Qian Xunji!!
Never in their dreams had Tang Xiao and Tang Hao expected the Pope of Spirit Hall to descend so suddenly with people in tow. They immediately became extremely guarded.
Especially Tang Xiao—his expression changed as if something had clicked in his mind. He quickly moved to stand in front of Ah Yin protectively.
Unfortunately, Ah Yin's Blue Silver Domain could only conceal part of her aura. It might work against Contras, but it was useless against a Title Douluo-level expert!
The moment Yue Guan and Gui Mei saw Ah Yin, both of them froze. Then, they were ecstatic.
A 100,000-year soul beast!
They had actually encountered a 100,000-year soul beast in human form! This was incredible luck!
However, Qian Xunji still wore a gentle smile on his face, as if he hadn't noticed anything at all.
"We greet Your Holiness the Pope. Forgive us for not welcoming you sooner," Tang Hao said respectfully. "May I ask, what brings Your Holiness here today?"
Tang Hao still didn't know Ah Yin's identity. He thought Qian Xunji had come to deal with him and his brother—to snuff out two rising geniuses.
While preparing mentally for the worst, he still clenched his teeth and maintained his manners. He didn't want to give Qian Xunji any excuse to strike first.
'Even if my brain isn't great, I know how to handle a situation like this,' he thought.
Still, he was puzzled. Normally, his big brother would have stepped forward to deal with this kind of situation. Why was Tang Xiao so quiet this time?
At the same time, faced with Qian Xunji's sudden arrival with two powerful Title Douluos, Tang Xiao instinctively shielded Ah Yin.
Ah Yin's beautiful and gentle face had turned pale. Her delicate hands were tightly clenched over her chest.
The looks in Yue Guan and Gui Mei's eyes told her everything—her identity had likely been exposed!
Still, Qian Xunji smiled calmly, as if he hadn't noticed anything strange, and said, "I just happened to be passing by. I heard there were evil soul masters causing trouble here, so I came to check things out."
"I didn't expect to run into you two. Have you already dealt with those evil soul masters?"
"No!" Tang Hao responded earnestly, lowering his guard.
He shook his head and said angrily, "That group of evil soul masters is ridiculously slippery. We've been chasing them for a long time, but every time we get close, they seem to know in advance and escape!"
"This time was no different!"
"Heh… they're certainly a slippery bunch," Qian Xunji chuckled. "They're not just ordinary evil soul masters. They're part of an organized group with a leader."
"They've been active in the Northern Wastes and Far North Plateau of the Snow Spirit Province in the Heaven Dou Empire since two years ago. It's just that they were only discovered more recently."
"Eradicating them won't happen overnight."
"You two have been chasing them all this time—true heroes of the people."
"Why don't we return to Sino City and share a few drinks?"
"You're too kind! Too kind!" Tang Hao said humbly, though inside he was glowing with pride. He never expected the prestigious Pope of Spirit Hall to praise them like this.
Despite Tang Xiao nudging him repeatedly with his shoulder—trying to signal something—Tang Hao didn't pick up on it at all and happily agreed to go back to Sino City for a drink.
…
At a high-end restaurant in Sino City, Qian Xunji, along with Yue Guan and Gui Mei, joined Tang Xiao, Tang Hao, and Ah Yin in a private room.
Qian Xunji laughed and drank merrily with Tang Hao, glass after glass.
Although Yue Guan and Gui Mei were confused by the Pope's actions—they were certain he had also recognized this 100,000-year soul beast in disguise—they trusted he had some greater plan in mind they just didn't understand.
So they stood silently behind him and said nothing.
Tang Xiao, on the other hand, was growing increasingly anxious. He knew Qian Xunji had recognized Ah Yin's identity. He wanted to take her and flee.
But reason told him that escape was impossible.
Still, since Qian Xunji hadn't directly exposed Ah Yin's identity or taken action to capture her, maybe the situation wasn't as bad as it seemed. He had no choice but to follow the flow and pray for the best.
Glancing at his younger brother Tang Hao—who was completely lost in Qian Xunji's flattery, happily drinking until his face turned bright red—Tang Xiao could only shake his head in helpless silence.
…
Soon, night fell.
Tang Xiao helped the completely drunk Tang Hao find a nearby hotel and checked in.
Ah Yin, her delicate and gentle face filled with worry, forced a smile.
Tang Xiao wanted to say something but ultimately stayed silent. He couldn't bring himself to say that he already knew her identity.
Later that night, after everyone had chosen rooms and settled in, Ah Yin finished bathing and stepped out of the bathroom in fresh clothes—only to find a familiar golden-haired figure sitting casually on a lounge chair in the living room, legs crossed.
It was Qian Xunji!
'I knew it… what must come, will come…' Ah Yin's heart sank bitterly.
"What do you want?!" she demanded, clenching her fists. Her soft and elegant face was taut with tension, her teeth clenched tightly as she mustered the courage to ask.
"What do I want?" Qian Xunji smiled and slowly stood up.
"I want you to come with me willingly, Miss Ah Yin."
"After all, you wouldn't want your identity as a soul beast to be exposed, would you?"
At that moment, Qian Xunji seemed to transform into a smug little man enjoying his moment, saying those words he never got to in his previous life.
Ah Yin's face instantly turned pale. The last shred of hope in her heart vanished.
'As expected, this Pope of Spirit Hall has seen through my identity… and now he plans to act…'
"As long as you swear not to harm Brother Xiao or Brother Hao, I'll go with you," she said sorrowfully, tears falling silently from her blue-silver eyes.
"Heh, don't be so dramatic. It's not like I plan to separate you forever," Qian Xunji said with a chuckle. "Relax! I'm not going to kill you. I'm just… interested in you."
"One day, when you've given birth to my child, we'll invite them over to celebrate the baby's one-month birthday."
"After all, in a way, they'd be the uncles of our child."
Pure shrimp and pig-hearted!
Truly shrimp and pig-hearted!
It was a shame Tang Xiao wasn't present. If he had heard that line, he'd definitely clutch his chest and scream in heartbreak.
"But I can promise not to kill them. I also won't act against them because of anything they say."
"However, if they make the first move, then I will respond accordingly."
Qian Xunji continued smiling as he spoke.
"Ah…"
Ah Yin was stunned. She never expected the Pope of Spirit Hall to not want to kill her for her soul ring or soul bone—but rather, he wanted her.
Her emotions became impossibly complicated.