Chat Upgrade, New Features Unlocked

"I did it for Xue'er, too. She grew up without a mother's love, and she's stubborn. She looks strong, but deep down, she's fragile... As her grandfather, I couldn't stand by and watch her get hurt. You know that."

"But now, it seems I don't need to worry so much."

Qian Daoliu chuckled. Remembering what the letter had said, a trace of relief entered his eyes.

If he could see mother and daughter let go of their old grievances in his lifetime, he would consider his life complete.

At the sight of his face, which bore such a strong resemblance to Qian Xunji's, the scene from that year seemed to rise before Bibi Dong's eyes once more.

Pain filled her eyes as she screamed hysterically:

"Get out! Out! Get out!"

Seeing Bibi Dong's attitude change so abruptly, Qian Daoliu knew the Rakshasa God's chaotic, evil thoughts had probably flared up again.

He sighed. "I'm sorry. Ji'er wronged you. I hope my visit today won't change the way you've begun to treat Xue'er."

Bibi Dong said nothing. She glared at him with hatred.

Qian Daoliu walked silently toward the door, then stopped and turned back. What he said next carried the weight of a thousand jun. "One more thing. From now on, Spirit Hall should be placed entirely in your hands."

With that, he left without lingering. His tall figure vanished into the light and shadow beyond the hall.

Only this time, the old man's usually imposing back seemed a little hunched, carrying a hint of sorrow.

Those few simple words were more than a surrender of power. They meant Qian Daoliu truly trusted Bibi Dong.

Before this, though Bibi Dong held the exalted position of Pope, the only people she could truly command as readily as her own arms were Qian Xunji's two faithful lieutenants.

Spirit Hall's tireless workhorses, Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo.

They were the only two who belonged to the Pope's inner circle, and they were the closest to Bibi Dong.

Most of the elders in the Elder Hall had harbored doubts about her succession as Pope. More than a few had obeyed her to her face while defying her behind her back.

But with Qian Daoliu's acknowledgment, everything would change.

From that moment on, apart from those ancient relics in the Worship Hall whose seniority was enough to make anyone shudder,

there would truly be only one voice throughout Spirit Hall.

The voice of the Pope, Bibi Dong!

The next day, at noon.

In a small pavilion on the grounds of Notting Academy's Playground.

Xiao Wu felt awful.

She now strongly suspected that Tang San, the student at the academy, was the child of destiny possessed by an "Outer Realm Heavenly Demon" whom the Group Leader had mentioned yesterday!

Just after lunch, she had gone out for a walk to help her digest.

At a secluded corner, she had clearly heard Tang San muttering about the Tang Sect, the Mysterious Heaven Skill, and the Hundred Solutions of Hidden Weapons... strange terms she had never heard before.

She was still hesitating over whether to ask the group about it

when Tang San came over, his face bright with delight. "Xiao Wu, there you are! I've been looking for you forever!"

"What do you want?"

Xiao Wu's face darkened as she pushed down her nerves.

"Xiao Wu, we're graduating soon, right? I came to ask if you'd like to go to Shrek Academy with me."

This was his first time speaking to Xiao Wu alone.

So Tang San, a lifelong virgin, was nervous.

He boasted about how incredible Shrek's teachers were while rubbing his hands and slowly drawing closer. His eyes stayed fixed on Xiao Wu, as if he feared she might run away.

As everyone knew, a man's looks made all the difference when he stared at a beauty.

If a handsome guy did it, he was admiring the scenery. Easy on the eyes.

If an ugly bastard did it, he was a peeping creep with a "male gaze." It made people uncomfortable.

Tang San had yet to undergo his Second Awakening. His looks were ordinary at best, and years of forging and training had left his skin rather dark. He was just barely passable.

And as everyone knew, what boys called "passable" was not what girls called "passable."

To girls, anyone who wasn't handsome counted as ugly.

So to Xiao Wu, the eager, slightly nervous look in Tang San's eyes was deeply uncomfortable.

Fighting the urge to vomit, she covered her face, turned him down as tactfully as she could, and hurriedly found an excuse to leave.

"Thanks, Tang San, but... I haven't decided yet. Oh, I just remembered something urgent. I've got to go!"

Tang San was left standing alone, utterly at a loss.

When he came back to his senses, he remembered how Xiao Wu had covered her face as she ran off.

"Could that be how girls act when they're shy?"

Tang San's mind immediately conjured up an image of Xiao Wu blushing bashfully.

"Hahaha! I knew Xiao Wu couldn't possibly like that Li Yuan. What happened the day before yesterday really was just an accident."

Tang San couldn't help laughing. His mouth spread into a confident grin.

It seemed all his years of effort hadn't been wasted.

Xiao Wu, wait for me. I haven't even held your hand yet,

but I won't give up.

Remember how you called me a good person the day before yesterday?

For you, I'll become a pure and noble soul who saves people from suffering!

Except Li Yuan.

The moment Tang San pictured Li Yuan holding Xiao Wu, he ground his teeth with hatred.

"Li Yuan, you've already given me a reason to kill you!"

Elsewhere, Xiao Wu jogged on until she was sure Tang San hadn't followed her. Only then did she stop in an empty corner, pat her chest, and let out a long breath.

"He scared me to death... The way he looked at me, you'd think he wanted to eat me."

She muttered, still shaken, then remembered Tang San's strange muttering.

She took out her "Brick," typed a message, and sent it.

[Loves Eating Carrots: Guys, you won't believe this. I ran into this super ugly, creepy guy. I think he's the Tang San Group Leader Brother mentioned yesterday. (cucumber emoji)]

[Richest Little Heiress of Heaven Dou: No way! You ran into both Crouching Dragon and Young Phoenix? What kind of earth-shattering dogshit luck is that? (shocked cat face)]

[Loves Eating Carrots: Waaa, I didn't want to! (crying emoji)]

The group seemed unusually quiet today. Only the two of them were online, chatting now and then.

Suddenly, a dazzling golden light burst across the Group Chat interface without warning.

[Ding! Congratulations, host! The Group Chat has leveled up!]

[LV.1 → LV.2!]

[Richest Little Heiress of Heaven Dou: Huh? The Group Chat leveled up? What does that mean?]

[Loves Eating Carrots: Looks like there's a new... Red Envelope feature. I don't know what it does. I'll try it!]

The next second, a large, eye-catching red envelope appeared on the screen.

[A Red Envelope from Loves Eating Carrots!]

At the same time,

in Notting Academy's library, Li Yuan was absorbed in the Encyclopedia of Soul Beasts when a crisp "ding-dong" suddenly rang in his mind.

Huh?

That sound... It's a Red Envelope notification!

Li Yuan perked up. He quickly set down the book and opened the Group Chat.

Sure enough, he saw the group-level-up notice and that irresistible Red Envelope icon.

Quick hands get it. Slow hands miss out!

Li Yuan reacted in a flash and tapped to claim the Red Envelope.

Luckily, with the hand speed he had honed over thirty years of playing Valorant in his previous life, no one beat him to it.

The next second,

Li Yuan felt something land in his palm. It was... soft, with a trace of warmth and a faint fragrance still clinging to it.

He looked down, and his eyes went wide.

A pair of pink... panties? The fabric was soft, and cute little carrots were embroidered around the edges.

[Congratulations, host! You received one pair of worn pink panties.]

Li Yuan: "What the fuck!"

In a corner of Notting Academy,

Xiao Wu suddenly felt a chill beneath her. Her fair cheeks instantly flushed bright red.

She looked around in a panic.

Thank goodness. There's no one here.

She glared viciously at the Chat Group interface. Only then did she notice a line of small text beneath the "Red Envelope" icon:

[Note: If you do not select an item to send, the Chat Group will randomly take one item from your person and send it as the contents of the Red Envelope.]

Xiao Wu ground her teeth. Why didn't you say so earlier?

Chat Group: You didn't ask.

[Richest Little Heiress of Heaven Dou: @Loves Eating Carrots, what was in the Red Envelope you sent? Why can't I open it? (curious baby)]

Red Envelopes in the Chat Group disappeared automatically once claimed, so Ning Rongrong couldn't see what had been inside. Her curiosity was itching.

As Xiao Wu read her message, her eyes suddenly shifted, and a wicked little grin curled her lips.

I can't be the only unlucky one.

She quietly sent a message.

[Loves Eating Carrots: Hehe, why not send one and find out? It's really fun!]

[Richest Little Heiress of Heaven Dou: Huh, really? Then I'll give it a try!]

Ning Rongrong clearly had no idea how treacherous people could be. She only thought Xiao Wu was rather nice to tell her about something fun.

But she was about to regret it.