Soon, Bai Wanwan arrived at the residence of Golden Crocodile, the Second Worship. Seeing him sitting at a stone table, quietly sipping tea, she immediately walked over and bowed slightly.
"Greetings, Teacher."
Golden Crocodile smiled at her bow and set down his teacup. After motioning for her to rise, he began teaching her how to strengthen her body.
About two hours later.
Having finished her physical training, Bai Wanwan enjoyed a hearty breakfast with Golden Crocodile. After a short rest, she began combat training under his guidance.
Time gradually passed.
The morning's training came to an end.
Feeling sore all over, Bai Wanwan left Golden Crocodile's residence and headed toward the garden.
Before she reached the garden, she spotted a graceful figure sitting in the pavilion from afar.
She quickened her pace and entered the pavilion.
"Big Sister?"
Looking at Qian Renxue's back, Bai Wanwan called softly and sat down beside her.
"Hmm?"
"Wanwan, have you finished training?"
Qian Renxue turned slightly to look at Bai Wanwan beside her.
"Yes. I'm sore all over."
Bai Wanwan stretched her waist, leaned to one side, and rested her head on Qian Renxue's lap. Breathing in the faint fragrance she gave off, Bai Wanwan slowly closed her eyes.
Qian Renxue merely smiled, long accustomed to this, and gently stroked Bai Wanwan's hair.
"Wanwan, I might be leaving Spirit Hall, and I'll probably be gone for quite a while."
Qian Renxue gazed into the distance, a trace of conflicting emotions in her eyes.
"Leaving?"
Bai Wanwan's eyes snapped open. Looking at Qian Renxue's expression, she immediately began to piece things together.
Ever since seeing Qian Renxue that morning, she had felt that something was off. Now, hearing her words, Bai Wanwan immediately thought of Bibi Dong.
Unless she was mistaken, Bibi Dong must have said something to Qian Renxue the previous night.
"Yes. Her Highness the Holy Maiden came to see me last night and showed me an extremely detailed plan that she needs me to carry out."
Qian Renxue explained softly.
"A plan?"
Bai Wanwan's gaze sharpened slightly as she feigned ignorance. "Big Sister, you're Spirit Hall's Young Master."
"What plan requires you, the Young Master, to carry it out in person? Can't they send someone else?"
Qian Renxue fell silent for a while, then let out a helpless sigh.
"I don't think so."
"She told me a great deal yesterday. She said my father had been working on this before he died, and that it might have been his unfulfilled wish."
Qian Renxue gently twirled a strand of Bai Wanwan's hair between her fingers, helplessness and reluctance appearing in her eyes.
Hearing her words, Bai Wanwan couldn't help freezing for a moment, her gaze slowly turning toward the Papal Hall.
She felt an urge to applaud Saintess Bibi Dong.
Honestly, it was a brilliant move.
As someone who had transmigrated into this world, Bai Wanwan naturally knew what plan Qian Renxue was talking about. Combining that knowledge with what Qian Renxue had just said, she could work out the rest.
Going undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire-under normal circumstances, if the plan were simply presented outright, it would never get approved as long as Qian Renxue herself refused, with the Worship Hall backing her.
After all, Qian Renxue was the Angel God's successor and possessed the gift of innate level 20. Unless the Grand Elder had lost his mind, there was no way he would agree.
But now, Bibi Dong had first discussed it with Qian Renxue, then invoked the former Pope, Qian Xunji. Given Qian Renxue's feelings for him, the chances of her agreeing to go were very high.
And since the former Pope was already dead, he could neither confirm nor deny it. There was no way to verify whether Qian Xunji had ever intended any of this.
Once Qian Renxue herself agreed, a successful plan would also bring enormous benefits to Spirit Hall, potentially taking it to entirely new heights. With her consent and such immense benefits at stake, the likelihood of Grand Elder Qian Daoliu giving his approval would also be very high.
Having worked all this out, Bai Wanwan sat straight up.
"Big Sister, you don't actually want to carry out this plan, but because of the former Pope, you felt you had no choice but to go. Is that right?"
Bai Wanwan looked straight into Qian Renxue's eyes, her tone utterly serious.
"Yes."
Qian Renxue nodded slightly, her eyes filled with helplessness.
"Then, Big Sister, have you considered one question?"
"When did the former Pope begin working on this plan? If it was recently, Spirit Hall is full of talented people. Why would he think his nine-year-old daughter was the best person to carry it out?"
"If it was even earlier, that makes even less sense. You were younger then, Big Sister. Surely Spirit Hall, with all its talented people, could find someone better suited to the task than a little child."
Bai Wanwan tucked a strand of hair beside her ear as she earnestly analyzed the situation.
Qian Renxue lowered her head slightly and sank into thought without answering Bai Wanwan's questions.
In truth, she had been considering those very questions since the previous night, but had reached no conclusion. The reason was simple: there was no way to verify any of it.
What if this really was what Father had wanted while he was alive?
Or what if it really was his final wish?
"Big Sister, let's look at it another way. What was your relationship with the former Pope like?"
Seeing Qian Renxue's reaction, Bai Wanwan asked another question.
"Wonderful, of course."
Qian Renxue answered without hesitation.
"How did the former Pope treat you?"
Bai Wanwan continued asking.
"He doted on me in every way he could, of course."
Qian Renxue looked at Bai Wanwan in confusion, unsure why she was asking these questions.
Bai Wanwan snapped her fingers softly. "Then, Big Sister, given how the former Pope treated you, do you think he would send you away at just nine years old to carry out some plan?"
Qian Renxue paused, then began to think it over seriously.
Bai Wanwan rested her head on Qian Renxue's lap again and remained silent, leaving her to think.
The garden fell quiet.
Qian Renxue carefully considered it from every angle and finally reached a conclusion: it was impossible.
Impossible, no matter how she looked at it.
Qian Renxue slowly turned her gaze toward the Papal Hall, her fingers unconsciously twirling Bai Wanwan's hair. Her eyes narrowed, thoughts flickering through them.
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