He reached out and gently pinched the black-robed woman's cheeks. With a soft pop, her rosy lips parted into a little funnel, and Meng Chen slowly poured the medicine into her mouth.
With faint swallowing sounds, the black-robed woman gradually drank the medicine.
After feeding her the medicine, Meng Chen began checking the black-robed woman for other injuries.
But her voluptuous figure, wrapped in a tight black leather outfit patterned with spiderwebs, showed little damage. Presumably, there wasn't much else wrong.
That saved Meng Chen quite a bit of effort.
After a busy day, little Master Meng could finally eat.
Taking several meat buns and half a roast chicken out of his personal space, Meng Chen ate in great mouthfuls, making offerings to the temple of his five viscera.
While little Master Meng devoted himself to his meal, the black-robed woman's beautiful eyes opened a sliver, scrutinizing Meng Chen.
Interesting. Why would a six- or seven-year-old child appear in the Star Dou Great Forest? Is he simply bold, or is there an old soul beneath that young exterior?
The black-robed woman speculated inwardly. She hadn't actually fallen unconscious from severe injuries; she had merely exhausted too much Soul Power and temporarily hidden in some bushes.
She hadn't expected a little fellow to pick her up.
Still, this stone chamber was rather nice. With someone watching over her, she needn't worry about being discovered by Soul Beasts.
Feeling intermittent pangs of pain through her body, the black-robed woman sighed inwardly.
Sky Azure Bull Python! Titan Giant Ape! As expected of the Star Dou Great Forest's two overlords. Even I couldn't defeat them together. Fortunately, I have an undying body, or escaping would've been difficult.
What's this little fellow eating? It smells so good...
Gurgle... gurgle...
Suddenly, a faint rumbling sounded. The black-robed woman's expression shifted, and a faint blush rose on her pale cheeks. Meng Chen turned to look at her.
She's hungry?
Meng Chen looked at the half roast chicken in his hand, feeling helpless.
How am I supposed to feed her this? It isn't water!
The black-robed woman had left herself speechless, too.
What delicacy from mountain or sea hadn't she tasted? Yet now a roast chicken-no, half a roast chicken-had tempted her until her stomach rumbled.
Fortunately, she hadn't brought anyone along on this Soul Hunting trip. Otherwise, the authority she'd painstakingly established in Spirit Hall would have been utterly destroyed!
The black-robed woman endured her hunger and continued pretending to be unconscious.
But the occasional rumbling eventually aroused Meng Chen's suspicions.
Don't tell me she's already awake?
Another freshly roasted chicken appeared in Meng Chen's hand.
To test the black-robed woman, he waved the fragrant chicken, with its crisp skin and tender meat, back and forth before her several times.
"Enough!"
The black-robed woman abruptly opened her eyes, embarrassment and anger flickering in her rose-red gaze. Purple Soul Power surged as she raised her hand and struck at Meng Chen.
As the esteemed Pope of Spirit Hall, how could she tolerate such mockery?
The black-robed woman was none other than Spirit Hall's current Pope-Bibi Dong!
But just before her palm touched Meng Chen, Bibi Dong stopped. She shot him a fierce glare, snatched the roast chicken instead, and opened her rosy lips wide, tearing into it right before his eyes.
Now that I'm awake, there's no point pretending!
Mm... this roast chicken really does taste good...
Meng Chen stared in astonishment at the black-robed woman who had sprung up to snatch his chicken, inwardly screaming.
Seriously, is this what a badly injured person looks like?
With that agility and that terrifying Soul Power just now, if she's badly injured, what does that make me?
On death's door?
So I'm the clown here?
I thought I was Xiao Yan, but I've ended up as Gongsun Zhi instead?
A short while later, Bibi Dong finished the entire roast chicken. She took water from her Storage Soul Tool and washed her hands before looking at Meng Chen.
"Little fellow, since you brought me here to evade the Soul Beasts tracking me and gave me healing medicine, I'll overlook your earlier offense."
Bibi Dong spoke calmly. Meng Chen breathed an inward sigh of relief. That was close, far too close. I nearly became Gongsun Zhi for real.
Whoosh!!
Suddenly, a soft, fair hand seized Meng Chen's left wrist with the speed of thunder before one could cover one's ears, giving him no chance to react.
Not good!
Meng Chen's expression shifted. A short blade capable of slicing through iron like mud appeared in his right hand, and he slashed at Bibi Dong!
Clang-
Bibi Dong merely extended two slender fingers and easily caught the blade between them. No matter how hard Meng Chen tried, he could neither pull it free nor cut downward!
Such strength!
Feeling the force behind that instantaneous slash, Bibi Dong's gaze sharpened with secret surprise. At the same time, she sent a strand of Soul Power into Meng Chen's body.
Sensing Bibi Dong's Soul Power probing him, Meng Chen regretted his actions.
My life is over!!
Sure enough, you mustn't pick up women by the roadside!
"Your bone age... you really are only six..."
Bibi Dong watched the struggling Meng Chen, astonishment appearing in her beautiful eyes. She had never imagined this little fellow really was only six!
Moreover, his Soul Power had already reached rank eleven, which meant he was already a Soul Master.
A six-year-old Soul Master with innate full Soul Power!
Bibi Dong released him. Meng Chen, who was still pulling hard on his blade, couldn't check his momentum and fell onto his backside.
Seemingly noticing Meng Chen's unease, Bibi Dong chuckled.
"Little fellow, why are you so nervous? You saved me. I won't hurt you."
"I nearly forgot to introduce myself. My name is Bibi Dong, Pope of Spirit Hall. Surely that identity should let you trust me?"
Seeing that Meng Chen remained wary, Bibi Dong had no choice but to reveal her identity.
Spirit Hall was a sacred place for Soul Masters, and the Pope was hailed as their leader.
Bibi Dong believed that once Meng Chen learned her identity, his wariness would vanish like smoke and clouds.
Bibi Dong?!
Meng Chen was shocked. The black-robed woman he'd picked up was actually Bibi Dong!
Compared with her animated portrayal, the real Bibi Dong was more vividly defined and even more beautiful!
No wonder she'd looked familiar.
Still, while Meng Chen wouldn't claim to understand Bibi Dong completely, he knew a little about the kind of person she was.
Love-addled was her label; tragedy was the portrait of her life.
She inspired loathing, yet also heartache.
Countless people despised Bibi Dong, hating how she had opposed Spirit Hall, which had nurtured her, for Yu Xiaogang's sake, repaying kindness with enmity.
Countless others pitied her: violated by her teacher, then threatened and forced to bear his child, she had walked step by step down a path of no return and become an utter tragedy.
Pitiful and lamentable.
But without having suffered another's pain, one shouldn't urge them to be kind.
Meng Chen didn't care about Bibi Dong's reputation in the original story or in fan fiction.
At least for now, she hadn't made a very good impression on him.
Not only had she eaten his chicken, but she'd also probed his body without permission.
That's seriously intrusive!
Meng Chen withdrew his Martial Soul into his body, cupped his hands, and bowed slightly to Bibi Dong. "Greetings, Your Holiness."
Bibi Dong said, "Little fellow, if I'm not mistaken, you came to the Star Dou Great Forest for Soul Hunting, didn't you? You're certainly bold. Soul Masters usually obtain their first Soul Ring in a Breeding Forest. What, couldn't the Soul Beasts there satisfy you?"
Meng Chen said, "Yes. My Martial Soul is unusual. There aren't any suitable Soul Beasts in the Breeding Forest."
Delighted to discover such talent, Bibi Dong continued asking, "Little fellow, your talent is exceptional. Do you have a teacher?"
"No."
"Then would you become my disciple? I'm the Pope of Spirit Hall. If you take me as your teacher, you'll become Spirit Hall's Holy Son in the future. How does that sound?"
Bibi Dong tempted Meng Chen. No matter what, she couldn't let a genius with innate full Soul Power slip away.
Yet Meng Chen refused decisively without even thinking. "I wouldn't."
Bibi Dong wasn't annoyed by his answer. She knew Meng Chen had a few grievances with her, but none of that was a problem.
After all, this little fellow was right before her eyes. He couldn't get away.
She could simply take him back to Spirit Hall and nurture him slowly.
"Are you thinking of something bad? I'm telling you, I won't go to Spirit City with you. Absolutely not!"
Meng Chen spoke firmly. Even if the Titan Giant Ape beat him to death today, he would never return to Spirit City with Bibi Dong.
Before you continue