Lu Ping scratched the back of his head awkwardly. He had never been particularly good at handling emotional scenes.
"It's nothing," he said plainly. "I recently came across some information about your… history with this trash."
His gaze shifted briefly toward Ma Hongjun.
"As a member of Twilight Hermit, I thought it appropriate to assist in settling unresolved debts."
Shen Luo clenched her fists. Her breathing trembled as she stared at the unconscious figure on the ground.
This time—she was not powerless. Her eyes slowly hardened, hatred, replaced her tears.
"Death is too easy for him," she said quietly.
Her voice no longer trembled.
"I don't want him to die."
She stepped closer to Ma Hongjun. Looking down at him as if he were an insect.
"I want him to wake up every day remembering tonight."
"I want him to feel powerless."
Her words were slow and cold. That made them more frightening.
Lu Ping sighed inwardly.
He did not ask for details, as he had seen enough of the world to understand— Some wounds did not did not heal with time.
He walked toward the unconscious young woman Ma Hongjun had attacked, carefully lifting her into his arms.
Lu Ping paused briefly.
"If you are certain about letting him live… then handle it cleanly."
His gaze turned sharp for a fleeting second.
"No loose ends. No unnecessary noise. Spirit City is tense."
Shen Luo bowed again.
"I understand."
Lu Ping did not stay. He stepped toward the far end of the alley.
His figure blurred slightly— Then vanished into the darkness. After Lu Ping's figure dissolved into the darkness, the alley returned to absolute stillness.
Shen Luo slowly crouched beside him. Ma Hongjun lay sprawled on the cold stone ground, unconscious, defenseless—his earlier arrogance nowhere to be seen.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, anger and old humiliation surging like poison long sealed in a jar.
"I was just a simple girl," she whispered hoarsely. "Untalented. Ordinary. Not meant for the world of so-called geniuses and Soul Masters."
Her fingers trembled, but her voice did not break.
"This world taught me something, though. Not through kindness. Not through fairness."
She leaned closer, her shadow falling across his face.
"Only strength matters. Whether you're righteous or evil. It's power that decides everything."
Her lips curved into a bitter smile.
"At first… when that bastard Dai Mubai broke things off with me…"
Her eyes flickered with an old memory—of confusion, abandonment, pride wounded but still naïve.
"You came with money. Said you wanted to help my family. Said you would alleviate our financial problems—on the condition that I became your girlfriend."
"When I think back on it now… I understand what kind of fool I was."
Her gaze hardened again.
Her voice lowered.
"When you dragged me into that brothel… when you left me there under the pretense of 'earning back the money'…"
Her nails dug into her palms.
"I was ready to die."
The memory flickered behind her eyelids.
"I remember the burning building. The heat. The ceiling collapsing."
Her breathing steadied strangely as she spoke.
"I thought that was the end."
She leaned closer to Ma Hongjun's ear.
"Yet by coincidence… I was saved."
"The Twilight Hermit Order found me."
She brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"You know… some of the higher-ranking members believe there are no coincidences in this world."
Her eyes slowly lifted toward the night sky.
"They believe nothing happens beyond HER notice."
The alley seemed colder at those words.
Shen Luo closed her eyes and bowed her head slightly.
"I give my utmost praise to the Almighty… for bringing this scum before me once more."
When she opened her eyes again— They were no longer filled with rage alone.
She withdrew a long dagger from her sleeve. Its blade reflected pale moonlight.
Ma Hongjun's lower garments were still dishevelled as Lu Ping had struck him mid-undressing.
Shen Luo did not hesitate. Her movements were efficient.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Acccompanied by brutal swift slashes was a piercing scream ripping through the alley.
Ma Hongjun's eyes snapped open, pain unlike anything he had ever felt tore through his body.
"AAAAAARRRGH—!!!"
His voice cracked.
Shock overtook him before his mind could process what had happened and he fainted again due to the overwhelming pain.
Shen Luo stepped back, breathing evenly now. She watched him for several seconds.
"You said I was weak," she murmured softly.
"You were right."
She wiped the blade clean against his clothing.
"But weak people can still pray to the Almighty Angel"
She then hid the dagger back into her sleeves and quietly walked away.
Ma Hongjun was left bleeding on the cold ground fainted. He will receive the greatest shock in his life after waking up from which he might probably never recover from, for he had already lost his manhood.
-----
Spirit City — Chambers of the Pope
This was the second time Bibi Dong had shut herself inside.
The grand chambers of the Pope—usually radiant with cold authority and oppressive dignity—now felt hollow.
Silence clung to the marble walls like dust.
Bibi Dong sat before a tall mirror, but she did not look into it. Her long violet hair hung unkempt over her shoulders.
Dark circles shadowed her eyes.
The Pope of Spirit Hall, was once again reduced to a woman wrestling her own mind.
Inside her Spirit Sea— A sinister laugh echoed.
"Ha… ha… ha…"
The Rakshasa divine intent stirred like a lurking serpent in black waters. It had always fed on her hatred, resentment and obsession.
"Bibi Dong… ah, Bibi Dong," the divine intent mocked lazily. "Why is your mind so weak?"
Its voice dripped with contempt.