Master, Wait!

"Master, why won't they let you take on any disciples?"

Su Yan asked as they ran along the streets of Notting City.

Behind them, a large group of soldiers in armor pursued them, keeping their distance.

Bibi Dong shook her head and pouted. "I don't know either."

She thought back over her extremely brief career, trying to figure out what might have caused this.

In fact, she had only done one thing during that time.

She'd thrown her eldest disciple, who had just obtained her First Soul Ring, into the Ant Nest for Endurance Training Method.

After just three days, her eldest disciple had cried and fussed until Yu Xiaogang took her away, putting an end to the training.

Bibi Dong was certain that anyone who could endure this training method would absolutely stand at the peak of Douluo Continent!

Her second disciple, whom she'd taken on just recently, hadn't even had time to obtain her First Soul Ring before Yu Xiaogang snatched her away too, claiming she needed to join a team to prepare for the Martial Soul Hall Junior Soul Master Competition.

So she didn't need to form a team and compete in the Soul Master Tournament?

She didn't want her disciples to be snatched away again.

"They're definitely afraid your disciples will surpass theirs and make them look bad," Su Yan said casually.

Bibi Dong's beautiful eyes flickered. Unconvinced, she waved a hand and smiled. "I suppose that's the only reason they'd target me like this."

The three of them drew closer to the city gate, when a soft moan came from beneath Su Yan.

Tang Chi woke up.

"Where are we?" Tang Chi asked with a yawn.

"On the way out of the city." Su Yan shifted position, pulling Tang Chi onto Bibi Dong's back too.

"Out of the city?" Tang Chi instantly woke up. "Why are we leaving the city?"

Su Yan pointed behind them with his thumb at the large group of guards. The reason was obvious.

Tang Chi looked back for a long moment, eyes wide. "They're all from Spirit Hall. We don't have to run."

"But they're bad people." Su Yan turned to Tang Chi and gave him a sinister smile. "If they catch you, they'll force you to do things, whip you, torture you, torment your will, destroy your body, and lock you in a dark little room full of cockroaches. They'll make you wish you were dead, but you won't be able to die. And then... hehehe!"

Tang Chi was so scared his mind went blank. He burst into tears, snot and tears streaming down his face.

That was the genuine reaction of a six-year-old child.

To Bibi Dong, this was the result of never having undergone Courage Training Method.

She had absolute confidence in her training methods.

Su Yan had always been brave and had excellent mental fortitude. He wasn't afraid at all.

Su Yan, a transmigrator whose body was six years old but whose mind was well over twenty, patted Tang Chi on the back to comfort him.

"There are people up ahead." Bibi Dong's expression turned grave. With a flash, she ducked into a shadowy passage between the wooden houses.

The two groups joined up, and hundreds of torches lit the surroundings in a ruddy glow.

Ci Xue stood in the middle and shouted, "Where is the Holy Maiden?"

"Reporting to Lord Blood Thorn, we haven't seen her."

"Useless!" Ci Xue raised a hand and slapped the man, sending him flying dozens of meters.

"Holy Maiden, I know you're nearby." Ci Xue suddenly chuckled. "If you don't come out by the time I count to three, I'll destroy every house in the area and search for you inch by inch."

Not far from them, Bibi Dong trembled with rage. Her fingers dug into her flesh, and through gritted teeth she spat out three words: "That bastard!"

After all, Bibi Dong was only a Soul Saint. Against Ci Xue, a Titled Douluo of the Pufferfish clan, she had no chance of winning.

"Three." Ci Xue raised his left hand, holding up three fingers.

"Two!" Ci Xue shouted. "Holy Maiden, can you really bear to watch these commoners die because of you?"

"One!"

Bibi Dong was about to step out when a bloodstained Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum fell from the sky, followed by countless more chrysanthemums.

"Chrysanthemums fall, the ground is stained with blood!"

Countless Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemums burst open in the air, and the shockwaves knocked everyone present unconscious.

Everyone except Ci Xue.

Yue Guan glided over atop the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemums, one side of his body exposed and drenched in blood.

Ci Xue sneered disdainfully. "I'm surprised you can still move. My Porcupinefish Poison has already seeped into your internal organs. If you keep using Soul Power, you won't survive the night."

"Even if I die, I'll never let you take the Holy Maiden back to the Main Martial Soul Hall." Yue Guan gasped for breath, then continued, "Lord Hall Master is already on his way. If they find out that you and I turned against each other, I doubt things will go well for you either."

"Hmph. If you refuse to appreciate my kindness, don't blame me for being merciless." Ci Xue abruptly unleashed his formidable Soul Power. Nine Soul Rings appeared in the air, lighting up one by one.

Hidden in the shadows, Su Yan felt his blood turn to ice. The pressure casually released by a Titled Douluo was enough to leave him completely immobilized. It was truly terrifying.

"Stop!" Bibi Dong leaped high into the air and landed between them, seven Soul Rings hovering around her.

"You finally showed yourself." Ci Xue's eyebrows lifted, and a smug smile crept across his lips. "Holy Maiden, forget about taking on disciples. Come back to the Main Martial Soul Hall with me obediently and complete our wedding."

"Hmph. Our families may share some history, but you're not worthy of me." Bibi Dong rebuked him coldly. "If you want me to return to the Main Martial Soul Hall, fine. First, cure Yue Guan's poison."

"Heh, easy!" Ci Xue casually tossed a porcelain bottle into Bibi Dong's hand. "Holy Maiden, this is the antidote to the Porcupinefish Poison."

"No, Holy Maiden, don't worry about me." Yue Guan spat out a mouthful of blood and clutched his chest, kneeling on one knee. "Ci Xue's intentions aren't pure. I'm worried he means you harm."

"He wouldn't dare touch me."

Bibi Dong tossed the porcelain bottle to Yue Guan. From the corner of her eye, she glanced at the two little ones hiding in the shadows, then took a wooden box containing the Flame-Flame Fruit from her belt.

"Xiaoyan, I've been very happy this past day." Bibi Dong wore a faint smile, though bitterness hid in the corners of her eyes. "You're the first to complete Bi's Training Method. It was only a small training exercise, but to me, it was a huge step forward. I'll remember it forever."

"I'd thought you would be the first disciple of mine to complete every training method. But now it seems I wasn't fated to have that."

"My eldest disciple left to serve another master after just three days."

"My second disciple was snatched away by someone else after just half a day."

"And you..." Bibi Dong sighed deeply. "All these hardships are because of me. None of this has anything to do with you."

Bibi Dong set the wooden box on the ground and sealed it with spider silk. Her eyes were filled with dejection and reluctance. "Keep this. Think of it as your master's final gift to you."

"Our brief bond as master and disciple ends here. We'll never meet again."

Standing in the corner, Su Yan saw Yue Guan's blood running down his body in the torchlight. He saw his face twitch unnaturally and his hands clench tightly at his sides.

He'd almost forgotten that another person was behind Bibi Dong's tragic life: Qian Xunji.

As the current Pope, Qian Xunji could naturally order these two Titled Douluo around.

Just as Bibi Dong was about to leave with Ci Xue, Su Yan hurried out of hiding and shouted, "Master! Wait!"

Bibi Dong turned around and saw Su Yan's little body running toward her. It reminded her of how she herself had run toward her master as a child, stirring something deep in her heart.

The distance between them wasn't great, but the ground was covered with unconscious people and fallen torches.

Su Yan had trouble running and nearly tripped several times.

Bibi Dong's beautiful eyes trembled. "Xiaoyan, be careful!"

"Master, you can't leave." Su Yan finally reached Bibi Dong, then turned around and shielded her with his little body. "Why won't you let Master take on disciples? And why use such a clumsy act to make her go back?"