"Hmm."
Hearing Qian Renxue's form of address, Bi Bi Dong endured the slight discomfort in her heart and gently nodded.
Just this simple, calm action made a glimmer of light swirl in Qian Renxue's eyes.
Seeing the food box in Bi Bi Dong's hand, warmth welled up in her heart—everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction.
Qian Daoliu hadn't left; he sat by the table, silently keeping watch.
Hearing the commotion, he opened his eyes, having been feigning sleep nearby.
Bi Bi Dong's gaze swept past the table and toward Qian Xunji, who lay collapsed on the ice bed.
The sacred aura was so thick it made her nauseous!
Suppressing her growing killing intent, Bi Bi Dong greeted softly, "Greetings, Teacher, greetings, Grand Elder."
"Dong'er, no need for formalities."
Qian Xunji turned his head to look at Bi Bi Dong, speaking first with a smile, "Just find a seat anywhere."
"Thank you, Teacher."
Bi Bi Dong gave a slight nod and carried the chicken soup in her hand to the table.
The entire secret chamber fell into silence.
Qian Renxue sat by the bed, looking left and right as everyone remained quiet.
She had imagined what it would be like when everyone gathered together, but reality was far from her expectations—there was no warmth, only a sense of underlying tension.
It left her feeling somewhat at a loss.
To her surprise, and even to the surprise of Qian Daoliu and his son, Bi Bi Dong suddenly spoke up and gave Qian Renxue an instruction.
"Little Xue, can you come help me with something?"
Bi Bi Dong glanced back as she spoke.
Her voice wasn't particularly gentle, but it no longer held the coldness of the past.
"Ah?"
Qian Renxue was momentarily stunned.
It wasn't until Qian Xunji gave her a gentle nudge with his elbow that Qian Renxue snapped out of it.
Overjoyed, she nodded repeatedly. "Okay, okay, of course I can!"
With that, Qian Renxue ran over to Bi Bi Dong with a smile.
Just as she was about to gleefully call out "Mom," Bi Bi Dong's gaze, on the verge of turning cold, stopped her.
Qian Renxue's cheerful smile stiffened, and her lively steps slowed as she gradually stood beside Bi Bi Dong, cautiously asking, "Sister, what would you like Xue'er to do?"
"Wait a moment."
Bi Bi Dong glanced at the young girl beside her and opened the box she had brought.
A medicinal aroma immediately rushed out and spread.
Before long, the entire secret chamber was filled with the fragrance of the chicken soup.
Surprise flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes.
Qian Daoliu was similarly taken aback and couldn't help but glance toward Qian Xunji.
Father and son exchanged a look.
Qian Xunji's eyes clearly held a hint of delight, which made Qian Daoliu frown.
Soon, Bi Bi Dong ladled a bowl of soup and instructed, "Little Xue, take this bowl of chicken soup to Teacher."
"Okay!"
Qian Renxue responded cheerfully.
Just as she reached out to take it, a large hand intercepted the bowl.
"Little Xue, let Grandpa do it."
Without waiting for Qian Renxue or the others to agree, Qian Daoliu picked up the chicken soup, went to sit by Qian Xunji's bedside, and settled down.
"Grandpa?!"
Qian Renxue was bewildered and puffed up with anger.
This was the first time Bi Bi Dong had spoken to her like this and the first time she had asked her to do something—and now Qian Daoliu had ruined it.
Qian Xunji also looked at Qian Daoliu speechlessly.
Compared to being fed by the old man, he would much rather have his little darling do it.
Qian Daoliu ignored their gazes.
He blew on the soup in his bowl and took a small sip.
"How does the Grand Elder find the taste?" Bi Bidong calmly glanced at Qian Daoliu's back.
She had long anticipated this level of caution—otherwise, why would she have gone through the trouble of showing such attentiveness?
"Not bad." Qian Daoliu nodded, offering a fair assessment.
"That's good to hear." Bi Bidong gave a slight nod.
Qian Xunji's eyes carried an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Dong'er. Not only did I fail to retrieve the Spirit Ring, but I've also made you go to extra trouble."
"Teacher, what are you saying? You suffered such severe injuries for the sake of my Spirit Ring. If anyone should feel apologetic, it should be me." Bi Bidong shook her head, her tone carrying a gentleness that had been absent for who knows how many years.
Qian Daoliu silently blew on the soup in his bowl. At this moment, even he couldn't be sure what lay beneath this woman's calm and gentle demeanor.
He didn't let Qian Xunji say more and began feeding him directly.
But Qian Xunji suddenly turned his head away and asked, "Wait, old man, can I have a different bowl? Mmm... cough!"
Before he could finish speaking, Qian Daoliu swiftly poured a mouthful into him.
"Drink the soup while it's hot. Why so much nonsense?"
"You—ugh!" Qian Xunji lay helplessly on the bed, unable to resist his father's forceful feeding.
No matter the situation, in front of Qian Daoliu, he was nothing but an incapable son.
"..."
Qian Renxue watched the father and son, who seemed to be bickering over some trivial matter, with a strange expression.
In her ears, Bi Bidong's voice sounded.
"Little Xue."
"Si-Sister?" Qian Renxue looked up into her eyes, confusion evident in her gaze.
Bi Bidong's voice carried an unprecedented tenderness, and her phoenix-like eyes held a clear sense of guilt.
What was going on?
Seeing that guilt, Qian Renxue suddenly felt a pang of unease.
"Have a bowl too." Bi Bidong gently pushed a bowl of chicken soup toward Qian Renxue.
"Mhm~ Thank you, Sister." Qian Renxue smiled faintly and picked up the bowl.
Before she could say anything else, Bi Bidong picked up the last bowl of soup and walked to the bedside.
"Grand Elder, this portion is for you."
"Mm, leave it there. I'll eat after this unfilial son finishes." Qian Daoliu nodded at Bi Bidong.
Qian Xunji finally had a chance to catch his breath. Glancing at his disciple beside him, he said helplessly, "Dong'er, you'll have to take care of the Papal Hall's affairs for the time being."
"Don't worry, Teacher. Dong'er will handle her duties properly." Bi Bidong set down the soup and stood in place.
She hadn't forgotten about claiming the Ten-thousand-year Spirit Bone that Qian Xunji had promised Ye Tian.
Without beating around the bush, she said directly, "Teacher, did you bring the Ten-thousand-year Spirit Bone you promised Ye Tian with you? That boy has asked about it more than once since hearing the news."
A Ten-thousand-year Spirit Bone?
Hearing Ye Tian's name mentioned, Qian Renxue immediately turned her attention to them.
She hadn't heard Ye Tian mention anything about a Spirit Bone.
Qian Daoliu, however, remained relatively calm. Ye Tian's abilities were evident to all high-ranking members of the Spirit Hall. Rewarding him further was only justified—it was a truly worthwhile investment with long-term benefits!
"Haha... That kid really hasn't changed." Qian Xunji couldn't help but chuckle softly, already picturing Ye Tian's money-grubbing, shrewd expression.
Although Ye Tian and Qian Xunji had not met many times, Ye Tian's image as someone greedy for wealth and desire had already become Qian Xunji's stereotype of him.
However, this time he could understand.
After all, it was a ten-thousand-year soul bone known as the Treasure of the Blood River. Even someone as powerful as a Titled Douluo couldn't help but develop greed.
"Dong'er's words have reminded me~"
As Qian Xunji's voice fell, he activated a bit of Soul Power.
Immediately, a colorful piece of jade resembling a skull appeared in his palm. The colorful appearance wasn't due to its glow, but rather the actual colors present on the surface of the soul bone.
Strangely, those colors seemed to flow like liquid.
A head soul bone?!
A trace of surprise flashed in Bi Bi Dong's eyes.
Among the six soul bones in the entire body, regardless of their age, the most precious were the torso bone, followed by the head soul bone.
She hadn't expected Qian Xunji to take out a head soul bone.
"Heh... I originally planned to send this soul bone along with your hundred thousand year soul ring, but it seems I can only fulfill Ye Tian's ten-thousand-year soul bone first."
Qian Xunji smiled as he spoke, then with difficulty raised his half-arm and handed over the soul bone.
"Dong'er, this soul bone comes from a Chromatic Mad Lizard over forty-three thousand years old. Its quality is among the best in the Spirit Hall's treasury. Please deliver it to that boy for me."
"Then I'll thank teacher on Ye Tian's behalf. The matter of the 100,000-Year Soul Beast is in the past - teacher doesn't need to dwell on it anymore."
Bi Bi Dong respectfully accepted the soul bone and gave a slight bow.
At the same time, she assured Qian Xunji: "As for the grudge with Clear Sky School, if the opportunity arises, this disciple will repay it for teacher."