Mother-Daughter Swimming Contest

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

The hotel manager walked in, holding an open registration book.

The register was thick, with a black leather cover and frayed edges. Each page was densely filled with check-in and check-out dates, guest names, and deposit amounts, arranged by floor and room number.

She handed the register to Qian Xunji with both hands, then stepped back to stand next to the bishop.

Qian Xunji opened the register and turned the pages one by one.

I spent no more than three seconds on each page, my eyes sifting through each line of text like a sieve.

First floor, second floor, third floor... every room has a record, and the form is filled with densely packed check-in information.

Fourth floor, fifth floor, sixth floor... nothing was missed.

When he reached the seventh floor, he paused, then turned another page.

The eighth floor... a luxury suite, the entire page was blank.

Flip to three months ago, six months ago, one year ago—all blank.

He closed the register and then slapped it directly into the hotel manager's face.

"Who lives here? Why can't they register? Has there not been a single guest since the business opened?"

The hotel manager's lips trembled, and then the bishop beside her knelt down with a thud.

"Your Majesty... this is my private residence."

"I liked the environment here; it's close to the Holy Temple, making it convenient for working, so I had some selfish motives... I admit my guilt."

Qian Xunji looked down at the bishop kneeling on the ground.

The person trembling at his feet was wearing the red robes of a bishop from the Spirit Hall, the highest-ranking official of the Spirit Hall in Vast Sea City.

He was staying in the best suite, while the receptionist downstairs was still dutifully covering for him with the excuse that it was "not open to the public."

He raised his leg and kicked the bishop in the chest.

This kick didn't use Soul Power, but even with the power of Titled Douluo held back, it was enough to send a slightly overweight middle-aged man flying.

The bishop's body slid more than ten feet across the smooth marble floor, his lower back slamming against the bonsai stand in the corner, causing the stand to wobble twice.

He curled up on the ground, letting out a muffled groan of pain, not daring to fight back or argue.

The hotel manager stood there, trembling with fear.

Qian Xunji turned around and looked at her. "You let him stay there without permission?"

"Your Majesty... he made me do it all. He's the Bishop of the Vast Sea Temple, and I'm just a hotel manager. I had no choice but to turn a blind eye..."

"You've been dismissed."

Qian Xunji withdrew his gaze and looked at the bishop, "Pack your things before tomorrow and return to Spirit City to face trial."

Then he turned to the deacons at the door, "You two take me to the Vast Sea Temple."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

At the edge of the swimming pool, Qian Renxue was lying on the edge, her wet blonde hair clinging to her shoulders, water droplets sliding down her cheeks.

When Bibi Dong suggested a swimming competition, she immediately raised her hand in response.

The mother and daughter stood side by side by the pool, Bibi Dong counted down three, two, one.

Qian Renxue paddled very quickly, her body rising and falling in the water like a small shark cutting through the waves.

Bibi Dong's swimming style is more graceful, with smaller movements, but more relaxed.

After a few breaths, Qian Renxue was the first to pat the opposite side of the pool wall, then turned to look at her mother.

Bibi Dong was half a step behind her, slowly leaning over and pulling Qian Renxue into her arms.

"You swim so fast!"

Qian Renxue said, "Mom, you've already released the water of an entire ocean."

"You need to swim with your actual abilities."

"Okay, okay, okay."

At this moment, the waitress came over with a plate of chilled fruit and drinks and placed them on the low table by the pool.

"Let's swim later, have some fruit first."

"Good."

The mother and daughter returned to the shore, and the two of them were like a beautiful sight to behold.

Bibi Dong picked up a fork, forked a piece of mango, and held it to Qian Renxue's lips.

Qian Renxue took a bite and asked vaguely, "Mom, is Dad busy with something?"

"Yes, he's busy with something."

"Yes, dads these days are really great."

Bibi Dong was taken aback and asked, "What, wasn't it good before?"

"It was better before."

Bibi Dong stroked her head, and as that memory came to mind, her heart felt a little heavy.

"Xiao Xue, Mom will always love you."

"Me too."

Afterwards, the mother and daughter swam a few more laps before returning to the edge of the pool.

The mother and daughter were resting on the chairs when Qian Xunji walked out of the side door of the hotel.

Bibi Dong took the towel he handed her and gestured for the waitress to wait at a distance.

"How's it going?"

"He embezzled a lot."

Qian Xunji sat down on the armrest of the recliner. "They even colluded with the city lord of Vast Sea City to extort protection money from fishermen in the name of the Spirit Hall."

Bibi Dong frowned. Over the years, she had handled many of the Holy Temple's accounts and knew that such matters were not uncommon in branch temples far from Spirit City.

However, Vast Sea City is no ordinary small town. It is the gateway to Sea God Island, and countless Soul Master and merchant caravans pass through every year. The wealth here even surpasses that of some provincial capitals of medium-sized provinces.

Those who could become bishops in Vast Sea City should have been carefully selected.

"That city lord is from the Heaven Dou Empire, you shouldn't be able to control him, right?"

"Yes, he was appointed by the Heaven Dou Empire."

Qian Xunji nodded, "However, I have already sent someone to deliver the evidence to the Heaven Dou Royal Family. How they handle it is their business."

"Dad, I'm hungry."

Qian Xunji smiled and said, "Let's go, let's change our clothes. I'm hungry too, and it'll take a while to clean that apartment. Let's stay at another hotel."

"Okay, Xiao Xue, let's go change our clothes."

Qian Renxue, all smiles, wrapped herself in a bath towel and ran towards the women's changing room.

When I came out of the hotel, it was already quite dark.

Qian Xunji changed into casual clothes and led Qian Renxue ahead.

Bibi Dong changed into a plain-colored long dress, her long silver-white hair casually tied up with a wooden hairpin, and followed beside him.

The family of three had just stepped out of the hotel when they encountered a group of people.

Leading the group was Clement, the city lord of Vast Sea City.

He had just been so frightened by the evidence delivered by the Spirit Hall that he smashed a teacup during the day, but now he was wearing a brand new official robe and had a fawning smile on his face.

Behind him were two deacons from the Vast Sea Temple. After the bishop was kicked away by Qian Xunji, the daily affairs of the Holy Temple were temporarily handled by these two deacons.

Following behind were several attendants, holding flowers and holding silk banners that read "Welcome His Holiness the Pope," making it seem as if they were welcoming some kind of festival celebration.

"Your Holiness His Holiness the Pope the Spirit Hall, I am Clement, the City Lord of Vast Sea City. I have come to pay my respects upon learning of Your Holiness's arrival in Hanhai."

"Your Excellency and your wife and daughter have prepared a welcoming banquet at the City Lord's Mansion. We cordially invite you to attend."

Before he could finish speaking, two deacons from the Vast Sea Temple interjected, "Your Majesty, we have already reserved the best private room in the Vast Sea Pavilion."

"Yes, yes, I've also arranged a troupe of singers and dancers, all the best musicians in Vast Sea City..."

"No need."

Qian Xunji interrupted him impatiently, and the noisy hotel entrance fell silent.