c2: The Scoundrel Yu Xiaogang
Not far behind Bibi Dong stood a young man who appeared to be around twenty years old.
He wore a simple Spirit Hall scholar's robe, his figure upright yet lacking confidence, giving off an unremarkable and somewhat restrained presence.
The youth had short, neatly trimmed hair, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, but his overall appearance was extremely ordinary.
Although he tried to maintain a dignified posture, his expression often betrayed a deep-seated lack of confidence that he could not conceal.
His back was straight, yet his eyes would occasionally flicker with hesitation and inferiority.
Especially whenever Bibi Dong turned to look at him, a faint nervousness would surface in his gaze, as though he felt unworthy of standing beside her.
When Bibi Dong turned back and smiled at him, the young man would subconsciously lower his head.
In his heart, he regarded himself as insignificant, someone who could never truly match the brilliance of the girl before him.
To him, Bibi Dong was like a radiant goddess descended from the heavens, while he was merely an insignificant mortal.
That overwhelming difference in status, talent, and background constantly weighed on his mind.
As Bibi Dong turned to smile at the young man, Ao Tian's gaze naturally shifted toward him as well.
With a single glance, he had already seen through everything about this youth, from his Spirit to his fragile mental state.
From the memories he had extracted earlier from Qian Xunji, Ao Tian instantly recognized this person's identity.
This seemingly ordinary youth was none other than Yu Xiaogang, who would later be known across the continent as the so-called Grandmaster.
When Bibi Dong looked at Yu Xiaogang, her lively and intelligent eyes clearly carried a trace of affection and admiration.
That subtle emotion, though not openly expressed, was obvious enough to be noticed by someone like Ao Tian.
This immediately caused a trace of displeasure to appear in Ao Tian's expression.
To him, such a pairing was nothing short of absurd, something that completely violated his sense of superiority and dominance.
The Dragon Clan had always been arrogant and overbearing, standing at the absolute pinnacle of all lifeforms.
After existing as a supreme Dragon for over five hundred million years, that pride and dominance had long since fused into Ao Tian's very bones and Soul.
In his eyes, only the strongest and most perfect beings were worthy of standing beside him or those he acknowledged.
Anything beneath that standard was nothing more than insignificant existence, unworthy of even a second glance.
At this moment, Ao Tian had already made up his mind to intervene.
Not only would he prevent Bibi Dong from falling into Qian Xunji's hands, but the matter concerning Yu Xiaogang also needed to be dealt with.
In his perception, the difference between Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang was like that between a noble white swan soaring in the heavens and a weak creature crawling in the mud.
No matter how one looked at it, Yu Xiaogang simply did not possess the qualifications to stand beside her.
Before long, Qian Xunji concluded his speech filled with fanatic persuasion and returned toward the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
The crowd gradually dispersed, though their expressions remained filled with lingering excitement and blind faith.
Bibi Dong then walked lightly toward Yu Xiaogang's side, her steps graceful and filled with youthful vitality.
A bright smile appeared on her face as she spoke in a cheerful tone.
"Brother Xiaogang, I heard that you recently developed a theory regarding the Ten Core Competencies of Spirits. Can you tell me about it?"
Hearing her words, Yu Xiaogang's eyes instantly filled with a mixture of deep affection and overwhelming inferiority.
Facing such a brilliant and talented girl, he could not help but feel small and insignificant.
How could someone as intelligent and perceptive as Bibi Dong fail to notice the emotions hidden within Yu Xiaogang?
She understood his self-doubt clearly, yet she chose to respond with warmth rather than distance.
She smiled gently and said,
"Let's go to your office. You can explain your theory to me in detail there."
Without waiting for Yu Xiaogang's response, she had already turned around and walked away with light and nimble steps.
Her figure seemed to dance gracefully as she moved, drawing attention wherever she went.
Yu Xiaogang hesitated for a brief moment before letting out a quiet sigh.
In the end, he had no choice but to follow behind her, his emotions complicated and difficult to describe.
At that very moment, within a shadowed corner nearby, a figure slowly stepped out.
It was none other than Qian Xunji, who had not truly left but instead remained hidden, observing everything.
As he watched Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang walking away together, his expression gradually darkened.
A cold and possessive light flashed across his eyes, filled with suppressed anger and obsession.
His hands clenched tightly into fists, veins bulging slightly under the pressure of his grip.
The jealousy and desire within him had already reached a dangerous level.
"Yu Xiaogang, you useless trash…" he muttered in a low voice.
"Don't you dare lay a hand on Dong'er. She belongs to me—her body, her heart… everything should belong to me alone!"
…
At this moment, the street where Ao Tian stood had already become completely congested.
Crowds of people gathered densely, blocking the roads and surrounding him from all directions.
The cause of this strange phenomenon was none other than Ao Tian himself.
His existence alone was enough to draw attention, as his appearance had reached an unimaginable level of perfection.
His facial features were flawless to the extreme, as though carved by the heavens themselves.
His attire carried an indescribable nobility, and combined with the faint loneliness he exuded, it created an irresistible charm.
Humans were naturally drawn to beauty, and this instinct was deeply rooted within them.
Even though Ao Tian appeared to be only a young boy, his presence surpassed all conventional standards of attractiveness.
Regardless of age or gender, everyone who saw him found themselves unable to look away.
Their hearts were unconsciously captivated, their thoughts completely drawn toward him.
"Superficial humans," Ao Tian said with a faint curl of his lips.
That simple expression alone caused countless onlookers to feel their hearts race uncontrollably.
Several young girls and women could not withstand the overwhelming impact.
Their eyes rolled back as they fainted on the spot, overcome by excitement and emotional shock.
Seeing this, Ao Tian shook his head slightly, a hint of helplessness appearing in his eyes.
He clearly found such reactions meaningless and somewhat troublesome.
In the next instant, his body transformed into a wisp of green smoke.
Without causing the slightest disturbance, he completely disappeared from where he stood.
The crowd gradually regained their senses, as though awakening from a dream.
Each person looked around in confusion, unable to understand what had just happened or why they had gathered there.
Ao Tian's figure silently appeared inside Yu Xiaogang's research office.
The room was filled with books, Spirit theory notes, and various research materials, reflecting Yu Xiaogang's obsession with Spirit knowledge rather than cultivation strength.
Yu Xiaogang was currently explaining his research results to Bibi Dong with great excitement.
This theory—the Ten Core Competencies of Spirits—was the culmination of his lifelong study, something he took immense pride in despite his low Spirit rank.
Bibi Dong sat gracefully at the table, her delicate chin supported by one hand.
Her bright eyes were fixed on Yu Xiaogang as she listened attentively, as if completely immersed in his words.
Ao Tian stood quietly beside them, unnoticed.
A subtle ripple of spatial power surrounded him, isolating his presence from reality itself so that neither Bibi Dong nor Yu Xiaogang could perceive him.
"Holy Maiden, what do you think of my theory?" Yu Xiaogang asked with anticipation.
When speaking about his research, the inferiority he usually displayed vanished entirely, replaced by rare confidence and pride.
"Xiaogang, you are truly talented," Bibi Dong replied with admiration.
Her voice was gentle as she reached out, intending to hold Yu Xiaogang's hand in encouragement.
Yu Xiaogang's expression changed abruptly.
He recoiled as if shocked, quickly withdrawing his hand and standing up in panic.
"Your Highness, Holy Maiden… you are pure and flawless. I… I dare not dirty your hands," he said nervously.
His voice carried both reverence and self-deprecation, revealing the deep inferiority rooted within him.
Bibi Dong's expression dimmed slightly as she spoke softly,
"Xiaogang, we both understand each other's feelings. What I admire is your knowledge and insight. Even if your cultivation talent is low, in my eyes, you are still exceptional."
Yu Xiaogang lowered his head once more, unable to respond.
The gap he perceived between them made it impossible for him to accept her feelings openly.
In his heart, Bibi Dong was like a flawless snow lotus blooming atop an unreachable peak.
He did not dare to approach, nor did he believe himself worthy of doing so.
Watching this scene, Ao Tian's brows furrowed slightly in irritation.
To him, it was incomprehensible that someone like Bibi Dong would develop feelings for such a weak and indecisive man.
He knew clearly from the original trajectory of events that Bibi Dong would later suffer immensely because of this person.
Such an outcome, in his view, was utterly unacceptable.
"If she is to be saved, then the root of the problem must be dealt with," Ao Tian thought calmly.
And that root was none other than Yu Xiaogang himself.
Even without his intervention, Yu Xiaogang would eventually be expelled from Spirit Hall.
Thus, Ao Tian saw no issue in accelerating that process slightly.
He gently exhaled a breath toward Yu Xiaogang.
That invisible force carried a subtle influence, quietly amplifying the darkest desires buried within Yu Xiaogang's heart.
Yu Xiaogang's lowered head suddenly lifted.
His eyes, which once held hesitation, were now filled with an unfamiliar intensity as he stared directly at Bibi Dong.
His gaze gradually turned bloodshot, his face flushing red as his breathing became heavy and uneven.
A suppressed desire, long buried beneath inferiority and restraint, began to surface uncontrollably.
"Xiaogang… what's wrong with you?" Bibi Dong asked in alarm.
She immediately sensed that something was terribly off about his current state.
Yu Xiaogang stood upright, his weak spirit power fluctuating wildly.
In a sudden motion, he tore open his upper garment and lunged toward Bibi Dong recklessly.
"Bibi Dong, I only got close to you because I wanted you. I want you now, if you care about me, then don't resist!"
Bibi Dong froze in disbelief.
Looking at the distorted and unfamiliar expression on Yu Xiaogang's face, she felt as if everything she believed in had shattered instantly.
With a sharp cry, she instinctively struck out with her hand.
At this time, she had already reached the Spirit Emperor realm, far surpassing Yu Xiaogang in strength.
A surge of powerful spirit energy burst forth from her palm and struck Yu Xiaogang directly in the chest.
Pfft
Yu Xiaogang spat out a mouthful of blood, his body sent flying backward as he crashed violently into a bookshelf.
The shelves collapsed under the impact, scattering books across the floor.
"I want you… I want you…" he muttered hoarsely, struggling to rise once more.
Driven by distorted impulses, he lunged toward Bibi Dong again despite his injuries.
The disbelief on Bibi Dong's face had completely turned into sorrow.
After striking him away once more, tears streamed down her face as she turned and ran out of the room.
Yu Xiaogang had already endured two direct attacks from her.
Even though Bibi Dong held back and did not use lethal force, it was far beyond what his weak cultivation could withstand.
After the second blow, his body finally gave out.
He collapsed onto the ground and lost consciousness completely.
Ao Tian nodded slightly, a trace of satisfaction appearing in his eyes.
He would never allow Bibi Dong to spend her entire life suffering for this man as she did in the original story.
To completely sever her attachment, the most effective method was to destroy her trust in him at this very moment.
Only then could her fate truly be altered.
As for Yu Xiaogang, compared to the original timeline, he had merely lost Bibi Dong's affection earlier.
Nothing more.
…
Inside Bibi Dong's private chamber, Ao Tian's figure quietly appeared.
The room was decorated in soft pink tones, filled with a faint, elegant fragrance unique to a young maiden.
Ao Tian inhaled lightly, a subtle restlessness stirring within him.
Even with his ancient mindset, such an environment still carried a certain unfamiliar influence.
He lowered his head to look at his own body, revealing a hint of helplessness.
The Nine-Turn Heavenly Dragon Technique he cultivated caused his physical form to regress in age with each completed breakthrough.
Having just reached the ninth turn, his current human form remained that of a young child.
This appearance was clearly inconvenient for what he intended to do next.
Just as he was considering his approach, the door was suddenly pushed open.
Bibi Dong rushed inside, her movements hurried and unsteady.
She threw herself onto the bed, burying her face as she began to sob uncontrollably.
Her entire body trembled, overwhelmed by heartbreak and betrayal.
She had believed Yu Xiaogang to be different from others.
Yet what she witnessed just now shattered that belief completely, leaving only pain behind.
In her eyes, he had become no different from those men driven by base desires.
The disappointment struck her deeply, breaking something within her.
Bibi Dong lay on the bed, crying without restraint.
The sound of her sobbing filled the quiet room, heavy with sorrow.
Ao Tian watched silently for a moment before making a decision.
He dispelled his concealment and revealed himself openly.
Turning around, his body transformed into his adult form.
This was his true appearance perfect, flawless, and possessing an overwhelming presence that surpassed mortal limits.
He walked slowly toward the bedside, his movements calm and steady.
Reaching out, he gently placed his hand on Bibi Dong's shoulder and patted it lightly twice.
Startled, Bibi Dong trembled like a frightened rabbit and quickly turned around.
Her tear-filled eyes widened in shock as she looked at the unexpected figure before her.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
However, the moment she clearly saw Ao Tian's face, the vigilance in her expression faded instantly.
She stared at him blankly, completely stunned by his appearance, which seemed beyond anything human.
It was as if she were looking at a being that did not belong to this world.
Ao Tian revealed a gentle smile, warm and calming like flowing jade.
"I am the one who has come to save you."
....