Leaving Spirit City

Yin Hao stayed in Spirit City for five days.

During those five days, BiBi Dong often made time to guide Yin Hao. Aside from that, Yin Hao spent his time chatting with the little fox.

Yin Hao had originally wanted to meet several other important figures of Spirit Hall, but unfortunately, aside from a few Titled Douluo elders such as Ghost Douluo and Neon Phoenix Douluo, neither Xie Yue nor that bootlicker Yan was in Spirit City.

But that was perfectly normal. Even Hu Liena, the Saintess, had been sent out for over two months. It would hardly make sense for them to stay in Spirit City all the time.

Douluo Continent, Spirit City, Pope Palace.

"You want to leave?"

BiBi Dong looked at Yin Hao standing below her, clearly puzzled that he wanted to leave after only a few days.

She then turned toward Hu Liena and asked with a hint of suspicion.

"Na Na, did you bully your junior brother?"

Hu Liena was stunned as well. She looked at Yin Hao in confusion, thinking, Hasn't he been the one bullying me these past few days? When did I ever bully him?

Before Hu Liena could reply, Yin Hao spoke first.

"Master, please don't misunderstand. Senior Sister has treated me very well, but I have a reason I must return. I hope Master will permit it."

BiBi Dong had wanted to say something more, but seeing Yin Hao's resolute attitude, she swallowed her words.

She merely nodded and waved her hand, sending a token flying toward him.

"Since you wish to return, Master won't ask your reasons. This is Spirit Hall's Holy Son Token. I had originally planned to hold your Holy Son investiture ceremony after some time, but since you wish to leave, we can discuss the ceremony later."

Yin Hao thanked her. BiBi Dong then had someone summon a young woman with striking features, a tall and voluptuous figure, before speaking.

"Ni Huang, this is my newly accepted disciple, Yin Hao. He is also Spirit Hall's new Holy Son. From now on, you will be responsible for his safety..."

Ni Huang nodded, raised her hand toward Yin Hao beside her, and gave a slight bow.

"Ni Huang greets Holy Son Your Highness."

Yin Hao hurriedly returned the gesture.

"Elder Ni Huang, you are too polite..."

In truth, the Pope's disciples were not automatically equivalent to Spirit Hall's Holy Son or Saintess. Only those personally acknowledged and invested by the Pope could be considered the Holy Son or Saintess.

Although Yin Hao had not yet been formally invested, BiBi Dong's meaning had been clear enough. Thus, Ni Huang did not dare act presumptuously.

After watching Yin Hao and Ni Huang leave the Pope Palace, Hu Liena spoke to BiBi Dong as well.

"Master, I'll go see Junior Brother off."

BiBi Dong nodded and allowed Hu Liena to leave.

Outside Spirit City, Hu Liena left after briefly chatting with Yin Hao.

Hu Liena had a fairly good impression of this junior brother whom she had known for less than half a month. Although he always liked teasing her and showed none of the respect a junior brother ought to have for his senior sister.

Yet it was precisely because of that that he gave Hu Liena a feeling unlike anyone else's, something quite strange and wonderful.

She watched the carriage carrying Yin Hao travel farther and farther away, until it became a tiny speck and disappeared from sight. Only then did Hu Liena prepare to leave.

As fate would have it.

Just then, a voice rang out.

"Na Na! How did you know we were returning today? Did you come here specially to welcome us?"

Hearing that familiar voice, Hu Liena frowned.

When she turned around, it was indeed Yan and Xie Yue.

Yan was currently looking at her with a broad smile, and the voice just now had obviously come from him.

"I told you not to call me Na Na!"

Seeing Hu Liena's frown and unhappy expression, how could Yan, the ultimate bootlicker, continue making her angry?

He immediately waved his hands and said.

"Alright, alright, I won't call you that anymore. I won't, okay?"

Hu Liena glanced at him. Of course, she knew what Yan felt for her, but she truly had no feelings for him.

Still, they had known each other for many years. So although Hu Liena often sternly rejected Yan's advances, she had never intended to cut ties with him outright.

Yet Yan seemed to have taken the wrong medicine. Despite being rejected so many times, whenever he had the chance, he still eagerly rushed over to Hu Liena's side.

"Alright, Na Na. Yan has known us for over ten years, after all. Don't always treat him like this..."

Seeing her older brother speak up, Hu Liena was just about to give him some face and nod in agreement.

But before she could speak, Yan could no longer hold himself back.

"Xie Yue, that's where you're wrong. How Na Na speaks is her own business. You may be her brother, but you can't control everything she does, can you?"

Xie Yue:...

Hu Liena:...

After Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan returned to Spirit City together, she had another meal with the two of them. It could be considered a reunion dinner between old friends after a long separation.

At dusk, Hu Liena came near the Pope Palace, but she did not enter. After all these years, she had long become thoroughly familiar with BiBi Dong's daily routine. At this hour, she should be in her own chambers.

At that moment, BiBi Dong was indeed in her chambers.

She had just finished bathing and wore only a thin nightgown. Sitting by the window, she held a note with something unknown written on it and stared at it.

"Among the countless things in this fleeting world, I have but three loves..."

As she looked at the note she had read who knew how many times, two streams of tears slowly slid down BiBi Dong's cheeks.

"Master, are you in there?"

Hearing Hu Liena's voice from outside, BiBi Dong hurriedly folded the note and placed it back in the box by her bedside. She hastily wiped away the tears on her face before speaking.

"Is that Na Na? Come in."

Hu Liena pushed open the door and looked at BiBi Dong sitting by the bed. Her Willow Eyebrows furrowed slightly. Why were Master's eyes a little red? Had she just been crying?

Before Hu Liena could think any further, BiBi Dong spoke first.

"Has your junior brother left?"

Hu Liena nodded.

"He has already been gone for two hours. My brother and Yan also returned to Spirit City right after junior brother left."

BiBi Dong nodded.

After thinking for a moment, Hu Liena removed the necklace from around her neck.

"Master, do you still remember this necklace?"

BiBi Dong gave Hu Liena a somewhat puzzled look, but she still nodded.

"Wasn't this the gift I gave you when you became my disciple at the age of six? What is it?"

"Junior brother... junior brother seems to recognize this necklace..."

BiBi Dong was slightly surprised.

"He recognizes it?"

Yet after only a few seconds of surprise, she returned to normal.

"That's only natural. After all, he's his son..."

Him again! Over the years, Hu Liena had heard BiBi Dong mention that man no fewer than a hundred times, yet she had never known who he actually was.

"Master, who exactly is that man?"

BiBi Dong froze for a moment, propping up her exquisite face with one hand. The corners of her lips curled slightly as she softly said, "He is a very remarkable person..."

In the end, Hu Liena still failed to get the true answer to that question. She could only leave BiBi Dong's room carrying countless guesses in her heart.

(End of Chapter)