"Morning already."
The next day, Luo Chen woke in Bibi Dong's warm embrace.
He wriggled slightly, his cheek rubbing lightly against that rich, generous expanse through her smooth gauze nightdress, while the breathtakingly beautiful Supreme Pontiff's refreshing fragrance reached his nose.
"Mmm~~"
Perhaps sensing Luo Chen's movements, Bibi Dong instinctively held him a little tighter.
Even asleep, Bibi Dong's movements remained incredibly gentle, as though she instinctively treated Luo Chen as a fragile piece of porcelain, afraid of hurting him.
"This really is..."
Helpless, Luo Chen could only continue using Bibi Dong as a body pillow.
As the old saying went, if you couldn't resist, you could only enjoy it.
"I slept so well."
Soon, Bibi Dong woke as well.
Just like last time, she had slept soundly with Luo Chen beside her.
"Yaaawn~~"
Bibi Dong stretched without any regard for appearances, displaying her perfect curves before Luo Chen. "Xiao Chen, what time is it?"
"..."
Luo Chen was a little speechless. Who was the adult here, anyway?
Bibi Dong was clearly the teacher, yet she was asking Luo Chen what time to get up.
Unfortunately, Bibi Dong felt no embarrassment whatsoever. Instead, she pulled Luo Chen into her arms, completing her daily dose of good-morning snuggles.
Luo Chen could do nothing about Bibi Dong and could only let her have her way.
"If only I could stay with Xiao Chen all the time."
As Supreme Pontiff, Bibi Dong had plenty to do.
She certainly wanted to stay beside Luo Chen every moment.
Unfortunately, she was busy with her duties. Only when she found some spare time each day, or when night fell, could she enjoy these hard-won moments of parent-child life.
Indeed, Bibi Dong had already decided to live with Luo Chen.
Her reasons were perfectly sufficient, too.
First, his Starlight Domain could increase her cultivation speed.
Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent did not need to cultivate constantly.
For Bibi Dong, for instance, just two hours of cultivation each day completed her daily cultivation, taking the expansion and strengthening of the meridians within her body to their limits.
As the saying went, going too far was as bad as falling short.
Insisting on forcing further cultivation would not only place an enormous burden on the mind and body, but also leave all manner of hidden problems, damaging one's foundation.
Thus, alternating tension with relaxation was the proper way.
Bibi Dong had taught Luo Chen this as well: The best times to cultivate each day are at dawn and during the hour and a half before bed.
Furthermore, Bibi Dong brought out that excuse again.
It isn't safe at night. With your teacher beside you, no one can hurt you.
Spirit Hall's strongest combatants at present were Qian Daoliu first, followed by Bibi Dong herself.
And there's the poison in your body, Xiao Chen. Your teacher must check it every day, just in case.
Well, she had even supplied a reason to examine his body.
What else could Luo Chen say?
After all, who could refuse such a soft, fragrant Bibi Dong?
Luo Chen: You're testing a cadre with this? What cadre could withstand a test like this?!
Splash~
Before long, teacher and disciple finished washing up.
They opened the window, letting the breeze outside bring in fresh air.
Then the two figures, one large and one small, sat cross-legged on the bed and began their morning cultivation.
Stalks of Star Grass appeared around teacher and disciple.
They radiated tranquil starlight, as though a galaxy were flowing around the pair, before finally turning into wisps of azure Soul Power that merged into their bodies.
"Whew~~"
Soon, their half hour of cultivation was over.
Bibi Dong withdrew her Soul Power and looked at Luo Chen, only to find her disciple giving her a smile.
"This is the first time your teacher has ever cultivated so smoothly."
A twenty-percent boost was still far too conservative an estimate.
Within Luo Chen's Starlight Domain, Bibi Dong felt both the efficiency of refining Soul Power and its quality increase considerably.
Not only that, after the starlight-laden Soul Power entered her body, it also helped repair some of the damage to her meridians.
Taking everything into account, Bibi Dong had a feeling that if she could bathe in the starlight over a long period, she would certainly undergo a qualitative transformation.
"Xiao Chen~~ Xiao Chen~~~"
Accompanied by knocking, Hu Liena called from outside the door, "Are you awake?"
"Senior Sister."
Opening the door, Luo Chen saw Hu Liena.
The little fox's eyes were troubled; clearly, she was still worried about Luo Chen's sudden collapse.
"Xiao Chen!"
Seeing Luo Chen safe and sound, the little fox hurriedly threw herself into his arms. "Thank goodness! It's so wonderful that you're all right."
"Ahem!"
Seeing Hu Liena so intimate with Luo Chen, Bibi Dong interrupted, feeling a little jealous. "Nana, why are you being so rash?"
"Huh?"
Hu Liena was clearly somewhat surprised to find Bibi Dong here.
Through the gap between the two of them, she spotted a pale purple, transparent gauze nightdress that had not yet been put away.
At that moment, the little fox felt as though lightning had struck her!
"Teacher, are you... are you living with Xiao Chen?"
Hu Liena was so surprised that, for a moment, she did not know what to say.
If the little fox had not been only six this year, she would definitely have inwardly complained that Bibi Dong had stolen a march on her. How despicable!
Of course, the reality was...
Hu Liena: Boohoo, Teacher stole my man~~~
The aggrieved little fox was pitiful, weak, and helpless.
"Ahem."
Bibi Dong naturally came prepared. "Xiao Chen is frail. As his teacher, of course I must look after him carefully."
Well, the little fox had nothing to say to that.
"Then, Teacher, are you coming to the academy with us?"
Hu Liena very naturally took Luo Chen's arm, ostensibly to support him, though she really just wanted to snuggle.
"Well..."
Bibi Dong had previously told Luo Chen that she wanted him to keep a low profile.
Bibi Dong repeated this to Hu Liena here, asking her to pass it on to Wang Sheng, who was waiting outside the palace.
"Teacher has arranged for me to choose freely whether to attend classes."
Luo Chen chose to attend some theory lessons, but he did not intend to participate in practical combat or training.
He did this precisely to avoid exposing himself.
Bibi Dong approved of this.
"With Xiao Chen's aptitude, I imagine it won't be long before those lecturers have no more theory to teach you."
When it came to Martial Soul Theory, Bibi Dong herself was a theoretical grandmaster.
Thus, she knew very well how frightening Luo Chen's aptitude for theory was.
As for the matter of combat experience...
Bibi Dong would naturally arrange for trustworthy people to give Luo Chen sufficient training in private.
In fact, Spirit Hall had always provided practical combat training for its Holy Sons and Holy Maidens.
Although Luo Chen did not hold the title of Holy Son, his treatment even surpassed that of every Holy Son and Holy Maiden before him.
For practical combat, Bibi Dong had specially prepared three training modes for Luo Chen: easy, hard, and extreme.
Easy mode meant having Luo Chen spar with peers such as Wang Sheng and Hu Liena.
There would certainly be restrictions during these sessions, keeping them at a level where both sides could gain something.
Hard mode would have Luo Chen fight Soul Masters whose on-paper statistics far surpassed his own.
The final level, extreme mode, would involve Titled Douluo such as Yue Guan and Gui Mei, allowing Luo Chen and the others to face enemies far stronger than themselves ahead of time, thereby training their responses...
If necessary, even Bibi Dong would personally take the field and put her children through their paces.
Having Titled Douluo serve as sparring partners was simply unimaginable in other sects.
Only Spirit Hall, with its vast wealth and resources, could arrange such a lineup.
"Let's set off."
Bibi Dong picked up both children and, in a flash, went from the highest floor of the Papal Palace to the entrance of the great hall.
"Greetings, Your Holiness!"
The guards stationed on either side hurriedly knelt and saluted upon seeing Bibi Dong.
"Dispense with the formalities."
Bibi Dong set the two down, then said gently, "All right, Nana, take Xiao Chen to the academy."
"Remember to keep the secret."
Because she had been worried about Luo Chen's safety, Bibi Dong had already accumulated many days' worth of work.
Although Luo Chen had given her something new to center her life around, Bibi Dong was ultimately a career woman.
Since she had taken over the office of Supreme Pontiff, she needed to hold Spirit Hall in her grasp. Bibi Dong had no intention of returning this foundation to the Qian Family.
"I know, Teacher."
Nana walked out holding Luo Chen's hand. "Xiao Chen, I'll support you."
"Teacher, we're leaving."
"Go on. Take care of yourself."
Bibi Dong waved goodbye to the pair, while ordering Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo to follow them. "Protect them well."
"Yes!"
Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo understood the importance of protecting Luo Chen and Hu Liena.
Even setting aside Luo Chen's abilities, Hu Liena likewise represented Spirit Hall's future.
Moreover, Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo were old hands at this sort of babysitting assignment. After all, the two of them had raised Bibi Dong.
"Xiao Chen."
Outside the Papal Palace, Wang Sheng stood beside an ornately decorated carriage. Seeing the two emerge, he hurried forward. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. Sorry for worrying you, Brother Wang Sheng."
The three children boarded the carriage, which then headed toward Spirit Hall Academy.
Outside the Papal Palace, Bibi Dong gazed into the distance in the direction the carriage had departed.
Seeming to notice the fluctuations in the surrounding guards' emotions, her entire bearing changed, and she instantly became Spirit Hall's majestic, noble Supreme Pontiff.
These guards were utterly devoted to Spirit Hall, the kind who would never betray it.
Even if they did leak any secrets, they would only leak them to Qian Daoliu.
But that no longer mattered now.
After all, Qian Daoliu already knew of Luo Chen's existence.
Bibi Dong and he shared a tacit understanding. One in the open and one in the shadows, both would protect Luo Chen, this hope for the future who was so crucial to Spirit Hall.
"Who did you send over?"
"Sixth and Seventh."
At some point, Qian Daoliu had appeared beside Bibi Dong. "Rest assured, I bear that child no ill will."
"No ill will?"
Bibi Dong looked at Qian Daoliu suspiciously, until the Great Enshrined sighed helplessly. "Xiao Chen is a good child. You are Xue'er's mother, after all. You ought to give her some consideration."
"I..."
Bibi Dong instinctively wanted to refuse and throw in a few mocking remarks about Qian Renxue.
So what if she was her biological daughter?
Qian Renxue was simply not good enough for her Luo Chen.
This marriage, I, Bibi Dong, will not...
"You wouldn't want that child to end up like you one day, lured away by some fox spirit from outside, would you?"
"..."
Good grief, that single remark from Qian Daoliu...
Bibi Dong kept feeling that this old bastard was pointing at the mulberry tree while cursing the locust.
Yet Bibi Dong had to admit that Qian Daoliu had indeed struck her sore spot.
"Whether it's that little girl named Hu Liena or Xiao Xue," Qian Daoliu said, "they're family, in the end."
The meat would stay in the pot even if it fell apart; the rich water would not flow into an outsider's field.
Qian Daoliu indicated that if Qian Renxue lost to Hu Liena in fair competition, he would have nothing to say.
Conversely, he also hoped that Bibi Dong could acknowledge Xiao Xue and Luo Chen's relationship, rather than brew another tragedy.
"..."
Bibi Dong remained silent for a long time.
If it had only been up to her, Bibi Dong would certainly have refused.
As for the Qian Family, even if she had to step up herself, she would never leave anything good for them.
Unfortunately, she also had to consider Luo Chen's feelings.
"If she has that ability, I might just think a little more highly of her."
Bibi Dong could not refuse, because she, too, feared that her own regrets would repeat themselves with Luo Chen.
Although she voiced all sorts of complaints about Qian Renxue, she actually still cared about this daughter of hers.
Most importantly, whether Hu Liena or Qian Renxue won Luo Chen's heart, her position as mother-in-law would remain unshakable.
So what if Qian Renxue gets Luo Chen?
Once she enters the family, won't I still be able to make her wear tight shoes whenever I please?
Does she really think having Luo Chen means she can act without restraint?
Just watch me broaden Qian Renxue's horizons and teach her what it means to "lay down the rules."
Bibi Dong: A mere daughter-in-law? Get lost, brat!
"We're here."
"This is Spirit Hall Academy."
Luo Chen and his two companions knew nothing of Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu's private agreement. They had already arrived at Spirit Hall Academy.
The academy was located in the southern part of the city and occupied an enormous area. Its facilities, surroundings, and resources surpassed even those of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"Xiao Chen, let me help you."
As soon as they got out of the carriage, Hu Liena bumped Wang Sheng aside and seized the spot that had originally been his.
Her affectionate manner made Wang Sheng shake his head.
"Thank you."
Luo Chen did not refuse. After all, who could turn down a lovestruck little fox whose eyes were filled with nothing but him?
"You've already enrolled, right?"
"I enrolled two months ago."
Hu Liena told Luo Chen that Spirit Hall Academy admitted students every September.
She had awakened her martial soul three months ago, so she had enrolled early.
While Luo Chen had been gravely injured and unconscious, Chrysanthemum Douluo had taken Wang Sheng to the principal's office and enrolled him as a special admission student. He had also been assigned to Hu Liena's elite class.
Naturally, none of the academy's teachers dared to object.
Chrysanthemum Douluo had brought him in personally. Who would dare utter a word of doubt?
As for the students, once they learned of Wang Sheng's astonishing talents-innate full soul power and a top-tier beast martial soul-they immediately shut their mouths.
On the Douluo Continent, strength reigned supreme.
And in the world of Soul Masters, the strength of one's talent determined the height of one's standing.
"Then where do we go now? Straight to class?"
"Just head to class."
At some point, Yue Guan had appeared beside the three little ones.
"Elder Ju!"
"No need to be so formal."
Chrysanthemum Douluo smiled charmingly. "Just call me Grandpa Ju."
Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo could be considered the Titled Douluo the three knew best. Moreover, he alone had witnessed all three little ones' awakenings (he had reported Hu Liena's, and Wang Sheng's Ascension Ritual counted as an awakening too). Given that bond, calling him Grandpa was clearly more intimate.
(End of chapter)