Plans for Bibi Dong

Spirit Hall's scandal eventually leaked out, and as public opinion continued to stir, its reputation plummeted.

Whether among the common people or the sects and other powers, attitudes toward Spirit Hall had changed.

None of this had anything to do with Jiang Nian, however.

In the Sunset Forest, at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Qian Renxue's emotions had fluctuated too wildly lately, and Jiang Nian was preparing to find her a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring this time. To avoid any mishaps, he had brought her to recuperate at the Yin Yang Well for a while.

Every day, aside from cultivating, Qian Renxue cared for Bibi Dong, who had become one of the living dead.

Bibi Dong had originally been certain to die, but Jiang Nian had stabilized her spirit with a medicinal pill, saving her life.

It was just that Bibi Dong seemed to have lost the will to live on her own. Even though her injuries had fully healed, she showed no sign of waking.

Qian Renxue wiped Bibi Dong's face and tucked her in before coming out of the room. "Teacher... will Holy Maiden Sister ever wake up?"

"I don't know."

"There are things even you don't know, Teacher?"

Jiang Nian flicked her on the forehead. "Can't there be things I don't know? Bibi Dong herself has lost her attachment to the world. Whether she wakes up doesn't depend on you or me, but on whether she can overcome the obstacle in her own heart."

Ah Yin came out carrying stir-fried pork with green peppers. "Master, Senior Sister! Time to eat!"

Jiang Nian looked up, and his face nearly turned green at the sight of the dish.

For a full half month, the three of them had eaten nothing but various kinds of congee and this dish every day.

There was no helping it. Ah Yin might have looked like a good wife and loving mother, but she was utterly useless. She had studied under a proper chef for so long, only to learn this one proper dish.

Still, no matter how he looked at it, having someone wait on him was better than cooking for himself.

The master and his two disciples sat down at the table. Ah Yin glanced up at Dugu Bo, who was sitting cross-legged in cultivation near the Yin Yang Well. "Master, that uncle's been like that for days. He hasn't died, has he?"

"Just eat your food!" Jiang Nian rolled his eyes at her. "Dugu Bo's Martial Soul evolved into an Underworld Lesser Dragon, and its poison is far stronger than before. He's dealing with the side effects of his Martial Soul's toxins."

Dugu Bo was still a guest elder of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, and Jiang Nian's name had spread since the great battle half a month ago.

Now the entire continent knew of a Titled Douluo who had suppressed Spirit Hall with one hand.

Because of this, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family also wanted to use Dugu Bo to establish a connection with Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian had no interest in struggles over royal power, however, so he had not gone to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, meanwhile, was utterly convinced by Jiang Nian. Whether because of his strength or the medicinal pill that had helped the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda transform, the sect had no reason to defy him.

Qian Renxue was somewhat distracted, glancing toward the room where Bibi Dong lay sleeping every few bites.

She looked up and asked, "Teacher, do you know about Holy Maiden Sister's past?"

"Do you really think your teacher knows everything?" Jiang Nian thought for a moment before continuing, "I don't know much about your mother's past either. I only know that she lost her parents in an Evil Soul Master attack when she was young and was later taken in by Spirit Hall. Her outstanding talent earned her a place as Qian Xunji's disciple."

After hearing this, Ah Yin sighed. "How pitiful. Her parents were killed, and just when she finally found someone to rely on, it turned out..."

Qian Renxue lowered her head. She could now faintly feel the despair Bibi Dong must have felt back then. Her sky had collapsed overnight. Having her life ruined by the person closest to her-no one could have remained calm through that.

She pressed her lips together and said softly, "Teacher, if Xue'er hadn't existed, would Holy Maiden Sister not have ended up like this?"

Jiang Nian asked, "Why do you say that?"

Qian Renxue hung her head. "If Xue'er had never come into this world, Holy Maiden Sister wouldn't have..."

"Silly girl." Jiang Nian interrupted her. "You're not at fault for how Bibi Dong ended up. The fault lies with her, and even more so with her teacher, Qian Xunji."

Ah Yin looked at Jiang Nian in confusion. "Why do I feel like that person called Yu Xiaogang was even worse? He went and stole a girl's heart, then ran off without taking responsibility."

Jiang Nian nodded. "Yu Xiaogang was indeed a beast, but if Bibi Dong hadn't considered betraying Spirit Hall, things wouldn't have come to this."

At that, Ah Yin suddenly asked, "Teacher, I have a question too!"

Jiang Nian put down his chopsticks. "What is it?"

"If-and I mean if..." Ah Yin first covered her bases. "If Senior Sister Xue'er also fell for someone who was Master's enemy in the future and wanted to elope with him, would Master punish her like that too?"

Qian Renxue glared at Ah Yin. "Why use me as an example, Junior Sister Ah Yin? Why couldn't you be the one some wild man runs off with?!"

Ah Yin looked innocent. "I'm a Soul Beast! Apart from Master, who doesn't covet my body, those flashy hussies out there would definitely all want my Soul Ring. So I'll never leave Master!"

Qian Renxue hurriedly wrapped her arms around Jiang Nian's arm. "Then I won't either! Junior Sister Ah Yin is mean!"

"All right, stop teasing your Senior Sister Xue'er." Jiang Nian quite enjoyed this playful atmosphere between master and disciples. Smiling, he said, "If the two of you meet someone you like one day, as long as I can't find fault with that person's character, why would I stop you?"

"If the two of you really wanted to elope with my enemies, then I should also reflect on whether I was the problem. Otherwise, why would my disciples turn against me because of someone else?"

Without anyone noticing, the mood turned serious. Ah Yin, who had only been joking, stopped laughing and picked up her chopsticks to put some food in Jiang Nian's bowl. "Ah Yin doesn't want to leave Master!"

"Xue'er doesn't either!"

"I see. If you two little pests can't find anyone to marry, I'll have plenty to worry about later."

Ah Yin puffed out her cheeks. "I'll pester you to death! That's right, pester you to death! Ah Yin's going to pester you for the rest of your life and make you stir-fried pork with green peppers every day!"

Come on, girl. Isn't that a little too cruel?

Jiang Nian stared at Ah Yin in astonishment. She seemed genuinely a little angry, and her cheeks had turned red.

His heart skipped a beat. This girl... she doesn't want to make a move on her master, does she?

A few more days passed.

Dugu Bo finally woke up. After showing Jiang Nian his new Martial Soul, he hurried off to Heaven Dou Imperial City without stopping.

Dugu Bo had learned of Ning Fengzhi's little scheme from a few days earlier. Unwilling to fall behind, he hurried back to urge his son to give him a grandson as soon as possible.

As Bibi Dong's emotions gradually settled, Jiang Nian also prepared to set out for the Star Dou Great Forest with his two disciples.

Although there were plenty of Soul Beasts in the Sunset Forest, none met Jiang Nian's requirements.

But a new problem had arisen.

Bibi Dong now depended entirely on Qian Renxue feeding and caring for her to keep her alive. Their trip to hunt for a Soul Ring might take another month, so caring for Bibi Dong had become a problem too.

And so, early that morning, Qian Renxue gazed pleadingly at Jiang Nian.

"I knew saving this woman would be trouble." Jiang Nian sighed, opened his spatial little world, and put Bibi Dong inside. "Let's be clear first: I'll let her out when we get there. In the Star Dou Forest, taking care of her is your responsibility."

Qian Renxue nodded joyfully. "Okay! Thank you, Master!"

"All right, let's go!"