Huo Yuhao thought Qian Xunji had taken on a disciple and called him over to meet her.
Bibi Dong's future actions were indeed hard to defend, but he couldn't go out of his way to make things difficult for a child over something that hadn't happened yet.
He'd remind his senior brother later: besides giving Bibi Dong the resources and treatment she deserved, he should also add some lessons in ideological education.
He would do his best to reform Bibi Dong.
If, under those circumstances, Bibi Dong still fell for Yu Xiaogang and wanted to elope with a disciple of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, a clan hostile to Spirit Hall, then it would prove she was a born ingrate beyond saving.
Countless thoughts flashed through Huo Yuhao's mind, but they passed in the span of an instant.
"Senior Brother, you really are at the age where you want to be a father. Your own daughter isn't even on the horizon yet, so you want to raise a disciple first and practice?"
The first step in the reformation plan was to change Bibi Dong's sense of her own status.
In the original story, she'd simply been treated too well.
She'd grown up in an orphanage, and perhaps her living conditions hadn't been ideal. But with Spirit Hall supplying her needs, she wouldn't have gone hungry, even if she couldn't feast on rich meals.
And she was exceptionally talented—not only did she have Innate Full Soul Power, but she also possessed the rare Twin Martial Souls.
Judging by the treatment Huo Yuhao had received after awakening his Twin Martial Souls, Bibi Dong's experience was probably much the same.
Her Martial Soul talent had brought about a tremendous change in her living conditions. Naturally, it had left her with a notion that, though not obvious, was absolutely rooted deep down: Everything I receive is what I deserve. Everyone is kind to me because of my talent.
After Qian Xunji took her in as his disciple, her life became even more comfortable. Others fawned over her even more because of her status and talent, reinforcing that notion.
Then Qian Xunji succeeded to the throne and made her the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall. Her status became even more exalted, and she received even more, which only made Bibi Dong feel that it was all the more natural.
You cultivate me like this only because I'm a Twin Martial Souls genius. You don't have any genuine affection for me at all.
The first half of that was true. Ordinary people needed to have something of value to receive good treatment.
That would never change, in any world or any era.
But the second half of that belief could be turned around.
Huo Yuhao was very pleased with his senior brother, Qian Xunji, and didn't want him to be betrayed one day by the disciple he'd raised as his own daughter.
"How can raising a child be called practice?"
Huo Yuhao shot Qian Xunji a sidelong glance. "Then, Senior Brother, do you know how to raise a child?"
"Uh..." Qian Xunji was stumped. "Give her everything she wants?"
Huo Yuhao fell silent. "When it comes to raising a daughter, you're not wrong."
In later generations, daughters had their fathers wrapped around their fingers. If a daughter wanted the stars in the sky, her father would find a way to pluck them down for her.
"See!"
Qian Xunji had received his junior brother's approval, and was even more convinced that he was doing the right thing.
"Senior Brother, adopted children and biological children think differently. First, you have to help her feel like part of the family!"
Give her whatever she wanted—maybe even before she asked.
There was a reason Bibi Dong would grow so arrogant in the future.
The person at the center of their discussion, Bibi Dong, was feeling a little awkward.
She stole glances at Huo Yuhao, her eyes full of curiosity.
So this was the Holy Son of Spirit Hall, who, like her, had Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power.
He was better-looking than every boy Bibi Dong knew.
Huo Yuhao naturally noticed Bibi Dong's gaze. He turned to look and met a pair of curious reddish-brown eyes.
When Bibi Dong realized he'd caught her sneaking a look, she hurriedly lowered her head and didn't dare look again.
Qian Xunji was still pondering how to help Bibi Dong feel like part of a family.
"Looks like I really can't hesitate any longer," Qian Xunji thought. "Yan Xi would be the best choice."
Yan Xi had the Blazing Spirit Kite Martial Soul and was also a Spirit Master of Spirit Hall, with exceptional talent.
She was twenty-three this year and had already reached Soul King.
With her talent, entering the Elder Hall as a Titled Douluo was only a matter of time.
Ever since Qian Xunji had said he would be Huo Yuhao's father-in-law, he had been looking for a suitable candidate to marry and have children with.
With her talent and striking looks, Yan Xi had made it to the final round.
Of course, the most important thing was her own willingness.
Qian Xunji had originally planned to take his time, but Bibi Dong's arrival made him want to speed things up.
Huo Yuhao, who had heard Qian Xunji's muttering loud and clear, was speechless.
Senior Brother, when I said she should feel like part of a family, I only meant...
Forget it. As long as Senior Brother was happy.
In a way, his senior brother wasn't wrong.
How could she feel like part of a family if she didn't have one, right?
Qian Xunji had made up his mind.
"Yuhao, there's another reason I called you here. You and Bibi Dong both have Twin Martial Souls. When it comes to cultivating Twin Martial Souls, you're better suited than I am to teach her."
Huo Yuhao: "???"
"Senior Brother, cultivation with Twin Martial Souls is actually no different from cultivation with a single Martial Soul. The reason people with Twin Martial Souls are prone to dying from their bodies bursting apart is that their bodies are too weak to withstand increasingly powerful Soul Rings. As long as she cultivates only one of them and adds Soul Rings to that Martial Soul, she'll be fine. She can wait until she becomes a Titled Douluo before adding Soul Rings to her other Martial Soul."
Huo Yuhao had only ever discussed Twin Martial Soul cultivation with Qian Daoliu.
Because Huo Yuhao had offered him advice many times, Qian Xunji had blind faith in his young but remarkably clever junior brother. He'd never asked about it.
So Qian Xunji wasn't surprised at all that Huo Yuhao had found a way to solve the difficulty of cultivating Twin Martial Souls.
He simply praised him in his usual straightforward way: "That's my junior brother!"
He really did have a good eye!
"If you just need someone her age to spend time with Bibi Dong, send her to Spirit Hall's Soul Master Academy. As long as you conceal that she's the Pope's disciple and hide one of her Martial Souls, she'll make friends at the academy."
Bibi Dong had simply been protected too well. Everyone around her was a Spirit Hall Spirit Master who saw her through the rose-tinted lens of her identity, treating her like a goddess all day long.
At a time like that, of course she'd find it novel when someone like Yu Xiaogang showed up and didn't treat her differently because she was the Saintess.
It was like someone who'd grown used to delicacies wanting to try pig feed.
If Bibi Dong spent more time around different people from a young age, would she still be tricked by an unremarkable, even somewhat ugly, flat-top?
The Soul Master Academy would also teach her some common knowledge. Huo Yuhao could give Bibi Dong a few books from time to time, too, to broaden her learning.
If, after all that, she could still think Yu Xiaogang was learned because of his cobbled-together, error-riddled nonsense, the so-called Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul, then it would mean Bibi Dong was rotten to the core. They might as well scrap the whole account.
Bibi Dong stole another glance at Huo Yuhao from the side, her expression a little downcast.
She had the feeling that this junior Martial Uncle didn't seem to like her very much.
Before you continue