Invitation to Join

After a while, the tattered curtain of the fitting room was lifted again.

Bibi Xi had changed into the black robe, making him look neat and upright.

When he came out and saw Qian Xunji, he was still a little uneasy. He promptly bowed properly. "Your Holiness the Pope."

Qian Xunji also put away his earlier awkwardness and regained some of a Pope's steady bearing. He sized him up, then nodded. "Mm. This outfit suits you well."

"Thank you, Your Holiness."

Bibi Xi breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed this Pope was not difficult to get along with.

At that moment, Bibi Dong and Ling Yuan came over carrying several outfits they had picked out, and the atmosphere finally became much more natural.

After paying, the four of them left Brocade Pavilion and walked through the bustling streets.

Qian Xunji took the initiative to speak to Bibi Xi. "You're Bibi Xi, right? Your talent should be quite good. Have you considered joining Spirit Hall? We can provide better cultivation resources and guidance here."

He was not only recruiting talent for Spirit Hall, but also wanted to keep an eye on this brother-in-law. And while he was at it... earn some goodwill.

Bibi Xi scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed. "Thank you for thinking highly of me, Your Holiness, but... I haven't decided yet."

"This time, I mainly wanted to bring my sister home to see our parents. They've been waiting for more than ten years."

Bibi Dong immediately picked up the conversation and looked at Qian Xunji. "Teacher, would you... come with us?"

After a pause, she added, "I owe everything I have today to your guidance, Teacher, and Spirit Hall's cultivation."

"My parents... would surely want to thank you in person as well."

She then looked at Bibi Xi. "Xiao Xi, is that alright?"

Bibi Xi froze for a moment. Looking at the noble and distinguished Qian Xunji beside him, he felt a little nervous.

Bring the Pope back to their little village?

Wasn't that a bit too grand?

But his sister had a point...

After hesitating for a moment, he nodded. "Y-yes, that's fine."

Anyway, once their parents saw that his sister had returned safely and had even become the Saintess, they would probably be so happy they forgot everything else. Bringing along a Pope... should be fine, right?

Qian Xunji was somewhat surprised. He had not expected Bibi Dong to take the initiative to invite him along.

This was undoubtedly an important signal that their relationship had taken another step forward.

"Since Dong'er has invited me, I shall naturally accompany you."

After the incident with the hole in the roof and settling their plans to meet the parents, none of them felt like continuing to shop.

Bibi Dong glanced at the sky and suggested, "It's getting late. How about we head back first?"

"I have no objections." Ling Yuan immediately raised her hand. She had gotten her fill of gossip today and urgently needed to go back and process it all.

"Alright." Qian Xunji nodded as well.

Bibi Xi said, "Then... I'll find an inn to stay at."

"No need."

"Since you are Dong'er's younger brother, how could you possibly stay outside?"

"Spirit Hall has guest residences. I'll have someone prepare a quiet room for you. You can stay there."

Bibi Xi was flattered and hurriedly thanked him. "Thank you, Your Holiness."

Afterward, Qian Xunji arranged for Bibi Dong and Ling Yuan to take the newly arrived Bibi Xi around Spirit Hall so he could familiarize himself with the place.

He himself turned and returned to Pope Palace. That pile of official business was still waiting for him.

When Qian Xunji returned to Pope Palace, he looked at Jiang Mo and instructed, "Elder Jiang Mo, prepare a quiet guest residence for the Saintess's younger brother to stay in temporarily."

"The Saintess's... younger brother?" Jiang Mo exchanged a glance with Qian Jun beside him, and both saw the surprise in each other's eyes.

"Mm. He was just found."

"Go handle it."

"Yes!" The two of them suppressed their curiosity and left to carry out the order.

After sending the two away, Qian Xunji sat back on the Pope's throne, which he had been away from for three days. Taking a deep breath, he threw himself into matters of border defense, resource scheduling, personnel appointments, and the movements of the major family factions... each matter required his judgment and approval.

Time quietly passed, and the sun outside the window gradually slanted westward.

Just as he put down his pen and rubbed his slightly aching brow, preparing to rest for a while, footsteps sounded at the entrance of the hall.

Qian Xunji looked up to see Bibi Dong walking in with a redwood tray.

Several dishes and two bowls of rice rested on the tray.

"Teacher, it's time for dinner."

Qian Xunji was a little surprised. "The maidservants could have delivered this. Why did you have to come all this way yourself?"

Bibi Dong set the tray on the table and handed him a pair of chopsticks.

"Because I wanted to eat with Teacher."

He took the chopsticks, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth. "Alright."

Bibi Dong picked up a piece of soul beast drumstick that had been stewed until tender and flavorful, then placed it in Qian Xunji's bowl.

"Teacher, eat more."

Qian Xunji looked at the little mountain that had appeared in his bowl and smiled helplessly. "Dong'er, you should eat too."

He remembered that she used to train heavily and had a good appetite. She seemed to have gotten a little thinner lately?

Bibi Dong shook her head and propped her chin on her hand as she watched him. "Teacher is a man, and also the Pope. You handle countless affairs every day, so you should eat more and nourish your body."

That simple concern flowed into Qian Xunji's heart like a warm current.

Looking at the girl before him—her eyes clear, personally bringing him a meal because he might not have eaten, giving him the drumstick—his heart was filled with emotion.

Was this Bibi Dong before she had endured all that suffering, before she had fallen into darkness?

Pure, gentle, considerate, shy yet willing to muster the courage to express closeness... how wonderful.

He silently rejoiced that he had arrived in time and changed everything.

"Then we'll split it half and half."

He picked up the drumstick and gathered Soul Power at his fingertips.

Swish, swish.

The drumstick was cut in half, and he placed one half into Bibi Dong's bowl.

"Th-thank you, Teacher."

"You're welcome."

"By the way, Dong'er, speaking of your brother being in Yelin City, I used Spiritual Power to scan the entire city. I sensed more than a hundred spider martial souls, yet I alone couldn't find him."

"His martial soul... isn't a spider type?"

At the mention of her younger brother, Bibi Dong's eyes curved into crescents. "Teacher, you guessed half of it right."

"Xiao Xi's martial soul is indeed related to spiders, but it isn't a spider itself."

"Oh? Then what is it?"