Qian Mo took the newly refreshed Zhu Zhuqing straight to the Papal Palace.
He needed to report it to Bibi Dong.
After all, he had casually picked her up from outside. He had to give the lady of the house an explanation.
Though the lady of the house was usually as cold as ice.
When Qian Mo led Zhu Zhuqing into the Papal Palace, the atmosphere in the grand hall instantly froze.
Bibi Dong was seated atop the lofty papal throne, dealing with the documents in her hands.
She wore a purple-black papal robe today, a Purple Gold Crown on her head, radiating an imposing chill that kept strangers at a distance.
Several red-robed cardinals reporting to her barely dared to breathe.
Only when she saw Qian Mo enter did Bibi Dong's icy gaze show the faintest flicker.
She set down her documents, her eyes falling on Qian Mo... and Zhu Zhuqing at his side.
"You're back." Her voice revealed neither joy nor anger. "Who is she?"
"Picked her up on the road," Qian Mo answered simply and directly.
Picked her up?
The several red-robed cardinals nearly popped their eyes out.
Your Highness the Holy Son, you called this picking someone up?
Such a pretty little girl, like a porcelain doll. Where exactly did you pick her up? Could you give us the address? We want to pick one up too.
Bibi Dong's brows furrowed slightly.
She disliked people of unknown origins appearing on her turf, especially at Qian Mo's side.
She looked at Zhu Zhuqing, her gaze carrying a trace of scrutiny and vigilance.
Zhu Zhuqing was a little frightened by her stare and instinctively hid behind Qian Mo.
Qian Mo patted her small hand, signaling for her not to be afraid.
Then he softly said to Zhu Zhuqing, "Go on, call her Pretty Sister."
Zhu Zhuqing froze for a moment.
Pretty Sister?
She raised her head and looked at the imposing woman on the throne.
Though she looked fierce, she really was beautiful.
More beautiful than anyone Zhu Zhuqing had ever seen.
Zhu Zhuqing gathered her courage and stepped out from behind Qian Mo.
Imitating Qian Mo, she walked to the center of the hall, lifted her little face, and called out in a soft, sweet, timid childish voice:
"Pretty... Sister."
That "Pretty Sister" was like a small stone dropped into Bibi Dong's heart, frozen over for years, sending ripples spreading across its surface.
Sister?
How many years had it been... since someone had called her that?
Ever since that incident, she had no longer been anyone's younger sister or older sister.
She was the Saintess of Spirit Hall, the inheritor of the Rakshasa God, the embodiment of slaughter and revenge.
She had thought her heart had long become as hard and cold as stone.
But why did that little girl's sweet voice stir something within her?
Bibi Dong looked at the small figure below, dressed in a crimson skirt, her eyes becoming unfocused.
She recalled a time long, long ago, at Martial Soul Academy. She had once had a cute junior like this too, one who always followed behind her and sweetly called her "Senior Sister."
But later...
A cold killing intent surged uncontrollably from the depths of Bibi Dong's heart.
Yet the moment it emerged, it was scattered by a warm, auspicious aura.
It was Qian Mo.
Standing beside Zhu Zhuqing, the Auspicious Qi emanating from him formed an invisible shield around her, protecting Zhu Zhuqing while soothing Bibi Dong's heart on the verge of losing control.
Bibi Dong took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed her surging emotions.
She looked at Zhu Zhuqing. Her voice remained cold, but the scrutiny from before seemed to be gone.
"What is your name?"
"I... I'm Zhu Zhuqing."
At that moment, Qian Mo muttered softly from the side, "Just calling her that isn't sincere enough. Give her a flower."
As he spoke, he somehow produced a Golden Rose in full bloom and stuffed it into Zhu Zhuqing's hand.
This was a minor ability granted by the Holy Light Unicorn soul ring. It could conjure harmless creations of holy light out of thin air.
Holding the rose that seemed to glow, Zhu Zhuqing felt somewhat at a loss.
She looked at Qian Mo, then at Bibi Dong on the throne.
Then she spread her short little legs and ran up the steps, all the way to Bibi Dong's throne.
Standing on tiptoe, she tried her best to raise the flower in her hand.
"Pretty Sister, this is for you."
Bibi Dong's body stiffened.
She lowered her head and looked at the little girl before her.
The little girl had big, bright eyes like two black gemstones, reflecting Bibi Dong's figure within them.
There was no fear or flattery in that gaze, only the purest, childlike sincerity.
And that flower. The golden rose carried a faint sacred, warm aura.
Bibi Dong's heart—the heart she had wrapped in icy armor for more than a decade—seemed to crack at that moment. A small crack, yet one impossible to ignore.
As if possessed, she reached out and accepted the flower.
The petals were warm to the touch, like holding a small piece of sunlight.
Everyone in the hall was dumbfounded.
The red-robed cardinals were even more shocked beyond belief.
They had followed His Holiness the Pope for years. When had they ever seen her accept a gift from anyone?
Let alone one given by a little girl of unknown origins.
And they had actually seen a trace of... emotion on His Holiness the Pope's eternally icy face?
They had to be seeing things! They absolutely had to be!
Qian Mo watched the scene and nodded in satisfaction.
Done.
Sure enough, no one could resist the adorable attack of a cute little girl.
If they could, then add another flower.
He was just about to take Zhu Zhuqing and slip away to eat.
Suddenly, Bibi Dong spoke from the throne.
For the first time, her voice carried a hint of complicated emotion.
"From today onward, Zhu Zhuqing is my, Bibi Dong's, Adopted Daughter."
"Her status shall be equal to that of the Saintess. She will reside in the side hall of the Papal Palace and be taught personally by me."
Those words were like a thunderclap exploding in everyone's minds.
Adopted Daughter?
His Holiness the Pope... had taken an Adopted Daughter?
The red-robed cardinals felt that their Worldview had been repeatedly refreshed today, shattered into something like dumpling filling.
First, His Highness the Holy Son brought back a little girl he had "picked up."
Then one "Pretty Sister" and one flower made His Holiness the Pope break down?
And she had directly taken her as an Adopted Daughter, with status equal to the Saintess?
What kind of divine plot was this?
If Hu Liena found out, wouldn't she cry herself unconscious in the restroom?
Qian Mo was stunned too.
Wocao?
I only wanted her to get familiar with the place so she could mooch food and drinks at Spirit Hall later.
Why did you directly promote her?
Adopted Daughter? Status equal to the Saintess?
This isn't how the script was supposed to go!
I only wanted to raise a kitten. I didn't want to find you a successor!
After making that decision, Bibi Dong herself seemed to freeze for a moment.
She looked at the Golden Rose in her hand, then at the bewildered Zhu Zhuqing and Qian Mo below. The corner of her mouth, incredibly rarely, curved upward slightly.
Though the curve was tiny, she truly smiled.
She felt that this decision of hers was... not bad.
This little girl named Zhu Zhuqing was very clean, and her eyes were pure.
Perhaps keeping her close could bring a little life to this cold Papal Palace.
It could also bring her heart a little... comfort.
"Alright, you may all leave now." Bibi Dong waved her hand at the red-robed cardinals who had already turned to stone.
Then she descended from the throne, walked before Zhu Zhuqing, and for the first time, took the girl's small hand of her own accord.
"From now on, you will live here."
"I... I..." Zhu Zhuqing was so overwhelmed by the favor that she could not even speak.
Qian Mo looked at the two figures, one large and one small, and felt that the scene was somewhat surreal.
One was the future Rakshasa God, and the other was the future God of Speed.
Now, one had become a mother, and the other a daughter?
This relationship... was really a mess.
Still, this was good too.
With Bibi Dong protecting her, Zhu Zhuqing's status in Spirit Hall would be secure.
When he wanted to slack off in the future, someone would also be there to play with her.
Not a bad deal.
Qian Mo thought this with complete peace of mind.
He had no idea that this small act of "doing one good deed a day" had not only changed Zhu Zhuqing's fate, but also placed a crucial fork in Bibi Dong's path toward the abyss of darkness.
Before you continue