Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile's Proposal, Qin Yu's Refusal

"All right, Teacher. I'll remember."

Hu Liena nodded solemnly.

Bibi Dong gave a slight nod. After a moment, she said, seemingly offhand, "Nana, I remember you and Qin Yu are rather close."

"We're... on decent terms, I guess."

Hu Liena shifted awkwardly, then grumbled, "But not that close. He won't even call me big sister. It's always 'senior.'"

Just thinking about it made her angry.

If he wouldn't call her big sister, he could at least call her "Liena."

Qin Yu always called her "senior," and it made her feel as though there was distance between them.

Seeing Hu Liena like this, Bibi Dong understood at once.

She was silent for a moment.

Then Bibi Dong fixed her with a meaningful look. "Nana, do you have feelings for Qin Yu?"

"Huh?"

Hu Liena froze. Her cheeks reddened, and she hurried to deny it. "No, absolutely not! I don't like that little troublemaker..."

"Are you sure?"

"I... I don't."

"Nana, don't forget. I'm your teacher," Bibi Dong said calmly.

Under Bibi Dong's gaze, Hu Liena's eyes darted away, guilt written all over her face.

After a long struggle, she lowered her voice to a whisper, her cheeks flushed. "I... I like him a little. Just a little."

With that, Hu Liena bowed her head deeply, looking every bit like a shy girl with a crush.

"A little?"

Bibi Dong gave her an odd look.

With that reaction, it's a lot more than a little.

Bibi Dong did not call her out. She merely smiled. "Nana, Qin Yu has remarkable talent. I'd be quite happy to see you two together."

"Huh?"

"Try to bring him over to the Papal Hall."

"Well... I..."

Hu Liena's face turned scarlet. She wanted to crawl into a hole.

Bibi Dong smiled and took a sip of tea, a glint in her pale violet eyes. So what if the Worship Hall put him forward?

If Nana wins him over, Qin Yu will still belong to my Papal Hall.

The thought had occurred to her as soon as she learned how Hu Liena felt about Qin Yu.

Still, it all depended on Hu Liena.

Since Hu Liena liked Qin Yu, the plan could go ahead. If she did not, Bibi Dong would never force them together.

Hu Liena knew nothing of Bibi Dong's thoughts. She was still caught up in what her teacher had said.

"Qin Yu and I... Oh!"

Some scene seemed to flash through Hu Liena's mind, and the blush on her face deepened.

At the sight, Bibi Dong's mouth twitched. Suddenly, the plan no longer seemed quite so perfect.

What if, instead of bringing Qin Yu to the Papal Hall, Hu Liena let him lure her away to the Worship Hall?

Meanwhile, Qin Yu had just returned to the Worship Hall to rest when Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile Douluo brought him good news.

"Holy Son?"

Qin Yu looked surprised in the great hall.

"That's right."

Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded with a smile. "Yu, your talent more than qualifies you to become Spirit Hall's Holy Son. You're only a little short on accomplishments."

"But that's no great obstacle. You can make up for it later."

Qian Daoliu smiled as well. "Yu, your teacher is right. Accomplishments will be easy enough to earn in time."

"For now, given your current strength, only Spirit Hall's senior figures and trusted members will know you've become Holy Son. No one else will be told."

"Even publicly, Spirit Hall will only announce that a candidate for Holy Son has been chosen. Your identity will remain undisclosed."

"Once your cultivation improves, Spirit Hall will hold a Saint Son Ceremony for you."

"I'll leave the arrangements to you and Teacher." Qin Yu nodded without objection.

Becoming Spirit Hall's Holy Son was an unexpected pleasure.

It would draw him into the power struggle between the Worship Hall and the Papal Hall, but the position itself carried considerable authority and access to more resources.

On the whole, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.

"Good."

Golden Crocodile Douluo and Qian Daoliu nodded in satisfaction.

He had been named Holy Son, yet there would be no ceremony. Even after those two sharp turns, Qin Yu remained composed. That was truly rare.

"Yu, what do you think of Hu Liena?" Golden Crocodile Douluo suddenly asked.

A knowing look appeared in Qian Daoliu's eyes.

"She's talented and strong."

"My abilities happened to counter her charm techniques today. That's why she lost so badly."

Qin Yu finished his assessment.

"That's not what I'm asking." Golden Crocodile Douluo shook his head. "I'm asking whether you're interested in her."

"Hm?"

Qin Yu immediately understood what Golden Crocodile Douluo meant.

Am I interested?

Does being attracted to her looks count?

Seeing Qin Yu's thoughtful expression, Golden Crocodile Douluo and Qian Daoliu felt they had their answer.

They exchanged smiles. Both had the same idea.

"Yu," Qian Daoliu said with a smile, "when you have time, you should spend more time with Hu Liena. See if you can bring her over to the Worship Hall."

"I can't do that."

Qin Yu shook his head and refused outright.

"Why? It would help secure your position as Holy Son," Qian Daoliu said.

"Exactly, Yu," Golden Crocodile Douluo added. "The Worship Hall and the Papal Hall have never gotten along. Bringing Bibi Dong's disciple over would benefit the Worship Hall greatly."

"Sorry, Teacher. I can't."

Qin Yu shook his head. "I know there's some grievance between the Worship Hall and the Papal Hall. As for what it is, I 'don't know.'"

"But as I see it, both halls are part of Spirit Hall. Spirit Hall has done a great deal for me, and I don't want to deepen the rift between them."

"Besides, Hu Liena is my friend. Whatever happens between us in the future, I can handle it myself."

"Yu, you don't understand..." Golden Crocodile Douluo started to say more.

"Perhaps I don't, Teacher."

Qin Yu smiled but did not explain further. He cupped his hands. "I'm a little tired today. I'll go back and rest."

Then he turned and left.

Qian Daoliu narrowed his eyes as he watched Qin Yu go, as though something had become clear to him.

Golden Crocodile Douluo sighed helplessly. "Yu sees the bigger picture, but that can't be all he thinks about."

"It isn't about the bigger picture. He doesn't like being controlled."

Qian Daoliu had put his finger on it.

"Huh? What do you mean, Big Brother?" Golden Crocodile Douluo asked, taken aback.

"Yu has his own ideas."

Qian Daoliu patted Golden Crocodile Douluo on the shoulder. "He can accept us making some arrangements for him, but he doesn't want us arranging every part of his life."

"What we suggested just now crossed into his private affairs."

"We failed to think that through."

"No one likes having every part of their life planned out by someone else, as if they were... a tool."

Golden Crocodile Douluo understood at once and looked a little embarrassed. "I suppose you're right. It was inappropriate."

"All right. From now on, as long as there's no serious problem, we won't interfere in Yu's private affairs. Let him decide for himself."

"Mm."

"Oh, and Xiao Xue will be back in a few days. Arrange for the two of them to meet."

"All right. I'll find a time to tell Yu."