Playing Around, Sucking on Bibi Dong's Finger

Qian Daoliu felt helpless and was just about to turn and leave when his gaze suddenly paused on Bibi Dong.

Her Soul Power...

Bibi Dong had already done her best to conceal the fluctuations in her Soul Power.

But what kind of person was Qian Daoliu?

He was the Great Enshrined of Spirit Hall, Guardian of the Angel God, and a Peerless Douluo at level 99.

The number of people on the entire continent who could hide their strength from him could be counted on one hand.

Although Bibi Dong was doing everything she could to suppress it, he had still sensed a faint trace of something unusual.

Her Soul Power seemed to be more than a little stronger than the last time he had seen her.

When had he last seen her?

About half a month ago.

At the time, her Soul Power should have been around level 83.

But now...

Qian Daoliu narrowed his eyes slightly.

He couldn't see through Bibi Dong's level directly. This was only a vague sense.

He couldn't say exactly what level Bibi Dong was now; he just instinctively felt that she had grown stronger.

And not by a little.

"Your strength..." Qian Daoliu paused. "It seems to have improved quite a bit."

Bibi Dong's expression remained unchanged, but the alarm bells in her heart were already ringing at full volume.

She had done everything she could to suppress the fluctuations in her Soul Power, yet Qian Daoliu had still sensed them.

The perception of a level-99 Peerless Douluo really was terrifying. Even with the condensed Soul Power granted to her by the system, it was difficult to hide it completely from him.

Bibi Dong made a mental note: she had to find a cultivation method that could conceal her level.

Before she was invincible, being exposed would be a lot of trouble.

"Congratulations." Qian Daoliu didn't press her for answers. After all, this wasn't a bad thing.

Bibi Dong was part of Spirit Hall. The stronger she became, the better it was for Spirit Hall.

Although she hated Qian Xunji, this was a family matter. At least when it came to the greater interests of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong had never done anything to harm them.

Qian Daoliu didn't ask any further. He took another look at the baby in Bibi Dong's arms, then turned and headed for the door.

When he reached it, he paused. With his back to Bibi Dong, he said, "Be a little kinder to Xiao Xue. Consider it... a plea from me."

Then he opened the door and walked out.

The room fell quiet again.

Bibi Dong looked down at Luo Dong in her arms. The little fellow was gazing up at her with wide eyes, making tiny babbling sounds.

He had been on his best behavior the whole time Qian Daoliu was there, without making a peep.

Now that Qian Daoliu was gone, he was lively again, reaching up with his little hands to grab her hair.

Bibi Dong caught the mischievous hand and gently rubbed her thumb across his soft palm.

She knew what Qian Daoliu had meant.

But she couldn't bring herself to hold Qian Renxue or stay with her until she fell asleep.

That child had that man's blood in her veins.

Her face, her eyes—they silently reminded Bibi Dong of that nightmare.

Bibi Dong knew that Qian Renxue was innocent, but she still couldn't do it.

Bibi Dong took a deep breath, hugged Luo Dong a little tighter, then stood and called Nurse Zhou in.

She smiled gently at the wet nurse. "Let's continue."

Qian Daoliu walked out of the side hall, his steps heavy.

He hadn't been able to keep his promise to his granddaughter.

He had just rounded a corner when a small figure came running toward him.

Qian Renxue had been waiting by the hall entrance the whole time.

When she saw her grandfather come out, her eyes lit up at once, like two stars suddenly set aglow.

She trotted toward him, her short golden hair glittering in the sunlight. She skidded to a halt in front of Qian Daoliu and looked up at him expectantly.

"Grandpa! Did Mommy agree?"

She tilted up her little face. Her red eyes were still a little swollen, but they brimmed with hope.

Her hope shone so brightly that it was hard to look at.

Qian Daoliu crouched and drew her into his arms.

"Be good, Xiao Xue. Mommy said... she's been very busy lately." He tried to keep his voice gentle and natural. "When she's finished, Grandpa will talk to her again, all right?"

The light on Qian Renxue's face slowly dimmed.

A child just over three didn't understand what "we'll talk again when she's finished" meant. All she heard was "no."

Qian Renxue lowered her head and clutched her skirt in her little hands, pressing her lips together as she tried her best not to cry.

Grandpa had promised. Grandpa had said he wouldn't lie.

Seeing his granddaughter like this hurt Qian Daoliu more than a knife to the heart.

He took her little hand and changed to a cheerful tone. "Xiao Xue, how about Grandpa takes you into the city to play? I'll buy you treats—candied hawthorn, osmanthus cake, anything you want."

Qian Renxue lifted her head. Tears still glimmered in her eyes, but when she heard the words "candied hawthorn," her little mouth couldn't help but twitch.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Then... I want two sticks."

"Okay, two sticks."

"And osmanthus cake."

"We'll get it all."

Only then did Qian Renxue raise her sleeve and wipe her eyes.

Her tears hadn't quite stopped, but she was feeling a little better.

Children were like that: they could switch from sad to happy in the blink of an eye.

Their world was still small, small enough for a stick of candied hawthorn to fill it.

Qian Daoliu took his granddaughter's hand and led her toward the outskirts of Spirit City.

After walking a couple of steps, Qian Renxue glanced back toward the side hall.

Then she turned around and followed her grandfather out.

As Qian Daoliu left, the thought had already taken root in his heart: once his granddaughter was a little older, he would take her away and raise her himself.

Meanwhile, after Bibi Dong had finished her lesson,

she carried Luo Dong out of Nurse Zhou's room and walked along the corridor back to her own quarters.

She closed the door. Now only she and Luo Dong were left in the room.

Luo Dong lay in his little blanket, full of energy. His tiny feet kicked about, and he reached out with his little hands to paw at Bibi Dong, making little "ah, ah" sounds.

Bibi Dong laid him on the bed, sat beside him, and held out a finger to tease him.

She gently tapped Luo Dong on the tip of his nose with her index finger.

Luo Dong scrunched up his little nose, then broke into a grin.

Bibi Dong tapped his chin next, and he giggled again. He grabbed her finger with both hands and shoved it into his mouth.

His gums bumped against her finger. It tickled, but didn't hurt.

A smile curled at the corner of Bibi Dong's mouth. She pulled her finger from his wet little mouth and gently poked his soft cheek.

Luo Dong reached for her hair, but couldn't get hold of it. His two little legs kicked wildly in frustration, and his mouth puckered as if he was about to cry.

Bibi Dong swept her hair forward and offered it to him.

He grabbed it and finally settled down, satisfied.

"Eeh—ah—"

Luo Dong tugged on her hair and babbled a long string of unintelligible sounds, as if he were talking to her.

Bibi Dong couldn't understand him, but she answered with little murmurs, as if she were responding.

After they had played for a while, Luo Dong's laughter gradually faded. His little mouth began to smack as he moved it—he was hungry.

Bibi Dong opened her robe and brought him to her chest.

Luo Dong immediately latched on, his little mouth sucking hard.

This time, the milk carried a trace of Soul Power Liquid. A warm current slid down his throat, and the Flawless Body automatically went to work, breaking down and absorbing every last bit of energy.