The Pope Really Isn't My Biological Mother—She's My Godmother

"Um, honored guests, will you still be staying at the hotel?" Manager Wang, who had been shrinking off to the side, saw that the "Lord Soul Masters" seemed to have finished talking and gathered his courage to ask.

What Xia Tianling and the others had discussed was no secret, so they had not avoided the other people and had merely spoken in low voices.

Even so, even if someone gave Manager Wang a hundred times more courage, he would not dare eavesdrop.

This young Soul Master at the front had beaten Young Master Dai until he could no longer take care of himself without even summoning his martial soul. He was surely even more powerful than that. Building a good relationship with him could only be beneficial.

"Oh, we'll stay." Tang San came back to his senses and hurriedly agreed.

"Since Zhuqing doesn't plan on going to Shrek anymore, we won't be staying." Xia Tianling took out several Gold Soul Coins and handed them to Manager Wang. "This is compensation for your losses."

His goal had already been achieved, so whether they stayed at the Rose Hotel no longer mattered.

They might get some extra benefits if they stayed, but he would rather not have those kinds of benefits.

It was nothing more than taking advantage of someone's vulnerability.

Even on that night when they had camped in the wilderness, he had set up a separate tent and slept alone.

Manager Wang hurriedly declined. "How could I accept this? How could I? Young Master Dai said everything today would be put on his tab."

"Fine, then."

Xia Tianling did not insist and called Zhu Zhuqing over as he headed outside.

"Little San, Little Rabbit, take care. We'll meet again someday."

"Damn it, don't call me Little Rabbit! My name is Xiao Wu!" Xiao Wu pouted angrily behind them.

"By the way, Third Brother, are we sleeping in separate rooms tonight? But I want to sleep with you."

"Third Brother, shall we go shopping this afternoon?"

"Where are we going?"

After leaving the Rose Hotel, Zhu Zhuqing, who had silently followed behind him, asked.

"Of course, we're going to my home. We've been traveling for so long, so we'll rest up. Tomorrow, we'll set out by carriage," Xia Tianling answered as though it were only natural.

He was a seasoned lazy bum. Aside from things he liked doing, he hated trouble, and if he could avoid doing something himself, he would absolutely have someone else do it for him.

"Your home? You have a house here too?"

Zhu Zhuqing was rather puzzled. Did anyone really buy an entire house just to attend school?

If Xia Tianling could hear Zhu Zhuqing's thoughts, he would certainly answer.

Yes, and more than one!

The school district housing prices in his previous life had been utterly ridiculous!

"There, we're here."

They had not walked far when Xia Tianling raised his hand and pointed ahead.

A massive domed building came into view. Its front alone was more than a hundred meters wide and twenty to thirty meters tall, with several floors.

The entire building was brown. The Spirit Hall emblem above the main entrance bore three different designs, signifying that the building before them was a Third-Class Main Hall of Spirit Hall.

"This is Spirit Hall? Your home? Don't tell me you really are the Pope's biological son!" Zhu Zhuqing blurted out what was on her mind in her shock.

"Pfft." Xia Tianling's face darkened. Just what strange things were going through this little kitten's head?

"Of course I'm not the Pope's biological son. Well... my sister is, and I'm the Pope's godson."

"Let me introduce myself again. I am Spirit Hall's current Holy Son, the Pope's disciple, and the heir to become the next Pope of Spirit Hall," he said.

The little kitten heard it. The little kitten was shocked again. The little kitten's brain crashed.

Spirit Hall's current Holy Son was even more impressive than being the Pope's biological son, all right!

Compared to that, her status as the second young lady of the Netherworld Family in the Star Luo Empire did not even come close.

"All right, stop standing there like an idiot. Let's go." Xia Tianling took hold of the dazed Zhu Zhuqing and headed toward Spirit Hall's entrance.

"Your Highness the Holy Son!" The guards at the side bowed to him in unison.

They were among the guards who had accompanied him to recruit Oscar and Ma Hongjun last time. Thanks to him, they had received more than ten Gold Soul Coins in reward in a single go. That was no small sum to ordinary people, so they were naturally deeply grateful to him.

Xia Tianling waved his hand. "Don't bow to me in the future. We don't do that around me."

The guards beside him immediately agreed.

After entering through the gates, he led Zhu Zhuqing all the way upstairs, heading straight for the hall master's office.

Everyone they encountered along the way bowed to him, and he returned each greeting in turn.

"Is being the Holy Son really worth so many people currying favor with you?" Zhu Zhuqing saw all the people bowing and scraping along the way and could not help asking in confusion. It was understandable for Spirit Hall personnel, but why were so many Commoner Soul Masters paying him respects too?

Xia Tianling answered with the calm air of an old hand, "It's not that being the Holy Son is worth currying favor with. It's that your bro here is popular. That's called personal charisma."

Before long, the two arrived at the hall master's office on the top floor. A young man was bent over behind a huge pile of scrolls, writing something intently.

"Uncle Su Yuntao!" Xia Tianling shouted. Familiar as ever, he sat down and poured a cup of juice for both himself and Zhu Zhuqing.

Hearing him, the young man who had been writing furiously at the desk raised his head and shouted in delighted surprise, "Your Highness the Holy Son, why are you here!"

Recently, Su Yuntao had truly been riding high.

After discovering Xia Tianling, this genius, he had first been rewarded by Ghost Douluo. With Spirit Hall's help, he had broken through Rank 30 and obtained a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring, after which he continued receiving rewards.

Now, he had risen through the ranks all the way from a lowly Branch Hall steward to the hall master of a Third-Class Main Hall! His position was even higher than that of his longtime superior, Grand Master Ma Xiunuo!

Not only that, but Sisi, the goddess he had always shamelessly pursued, had started giving him flirtatious looks as well. A year ago, he had finally won the beauty's hand. Xia Tianling had even attended his wedding feast, making him feel especially honored.

He had status, strength, a family, and a "superior" who appreciated him. He was unquestionably a winner in life.

In the words of Xia Tianling's previous life, he had gotten promoted and received a raise, become general manager, turned into a CEO, married a rich and beautiful woman, and reached the pinnacle of life.

Many years later, when the high-ranking Su Yuntao was interviewed by reporters about the best decision he had ever made in his life, he answered without hesitation, "Of course, it was working diligently and ultimately performing Spirit Awakening for Lord Holy Son!"

"I came to find somewhere to stay. We'll set off for the academy tomorrow. The hotels in town are too lousy; staying at my own place is more comfortable." Xia Tianling looked at the desk piled high with documents and teased, "Uncle Su, even after becoming hall master, you're still so serious about your work, huh?"

Su Yuntao hurriedly waved his hands. "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. This is what a subordinate ought to do. And how can you call me Uncle?"

"Don't you know me by now? In private, we can address each other however we like. I don't care about all that."

Over the past six years, Xia Tianling's ability to get along so well in Spirit Hall had much to do with his personality.

After all, he came from a modern society, and the education he had received since childhood taught him that everyone was equal. He truly could not accept those servile forms of address like "this old servant" and "this lowly one." At most, he could accept someone referring to themselves as a subordinate.

Thus, he had never put on airs because of his status. He was always friendly and courteous to Spirit Hall staff. If anyone helped him, he would certainly repay them with even greater gratitude.

He was capable and talented, did not mistreat his subordinates, and repaid kindness. Who would not like a leader like that?

Besides, everyone liked feeling respected.

"Eh? Your Highness brought back a female companion. I'll arrange a larger room for you tonight."

"Ahem, two rooms. Arrange two rooms. She's a talent I just discovered. I'm taking her to the academy as a companion; we're only friends," Xia Tianling hurriedly explained.

What a joke. He was a proper gentleman.

Although he had often talked big online in his previous life, saying things like, "I lust after her body, and I'm honest about it," and similar nonsense, he was actually a very "conservative" person.

Everything had to be based on willingness.

He would not refuse benefits offered willingly, but forget this sort of forced benefit.

Taking advantage of someone's vulnerability was not the act of a gentleman.