Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul is the Black Dragon, I am the Lord of the Gods

Chapter 158 Not Discussing "What If"

……

"Welcome the Pope? Are you serious?"

Upon hearing that the Pope's convoy was about to arrive in Tiandou City, Xuan Ming was about to leave to spend some time at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well when Xue Qinghe suddenly appeared and blocked him at the academy gate.

"That's the Pope of the Spirit Hall, don't you think?" Xue Qinghe said helplessly.

The Pope of the Spirit Hall is equal in status to the emperors of the two great empires, but the two great empires do not acknowledge this.

Of course, the Spirit Hall also did not believe that the emperors of the two great empires were qualified to be on par with the Pope.

Now that the Pope has personally arrived in Tiandou City, Emperor Xueye cannot go to greet him in person. However, he must not give the Spirit Hall any leverage in terms of etiquette and must do everything in accordance with the proper protocol.

As the crown prince, it is the most appropriate choice for him to represent the Tian Dou royal family in welcoming them.

"What does this have to do with me?" Xuanming asked.

"I am neither a member of the Heaven Dou royal family nor a member of the Spirit Hall, so I have no obligation to greet the Pope."

His public identity has always been merely that of Dugu Bo. Although he is close to Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, he does not belong to the Tiandou royal family and has no noble status.

Although Emperor Xueye had tried many times to grant him a noble status and even planned to bestow upon him the fiefdoms within the Heavenly Dou Imperial City that were exclusively for the royal family, thus binding him completely to the Heavenly Dou royal family, he refused each time.

Although the royal family was unhappy with his refusal, they couldn't say much because of Dugu Bo's presence.

“But the Pope specifically requests to see you,” Xue Qinghe said.

"Can't you just say I'm missing?" Xuanming said.

"Anyway, this isn't the first or second time I've gone missing."

Xue Qinghe's eye twitched. "You got lost."

Xuanming's expression froze for a moment. "I'm not lost, I just don't know the way."

"Whether you're lost or don't know the way, you can't escape this today," Xue Qinghe said.

"Unless you want the Spirit Hall to search for you everywhere."

Xuanming sighed, "Where are we going to greet him? Are we going to have to go to the city gate to receive him?"

"It's not that serious. We just need to go to the Martial Soul Temple to represent the royal family and that will be enough," Xue Qinghe said.

"The Pope should have arrived in Tiandou City by now. If we hurry over there, it will be just in time."

Xuanming turned to Arou and said, "I'll go check on her. You can stay here and rest for now."

Xiao Wu has grown up, but A Rou hasn't changed much over the years. If Bibi Dong and the others saw her, they would definitely recognize her.

……

"Is this the Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

"Surrounded by mountains and water, it really is a wonderful place."

Shortly after Xuanming and his group left, Shrek Academy's group, who had come from Soto City, also entered the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

However, trouble arose after only a few steps.

"Who are you? This is the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, not a place where random people like you can just come in!"

A group of Soul Masters who looked to be around eighteen or nineteen years old blocked the way. The student in the lead was dressed in a gorgeous academy uniform and his eyes were full of arrogance. After looking the Shrek Academy students up and down, he curled up a disdainful smile.

Upon hearing this, the Shrek members all frowned.

Dai Mubai took a step forward, exuding a powerful aura, and said coldly, "We are students of Shrek Academy, invited to Tiandou Royal Academy for exchange and study. What do you mean by this?"

Upon hearing the words "Shrek Academy," the student was first taken aback, then burst into laughter: "Shrek Academy? Never heard of it. Judging from the name, it sounds like a small, impoverished academy in a remote village. Does it even deserve to come to our Heaven Dou Royal Academy for exchange and study? Don't dream!"

The students behind him also burst into laughter, their laughter filled with mockery and contempt.

The Shrek Academy members glared angrily, and Xiao Wu was so angry that her eyebrows shot up. She was about to rush forward and attack, but Tang San quickly reached out to stop her and shook his head slightly, signaling her not to be impulsive.

However, Dai Mubai was not known for his good temper, and he immediately rushed forward and started fighting with the group.

……

Meanwhile, Xuanming and Xue Qinghe had already arrived at the Martial Soul Temple.

The light inside the hall was dim. Chrysanthemum Douluo walked in front, leading the two along the long corridor until they finally arrived at a spacious hall.

In the center of the hall, Bibi Dong, dressed in a magnificent purple robe, leaned back on her throne with her eyes slightly closed.

"Your Holiness, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe and Xuan Ming have arrived," Yue Guan said.

Xuanming and Xue Qinghe bowed slightly in greeting.

Bibi Dong slowly opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping over the two of them before finally settling on Xuan Ming. "Your Highness, you've worked hard. Please take him to rest."

"This..." Xue Qinghe was taken aback. The many words he had carefully prepared beforehand were choked back by Bibi Dong's words. "Your Highness, please come with me." Yue Guan did not give Xue Qinghe a chance to say anything more and led him directly out of the hall.

As the palace doors slowly closed, only Bibi Dong and Xuan Ming remained in the large conference hall, creating a somewhat awkward atmosphere.

After a moment of silence, Bibi Dong stood up, walked down from the platform, and gracefully approached Xuan Ming. Her gaze was filled with concern as she asked, "Your injury..."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Holiness. I am now fine." Xuanming bowed slightly and took a step back.

"You still won't listen to my explanation?" Bibi Dong frowned slightly, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

"I dare not." Xuanming lowered his head, not even looking at Bibi Dong, including the two dragons behind him.

Bibi Dong took out the Nine-Tailed Fox Heart Lotus. "If I said that this was the whole thing, would you believe me?"

“I believe you,” Xuanming said.

Bibi Dong was slightly taken aback. "Then why did you insist on leaving back then?"

"Does Your Holiness think that if it's a misunderstanding, I should just laugh it off and pretend nothing happened?" Xuanming retorted.

"Just like back then, I was almost beaten to death in the street simply because I was mistaken for a slave."

"That's not what I meant." Bibi Dong was a little anxious and subconsciously reached out to grab Xuanming.

Xuanming took another step back, his gaze calm yet distant. "I believe you."

Bibi Dong's hand froze in mid-air, her eyes filled with regret and heartache. "I... I really didn't mean that back then."

“I know, Your Holiness the Pope has mistaken me for someone else.” Xuanming’s voice was calm, without the slightest ripple.

Bibi Dong's hand slowly fell to her sides, a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

Xuanming kept his head down, silent, like a lifeless statue.

The hall fell into a deathly silence, with only the faint candlelight flickering and crackling, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

After a long while, Bibi Dong spoke again: "Xuanming, give me a chance to make up for my past mistakes, okay?"

Xuanming finally slowly raised his head, looking directly at Bibi Dong. There was no anger or resentment in his eyes, only an indescribable calmness. "Your Holiness, the past is the past. What's the point of bringing it up again? I am just an insignificant person and not worth your trouble."

Bibi Dong's heart clenched, "You're not insignificant..."

“Your Holiness, please do not transfer your feelings for another person onto me so casually. I cannot bear it,” Xuanming interrupted.

"I have already lost a lot, and I hope you will not trample on this little bit of dignity I have left."

Bibi Dong trembled slightly, her eyes welled up with tears, and her lips trembled as if she had a thousand words to say but didn't know where to begin.

After a moment, she took a deep breath and looked at Xuanming with a firm gaze.

"What if I haven't made a mistake?"

"..."

What if I didn't see you as someone else?

"..."

Xuanming remained silent for a moment, then bowed slightly. "I'm sorry, Your Holiness, I never talk about 'what ifs'."

"What a dawdling!" The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox suddenly burst out from Bibi Dong's body, and a terrifying evil divine power surged out and landed on Xuan Ming.

In an instant, Xuanming fainted.

"What are you doing!" Bibi Dong quickly caught Xuanming and expelled his evil thoughts.

"Isn't it just that you want him? It's such a simple thing," the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox said calmly.

"He won't wake up anytime soon, so you can do whatever you want."

Bibi Dong glared at the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, "What do you know! How could I use such despicable means!"

"Oh, you seem to have already used it last time." The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox looked at Bibi Dong with a mocking expression.

"It's just that we didn't succeed. Do you need me to help you recall?"

"You!" Bibi Dong's expression froze, and she felt somewhat guilty.

"Last time, I thought it was a dream..."

"What you think about during the day, you dream about at night; now it can be a dream too." The nine-tailed celestial fox landed on Xuanming's shoulder.

"He won't know anyway, I can just wash it clean for him after I'm done using it."

"roll!"

(End of this chapter)