NOVEL NEXT Chapter 173: She is here
Why Was Tang San Silent?
Tang San was someone who valued his reputation deeply.
He maintained a facade of integrity in public while harboring a different persona in private.
His outward demeanor was immaculate, but the truth remained that Yu Xiaogang's disgraceful confessions, though made under duress, were still spoken by Yu Xiaogang himself—proof that these events truly transpired.
With such a teacher, how could Tang San not fall into silence?
He regretted it!
Back in the Spirit Hunting Forest, why didn't he kill Yu Xiaogang to silence him?
Now that Yu Xiaogang's shameful actions had been exposed, Tang San's own reputation might inevitably be tainted.
At this moment, Flender had thrown all caution to the wind—not for himself, but for Liu Erlong's twenty years of waiting!
'Twenty years!'
Others might not understand Liu Erlong's situation, but Flender knew it all too well.
The lover she had waited for so patiently turned out to be a complete hypocrite and a liar! Who could accept such an outcome?
Flender knew the consequences of killing Yu Xiaogang. Even if Yu Yuanzhen, the patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, didn't act openly, he would certainly seek revenge in secret. Killing Yu Xiaogang was equivalent to exchanging one life for another.
Of course, if Du Bafang were to carry out the execution, a full-blown war between the two great sects could be avoided, and Yu Xiaogang's death would still be ensured.
But if Flender couldn't personally kill this beast, he wouldn't be satisfied!
"Flender…"
At this moment, Liu Erlong murmured softly. A flicker of complex emotion passed through her gaze as she looked at Flender.
She had always been aware of Flender's feelings for her, but she had only ever regarded him as an older brother and never saw him romantically.
Hearing Flender's declaration, Du Bafang hesitated, his expression twitching slightly.
He wanted to argue against Flender's reasoning but found himself at a loss for words.
Flender had made his stance clear—he was willing to bear all consequences for killing Yu Xiaogang.
Achieving the goal while avoiding a war between the two sects seemed logical, and for the sake of the disciples of the sect, Du Bafang felt he should agree.
At this moment, in the eyes of the audience and the Shrek Seven Devils, Flender was no longer a miser or a man chasing vain glory. He was a hero!
After all, who could tolerate a "teacher" like Yu Xiaogang? Even the Shrek team struggled to accept it.
Sure, each of them had their flaws, but none had done anything remotely as despicable as Yu Xiaogang.
For instance, Dai Mubai, who abandoned Zhu Zhuqing and left her to endure scorn in Star Luo City, indulged himself in Soto City's nightlife. However, while Dai Mubai lacked in romantic loyalty, he was extraordinarily devoted to his brothers. When trouble came, he would step up without hesitation. Even when facing a 100,000-year-old Titan Giant Ape, he never backed down. He wasn't a petty man.
Claims that he deceived others in love? Ridiculous! He paid his Gold Soul Coins fairly; everything was consensual—how could that be called deceit?
Oscar, though timid, was a food-type Spirit Master. Timidity wasn't a flaw but a survival instinct for someone in his role!
Among the Shrek members, Oscar seemed relatively normal compared to the others.
Ma Hongjun, too, had his issues, as did the rest of the group...
Meanwhile, Qin Ming muttered to himself: "Does nobody care about me at all?"
The figure who had previously questioned Yu Xiaogang trembled as her thoughts raced.
Initially, she believed Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong were "true love," kept apart only by familial opposition. To help them overcome societal judgment, she had even contemplated destroying the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan in a few years.
Only by doing so could Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong live together openly.
But now, she realized this so-called romance was even more hollow and exaggerated than she'd imagined.
For the sake of controlling the Triangular Fusion Technique, Yu Xiaogang could stoop to such deceit.
Watching Yu Xiaogang being strangled by Flender, his life hanging by a thread, the woman fell into deep thought.
Would simply letting Yu Xiaogang die be too merciful?
Wasn't his greatest desire to prove himself? Didn't he care most about his theories?
Even though they were plagiarized, didn't he still have his dreams?
Then, wouldn't it be better to shatter both his body and spirit—to strike him where it would hurt the most?
As this thought crossed her mind, a faint smile tugged at her lips. Dark energy surged around her, making her appear terrifyingly sinister.
In the VIP section, the Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe, stared at her figure and listened to Yu Xiaogang's confessions. For a full five minutes, she found himself stunned, unable to act.
"Is she blind in one eye, or does she have some sort of brain problem?"*
"How could she fall for a beast like that?"
These thoughts raced through "Xue Qinghe's" mind as her eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
At this moment, she desperately wanted to ask this person outright: What on earth is wrong with you?
But her current identity as "Xue Qinghe" forced her to swallow her words. Whatever she wanted to say, she'd have to hold back and wait for a private opportunity to confront her.
Wait a second—what was the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, now the Pope, doing here at the Heaven Dou City opening ceremony?
"Xue Qinghe" fell into deep thought once again.
Indeed, the person in question was none other than the Spirit Hall Pope—Bibi Dong!
This revelation explained why Salas and the others were trembling uncontrollably.
Such secrets were far beyond the purview of subordinates like them. Even if they knew, they would have to feign ignorance!
Meanwhile, Meng Shenji continued to exert his oppressive spirit power, keeping Qin Ming locked in place.
Sweat beaded on Meng Shenji's forehead as his Spirit Douluo-level strength remained fully unleashed.
For several minutes now, he had maintained this overwhelming pressure. The situation had spiraled to this point because of "intellectual property disputes."
He was stuck—he couldn't kill Qin Ming, nor could he let him go. His only option was to maintain this stalemate.
Fortunately, Qin Ming's efforts to resist the pressure had drained a significant portion of his spirit power. The two were now in an evenly matched deadlock.
Just as Du Bafang was about to say something, Bibi Dong flashed over, appearing beside him and Flender.
"???"
Du Bafang didn't recognize Bibi Dong, but Flender and Liu Erlong had.
"Laugh if you must. I am the Spirit Hall's former Holy Maiden deceived by Yu Xiaogang, and now, the Pope of the Spirit Hall—Bibi Dong."
Her tone was calm and collected, showing no discomfort under the scrutiny of the crowd.
After Yu Xiaogang's earlier revelations, her "dignity" had long since been discarded.
Yes, it was dignity—not majesty—that she had lost.
Bibi Dong's public confession took everyone by surprise.
Those who knew her had assumed she would remain silent, avoiding any acknowledgment to minimize the impact of the scandal.
No one expected her to step forward boldly, not only revealing herself but also confirming Yu Xiaogang's words.
"Greetings, Your Holiness!"
The Spirit Hall members quickly bowed respectfully to Bibi Dong.
No matter how "foolish" or "ridiculous" she might have been in the past, she was now the Pope of the Spirit Hall. Her position demanded respect, and any criticisms could only remain unspoken.
"No need for formalities," Bibi Dong said, waving her hand dismissively.
After a brief pause, she continued: "My original purpose here was to seek out Lord Martial God Douluo for certain matters. I never expected to encounter such a spectacle."