Return to Spirit City

"Senior Sister, what did you think of those two?" Dongfang Yu had already returned to their residence with Hu Liena.

Hu Liena smiled. "That Master was quite interesting, but Tang San... I had a rather strange feeling about him."

"Why?" Dongfang Yu asked, puzzled. Weren't your feelings supposed to develop later? Don't tell me Tang San fell for you at first sight, and you felt the same? That couldn't be right!

"I don't really know how to put it. It was probably... as though I'd known him for a long time," Hu Liena replied after thinking for a while.

Good. As long as she hasn't fallen for him, anything can be worked out. Otherwise, how am I supposed to break up this pair of lovebirds? Dongfang Yu inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

He had only wanted the two of them to meet early and see whether anything unusual happened. If they had really fallen in love the first time they met, that would have been absurd beyond belief.

"Junior Brother, you seem rather interested in them."

Dongfang Yu smiled. "I am. We'll meet again in the future."

Having met Tang San today, he naturally thought of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and those Immortal Herbs. In the original story, Tang San and the others' innate talents and martial spirits had not actually matched Spirit Hall's Golden Generation. Only after taking the Immortal Herbs had their talents become exceptional.

The earlier one consumed Immortal Herbs, the better. They were immensely beneficial to both the body and cultivation—practically cheat codes.

But with his current strength, he could not touch those Immortal Herbs, much less let Bibi Dong know about them. At the very least, he had to wait until Bibi Dong completely trusted him before making a move. No matter what, the Immortal Herbs were his for the taking! As for Tang San... letting him suffer a little more probably would not be a problem.

"When are we going back?" Hu Liena asked.

He had already met the people he wanted to see, and Dongfang Yu did not wish to linger too long and arouse suspicion. "We'll leave tomorrow."

The next day, at noon.

Amid Xiao Enzuo and the many townspeople's reluctant farewells, Dongfang Yu boarded the carriage with a "deeply moved" expression and left Nuoding City with Hu Liena.

Three days later, Papal Hall, Spirit City.

Bibi Dong opened her eyes. "Xiao Yu, you did well this time. Not only did you eliminate the Evil Soul Masters, but you also earned Spirit Hall a good reputation."

Having just finished his report, Dongfang Yu replied calmly, "It was all thanks to Teacher's guidance. This disciple does not dare claim any credit."

"Though a tiny Nuoding City cannot affect much, once we have made this start, I believe that one day, our Spirit Hall will win the hearts of all." Bibi Dong then asked, "Did you meet someone in Nuoding City?"

Hearing her somewhat perfunctory tone, Dongfang Yu did not believe she truly did not care. He immediately answered, "Yes. This disciple met someone named Yu Xiaogang, known in the soul master world as Master."

"Oh? And what did you think of him?" Bibi Dong asked as if casually making conversation.

Dongfang Yu felt speechless. If you care about him so much, why don't you go see him yourself? You've got me walking on eggshells here, terrified of saying the wrong thing.

"Master truly lived up to his name. He was indeed the foremost master of theory. This disciple benefited greatly from speaking with him and deeply admires him." Dongfang Yu suppressed his urge to vomit and forced himself to finish flattering him.

At those words, a trace of gratification appeared in Bibi Dong's formerly cold eyes. "All right. Teacher merely asked in passing. Go rest first."

"This disciple takes his leave." Dongfang Yu withdrew respectfully.

After Dongfang Yu left the Papal Hall, the delight in Bibi Dong's eyes finally ceased to be concealed. She murmured, "Xiaogang..."

After returning to his residence, Dongfang Yu took a bath, then lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling in thought.

Yu Xiaogang will be easy enough to deal with... but Bibi Dong won't be. This needs careful planning. And the rest of Shrek haven't appeared yet. I can't rush... I have plenty of time. The day Bibi Dong trusts me will be the day disaster descends upon you people of Shrek.

Dongfang Yu had already begun plotting inwardly. He still had several years. The Shrek group would not gather until six years later, and six years was enough time for him to accomplish many things.

First, he had to gain Bibi Dong's complete trust. He absolutely had to obtain the Immortal Herbs before Tang San did! Then there was Dugu Bo, the weakest Title Douluo, known as the Poison Crown of the World. He could not defeat the other Title Douluos one-on-one, but he could certainly beat you until all that remained of you was the title of Title Douluo!

He should try to win that man over, or... kill him. In any case, he could not let Tang San benefit from him. In the original story, Dugu Bo had given Tang San considerable help later on.

As the saying went, the road was long and far. The path of opposing the protagonist would be long and difficult.

Then again, his greatest hidden danger right now was not Tang San, but Bibi Dong! Before that crazy woman completely trusted him, he could not do anything. Everything else was just empty talk!

"If it weren't for the fact that you're pitiful too, I wouldn't be serving you..." Well, fear of death was actually a larger part of it. He was dancing on the edge of a blade now. And of course, there was also that "tiny" bit of lust.

In the original story, Bibi Dong had loved Yu Xiaogang so deeply that it consumed her, and she met a bad end. But after meeting Yu Xiaogang, Dongfang Yu no longer quite agreed. Did Bibi Dong truly love him?

"Now, I need to cultivate hard." Dongfang Yu had made up his mind. Since he wanted to gain Bibi Dong's trust, he first needed more contact with her. But aside from cultivation, he truly could not think of anything else through which he could interact with her.

Giving gifts? Showing filial devotion? Forget it. She probably would not even let him through the door. She always kept everyone at arm's length.

Thus, Dongfang Yu began his frenzied path of cultivation. He rarely went out and spent most of his time cultivating in his room.

Gradually, a month passed.

Papal Hall.

"Teacher, Junior Brother seems to have become especially diligent lately," Hu Liena said. Several times, she had gone looking for him, only to be ushered out after barely exchanging a few words.

Bibi Dong smiled faintly. "Nana, diligence is a good thing. You should learn from Xiao Yu. Your talent is not inferior. If, as his senior sister, you are surpassed by Xiao Yu someday, that would be rather embarrassing."

"I understand, Teacher." Hu Liena lowered her head gloomily. Her junior brother was five or six years younger than her. If he really surpassed her, that would be terrible! But judging by his talent, surpassing her was only a matter of time!

Hu Liena left dejectedly, while Bibi Dong gradually sank into thought. How could she not know what kind of personality Dongfang Yu had? He had never particularly enjoyed cultivation, nor did he like killing.

She had always been the one forcing him to kill. He was like a puppet, firmly controlled by her. Everything he did was actually because he did not dare defy her.

But now, he had actually taken the initiative to cultivate and desired strength. That was truly strange.