Knock, knock, knock…
Dai Chengfeng curled his fingers and lightly tapped on the door.
The sound was clear.
But inside the room, there was complete silence—no response at all, as if no one were there.
"Not in the room?"
"But if she's not in the room, where else could she be?"
Dai Chengfeng was puzzled.
Although the loss of soul power caused by the ring explosion had been fully restored due to consuming the Dragon Core, and his physical strength had also reached new heights, he still didn't want Bibi Dong to know. He even used the unique properties of the Xiantian Technique to conceal the fact that his soul power had recovered.
Thus, he couldn't use soul power to sense her presence either.
With no other choice, Dai Chengfeng knocked again. Knock, knock, knock…
Still, there was no response.
Dai Chengfeng tried turning the doorknob and discovered that the door was locked from the inside.
"She's definitely in the room but refusing to open the door…"
"Looks like she's still embarrassed about what happened earlier?"
For a moment, Dai Chengfeng roughly understood the reason for Bibi Dong's "pretending to be dead," and a glimmer of amusement flashed in his eyes.
At the same time, he cleared his throat. "Teacher, are you in the room?"
Still, utter silence.
"Teacher, I'm going out for a bit to meet someone."
More silence. Just as Dai Chengfeng thought Bibi Dong wouldn't respond…
Finally, a voice came from behind the door—still that cold, melodious voice, but now it sounded…
Suppressed with anger.
"Go away!"
That single word carried both embarrassment and an unmistakable tone of irritation, rejecting him outright.
Clearly, Dai Chengfeng had guessed correctly.
His actions during the day had left this proud female Pope unable to let go, and being disturbed now only added fuel to the fire.
For a moment, Dai Chengfeng rubbed his nose, listening to the barely suppressed anger behind the door. Instead of feeling annoyed, he found it amusing.
He could almost picture Bibi Dong leaning against the bed or sitting stiffly in a chair, her face icy, her gaze sharp, and perhaps her earlobes still tinged with a faint blush?
"Teacher, please calm down."
Through the door, Dai Chengfeng spoke with a teasing tone. "Since Teacher has given permission, I'll take my leave now."
"Rest well here and make sure to… conserve your energy."
His voice was filled with lightheartedness and an eagerness to leave, placing extra emphasis on the phrase "conserve your energy" with a playful tone.
Without waiting for Bibi Dong's potentially harsher rebuke, he turned and walked away, his steps faster than before, creating louder gusts of wind.
The wooden floor creaked more audibly under his feet than before, and as he hurried down the stairs…
A loose plank beneath his foot let out a muffled crack, unintentionally cracking slightly under his weight.
"Tsk!"
Dai Chengfeng glanced down, his brows slightly raised, gaining a new understanding of his newly acquired strength. "Looks like I really need to be careful."
However, this minor incident did nothing to dampen his mood.
"Bastard!"
After confirming that Dai Chengfeng's footsteps had completely disappeared down the corridor, a furious curse echoed from behind the closed door.
At this moment, Bibi Dong was curled up on the red sofa, barefoot, her ten cute, rounded toes clenched tightly…
The stingy moonlight outlined her graceful neck and half of her profile, casting her porcelain-like skin in a frosty glow.
Her purple hair, slightly damp from a recent bath, hung loosely over her shoulders, with a few stray strands clinging stubbornly to the smooth skin of her neck.
The memories of the day's events were still vivid in her mind, and with Dai Chengfeng's departure, they resurfaced uncontrollably.
The overwhelming pressure of the youth's sudden approach.
The unyielding force of his fingertips—and most unbearable of all…
The sensation of his warm breath brushing against her earlobe during their kiss, leaving a strange yet lingering impression!
"Mmm…"
A soft, almost sigh-like murmur escaped her lips, startling even herself, quickly drowned out by her racing thoughts.
Almost simultaneously, her earlobes, as delicate as jade, flushed a suspicious shade of red, as if licked by an invisible flame, spreading rapidly to her ear roots.
On the side of her face faintly illuminated by the moonlight, this faint pink hue stood out like cracks forming on a frozen lake, betraying her carefully maintained facade of composure.
"Damn it!"
Bibi Dong silently cursed in her heart.
She raised her eyes and looked at the large mirror embedded in her dressing table.
The reflection staring back was still her—the lofty Pope of the Spirit Hall, exuding unmatched dignity.
Yet deep within those beautiful eyes reflecting the cold moonlight, emotions surged that were entirely unfitting for her status—shyness and awkwardness reminiscent of a teenage girl!
"What 'conserving energy'?!"
"This wretched disciple… he's doing this on purpose!"
---
West Suburbs of Tian Dou City, in a secluded courtyard.
The cool night breeze passed through the sparse bamboo grove, carrying the scents of grass and earth, dispelling the last traces of daytime heat.
Dai Chengfeng lounged in a cushioned rattan chair, his fingers unconsciously tapping rhythmically on the smooth armrest, producing faint, regular clicks.
He raised his eyes and surveyed the hidden yet elegant courtyard.
Moonlight spilled like water over the stone pathways, the ancient pavilion, and a pond dotted with blooming water lilies, sketching serene outlines.
However, time ticked by, minute after minute, and the appointed hour had long passed.
But today, Qian Renxue had not arrived.
"Strange…"
Dai Chengfeng frowned slightly, muttering softly to himself. "This isn't like her style."
In Dai Chengfeng's memory, the person disguised as "Xue Qinghe," the Crown Prince of Tian Dou, was always meticulous and punctual, valuing every second and never delaying.
Such tardiness today was highly unusual.
Unconsciously, the frequency of his finger taps on the armrest quickened.
He recalled the previous night…
Instantly, a vivid image of the maiden's flushed face under the moonlight appeared in his mind. Her usually clear and determined golden eyes, brimming with ambition and wisdom, had then overflowed with shyness and uncertainty.
The brief, slightly awkward yet incredibly soft touch of her lips seemed to linger, carrying a faint trace of fragrance…
"Hmm… Could it be because of this?"
An amused smirk unconsciously tugged at the corner of Dai Chengfeng's lips.
But then he shook his head lightly. "Surely this 'little angel' wouldn't be so shy that she dares not even see me?"
"Today, I have important matters to discuss."
After all, Qian Renxue had given him a Dragon Core, granting him the possibility of awakening a second martial soul, so naturally, Dai Chengfeng couldn't show up empty-handed.
Thinking this…
Dai Chengfeng retrieved a white flower from his soul-guidance ring.
Under the moonlight, the white flower emitted a strange, holy glow, its extraordinary nature unmistakable.
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