The Tail Is So Soft

Before long, thanks to Hu Liena's efforts, the heat in her body gradually subsided.

"Senior Brother..."

Hu Liena's voice was faint. Her hair was slightly mussed, and she was drenched in sweat.

She pursed her lips. "Nana wants more..."

At that,

Su Wen handed her the water flask.

Hu Liena hugged it to her chest and didn't stop until she had drained every last drop.

Ye Yuan'er rested a hand on her shoulder and used her Soul Power to examine her condition. "That's enough. You don't need any more. Her body was already rather frail when she left the orphanage. Giving her too much at once could have the opposite effect."

"She's already reached level ten, and her physique has improved quite a bit—by around one or two hundred years' worth, at least. Anything under five hundred and fifty years is safest. She could try a six-hundred-year Spirit Ring, too, but the risk would be rather high."

Hu Liena had still looked a little tired, but at Ye Yuan'er's words, she perked right up.

Had she heard that right? She was already level ten, and her First Soul Ring could be five or even six hundred years old?!

"Senior Brother, what did Nana just eat?"

Hu Liena asked curiously.

"I'll tell you later. First, I'll take you to get your Spirit Ring."

Su Wen decided to give Bibi Dong a surprise.

Hu Liena's Spirit Ring would break the usual limits, too. He wondered what kind of expression Bibi Dong would make.

"Senior Brother, but... but Teacher said that if I sneaked out..."

Hu Liena was delighted, but Bibi Dong's warning still rang in her ears. She shrank her neck in fear.

"Uh, let's go back first. You need to change your clothes, too!"

Su Wen said goodbye to Ye Yuan'er, then left with Hu Liena.

Ye Yuan'er leaned against the courtyard gate, watching Hu Liena still clutching Xiao Wen's arm.

She raised an eyebrow, then quickly shook her head.

"What am I thinking? She's just a kid!"

Ye Yuan'er collected herself and turned to go inside, but suddenly stopped and murmured:

"But she really does have the makings of a Fox Spirit..."

"No, wait. She already seems to be a Fox Spirit."

The Tail Was Very Soft

Su Wen led Hu Liena back to her quarters. The place was much smaller than Saintess Hall, and he immediately realized it was a side hall that had been temporarily converted into living quarters.

There were plenty of clothes in the wardrobe. Bibi Dong really did pay attention to details.

Su Wen quickly dismissed that thought. His own room was completely bare.

He folded his arms and grumbled, "Bibi Dong really does favor her little sister over her little brother!"

Meanwhile, Hu Liena had changed and was standing in front of the mirror, inspecting her figure.

After eating Whale Rubber, her figure seemed to have filled out a little, and she looked much less frail.

"Senior Brother, does Nana look prettier now?"

Su Wen was still fuming. When he turned around, he found Hu Liena had used Martial Soul Possession.

She cradled her fluffy tail in her arms, lowering her head to rub her blushing cheeks gently against it.

Su Wen was momentarily stunned. The adorable sight swept away his displeasure.

"Let your senior brother have a go!"

Su Wen rubbed his hands together. At Hu Liena's slight nod, her apple-red cheeks still flushed, he took hold of her fox tail.

It was fluffy and soft, and slightly warm. It felt great.

No wonder Hu Liena liked playing with it herself.

"Senior Brother..."

A faint moan escaped Hu Liena's lips. Su Wen saw her gazing at him pitifully.

"It hurts!"

Su Wen loosened his grip a little, but still felt inexplicably like a creepy old man.

Half an hour later, Su Wen and Hu Liena set out for Pope Hall.

On either side of the steps leading up to the grand Pope Hall stood Palace Guard Knights clad in silver armor.

Strict ranks were marked on their chests.

The weakest among them were Spirit Kings, and the higher up the steps they stood, the stronger they were.

The four guarding the entrance at the very top were all Spirit Emperors, the very face of Pope Hall.

Even the aura radiating from the two lines of guards was oppressive.

"Senior Brother..."

Hu Liena had never seen anything like this before, and her nerves rose at once.

"It's all right. Just stay with me."

Carrying Ye Yuan'er's Elder Token, Su Wen led the timid Hu Liena up the steps.

When they reached the entrance to Pope Hall, Su Wen hesitated. If Hu Liena went to obtain a Spirit Ring, would Bibi Dong come along?

If she did, Hu Liena's First Soul Ring would be limited to four hundred years at most.

"What are you two doing standing outside?"

"Come in already."

Just as Su Wen was trying to think of a solution, Bibi Dong's voice suddenly came from inside Pope Hall.

Clearly, she had sensed them as soon as they'd climbed the steps.

"Teacher, we're here to pay our respects!"

Su Wen didn't hesitate any longer. He led Hu Liena boldly into the hall.

The interior was splendid, and the entrance faced the papal throne, giving visitors an unobstructed view of the Pope seated in the place of honor.

At that moment, Bibi Dong wore a tight-fitting purple papal robe patterned with gold. The Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown rested on her head, and her slightly curled hair was a wine-red shade tinged with purple.

Her long legs were encased in pink stockings and crossed at the knee. Leaning forward against the edge of a desk piled high with documents, she was clearly handling official business.

At Su Wen's words, a hint of amusement appeared on her mature face. "Well, this is unusual!"

Su Wen looked awkward. After all these days, this was the first time he'd come to pay his respects.

He coughed, pulled out the flowers he'd prepared earlier from his Soul Tool, and smiled. "Teacher, my junior sister and I picked these for you."

"Come here," Bibi Dong said evenly, her mood impossible to read.

Su Wen led Hu Liena closer, set the flowers on the desk, then pulled out yesterday's post-battle report.

"Did you write this?"

Bibi Dong took it and asked as she looked at the crooked handwriting.

He nodded without even blushing. The corner of Bibi Dong's mouth twitched.

"It... it was Senior Brother..."

When Hu Liena saw Bibi Dong looking at her, she panicked. She lowered her head slightly, her voice stumbling over the words.

Su Wen thought, This is bad. His little junior sister didn't seem capable of lying. Her face was red as boiling water.

"Forget it!"

Bibi Dong set the report aside. When her gaze accidentally swept over the flowers, they seemed familiar.

"Where did you pick these?"

Su Wen answered with a smile, "At Elder Ju's place."

Bibi Dong: "..."

"You picked them well, but don't do it again."

"You can go back for now. I'll teach you later."

As soon as Bibi Dong finished speaking, Hu Liena excitedly blurted out, "Teacher, Nana has reached level ten!"

"Oh?" Bibi Dong looked surprised. According to her calculations, Hu Liena should still have needed another half a month.

Bibi Dong checked her and confirmed she was level ten. A smile appeared on her face. "You reached it faster than I expected. I'll have someone take you to obtain your First Soul Ring in a bit. Your senior brother can go with you. He's not the type to sit around, anyway."

Su Wen immediately suggested, "Then I'll take Nana out now!"

"Mm. Pick one of the Palace Guard Knights outside. He'll take you to a nearby Soul Hunting Forest. The Spirit Beasts there are all under a thousand years old, so they're safe enough for you, and there should be one that suits Nana's First Soul Ring."

Bibi Dong hesitated briefly, then added a reminder. "Nana's body is stronger than I expected. She can try a four-hundred-year Fire Fox."

Hu Liena looked a little dazed. Why were Teacher and Aunt Ye saying different things?

"Understood, Teacher."

Su Wen cheerfully led Hu Liena away.

He couldn't wait to see Bibi Dong's expression when she found out that he and Hu Liena had both broken the limits for a First Soul Ring.

"What's your name? What's your Martial Soul?"

"Young Master, this subordinate is Aode Biao. My Martial Soul is the Blazing Leopard, and I'm a level fifty-six Battle Soul Master!"

Su Wen and Hu Liena left the hall and stopped in front of a man who looked agreeable.

"Aode Biao?"

Su Wen gave him a strange look. The man had refined features, yet such a ferocious-sounding name.