While Qian Xunji was raging in the Papal Hall, back at Wisteria Residence, Hu Liena had just finished washing up, and Ye Tian had already cooked the dumplings she brought.
He called out toward the bedroom: "Teacher, Nana, food's ready!"
"Coming!" Hu Liena energetically ran out from her room. She wore a custom-made dress with some light silver accessories on her wrists, giving her an added touch of elegance.
Seeing Ye Tian portioning out the dumplings, Hu Liena immediately knelt on the stool and reached out: "Senior brother, let Nana help you."
"No need, be careful of the heat~" Ye Tian shook his head and turned his gaze toward Bi Bi Dong's room.
Slap—!
Bi Bi Dong had already emerged wearing a nightgown, dressed quite lightly. The strapless dress just covered her perky buttocks. Her hair was messy, with some dark circles under her eyes, giving her a somewhat fragile appearance. She seemed not to have rested well and was somewhat out of sorts.
"Teacher," Ye Tian greeted Bi Bi Dong while simultaneously giving Hu Liena a meaningful look.
Hu Liena immediately understood and respectfully called out: "Good morning, Teacher!"
"Hmm," Bi Bi Dong glanced at Ye Tian and responded casually. She stepped forward to pick up her portion of dumplings, then turned to head back.
Reaching the doorway, Bi Bi Dong's footsteps suddenly paused. She looked back at Ye Tian and coldly commanded: "Tonight, I want to see you in my bed!"
"Uh, understood~" Ye Tian stammered in agreement. He couldn't help feeling there was something odd about how Bi Bi Dong's words sounded.
With a slap! Having received Ye Tian's response, Bi Bi Dong promptly returned to her room.
Hu Liena's face showed a hint of disappointment. "Senior brother, does that mean Nana will have to guard an empty room tonight?"
"It appears so for now," Ye Tian shrugged helplessly. He suddenly felt that Hu Liena's presence was actually quite nice—at least there was someone normal he could have a proper conversation with.
"However, my room will be empty anyway, so you can continue sleeping in my bed."
"Alright~" Hu Liena nodded somewhat regretfully, but she knew she shouldn't disrupt Ye Tian's cultivation. That would make Big Brother Ye Tian dislike her!
Ye Tian unscrewed the jar of pickled vegetables and pushed it toward Hu Liena, smiling as he said: "Hurry up and eat. After we finish, we'll return to the room. You can read and write while I continue my cultivation."
"Mmhmm!" Hu Liena nodded obediently.
Everything proceeded just as Ye Tian had arranged—Hu Liena sat at the desk reading, writing, and copying Soul Master knowledge, while Ye Tian sat cross-legged on the cushion before the Pill Furnace.
Beneath him were two purple Spirit Rings, his hands embracing the core at his abdomen. Ethereal milky-white mist sometimes transformed into vapor swirling like clouds, other times condensing into Jade Dew spinning like shooting stars. The imagery continuously alternated and transformed as the Soul Power within Ye Tian's body flowed ceaselessly.
Two glass bottles remained placed before him. Whenever his Soul Power reached full capacity, Ye Tian would use his Soul Skill to empty himself again.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the fresh morning sun that felt like first love had become scorching hot.
Bi Bi Dong finally emerged from her room again, dressed in casual clothes. She knocked on Ye Tian's door and instructed: "I'm going to the Papal Hall. You two can handle lunch on your own."
Hearing the commotion,
A drowsy Hu Liena immediately jolted awake, raising her eyes to look around.
Seeing that Ye Tian was still cultivating, Hu Liena pursed her pink lips, mustered her courage, and replied to the outside, "Understood, Teacher. Senior Brother is currently cultivating. I will inform him."
"..."
Silence answered Hu Liena.
Just as Hu Liena was about to rise and open the door, Ye Tian opened his eyes.
"Nana, she has already left."
"Ah? Senior Brother!"
Hu Liena looked at Ye Tian in surprise, then nodded repeatedly.
"Mm, mm! Nana understands!"
In the courtyard.
Just as Bi Bi Dong opened the courtyard gate,
she came face to face with Qian Renxue and Jin Yue'er who were approaching.
Both parties quietly observed each other.
"Good morning, Holy Maiden. Is Ye Tian inside?" Jin Yue'er greeted with a cheerful smile.
After their frequent interactions over time,
she had long shed her fear. Bi Bi Dong wasn't some ferocious beast. This casual, chance-encounter style of interaction felt quite safe!
"..."
Bi Bi Dong remained silent, intending to leave.
But thinking of what she needed to accomplish in the future, she purposefully responded.
"Mm, good morning."
As the words fell.
"!!!"
Both Qian Renxue and Jin Yue'er undoubtedly widened their eyes in shock.
This wasn't the first time they had offered such greetings.
But currently, this was indeed the first time Bi Bi Dong had ever responded to them!
Qian Renxue stared at Bi Bi Dong in astonishment,
murmuring softly.
"Mother...?"
"..."
In response,
Bi Bi Dong merely furrowed her brows tightly,
glanced at Qian Renxue, and departed from Wisteria Residence.
Watching Bi Bi Dong walk away, Jin Yue'er asked full of curiosity, "Sister Xue, what's wrong with the Holy Maiden? She was actually so polite today."
"I don't know either. Perhaps this is what Ye Tian meant by... distance creates beauty."
A trace of pleasant surprise appeared on Qian Renxue's face.
Finally,
after hearing that intimate address, Bi Bi Dong hadn't assumed that deeply resentful, murderous expression.
But aside from the joy visible on her face,
Qian Renxue also felt somewhat troubled. She was no longer that ignorant, naive child.
She had read many books, trying to find parallels between her and Ye Tian, and attempting to deduce the reason behind Bi Bi Dong's behavior.
And at this moment, Qian Renxue...
through Ye Tian's occasional intentional or unintentional guidance, had begun to form some conjectures.
But Qian Renxue still couldn't bring herself to believe it.
She dared not imagine,
if that truly were the reality, what direction would the future take?
In her daze,
Qian Renxue seemed to catch a whiff of a bloody scent, a faint pallor spreading across her face.
Walking along the path,
Bi Bi Dong gazed at the distant spire of the Papal Hall and frowned.
She wasn't sure if it was an illusion.
Rarely had she pondered so deeply about that child,
but Bi Bi Dong actually found she couldn't muster much disgust for Qian Renxue anymore.
At least, that was the case when her Martial Soul wasn't active.
She had grown accustomed to Qian Renxue's appearance, her voice, and their occasional encounters.
But she still couldn't get used to that form of address!
Just thinking about it made Bi Bi Dong's face turn icy cold, murderous intent swirling in her eyes.
There were certain things she absolutely had to do!
"Let's go, Yue'er!"
Qian Renxue took a deep breath,
temporarily setting aside those unconfirmed speculations, and was the first to withdraw her gaze.
Now, after nearly two years of persistence showing clear results, the person she owed the most gratitude to was naturally the Evil Counselor who had devised the strategies for her... Ye Tian.
"Great. Haha."
Seeing Qian Renxue's smiling face, Jin Yue'er couldn't help but smile as well.
The two women moved with swift steps.
In a flash, they ran upstairs, their voices arriving before they did.
"....."
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