The carriage rolled into Spirit City. Bibi Dong carried Luo Dong down from it. As soon as she stepped through the palace gates, a servant hurried over, head bowed, and presented her with a sealed report.
The seal bore the stamp of the Pope's Palace.
Bibi Dong broke the wax seal, unfolded the letter, and scanned it line by line.
Qian Xunji's hunt had failed.
At the edge of Star Dou Forest, Tang Hao had wounded three Soul Saints from Spirit Hall, then fled deep into the mountains with the shapeshifting Soul Beast.
Spirit Hall had searched for three full days without even catching a trace of them.
Qian Xunji was furious. He had returned to Spirit Hall that very day, empty-handed.
Bibi Dong refolded the letter and gave a cold laugh.
She had heard that when he set out, he had been utterly overbearing.
As though that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast were already in his pocket.
And what had happened?
Tang Hao had kept him occupied near Star Dou Forest for so long, yet he couldn't even pin down his whereabouts.
If Tang Hao were so easy to catch, he wouldn't deserve to be called the Clear Sky Sect's once-in-a-century genius.
But none of that had anything to do with her.
She no longer cared.
A Titled Douluo at rank ninety-one, with Twin Martial Souls, God Spider Eight Kills, spiritual power far beyond her level, and the two divine Soul Skills Undying Body and Reverse Time.
That rank-ninety-five Titled Douluo, Qian Xunji, was no longer worth mentioning in her eyes.
All she lacked was an opportunity.
If Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden openly murdered the Pope, no matter how justified her reasons, the upheaval would shake Spirit Hall from within and drive it toward a split.
The Venerable Elders wouldn't take her side—not yet, at least.
But an opportunity would come.
Bibi Dong tucked the report into her sleeve, carried Luo Dong down the corridor, and pushed open the door to her quarters.
She had been away for several days, and the journey had left them both dusty and tired.
Though she had found places along the way to clean Luo Dong up, those had only been makeshift baths.
It had been several days since she had properly bathed her precious son.
For a mother accustomed to bathing Luo Dong every day, she had been putting it off for far too long.
Carrying Luo Dong straight into the bathroom, she ordered the maids to prepare hot water.
Before long, the large wooden tub was filled three-quarters of the way with hot water. Steam rose and spread through the bathroom in a thin white mist.
Bibi Dong tested the water with her hand.
The inside of her elbow touched the surface. The water felt gently warm, about the same as her body temperature—just right.
She closed the door, turned, and undressed Luo Dong, folding his little clothes one by one on the low stool nearby. Then she removed her own clothes as well.
Her perfect figure was revealed.
Then she picked up the naked Luo Dong and stepped into the tub.
The water was just right.
As soon as he was in, Luo Dong let out a contented sigh and clung to Bibi Dong like a little koala.
His two short arms wrapped around her neck, his little face buried in the hollow of her shoulder, and his short legs dangled at her waist.
The hot water reached his chest, warm and soothing, leaving his whole body limp and relaxed.
Bibi Dong wrapped one arm around his back and picked up a towel with the other, beginning to wash him.
She started with his face—his forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks, around his ears, then down to his chin.
Her touch was gentle and practiced.
The dust from their journey was wiped away, bit by bit.
Luo Dong obediently rested against her chest, the steam warming him from head to toe.
He closed his eyes and enjoyed it for a while, then began to wriggle around.
He nuzzled into the hollow of her shoulder, then turned his face to the side, his cheek brushing against a certain place now and then.
It felt warm and soft, and the rubbing felt nice, so he rubbed against it even more enthusiastically.
Bibi Dong was at a loss as he nuzzled against her. She paused her washing and looked down at him.
The little rascal gazed up at her innocently, a few strands of his fine hair wet and stuck to his forehead. His dark, grape-like eyes seemed to say, "I didn't do anything."
Bibi Dong sighed.
She shifted him slightly and went back to washing his back.
But before long, Luo Dong started misbehaving again.
This time, he wasn't just rubbing against her. He also...
Bibi Dong's hands stopped again. She looked down at the little hand causing trouble, her face flushing slightly.
She pried his little hand away, her voice tinged with helpless amusement. "No."
Luo Dong lifted his little face, looking utterly innocent. "But it feels... so fun..."
"Still no." Bibi Dong pressed his hand back to his side and hurried to finish washing him.
Then she quickly washed herself, lifted him out of the tub, and wrapped him from head to toe in a dry towel. She dried him off, changed him into clean pajamas, and carried him over to sit on the bed.
After his bath, Luo Dong looked fresh and clean, with a faint fragrance clinging to him.
Sitting on the bed with his short legs stretched straight out, he tilted his face up at Bibi Dong and grinned.
Looking at how clean he was, the little frustration she felt from his grabbing and tugging soon vanished.
She sat on the edge of the bed, loosened her collar, and settled Luo Dong on her lap.
Luo Dong immediately leaned in.
Sweet milk, warmed by the energy of the Soul Power Liquid, slid down his throat. His Flawless Body began working on its own, breaking down and absorbing every bit of nourishment.
Bibi Dong looked down at him, gently patting his back as she unconsciously hummed that song without words again.
Full and content, Luo Dong burped, but didn't fall asleep right away as he usually did.
He was still full of energy.
He rolled off Bibi Dong's lap and onto the bed, then crawled back on all fours, rested his head on her lap, and lay on his back.
He reached out a little hand,
Clearly, he hadn't had enough fun in the bathtub.
"Mom, why is it so soft?"
Luo Dong clutched at her, studying it with curiosity as though it were some strange new toy.
Bibi Dong didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
She gathered her clothes together and caught his mischievous hand, lightly squeezing his palm. "I told you not to grab."
Luo Dong laughed and pulled his hand back, then reached out again.
This time he didn't grab. He gently poked instead, sneaking glances at Bibi Dong's expression as he did, a mischievous smile on his little face.
Mother and son played around on the bed for quite a while.
In the end, Bibi Dong could do nothing with him. She picked him up and kissed his soft belly.
Luo Dong giggled. After laughing himself tired, he finally yawned, his eyelids growing heavy.
She patted him gently for a while longer, and Luo Dong fell fast asleep.
His little face nestled against Bibi Dong's chest,
Bibi Dong laid him on the bed, covered him with a small blanket, and tucked in all four corners.
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