Song Qing sighed softly, his verdant eyes meeting Qian Renxue's purple ones, a knowing look in their depths.
"You know," he began, his voice gentle, "I know you were using those… intimate lessons… as a bit of a guise for your own desires, right?"
Qian Renxue's breath hitched slightly, her perfect composure wavering for a fleeting moment.
"After all," Song Qing continued, a small smile playing on his lips, "you haven't exactly had a wealth of romantic relationships yourself, have you, Renxue? You don't know much about this firsthand, do you?"
As soon as those words left his lips, Qian Renxue's cheeks flushed a deep crimson. Song Qing was right, and it was slightly embarrassing to have her carefully constructed facade crumble so easily.
'He sees right through me,' she thought, her heart pounding slightly.
But his words also held a certain tenderness, an understanding that eased her embarrassment. It wasn't just from books, though those had certainly played a part.
'And those late-night talks with those Spirit Hall sisters...' she mused, a wry smile touching her lips. She had indeed sought out the company and advice of several women within the Spirit Hall who had experienced romantic relationships, eager to glean any insight that might help her capture Song Qing's elusive heart.
In the past few months, ever since her feelings for him had solidified into undeniable affection, a realization that had dawned on her long before Song Qing himself seemed aware of her true feelings, she had been on a quiet quest to understand the intricacies of love and attraction.
'I had to learn how to get his attention,' she thought, a hint of determination flickering in her purple eyes.
Song Qing reached out, gently taking her hand in his. "I do understand, Renxue," he said softly, his verdant gaze filled with sincerity. "I know you want me to be more… forceful with you, to have those more intense, intimate moments. And I will."
A wave of pure happiness washed over Qian Renxue at his words. Her blush deepened, but this time it was tinged with a joyful anticipation.
"Oh, Qing," she whispered, her voice filled with a breathless delight. "You can visit me… you can even bully me… anytime you want. I will always be willing." Her purple eyes held a promise of unwavering devotion.
Hearing her words, Song Qing gently pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug. He rested his chin on the top of her golden head, whispering softly, "I like you too, Renxue. Probably always will. So I promise I won't ever do anything that would truly hurt you."
Qian Renxue's breath hitched again, this time in surprise at his unexpected confession. She leaned back slightly, looking up into his verdant eyes, a playful pout forming on her lips.
"You are such a rascal, Qing," she whispered, a hint of mock jealousy in her voice. "You know exactly how to whisper such sweet words when you know I get a little… envious… seeing you so close with your other little girlfriends."
As she spoke, her purple eyes held his gaze, a silent message passing between them. "The next time I get jealous, Qing," she murmured, her voice dropping to a seductive whisper, "you should make sure to punish me properly. And strongly."
Song Qing smiled, a knowing glint in his verdant eyes. He nodded gently, tightening his embrace slightly. "I am grateful that you are so good to me, Renxue," he whispered back. "If not… perhaps considering what I'm doing – having confessed to you and still loving multiple other girls who are my friends and will likely be more than friends in the future – you would have beaten me quite badly by now with your strength that is so much greater than my own."
Qian Renxue chuckled softly, a melodious sound that filled the room. "It's a good thing you know that, silly," she whispered, reaching up to gently pinch his cheek. "But I could never truly use force against you, Qing. You are far too precious to me for that."
She leaned her head against his chest, her arms wrapping around his waist, holding him close.
"Besides," she continued, her voice soft and thoughtful, "there's a reason that even though I know I will feel jealous and envious when I see you with your other girlfriends, I won't ever be able to truly blame you."
She paused, taking a deep breath. "After all, you knew those girls before me. You have a close bond with them for quite some time. And I can see how much they care for you, how strong their bond is with you as well."
She looked up at him again, her purple eyes filled with a genuine understanding. "I am already incredibly happy that I am the first person you have ever revealed your true feelings to, Qing. That means the world to me."
A soft smile touched her lips as she continued. "And honestly, even without your handsome face, your personality is already so charming… so good… that I can completely understand how those girls feel. It must be so effortless for you to have so many pretty girls liking you so badly that even though each one probably has an idea about your feelings for the others, they still don't blame you and instead just do their best to get your attention."
She snuggled closer, her golden hair tickling his chin. "You are a very special person, Qing. And I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of your life."
~~
Qian Renxue gave Song Qing one last lingering look, her purple eyes filled with a complex mix of affection, desire, and understanding.
She knew that staying the night, even for just innocent cuddling in his embrace, would inevitably lead to questions from her mother. Bibi Dong, despite her outward composure, possessed a sharp intuition, especially when it came to her beloved disciple.
'Better to keep it hidden for now,' she decided, a hint of regret mixed with practicality in her thoughts. 'There will be plenty of time for us later.'
She longed to stay, to simply be near him, but the potential complications outweighed her immediate desires.
With a soft smile and a final, almost imperceptible wink, Qian Renxue slipped out of Song Qing's chamber, leaving him alone in the quiet of the night.
Song Qing watched her go, a warmth spreading through his chest. He knew her decision was wise, even if a part of him wished she could have stayed longer. He settled comfortably into his bed, a sense of contentment washing over him.
The next morning, just as the first rays of sunlight peeked through the curtains, the door to Song Qing's chamber creaked open gently. Standing there, holding a tray laden with steaming food, was Bibi Dong.
'He said he missed my cooking,' she thought, her pink eyes filled with a tender affection. 'And how I used to feed him. Of course, I must do it for my Qing'er.'
Barely thirty minutes prior, a scene of utter shock and disbelief had unfolded in the kitchen of the Poison Douluo's mansion. Dugu Bo, his son Dugu Xin, and even the usually boisterous Dugu Yan had frozen in their tracks as they witnessed the majestic Pope Bibi Dong herself meticulously preparing breakfast.
'Is… is that really Her Majesty?' Dugu Bo had thought, his green eyes wide with astonishment. He had never imagined seeing the Pope in such a domestic setting.
None of them dared to utter a single word, their breaths held captive in their chests. They moved with exaggerated caution, as if trying to become invisible. The sheer sight of the powerful Pope cooking for Song Qing was a revelation, a testament to the depth of her care for her disciple.
'It's almost… almost like how I am with Yan'er,' Dugu Bo realized, a nervous chuckle bubbling up inside him. The thought was both amusing and slightly terrifying.
Now, Bibi Dong sat beside Song Qing's bed, gently nudging him awake. "Qing'er, wake up, my dear. I've made breakfast for you."
Song Qing's eyes fluttered open, and a warm smile spread across his face as he saw his beautiful teacher. "Good morning, Teacher." He sat up, leaning against the headboard, his verdant eyes filled with affection.
Bibi Dong beamed, her heart swelling with tenderness. She arranged the tray on his lap, the aroma of the freshly cooked food filling the room. She picked up a spoon, filled it with a savory porridge, and held it out to him.
"Say 'ah,' Qing'er," she said, her voice soft and motherly.
Song Qing chuckled, a wave of nostalgia washing over him. He opened his mouth and accepted the spoonful of porridge. "It tastes wonderful, Teacher. Just like I remember."
Bibi Dong's smile widened, and she continued to feed him, her gaze never leaving his face.
After he had finished his breakfast, Bibi Dong placed the empty bowl aside and looked at him expectantly. "So, Qing'er, what would you like to do today?"
Song Qing pondered for a moment, his verdant eyes thoughtful. "Since you're here, Teacher," he said finally, "I was hoping you could help me with something."
Bibi Dong's expression softened, her pink eyes filled with concern. She reached out and gently stroked his hair. "Of course, my dear Qing'er. Anything at all. Do you need another one of my soul rings?"
Song Qing's smile vanished, replaced by a slight frown. He shook his head gently. "No, Teacher. Never again. That was a one-time thing, and I will never hurt you or take something like that from you again. Please, don't ever mention it again." His voice held a firm resolve.
Bibi Dong's heart ached slightly at the memory, but she nodded understandingly. "Alright, Qing'er. I won't."
Song Qing's expression brightened again. "Actually, Teacher, I need your assistance in hunting a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast for Senior Dugu Bo."
Bibi Dong's brow furrowed in surprise. "For Dugu Bo? Why?"
Song Qing explained his plan. "I intend to use the Soul Seizure skill of my Crimson Soul Emperor's Crown to free the soul within Senior Dugu Bo's ninth soul ring. It's a powerful poison, and it's hindering his potential. After a few minutes of using the skill, my soul power will likely drop to around level 90. That will give us the opportunity to attach the soul ring of a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast to his ninth soul ring."
He continued, his voice filled with excitement. "Moreover, we need to search for a spirit beast with a strong draconic bloodline. There's a good chance that it could trigger an evolution in Senior Dugu Bo's spirit."
He then leaned closer, lowering his voice. "After that, Teacher, I plan to give him a few Immortal Herbs that I acquired. These should ensure that his spirit evolves into the draconic line, and his soul power should increase significantly, perhaps to level 92 or 93."
Bibi Dong's surprise deepened. "Qing'er, why do you want to do so much for a mere Dugu Bo?"
Song Qing's expression softened, and he looked at his teacher with sincerity. "He's not 'mere,' Teacher. He has helped me a great deal. He even protected me when Tang Hao attacked me four years ago. Besides, we need to ensure his strength rises significantly. As he is now… there's simply no way he could withstand even a single direct attack from Tang Hao if he were to come looking for me."
He squeezed her hand gently. "Besides, Teacher, Senior Dugu Bo has helped me a great deal. He even protected me when Tang Hao attacked me four years ago. This is the least I can do to repay his kindness and ensure his safety."
Bibi Dong's expression softened. She understood her disciple's sense of loyalty and his desire to help those who had helped him. "Alright, Qing'er," she said, nodding slowly. "I agree to help you."
However, a new concern arose in her mind. "But how will we find a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast with a hint of draconic bloodline? Even though I am confident in my strength, and with my Twin Martial Spirits, few can truly challenge me, the depths of the Great Star Dou Forest holds incredibly powerful entities. It won't be an easy task."
Song Qing nodded, acknowledging the risk. "I know, Teacher. This isn't something we can rush. We should wait for the right opportunity and utilize the Spirit Hall's extensive network to search for such a beast. When we find one, we can discuss the plan with Senior Dugu Bo and hope for his cooperation."
Bibi Dong nodded in agreement. "That sounds like the most prudent approach." She then looked at him, a flicker of curiosity in her pink eyes. "So, Qing'er, what were you thinking about for your own fifth soul ring for your Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor?"
Song Qing smiled slightly, a hint of pride in his verdant gaze. "Actually, Teacher," he said, his voice carrying a note of excitement, "it's no longer just the Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor. It has evolved."
"Evolved?" Bibi Dong asked, her brow furrowing in surprise.
"Yes," Song Qing confirmed. "It evolved into the Abyssal Demonic Dragon God Emperor. It… it swallowed a part of that strange God's Will that was wreaking havoc in my body."
Bibi Dong's eyes widened in astonishment. Through the inheritance of the Rakshasa God, she knew precisely what that "God's Will" was. It belonged to the Asura God, one of the most powerful Godkings in the Divine Realm. The fact that Song Qing's spirit had not only survived contact with such a potent force but had actually devoured a part of it was utterly astounding.
'The Asura God's Will… devoured?' she thought, her mind struggling to comprehend the sheer power and potential of her disciple's spirit.
'That explains why he didn't mention anything about his fifth soul ring,' she realized, her mind racing. If his already formidable spirit had undergone such a significant evolution, the potential power of his fifth soul ring was now immeasurably higher.
Considering that Song Qing's other spirit, the one he told her was a simple plant spirit, had managed to absorb a 92,000-year-old Crimson Soul Devouring Vine King for its fifth soul ring.
If that was the case, then his Abyssal Demonic Dragon God Emperor would indeed be capable of absorbing a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast for its fifth soul ring without any issues.
This realization brought them right back to their original problem: finding those elusive hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts. The depths of the Great Star Dou Forest held many secrets and dangers, and the hunt for such a rare and powerful creature would undoubtedly be a challenging one.