Chapter 42: No Room to Turn Back
"Your Holiness, the elder's injury had already healed before I intervened."
Rosede smiled wryly.
"Just now, I only used my martial spirit to further stabilize the elder's body."
Bibi Dong's expression darkened instantly.
"Why didn't you say that earlier?"
Rosede looked helpless.
Say it earlier?
Did she even give him a chance to speak?
"The Pope is indeed worthy of her title. I'm afraid only someone like you would dare call a Nine-Star Begonia Soul Master a half-baked healer," Qian Renxue mocked coldly.
Bibi Dong's face twisted with irritation. She took several deep breaths before forcing a smile, completely ignoring Qian Renxue.
"Ah Chuan, regardless, your injury is mostly healed now. Come back with me."
As she spoke, she reached out to support Qin Chuan.
But unexpectedly, Qin Chuan looked at her with genuine confusion.
"When did I say I wanted to go back with you?"
Bibi Dong's heart skipped a beat.
Then she heard Qin Chuan continue calmly,
"Pope, did you misunderstand something?"
"I never said I wanted to return to the Pope's Palace."
"Why would you think I wanted to reconcile with you?"
Bibi Dong froze, her expression dazed.
A wave of dark emotion surged inside her heart.
"…Isn't that the case?" she asked blankly.
Indeed, Qin Chuan had never once said he wanted to go back with her or mend their relationship.
But… no. No, that couldn't be.
He must still be angry. That's why he was acting like this.
He couldn't possibly want to end things for good. Right?
If he no longer cared, why would he have stormed off in a rage upon hearing she had promoted Yu Xiaogang?
"Ah Chuan, you're a grown man. Why are you still so petty?"
Her brows furrowed as her tone took on a hint of reproach.
"Do you really not understand why I promoted Xiaogang? How long do you intend to argue with me over this?"
"I even forgave what you said to me half a month ago."
"You're an adult—can't you be a bit more open-minded?"
Puchi—
Qian Renxue couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into laughter.
"So that's what you've been thinking this whole time?"
"Isn't it?" Bibi Dong shot her a frosty glare, clearly not appreciating the interruption.
But Qin Chuan slowly pushed himself up with Qian Renxue's help and said flatly,
"Pope, ever since we walked out of the Pope's Palace that day, there's been nothing between us."
"I don't know why you think I'm angry. I don't know why you think I'd want to go back with you."
"But you'd better give up on that idea. There's no going back for us."
He seemed a little weary by the end and waved his hand dismissively.
"Pope, I'm tired. Please leave."
Bibi Dong stared at him in disbelief, her face turning pale.
"Ah Chuan, I… I don't understand what you're saying…"
She shook her head slowly, feeling like everything was spiraling out of control.
"Brother Qin Chuan asked you to leave," Qian Renxue said mockingly, gesturing toward the door. "Why are you still here?"
"Impossible."
Bibi Dong shook her head quickly, her voice growing hoarse.
"Ah Chuan, you're just still mad, aren't you?"
"You didn't mean what you said just now. You're just trying to make me angry, right?"
"Pope," Qin Chuan's tone cooled noticeably.
"We're adults. Can we stop playing childish games?"
Bibi Dong's body trembled.
Then, silence.
Her emotions slowly stilled. But her face was even paler than before.
"Go back. Let's part ways peacefully," Qin Chuan said again.
"No."
Bibi Dong shook her head, her voice cracking.
"I don't believe it. You still love me. You're just angry."
"I can wait."
"I'll wait for you in the Pope's Palace. When you've calmed down… come back to me."
Qin Chuan shook his head slightly, but there was no trace of pity in his eyes.
He knew what she was thinking.
Someone as proud as Bibi Dong would never accept being abandoned.
So she clung to self-delusions, comforting herself with imaginary reasons.
But just as Bibi Dong reached the doorway of the bedroom, she turned back abruptly, her eyes red with emotion.
"Ah Chuan, you say you want to part peacefully and that you're not angry."
"Then tell me—why did you destroy Xiaogang's dantian and cripple his legs in Wuhun City?"
"Isn't that proof you're still angry?"
So that's what this was about?
Qin Chuan sighed at her sudden shift into hysteria.
"I won't deny I was angry about that matter."
"But it had nothing to do with you."
"I was furious at what happened. Even if it had been another woman—if my wife did something so vile—I would have been angry just the same."
"It was about her identity as my wife. Not her name. Not who she was."
His words were calm, but Bibi Dong's face went ghostly white.
She stood still, stunned.
"…Then—"
She seemed to think of something and spoke quickly,
"Then that day at the competition, why did you leave in such a rage after hearing me promote Xiaogang?"
Qin Chuan shook his head and, for the first time, looked at her with a trace of pity.
"Because I was bored. I wanted to leave."
"Do you really think a Titled Douluo like me has nothing better to do than watch a bunch of kids fight—especially when there's no one I care about participating?"
In that moment, Bibi Dong was completely shaken.
Her face lost all color. Even her body trembled.
So that was it?
No wonder…
No wonder she hadn't seen Qin Chuan return to the arena in the following days.
He wasn't avoiding her.
He just thought the tournament was meaningless.
"Impossible…"
"Ah Chuan, you're lying… aren't you…?"
Her voice trembled with disbelief.
"Pope, since your questions have been answered, please leave. Brother Qin Chuan really needs rest."
Qian Renxue didn't bother to hide her impatience.
Looking at Bibi Dong's broken state, there was no pity in her heart—only boundless satisfaction.
She had waited so long to see this woman regret it all.
"Shut up!"
Bibi Dong suddenly roared, her fury ignited.
"It must be you! You wretched Qian family brat! You've been speaking ill of me behind my back to Ah Chuan, haven't you!?"
Qian Renxue's face darkened.
"Yes, I'm a bastard."
"But what about you? As the woman who gave birth to a bastard like me—aren't you even more disgraceful?"
"You—!"
Bibi Dong raised her hand, preparing to slap her.
But just then, her gaze drifted to the iron cage beside the bed.
Inside that sturdy metal cage…
A girl was curled up tightly, her gaze filled with resentment as she stared at Bibi Dong.
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