522. Ice Empress' Menial Work

Standing before Bibi Dong, Ling Yuan staggered, letting out a muffled groan, her eyes filled with shock.

She had miscalculated the Pope's mood—badly.

Without time to think, Ling Yuan immediately dropped to one knee before Bibi Dong.

"Y-Your Majesty... please calm your anger!"

"Calm my anger?"

Bibi Dong slammed the open sketchbook shut with a crisp snap, her expression filled with fury.

Gritting her teeth, her voice dripped with venom.

"Ling Yuan, you’re incredibly bold! Who—who gave you permission to draw such things?!"

"I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness!"

Ling Yuan, terrified, lost all traces of her earlier pride.

Bibi Dong glared, her voice sharp and commanding:

"Answer me! Was it I who ordered you to record this? Was it me?!"

"N-No, it wasn’t. It was my own decision!"

Ling Yuan could barely breathe under the pressure.

"You—!"

Bibi Dong, even angrier, was trembling with rage, pointing at Ling Yuan as if words had failed her.

Even the calming effect of the Ice-Heart Pendant around her neck was as ineffective as a drop of water on a blazing inferno.

"Get out! Leave my sight!"

Bibi Dong’s fury erupted.

"Yes! I’ll leave at once! Your Majesty, please don’t be angry!"

Ling Yuan scrambled to her feet, her face red with shame, and hurried out of the room.


---

Outside on the grassy courtyard, Xiao Fei Die, still had her hands clamped over her ears, watching as Ling Yuan stumbled and rolled down the threshold.

Her wide eyes brimmed with curiosity and fear.

As Ling Yuan struggled to get up, a blue-and-white sketchbook was suddenly flung out of the doorway, striking her on the back of her head.

Bibi Dong’s furious voice followed closely behind:

"Take that filthy thing and burn it immediately!"

"Yes!"

Ling Yuan quickly bent down, reaching out to grab the book.

"Wait."

In an instant, Bibi Dong moved faster than her voice, appearing outside with her face flushed crimson.

Her tone, suppressed and icy, was filled with shame and anger.

"I’ll do it myself."

"..."

Ling Yuan froze, her gaze lifting in confusion to Bibi Dong.

She thought perhaps Bibi Dong had changed her mind—

"Do you want me to chop off your filthy hands and gouge out your eyes?!"

Bibi Dong’s eyes burned with malice and killing intent, making it clear how dangerous her thoughts had been.

Ling Yuan didn’t dare entertain such thoughts further. It would be utterly treasonous!

"Your Majesty misunderstands! I’ll leave at once! I’ll leave right now!"

Shivering, Ling Yuan hastily explained, her face pale with fear. She didn’t dare linger, using all her strength to flee as fast as she could.

This was, without a doubt, the most dangerous moment of her life!

She’d nearly destroyed not only herself but also her future children with the Holy Son!

A complete catastrophe—a life forfeit, and possibly two lives lost.

From now on, it seemed wise to walk the straight and narrow, abandoning any schemes or shortcuts.

Better to stop trying to "worship" others to the point of crippling them.


---

Meanwhile, Xiao Fei Die lay prostrate on the ground, entirely clueless about what had just transpired.

A dignified Title Douluo had fled in disgrace, leaving behind an infuriated Bibi Dong.

Watching Bibi Dong’s trembling figure, her chest heaving with anger, Xiao Fei Die hesitantly called out:

"G-Grandmaster…"

Hearing the voice, Bibi Dong’s gaze, sharp as a blade, turned toward Xiao Feidie.

"Ah—!"

"Grandmaster, spare me! Spare me! Xiao Fei Die didn’t see anything… truly, nothing at all!"

As the killing intent bore down on her, Xiao Fei Die’s purple spirit light dissolved, and she screamed in terror, pleading repeatedly for mercy.

Bibi Dong squinted slightly.

She reached out, picked up the scattered sketchbook from the ground, and closed it tightly in her hands.

Without hesitation, she strode toward the kitchen, her voice cold as she gave an order:

"Continue your training!"

"Yes, Grandmaster!"

Xiao Fei Die replied loudly, quickly sitting cross-legged on the grass. However, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t calm her mind.

With the aid of her Purple Demon Eye, it was almost impossible to avoid catching some details.

She couldn’t understand why a sketchbook of her senior uncle would make her Grandmaster so furious. Could it be that Elder Ling Yuan had drawn her uncle too poorly?

Xiao Fei Die tilted her face upward, watching the faint trails of smoke rising from the chimney of the kitchen.

She was utterly puzzled but dared not voice her thoughts—her Grandmaster had been terrifying just moments ago!

After a long while, the smoke dispersed.

Bibi Dong, her face still flushed, finally emerged from the kitchen.

Casting a glance at Xiao Fei Die, who appeared to be meditating, she quickly returned to her quarters.

"Ling Yuan! You did this on purpose, didn’t you? Stirring up trouble just to irritate me!"

Bibi Dong made her way toward the closed cultivation chambers, muttering to herself as she tried to calm down.


---

Meanwhile, inside the Pope’s Hall, Qian Renjue felt slightly dazed, shaking his head lightly in confusion.

"Qian Renjue, are you all right?"

The Ice Empress, who was helping him cut paper at the desk, looked at him with concern.

"It’s nothing. Maybe I’ve just been staring at things for too long," Qian Renjue replied casually, rubbing his temples to brush off her concerns.

"As long as you’re fine. Here, all the paper has been cut."

The Ice Empress pushed the neatly trimmed sheets toward him, her tone faintly resentful.

For her, a mighty Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor, to use her pincers for such menial work—it was absurd in the world of spirit beasts.

"Thank you."

Qian Renjue smiled, patting the Ice Empress on the head as he reached for the papers.

But the little scorpion quickly dodged, her movements wary.

Qian Renjue found this amusing and tapped her lightly with the tip of his pen.

"Why do you seem like you’re afraid of me now?"

"Nonsense!"

The Ice Empress vehemently denied it, emphasizing her words.

"I’m not afraid of you at all. Never!"

"All right, all right. I was just joking."

Qian Renjue laughed, setting down his pen and leaving her alone.

"Hmph."

The Ice Empress seemed a bit flustered. Memories of Ye Lingling’s dramatic cries still lingered vividly in her mind.

She would never allow herself to be humiliated like that!

The Ice Empress lay on the table, observing Qian Renjue quietly for a while. Seeing he wasn’t teasing her anymore, she grew bored and spoke softly:

"Qian Renjue, can we go back and visit my sister in a few days?"

"Sure."

Qian Renjue didn’t even look up as he agreed.

"Really?"

"Really. If you give me a shoulder massage, I’ll take you there tonight."

"Deal!"

"Hmm?"

Qian Renjue raised an eyebrow, surprised by her quick and enthusiastic response.

"W-What are you looking at?"

The Ice Empress covered her face with her pincers, embarrassed, her body glowing with a soft green light as she transformed into human form.

Now standing beside Qian Renjue's desk, she had twin green ponytails, a youthful, delicate face, and a petite figure wrapped in a green dress.

She looked like a lively and adorable young girl.

Hands on her hips, her face slightly flushed, she pouted and snapped:

"Why are you staring? Didn’t you say you were tired of looking earlier?"

"Haha…"

Qian Renjue chuckled at her reaction, amused.

"Stop laughing! If you keep laughing, I won’t help you!"

The Ice Empress sounded indignant, lifting her feet onto the wide throne and sitting cross-legged.

Kneeling behind Qian Renjue, she gently placed her hands on his shoulders, her touch soft and light.

"Thanks."

Qian Renjue expressed his gratitude softly, leaning back slightly.

"Ah!"

The Ice Empress quickly supported his body as it leaned toward her, finding him unexpectedly warm, like holding a burning ember.

"S-Sit properly!"

"I only wanted to go back to see my sister, nothing else."

"Fine. How about we go tonight?"

"..."

Outside the Pope’s Hall, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged smiles. They were both amused and resigned to the situation, finding it all too familiar.