"So?" Qian Xunqian asked in return.
Bibi Dong lowered her head shyly, her face red as a ripe apple.
"Heh, hehehe," she chuckled foolishly.
"Let's have him marry into our family..."
It had to be said: unlike other transmigrators, Qian Xunqian didn't immediately try to talk Bibi Dong out of her infatuation. Instead, she put herself in Bibi Dong's shoes and helped her analyze the situation.
"Holy Maiden, you're going to succeed my big brother one day! Do you want to become Pope?"
"I do!" Bibi Dong declared firmly.
She was an orphan, and she longed for a higher position. At the same time, she wanted to help the suffering common folk who were just like her. She wanted to become a good Pope!
"Then do you think my big brother would let you marry someone with only half a level of Innate Soul Power, or a discarded son of another clan?"
"He wouldn't," Bibi Dong said frankly. "My teacher would definitely refuse."
Then her expression fell, and she sighed.
"Alas, this must be the sorrow of being a Holy Maiden. I can't even pursue my own love!"
"Heh. Who says you can't?" Qian Xunqian sneered.
"Ah! Little Sister Xunqian, can you help me win Xiaogang's heart?"
"No!"
Bibi Dong's face fell, and she continued to lament her misfortune.
"Your position as Holy Maiden, and your future position as Pope, mean that Yu Xiaogang can't be your official husband. I think my big brother would rather find you the most outstanding disciple from another sect for that position."
"Like Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, or the Tang brothers, Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, of the Clear Sky Sect... I think Ning Fengzhi is the likeliest choice! His Martial Soul is an auxiliary type, so he poses no threat to you, and marrying him would form a political alliance with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Bibi Dong's heart sank to the bottom. Was there really no way to stop herself and Xiaogang from falling in love?
"As the most outstanding younger generation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi obviously wouldn't simply marry into your family without conditions. Otherwise, wouldn't that waste such excellent genes? Even if he agrees to marry, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will make demands."
Bibi Dong had lost all interest. She listened helplessly, as if Qian Xunqian were speaking a heavenly language.
"When the time comes, this marriage will be a pure political union. In name, you'll be husband and wife, but in private, you can each do as you please. Ning Fengzhi can carry on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's line, while my Holy Maiden, you'll also have to consider the next generation of your Twin Martial Souls!"
Now Bibi Dong understood. She was wide awake, and she smacked herself on the head.
"Damn! That's right! Even if we can't be husband and wife, we can still be lovers! All right! I've decided. I'll tell my teacher I want to form a marriage alliance with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
Bibi Dong had originally thought that she couldn't have both status and love. But after hearing Qian Xunqian's explanation, it seemed there really was a way to have the best of both worlds!
But she still had one question on her mind.
"What if Xiaogang cares about the title and refuses to be my lover?"
"Sis Dong, love goes both ways. You're the Holy Maiden, and you have your difficulties. If your boyfriend can't understand them and only expects you to accommodate him, what kind of boyfriend is he? Besides, you can promise him that you won't lay a finger on Ning Fengzhi! That way, aside from the title, your love will still be pure!"
"Wonderful! Wonderful! Little Sister Xunqian, you really have read so many books! You... you're just too clever! How did I never think of that?"
As Qian Xunqian helped the Holy Maiden solve her worries, she didn't forget to twist the knife.
"Exactly. But your boyfriend, Holy Maiden—didn't you say he was a wise man? Why couldn't he think of this solution?"
Qian Xunqian knew exactly how to get inside someone's head at the right moment.
Bibi Dong froze. This time, she didn't blindly worship Yu Xiaogang with fervor. For once, she seriously considered the question.
Poor Grandmaster had no idea that, at that very moment, a tiny crack had appeared in the lofty image his girlfriend had of him.
After that, whenever Bibi Dong borrowed books, she would come chat with Qian Xunqian, full of enthusiasm.
Qian Xunqian, in turn, told her everything she knew. Drawing on her extensive theoretical knowledge, she answered Bibi Dong's questions.
There were questions that even Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang couldn't answer, but Qian Xunqian could explain them in detail. Bibi Dong admired this little sister of hers even more, while gradually losing her rose-colored view of Yu Xiaogang.
At the same time, she also discussed a marriage alliance with her teacher, Qian Xunji.
As her lovestruck haze gradually lifted, her clever mind once again claimed the high ground, and Bibi Dong's political acumen began to shine.
She didn't initially propose a marriage alliance with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Instead, she discussed an alliance with the Clear Sky Sect with her teacher, Qian Xunji.
Bibi Dong foolishly sketched out a grand plan to ally with the Clear Sky Sect, win over the Clear Sky Hammer, and unify the continent.
Qian Xunji could see that she meant well, but his disciple's head was clearly not screwed on right. Still, he couldn't bring himself to say anything harsh, so he patiently explained the drawbacks of an alliance with the Clear Sky Sect.
First, the Clear Sky Sect thought far too highly of itself. It would never agree.
Second, their relationship with the Clear Sky Sect wasn't nearly as good as she imagined.
Finally, the Clear Sky Sect currently had the strongest tool-type Martial Soul on Douluo Continent. What if he married off Tang Hao? After he died, who knew whether his disciple might end up being abused?
So, an alliance with the Clear Sky Sect was impossible. Absolutely impossible!
Following her teacher's line of thought, Bibi Dong naturally proposed an alliance with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
This time, Qian Xunji nodded in agreement. As the current holder of Douluo Continent's strongest auxiliary tool-type Martial Soul, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was clearly worth winning over. And unlike the Clear Sky Sect, it wasn't powerful enough to throw its weight around.
Finally, the Ning Clan's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda could only support others; it had no offensive abilities. If the two clans formed a marriage alliance, his disciple would naturally hold the upper hand!
Qian Xunji said three times in a row:
"Good! Good! Good!"
"Dong'er, you truly are a good disciple! I've been worrying about how to expand Spirit Hall's influence. Yue Guan!"
The tool, Yue Guan, stepped forward!
"Go to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and contact their sect master. Tell him that Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden wants to form a marriage alliance with their young sect master. Ideally, have them send Ning Fengzhi here! Sect Master Ning is a clever man. After weighing things up, he'll agree!"
"Yes!"
Just as Qian Xunji had said, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect obediently sent their young sect master over.
Qian Xunji also graciously explained that this was only a political marriage, just for show. Ning Fengzhi would still be the future sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and any children born with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda could take the Ning surname.
Ning Fengzhi truly lived up to his reputation as the future most handsome man on Douluo Continent. Even Bibi Dong, who had been utterly enamored with Yu Xiaogang, felt her heart stir.
"Xiaogang's theories aren't as good as Little Sister Xunqian's, and he isn't as handsome as Fengzhi, either. I... what do I even like about him...?"
Over these three years, Ning Fengzhi's good looks and Qian Xunqian's knowledge had ceaselessly seeped into the Holy Maiden's heart. In the end...