Bi Bi Dong's gaze shifted, actually seeing traces of an old acquaintance in Ye Tian.
But soon.
That shadow was replaced by Ye Tian's face.
"..."
Ye Tian looked up, staring blankly at Bi Bi Dong who had leaned close.
Bi Bi Dong looked at Ye Tian before her.
She couldn't help but freeze completely.
What was she doing?
Sticking out her bottom, almost lying completely over the table!
"Teacher, is something wrong?"
Ye Tian asked nervously.
Having just studied deeply, his scholarly habits had resurfaced. Seeing blank answer sheets, he couldn't resist the urge to fill them completely.
And the question he had filled out was precisely the one Bi Bi Dong left about how to solve the drawbacks of twin martial souls?
But just as he gently withdrew his pen, smugly admiring the completely filled answer sheet that was nearly overflowing, he noticed Bi Bi Dong's gaze.
He had merely answered a question.
Surely that wasn't enough to warrant silencing him permanently?
"N-nothing, your handwriting is quite good, continue."
Bi Bi Dong shook her head somewhat flustered, awkwardly straightening up and returning her raised bottom to the seat.
As her subtle fragrance faded, Ye Tian remained staring intently.
Uncertain and suspicious.
Was she really alright?
Being stared at by Ye Tian made Bi Bi Dong feel extremely uncomfortable. She snapped sharply: "Read your book! Why are you looking at me? Do I have words or Spirit Beasts on my face? Keep reading!"
"Ah, yes yes"
Ye Tian nodded repeatedly, feeling relieved internally.
Accompanying Dong was like accompanying a tiger!
Bi Bi Dong's tense body also relaxed as she looked at Ye Tian, her face slightly flushed.
As a teacher, she had been truly improper.
Though unsettled.
The shock Ye Tian had given her still occupied most of her thoughts.
Could it be
That the theoretical number one in the Soul Master Realm she had helped establish and support?
Was about to become a laughingstock?
This thought only appeared for a moment before Bi Bi Dong dismissed it.
This kid didn't even recognize many Spirit Beasts
Perhaps he just got lucky by chance?
Ye Tian lowered his gaze and continued reading.
He never expected to hear such familiar words in this foreign world.
It actually made him feel quite nostalgic.
Afterwards,
The journey continued in silence, wheels rolling steadily.
Spirit Hall City was located at the junction of the Heaven Dou Empire, Star Luo Empire, and Star Dou Great Forest. Whether in geographical or historical significance, to some extent, Spirit Hall City could be considered the center of the entire continent!
It was very close to the outskirts of Star Dou Great Forest.
In less than half an hour, Ye Tian and the others reached their destination.
"Whoa——!"
As the coachman continuously tightened the reins with pumping motions, the entire carriage gradually came to a stop.
Though everything in the carriage had a tendency to tilt forward from the momentum, the movement was slight.
Ye Tian's thoughts were pulled from the book by the inertia. He looked up at Bi Bi Dong who was resting with her eyes closed.
"Teacher, we've arrived."
"Mm, come down with me."
Bi Bi Dong nodded slightly, opening her eyes with a normal expression. Seeing Ye Tian store the 'tome' in his wrist guard, Bi Bi Dong extended her fair hand.
"Wait! Teacher, I can walk by myself—"
"..."
"You may return, come wait here again tomorrow morning."
"Yes! Holy Maiden—"
"Dismissed."
Bi Bi Dong carried her "plaything" in hand and walked into the forest, gradually swallowed by the green horizon.
Ye Tian's protests were ineffective.
He could only hang from Bi Bi Dong's hand, watching the carriage fade into the distance, watching the trees around them grow denser, thicker, and taller.
He had unknowingly grown vigilant.
Especially in this state of being suspended mid-air, which made him feel particularly unsettled.
The canopy blotted out the sky, leaving the light dim, even gloomy.
With every breath, he inhaled the fragrance of green leaves and soil, mingled with the scent of dung, fallen leaves, and even the decay of flesh and blood.
He didn't detect much of a bloody odor.
"Ah—"
Ye Tian, watching the ground recede further away, suddenly cried out. Then he shut his mouth, staring fixedly at the beautiful face before him.
"Teacher?"
Being stared at like that made Bi Bi Dong uncomfortable.
She shook Ye Tian a couple of times. Huh? It had no effect.
Bi Bi Dong was about to try the same trick again.
Ye Tian looked at her speechlessly and said calmly, "Teacher, if you don't want to carry me, you can actually put me down."
At that moment.
Bi Bi Dong had already brought Ye Tian to the front, placing him directly in front of her, close enough for their eyes to meet.
Hearing Ye Tian's words.
Bi Bi Dong decided to stop playing around; right now, the Soul Hunt was more important. In the future, she would have plenty of time to deal with this brat.
She would make all the pity, regret, and disdain in this kid's eyes go to hell!
Bi Bi Dong casually set Ye Tian down.
"Scared?"
"With Teacher here, I'm not scared."
Ye Tian lowered his head, adjusting his cloth garments, lying through his teeth.
In a way.
With Bi Bi Dong by his side, he was even more afraid.
A moody mental patient was no different from a ticking time bomb, wasn't she?
Bi Bi Dong narrowed her eyes. No one disliked being relied upon or depended on; it was a form of recognition of one's strength.
Even if the recognition of a brat like Ye Tian meant little to her, she still felt a slight, secret satisfaction. After all, Ye Tian occasionally cast her strange glances.
"Hmph!"
Bi Bi Dong remained expressionless, snorting coldly as she lectured, "If I weren't here, you'd be scared? Then do you know why I told the carriage to come back tomorrow morning?"
"Teacher probably wants to spend the night here with me, to help me adapt to this place."
Ye Tian lifted his gaze to Bi Bi Dong.
This kind of training was normal, and he accepted it willingly.
"Not bad, using your head."
Bi Bi Dong neither confirmed nor denied it, bypassing Ye Tian and continuing inward.
"Keep up. If you die, I won't take responsibility."
As her words fell.
The dagger Bi Bi Dong casually tossed was already flying through the air.
Ye Tian hurried forward to catch it, stroking the gem embedded in the dagger's sheath, testing its temperature against his cheek like a money-grubber.
Then, smiling, he quickly caught up to Bi Bi Dong's side.
Bi Bi Dong glanced subtly at Ye Tian, rolling her eyes in exasperation.
It was just a dagger.
So unimpressive!
After their earlier exchange, Ye Tian's mindset relaxed instead. His dark eyes continuously scanned the surroundings.
He casually broke off a branch as thick as his thumb.
Drew the dagger.
Meanwhile, Bi Bi Dong quietly and deliberately suppressed all her aura.
But within a hundred steps.
Bi Bi Dong suddenly halted, turning to look at Ye Tian and warning, "I suggest you stay sharp. If you encounter danger that I think you can handle, I won't intervene."
And just at that moment.
Ye Tian took a deep breath, steadied himself, and made a move to draw his dagger.
Where there is abnormality, there must be deceit!
He had never fully trusted Bi Bi Dong.
He had always kept his guard up.
"Just like now."
Indeed!
The moment Bi Bi Dong's voice fell, a shadow pounced from a tree branch diagonally above Ye Tian—at about the same height as Bi Bi Dong—bringing with it a faint, pungent, musky odor.