Encroachment Plan Underway

First, he was not attracted to little girls.

Second, he adhered to his moral boundaries.

So...

"I agree." Pei An nodded.

At his words, Dugu Bo's face lit up with delight.

He turned to the excited Dugu Yan and said, "Yanyan, why aren't you hurrying up and taking him as your teacher?"

"No." Dugu Yan shook her head, refusing to listen.

Dugu Bo was somewhat slow to react to her answer.

That shouldn't be right. Hadn't this girl been so excited just now? Why would she refuse?

Dugu Yan quickly explained her reason.

"I don't want Brother Pei to become my teacher. Brother Pei is Brother Pei!"

Dugu Yan puffed out her little cheeks, speaking with complete conviction.

In her eyes, an older brother was closer than a teacher. She did not want her relationship with Brother Pei to grow distant.

Dugu Bo's expression turned complicated and somewhat awkward.

What was this supposed to mean?

Pei An had agreed, only for them to make such a fuss?

"Fine. If that's what Yanyan wants, then she doesn't need to take me as her teacher. There's no law saying she can't cultivate by my side without becoming my disciple."

Pei An noticed Dugu Bo's awkwardness and spoke up.

He did not care about such inconsequential matters.

Teacher or not, it was merely a title.

If they were close and there was genuine admiration, then even without the name of master and disciple, they would be no different from true master and disciple.

But if their relationship was poor, and the respect was only superficial while contempt filled their hearts, then even with the title of master and disciple, they would only be master and disciple in name.

In Pei An's view, such empty titles did not matter in the slightest.

Teaching Dugu Yan was merely something he could do in passing. Besides, there was already Ning Rongrong, whose status had yet to be determined. One more would make no difference.

"This..." Dugu Bo hesitated.

Though his personality was rather eccentric, as a native of the Douluo Continent Original Work, some of his views had inevitably been shaped by its culture.

On this continent, it was indeed uncommon for someone to study at another's side for years without the name of master and disciple.

Seeing Dugu Bo still hemming and hawing, Pei An rolled his eyes. "Why are you suddenly being so fussy? That doesn't seem like Dugu Bo's style."

"Who's being fussy?!" Dugu Bo retorted with some agitation.

He snorted. "This old man has no objections. If you, the Pope of Spirit Hall, have no objections, then naturally this old man has none either."

"Then it's settled." Pei An bent down and gently picked Dugu Yan up.

"Yanyan, from now on, you'll study by Older Brother's side."

A brilliant smile appeared on Dugu Yan's adorable little face. She nodded heavily and answered happily.

"Mm!"

She could continue staying by Brother Pei's side, and Brother Pei was still Brother Pei. Dugu Yan was extremely satisfied.

Seeing her expression, Dugu Bo became somewhat resentful. "You little girl, don't you feel reluctant to leave Grandpa and your father and mother?"

Dugu Yan turned her head, confusion appearing on her little face. "Why would I? Dad and Mom already told Yanyan that if they miss Yanyan, they'll come to Brother Pei's place to see her."

"Won't Grandpa come too?"

Pei An added, "If Elder Dugu is willing, there has always been a courtyard reserved in the Elder Hall. You can move in anytime."

"Forget it." Dugu Bo waved a hand.

He was still more accustomed to staying on his own little patch of land.

"I'll leave Yanyan in your care, Pope. This old man will take his leave first."

With that, Dugu Bo did not linger. He rose and left directly.

Pei An smiled helplessly and shook his head. This old man was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would be too reluctant to part with his granddaughter and change his mind.

"Let's go, Dong'er, Xue'er. Let's arrange a room for Yanyan."

Pei An rose with Dugu Yan in his arms and headed off.

Bibi Dong tapped her red lips with her slender, fair fingers as she considered it. "I remember there are still rooms in our courtyard. Let Yanyan stay there."

Qian Renxue nodded from the side. "Mm-hm. The room next to Xue'er's is empty. Yanyan can stay there!"

Qian Renxue had rooms in both the Worship Hall and the Pope's Palace.

However, she clearly spent much more time at the Pope's Palace.

Her thoughts were simple.

If Dugu Yan lived closer, it would be easier for her to find someone to play with.

"Mm, that works." Pei An nodded in agreement.

Clear Sky Sect

Elder Courtyard

When the returning Third Elder saw the figure in the courtyard, his body jolted. He hurriedly looked around, and only after confirming there was no one else did he quickly enter the courtyard, close the gate, and spread out his Mental Power to watch for any movement nearby.

"Why are you here?!"

The Third Elder walked up to the person, lowering his voice with traces of panic and fear.

"Look at you. Is there any need for this?" The woman's Red Lips curled slightly, seemingly rather disdainful of the Third Elder's reaction.

A small emerald-green bird perched upon her slender fingers.

"And watch your tone. I don't want there to be a next time." As she said this, the woman's tone turned cold, and even the temperature around them seemed to drop several degrees.

The Third Elder's face went pale as he hurriedly explained, "Elder Lingyuan, please don't misunderstand. I was merely anxious for a moment and afraid something might go wrong."

"After all, what we are plotting is not suitable for too many people to know!"

Lingyuan Douluo snorted and did not continue making things difficult for him, withdrawing her aura.

She lazily yawned. "The Pope returned some time ago. He asked me to check on your progress here."

The Third Elder replied, "Elder Lingyuan, please assure the Pope that the operation here has never stopped."

"Seventh and Fifth have already been persuaded by me. They are both willing to submit to the Pope's Subordinates."

"Several Third Generation Disciples have also expressed their willingness to submit."

"Elder Lingyuan, rest assured. They were all carefully selected by me. Our operation will never be exposed."

The Third Elder patted his chest in guarantee.

"Whether it is exposed or not, neither the Pope nor I care much. At worst, it will merely take a little more effort."

Lingyuan Douluo stroked the emerald bird in her hand, her Beautiful Eyes lowered. Her tone was calm, yet it carried a killing intent that chilled one's heart.

"If something goes wrong, there will merely be a little more blood in the end..."

The Third Elder fell silent, merely nodding again and again as he promised there would be no problems.

"Elder Lingyuan, um, Yuehua..."

The Third Elder asked cautiously.

Lingyuan Douluo cast him an indifferent glance, fully aware of his Thoughts. "Don't worry. Your Miss Yuehua is more reliable than all of you, and she truly has some skills. She has drawn herself so close to the Pope."

"She may look like a noble, dignified lady, but her seductive tricks are not bad either..."

By the end, dissatisfaction was clearly evident in Lingyuan Douluo's tone.

Because of Bibi Dong, most people in Spirit Hall did not dare harbor any Thoughts about Pei An.

But Lingyuan Douluo happened to be among that small minority.

Seeing Tang Yuehua achieve so much in such a short time, she naturally felt somewhat dissatisfied.

The Third Elder could only pretend not to understand.

He was absolutely satisfied with Tang Yuehua's performance!

Since they had already decided to submit to Spirit Hall, naturally the tighter they could cling to this Pope's thigh, the better.

How laughable that this old fellow had actually been one of those who had once treated Tang Yuehua as a burden and sent her to Spirit Hall as a hostage.

Lingyuan Douluo despised such behavior, yet could not be bothered to say more.

After leaving behind a single sentence, she drifted away.

"Do your work properly. Do not make mistakes."