"That works out perfectly. It saves me from arriving unannounced and disturbing the Pope. That would be rude."
With that, Zhao Ling said goodbye to Bibi Dong, took Ah Yin's hand, and stepped down from the carriage. Following Qian Hu, they headed toward an extravagantly decorated hotel.
Standing outside the hotel, Zhao Ling frowned slightly at the words "Rose Hotel."
Huh... that name sounds familiar. Wasn't the first hotel Tang San and Xiao Wu visited in the original work also called the Rose Hotel?
Why was there a Rose Hotel here in Spirit City too? Could it actually be a chain?
Ah Yin looked up at Zhao Ling in confusion and asked softly, "What is it? Is something strange?"
Zhao Ling relaxed his brows and pointed at the words "Rose Hotel" as he answered.
"Yes, I think I've seen a Rose Hotel somewhere else. I didn't expect there to be one here too."
Qian Hu turned back with a smile. "The Rose Hotel has many branches across the Douluo Continent. Not only do many cities in the Heaven Dou Empire have them, but there are quite a few in Spirit City and the Star Luo Empire too."
With the help of Qian Hu, one of Spirit Hall's outstanding talents, Zhao Ling and Ah Yin checked into the Rose Hotel without any trouble.
Since they were now a couple in every sense of the word, they took a couples' suite.
After booking their room, Qian Hu left. A hotel attendant led Zhao Ling and Ah Yin to their door. The moment they opened it, an enticing rose fragrance greeted them.
Looking farther inside, they saw that the entire room was dominated by romantically suggestive red. The patterns on the furniture and the scarlet carpet were all covered in red rose designs, and there was an enormous red heart in the sitting room, making the atmosphere very intimate.
Only then did Zhao Ling remember that the room layout Tang San and Xiao Wu had seen in the original work was exactly the same as the one he and Ah Yin were looking at.
There was also that soft, heart-shaped bed, which occupied nearly half the room. The sight set Zhao Ling's heart and thoughts running wild.
He could not help imagining how comfortable it would be to lie on such a large bed, let alone with someone he liked...
In such a suggestive hotel, even Liu Xiahui, who could hold a woman in his lap without wavering, would probably turn into a beast, never mind someone like Zhao Ling.
Ah Yin vaguely sensed trouble. Turning to the attendant, she asked tentatively.
"Um, do you have any single rooms? I'd like..."
Zhao Ling hurriedly covered Ah Yin's red lips with his hand and gave the attendant an awkward smile.
"It's nothing. You can leave now. If we need anything, I'll come find you myself."
The attendant understood what Zhao Ling had in mind. After all, the only beauty in Spirit City who could surpass someone like Ah Yin was His Holiness the Pope's treasured disciple.
So Zhao Ling's eagerness was hardly difficult to understand. Once the attendant left, he scooped Ah Yin into his arms and carried her toward the heart-shaped bed, ignoring her struggles...
Inside the Papal Hall.
Qian Xunji sat majestically upon his throne, while Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo waited respectfully beside him.
Leading a group of Spirit Hall's outstanding talents, Bibi Dong knelt on one knee with a respectful expression. "Teacher, the Martial Soul Team has fulfilled its mission in Suotuo City and returned safely."
Qian Xunji swept his gaze over everyone, his eyes as still as an ancient well, before nodding slightly.
"Good. You may all rise. Elder Ju has already reported your performance on this journey. You all did very well, especially Dong'er. I am very pleased with your results."
With his permission, Bibi Dong and the other talents rose and respectfully listened to Qian Xunji's instructions.
Qian Xunji's voice was full of praise, and there was even a trace of affection in his eyes as he looked at Bibi Dong.
Before, Bibi Dong had never thought anything was wrong with that affectionate gaze. But under the influence of the diary's contents, being watched that way by her teacher now made her feel constantly on edge.
Bibi Dong had no idea what her teacher was saying. Whatever she heard went in one ear and out the other, as she feared he would lay his hands on her just as the diary described.
After more than ten minutes of unease, the other talents had all left. Only Qian Xunji, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and Bibi Dong remained in the Papal Hall.
Then Qian Xunji rose from his seat, his eyes filled with a fatherly look as he watched Bibi Dong.
"Dong'er, I heard you met a man you liked on this trip to Suotuo City? And you even threw yourself into his arms? Dong'er, you..."
Hearing this, Bibi Dong began trembling involuntarily, despite having somewhat prepared herself.
"T-Teacher, I'm sorry. He's so outstanding. I-I couldn't help being attracted to him. I-I'm sorry..."
"Oh? So outstanding? Dong'er, I've never heard you sincerely admire anyone before. To think you would volunteer praise of someone's excellence... That certainly makes me curious.
"Dong'er, don't be afraid. Your teacher isn't some raging flood or savage beast. You've grown up now; you'll be eighteen in another year. I'm not blaming you for having feelings for someone."
Seeing Bibi Dong trembling all over, Qian Xunji wondered why his disciple was so frightened. Did he look that fierce?
Qian Xunji gently raised a hand and stroked Bibi Dong's head, just as though she were his own daughter. His gentle manner gradually eased the fear in her heart.
"Teacher, you really don't blame me?" Bibi Dong froze for a moment, then asked timidly.
"No, Dong'er. You've grown up and have thoughts of your own. How could I blame you?"
Qian Xunji's gaze remained very gentle, without a hint of anger. Bibi Dong could not understand why her teacher had not turned into a beast as he had in the diary.
Chapter 88: Personally Arranging Your Engagement
"What is it, Dong'er? Why do you keep looking at me so strangely?"
The more Qian Xunji watched, the stranger he found his disciple since her return from Suotuo City to Spirit City. Her wariness and fear left him baffled.
"N-Nothing." Bibi Dong forced a smile, trying to appear more natural.
But whenever she thought of what the diary said her teacher would do to her, her expression involuntarily stiffened.
Qian Xunji did not suspect anything behind his disciple's strange reaction and merely asked her a question.
"Dong'er, how much do you know about this man named Zhao Ling? Do you know which sect he comes from?"
At that, Bibi Dong recalled Zhao Ling's face, which was not particularly handsome but carried a roguish wickedness. A smile involuntarily touched her lips as she answered.
"Brother Ling doesn't seem to belong to a sect. At least, I've never heard him mention one. All I know is that he's thirty-one now. The reason he never became famous on the continent before was that he stayed deep in the mountains and forests cultivating. Only after becoming a Titled Douluo was he willing to leave..."
"Wait..." Qian Xunji's brows knitted tightly. Staring at Bibi Dong, he asked incredulously.
"How old did you just say he was? Thirty-one? Are you sure you aren't lying to me?"
"Yes, thirty-one. On the carriage ride back to Spirit City, I asked him several times, and he kept saying thirty-one. Is there a problem?"
Bibi Dong deliberately tilted her head at her teacher, wearing an innocently curious expression, though inwardly she wanted to laugh. She knew she had made the right move.
Generally, becoming a Titled Douluo at fifty already made someone a genius, let alone Brother Ling becoming one at thirty-one. That achievement would definitely shock her teacher.
However, Bibi Dong had learned that Zhao Ling became a Titled Douluo at thirty-one from the Zhao Ling Diary Copy, so revealing it to her teacher herself would probably not be easy.
Thus, during the carriage ride back to Spirit City, she had deliberately asked Zhao Ling many questions, such as his age, how old he had been when he became a Soul Master, and when he reached the Soul Elder rank.
Naturally, Zhao Ling had nothing to hide from Ah Yin and Bibi Dong regarding those questions.
Since he intended to marry both women, they would be united as husband and wives in the future. He could not hide everything from them.
Besides, although he had only awakened his Martial Soul at sixteen, he had become a Titled Douluo in just fifteen short years.
Zhao Ling felt that boasting a little about such a rate of growth was quite satisfying, so he openly told both women.
Because of that, the system did not silence Bibi Dong when she now said Zhao Ling had become a Titled Douluo at thirty-one.
Bibi Dong's words instantly filled Chrysanthemum Douluo's face with disbelief. He had always assumed that, however young Zhao Ling was, he should at least be in his fifties.
Who could have imagined he was only thirty-one? Such talent might not be unsurpassable for all future generations, but it was at least unprecedented.
He had never imagined Zhao Ling's talent would reach such heights. If Zhao Ling joined Spirit Hall, he could definitely add a god to their ranks in the not-too-distant future!
Ghost Douluo and Qian Xunji were equally shocked, though Ghost Douluo's face was hidden in shadow, making his exact expression impossible to see.
The disbelief on Qian Xunji's face soon turned into fervor.
"Excellent! A Titled Douluo at thirty-one! What terrifying talent this Zhao Ling possesses! He probably surpasses even Father. If he's willing to join Spirit Hall, our Spirit Hall will surely flourish!"
Seeing the undisguised fervor in Qian Xunji's eyes, Bibi Dong could not help relaxing. It seemed Zhao Ling's excellence had greatly pleased her teacher.
But after thinking it over, Bibi Dong still felt this news was not explosive enough, so she added with a hint of pride.
"Teacher, do you think becoming a Titled Douluo at thirty-one already makes him someone unprecedented and unsurpassable? But what if I told you that, for certain special reasons, Brother Ling hadn't even awakened his Martial Soul before sixteen?
"Only after turning sixteen did he awaken his Martial Soul. In other words, Brother Ling took just fifteen short years from awakening his Martial Soul to becoming a Titled Douluo. If he'd awakened it at six, imagine how old he would have been when he became a Titled Douluo?"
Their minds rang... Qian Xunji, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo felt as though a heavy hammer had struck their skulls. To rise from nothing to a Titled Douluo in fifteen years-what terrifying talent was that?
If not for his late Martial Soul awakening, Zhao Ling might truly have become a Titled Douluo at twenty-one.
Faced with such utterly terrifying talent, Qian Xunji, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo exchanged several looks. They all felt they had to win him over, whether by bringing him into Spirit Hall or making him its staunchest ally.
As for killing him if they could not win him over, they abandoned that thought after considering it.
A terrifying individual who could become a Titled Douluo in fifteen years might very well become a godlike existence in the future.
If they failed to kill Zhao Ling and instead offended him, they would probably face the cruelest retaliation before long. By then, even his father would be no match.
After all, what normal person would stay deep in the mountains and forests, cultivating desperately until reaching the strength of a Titled Douluo?
Zhao Ling was simply a madman, an absolute madman. Wouldn't the boundless loneliness of cultivating deep in the mountains and forests drive him insane? At any rate, Qian Xunji, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo all knew they could not do it.
Fortunately... Qian Xunji looked at Bibi Dong. Fortunately, Zhao Ling liked his disciple. Even if they could not bring the man into Spirit Hall, they could certainly make him its best ally.
Of course... for now, this was only Bibi Dong's account. He intended to test Zhao Ling himself when he summoned him tomorrow.
As long as Zhao Ling proved to possess such terrifying talent, Qian Xunji felt there was nothing wrong with betrothing his only disciple to him.
At that thought, Qian Xunji looked at Bibi Dong with satisfaction and praised her unstintingly.
"Dong'er, you've done well. Tomorrow, bring Zhao Ling to the Papal Hall to see me yourself. As long as everything is as you say, I will personally choose an auspicious date for your engagement.
"As for the wedding date, you and Zhao Ling may choose it yourselves. I won't insist that you marry immediately. Do you understand?"
What? E-Engagement? Bibi Dong felt completely numb. H-How had this turned into an engagement?
The diary clearly said that when she fell in love with Yu Xiaogang, her teacher desperately tried to stop them, locking her in a secret chamber and even destroying her chastity.
Yet when the man she pursued became Zhao Ling, her teacher not only stopped objecting but even offered to arrange their engagement.
They were both people, so why was Zhao Ling's treatment up in the heavens while Yu Xiaogang's was down in the dirt?
Chapter 89: Why Is This Girl Blushing?
Early on the morning after arriving in Spirit City, Zhao Ling woke to find a stunning beauty sleeping soundly in his arms.
Unable to resist, he lowered his head and kissed her red lips. He wanted to do something naughty to her, but a knock came at the door.
Knock, knock, knock...
Zhao Ling carefully got out of bed and called softly toward the door, "Who is it? What do you need?"
Before long, Bibi Dong's gentle voice came from outside. "Brother Ling, it's me. Teacher asked me to bring you to see him."
"All right. Give me a moment."
After answering Bibi Dong, Zhao Ling hurriedly dressed, then approached Ah Yin, gently woke her, and kissed her between the brows.
Zhao Ling had put Ah Yin through quite an ordeal last night. She had barely slept for two hours.
Now that a certain someone had shaken her awake again, she felt rather annoyed. Just as she was about to lose her temper, lips kissed her forehead, instantly extinguishing her anger.
Zhao Ling's gentle voice also sounded beside her ear. "Yin'er, my wife, your husband is going with Dong'er to see the Pope. Rest well here in the room. If you run into any danger, use the Pear Blossom Needles in a Rainstorm I gave you to deal with it."
Zhao Ling had previously given Ah Yin the Pear Blossom Needles in a Rainstorm, but since she had no storage soul tool, it had remained in his storage space.
On the carriage journey to Spirit City, Zhao Ling and the Spirit Hall party had attended an auction. Seeing a bracelet-type storage soul tool up for auction, Zhao Ling had bought it for fifty thousand and given it to Ah Yin.
That allowed Ah Yin to put her personal belongings inside the storage soul tool. Naturally, the Pear Blossom Needles in a Rainstorm had also gone into her storage space.
The bracelet-type storage soul tool did not have much room, only fifteen cubic meters. Compared with Zhao Ling's storage space, it was a hundred and eight thousand miles behind. Even the Twenty-Four Bridge Bright Moon Night that Tang San obtained in the original work was considerably larger.
Nevertheless, Ah Yin adored the storage soul tool. When she received the bracelet, she showered Zhao Ling's cheek with kisses, nearly kissing it swollen.
Still drowsy, Ah Yin nodded and replied languidly, "All right, darling. I'm so sleepy. Let me rest a little..."
Before Ah Yin could finish, her quiet snores sounded again. It seemed the girl really had been exhausted last night.
Zhao Ling shrugged, quickly washed up, then turned and left the room.
Seeing the stunning girl standing at the door, Zhao Ling kissed her on the lips without a second thought.
After all, like Ah Yin, this girl had thrown herself into his arms. If he did not steal a little affection now and then, he would be losing out.
After stealing a kiss from Bibi Dong, Zhao Ling asked her tentatively.
"Dong'er, your teacher didn't give you any trouble yesterday, did he? If he did, tell me. Even if I can't beat all of Spirit Hall, I can certainly knock out a few of your teacher's teeth."
"N-No, he didn't give me any trouble. And, and..." Remembering what her teacher had said yesterday, Bibi Dong could not help blushing scarlet.
"And what? Why are you blushing, girl? Your face wasn't this red when you threw yourself into my arms before."
Before you continue