School? Even a Dog Wouldn't Go

Qian Xunji suddenly spoke, his tone much lighter than before. "Dong'er, you should keep that Deng Tianxin close to you from now on."

Bibi Dong paused, then nodded. "I was planning to take him as my disciple anyway. Of course I'll keep him close."

"Not just to teach him cultivation." Qian Xunji set down his teacup and looked at Bibi Dong, speaking earnestly. "His God of Love Martial Soul is very special. It would do you good to let him observe you more."

Qian Xunji paused, then added, "It's good that you've come to your senses. Your teacher is very glad."

Looking at the relieved expression on her teacher's face, Bibi Dong suddenly felt a little uneasy.

Only now did she realize how much trouble her relationship with Yu Xiaogang had caused her teacher.

That made her even more grateful to Deng Tianxin. If that little rascal hadn't given her an earful, she might still be trapped in it, unable to get out.

She'd rather die than say that to Deng Tianxin's face.

The little rascal was already pleased with himself enough. If he knew she was grateful to him too, his tail would probably shoot straight up to the sky.

After quite a while, Bibi Dong left the Pope Palace.

On the way back, Bibi Dong was in a pretty good mood. But when she returned to the Saintess Palace and saw Deng Tianxin, she froze.

She saw Deng Tianxin sprawled on a reclining chair like some big shot.

Seeing Bibi Dong, Deng Tianxin set his teacup on the table and said, "What were you up to so early, old geezer?"

Old geezer.

Those two words were like a flame, instantly blasting Bibi Dong out of the warm atmosphere of emotion, gratitude, and countless feelings she'd been swept up in at the Pope Palace.

She stood in the doorway of the Saintess Palace, watching Deng Tianxin lie on the chair with one leg crossed over the other, his little feet swinging. He looked just like a retired old man, and the vein at her temple began to throb visibly.

"What did you call me?" Bibi Dong's voice was terrifyingly calm.

Deng Tianxin picked up his teacup and blew on the steam with exaggerated care. He took a small sip, then slowly raised his head and blinked his innocent, wide eyes. "Old geezer. In my village, it's an affectionate term for an elder."

"An affectionate term?" Bibi Dong sneered as she strode inside. "And when you called me 'auntie' yesterday, was that affectionate too?"

"That's different." Deng Tianxin set down his teacup and corrected her solemnly, his little face stern. "Auntie is an honorific for a young, beautiful woman. Old geezer is a respectful title for a venerable elder. They're both compliments, but they're used in different situations."

Bibi Dong took a deep breath.

Stay calm, Bibi Dong, she told herself.

This little rascal helped you see Yu Xiaogang's true colors yesterday. Your teacher even smiled at you for once because of him.

He's a hero, a lucky star, and a key talent personally selected for special cultivation by your teacher.

You have to hold back. You can't beat him as soon as you get back.

Watching Deng Tianxin lounge around so leisurely, Bibi Dong couldn't help thinking that he hadn't yet been beaten into shape by school.

Wait... school?!

Bibi Dong suddenly thought of the perfect way to torment Deng Tianxin: make him go to school.

Nothing tormented a child more than school.

At the thought, Bibi Dong beamed at Deng Tianxin.

Seeing Bibi Dong's smile, Deng Tianxin felt goosebumps rise all over his body.

Bibi Dong walked over to him with a cheerful smile. "Little Tianxin, there's something I need to tell you."

Deng Tianxin eyed Bibi Dong warily. "Spit it out. If you've got something to say, say it. If you've got a fart to pass, hurry up."

Bibi Dong kept smiling. "A month from now, you're going to the Spirit Hall Soul Master Academy."

Deng Tianxin sneered. "School? Even a dog wouldn't go."

As soon as he said it, Deng Tianxin felt something was off. It was like he'd just insulted himself.

The smile on Bibi Dong's face didn't fade. If anything, it deepened.

Deng Tianxin knew that smile all too well. It was the same one she'd worn yesterday when she'd been about to spank him.

"Even a dog wouldn't go?" Bibi Dong repeated, her voice impossibly gentle. Then she reached out and pinched Deng Tianxin's chubby cheek, tugging it slightly. "Go ahead and insult yourself one more time."

"Mmph, mmph! Let go, let go!" Deng Tianxin flailed his little arms and finally managed to escape Bibi Dong's clutches.

Clutching his reddened cheek, Deng Tianxin protested indignantly, "That's corporal punishment! It's abuse! I'm going to report you to the Spirit Hall Human Rights Committee!"

"Spirit Hall doesn't have a Human Rights Committee," Bibi Dong said impassively.

"Then I'll start one!"

Bibi Dong ignored his nonsense and sat down on the chair beside him.

She sized up the arrogant little rascal in front of her. The more she looked at him, the more she felt her decision was brilliant.

This little rascal did whatever he pleased around her. He called her old geezer, told her to hurry up and fart, and acted more arrogantly than the Pope. When you got down to it, it was because he had too much free time.

Give him something to do, and he wouldn't have the energy to cause trouble.

And in this world, nothing tormented a six-year-old more than school.

Getting up early every day, staying quiet in class, and doing homework after class—just imagining Deng Tianxin pinned to a desk, looking utterly hopeless, made Bibi Dong feel wonderfully refreshed.

"The Spirit Hall Soul Master Academy is one of the best Soul Master institutions on the continent," Bibi Dong said in a strictly businesslike tone. "It has excellent teachers and a well-developed curriculum. You'll be able to study Soul Master knowledge systematically, which will benefit you."

"I'm not going." Deng Tianxin flopped back into the reclining chair and crossed one leg over the other. "I'm a genius with level twenty Innate Full Soul Power. Why would I go to class with a bunch of little brats? Wouldn't that just waste my time?"

Bibi Dong's eye twitched. Little brats? Aren't you one yourself?

"Besides," Deng Tianxin continued, making one solid argument after another, "I already have you as my teacher. Why do I need to go to school? Are you saying you're not as good as the teachers there?"

It was a clever move, using retreat to advance. He'd thrown the question straight back at Bibi Dong.

She couldn't exactly say she wasn't as good as the school's teachers, could she?

But Bibi Dong clearly wasn't falling for it.

Bibi Dong smiled faintly and patted Deng Tianxin on the head. "You don't need to provoke me. I'm your cultivation teacher, but you need to study cultural subjects, basic Martial Soul theory, and the history of Douluo Continent systematically at school. This is for your own good."

"For my own good?" Deng Tianxin rolled his eyes. "You just want to watch me suffer."

He could practically picture Bibi Dong laughing her head off inside.

Deng Tianxin wondered whether he should pull off something big to mess with Bibi Dong in the future.

Bibi Dong's smile stiffened for a moment, then she withdrew her hand as if nothing had happened. "Think what you like. In any case, school starts in a month. You have to go."

"I'm not going." Deng Tianxin crossed his arms over his chest and struck a pose of absolute refusal.