's Painful Memories

Spirit Hall Dungeon.

"Let me go!" Yu Xiaogang's voice was already a bit hoarse.

His wrists and ankles were shackled by heavy iron chains, and as he struggled, the chains clanged against each other.

Gui Mei's expression was emotionless as he tossed him into a cell like he was throwing away a piece of trash.

The cell door slammed shut with a bang.

Yu Xiaogang scrambled up using his hands and feet, grabbing the bars and roaring crazily: "Let me out! I want to see Bibi Dong!"

Gui Mei ignored him, turning his head to address the few people inside the cell: "He is handed over to you. Her Holiness the Pope has given instructions to take good care of him; you must not let him die."

"Yes, my lord!" The few people instantly understood Gui Mei's meaning and replied in unison.

Seeing Gui Mei turn to leave, Yu Xiaogang was so anxious that he pressed his face against the gaps in the bars: "You come back! I want to see Bibi Dong!"

Yet Gui Mei walked away without even looking back.

Just at this moment, the few people behind Yu Xiaogang exchanged glances and slowly walked forward.

Immediately, two people grabbed his arms and dragged him toward the depths of the cell.

"Ah! Let go of me! What are you doing!"

Yu Xiaogang was thrown onto the cold, damp ground, his rear end aching from the fall.

The group immediately surrounded him, closing in step by step.

Yu Xiaogang retreated in fear, again and again, until his back hit the wall, leaving him nowhere to go.

"You... don't come over! I am an Elder of Spirit Hall!"

"Huh... why does this guy look so familiar?"

One of the men muttered in a low voice, stroking his chin as he scrutinized Yu Xiaogang, searching his memory.

The scar on his face looked exceptionally hideous in the dim light, resembling a centipede.

Suddenly, the scarred man exclaimed: "I remember now, so it's you, you old geezer!"

Hearing this exclamation, Yu Xiaogang cast his gaze onto the man's face.

When he saw that scarred face clearly, his pupils suddenly constricted, and his body couldn't stop trembling.

This person before him was someone he would never forget in his entire life!

"It... it's actually you!"

Yu Xiaogang's voice trembled, and a fear that seeped into his very marrow instantly spread throughout his body, making him unable to stop shaking.

He remembered that nightmarish day from several years ago.

In that dark, damp cave, it was this man before him who had destroyed his innocence and ruined all his dignity!

That memory was a humiliation carved into his very bones!

"Yo, I didn't expect you to still remember me." The scarred man grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, his tone frivolous.

He rubbed his rough palms together and approached step by step: "It's been so many years, yet you've become fairer and cleaner."

Yu Xiaogang had been eating and drinking well at Spirit Hall for the past few years, so his complexion had indeed become increasingly fair.

"Boss, do you know him?" The few people behind the scarred man leaned in, asking curiously.

"Of course I do." The scarred man sneered, "Back then, this old geezer..."

"Shut up! Don't say another word!" Yu Xiaogang covered his ears and shook his head frantically.

But the scarred man ignored Yu Xiaogang and recounted the events of that cave back then.

After speaking, the scarred man laughed disdainfully: "This old geezer must have been posing as an Elder of Spirit Hall to swindle people again, which is why he was caught.

Didn't you hear what that lord said just now? Her Holiness the Pope specifically instructed us to take good care of him.

This is Her Holiness the Pope's will; we must not be negligent."

The group looked at each other and chuckled: "Boss, you go first."

"Good." The scarred man grinned viciously, walking step by step toward the cowering Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang's pupils were filled with despair as he tried desperately to shrink back, but the wall had long since cut off all his paths of retreat.

Soon, Yu Xiaogang's shrill scream broke the deathly silence of the dungeon.

But this scream did not last long before it came to an abrupt end.

What remained was only the whimpering sound squeezed from the depths of Yu Xiaogang's throat, echoing endlessly in the dim cell...

...

Inside the Supreme Pontiff Palace.

Ji Xuan was discussing matters of the Supreme Pontiff Palace with Chrysanthemum Douluo.

Hu Liena suddenly walked into the main hall, interrupting their conversation.

When she saw clearly that the person on the Supreme Pontiff's throne was Ji Xuan, her heart skipped a beat.

How could Ji Xuan be sitting there? Where was her teacher? Had something happened?

"His Highness the Holy Son, Elder Chrysanthemum." Hu Liena suppressed the unease in her heart, "May I ask where my teacher is?"

Upon hearing this, Chrysanthemum Douluo's gaze subconsciously turned toward Ji Xuan.

Seeing Ji Xuan nod gently, he then slowly began to speak: "Nana, the situation is like this..."

He briefly recounted the events in the Star Dou Great Forest, but concealed many critical details.

For instance, that he and Ghost Douluo had long since submitted to Ji Xuan, and that all of this was originally a trap set for Bibi Dong.

Even the cause of the conflict was described as them coincidentally running into Ji Xuan, after which Bibi Dong took the initiative to attack Ji Xuan, was ultimately outmatched, and fled after being heavily injured.

Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke this way so that when Ji Xuan was crowned Supreme Pontiff in the near future, he would be able to silence some people.

Strictly speaking, it was indeed Bibi Dong who attacked first; she was the one who initiated the conflict years ago, so Chrysanthemum Douluo's explanation could not be considered entirely fabricated.

"This..."

After hearing this, Hu Liena staggered, her face turning pale instantly.

She did not doubt Chrysanthemum Douluo's words.

After all, she knew clearly that her teacher had once sent Yan to assassinate Ji Xuan; they had long been enemies.

If the two had truly met by chance in the Star Dou Great Forest, her teacher certainly would not have let it go.

But, how long had it been? Was Ji Xuan already strong enough to defeat her teacher?

"Hu Liena, will you blame me?"

Ji Xuan's voice rang out, pulling Hu Liena's drifting thoughts back.

Hu Liena's eyes reddened as she met Ji Xuan's gaze, and she shook her head gently.

"Then what are your plans now? Will you leave Spirit Hall to find your teacher, or will you choose to stay?" Ji Xuan asked immediately after.

This question left Hu Liena in a dilemma, unable to speak for a long time.

To her, Bibi Dong was a senior who had shown her immense grace, an existence who was both teacher and mother.

Now that her teacher was heavily injured and missing, how could she not be worried?

But if she were to leave Spirit Hall, wouldn't she become a traitor? How would she face Ji Xuan in the future?

Hu Liena's heart stung, the pain making her almost unable to breathe. Why did they have to be enemies?

Even now, she did not know what conflict truly existed between her teacher and the Elder Hall.

"No matter what decision you make, I will not interfere." Ji Xuan's voice sounded again.

Hu Liena's tears finally couldn't be held back and rolled down, and she choked out: "I don't know..."

At this moment, Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke, his tone carrying a touch of earnestness:

"Nana, His Highness the Holy Son's talent is plain for all to see; he is the future of Spirit Hall, while what your teacher has done is destroying the future of Spirit Hall. You should think it over carefully."

He had watched Hu Liena grow up since she was a child, so naturally, he did not want to cross blades with her in the future, nor did he want her to be doomed because she chose the wrong side.

Upon hearing this, Hu Liena was stunned, and the tears that had been falling gradually stopped.

Chrysanthemum Douluo's words did indeed have some truth to them.

She was not a person who could not distinguish right from wrong; she would not forget that Spirit Hall had raised and nurtured her all these years.

Moreover, it was indeed her teacher who had attacked first...

After a moment of silence, she took a deep breath: "His Highness the Holy Son, I choose to stay in Spirit Hall."