Yue Guan and Gui Mei

Bibi Dong glanced at Qian Xunji and the other two. None of them asked a question, so she spoke up.

"Lin Fan, is it possible that the soul bones you mentioned are so rare that even Spirit Hall doesn't have many?"

Lin Fan nodded. "Soul bones are rare, sure, but Spirit Hall couldn't have been so short of them that it had none to give as rewards. I remember reading that Bibi Dong once offered three soul bones as prizes at a Soul Master tournament."

"All three were over ten thousand years old. One left behind by Qian Xunji was even fifty thousand years old. Spirit Hall thought the Martial Soul Team would win them, but things backfired, and Tang San and his companions took them instead."

"So if they had soul bones to reward young Soul Masters, why did Yue Guan and Gui Mei, who had risked their lives alongside the Pope for years, get none?"

"If you ask me, neither Qian Xunji nor Bibi Dong knew how to win people's loyalty. They had so many devoted Titled Douluo under them, yet gave them nothing."

"Think about it. If word got out that even the Pope's closest aides, Titled Douluo at that, didn't have a single soul bone, who would still be willing to risk their life for Spirit Hall?"

Qian Xunji's expression darkened slightly, but he said nothing.

Gui Mei stood to one side, expressionless. Only the fingers hidden in his sleeve tightened a little.

Yue Guan gave Qian Xunji a meaningful look, as if to say, Your Holiness, did you hear that? Even he thinks we've been treated unfairly.

"So neither Qian Xunji nor Bibi Dong was a particularly good leader. At the very least, they weren't good at rewarding people for their service."

"It reminds me of the company I used to work for. The boss made grand promises every day but wouldn't raise our pay. No overtime pay, either, and he even cut our year-end bonuses. What happened? Every key employee left. By the time he realized what was going on, the whole project had fallen through."

"Ahem!" Yue Guan liked what he was hearing.

But he feared Lin Fan would go too far, perhaps even say that the two of them ought to be made Pope. He promptly feigned a cough to interrupt him.

"Lin Fan, why don't you tell us how Yue Guan and his good friend Gui Mei were eventually killed by Tang San?"

Gui Mei said nothing, but he breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Lin Fan nodded. "Yue Guan and Gui Mei had a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, so they were powerful together. But Tang San picked them off one by one. First, he ambushed Gui Mei and killed him in a single strike. With his good friend gone, Yue Guan was assigned to logistics by Bibi Dong. Tang San killed him while he was transporting supplies."

After hearing the details of their deaths, Yue Guan and Gui Mei turned to Bibi Dong at the same time.

Their stares made Bibi Dong's scalp prickle. "...Why are you looking at me? That was Bibi Dong in the story!"

Qian Xunji stepped in to smooth things over. "Lin Fan, you told that story well. You made the characters feel real, and the loyalty those two showed Spirit Hall was moving."

Lin Fan hurriedly replied, "It's the author who wrote it well. As minor bosses in Spirit Hall, those two got quite a bit of page time. More than Qian Xunji, even."

Qian Xunji's face darkened. So I'm just an outsider? The book has nothing to say about me except the bad things I did. It makes me sound like a complete monster.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged another glance. Both had the same thought: The moment we meet Tang San, we're killing him!

Qian Xunji stood. "Thank you for the story, Lin Fan. It's getting late, and you've just had your dressings changed. Get some rest."

"Tomorrow, we'll start from the beginning of that Douluo Continent novel and hear about Tang San."

Lin Fan nodded. "Goodbye, Village Chief. I've told you pretty much everything about the Spirit Hall characters."

"All right."

The four left Lin Fan's residence in silence. Not one of them spoke until they reached the Pope's Palace.

At last, Qian Xunji said calmly, "Yue Guan, Gui Mei, you heard what Lin Fan said. Do you think I've been too harsh on you?"

Yue Guan and Gui Mei immediately dropped to one knee. "Your Holiness, neither of us has ever thought that."

Qian Xunji spoke slowly. "Perhaps you hadn't before. But after hearing Lin Fan, can you honestly say you have no grievances at all?"

Yue Guan and Gui Mei lowered their heads slightly. Neither answered.

Qian Xunji looked at them and continued, "You must know why, out of all Spirit Hall's elders, I chose you two to accompany me wherever I went."

"It's because you have a Martial Soul Fusion Skill the other elders lack. That skill has contributed greatly to Spirit Hall. I won't deny it."

Qian Xunji paused.

He looked at Yue Guan and Gui Mei. For once, his gaze lacked its usual air of superiority and held a rare solemnity instead.

"Lin Fan was right. Neither of you has ever wavered in your loyalty to me or to Spirit Hall. You've stood by me all these years, and your hard work deserves recognition. If I begrudge you two soul bones, how can I claim I'm determined to change Spirit Hall? I really would be the cold, ungrateful Pope from the story."

Yue Guan looked up and said urgently, "Your Holiness, I never meant—"

"I know." Qian Xunji raised a hand to stop him. "The fact that you haven't asked is all the more reason I should give them to you."

"The stronger you become, the better it is for me and for Spirit Hall. Come with me to the Treasury Pavilion later and choose a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone suited to each of you."

Yue Guan and Gui Mei both jolted. Then they bowed with utmost respect. "Thank you for your generous reward, Your Holiness."

One more soul bone meant one more safeguard. In a battle between opponents of equal rank, an unassuming soul bone might be what tipped the scales.

Bibi Dong immediately added, "A wise decision, Teacher. Congratulations to both elders on receiving such treasures."

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

"Mmm." Qian Xunji nodded and continued, "Lin Fan will start talking about Tang San tomorrow. I can't keep going to hear all his stories myself."

"So the two of you must learn what Tang San's weaknesses are and what fortunate opportunities he receives."

Yue Guan's eyes sharpened. "Understood."

Gui Mei nodded as well.

Qian Xunji turned to Bibi Dong. "Go back and rest. Once Lin Fan starts Tang San's story tomorrow, pay close attention too."

"Yes, Teacher." With that, Bibi Dong left the Pope's Palace.

Qian Xunji took Yue Guan and Gui Mei to the Treasury Pavilion, where each chose a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone suited to his own attributes.

Back in the courtyard, Yue Guan slung an arm around Gui Mei's shoulders. "Old Ghost, that Lin Fan kid is something else. I never thought a few words from him would get us Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones."

"How do you think we should repay the favor?"

Gui Mei said coolly, "Once his eyes recover, we can look out for him in Spirit Hall."

"Oh?" Yue Guan teased. "Weren't you always talking about killing him before?"

"Hmph!" Gui Mei said haughtily. "Mind your own business. I'm going back to absorb my soul bone."

Yue Guan called after him, "Hey... Old Ghost! You really are a..."

"Stuck-up ghost!"