Qian Renxue and Hu Liena on the other side shared the same confusion as Bibi Dong.
They were both wondering who these three bumbling beauties actually were.
Qian Renxue even temporarily pulled herself out of the grief brought by her lineage and ground her teeth inwardly:
"My Spirit Hall's millennia of heritage was just played away by you three women? Don't let me find you three idiots, or I'll definitely make you pay!"
[Li Yuan: Alright, everyone, today's story session ends here for now. Let's chat next time; I gotta bail first.]
With that, Li Yuan's avatar directly dimmed, showing "Offline".
Everyone: ???
No, wait, right when the talk reached the most crucial and suspenseful part, you ran off?
[Richest Little Heiress of Heaven Dou: Group Leader, how could you do this? Make things clear before you leave! Who on earth are those three bumbling beauties?! (Cat frantic)]
[Viper-Hearted Big Sister: Exactly, this is way too irresponsible, you cliffhanger jerk! I was... oh no, I finished eating my melon seeds, and you just show me this?! (Angry melon seed throwing)]
[Loves Eating Carrots: Group Leader Brother, come back quickly, I can't sleep!]
[Big Cat in the Night: ... (Silently puts away her little notebook, feeling like she noted a whole load of nothing)]
[Ice-Snow Smart: Group Leader Brother... this... (Wants to speak but stops, curiosity completely stirred up)]
[Single Academy-Running Housewife: Hmph, running away pretty fast! (Gnash of teeth)]
[Yandere Mad Beauty of Martial Soul Hall: Nana, come to my Pope Palace for a moment.]
Bibi Dong discovered that although this chat group, including the Group Leader Li Yuan, was infuriating, the group was not entirely without its merits.
For instance, calling people over was much more convenient.
Martial Soul Academy.
The summoned Hu Liena watched her delicate little face turn instantly pale.
Teacher... isn't she suspecting that I'm one of those three "bumbling beauties"?
It wasn't me, I didn't do it, stop talking nonsense!
Hu Liena desperately wanted to clarify things in the group right away, but reason told her the more she explained, the darker things would get.
Moreover, after what had just happened, Teacher's mood at the moment was probably... extremely ominous.
She took a deep breath, struggled to calm her pounding heart, and replied with a message.
[Little Fox Who Loves Teacher Most: Okay, Teacher, I'm coming right over.]
After sending this message, she dared not delay for a second and immediately got up to rush toward the Pope Palace.
She shouldn't, today, end up dying here, right?
Notting Academy, inside the dormitory.
Li Yuan blissfully exited the chat group interface.
He looked at the "Chat Group Activity/Experience Value" progress bar in front of him that only he could see.
It had already surged forward by a huge margin, looking as if it were about to approach the critical threshold for leveling up.
"Tsk tsk, it looks like it won't take many days for the chat group to reach level two."
The corners of Li Yuan's mouth curled into a pleased arc: "By then, I'll be able to unlock new functions and claim another wave of rewards... Awesome!"
Pope Palace.
The heavy palace doors were pushed open a crack, and Hu Liena nervously poked in half her head, cautiously observing Teacher's expression.
"Teacher, did you look for me?"
"Nana, are you scared?"
Bibi Dong turned around, her purple eyes looking at her calmly.
"N-no."
Hu Liena hurriedly shook her head, yet her slightly trembling calves still betrayed her inner tension.
Bibi Dong gently stroked her cheek: "Look, you say you aren't scared, and you're even shaking."
This unusual gentleness made Hu Liena even more flustered. She lowered her head, her voice carrying worry: "Teacher, I... I was just afraid of Spirit Hall..."
Although she didn't continue, the two people within the chat group knew it clearly in their hearts.
Bibi Dong withdrew her hand, her gaze turning icy: "Don't be afraid. Even if the sky falls, Teacher is here to hold it up. Spirit Hall doesn't need three bumbling women to run amok!"
Hearing this, Hu Liena felt much more at ease, a sliver of luck even rising in her heart.
Could it be that Li Yuan simply got it wrong?
Bibi Dong asked in a low voice: "Teacher called you over to ask what you think of this chat group. Is it good or bad for my Spirit Hall?"
Today Li Yuan said too many things in the chat group, making her—who had been Pope for many years—feel uneasy for the first time.
Even when facing Qian Daoliu back in the day, she had never felt this kind of pressure.
Bibi Dong even had a feeling of being subjected to a "Big Investigation". In front of Li Yuan, she was like a naked young girl without a single secret to speak of.
For Bibi Dong, who possessed an extremely strong desire for control and an extreme lack of a sense of security, this was exceptionally agonizing.
Hu Liena pondered for a moment and said softly: "Teacher, I feel the chat group is not necessarily a bad thing for us."
"Oh? Tell me in detail."
A flash of sharp light crossed Bibi Dong's eyes.
"Just think, since this Li Yuan knows so many secrets that ordinary people cannot fathom, and even includes things that might happen in the future—"
Hu Liena raised her eyes, her gaze sparkling with a cleverness that clashed with her alluring appearance: "Then why can't we turn things around and use him?
"Use the intelligence he knows to help us avoid risks, and even preemptively eliminate the entities that might threaten Spirit Hall in the future."
"Use him?" Bibi Dong hesitated slightly.
Li Yuan knew so many secrets; could she really control him?
What was more, this Li Yuan wasn't exactly a decent person.
After all, what decent person could say they envied Qian Xunji?
He coveted her body.
He was utterly shameless!
Seeing Bibi Dong hesitate, Hu Liena quickly said: "Teacher, just leave this matter to me. I'll get on his good side in the group and strive to slowly squeeze out useful intelligence."
She paused, then added: "Also, Teacher, in the future try not to immediately go tit-for-tat with him in the group either. Perhaps... using gentleness to overcome hardness might yield even better results?"
Bibi Dong extended a slender finger and lightly pinched Hu Liena's tender cheek, smiling with amused annoyance: "Well, aren't you a little girl, starting to lecture Teacher instead? Fine, this matter... Teacher approves, and it's left to you to handle."
A smile bloomed on Hu Liena's face, her gaze turning resolute the next moment with murderous intent leaking out:
"Teacher, rest assured, as long as this disciple finds that Tang San fellow, no matter if he's the Son of Destiny or an Outer Realm Heavenly Demon, this disciple will definitely find a way... to completely eliminate him!"
As for anyone who might threaten Spirit Hall or threaten Teacher.
She, Hu Liena, would never show mercy.
Scarcely had Hu Liena left when an old man with plain attire and an unfathomable aura walked in.
The newcomer was none other than Qian Daoliu.
Bibi Dong's previously gentle expression instantly turned icy: "What are you doing here?"
Qian Daoliu did not get angry either, lightly smiling: "I heard you wrote a letter and had Gui Mei send it to Xiao Xue?"
"Old thing, you snooped?"
"..."
Seeing that he did not deny it, Bibi Dong instantly flew into a raging fury, a terrifying pressure sweeping outward.
Yet this pressure—which to outsiders was enough to crush a Titled Douluo—was as non-existent before Qian Daoliu as nothing at all.
Before you continue