Zhao Linchuan took half a step back to put a little distance between them. The corner of his mouth curled into a wicked smile as he drawled, "Be my wife and give me a few chubby little boys. That's all."
"What—?!" Bibi Dong's eyes widened even further. "Be your wife?"
Her voice rose, and the expression on her face shifted from shock to something complicated and hard to describe.
She stared at Zhao Linchuan for several seconds, her eyes flickering as if she were rapidly calculating something.
After a long moment, she slowly spoke, her tone tinged with uncertain probing. "You're sure that if I become your wife, you'll make all my remaining Soul Rings Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings?"
"Of course."
Zhao Linchuan wore an expression that said, "Do you really need to ask?" "You already have six Soul Rings, don't you? I can still get you three Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings."
"Hmph, hmph."
Bibi Dong suddenly laughed. Her smile carried a hint of smugness and pride, as if to say, "At last, I've got you right where I want you."
"Then you're sorely mistaken!"
She took a step back and spread her hands in front of her, palms up. Two phantoms slowly emerged from them.
In her right palm, a purple spider wreathed in golden threads hovered silently.
In her left palm, a green spider, its body like black jade and covered in countless golden patterns, crouched.
Bibi Dong lifted her chin slightly, unable to hide the pride in her eyes. Her voice rang out bright and clear. "Cat got your tongue?"
She held out both hands, letting Zhao Linchuan get a better look at the two phantoms.
"I'm a Twin Martial Souls owner! A peerless genius, one in ten thousand! The only person in the world today with Twin Martial Souls!"
She drew her hands back, gathering the two phantoms in her palms, and raised her chin even higher.
"If you really have what it takes to fill both my Martial Souls with Soul Rings..."
She paused for effect. The pride on her face abruptly faded, replaced by a show of magnanimous boldness.
"Then what would it matter if I became your foot-washing maid?"
"Wow!"
Zhao Linchuan let out an exaggerated gasp. His expression shifted from surprise to shock, then from shock to a strange look that seemed to hold back laughter.
"I'm so shocked."
His tone was flat. Paired with his exaggerated expression, he looked more like he was teasing a child.
Just as Bibi Dong was about to ask him, "What's that supposed to mean?" a verdant Soul light burst from his body.
The light was like the vitality that surged through all living things as they revived after the first spring rain.
It quickly solidified and took shape. A tall, powerful Unicorn Spirit Deer slowly appeared at his side.
Its body was a deep green, covered in countless moon-white spirit patterns. Its eyes were like golden amber, warm and profound. Wherever its gaze fell, the plants trembled slightly, as if paying their respects.
It raised its head and let out a long cry.
A rich aura of life burst from its body and spread in every direction like a rising tide. Wherever it passed, even the grass beneath their feet stood taller, and the dew on the leaves caught the light in tiny glimmers.
Bibi Dong stood rooted to the spot, mouth agape, hands still outstretched. She stared at the Unicorn Spirit Deer without blinking.
"You, you, you—!"
Her voice trembled. She pointed first at Zhao Linchuan, then at the spirit deer, stammering, "You have Twin Martial Souls too?!"
"You can see that, can't you?"
Zhao Linchuan answered calmly. He reached out and patted the Unicorn Spirit Deer's neck. It lowered its head obediently and rubbed its forehead against his palm.
"Now you're one of the 'only two, with no third' people in the world today who possess Twin Martial Souls."
Bibi Dong's gaze darted between him and the deep-green figure several times. Then her voice suddenly weakened.
"This, this can't be real..."
She bit her lip, her voice growing softer and softer, as if trying to convince herself—or to make sense of something entirely beyond her understanding.
"Your first Martial Soul focuses on killing... but your Second Martial Soul is brimming with vitality... How can these two kinds of Martial Souls possibly coexist?"
"Don't you know the principle of extremes turning into their opposites, and of yin and yang balancing each other?"
Zhao Linchuan drew back his hand, and the Unicorn Spirit Deer turned into a streak of verdant light and slipped into his body.
He took a step forward and moved a little closer, wearing the wicked smile that made Bibi Dong's teeth itch.
"Well? My great Holy Maiden~~"
"Still want to be my foot-washing maid?"
Bibi Dong took a step back, her lips pressed tightly together.
Zhao Linchuan stepped forward again. "You should be able to tell that even with a second Martial Soul, I can still produce an extra God-Bestowed Soul Ring for my wife."
"That proves I really don't lack them."
He took another step forward, and Bibi Dong retreated another step.
"Esteemed Holy Maiden, future female Pope..."
Zhao Linchuan stopped and tilted his head at her, his smile deepening.
"You're not going to be a sore loser, are you?"
"I..."
Bibi Dong clenched her two little fists and held them against her chest, her thoughts churning like a stormy sea.
This rascal was the one and only choice in her heart for a partner, whether in temperament, talent, or intelligence.
And he was such an interesting person, not stiff or dull at all.
Most importantly, he had given her such a precious Immortal Herb, resolving the most embarrassing problem she had.
By every measure, he was the most suitable person.
But the problem was, she didn't want to be a foot-washing maid!
Her eyes reddened. She lowered her head, her voice so soft it seemed meant only for herself.
"C-could I... not be a foot-washing maid?"
"Of course you can." A languid voice came from beside the spring. Yan Lingji had woken up at some point.
She walked over at an unhurried pace, seven Soul Rings—black, black, black, black, black, red, red—slowly circling her.
The two blood-red Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings stood out beneath the midday sun, like a pair of miniature suns tamed to orbit her.
At the same time, the phantom of a Soul Core shaped like a Mystic Bird Vermilion Bird and burning with white flames flashed across her chest, leaving behind a heart-stopping pressure.
"If you're willing, just come with us from now on."
"We sisters can take care of him together. Neither of us will outrank the other."
Bibi Dong didn't answer. She looked at Yan Lingji, then at Zhao Linchuan, her gaze lingering for a moment on the wicked smile that still hadn't faded from his face.
She clenched her teeth, puffed out her lips, and said, "Hmph! You're awful. I'm not talking to you anymore."
She muttered under her breath, then turned and ran straight to Yan Lingji.
Yan Lingji smiled and took her hand. Then she turned to Zhao Linchuan and said gently, "Husband, I'm level seventy-five. With the support of my Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings and Soul Core, killing Gu Rong shouldn't be difficult."
Holding Bibi Dong's hand, she walked up to Zhao Linchuan and placed their hands together.
"Look at you two—handsome man and beautiful woman. You're a perfect match."
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