One incense stick later, at the Pope's Palace.
Lin Chen was passionately embracing Bibi Dong, their clothes and robes scattered beside the Pope's chair. Although Bibi Dong was at a special stage of cultivation and couldn't take the final step, her graceful, burning body still had many ways to make him happy.
Knock, knock, knock...
"Who is it?!" Lin Chen slowly rose, looking thoroughly impatient. He had been interrupted at a crucial moment yet again, and he was in a foul mood.
Ling Yuan heard his displeasure from outside the hall and hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, Liu Erlong of Shrek Academy has come to see you. She says she's looking for her daughter."
"Her?" Lin Chen raised a swordlike brow.
Bibi Dong, who had been resting in his arms, slowly sat up and said lazily, "Husband, someone is here to see you. Let's leave it at that this time~"
Lin Chen gave a wicked smile. "My dear Dong'er, your husband will let you off for now, but next time you can't refuse me~"
"Hehe... that depends on how you behave~" Bibi Dong chuckled and waved her delicate hand. A close-fitting purple dress instantly appeared on her perfect figure.
Several dozen breaths later.
Lin Chen walked out of the hall with his clothes in order. Ling Yuan bowed slightly beside him, then followed behind him.
"Where is she now?"
"In Spirit Hall's outer hall. She also injured two of our gate guards," Ling Yuan added.
"Heh... that sounds like her temper," Lin Chen said calmly. "I'll head back first. Bring her to the Pope's bedchamber to see me."
"Yes!"
Half an hour later, in the main hall of the Pope's bedchamber.
The coldly beautiful, mature woman, dressed in a dark green leather skirt and leather pants, followed Ling Yuan to the bedchamber. Along the way, she had seen something of Spirit Hall's foundations.
There was a guard every three steps and another every five, and at intervals they encountered numerous Soul Master patrols, each led by someone who was at least a Soul Emperor. There were also plenty of experts hidden in the shadows, to say nothing of the bishops and elders.
Its reputation as the number one Soul Master faction on the Douluo Continent was no empty boast!
Tap... tap... tap...
Upon arriving at the bedchamber on the back mountain, Liu Erlong saw Lin Chen sitting on a sofa. Her expression changed slightly, because she could sense that Xiao Wu was in his hands.
Ling Yuan said coldly, "You stand before Spirit Hall's emperor, and you still won't pay your respects?"
"..."
Liu Erlong clenched her delicate hands and said nothing.
Lin Chen studied her with interest. "Go on, Dean Liu. What do you want with me?"
Liu Erlong's voice was low and cool. "Xiao Wu is in your hands, isn't she?"
"That's right, she's in my hands~"
"You... what do you intend to do with her?" Liu Erlong asked, her voice nearly trembling.
"Take her Soul Ring and Soul Bone," Lin Chen said calmly.
As far as Liu Erlong knew, a Soul Beast was certain to die if it lost its Soul Ring and Soul Bone. Even if it survived, it would become an ordinary Soul Beast, which was no different from death.
"Could you... spare her?" A trace of pleading appeared on Liu Erlong's mature, beautiful face. "I've never begged anyone before. As long as you spare Xiao Wu, I'm willing to be your ox or your horse~"
Thump~
With that, she fell to her knees. The aloof, chaste mature beauty was almost in despair. She had lost both love and career; if her only daughter died too, what would she do?
"Hehe... why should I?" Lin Chen chuckled. "Your value doesn't come close to that of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring."
At those words, Liu Erlong's heart went completely cold. The only thing she had left was herself. If Lin Chen wasn't interested in her, she had no other recourse.
"However... if you're willing to submit to me, I can consider sparing Xiao Wu's life~" Lin Chen said playfully.
"I am! I'm willing! As long as you spare Xiao Wu, I'll do anything you ask!" Liu Erlong said excitedly.
A wicked smile touched Lin Chen's lips. "Good. From today on, you're my slave!"
"Take off your clothes!"
Liu Erlong froze for a moment. "You... what did you say?"
"Madam, you wouldn't want anything to happen to Xiao Wu, would you?" Lin Chen's expression suddenly turned cold. "Strip!"
"All right~" Liu Erlong slowly stood and slipped off her dark green leather clothing. A trace of humiliation flashed deep in her beautiful eyes, and clear tears kept falling.
"Keep going..."
Hearing Lin Chen's merciless words, Liu Erlong didn't dare delay. Apart from her over-the-knee boots, she didn't dare leave a single thing on.
"Move your hands!"
She did as she was told.
Lin Chen looked her over with a burning gaze, then nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. Put them back on~"
???
Liu Erlong was slightly taken aback. She had thought he would pounce on her like a beast, but to her surprise, Lin Chen had let her off.
Could there be... something wrong with him?
If Lin Chen knew what she was thinking, who knew how he would punish her?
Lin Chen exchanged for a Love Soul Pill and said calmly, "Eat this!"
Without another word, Liu Erlong snatched the pill from his hand and swallowed it. She took a deep breath. "You promised me you wouldn't hurt Xiao Wu."
"Hehe... I think you've misunderstood one thing~" Lin Chen said calmly. "Sparing her life and not hurting her are two different things~"
Liu Erlong froze. "You! How can you do this?!"
"You're questioning me?!" Lin Chen said coldly. "Remember your place. You're only my slave. Do I need to report to you before I do anything?"
Liu Erlong's mind grew hazy. The Love Soul Pill inside her had already begun to take effect, and she grew increasingly infatuated with the tall figure before her.
It was a feeling that came from her soul...
"You... what did you do to me?"
Lin Chen's expression was stern. "What should you call me?"
Liu Erlong's reason gradually became unable to suppress that feeling. Facing Lin Chen, she gradually showed an expression of love and obedience. "M-master..."
The corners of Lin Chen's lips rose slightly. With a sweep of his large hand, he pulled her tightly into his arms and said calmly, "Remember, from now on, my word is law!"
"Yes, Master~" Liu Erlong said pleadingly, "But Xiao Wu..."
The Love Soul Pill only changed how she felt about Lin Chen; it didn't affect the rest of her reasoning or thoughts. Thus, Liu Erlong still cared deeply for her daughter Xiao Wu.
"I said I'd spare her life, so she won't die!" Lin Chen said calmly. "I'm not a scoundrel who commits every evil and breaks his word, but neither am I a do-gooder who goes around showing kindness everywhere."
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, Master~" Liu Erlong rested in his arms, gazing at his profile with infatuation before offering him her soft lips of her own accord.