Meeting in the Garden, Several Questions

Before long, Bai Wanwan arrived at the residence of the Second Worship, Golden Crocodile. Seeing Golden Crocodile sitting quietly at a stone table, sipping tea, Bai Wanwan immediately stepped forward and gave him a slight bow.

"Greetings, Teacher."

Golden Crocodile smiled at Bai Wanwan's bow. He set down his teacup and, after signaling for Bai Wanwan to rise, began instructing her on how to temper her physique.

About two hours later.

After finishing her physical training, Bai Wanwan enjoyed a lavish breakfast with Golden Crocodile. After resting for a while, she began combat training under his guidance.

Time gradually passed.

The morning 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, Bai Wanwan spotted a graceful figure sitting in the Pavilion from afar.

She quickened her pace and entered the Pavilion.

"Sister?"

Looking at Qian Renxue's back, Bai Wanwan called out softly and sat down beside her.

"Hmm?"

"Wanwan, have you finished training?"

Qian Renxue turned slightly and looked at Bai Wanwan beside her.

"I have. My whole body aches."

Bai Wanwan stretched her waist, then leaned to one side and rested her head on Qian Renxue's lap. Breathing in the faint fragrance emanating from Qian Renxue, she gradually closed her eyes.

Seeing this, Qian Renxue merely smiled as though she was used to it and gently stroked Bai Wanwan's hair.

"Wanwan, I may be leaving Spirit Hall, and I probably won't be gone for a short time."

Qian Renxue looked into the distance, a trace of complexity showing in her eyes.

"Leaving?"

Bai Wanwan's eyes flew open. Seeing Qian Renxue's expression, she immediately understood some things.

Ever since she had seen Qian Renxue that morning, she had felt that something was off about her. Now that she heard Qian Renxue's words, Bai Wanwan immediately thought of Bibi Dong.

If nothing unexpected had happened, Bibi Dong must have said something to Qian Renxue last night.

"Yes. Your Highness the Holy Maiden came to see me last night. She showed me an extremely detailed plan that requires me to carry it out."

Qian Renxue spoke softly.

"A plan?"

Bai Wanwan's gaze sharpened slightly as she feigned ignorance. "Sister, you're the Young Master of Spirit Hall."

"What kind of plan requires you, the Young Master, to carry it out personally? Can't someone else be sent instead?"

Qian Renxue fell silent for a long while before letting out a somewhat helpless sigh.

"Probably not."

"Yesterday, she told me many things. She said this was something my father had been planning during his lifetime, and that it might also have been a wish he left unfulfilled."

Qian Renxue gently twirled Bai Wanwan's hair between her fingers, her eyes filled with helplessness and reluctance.

Listening to Qian Renxue, Bai Wanwan could not help but freeze slightly, her gaze gradually shifting toward the Papal Hall.

She felt an urge rise in her heart—an urge to applaud Saintess Bibi Dong.

Honestly, this move had been brilliantly played.

As a transmigrator, Bai Wanwan naturally knew what plan Qian Renxue was referring to. Combined with what Qian Renxue had just said, she could easily infer the rest.

Going to the Heaven Dou Empire as an undercover agent—under normal circumstances, if the plan had been stated outright, then as long as Qian Renxue herself was unwilling, the Worship Hall would have had almost no chance of approving it.

After all, Qian Renxue was the inheritor of the Angel God and possessed the talent 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 spoken to Qian Renxue about the matter, then brought up the former Pope, Qian Xunji. Given Qian Renxue's feelings for Qian Xunji, the chance of her agreeing to go was extremely high.

Moreover, the former Pope had already fallen, so there was no way to verify whether Qian Xunji had truly intended any of this.

Once Qian Renxue agreed of her own accord, and considering that the plan's success would bring enormous benefits to Spirit Hall—perhaps even elevate it to an entirely new height—there was a very high chance that Grand Elder Qian Daoliu would nod in agreement as well, given Qian Renxue's willingness and the immense gains Spirit Hall stood to receive.

After thinking this through, Bai Wanwan sat upright.

"Sister, you don't want to carry out this plan, but because it concerns the former His Holiness the Pope, you decided to go despite your reluctance. Is that right?"

Bai Wanwan looked directly into Qian Renxue's eyes, her tone extremely serious.

"Yes."

Qian Renxue nodded slightly, her eyes full of helplessness.

"Then, Sister, have you considered something?"

"When did the former His Holiness the Pope begin planning this? If it was recently, Spirit Hall has no shortage of talented people, so why would he think that his nine-year-old daughter was the most suitable candidate?"

"If it was even earlier, then that would be even more impossible. After all, Sister, you were even younger then. Surely Spirit Hall, with its abundance of talent, couldn't have failed to find someone more suitable than a child of only a few years old?"

Bai Wanwan smoothed the hair by her ear and analyzed the situation seriously.

Qian Renxue lowered her head slightly, lost in thought, and did not answer Bai Wanwan's question.

In truth, she had been thinking about the question Bai Wanwan raised since last night, but she had reached no conclusion. The reason was simple: there was no way to verify it.

What if this had been her father's wish before his death?

Or what if this really had been her father's final wish?

"Sister, from another perspective, how was your relationship with the previous His Holiness the Pope?"

Seeing Qian Renxue's expression, Bai Wanwan asked another question.

"Of course, it was very good."

Qian Renxue answered without hesitation.

"How did the previous Pope treat you?"

Bai Wanwan continued asking.

"Toward me, naturally, he did everything he could to spoil me."

Qian Renxue looked at Bai Wanwan in confusion, unable to understand why she was asking these things.

Bai Wanwan lightly snapped her fingers. "Then, Sister, do you think the previous Pope's attitude toward you would have allowed nine-year-old you to leave and carry out some plan?"

Qian Renxue froze slightly and began to ponder seriously.

Meanwhile, Bai Wanwan rested her head on Qian Renxue's lap again, saying nothing to disturb her.

The garden fell silent.

Qian Renxue carefully considered it from every angle, ultimately reaching one conclusion: it was impossible.

Impossible in every way.

Qian Renxue gradually turned her gaze toward the Papal Hall. Her fingers unconsciously toyed with Bai Wanwan's hair, her eyes half-lidded as threads of thought flickered within them.