Blue Silver Joins

The Blue Silver Emperor stood outside the courtyard of Lin Fan's residence as Qian Xunji approached with his hands behind his back.

"Miss Blue Silver, now that you've heard Lin Fan out, what do you think?"

Looking at the three of them, Blue Silver said, "I believe most of what you told me before."

"Good." Qian Xunji smiled faintly. "You've traveled the continent for years. Surely you noticed that his clothes and the way he speaks are different from ours."

Blue Silver nodded. "Yes. So he knows our fates because he read a novel set on Douluo Continent, and its story is about people like us?"

"That's right," Qian Xunji said. "Hard to believe, isn't it?"

"Yes," Blue Silver said. "It really is. I never imagined we were only characters in a novel, as he put it."

"When I first met him, I found it hard to believe too," Qian Xunji said helplessly. "But he knows not only you, but everyone here and everything around us. He even knows things none of us do."

"For example, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and the Path to Godhood he just mentioned, as well as secrets none of us knew about one another."

"In the end, I had to accept that I was merely a character whose fate had already been written in a novel. I couldn't accept that future, so we decided to change it."

Yue Guan spoke up beside him. "Miss Blue Silver, we've questioned him carefully about Spirit Hall's fate and how each of us ends up. That's why we sought you out."

"Exactly," Qian Xunji continued. "In the novel, I lead a group to hunt you and Tang Hao down. But your sacrifice allows Tang Hao to become a Titled Douluo, and he defeats us. I die from my injuries."

"Later, your son grows up and becomes a god at twenty-five, then destroys Spirit Hall completely. To change that ending, we had to invite you to Spirit Hall before you met Tang Hao."

"We hoped that would change Spirit Hall's fate. That's why, when we first met, I told you its survival depended on you."

Realization dawned on Blue Silver. "No wonder you personally brought four Titled Douluo to find me. I thought there was no way you could have tracked me down. So it was because of him."

Qian Xunji smiled. "So, Miss Blue Silver, you've met him and heard what he had to say. What do you think now?"

Blue Silver gave a wry smile. "I'm already here. Would you let me leave?"

"Excellent," Qian Xunji said. "Welcome to Spirit Hall."

Yue Guan and Gui Mei smiled too, their hostility toward the Blue Silver Emperor easing somewhat.

"Spirit Hall may seem domineering to many people. But you've traveled the continent, so you must have seen plenty of life-or-death struggles between Soul Masters. In a world where strength rules, if Spirit Hall weren't forceful, the chaos among Soul Masters would be worse than I can imagine."

"You'll come to understand that in time."

Seeing the sincerity in Qian Xunji's face and hearing it in his voice, Blue Silver said, "All right. I'll get to know Spirit Hall."

"But first, where will I stay? And you should tell the powerful people in Spirit Hall about me."

"Otherwise, I'm afraid one of them might sneak into my room while I'm asleep and kill me."

"That would be a rather unfair way to die."

Yue Guan chuckled. "So you can joke, Miss Blue Silver. But you're right. You haven't reached maturity yet, and if the other elders don't know about you, they might just kill you in secret."

Qian Xunji smiled. "Yue Guan, Gui Mei, notify every elder in Spirit City who isn't away. We'll hold a meeting at the Elder Hall tomorrow at nine."

"Yes, Your Holiness," Yue Guan and Gui Mei answered.

Qian Xunji then turned to the Blue Silver Emperor. "Miss Blue Silver, you can stay in the courtyard next to Lin Fan's for now. I've already given orders that no one but us is to come near this place."

"All right." Blue Silver looked at the courtyard beside Lin Fan's. The buildings were identical.

Blue Silver went inside, tidied up a little, and settled down to rest.

I can't believe I accepted something so absurd, Blue Silver thought as she lay on the bed. And Spirit Hall hasn't shown any hostility so far. I should be safe for now.

After a full day of travel and little proper rest over the previous two days, the Blue Silver Emperor soon fell into a deep sleep.

As for Lin Fan, once the others had left, he sighed helplessly.

"Why is there another line in front of me? And it's gold. What does that mean?"

The next day, around eight, Bibi Dong got up and went to the Pope's Palace.

"Good morning, Teacher. If there's nothing you need, I'll take Lin Fan his breakfast," Bibi Dong said, turning to leave the hall.

"Dong'er, wait." Qian Xunji stopped her at once.

Bibi Dong turned back. "What is it, Teacher?"

"Take another breakfast with you," Qian Xunji instructed. "The Blue Silver Emperor arrived at Spirit Hall late last night. She's staying in the courtyard next to Lin Fan's."

"The Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, the Blue Silver Emperor, is here?" Bibi Dong asked in surprise. "Why didn't you wake me last night, Teacher?"

"You went to bed early, so I didn't disturb you," Qian Xunji said. "Once you get there, wait for Blue Silver to finish breakfast, then bring her to the meeting at the Elder Hall. Her identity is unusual. We need to introduce her to the elders beforehand so they know she's here and don't make a mistake."

"And in front of Lin Fan, act as though you and Blue Silver grew up together like sisters in the village. Don't be too distant."

"Understood, Teacher!" Bibi Dong nodded and left the hall.

Before long, Bibi Dong took two breakfasts to their residences.

She delivered Lin Fan's first. "Lin Fan, go ahead and eat. I'm going to talk to Xiao Lan."

"Go on. I can eat by myself now," Lin Fan said, thinking nothing of it.

Bibi Dong nodded, then went next door to the Blue Silver Emperor's residence.

When she arrived, Bibi Dong saw the Blue Silver Emperor tidying the room. She looked about Bibi Dong's age, but seemed steadier and gentler.

Blue Silver noticed her and looked over, but Bibi Dong greeted her first. "You're the Blue Silver Emperor, right? Hello, I'm Bibi Dong, Pope Qian Xunji's disciple."

Blue Silver smiled. "Hello. The Pope told me a little about you last night. You can call me Ah Yin or Xiao Lan, though Xiao Lan would be best in front of Lin Fan."

"Oh!" Bibi Dong walked over to her. "You can call me Dong'er, like everyone else."

"I brought you breakfast. Have some." Bibi Dong set it on the table.

"Thank you, Dong'er." Blue Silver sat down without ceremony.

Bibi Dong sat across from the Blue Silver Emperor and studied her. "You're welcome. Ah Yin, you're so pretty. You look much gentler than I do."

Blue Silver smiled. "You're lively and charming yourself, Dong'er. The Pope couldn't praise your talent enough."

Bibi Dong smiled with satisfaction and nodded. "Mm. I'm quite happy with you as my future stepmother."

"Ah Yin, when are you going to marry my teacher?"

"Pfft...!" Blue Silver jerked her head up in shock. "What did you say... marry him... stepmother?!"