Achoo~!
Su Linfeng, who hadn't walked far, suddenly sneezed.
He rubbed his nose absentmindedly, glancing back in the direction of Spirit Hall.
Was Bibi Dong cursing him again?
At last, the recent troubles had been dealt with. He could finally relax. For quite some time ahead, he would be able to focus entirely on helping Bibi Dong refine the will of the Rakshasa God.
With that thought, his steps grew lighter.
By the time he returned to the Pope's bedchamber in Spirit Hall, the sun hadn't yet set. For the first time, he had come back early—before classes were even over.
At this hour, Bibi Dong should still be in the Pope's Hall.
Finally, a moment of peace all to himself.
Thinking this, Su Linfeng stretched lazily, then clasped his hands behind his head, strolling into the chamber.
Inside the Pope's bedchamber—
At the center sat a large wooden bath barrel, filled with crystalline spirit spring water. White mist coiled above it, soft steam rising gently.
A tall screen divided the bath from the outer room.
Unlike the forbidding back-mountain sanctum, the Pope's quarters weren't ostentatious, but they were spacious and comfortable.
"Phew~"
Bibi Dong removed the Nine-Curved Purple-Gold Crown from her head and set it on the vanity, sighing with fatigue.
"Finally, today's business at the Pope's Hall wasn't too heavy. That little brat won't be back for another hour. I can finally relax."
With that, she stripped off her heavy ceremonial gown. The sudden lightness swept through her body.
Now, only a gauzy white robe clung to her figure, thin as cicada wings, outlining her graceful curves with a hint of allure.
"Ever since that brat awakened his bloodline, he's been acting more and more strange…"
Bibi Dong muttered softly, her usually cold expression flickering with rare hesitation.
"I remember he used to be a three-legged crow. Why is one missing after his bloodline awakened?"
She couldn't figure it out.
And so, she stopped trying.
Snow-white arms emerged from the robe as her jade fingers loosened the silk sash. Her garment slid from her shoulders into the rippling water.
The splash and her drifting thoughts masked the faint creak of the chamber door.
A streak of white light—
Behind the screen, a shadow had appeared.
It was Su Linfeng, who had sneaked out of the Academy earlier and returned ahead of time.
Like Bibi Dong, he had been looking forward to resting.
What he hadn't expected was that she, too, had returned early—and that he would stumble straight into her bath.
Though submerged, the water was clear. The line of her slender, pale neck arched gracefully above the surface.
Through the gap in the screen, Su Linfeng stood dumbfounded, throat suddenly dry.
Just a single glance, and his body flared with heat.
So this was the difference between youth and maturity.
How could a peach compare to a cherry?
"Gulp."
His eyes widened, and he couldn't help but swallow audibly.
"Who's there!!"
Bibi Dong instantly sensed something. As a Title Douluo, even a child's stealth couldn't escape her perception.
In a flash, the spring water surged, forming razor-sharp Spider Spears infused with purple light, bursting through the screen straight toward Su Linfeng.
At the same time, a purple nightgown flew into her hand.
With a graceful flick, she wrapped herself, though hastily—her half-covered figure, long legs peeking through, seemed even more enticing.
"Linfeng!"
Her pupils shrank as she recognized him, halting her attack. The watery spears froze in front of his face—
Boom!
An instant later, they shattered into mist, filling the room with drifting fog.
Through the haze, the outline of her curvaceous body was faintly visible, every line suggestive.
"You little brat! When did you get in here?!"
She snorted, scolding sharply.
"How did you come back early? And why don't your footsteps make a sound?!"
Uh… wasn't I about to ask you the same thing?
Su Linfeng gave a strained grin. Of course, his steps were light—he was still a child.
That had been close! With only his meager Soul Elder strength, there was no way he could withstand Bibi Dong's full-strength strike. He had almost become a spirit ring himself.
Was she insane? Or had soaking in the bath made her head fuzzy?
Other than him, who else could dare enter this room? Obviously, her reflexes had simply taken over.
Just then—
The commotion drew the elite guards outside. Dozens of footsteps encircled the courtyard, though not one dared step past the threshold.
The Pope's residence was strictly forbidden to enter unless summoned. Crossing that line was death.
"Your Holiness, are you alright?!" came the anxious voice of a guard outside.
"I'm fine!"
Bibi Dong took a deep breath, regaining her calm.
"Stand down, all of you."
Only after hearing the guards retreat did her expression soften slightly.
But though the killing intent faded, her face remained frosty. Clearly, she was still angry.
"You're still staring!"
She huffed, adjusting her nightgown, shooting him a glare.
"Do you even understand what you're looking at, little brat?"
Oh, I understand.
I understand all too well.
Su Linfeng thought wryly—his bloodline was practically boiling.
But he couldn't admit that.
So he pursed his lips and said innocently, with mock disdain,
"What's there to hide? It's not like I haven't seen it before when I was a kid."
Bibi Dong: "You…"
Speechless!
Utterly speechless!
Her cheeks flushed crimson as old memories surged back—those early days of nursing him, when this domineering brat hogged her and wouldn't even let Xiao Xue have a share.
But after all, he was still a child. Otherwise, his reaction wouldn't be so straightforward. And technically, what he said was true.
Even so, she couldn't let him speak so carelessly again. Especially not in front of others. If he blurted something like this by accident, it would be mortifying.
Thinking this, Bibi Dong shifted awkwardly.
"Linfeng… can we talk? Just the two of us?"
"Talk?"
His heart skipped. He put on an innocent look.
"Talk about what?"
"Well… Linfeng…"
Even beginning made her blush. She fumbled for words.
"You're already seven. And since you're a transformed soul beast, you should understand more than most children your age."
"So… do you… have a girl you like?"
"Huh?"
A girl I like?
Su Linfeng's heart jolted. What the hell was this conversation supposed to be?
Something didn't feel right.
Was she trying to start educating him about this at seven years old? Wasn't that too early?
Then again, this was the Douluo Continent.
At the moment, Bibi Dong looked flustered, clearly troubled, unsure how to say what she meant.
"…I guess I do."
Su Linfeng glanced at her seriously.
Does 'sister' count?