Bibi Dong: Call Me Teacher

Morning.

A carriage slowly rolled up to the gates of Nuoding City. An old man and a young boy sat inside—it was Old John and Wang Zhao.

After undergoing the routine inspection like the other travelers, they entered Nuoding City.

"Xiao Zhao, what do you think? Nuoding City is much livelier than our village, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

As they chatted, Old John led Wang Zhao around and introduced the sights.

"This is the Blacksmith Shop..."

"This is the inn where we'll be staying tonight..."

"This is..."

"Grandpa John, how are you so familiar with Nuoding City?"

As they walked down the street, Wang Zhao asked casually.

"Hehe, Grandpa was young once too. Back then, I loved traveling everywhere, so naturally I've seen and learned quite a lot."

Old John smiled and stroked his beard, seeming rather proud.

"Oh."

Wang Zhao blinked. He suddenly stopped and cast a puzzled glance in a certain direction. When he found nothing, he continued onward behind Old John.

What Wang Zhao did not know was that two shadowy figures really were standing there, watching him from afar. They seemed to exchange a few words, and one of them swiftly vanished into the distance—toward Spirit Scholar Village...

Before long, Old John brought Wang Zhao to the entrance of Nuoding Academy.

Since they were looking at it from across the street rather than walking directly to the gates, none of those cliché mockery scenes took place.

Wang Zhao looked at the towering archway, then gazed at the scenery beyond the iron gates. Even a junior Soul Master Academy was probably far more luxurious than a certain Shrek.

The two wandered around the area until noon.

After taking Wang Zhao to lunch, Old John arranged for him to rest alone at an inn while he went out to purchase supplies needed for the village's construction.

Sitting in his room with nothing to do, Wang Zhao planned to channel his Soul Power and summon Luo Sanpao—oh, no, Golden Scale—to continue studying this miraculous Martial Soul.

Having been an ordinary person in his previous life, his interest in researching supernatural powers like this could not have been higher.

Just then, a shadow silently appeared behind Wang Zhao.

Wang Zhao seemed to sense something. His hand froze in front of him, and he instinctively wanted to turn around and investigate. But then he felt a strike on the back of his neck. His vision went dark, and he collapsed unconscious.

The shadow caught Wang Zhao, calmly swept a glance around the room, then flashed away with him in its arms.

Who knew how long had passed.

When Wang Zhao opened his eyes again, he found himself in an unfamiliar place. He was lying on a large white bed, and through his haze, he saw a tall Pink-haired Woman sitting beside him.

Before he could make out her face, the world suddenly spun around him again, heaven and earth turning upside down as he began to lose consciousness once more.

Damn it... who is this... Don't let me find out who you are, or you'll regret it someday!

Wang Zhao thought viciously, but he could not resist the drowsiness. Before passing out, he forced himself to hear a few words.

"Saintess, how would you like me to hypnotize this child?"

"Just make sure he doesn't cause too much trouble after waking up. Mm, from now on, I'll be his teacher."

"Your Highness, his Innate Soul Power is only..."

"That is none of your concern. Or are you questioning my decision?"

"I would not dare. But how does Your Highness intend to explain this to His Holiness the Pope?"

"He doesn't need to know."

"Understood."

"..."

Within a fantastical realm walled off by countless colors.

Wang Zhao opened his eyes and saw Old John's figure appear in the distance.

"Grandpa John, where are you taking me?"

Wang Zhao asked instinctively.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he lowered his head. A flicker of alarm passed through the confusion in his eyes.

This was a dream!

Or rather, a dreamlike illusion!

Wang Zhao's mind was exceptionally clear at that moment.

As for how he had awakened and realized it, that had to do with his previous life.

For a long period in his previous life, Wang Zhao had been obsessed with having Lucid Dreams. Through certain special methods, he would awaken within his dreams, stabilize his emotions to keep the dream from collapsing, and then become an "omnipotent god."

He was extremely familiar with this illusory yet realistic sensation. Perhaps that was why his Sixth Sense was especially sharp in this life, or perhaps his Spiritual Power was far greater than that of ordinary people.

Of course, it was also possible that the Soul Master hypnotizing him was not very powerful, or had not used their full strength. Otherwise, there was no way a six-year-old child like Wang Zhao, whose Martial Soul had only recently awakened, could see through a Soul Master's Illusion Skill.

Though wary, Wang Zhao did not act rashly.

Then "Old John's" voice sounded.

"Xiao Zhao, I'm taking you to meet your teacher."

"My teacher?"

Wang Zhao looked utterly confused. He was not pretending—he really was bewildered.

Who the hell is this? What kind of nonsense is this, deciding to become my teacher before even properly explaining who they are?

Even if he died a good-for-nothing, even if he died in the Soul Beast Forest, he absolutely would not—

"That's right. She is a powerful, beautiful, and kind Lord Soul Master. Grandpa has to leave now. From now on, your teacher will take care of you."

"Hm? She?"

Old John's figure gradually faded away, replaced by a blurry feminine silhouette in the distance.

Wang Zhao looked over.

That silhouette gradually came into focus.

The illusion vanished without anyone noticing.

The Spirit Master who had been hypnotizing Wang Zhao had already quietly departed. In the clean room, only Wang Zhao remained, rubbing his eyes as he woke up, along with the tall woman seated across from him.

"Tea... cher..."

Still looking half-asleep, Wang Zhao seemed to call out to the woman unconsciously. Secretly, however, he was carefully assessing her identity.

Though the woman wore a mask that covered the upper half of her face, the delicate lines of her chin made it clear that an incomparably beautiful face lay beneath it. Her pale pink hair cascaded loosely down her back, and her conservative full-length dress only further highlighted her splendor and extraordinary presence.

Upon hearing Wang Zhao's form of address, the woman fell silent for some reason. She closed the folder in her hand, which contained detailed records reading, "Wang Zhao... orphan... Spirit Scholar Village... biological parents... ancestors...," then looked at him. There was relief in her eyes, along with a trace of complexity, as she said:

"Hello, my name is... Wang Dong'er. Mm, you could say we're from the same family."

"Wang Dong'er... Teacher."

As Wang Zhao called her that, his expression became subtly strange.

"Mm."

The woman nodded, then said succinctly, "As you know, I am a Soul Master. In the days ahead, I will teach you how to cultivate your Martial Soul, but we will not actually spend much time together."

"Because I am rather busy, when I am away, I will have the servants in this residence teach you the basics of Martial Soul cultivation. They are Soul Masters too, more than capable of teaching you."

"...This residence will be where you live from now on. If you need anything, you may tell the servants at any time. Is there anything else you want to ask?"

"I want to know where this place is."

When Wang Zhao asked that question, he already had a rough answer in his heart.

The woman gave him a deep look.

"The Soul Master Holy Land, Spirit City."

Just as I thought!

Not long after, the woman abruptly bid him farewell and left. As Wang Zhao watched her beautiful retreating figure, his expression darkened and brightened by turns.

Spirit City... the Saintess... Wang Dong'er?

Or perhaps he should call you...

Bibi Dong?!

Well, changing maps twice in a single chapter—that could only be me.