Wine gave a coward courage

The three figures in the darkness took in everything Qin Chao and the others did. With their strength, the group's conversation naturally could not escape their ears.

Without comparison, there was no sting. Watching Xie Yue and the others leave in excitement, then watching Qin Chao collapse to his knees in despair, the three did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Seeing the little fellow looking as though he had nothing left to live for, even Ghost Douluo felt a pang of sympathy, let alone the ever-softhearted Chrysanthemum Douluo.

Secretly exchanging a glance with Ghost Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo mustered his courage and spoke. "Um... Your Holiness, only Qin Chao is left now. Should we perhaps..."

"You two may return..." Bibi Dong waved lightly.

"But Qin Chao..." Although Bibi Dong had already dismissed them, Chrysanthemum Douluo still could not rest easy.

"Don't worry. I'll go over..."

With that, Chrysanthemum Ghost could only leave, though the way they looked back every few steps was rather comical.

Qin Chao was still wallowing in misery when, a moment later, a cool female voice sounded behind him.

"Instead of sleeping in the middle of the night, you've come here to worship the gods?"

Qin Chao naturally recognized Bibi Dong's voice. Although he was already tipsy, his instinct for survival remained intact.

He frantically reached out, instinctively trying to hide the wine jar behind him. Under the influence of alcohol, he even forgot to use his Soul Tool...

Seeing Qin Chao's flustered antics, Bibi Dong could not help wanting to laugh. She deliberately raised her voice to tease him.

"Acting so furtively! What shameful thing are you hiding?"

Qin Chao stiffened, his muddled mind racing. Who knew which nerve misfired, but a cheesy pickup line tumbled straight from his mouth.

"A heart that loves you..."

The moment he said it, Qin Chao realized he had misspoken.

Sneaking out to drink instead of sleeping was bad enough, and now I dared to flirt with the Pope of Spirit Hall? I must be tired of living...

The fury he had imagined never came. A slender hand extended before his eyes.

"Hand it over..." Bibi Dong parted her crimson lips.

"What..." Qin Chao still wanted to play dumb and muddle through, but a gentle force swept past a moment later. His hand suddenly felt lighter, and the half-empty wine jar was already in Bibi Dong's hand.

She sniffed lightly a few times, and the corners of her mouth lifted. "Oh, fine chrysanthemum wine. Not bad taste, but aren't you afraid of harming your body, drinking something this strong at your age..."

Wine gave a coward courage.

Seeing that Bibi Dong was not angry, Qin Chao relaxed instead.

His little face crumpled as he leaned forlornly against Bibi Dong's feet. "How could drinking count as harming my body? Pretty big sister, look at me. I've been beaten so badly I barely look human anymore..."

At those words, Bibi Dong could no longer hold back and burst out laughing.

"Big sister, you're still laughing! You don't love me anymore..."

Fueled by the alcohol, Qin Chao flopped straight onto the ground and rolled back and forth, looking exactly like a puppy begging for affection...

"You little fellow, honestly..."

Watching Qin Chao shamelessly carry on, Bibi Dong helplessly pressed a hand to her forehead. She simply sat down beside him and gathered him into her arms.

"Tell me, what has made our little Qin Chao so miserable that he came out here in the middle of the night to drown his sorrows..."

Bibi Dong asked despite already knowing the answer. As she spoke, she raised the wine jar and began drinking from it herself.

"Ugh, what else but training..."

Qin Chao laid out everything he had experienced, not forgetting to sell out his teammates.

"All three of them figured it out. They each ran off faster than rabbits and left me here alone. Nobody even cared about me..."

"You're the best, big sister. Only you stayed here with me..."

Seeing Qin Chao's drunken state, Bibi Dong found him amusing. She raised the jar for another hearty swig before slowly speaking.

"You deserved that beating..."

"??" Qin Chao looked stunned. "Pretty big sister, how could such warm lips say something so cold..."

Alcohol magnified his emotions. Qin Chao's eyes reddened, and he looked ready to burst into tears.

"I wasn't finished..." Bibi Dong gently stroked his little head. "You're using the wrong method..."

"All you know to do is watch Ghost Douluo's movements, but at his speed, it's already too late by the time you see them clearly..."

"But I have Golden Eyes..." Qin Chao muttered...

Bibi Dong had been so absorbed in drinking that her attention slipped, and she did not hear him clearly. "What did you say?"

A breeze blew past, instantly sobering Qin Chao a little. "I said, what should I do, then..."

Bibi Dong raised the wine jar again, taking a sip before speaking.

"What was I doing just now?"

"Drinking!" Qin Chao answered without thinking.

"That's right. And now?"

Bibi Dong raised the wine jar again, but her movements were much slower.

"Still drinking..."

"And this time?" Bibi Dong slowed her movements again.

At her level of strength, her control over her body was already precise down to the smallest fraction. As she deliberately slowed down, her movements became almost imperceptible.

Qin Chao half closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he had activated Golden Eyes.

"Your shoulder muscles contracted, and your wrist was about to exert force too. You're still drinking, big sister..."

Qin Chao was clever to begin with. With Bibi Dong deliberately guiding him, a light seemed to flash through his mind, finally slicing through the fog of confusion.

"I understand now, big sister! What I should watch isn't Teacher's movement when he exerts force, but his unconscious reaction before he does..."

"Soul Masters are people too, and Teacher is naturally no exception. Whatever movement someone makes, their unconscious reactions can't lie. It's just like when you drink, big sister. To drink, you have to raise your arm. Before lifting a leg or throwing a punch, there will be similar bodily reactions..."

The more Qin Chao spoke, the more excited he became. He threw his arms around Bibi Dong and planted several vigorous kisses on her cheek.

"Now I finally understand how Brother Yue and the others felt! Don't worry, pretty big sister. Whatever you need, I, Qin Chao, will brave boiling water and raging fire without hesitation!"

"There's no need to brave boiling water or raging fire..." Bibi Dong helplessly pushed Qin Chao away. The little fellow had kissed the smell of wine all over her face. "This wine is good. Remember to bring me two jars next time. Consider it payment..."

A flash of guilt crossed Qin Chao's eyes, and he instinctively backed away a few steps.

"Hehe, this is Teacher's treasured wine. If you like it, I'll just steal some more for you..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Chao took off toward the dormitory. "You drank my wine, so you can't report me to Teacher!"

Learning where the wine had come from, Bibi Dong did not know whether to laugh or cry. "That little rascal, honestly..."

Raising the wine jar, Bibi Dong poured all the remaining wine into her mouth. Its fragrance lingered around her nose, and for a moment, she could not tell whether it came from her face or the jar.

"This wine really is fragrant..."

Five months later, at the training grounds.

Black light continued to flicker around the training grounds, with Qin Chao at its center.

Thump... thump... thump!

The sounds of flesh striking flesh echoed endlessly through the training grounds. Qin Chao swiftly adjusted his footwork, yet still could not evade those lightning-fast attacks.

Half a year had made Qin Chao considerably taller. Under the intense training, the once rather scrawny young boy had grown much stronger. A thin layer of muscle had even begun to show on his seven-year-old body, while his explosive power and endurance had increased considerably. Even his training dumbbells had successfully gone from twenty jin to a hundred jin.

His improved physique was accompanied by explosive growth in Soul Power. In just half a year, Qin Chao's Soul Power had risen a full five ranks, successfully reaching rank twenty-eight.

Qin Chao was not even seven yet. A seven-year-old Soul Grandmaster was already shocking enough, let alone one whose Soul Power had reached rank twenty-eight.

Yet Chrysanthemum Ghost was not surprised by Qin Chao's progress.

His comprehension and talent naturally needed no explanation, but that could not erase his effort and sweat.

Since the intensive training began, Qin Chao had not taken a single day off. Physical conditioning in the morning, Taijutsu training in the afternoon, and meditative cultivation in a tub of medicinal healing solution at night. Even an adult Soul Master might not withstand such intense training, much less a child.

Countless times, Chrysanthemum Ghost had thought Qin Chao would choose to give up, yet he gritted his teeth and persevered.

With perseverance like Qin Chao's, he would succeed at anything, let alone with such extraordinary talent as well.

I truly chose the right disciple. This child will surely be extraordinary one day!

In just half a year, Qin Chao had reshaped Chrysanthemum Ghost's understanding. Both men's talent was limited. Although they had become Titled Douluos, they could hardly advance another inch. Qin Chao's appearance had given them new hope.

When a disciple could accomplish what his teacher could not, the teacher would only feel greater joy.

Back to the present.

Despite Bibi Dong's guidance, Qin Chao still had not escaped his fate of being beaten.

It was not because Qin Chao was too weak, but because Ghost Douluo kept increasing the Soul Power he used.

In just half a year, Ghost Douluo had increased the Soul Power he used from one-tenth to one-quarter. Although the difference did not seem great, Qin Chao's opponent was a Titled Douluo!

With every additional bit of Soul Power he used, Ghost Douluo's speed increased further.

Spirit Hall's assessment was tomorrow. Qin Chao silently gritted his teeth, wanting to bring his training to a perfect close.

Ghost Douluo's figure remained as swift as lightning, but under Qin Chao's Golden Eyes, a crack finally appeared in that lightning.

His left shoulder trembled. That move again!

Having successfully caught Ghost Douluo's opening, Qin Chao felt a surge of joy. His body instinctively shifted a fraction to the left.

This time, the sound of flesh being struck finally failed to ring out.

Qin Chao had done it!