Remember, a Wise Man Doesn't Stand Beneath a Crumbling Wall!

Bibi Dong's voice softened, carrying a hint of barely Frisk fatigue, but more so, concern.

Lin Xia followed suit, with Ivysaur closely following beside her.

Bibi Dong first stretched out her hand, and a gentle and pure Soul Power reached out, brushing over Lin Xia's body like a spring breeze, carefully examining the state of his meridians, dantian, and Sea of Consciousness.

A moment later, she gently placed her hand on the giant bud of the Ivysaur, feeling the surging life force, the Poison-type origin, and the latent, profound Rakshasa Divine Power fluctuations within it.

A dark purple halo around the edge of the flower bud swirled gently beneath her fingertips.

After a long while, Bibi Dong withdrew her hand, a truly relaxed smile appearing on her face.

Bibi Dong extended her finger, with a touch of affectionate doting, and gently tapped Lin Xia's forehead, the movement as natural as a mother's touch to her child.

"Hmm, it's recovering well, its foundation is solid, and its Soul Power is stable. Ivysaur also in good condition; that divine power... seems to have merged quite stably with it."

Bibi Dong's tone was gratified, but then she changed the subject, her deep purple eyes fixed on Lin Xia with a hint of barely Frisk pride and a probing smile.

"How about it, little fellow? Have I broken my promise? I said I'd make you the Holy Son, and I did. These past two days, I've put in quite a bit of effort to finalize the details, shut up certain old fogies, and prepare the token and communication arrangements."

Bibi Dong tilted her head slightly, looking into Lin Xia's eyes, her smile deepening, filled with anticipation for him to share his feelings.

"Now tell your master, how does it feel to sit on the throne of the Holy Son?"

Lin Xia felt the cool touch of Bibi Dong's fingertips on her forehead, and listened to Bibi Dong's doting question, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.

During the past two days of waiting, Lin Xia, while cultivating and recovering, also understood that behind this seemingly natural investiture, there must have been Bibi Dong's game and mediation.

Lin Xia raised her head, meeting Bibi Dong's smiling gaze, and a bright and sincere smile bloomed on her face, carrying the unique spirit of youth, her voice clear and melodious.

"Hehe, Master, a man of his word, how could I go back on my promise? This disciple knows perfectly well that you must have been worrying about this matter these past two days!"

Lin Xia paused, her smile widening, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

As for how it feels...

Lin Xia weighed the heavy Holy Son Token in her hand, feeling the cold touch and the authority it contained. She glanced at the Ivysaur beside her, and finally looked back at Bibi Dong with a firm gaze.

"It feels... amazing!"

Lin Xia said firmly, her voice filled with strength and determination.

Seeing the undisguised excitement, gratitude, and burgeoning fighting spirit in Lin Xia's eyes, Bibi Dong's smile completely blossomed, her satisfaction and gratification almost overflowing from her eyes.

Bibi Dong reached out again, this time with approval, and gently ruffled Lin Xia's hair.

"Good! That's the spirit I've been looking for!"

"But..."

Bibi Dong changed the subject, her voice Frillish, yet every word was clear and resonant in Lin Xia's heart.

"It's all just talk, done for the old guys below and outsiders."

Lin Xia suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, and almost subconsciously blurted out.

"... ah?"

Bibi Dong seemed oblivious to his shock, her eyes sharp as knives, her tone commanding and unquestionable, even revealing a hint of the coldness of someone with experience.

"Remember this well! A wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall!"

"When faced with a truly life-or-death, insurmountable calamity, the most important thing is to protect yourself! What nonsense are oaths and the glory of the Spirit Hall? They're all meaningless in the face of survival! Do you hear me?!"

Lin Xia looked at the stunningly beautiful yet cold face before her, and listened to the "teachings" that were completely contrary to her identity as the Pope and the sacred oath she had just sworn. Her lips twitched uncontrollably.

This... this contrast is just too much!

One second he's righteously demanding that he serve the Spirit Hall to the death, the next he's teaching him to run when it matters?

However, this familiar, undisguised pragmatism and ruthlessness...

Instead, it caused a tension that had been taut in Lin Xia's heart to suddenly ease, and even a strange... sense of familiarity welled up inside her?

Lin Xia's impassioned oath was the best solution after weighing the pros and cons; deep down, she scoffed at the idea of unwavering loyalty until death.

Now that Bibi Dong's unconventional private instructions have been pointed out, the slightest bit of subtle moral pressure that had remained instantly vanished!

'As expected... this is the Bibi Dong I know!'

Lin Xia instantly understood, and even felt a little like laughing.

Lin Xia nodded emphatically, showing an expression that said, "I understand, I completely understand," and her voice became much more relaxed.

"Disciple understands! Master, rest assured! If we encounter someone we can't defeat, disciple will run faster than anyone else! Without hesitation!"

Seeing Lin Xia's undisguised "I like it" expression and her crisp answer, the coldness in Bibi Dong's eyes quietly faded, replaced by a faint satisfaction and... a hint of barely Frisk relief.

This kid really gets things right away; he doesn't have so many outdated rules and regulations.

"Um."

Bibi Dong responded softly, and the Soundproof Barrier of Soul Power enveloping the two of them dissipated.

Bibi Dong's gaze swept over Lin Xia's face, then glanced at the Ivysaur beside her, whose breathing had stabilized, and at the dark purple halo around the edge of its flower bud that was faintly visible in the dim light.

"Alright, you've been through a lot these past few days. Go back and get some rest. Tomorrow, be on time at the Worship Hall."

Bibi Dong's tone returned to its usual cool and aloof tone, as if her shocking instructions had never happened.

"Yes, teacher!"

Lin Xia bowed respectfully.

Bibi Dong stopped looking at him, turned around, and her dark purple Pope robe swept in an elegant yet resolute arc. Her figure disappeared into the shadows on the high steps, leaving only a faint, cool fragrance in the empty hall.

Lin Xia stood there, looking in the direction where the teacher had disappeared, then looked down at her outstretched palm, where the cold touch of the Holy Son Token still seemed to linger.

Lin Xia let out a long, silent sigh of relief, a relaxed smile appearing on her face.

"Dana?"

Ivysaur let out a low, puzzled croak; it could sense that its owner's tense emotions had completely relaxed.

Lin Xia Ivysaur's large head, her fingertips touching the cool, slippery purple halo around the edge of the flower bud, and whispered:

"It's nothing, it's just that I suddenly feel... this teacher of ours is becoming more and more to my liking."

Is self-preservation the only way to succeed?

These words struck a chord with him!

As for protecting the Spirit Hall?

Lin Xia thought to herself without any burden in her heart.

As long as his teacher is still alive, as long as the Spirit Hall doesn't abandon him, and as long as he doesn't encounter any cataclysmic disasters, Lin Xia is still happy to do his best to be the Holy Son, who is "second only to the leader," and enjoy the convenience and resources that come with this status!

After all, it's good to take shelter under a big tree! As long as the tree doesn't suddenly collapse and crush you!

"Let's go back and investigate Yue Hongsheng's inheritance!"

Lin Xia patted Ivysaur, turned around with a rather pleasant mood, and led her companion out of the hall.