Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

Wuhun City, inside the Pope's Palace.

In the majestic hall, the morning light streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting dappled shadows on the floor. A ghostly figure appeared in the center of the hall, his black robes billowing even without wind. He knelt on one knee before the magnificent throne high above, his voice as chilling as the winds of the deepest hell: "Your Majesty, the Starry Sky Forest is now fully prepared."

The figure on the throne leaned forward slightly, the jeweled scepter tapping the ground with a crisp sound. A hint of surprise flashed in those unfathomable eyes, as deep as a cold pool.

"oh?"

A single, simple word seemed to instantly lower the temperature of the entire hall. For a ruler, unexpected events were never welcome. The ghostly figure lowered its head even further, its body beneath the black robe involuntarily tensing.

"Your Majesty, we have pinpointed the exact location of the escaped foe," a ghostly voice echoed in the empty hall. "Feng Yao has also rejoined the group as scheduled."

Bibi Dong tapped her jeweled scepter lightly on the gilded floor tiles, producing a crisp sound. "It's much faster than expected."

The ghostly figure remained bowed: "It's all thanks to Your Majesty's strategic planning. The child, upon arriving at the camp, immediately used his special abilities to help us locate our target. I personally went to verify this; it's beyond doubt."

Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong unconsciously stroked the gem at the top of her scepter. A moment of silence fell over the hall, with only the dust motes floating in the morning light bearing witness to this moment of contemplation.

“In that case,” she finally spoke, her voice like a flowing spring, “I will depart immediately after I have settled the affairs within the palace.”

"As you command." The ghost bowed deeply, her black robes slowly dissipating like smoke outside the palace doors. Inside the vast Papal Palace, only Bibi Dong remained, sitting alone on the throne. She gazed at the painted dome above the palace, a meaningful smile curving her lips.

After the ghostly figure completely disappeared outside the palace gates, Bibi Dong leaned against the papal throne, her deep gaze piercing through the stained-glass windows, looking towards the Starry Sky Forest. She parted her red lips slightly and murmured, "A coincidence...or did that child see through my plan?"

Her fingertips unconsciously traced the gems on the scepter as she pondered: Spirit City and Star Dou Great Forest were practically next door; at the speed of a Title Douluo, she could reach the core area in half a day. Feng Yao's swift targeting had disrupted her plans—even if Heaven Dou City received the information she had deliberately leaked, by the time they arrived, she would likely have already completed absorbing the spirit ring.

“If it’s a deliberate delay…” A sharp glint flashed in her eyes, “that child, with his intelligence, will surely notice something amiss. More importantly, if this interferes with Qian Renxue’s plans…”
The thought of her stubborn daughter possibly coming to question her evoked a complex emotion in Bibi Dong's eyes. Suddenly, she raised her hand, and several mental transmissions spread out like ripples, methodically arranging the affairs within the hall.

“So be it.” She sighed softly, tapped her scepter on the ground, and slowly rose. Her magnificent papal robes trailed behind her, leaving an elegant trail on the gilded floor tiles as she walked toward the morning light outside the palace.

As Bibi Dong stepped out of the Papal Palace, the morning light bathed the Pope's gilded carriage. Sixteen pure white horses stood quietly, their silver manes shimmering softly in the morning light. She looked up at the sky; the direction of the Starry Sky Forest was shrouded in mist, and she couldn't help but feel a renewed curiosity about the mysterious young man.

"Your Majesty, please." The ghost stood respectfully beside the carriage shaft, its black robes swaying gently in the breeze.

Bibi Dong gracefully raised her hand and placed it on the brocade armrest offered by the attendant. Although with her title Douluo cultivation, traveling a thousand miles a day was not difficult, as the supreme ruler of the Spirit Hall, such grand displays of authority were indispensable.

The moment the carriage curtain fell, a slight smile played on her lips. The wheels turned slowly, leaving faint tracks on the red carpet-covered road. Members of the Spirit Hall along the way knelt in worship, but none of them knew that this esteemed Pope was pondering just how many more surprises the young man, who always managed to surprise her, still held.

The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the entire campsite red. Feng Yao's slender fingers gently pressed the vibrating strings of the zither, and the last melodious note of the zither dissipated like smoke into the twilight.

As he slowly opened his eyes, a noble and elegant figure in purple stood silently before the tent. The soft light of the setting sun gilded the figure, and the magnificent papal robes swayed gently in the evening breeze. The light reflected from the gem at the top of the scepter stung his eyes.

"Your Holiness the Pope?" Feng Yao's pupils contracted slightly, and his fingertips trembled involuntarily. He clearly remembered that when he closed his eyes to play the zither just now, there was no one around. This ruler of the Spirit Hall had actually managed to break through his domain perception so silently.

Bibi Dong's lips curled into a faint smile, her eyes unfathomable. She gazed silently at Feng Yao, her scepter lightly tapping the ground with a soft "tap," startling the night birds perched on the treetops not far away.

Upon seeing this, Feng Yao immediately withdrew Fu Xi and respectfully bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty. It has been several years since we last met, and Your Majesty's demeanor is even more radiant than before."

Bibi Dong's lips curved slightly, and she gently raised her jade-like hand, a soft yet irresistible soul force lifting Feng Yao up: "Your appearance has changed quite a bit, but your mouth is as sweet as ever." Her voice was like a clear spring striking stone, "As your teacher, I must thank you for your guidance on behalf of Nana."

Feng Yao looked up, meeting Bibi Dong's deep gaze. He was about to speak when she lightly tapped her scepter: "Are you wondering why I specifically summoned you here?"

Startled that his thoughts had been read, Feng Yao paused for a moment, then nodded with a wry smile. In the twilight, he noticed an unfathomable glint in Bibi Dong's eyes. A gentle evening breeze carried the faint crackling of a distant campfire, adding a subtle atmosphere to their conversation.

Holding her scepter, Bibi Dong stared intently at Feng Yao, her tone chillingly calm: "I hoped you would truly become a member of the Spirit Hall. For that reason, I deliberately leaked information about this operation to the Heavenly Dou faction." She paused, a meaningful smile curving her red lips, "But I didn't expect you to find your target so quickly."

Feng Yao gave a wry smile upon hearing this. Bibi Dong's bluntness was clearly a way of silencing him—not only did she want him to take on this hot potato, but she also wanted him to clean up the mess for her. After all, with Qian Renxue's intelligence, it was only a matter of time before she realized what was going on.

"Does Your Majesty really distrust me that much?" Feng Yao sighed helplessly.

Bibi Dong's eyes flickered slightly, and her voice suddenly deepened: "You fickle boy, although I don't know how you persuaded Xue'er to accept them," she lightly stroked the gem on her scepter, "but you have a close relationship with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling. A change of stance can sometimes happen in the blink of an eye, just like..." She suddenly stopped speaking, as if lost in some memory, a dark glint in her eyes.

A night breeze swept by, swirling a few fallen leaves between the two. Bibi Dong ultimately didn't continue speaking, but instead slammed her scepter down heavily, producing a crisp sound. This gesture seemed to contain too many unspeakable emotions.

Upon hearing this, Feng Yao inwardly grumbled, "You should worry more about your precious disciple." However, he remained outwardly composed; after all, she was his mother-in-law. He respectfully replied, "I understand Your Majesty's concerns. I will explain this matter properly to Xue'er." Bibi Dong nodded slightly, her tone unusually gentle: "You are very clever. With you by her side to take care of her, I feel very reassured. She should be doing well in Tian Dou City?"

Feng Yao's gaze dimmed slightly: "No matter how good Tian Dou is, it's still not home. How can one find peace of mind living in the shadows of others while wearing a mask every day?"

"Click—" The jewel on the scepter made a barely audible sound. Bibi Dong's knuckles turned slightly white, but she quickly regained her composure. She abruptly stood up, her robes billowing as she turned towards the outside of the tent: "It's getting late. We must act immediately after dinner, and make sure it's a swift victory."

Bibi Dong felt a complex mix of emotions. As a mother, Feng Yao's words of defense of Qian Renxue did warm her heart—she could see genuine care for her daughter in Feng Yao's eyes, and this affection secretly comforted her. But precisely because of this, an indescribable bitterness welled up in her heart as well.

The jewels on the scepter were unconsciously rubbed until they were hot. Memories of the past kept replaying in her mind.

Bibi Dong suddenly recalled the reproach that flashed in Feng Yao's eyes when he spoke earlier—it was a genuine emotion that she hadn't seen in many years as the Pope of the Spirit Hall, not for power, but purely for Qian Renxue.

"Let's go."

She uttered only those two words softly, concealing a myriad of thoughts deep within her mind. As she turned, her long robes traced an elegant yet lonely arc in the setting sun. Some regrets are destined to be irreparable, just as some distances forever lie between the identities of Pope and Mother.

"Yes." Feng Yao bowed, glancing at the slightly hurried steps of the purple figure out of the corner of his eye, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The awkward personalities of this mother and daughter were cut from the same cloth.

Feng Yao followed Bibi Dong out of the tent and found that most of the soul masters in the camp had been dispatched to carry out outer interception missions. They quickly arrived at the assembly point, and upon seeing the Pope's arrival, everyone immediately knelt on one knee and bowed in unison: "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Bibi Dong slightly raised her hand: "No need for formalities. We will depart immediately after dinner and proceed according to the established plan." Her gaze swept over Feng Yao, "As for Xiao Feng," her tone carrying an undeniable authority, "he will accompany me."

“Yes,” Feng Yao replied respectfully.

Hu Liena and the others all showed surprise upon hearing this, but no one dared to voice their doubts. Yan clenched and unclenched his fists at his sides, while Xie Yue glanced thoughtfully at his sister. Under the moonlight, everyone had their own thoughts, yet they all tacitly remained silent. The night wind stirred up the embers of the campfire, adding a touch of grimness to the impending soul-hunting operation.

Meanwhile, on a dark path in the wilderness of the Heavenly Dou Empire.

A dark figure moved swiftly through the forest like a ghost, its footsteps so unpredictable as to be almost illusory. In the moonlight, only the fine dust kicked up with each step could be vaguely seen, but the complete trajectory of its footsteps could not be discerned.

"Xiao Wu, you must hold on."

The low murmur dissipated in the night wind. Purple light swirled in Tang San's eyes as he unleashed the Ghost Shadow Steps to their fullest potential, transforming himself almost into a black lightning bolt. The Eight Spider Lances flickered behind him, each launch increasing his speed by a third.

The shadows of the trees along the road rushed past him, and he was completely unaware of the sharp branches that scratched his face, drawing blood. His Xuan Tian Gong circulated wildly through his meridians, increasing its speed to an unprecedented level.

"wait for me."

The two words seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying an unprecedented anxiety and determination. Moonlight shone on his taut profile, illuminating his bloodshot eyes.

After dinner, the Spirit Hall's team advanced rapidly in the direction indicated by Feng Yao. However, the deeper they ventured into the forest, the more solemn Gui Mei and Yue Guan's expressions became—the powerful spirit beasts that had been lurking in the shadows had mysteriously vanished, leaving only the chirping of insects and birds echoing in the night. This unusual tranquility made the two battle-hardened Title Douluos secretly tense up.

"rustle--"

The Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum in Yue Guan's hand moved without wind, its golden petals trembling slightly. He exchanged a wary glance with the ghost, and the two of them slowed their pace in unison.

Bibi Dong suddenly stopped, lightly tapping her scepter on the soft soil. "It seems," a cold smile curved her red lips, "that we've already stepped into the territory of those two beasts."

Before she could finish speaking, an eerie silence suddenly enveloped the surroundings, even the last chirping of insects ceased abruptly. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the tree canopy, casting dappled shadows on the ground like countless peering eyes. Hu Liena unconsciously took half a step closer to Bibi Dong, already summoning her martial spirit, ready to strike at any moment.

As they passed through the last dense thicket of trees, the sight before them made all the Spirit Hall members hold their breath instantly—

A crystal-clear lake, as clear as a jewel, lies quietly nestled in the embrace of the forest, its surface reflecting the silhouettes of the towering ancient trees. Morning light filters through the gaps in the tree canopy, scattering countless dancing golden glimmers across the water, transforming the entire lakeside into a dreamlike scene.

At the edge of this idyllic scene, a mountain-like black shadow crouched silently. It was a gigantic ape, entirely black, its shoulder height exceeding seven meters even on all fours, and likely over fifteen meters if standing upright. Its body was covered in fur that shimmered with a metallic sheen, every muscle bulging like granite, exuding explosive power. Most striking were its lantern-sized amber eyes, gleaming with a chilling glint in the morning light.

And perched atop this colossal, masculine beast was an exquisitely beautiful young woman. Her long, white dress cascaded down her back, and her flowing black hair cascaded over the giant ape's shoulder. Her delicate, almost otherworldly face possessed an ethereal beauty that blended seamlessly with her surroundings. As a gentle breeze stirred, her dress and hair fluttered in the wind, as if the very essence of the forest had gathered around her.

Hu Liena unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes. She, who had always been proud of her beauty, felt ashamed for the first time in her life.

(End of this chapter)