Taking Hu Liena as a disciple (1)

Four days later.

At an altar somewhere in the Rakshasa Ghost Domain.

Boom!

Bibi Dong woke from her immersive cultivation. As a wave of air exploded outward, she successfully reached level 84.

"Bao'er~"

"Your teacher has leveled up."

"Congratulations, Teacher! Your Soul Power has advanced again in just a few days. You truly deserve to be called Spirit Hall's greatest genius."

[Sigh, what a fuss. This Rakshasa Ghost Domain is filled with endless Power of Darkness. For you, Teacher, it's undoubtedly a cultivation paradise. Breaking through quickly couldn't be easier.]

[Even an idiot cultivating here could break through within ten days.]

[Ahem, provided that idiot had dark-type Twin Martial Souls like yours and had accepted the Rakshasa Inheritance.]

"Hmph..."

"You little rascal, saying one thing while thinking another. How dare you talk about your teacher that way?"

Bibi Dong glanced at little Xu Feng, inwardly chiding him.

"Forget it. Since you've helped me so much, I won't hold it against you."

Bibi Dong glanced at the empty drink bottles on the ground, and her little flare of annoyance soon faded.

Over the past few days, her precious disciple had taken out various "snacks and drinks" to pass the time whenever he got bored. Through roundabout probing, she had also overheard a few little secrets in his thoughts, such as the "Crispy Noodles" that increased cultivation speed tenfold and the "Wanglaoji" that increased weapon affinity tenfold.

Whatever their effects, as long as Bibi Dong thought they would benefit her cultivation, she found ways to get at least a little for herself.

What puzzled Bibi Dong was why "Wanglaoji" had "chicken" in its name when it was clearly a drink.

Puzzled though she was, Bibi Dong drank it without worry and found that it tasted quite good.

Thanks to the tenfold increase in affinity from Wanglaoji, Bibi Dong had easily mastered the Rakshasa Demon Scythe, as though it were her third Martial Soul.

I really want to know where my good disciple gets all these treasures.

Bibi Dong was immensely curious, but she did not dare ask directly. It felt too abrupt and might easily arouse his suspicion and wariness. She did not want any rift between herself and Bao'er.

If the effects of these support items were accidentally made public on the Douluo Continent, they would surely cause earth-shaking chaos.

No. I absolutely cannot let a third person learn this secret.

Thinking of this, Bibi Dong secretly made a decision: It seems I must stop asking my good disciple about anything related to them. Only if even I don't know will there be less chance of this information leaking.

"Bao'er~"

Bibi Dong looked at little Xu Feng and smiled gently. "There's only one day left before the Rakshasa God's First Trial. Should we head back?"

Had this been a month ago, she would have simply hoisted little Xu Feng up and carried him off without another word. But after their little sulking incident a while back, she had begun caring deeply about Bao'er's wishes and would no longer casually force him.

"Mm."

"Let's go."

Unexpectedly, rather than being too lazy to move as before, little Xu Feng spread his little arms of his own accord.

"Bao'er~"

"I knew you were the best-behaved."

Bibi Dong rarely saw little Xu Feng ask her to hold him. Seeing this, she felt inexplicably happy-happier even than when she had obtained the Rakshasa Demon Scythe.

Immediately, Bibi Dong picked little Xu Feng up without hesitation and nestled him against her warmest, softest, most comfortable spot.

What Bibi Dong did not know was that Xu Feng was so eager to leave mainly because the Rakshasa Ghost Domain was too fucking creepy. The cries of babies rang out from time to time, like omens of vengeful spirits coming to claim lives at midnight. How was he supposed to sleep peacefully? That was why he wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Spirit Hall.

Inside an orphanage.

Classes had just ended, and a large number of children ran outside to play and tussle, filling the air with cheer.

Yet in a corner, a little girl sat rigidly upright, her little hands clutching her skirt tightly. She looked extremely constrained and nervous. Not far from her stood two middle-aged men who kept watching her.

Whoosh!

The little girl stood up.

"Brat, you'd better not run around, or you'll suffer for it."

Seeing this, a middle-aged man barked a warning.

"I... I need to use the toilet," the little girl said weakly, but fear made her sit back down.

Meanwhile, the headmistress, who had been watching in secret, could no longer bear it. She walked over to the little girl, took her hand, and smiled. "Don't be afraid. I'll take you."

"Hey... are you sticking your nose into our business?"

"Don't forget, His Highness Qian Xunfeng ordered us to keep a close eye on this girl. Don't go looking for trouble."

The two middle-aged men blocked the headmistress's path. With a boom, they released their level-forty-plus Soul Power auras, stopping both her and the little girl.

"Hmph. This orphanage belongs to Spirit Hall and answers only to His Holiness the Pope. Even if you serve His Highness Qian Xunfeng, you have no authority to interfere." The headmistress also released her Soul Power.

Although the headmistress was in her forties in level, just like the two men, the imposing aura she displayed far surpassed theirs.

"Hmph..."

Overwhelmed, the two middle-aged men soon stepped back and said threateningly, "You'd better not try anything, or you'll bring fire down on yourself."

The headmistress did not answer and instead led the little girl away.

"Tsk, tsk. This little bitch is pretty feisty."

One middle-aged man sneered, while the other revealed a lecherous grin. "Once we finish the task His Highness Qian Xunfeng gave us, we can find a chance to take this little bitch and... hehehe..."

"Exactly. Let's see if she still dares talk to us like that then."

"She'll probably be able to do nothing but beg for mercy. Hahaha..."

The two middle-aged men chatted and laughed heartily. Before long, the headmistress returned with the little girl.

"Heh. You've played the hero. Isn't it time you got lost?"

One middle-aged man spoke rudely to the headmistress, then turned his gaze to the little girl, frightening her into quickly hiding behind the headmistress.

"His Highness Qian Xunfeng only told you to watch her, not confine her." The headmistress swept a displeased glance over them. "This is an orphanage, a place for children to grow up, not somewhere for you two to do whatever you please."

"Little bitch..."

The middle-aged man's tone grew ruder. "So you're determined to protect this brat today?"

In an instant, the atmosphere bristled like drawn swords and taut bows.

"Headmistress, please go. I'm fine."

At that moment, the little girl gathered her courage and stepped forward.

"Child..."

The headmistress stroked the little girl's head, her eyes full of tenderness. "It's precisely because you're so sensible that I worry about you even more. Don't worry. I'll protect you."

"It looks like you're determined to oppose us?"

The two middle-aged men understood, and their expressions abruptly darkened. They prepared to join forces and teach this little bitch a lesson.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

However, neither knew that Bibi Dong had arrived in secret long ago and had been watching them for some time. Just as they prepared to strike, she immediately swept out two streaks of energy.

Boom!

An explosive blast rang out, and the two middle-aged men were sent flying like cannonballs.

"You..."

"You're..."

The headmistress recognized the newcomer and immediately knelt in greeting, bringing the little girl, who had yet to react, down with her. "Greetings, Your Highness."

"You're Hu Liena, correct?"

Bibi Dong approached the little girl and spoke gently.

"I... I..."

"Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you."

Bibi Dong could tell that prolonged confinement and surveillance had filled this little girl with wariness and fear of outsiders. She immediately crouched down and gently stroked her head, showing as much of her tender side as possible.

The little girl finally gathered enough courage to raise her head. "I'm Hu Liena."

"Oh..." The little girl froze as soon as she finished speaking. She had thought the newcomer would be someone fierce, but instead, she was so beautiful, like a fairy. The girl almost could not bear to look away.

"Starting today, I will take you as my second disciple. Are you willing?"

The fairy-like voice sounded, gentle as water. The little girl had no resistance to it. Instinctively feeling that this woman would not hurt her, she nodded without thinking. "I am."

"Good. From now on, I'll call you Nana."

"Nana greets Teacher."

With that, the little girl followed the instructions and performed a simple ceremony to acknowledge her teacher.

"..." Beside them, the still-kneeling headmistress appeared calm, but inwardly, rivers churned and seas surged. She was filled with envy toward the little girl.

Perhaps the little girl did not yet know.

The person she had just accepted as her teacher was the Saintess, second only to the Pope in Spirit Hall.

"Who was it?"

"Who ambushed us brothers?"

At that moment, the two middle-aged men who had been blasted away came running back, their faces full of fury. But when they saw Bibi Dong, their expressions abruptly wilted. They hurriedly stopped their charge toward her and retreated several steps.

"So it's Her Holiness the Saintess."

"We were discourteous just now."

"We hope Her Holiness the Saintess won't take offense."

The two middle-aged men knelt.

"Cripple your own Soul Power and get lost."

Bibi Dong did not even glance at them. She merely spoke indifferently, as though they were nothing more than two ants.

Of course, if Nana had not been so young, Bibi Dong might not have bothered speaking and simply killed them. But she did not want Nana to witness such a scene at her age.

"Her Holiness the Saintess."

"We both serve His Highness Qian Xunfeng. Isn't it inappropriate for you to cripple us on a whim?"

"You won't have an easy time explaining this to His Highness Qian Xunfeng."

Perhaps mistaking Bibi Dong's softheartedness for apprehension, the two middle-aged men immediately invoked their backer.

"What a racket."

Yet it was those words that completely enraged Bibi Dong. She reached out and turned Hu Liena's little head away, preventing her from seeing the two middle-aged men.

Then...

Thud! Thud!

In an instant, the two middle-aged men's heads were separated from their bodies.

The orphanage headmistress beside them did not even know how Her Holiness the Saintess had struck. She could not help breaking into a cold sweat.

"All right."

"Clean up the aftermath."

"From today onward, no one will come to disturb this place again."

"As for you, if you wish to advance further, you can go to the center of Spirit Hall and mention my name. I'll have someone give them advance notice."

Bibi Dong glanced at the headmistress, gave her a few instructions, then led Hu Liena away by the hand.

"Farewell, Her Holiness the Saintess."

Watching the Saintess depart, the headmistress stood rooted to the spot, unable to recover for a long time, her heart filled with shock.

Never in her dreams had she expected to be promoted just like that.

The Saintess's promise might have sounded casual, but for her, it could represent a pinnacle she might never reach even after a lifetime of striving.

Bibi Dong brought Hu Liena back to the Lingbo Treading Snow Carriage and woke little Xu Feng, who was still sleeping.

"My good disciple, I found the pretty big sister you wanted."

"Hm?"

"Where? Where?"

Then little Xu Feng stared wide-eyed at Bibi Dong, before exchanging little-eyed stares with Hu Liena.

"!@#￥%..." Xu Feng was utterly distraught.

[Oh my God...]

[This isn't the kind I want...]

[I want someone tall and slim, with fair skin, a beautiful face, long legs, and a slender waist! Preferably someone as pretty as you, Teacher, and very obedient too! Aaaah, hurry up and find me another one! I don't want a little brat! I want a pretty big sister!!]

"Pfft-"

"You little rascal. You're a little brat yourself, yet you're being picky."

Bibi Dong could not help laughing. Remembering that he had called her pretty, her mood brightened considerably, and she began explaining Hu Liena's identity.

"So that means you're my junior sister now?"

Once Xu Feng learned Hu Liena's identity, his interest immediately stirred. He kept sizing her up, and after a long while, reached a conclusion. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. No good. You're not capable of being a maid yet."

"Little rascal, what are you thinking? She's your junior sister. You must look after her from now on. How can you treat your junior sister as a maid?"

"Mm, you're right to reprimand me, Teacher. I know I was wrong."

[It's fine. I can wait. Once Nana grows up, I won't have to worry about finding someone to serve tea and pour water.]

[Anyway, Nana will grow into a beauty who can topple cities and kingdoms. She'll completely meet my expectations for a pretty big sister. Hehehe...]

[But why is Xie Yue missing? He's Nana's biological older brother. Where did he go? Without him, how will Nana perform a three-person Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Xie Yue and Yan in the future?]

Hearing this, Bibi Dong was startled.

Does Nana have a biological older brother named Xie Yue?

And who is this Yan fellow?

Hu Yue never mentioned them.

Also, will Nana be able to perform a three-person Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Xie Yue and Yan in the future?

It seems I'll have to focus on investigating Xie Yue's and Yan's whereabouts, Bibi Dong thought.

She had great faith in her sweetheart's predictions.

If she really found all three of them and trained them ahead of time, then the three would undoubtedly form the finest team on the entire continent, countless times stronger than the Golden Iron Triangle formed by that despicable scoundrel Yu Xiaogang.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Beside them, Hu Liena, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly began to applaud, seemingly finding this senior brother of hers so adorable and amusing.

"My dear disciple, look how much your junior sister likes you. You must look after her from now on."

"T-Teacher, what are you planning to do?" Xu Feng's expression stiffened at her words.

"You'll find out later."

A smile harboring ill intentions appeared at the corners of Bibi Dong's lips. She planned to have Nana follow Bao'er around more often from now on, keeping them together whether they were eating, sleeping, or bathing.

After all, Nana was so little-what bad intentions could she possibly have? At most, she would only disturb her Bao'er while he was slacking off or sleeping.

An extra-long, 4,000-character chapter! Asking for a recommendation vote isn't too much, is it?

(End of chapter)