Chapter 41: Echoes of Forgiveness and Jealousy
"Achuan, I have already forgiven you."
"You should come back to the Pope's Palace with me later," Bibi Dong said gently, her voice filled with sincerity.
Qin Chuan looked up, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Seeing his shocked yet ecstatic expression, Bibi Dong felt a warm flutter in her heart. He's always been angry with me… yet, in the critical moment, he risked his life for me. If he still holds on, why shouldn't I give him a way out?
Her voice softened further, like a breeze brushing over a calm lake.
"Achuan, when a couple argues, how can they talk about divorce so lightly?"
"I'll forgive you this time, but there won't be a next time. Understand?"
Qin Chuan was dumbfounded.
Even Qian Renxue's usually composed expression revealed surprise.
"Pope…" Qin Chuan muttered, his pale face struggling to find the right words. He coughed twice, his voice hoarse, yet firm. "Did you… misunderstand something?"
Qian Renxue panicked at the sight of him coughing. She quickly moved to his side and gently patted his back, helping him breathe steadily.
But her attentive gesture didn't go unnoticed.
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed, a cold light flashing deep in them.
"Xue'er, now that Achuan is awake, I think your royal team should return soon," she said with veiled sharpness.
Qian Renxue looked at her calmly and replied, "We'll return—but not right now. Brother Qin Chuan has just woken up. He's too weak to travel. Two days of rest should be fine."
"What?" Bibi Dong sneered. "You want to take Achuan with you?"
"Don't be ridiculous. He's coming back with me to the Pope's Palace. We have the best healing soul masters there."
She turned her head and called out, "Isn't that right, Rosside?"
Outside the room, an elderly figure flinched at the call. Rosside, the healing-type soul master brought by Bibi Dong, reluctantly stepped forward. His once confident face now looked bitter and awkward.
"Your Holiness, I…" he hesitated.
But Bibi Dong waved off his hesitation and continued, "Rosside, go ahead and treat the Elder. We'll return to the palace together."
At the same time, Ye Lingling stood quietly at the doorway, her cold expression watching everything unfold like frost over steel.
She had recovered somewhat from her own injuries, and now she was curious—curious to see how this so-called top healing master would treat someone she had already stabilized.
Rosside glanced in her direction and faltered, visibly uncomfortable. In front of a Nine-Star Begonia Spirit Master, treating someone she had already stabilized would be like showing off in front of a master. The risk of embarrassment was too high.
"Rosside," Bibi Dong's voice turned icy, "Did you not hear me? Treat the Elder. Now."
Qin Chuan calmly interjected, "Pope, I appreciate your concern… but there's no need. My condition has improved significantly, and we already have healing soul masters here. There's no need to trouble Rosside."
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed. "Just that little girl?"
She scoffed.
"A girl like that, even if she's a healing spirit master, could never compare to Rosside."
She turned her sharp gaze to Qian Renxue.
"No wonder Achuan was unconscious for half a month. You relied on some half-baked girl? Unbelievable."
Ye Lingling's cold voice rang out. "Your Holiness, there's no need to speak like that."
"Let the senior you brought treat His Majesty Qin Chuan. I simply wish to observe and learn."
Bibi Dong turned back toward Qian Renxue with a condescending smile.
"Xue'er, did you hear that? Even the one you invited admits she's inferior. Why are you still competing with me—your mother?"
That last word.
Mother?
Ye Lingling's heart skipped a beat. Her normally clear mind froze.
Xue'er? Mother?
The implications were enormous—too explosive for her to process immediately.
Meanwhile, Bibi Dong continued pressuring Rosside. "Go."
Having no other option, Rosside stepped toward Qin Chuan, offering a strained smile to Ye Lingling on the way. But her expression remained unreadable—she was still in shock.
Rosside summoned his martial spirit.
Emerald-green willow branches materialized in the air, each leaf appearing lifelike, glistening with dewdrops that radiated life energy. Eight soul rings floated rhythmically around the branches, glowing softly.
One leaf drooped slightly. The dewdrop upon it slipped away and dissolved into Qin Chuan's body.
This was Rosside's martial soul—Spring Water.
A soft healing light rippled over Qin Chuan's body. The warmth lingered, then slowly faded as Rosside finished the treatment and stepped back.
He turned to Bibi Dong and bowed slightly.
"Your Holiness, the Great Elder's injuries are fully healed. He only needs two to three days of rest for complete recovery."
"Very good, Rosside. You will be rewarded when we return," Bibi Dong said with approval.
Rosside only smiled bitterly, his pride somewhat bruised.
Bibi Dong turned her full attention back to Qin Chuan.
"See, Achuan?" she said gently. "Had we called Rosside earlier, you wouldn't have remained unconscious so long. But Renxue refused."
"She would rather see you unconscious than let you heal. And this healer she brought? A joke, really."
Qian Renxue laughed coldly, completely enraged.
Where does she even get the confidence to say such things?
Qin Chuan, already tired, couldn't tolerate more of Bibi Dong's nonsense.
Though his body was weak, his patience had run out.
"I was the one who asked Xue'er to invite Ye Lingling," he said firmly. "She's not a half-baked healer. Her martial spirit is Nine-Star Begonia—the most powerful healing martial spirit on the entire continent."
He coughed again but forced himself to finish.
"And as for my injury… Pope, you can ask Rosside whether he healed me—or if I was already recovering."
"I trust Rosside wouldn't lie in front of a Nine-Star Begonia Spirit Master."
Bibi Dong's eyes widened slightly, her expression faltering.
Nine-Star Begonia?
She turned her gaze toward the cold young girl leaning against the doorframe. Ye Lingling's expression was calm and detached, her aura chilling.
So cold… no wonder she feels like a threat.
"Rosside," Bibi Dong said, her voice taking on a new edge, "Is that true?"
Rosside visibly flinched.
Cold sweat formed on his temples.
He knew—in front of a Nine-Star Begonia user, there was no room for lies.
And so, with a resigned sigh, Rosside looked at Bibi Dong and slowly spoke.
"Your Holiness, the Great Elder's injury…"