Watching Ghost lead Wu Ling away, Bibi Dong had to admit that the boy had caught her interest.
Her original plan had been to use Wu Ling as bait to draw out the opposition and remove them. As for Wu Ling himself, she had not truly cared whether he lived or died. Her goal, after all, was to bring Spirit Hall down. Why would she help Spirit Hall raise another powerhouse?
Taking Wu Ling as a disciple had never been part of her plan either. She had just killed her own teacher and avenged herself. At the moment, she had no interest in teaching a disciple.
But Wu Ling was too unusual. The era he called the Age of Gods and his own potential had both shaken Bibi Dong. If she could make Wu Ling stand beside her rather than on Spirit Hall's side, then taking him as a disciple was hardly a loss. When the day came to destroy Spirit Hall, she might even gain a reliable helper.
"Nothing can happen to him."
Wu Ling, who had already left the Pope's Palace, knew nothing about Bibi Dong's thoughts. Even if he did, he would not have cared. As long as Bibi Dong acknowledged him as her disciple, the first step of his plan was complete.
The second step was simple: train. Train with everything he had. Train while hiding from assassination attempts. His current strength was far too weak. No matter how perfect a plan was, without the strength to carry it out, it was worthless.
"After absorbing that five-hundred-year Proudbone Swallow, my spirit power reached the peak of level thirteen. I should hit level fourteen after a few days of training. At this pace, I can probably reach level twenty in one or two years.
"As for which Heroic Spirit to summon second, there is no rush yet. I should train for the next few years, find my own weaknesses through that training, and decide afterward."
While Wu Ling planned ahead, Ghost walked in front of him without saying a word.
As Bibi Dong's right and left hand, Ghost knew about her original plan to lure the snake out of its hole. But the order she had just given him was not part of that plan. In broad terms, Wu Ling had gone from bait to protected target. Even Wu Ling's residence had changed from a distant location to somewhere close to Bibi Dong's own quarters.
Ghost was tactful enough not to ask Wu Ling what he and Bibi Dong had discussed. For now, he had only one task: protect Wu Ling while teaching him and helping him grow as quickly as possible.
After bringing Wu Ling to his new home, Ghost said, "Spend today familiarizing yourself with the environment. Servants will come later to handle your daily needs. I cannot say too much more. Just remember not to wander around carelessly. Starting tomorrow, I will teach you knowledge and cultivation."
"Yes, my lord."
Ghost waved a hand at him.
"You are now the Pope's disciple. I am much older than you, so you may call me Grandpa Ghost."
"Yes, Grandpa Ghost."
Ghost nodded in satisfaction. Then he took four books from his storage ring.
The four books were A Complete Guide to Martial Souls, A Complete Guide to Soul Beasts, Martial Souls and Classifications, and One Hundred Thousand Cultivation Precautions.
Wu Ling saw the titles and immediately accepted them with impatient excitement. He opened one on the spot and began reading.
Seeing how much Wu Ling loved learning, Ghost felt deeply gratified.
"These four books are required reading for every internal member of Spirit Hall. They are updated every three years. The next update is still two years away, so read these for now."
"All right. Thank you, Grandpa Ghost."
"Tomorrow, I will bring your Grandpa Yue to meet you. From then on, the two of us will handle your theory and cultivation."
Wu Ling did not need to guess who "Grandpa Yue" was. It had to be Chrysanthemum Sage Yue Guan, who had worked with Ghost for more than sixty years. Wu Ling was happy to meet Chrysanthemum Sage, though not because he was interested in the man himself. What he wanted was Yue Guan's knowledge.
In the Soul Land world, Wu Ling knew the locations of many immortal herbs, including a certain transmigrator's must-steal backyard, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
But not being able to recognize those herbs was a serious weakness. In the original story, aside from Tang San, Chrysanthemum Sage Yue Guan was the only person who could identify those immortal herbs at a glance. Wu Ling coveted that knowledge badly.
Now that he knew he would have a chance to contact Yue Guan, and might even have a chance to learn everything Chrysanthemum Sage knew, he was extremely excited.
After that first burst of excitement, however, Wu Ling suddenly realized something.
"Grandpa Ghost... there is something I am not sure I should ask."
"It is fine. Ask whatever you want."
"Well, I remember that I am the Pope's disciple. So why are the two grandpas the ones teaching me?"
After saying this, Wu Ling noticed that it sounded improper and quickly explained, "Grandpa Ghost, I do not mean that I dislike being taught by you. I am just a little confused. If the Pope does not teach me, why did she take me as her disciple?"
In truth, Wu Ling did not care whether Bibi Dong taught him personally or not. As long as he had a stable environment and enough medicine for injuries, he was satisfied. He asked only because a slightly stronger curiosity fit the role of a child.
In the end, Ghost Sage simply rubbed Wu Ling's hair and said nothing. He did not know what Bibi Dong and Wu Ling had discussed, so he would not make reckless guesses.
After Ghost left, Wu Ling toured his new residence alone.
It reminded him somewhat of a courtyard house from Earth, though the details were less refined. There were no side rooms or small attached chambers of every kind, only front rooms and main rooms, plus a kitchen and latrine at most.
Between the two buildings was a pond, where small fish splashed happily.
Wu Ling had just finished walking around when fifteen servants arrived at the front of the courtyard and lined up in order.
As expected of servants trained by a major power, their quality was excellent. None of them looked down on Wu Ling because of his age. When the lead servant saw the person he would serve from now on, he stepped forward at once.
"Reporting to the young master. Head Steward Whitehill has brought three cooks, three cleaners, four guards, and four maidservants to serve you. Please give your instructions, young master."
It was the first time in either life that Wu Ling had been treated like this, so he was somewhat at a loss. Ghost, who had arrived right behind them, gave the order for him.
"Work according to your assigned duties."
"Yes, my lord!"
After giving the servants their instructions, Ghost walked up to Wu Ling. Behind him stood a man with skin as tender as a baby's and a face as beautiful as a woman's.
Honestly, if Wu Ling had not known in advance, even with the man's Adam's apple, he might have mistaken him for a woman.
"Grandpa Ghost, why are you here? And this must be Grandpa Yue. Hello, Grandpa Yue."
"My, what a sweet little mouth."
Yue Guan smiled charmingly, and Wu Ling's heart was struck hard.
"We originally planned to come tomorrow," Ghost said, "but your Grandpa Yue could not wait, so we came early this afternoon. Did we disturb you?"
"Of course not. I am happy that Grandpa Ghost and Grandpa Yue came to visit. Please, come inside. I will make tea for both of you."