Ling Yuan sat down beside Bibi Dong and said earnestly:
"Your Holiness the Pope, I'll come clean. I'm also one of the owners of a Diary Copy."
Bibi Dong feigned surprise.
"Is that really so?"
"Elder Ling Yuan, if that's the case, why didn't you tell me sooner? Why only now?"
Ling Yuan felt rather awkward.
"Your Holiness, do you want to hear the truth?"
Bibi Dong replied coolly, "Tell me a lie first. I'd like to hear the lie."
Ling Yuan answered:
"It was selfishness. I didn't want to expose myself."
Bibi Dong nodded. "And the truth?"
Ling Yuan looked at Bibi Dong for a long while, but still couldn't bring herself to say it.
Bibi Dong promised, "Go ahead and say it. I won't get angry, much less blame you."
"All right!"
Ling Yuan took a deep breath and said:
"When I first learned about the Diary Copy, I wasn't sure whether you had one, so naturally I couldn't tell you."
"Once I confirmed you had a Diary Copy, the Young Master made you the subject the very next day. After I learned everything, I was even more afraid to speak up."
"Now there are more and more people with Diary Copies, and I know I can't keep it hidden anymore. I also know that many people have seen the secrets I saw."
Well, well!
She really was a shameless little eavesdropper.
Bibi Dong was furious too. Her biggest secret had already been found out, and on top of that, they knew about all the foolish things she'd done in the past.
She could easily imagine what her subordinate had already labeled her as in her mind.
Psycho.
Hopeless romantic.
Backstabber.
Blind Douluo.
Su Chen, you bastard!
Bibi Dong grew angrier and angrier, but finally concealed her emotions and looked at Ling Yuan.
"You may not believe this, but ever since I got the Diary Copy, I've no longer been affected by the Rakshasa God's evil thoughts."
"I'm back to normal."
Ling Yuan hurried to declare:
"Your Holiness, at all times, Ling Yuan will be your most capable assistant. I'm willing to brave fire and water for you, and die ten thousand deaths without hesitation."
Big sis, you don't have to explain yourself to me. No matter what kind of psycho you are, you're still my pope!
Bibi Dong's face darkened a little. In a low voice, she continued:
"Yu Xiaogang, that scumbag, ruined my life and destroyed my Spirit Hall. I won't let him off. And I'll kill Tang San, too."
"I've wronged Xue'er all these years!"
Ling Yuan lowered her head and said nothing, thinking, Big sis, why are you telling me all this? You only need to trust me—to believe that I'm one of your people.
Bibi Dong's expression turned cold.
"You don't believe me?"
"No, I do."
"I believe you, Your Holiness."
Ling Yuan hurried to affirm it.
I believe you, my foot. Su Chen's diary says all sorts of things about you. Who am I supposed to believe?
Bibi Dong rubbed her forehead. She knew Ling Yuan still didn't believe her, and she felt helpless.
"Ling Yuan, I'm serious. Haven't you noticed that ever since you got a Diary Copy, your mind has become much clearer?"
Awkward.
Ling Yuan didn't know how to answer. I'm not some lovesick psycho. I have no obsession. How am I supposed to understand what you're talking about?
Bibi Dong shook her head.
"Forget it."
"You wouldn't believe me even if I explained."
"I have a plan, and you're just the right person for it. I want you to find everyone who has a Diary Copy and invite them all to Spirit City."
"You've seen how mysterious and powerful Su Chen's Diary Copy is. Nana is already a level-sixty Soul Emperor, and she has two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings and Soul Bones. These people can't become enemies of our Spirit Hall."
Hearing this, Ling Yuan hurried to her feet.
"Your Holiness, why go to all that trouble? If they refuse to join Spirit Hall, just kill them!"
Bibi Dong's expression grew solemn.
"Haven't you noticed that everyone with a Diary Copy has one particular trait?"
Ling Yuan looked puzzled.
"A particular trait?"
"I don't think so. I haven't noticed anything."
Bibi Dong said:
"I've thought about this. People with Diary Copies have one thing in common—beautiful women."
"Su Chen knows everything about the continent. We can't be sure whether he has a soft spot for any particular woman. If we kill them carelessly and earn his hatred, it won't be worth it."
"Besides, I just told you that the Diary Copy can purify the Rakshasa God's evil thoughts. That means it must have some ability to protect its owner."
"I..."
Ling Yuan was conflicted. What kind of nonsense was this? But it was true—everyone with a Diary Copy was a beautiful woman, and they weren't all the same age.
So...?
Bibi Dong continued:
"Don't overthink it. Go find them and tell them Su Chen will return to Spirit City eventually. If they hide in a corner, when will they ever get a reward?"
"If they want to grow stronger, they should come to Spirit City. If they want Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings and Soul Bones, they should come to Spirit City. If they want to become gods, they should come to Spirit City."
"Remember to be polite. Invite them in my name to attend our—offline Diary Friends Gathering."
"Ahem!"
Ling Yuan felt her head buzzing. Big sis, with a train of thought this bizarre, how can you still claim you're not a psycho?
Is that how a normal person thinks?
The next day.
The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Su Chen flew out, in an exceptionally good mood. His physique had been strengthened, he was immune to ice and fire, and his resistance to poison had reached a new high.
The power within him had also undergone a transformation. Now he was absolutely certain he could become a Titled Douluo.
"Ah!"
Dugu Yan had just crawled out of the tent when she saw a huge lump and couldn't help shrieking.
Ye Lingling also blushed and covered her eyes.
Su Chen was mortified. He quickly took clothes out of his Space Ring and put them on, his expression awkward.
"Please believe me. I really don't have any weird kinks."
Su Chen had taken off his clothes before entering the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well because in a place like that, clothes were bound to be destroyed!
He'd only just come out and hadn't even had time to absorb a Soul Ring, let alone remember his clothes.
Dugu Bo stepped forward with a stern expression.
"Su Chen!"
"That's outrageous! You made my granddaughter see you naked! If you don't give me an explanation today, I'll never let you off."
Su Chen: ???
"Old man, listen to what you're saying. I'm the one who got seen naked."
Uh.
Dugu Bo awkwardly rubbed his nose. "It's the same thing, the same thing. Forget it. Just detoxify Yanyan first!"
Su Chen gave Dugu Bo a strange look. This old man had designs on him!
"Yanzi, come on!"
Dugu Yan walked over with a flushed face and sat on the ground, waiting for Su Chen to act.
However.
Su Chen hesitated.
"Uh..."
Dugu Bo looked at him suspiciously.
"Didn't you say yesterday that detoxifying Yanyan would be easy? What are you hesitating about now?"
Su Chen's face darkened a little. He said solemnly, "First, let me explain. I, Su Chen, may not be a good person, and I do like beautiful women, but I'm a gentleman who appreciates beauty without taking what isn't mine."
"Second, let me ask this quietly: have you ever read a martial arts novel?"