Before, Bibi Dong had scoffed at marriages arranged for mutual benefit, but now she no longer resented the idea so much.
Since she couldn't resist, she might as well resign herself to it.
She would never admit it was because of Xu Feng.
The past few days spent with Xu Feng had probably been the happiest of her life.
Sometimes, when she opened her eyes in the morning, Xu Feng's unrestrained, devil-may-care appearance would pop into her mind. Sometimes she dreamed of him, and sometimes she even found herself laughing absentmindedly all alone.
When Bibi Dong realized how much she had changed, even she was startled.
Xu Feng was simply too unconventional.
When other people spent time with her, they couldn't wait to use every trick they had to please her, desperate to present a perfect image of themselves before her.
But,
Xu Feng was different.
Sometimes Xu Feng deliberately provoked her; at other times, he would suddenly come out with a trite line or two that made her blush and her heart race. Her mood rose and fell throughout the day, and he made no attempt to polish his image in front of her.
At first, she could still maintain the noble, dignified air of a holy maiden.
In the end, she cast off the burden of being a holy maiden. She felt completely at ease with Xu Feng, without having to worry in the slightest that her improper conduct might reflect poorly on Spirit Hall.
All these years, her status as Spirit Hall's holy maiden had given her supreme glory and resources, but it had also weighed on her like a mountain. She had to watch her every word and action, afraid that a single mistake would reflect poorly on Spirit Hall.
Setting aside her identity as holy maiden once in a while was a true relief, and even her state of mind seemed to have improved.
"Xu Feng, thank you," Bibi Dong said earnestly.
"Thank me?" Xu Feng raised an eyebrow. "For what? For bullying you these past few days?"
"You!" Bibi Dong was angry again. She had discovered that she couldn't remain composed around Xu Feng. She had gone from an elegant holy maiden to a wildcat leaping up and down.
One day, while Bibi Dong was showing Xu Feng around Spirit Hall's plaza, a female deacon of Spirit Hall approached and said respectfully, "Greetings, Holy Maiden!"
When Bibi Dong saw the deacon, she resumed her usual noble and sacred bearing. Her brows furrowed slightly, seemingly displeased by the interruption. She had only just enjoyed a few carefree days, and now she had to put on the mantle of holy maiden again.
"What is it?" she asked coldly.
"His Holiness the Pope asks that you bring Lord Xu to the Pope's Palace. He says there is an important matter to discuss." Sensing the intensely oppressive fluctuations of Soul Power emanating from the holy maiden, the deacon spoke even more respectfully.
"All right, you may go," Bibi Dong instructed.
I wonder what Teacher wants with Xu Feng and me at a time like this. Could the person he sent to visit Sea God Island have returned? Bibi Dong wondered. Suddenly, she grew a little nervous. Could the people from Sea God Island have come too?
She didn't know why, but the thought of the people from Sea God Island having come made her heart beat faster, leaving her nervous and apprehensive.
If outsiders saw the holy maiden like this, their jaws would surely drop to the floor. The unattainable holy maiden could get nervous too?
Am I about to meet Xu Feng's family? Bibi Dong thought apprehensively, a trace of fear appearing on her fair, delicate face.
It seemed that whether holy maiden or commoner, anyone would be filled with apprehension when faced with such a situation.
She hurriedly took out a mirror and tidied her appearance.
Xu Feng had no idea what was going through Bibi Dong's mind. "You have to tidy yourself up just to see your own teacher? Spirit Hall has way too many lousy rules." He made no attempt to hide his criticism.
"You!" Bibi Dong glared at Xu Feng. She couldn't very well say she wanted to make a good first impression on the people from Sea God Island.
Before long, she brought Xu Feng to the Pope's Palace.
"Teacher!" As she greeted Qian Xunji, she discreetly swept her gaze around the Pope's Palace, only to find it completely empty. There was no sign of anyone from Sea God Island. "Teacher, where are the people from Sea God Island?" she asked subconsciously.
"What people from Sea God Island?" Qian Xunji was momentarily taken aback. He was puzzled; the Titled Douluo he had sent to visit Sea God Island had yet to return.
"I didn't call you and Xu Feng here about Sea God Island. There's something I need Xu Feng's help with," Qian Xunji said.
Hearing Bibi Dong and Qian Xunji's exchange, Xu Feng finally caught on. He looked at Bibi Dong with a knowing glint in his eyes. "Oh, so that's why you were looking in the mirror outside..."
Before he could finish, Bibi Dong, like a little white demonic tiger baring its fangs, raised her voice several pitches and hurriedly cut him off:
"Stop!"
"Don't you dare spout nonsense!"
"Or I'll make you pay!"
Bibi Dong's face was red with shame, and she was utterly mortified. She wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into, while her toes, like mutton-fat jade, were so embarrassed they were practically digging another Pope's Palace into the floor.
Looking at Bibi Dong's face, which was practically ripe with blushes, Xu Feng could barely hold it in. The dignified holy maiden actually had such an unexpectedly adorable side.
Qian Xunji looked at Bibi Dong, then at Xu Feng, unable to tell what game the two were playing.
Ah, I really am getting old. I can't understand young people anymore, he sighed inwardly.
"Big Nephew, what did you call me here to help with? For the sake of my good brother Old Qian, I won't stand by and do nothing," Xu Feng said, getting straight to the point.
Qian Xunji had still been sighing to himself, but the words "Big Nephew" immediately set him off. White smoke practically poured from his ears, his chest heaved violently, and his breathing stopped for a moment as he stared fixedly at Xu Feng.
"You and Dong'er are soon to be married, and I'm Dong'er's teacher. What should you call me?" Qian Xunji demanded.
"Still Big Nephew," Xu Feng said mildly.
"You!" Qian Xunji was so angry he was close to fainting. He had discovered that Xu Feng was a scoundrel who couldn't be reasoned with or spoken to normally.
"Xu Feng, you mustn't be disrespectful to Teacher." Caught between them, Bibi Dong was at a loss. She didn't want Xu Feng and her teacher to fall out, so she could only try to persuade him. "Teacher is the Pope of Spirit Hall, and he's also your senior. Calling him 'Big Nephew' is a little improper."
"Besides, in the future... if you and I marry, surely you can't keep calling Teacher that?" At this, Bibi Dong grew a little bashful.
"It's fine. We can each address him according to our own relationship."
"Whoever has the bigger fist is the senior."
Xu Feng curled his lip and spoke dismissively.
In the world today, there were only three ranks: seniors, fellow Daoists, and ants.
If I were a low-level Soul Master, then naturally you would be my senior.
But I'm a Level 99 Limit Douluo. Who cares about this or that? I'm the senior.
Otherwise, wouldn't all my cultivation have been for nothing?
"Well..." Bibi Dong tilted her head and thought for a moment. "That does seem to make some sense."
Beside them, Qian Xunji was once again on the verge of exploding with anger, yet he couldn't refute him. The frustration and fury made his chest feel ready to burst. Once this matter is over, I'll go into seclusion. When my cultivation surpasses Xu Feng's, I'll give him a thorough lesson!
The brat was infuriating. Qian Xunji was a perfect illustration of how weakness was the original sin.