Chapter 4: Ah Yin: "Uncle could tolerate it, but I couldn't."
While Ah Yin rolled on the bed laughing uncontrollably, Zhao Ling faced a dilemma in his rented house.
On one hand, he wanted to stay in the village and pursue Ah Yin to prevent her from falling into Tang Hao's arms. On the other hand, the system had informed him that Bibi Dong would meet Yu Xiaogang in Soto City within a week and instructed him to witness the "historic" encounter of this infamous pair of infatuated lovers.
*(The original book didn't specify how they met; I made it up.)*
As we all know, both Ah Yin and Bibi Dong are extremely popular maternal characters in the original story.
Especially when Pope Bibi Dong first appeared in the anime, countless LSPs (lusty straight people) shouted the slogan: "Down with the traitor Shrek, protect our Bibi Dong."
Zhao Ling was eager to see how stunning Bibi Dong had been in her youth. The system's request to witness the meeting of a deranged man and a heartbroken woman didn't interest him at all.
Since Yu Xiaogang couldn't bring Bibi Dong happiness and even indirectly led to her being defiled by the beast Qianxunji, Zhao Ling saw no need to hold back.
His plan was simple: win over Bibi Dong before she ever met Yu Xiaogang, ensuring she never fell for that waste of a man.
But now, with Ah Yin suddenly in the picture, he couldn't simply leave. Who knew how long she would stay in the village? What if she was gone by the time he returned from Soto City? Finding her again would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
The situation was a headache…
At that moment, a virtual screen popped up with a sentence displayed on it:
[Please develop a habit: no matter the time or place, this diary system is the best way for you to vent your emotions and solve problems. Additionally, consistent updates to this diary system will grant rewards. Why not take advantage of it?]
Zhao Ling nodded in agreement. Though he didn't understand why the system encouraged him to vent his emotions into a diary, the rewards were undeniably worthwhile.
He summoned the diary panel and began pouring out his feelings.
---
**Diary Entry**
[What a headache. On one hand, I've seen Ah Yin in her teenage years, and on the other, there's Bibi Dong, who is even more popular and said to be more beautiful. How should I choose?]
[Ah Yin's teenage self already amazed me. How stunning must Bibi Dong have been in her youth?]
[I want to go to Soto City to see Bibi Dong, but I'm afraid that if I leave, Ah Yin will leave the village too. Isn't this tormenting me?]
[Alright, I admit it—I covet both Ah Yin's beauty and Bibi Dong's allure. Shameless? Perhaps. But I can't stand the thought of Bibi Dong falling for Yu Xiaogang.]
[Bibi Dong is a remarkable woman who will eventually become the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall, and later its Pope. She even reached the realm of Titled Douluo by her thirties.]
[Now look at that pathetic Yu Xiaogang, with his claim that "there are no useless soul masters, only useless martial souls." What a joke.]
[Sure, he's good at theory, but without the ninth-grade purple fungus, his soul power will never surpass level 30.]
[Despite his mediocrity, he won Bibi Dong's affection. To be with him, she defied her teacher and paid an unbearable price.]
[When Bibi Dong endured the darkest period of her life, Yu Xiaogang turned around and fell for his own cousin. How pitiful. How tragic.]
[Hmph! Since I, Zhao Ling, have traveled to the Douluo World, I will not let Bibi Dong repeat her mistakes. If Yu Xiaogang can't protect her, don't blame me for stepping in.]
---
Feeling lighter after uploading his diary entry, Zhao Ling looked at the rewards displayed on the panel.
[Diary uploaded successfully. Rating: B-grade. Congratulations! Reward: Lifespan +10 years, Charm Value +1.]
"What the hell?" Zhao Ling muttered. "Lifespan +10 years?"
The system's ability to extend lifespan was impressive. According to the original work, demigod-level Bo Saixi once mentioned that Titled Douluo live over 300 years, with each additional level granting another 100 years of life.
At level 92, Zhao Ling's expected lifespan was around 400 years. With the system's reward, it now extended to 410 years—and it would only increase as he grew stronger.
As for the additional charm value, Zhao Ling wasn't sure what it meant. His personal attribute panel still displayed "???" under charm value, leaving him puzzled about its purpose.
Meanwhile, Ah Yin—who was still laughing on the bed—suddenly heard Zhao Ling's troubled muttering. She quickly covered her mouth, listening intently.
"Bibi Dong?" she frowned, recalling the name. Wasn't that the current Pope Qianxunji's only disciple?
When she heard Zhao Ling claim that Bibi Dong was more popular and beautiful than her, her competitive spirit flared.
Ah Yin had always been proud of her looks. The way men ogled her in her transformed state fed her vanity. But now, this Zhao Ling dared to compare her unfavorably to someone he hadn't even met?
Her mood darkened from sunny to stormy, descending into a full-blown tempest.
In her anger, she stormed to the dining table and, with a sudden burst of strength, overturned it. The crash of splintering wood echoed as one of the table legs snapped clean off.
"Damn it! Damn it!" she growled.
Her fury simmered. This Zhao Ling hadn't even seen Bibi Dong yet and was already claiming she wasn't as beautiful. Unforgivable.
She silently vowed: someday, she'd tie him to a tree with her Blue Silver Emperor vines and beat him senseless for three days and nights.
---
Meanwhile, far away in Spirit Hall, the young Bibi Dong stood in front of her teacher Qianxunji, beaming with pride.
"Teacher, I've broken through to level 53! Isn't Dong'er amazing?" She looked at him expectantly, like a child seeking praise.
"Indeed, Dong'er is incredible," Qianxunji said with a gentle smile. At this point, he wasn't yet the beast who would betray his disciple but a proud mentor filled with hope.
This gifted child was destined to be the future of Spirit Hall. At just 17, she was already far stronger than he had been at her age. She was, without question, the hope of the Spirit Hall's future.
(End of Chapter)
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