When the soil covered the grass seed, Tang Hao stood motionless as a statue, silently watching. It was as if he were mourning his lost love and his vanished youth.
The restored, surging waterfall's roar could not disturb him. The bamboo basket on his back had been left outside.
Tang San lay alone in the basket, enjoying the sunlight and the mist that sprayed against his face. His pitch-black eyes gazed curiously at the sky. Was this still the same world where the Tang Sect existed? No one could answer him, and he dared not ask anyone.
After a long while, Tang Hao in the cave finally snapped back to reality, no longer lingering over the buried seed. He turned and stood up directly, unconcerned about whether some wild creature might come and wedge that grass seed between its teeth. Nor did he fear that the seed might fail to adapt to this dark, damp, and gloomy place.
Tang Hao stared at the cave wall, his eyes fierce but without using any Soul Power, and threw a straight punch!
Thud!
After the muffled impact, Tang Hao's fist plunged directly into the wall, along with most of his forearm. His sleeve tore, his skin broke, and blood seeped out, trickling down the cold stone wall. Yet Tang Hao seemed to feel no pain as he pulled his thick arm out. Silently, he retrieved a long, narrow box from his Soul Guidance Device. Even through the box, the vitality within was unmistakable.
Unfortunately, he had already collected all six Spirit Bones. He had no use for this item. Given his current physical state, where he could collapse at any moment, he couldn't afford any further strain.
"A Yin, I will find time to visit you."
With these words, after a simple arrangement, Tang Hao left the cave, passing through the waterfall overhead.
Night fell.
At the border of the Fasinuo Province in the southwest of the Heaven Dou Empire, bordering the Star Luo Empire and the Star Dou Great Forest, outside a small village called Holy Soul Village…
A burly yet frail man dressed as a blacksmith, clutching cheap barley wine, staggered toward the entrance of Holy Soul Village.
The carelessly spilled liquor dripped from his stubble onto the head of the infant swaddled in his arms, rolling down the small face to the corners of the eyes and the mouth.
The child blinked his stinging eyes, tasting the bitterness at his lips. Even with a mature mind, he felt an urge to wail loudly. Not because he felt inhumanely mistreated, but because he felt he finally had a father! Almost pathologically, he regarded the spilled liquor as a shower of paternal love, stirring him to cry out in excitement!
"Waaah…!"
Hearing the child's wails, Tang Hao grew even more irritable, gulping down large mouthfuls continuously. The trickling liquor continued to drip onto the infant's head. Tang Hao paid no heed.
The figures of father and son passed by the road sign engraved with "Holy Soul."
The obscure Holy Soul Village welcomed the only blacksmith in their village!
…
Under the night sky, the Wisteria Residence was exceptionally tranquil. Only from Bi Bi Dong's bedroom occasionally came a few soft murmurs.
Ye Tian sat cross-legged on Bi Bi Dong's soft bed, while Bi Bi Dong, who should have been the bed's owner, lay curled on her side beside him. Like a bent prawn, she encircled him.
Her bare legs were on Ye Tian's right side, her toned abdomen pressed against his lower back, while that face capable of toppling kingdoms rested near his knees.
Bi Bi Dong propped her cheek on her jade-like hand, savoring the sensation of being enveloped by Ye Tian's presence.
Her crimson lips quivered slightly,
holding a golden Bright Soul Nourishing Pill,
gently closing and swallowing it with care,
while her other hand occasionally poked at Ye Tian's leg.
Even with his eyes closed, Ye Tian couldn't help but twitch his brows, repeatedly tempted to kick his foot into Bi Bi Dong's flawless face and send her flying!
But circumstances were stronger than will.
Ye Tian still mustered patience and asked, "Teacher, is there anything else you wish to know? Could you try to ask everything at once?"
From noon until now,
ever since Bi Bi Dong sent Hu Liena on a mission and returned to climb into bed, she had hardly settled down. She hadn't been overly physical, but her proximity—too close, too fragrant, too soft—made it impossible to focus on cultivation. Even more troublesome was her mouth, chattering incessantly like never before!
She kept talking,
inquiring about Ye Tian's specific experiences over the past half-month outside, down to each day, every hour, even every detail!
The Dugu Family's Martial Soul flaws, the Yin Yang Well of Ice and Fire in Sunset Forest, the various Immortal Herbs—how he consumed them, what Pills he refined, who he gave them to... He even demonstrated his Talent Domain.
Ye Tian felt he had explained thoroughly enough,
said everything
he possibly could, yet Bi Bi Dong remained relentless!
Bi Bi Dong lay on her side, gazing up at Ye Tian,
her loose sleepwear already slipping from her cunning left shoulder, revealing half of a plump, full moon. Her right hand poked at Ye Tian's waist as she frowned and asked:
"Are you really that impatient with my questions?"
"I wouldn't dare. This disciple merely wishes to cultivate."
Ye Tian shook his head.
"Nonsense about not daring—you're clearly compliant on the surface but defiant at heart!"
Bi Bi Dong picked up a Marrow Cleansing Pill from the bed and tossed it directly at Ye Tian's face, making his skin twitch.
He wanted to immediately stuff something into Bi Bi Dong's small mouth!
But Ye Tian held back.
"Teacher, ask whatever you wish. After returning from battle, you must be physically and mentally exhausted. It's better to rest early. Matters regarding the succession of the Pope must be discussed by the Elder council, and you naturally shouldn't be absent or show any signs of fatigue."
"Hmph! That's more like it."
Bi Bi Dong snorted coldly,
her anger slightly soothed by Ye Tian's seemingly concerned words.
Even if this concern was merely Ye Tian's feigned affection, she still cherished it... Having something was better than nothing, wasn't it?
Bi Bi Dong slightly straightened up,
reaching out to rub the spot on Ye Tian's face where the Marrow Cleansing Pill had struck.
Her tone gentle and soft, embodying capricious moods.
"It wasn't in vain that I felt distressed earlier over the danger you faced when you jumped into the spring."
Smack!
Black lines appeared on Ye Tian's forehead,
his face full of helplessness as he grabbed the hand that had touched his lips, trying to pry open his mouth.
He opened his eyes,
looking at Bi Bi Dong, who revealed half of her snow-white shoulder,
and said helplessly, "Your concern is clearly unnecessary. Teacher should know that I never fight unprepared battles."
"That's true~"
Bi Bi Dong calmly withdrew her jade-like hand, as if nothing had happened.
Yet in the darkness,
her earlobes were nearly dripping with blood—she had lost control again!
Yet Ye Tian's dismissive attitude towards her only made her more restless.
Such is the nature of wanting what you cannot have.
"So what else does Teacher wish to ask? I'll certainly say what I can."
Ye Tian raised a brow slightly.
The thick, milky-white mist immediately began to gather around Bi Bi Dong's exposed shoulders, concealing the faint glimpses of spring beneath.
"Heh~"
Bi Bi Dong glanced at her fragrant shoulders now veiled in the milky mist and couldn't help but smile.
"It's not a difficult question to answer."
Bi Bi Dong looked at Ye Tian, narrowing her beautiful eyes slightly.
She already knew about the improvements Qian Renxue and Jin Yue'er had made, and she was even more curious whether Ye Tian had upheld his integrity as a man.
She extended a finger and playfully poked Ye Tian's chin, teasing, "I just wanted to ask you—since they've gained so many benefits thanks to you, have they rewarded you in any way?"
"Reward?!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Tian couldn't help but freeze for a moment.
A flicker of hesitation flashed in his eyes—this had already crossed into the realm of what he couldn't say!
After all,
even the matter of the Immortal Herb Qian Renxue obtained had been vaguely brushed aside by him.
Ye Tian didn't know
whether Bi Bi Dong had already sensed something.
His heart was uneasy.