Another Black Box

Chapter 24: Another Black Box

After the soldier withdrew, a Brown Short Hair Girl and a Blue Long Hair Boy soon walked into Pope Palace side by side.

Upon seeing BiBi Dong, Hu Liena was the first to bow.

"Greetings, Master."

Yin Hao was not someone who lacked manners. Besides, this was someone else's territory, so there was no harm in being a little more humble.

Thus, he bowed as well.

"Greetings, Pope Your Majesty."

The moment BiBi Dong saw Yin Hao, she first frowned. Then, as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself, she looked around in bewilderment. Her rosy little lips parted slightly, as though she found it difficult to believe.

Hu Liena and Yin Hao, standing below, looked at each other with utterly baffled expressions.

Hadn't that soldier just said that the Pope had been extremely excited upon learning they had arrived in Spirit City? What was going on now?

Though curious, neither of them asked. They simply stood there quietly, neither speaking nor leaving.

After roughly four or five minutes, BiBi Dong finally recovered. Looking at Yin Hao, her voice trembled slightly.

"Your father... is he... well?"

That question completely stunned Yin Hao. My father? Who is my father? How come I don't know? Does BiBi Dong know something about my father? Did he not die in the aftermath of Tang Hao and Qian Xunji's battle eleven years ago? Could he be some hidden expert?

One speculation after another flooded Yin Hao's mind, but this was not the time to dwell on it. He raised his head and said, "In reply to Pope Your Majesty, I have never seen my parents since the day I was born. I was found and raised by the village chief of a small village. If Pope Your Majesty knows any news of him, please tell me."

BiBi Dong was somewhat surprised by Yin Hao's answer and looked toward Hu Liena.

"Na Na, was he unable to open the box I gave you?"

Hu Liena immediately replied, "Master, I personally watched him open it. He used the method Master taught me. The moment Yin Hao dripped his blood onto the box, the box that had been tightly shut opened on its own."

BiBi Dong nodded, already forming a guess in her heart, and looked back at Yin Hao.

"Since your father does not wish for you to know anything about him, he must have his reasons. In that case, as his friend, how could I ruin his plans? So I cannot tell you anything about your father."

His friend?

Hu Liena looked at Yin Hao in shock. His father was actually Master's friend?

Yin Hao was equally astonished. From the sound of it, BiBi Dong knew that deadbeat father of his, and they seemed to have had a fairly good relationship?

Since she had already put it that way, Yin Hao could not keep pressing the matter. He could only nod in agreement with BiBi Dong's words.

BiBi Dong continued, "Back then, I promised your father something: that I would take you as my disciple. Are you willing?"

Yin Hao was delighted to hear there was such a good deal. Without the slightest hesitation, he agreed immediately.

BiBi Dong nodded and took out two items from the ring on her hand: a ring and a black box identical to the previous one.

"This ring is a Storage Soul Tool. It contains five hundred cubic meters of storage space and can hold living creatures. Consider it your apprenticeship gift from me."

"You have already seen one black box like this before. It was left for you by your father. The method of opening it is the same as the previous one. You... take it..."

BiBi Dong looked once more at the black box, a trace of reluctance appearing in her eyes. Still, she used Soul Power to send it floating before Yin Hao.

Yin Hao picked up the Storage Ring and put it on. Extending his spiritual power into it, he found that it was indeed as BiBi Dong had said: a huge space of five hundred cubic meters, and it could even hold living creatures. It was far better than that so-called "Twenty-Four Bridges on a Moonlit Night" Yu Xiaogang had given Tang San.

Before Yin Hao could say anything in thanks, BiBi Dong gently pinched her forehead with her fingertips and waved them away.

"If there is nothing else, you may leave for now. Na Na, go arrange a place for Xiao Hao to stay."

Hu Liena hurriedly agreed.

"Yes, Master."

Since she had said so, Yin Hao had no reason to remain. After saying goodbye to BiBi Dong, he followed Hu Liena out.

After the two of them left, BiBi Dong could no longer hold herself together.

Unconcealed sorrow covered her stunningly beautiful face. She lightly bit her lower lip with her white teeth, and a clear tear slid down from the corner of her eye.

"Why? Why did you treat me like this..."

After leaving Pope Palace, Hu Liena arranged for someone to prepare a residence for Yin Hao, specifically instructing them to place it beside her own courtyard.

Hu Liena looked at Yin Hao beside her and called out, "Hey..."

"My name isn't Hey."

Hu Liena rolled her eyes. He was starting to snap at her again.

"Fine, Yin Hao... no... Junior Brother~"

Yin Hao's face darkened at that form of address, but he did not refute it.

Hu Liena couldn't help laughing after calling out to him, as though seeing Yin Hao embarrassed was something immensely satisfying.

Seeing that Hu Liena showed no sign of stopping, Yin Hao directly cut her off.

"Do you need something?"

However, Hu Liena clearly had no intention of letting him off so easily. She wiped away her smile and looked at Yin Hao with a serious expression.

"Junior Brother! Remember this: you must be polite when speaking to your Senior Sister! You can't just ask your Senior Sister whether she needs something. You should say, 'May I ask if Senior Sister needs something?'"

Seeing Hu Liena go on and on, Yin Hao simply turned and left, unwilling to waste words on her.

When dealing with a woman as proud to the bone as Hu Liena, the more humble you were, the more she looked down on you. (For specifics, please refer to the ultimate golden simp—Yan.) If you treated her more coldly instead, it would only pique her curiosity.

Seeing Yin Hao about to leave, Hu Liena hurriedly grabbed him.

"Fine, I'll stop, okay? But I'm still your Senior Sister. Can't you show even the most basic respect?"

"Oh? Respect?"

The corners of Yin Hao's lips lifted slightly.

"Sure. When I took Master as my teacher, he gave me a gift for changing how I addressed him. A 500-cubic-meter Storage Ring had to be worth... 200,000 Gold Soul Coins, right?

If you want me to change how I address you, shouldn't you show some sincerity too? Forget 200,000—looking at you, you probably can't afford that. Just make do with 100,000."

"100,000?"

Hu Liena cried out.

"Why don't you just rob someone?"

Yet rather than feeling ashamed upon hearing that, Yin Hao looked at Hu Liena with utter confusion.

"Rob someone? Would that earn this much?"

Hu Liena was momentarily speechless. It was true—ordinary robbers could swing their cleavers until they smoked and still never steal 100,000 Gold Soul Coins. This really did earn more.

Brothers, please send some monthly votes and investments!

(End of Chapter)