Yu Xiaogang Sees Bibi Dong Again

In the blink of an eye, vacation had arrived at Notting Academy.

Tang San planned to return to Holy Soul Village. He had not seen his father in a long time.

"Xiao San, are you going home?"

Xiao Wu skipped over, bent forward slightly, and fixed her eyes on Tang San.

"Can I come with you?"

"Huh? Well... sure."

Tang San scratched his head. After a semester together, he and Xiao Wu had gotten to know each other.

Xiao Wu had it even worse than he did. Both her parents were gone, leaving her all alone.

She had even shared Tang San's bedding at school.

On the way back, Tang San warned her,

"My family isn't well-off. We might not have much to offer you."

Xiao Wu shook her head. Her rosy cheeks looked soft and fresh, and her scorpion braid rested against her back. Every movement was full of energy. Tang San found himself staring.

"I'm not that fussy. As long as there are carrots, I'm happy."

Tang San hurriedly pulled a few carrots from the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges and handed them to Xiao Wu. She smiled.

"That's my little brother. All that looking after you wasn't for nothing."

A happy smile touched Tang San's lips. He had never known a feeling like this in his previous life. Heaven had truly smiled on him!

Notting Academy was a long way from Holy Soul Village. Tang San felt fine thanks to his cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, but Xiao Wu's legs had gone weak.

She coaxed him into carrying her on his back.

How could Tang San, an old-fashioned warrior at heart, pass up a chance to win her favor?

"By the way, Xiao San, where did your teacher go?"

Xiao Wu asked,

"He seemed to leave school a week early. Did something happen?"

Tang San did not know either. His teacher had only told him not to neglect his training over the break.

Otherwise, when school resumed, Tang San would have to carry a stone on his back and run ten laps around Notting City.

That would not have been a problem in itself. The trouble was that people would see him. Young as he was, he still had his pride.

"My teacher has his own life. It isn't my place as his disciple to pry."

At last, before the sun went down,

Tang San and Xiao Wu reached Holy Soul Village.

A stooped figure stood at the village entrance, holding a side of pork.

"Grandpa Jack!"

Tang San recognized him at once and tugged Xiao Wu's soft little hand.

"Xiao Wu, this is Grandpa Jack from our village."

"Hello, Grandpa Jack!"

Xiao Wu greeted him with a bright smile.

Jack burst out laughing and patted Tang San's head.

"Xiao San, you're something else. You've already brought a young lady home."

Tang San scratched his head, his face growing hot.

"Xiao San, what does Grandpa Jack mean?"

Xiao Wu leaned close to Tang San's ear.

She had been a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and it had not been long since she took human form and entered the human world. There was still much she did not understand.

"Your father left this side of pork for you this morning. He said we couldn't let your classmate go hungry."

Tang San took the pork. A thought struck him.

"My father isn't home?"

"No."

Old Jack nodded.

"He seemed to be in a hurry, all dressed up in a suit. Maybe he's off to find you a stepmother!"

Tang San laughed. It seemed his father had been telling the truth.

He was different now. He had even bought pork for Tang San to eat.

Before turning six, Tang San had practically been left to fend for himself. It was a miracle he had survived.

Now, faced with his father's sudden care, tears ran down both his cheeks.

I'll have a mother to care for me too. When the time comes, I'll bring Xiao Wu along and have Dad take her as his goddaughter!

"Come on, Xiao Wu. I'll make you something tasty."

"Sounds good!"

Outside Spirit Hall,

Yu Xiaogang wore his familiar black teaching clothes and still kept his hair cropped short. This time, though, he held his Ten Core Competitive Theories against his chest.

He stood straight, his eyes brimming with world-shaking wisdom.

I look the part... don't I?

Yu Xiaogang checked himself once more and straightened his collar. Only then did he nod in satisfaction.

"Stop!"

Two guards blocked Yu Xiaogang's path, looking fierce. They clearly thought little of him.

"Unauthorized people aren't allowed inside!"

"Hmph!"

Yu Xiaogang gave a soft snort.

"You don't know who you're dealing with."

He tossed out a token. It was the Pope's Token Tang Hao had given him.

The guards' legs went weak, and alarm spread across their faces.

"We didn't recognize you, Elder. Please forgive us."

They bowed shakily, bending at the waist until they formed right angles, and returned the Pope's Token with utmost respect.

Yu Xiaogang was pleased. He enjoyed being treated with respect.

"Remember this. I am the Grandmaster... Yu Xiaogang!"

Only after leaving them with those words did he take back the Pope's Token and stride toward the Pope's great hall.

Along the way, Yu Xiaogang simply held the token in his hand, and everyone lowered their heads in respect.

Yu Xiaogang closed his eyes, imagining the day his theories would be proven through Tang San.

Before he knew it, he had reached the hall's entrance.

"Elder, please wait a moment. I'll announce your arrival."

Yu Xiaogang nodded.

His feelings were hard to describe: excitement, anticipation, regret...

It's been nearly three years since I last saw her, hasn't it?

Is she... doing well?

Before long, the guard Xiao Pao came out and bowed.

"Elder, His Holiness the Pope will see you!"

Yu Xiaogang gripped his book tighter with his left hand.

He had brought it for two reasons.

First, it showed that he was a scholar. Rather than pursuing the path of a Soul Master, he devoted himself to academic research. That way, even if people knew he was only a Soul Grandmaster, they would not look down on him.

Second, when he was nervous, it gave him something to squeeze, just as it did now.

His fingernails had turned slightly purple.

Inside the great hall, high above him,

sat an elegant woman in a fitted purple gown. A gold-rimmed headdress set with gems crowned her head, and pale violet hair flowed down her back.

Her long legs, clad in purple stockings, were crossed. From where Yu Xiaogang stood, they seemed...

Longer than her life!

"What do you want with me?"

Bibi Dong's voice was cool.

He had never come to see her all these years. She had thought he had long since forgotten her. She had finally managed to bury her feelings deep in her heart,

and now, without warning, he had appeared.

"Dong'er...?"

Sorrow filled Yu Xiaogang's eyes as he asked softly,

"Have you been well?"

At the sound of "Dong'er," an unfamiliar emotion crossed Bibi Dong's proud, distant face.

"Show some respect. Address me as His Holiness the Pope."

"Dong'er, you're still as beautiful as ever..."

Yu Xiaogang ignored her and kept using the name he had called her when they were in love.

"But I've grown so old!"

Sorrow seeped into his voice. He looked like a flower long past its bloom, wilted and spent.

"Xiao Gang,"

Bibi Dong's tone softened, and warmth returned to her beautiful eyes.

"Don't say that. I've always believed you were the foremost authority in scholarship—the best in the world."

"Your strength was never in being a Soul Master. It lies in your knowledge. Don't sell yourself short!"

Bibi Dong had fallen right back into the throes of love.

It seemed Yu Xiaogang had thoroughly won her over!