"I really couldn't help it."
Ye Tian spread his hands, looking down at the slightly annoyed face before him.
After going through the motions, he immediately began to plead his innocence.
"It's hard to explain when you ask me questions like that, all because right after I returned, while I was still bathing, I was subjected to your tempting test. Now when you ask such questions, I naturally worry that once you know the truth, you might think everything is my fault—that I failed to restrain myself, that I'm neglecting my cultivation for the sake of beauty, and that you'll punish me for it."
"..."
As Ye Tian's words fell, Bi Bi Dong fell silent, and the entire room descended into dead stillness.
Only the sound of one steady breath,
and another, hurried one, could be heard.
Bi Bi Dong clenched her fists.
Ye Tian had actually used her own excuse as his defense, answering flawlessly.
And it was precisely this flawless response
that made Bi Bi Dong even less able to fully believe Ye Tian's words.
Bi Bi Dong didn't believe
that Ye Tian was unaware her excuse was fabricated.
Yet even though he clearly knew,
he still used her fabricated excuse to narrate and evade.
Didn't that speak volumes?
However,
even if Bi Bi Dong still suspected Ye Tian was hiding some part of the truth,
with things having reached this point,
what more could she ask?
Admit to Ye Tian
that her earlier seduction wasn't a test, but her own depravity?
Bi Bi Dong certainly couldn't do that!
She didn't dare to fully reveal her feelings for Ye Tian at such a time.
Once she did, failure would be the end!
Bi Bi Dong understood what mattered most and could only suppress her curiosity,
to investigate later!
"Teacher, what's wrong? Do you have some misunderstanding about me?"
Ye Tian pressed his advantage.
"No, nothing. I'm just... somewhat relieved."
Bi Bi Dong tried her best not to grit her teeth, controlling her emotions.
Facing Ye Tian,
Bi Bi Dong once again felt a long-lost sense of powerlessness.
Ye Tian was still the same Ye Tian,
as slippery as ever!
Bi Bi Dong forced a smile and said, "It seems I still underestimated you. Those tests seem unnecessary for you."
"As long as Teacher doesn't blame me."
Ye Tian finally relaxed, letting out a shallow sigh.
Staying with Bi Bi Dong was still like staying with a tiger.
Ye Tian knew that paper couldn't contain fire forever—sooner or later, the truth would explode!
He didn't have much time left.
He had to grow stronger as quickly as possible!
Moreover, before becoming strong enough, he had to strive for as much personal freedom as possible after becoming the Holy Son.
In Ye Tian's view,
staying by Bi Bi Dong's side was undoubtedly a dangerous thing.
Prolonged interaction would inevitably lead to mutual dislike.
It was better to be like a boarding student, often returning home to visit—frequent visits kept things fresh, that was the right solution!
Bi Bi Dong had already sat up straight behind Ye Tian, casually patting her shoulder to brush off the thick, white pill mist Ye Tian had gathered on her fragrant shoulder.
She gently pulled up her slipped clothing,
then shook her head and said:
"Your resolve as a cultivator is so firm, why would I blame you? I'm not some ferocious beast that attacks without reason."
"..."
Ye Tian's expression shifted slightly.
That was hard to say!
Has Bi Bi Dong ever lacked reasons to cause trouble without cause? Perhaps, in her way of thinking, those instances didn't count as unwarranted trouble.
Ye Tian was full of inner complaints.
Yet, he had no choice but to express gratitude for her mercy in sparing him.
"..."
But before he could voice his thanks, Bi Bi Dong abruptly shifted the topic.
"However, even if you, this brat, possess exceptional self-control, I must still remind you that your sole task now is cultivation, not playing some childish love game with them. Do you understand?"
"Of course, I understand. My thoughts align perfectly with yours."
Ye Tian nodded solemnly in affirmation.
"In the Soul Master Realm, strength is the ultimate truth. Even though I am a Food-type Soul Master, the benefits brought by powerful cultivation are self-evident."
"It's good that you can stay true to your original intentions."
Bi Bi Dong nodded with satisfaction, then warned:
"Let me be clear upfront."
"If your cultivation ever falls behind, I won't let you off easily!"
Bi Bi Dong's words were firm and resolute.
She wasn't joking!
If that day ever came—if Ye Tian neglected his cultivation, or even worse, grew distant from her, all because he was fooling around with Qian Renxue and the others—
Then,
no matter how much time Ye Tian had wasted,
she would make this silver-tongued brat make up for every single moment in the secret chamber!
"Have you forgotten? My goal is immortality."
Faced with Bi Bi Dong's threatening words, Ye Tian merely glanced back and offered a faint smile.
Even with the entanglements of desire,
he would not abandon his pursuit of immortality.
As long as his strength was sufficient, making his partners immortal alongside him wouldn't be difficult.
Hearing this,
Bi Bi Dong was momentarily stunned,
recalling how she had once mocked Ye Tian for this very dream.
Now, all that remained was trust.
But how could this brat Ye Tian know what she had obtained after killing Qian Xunji? It was a God's Inheritance!
Ye Tian could never shake her off!
Bi Bi Dong thought fiercely to herself.
Yet with a touch of tenderness,
if Ye Tian ever failed, she would carry him along to fulfill his dream.
When that time came, she could absolutely do as she pleased!
"That's good."
Bi Bi Dong, filled with confidence in the future, nodded with a smile.
Ye Tian's face also relaxed into a smile.
"Do you have any other questions, Teacher? If not, you should rest early."
"Not for now."
A smile played on Bi Bi Dong's lips as her gaze inadvertently fell upon Ye Tian's flawless face. Whether in daylight or darkness, no matter the angle, the more she looked, the more she liked what she saw.
Remembering what Ye Tian had just said,
Bi Bi Dong suddenly felt a stir of desire and couldn't help but swallow.
If they could touch him, why couldn't she?
After all, it wasn't a big deal—this was something Ye Tian himself had said!
As if receiving an imperial decree,
Bi Bi Dong subtly straightened her posture, quickly erasing the last trace of guilt in her heart.
"Before resting,"
"there's one more thing I need to do."
Bi Bi Dong stared at Ye Tian, her heartbeat quickening slightly.
Under Ye Tian's curious gaze, her red lips parted, and a command tinged with a hint of negotiation escaped her mouth.
"Could you lean your body a little closer?"
"Huh?"
Ye Tian stiffened, a strange expression appearing on his face.
The alarm bells in his mind began to ring.
Bi Bidong gently tucked the strands of hair by her ear behind it. Lowering her gaze slightly, she continued to urge, "Lean your head over. I have something to tell you."
"..."
Ye Tian hesitated, his expression guarded.
After a long silence without a response,
"???"
Bi Bidong shed her shy demeanor, looked up at the motionless Ye Tian, and couldn't help but frown, feeling a hint of displeasure.
Yet the more he resisted,
the more Bi Bidong wanted to claim what she desired.
She was determined to see whether that already flawless face was truly as insignificant as Ye Tian himself claimed.
If it really was, wouldn't she be able to act as she pleased from now on?
Bite whenever she wanted!
Bi Bidong lifted her swan-like neck, sitting slightly behind Ye Tian, and coaxed persuasively, "Don't you want to know where the 100,000-Year Soul Beast suitable for you is? Once this opportunity passes, it won't come again. Whether you come over or not is up to you."
Hearing this,
a flicker of struggle flashed in Ye Tian's eyes.
Finally, in the darkness, he slowly leaned toward Bi Bidong.
There was no other choice—
the number of 100,000-Year Soul Beasts was far too scarce.
Ye Tian had no choice but to venture into the tiger's den, fully aware of the danger.
To bring his ear closer, his face naturally had to follow. But just as Ye Tian leaned in, he could clearly feel the warm, fragrant breeze rushing toward him. Beside him, Bi Bidong's originally upright posture shifted slightly, her soft, delicate body now pressing against his shoulder.
"!!!"
Although Ye Tian had long known Bi Bidong harbored ulterior motives, he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. By the time he thought to retreat, it was already too late.
Bi Bidong's luscious red lips, now glistening with a layer of moisture,
were rushing toward his face in mutual pursuit.
With a soft smack!
Ye Tian was already numb, his eyes filled with utter resignation.
The large damp patch on his face couldn't stir any emotional reaction in him.
And after succeeding,
Bi Bidong lightly uttered a sentence,
"You said it yourself—it's just a face, nothing to make a fuss about."
"So stop putting on an act."
Ye Tian could clearly decipher the smugness in her tone.
As her words fell, a dull thud followed.
Thump—!
Bi Bidong's delicate body fell straight back onto the bed, her head landing on the soft, fragrant pillow. Her eyes were tightly shut, as if she were about to rest immediately.
In truth, she simply didn't want to face Ye Tian's accusatory gaze.
Even in this darkness,
under the faint moonlight,
if Ye Tian wanted to look, he could see Bi Bidong's flushed, beautiful face.
Like a little girl who had sneakily tasted candy,
Bi Bidong's heart raced uncontrollably—thrilling and exhilarating.
Today truly was a day full of gains!
"Sigh—"
Ye Tian was far calmer than Bi Bidong had imagined. There was none of the intense reaction from before; he even adjusted his mindset after just a couple of breaths.
For this ambush,
Ye Tian had long been mentally prepared.
Unlike before, when he had been completely forced by Bi Bidong.
He, too, had his own purpose.
After all, since the kiss had already happened, he couldn't let Bi Bidong take advantage for nothing—he had to extract some useful information.
"Teacher, it seems you've forgotten something, haven't you?"
"Can you tell me now where that 100,000-Year Soul Beast is?"
"Help me pull up the covers."
Bi Bi Dong did not answer Ye Tian directly, but instead commanded once more.
"No problem."
Having already invested so much, Ye Tian naturally didn't want all his efforts to go to waste. Besides, covering someone with a blanket was just a small task, a mere trifle.
After speaking,
Ye Tian turned around.
He pulled out the blanket folded in the corner and thoughtfully draped it over Bi Bi Dong's slightly slender yet full and well-proportioned figure.
"Can you tell me now?"
"Of course."
Bi Bi Dong watched as Ye Tian covered her with the blanket, then closed her eyes again.
"Star Dou outskirts, Death Canyon."
"..."
Hearing Bi Bi Dong's reply, Ye Tian's eyes brightened slightly, then he paused in thought.
Tilting his head and frowning, he pressed further:
"And then?"
"And then? That's all I can say for now. As for the rest, it depends on your performance."
A teasing smile played on Bi Bi Dong's lips.
She wasn't some fool—how could she so easily divulge such important information to Ye Tian?
After all, his face wasn't that remarkable,
and she'd already tasted his lips.
Not worth it!
Ye Tian's expression darkened gradually as Bi Bi Dong spoke.
"What value do those few words hold? I could just find any Titled Douluo who accompanied you and ask, couldn't I? Can you give me a bit more of a hint?"
Ye Tian had long considered
that perhaps he could bypass Bi Bi Dong and seek clues about the 100,000-Year Soul Beast from the other Titled Douluo who assisted her in the Soul Hunt.
But Ye Tian knew Bi Bi Dong's character well—
she must have been absolutely certain that only she knew the exact location of that 100,000-Year Soul Beast; otherwise, she wouldn't be so confident and unafraid.
Therefore,
all Ye Tian wanted now was for Bi Bi Dong to say more.
"Patience, you brat. Why so impatient? That's not like you."
A charming smile blossomed on Bi Bi Dong's face.
She was once again enjoying the pleasure of controlling and manipulating Ye Tian, speaking unhurriedly:
"Right now, you're only a level 38 Soul Venerable. Even if you knew about the 100,000-Year Soul Beast, what could you do? You'd only be reaching for what's beyond your grasp. Based on your current ability to absorb Spirit Rings, barring any accidents, you might be able to absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring by the time you reach Soul Saint level. When that time comes, I will naturally help you with the Soul Hunt myself. You just need to know that what I've prepared for you will inevitably be yours. Why rush?"
"..."
Ye Tian took a deep breath, unable to refute Bi Bi Dong's reasoning.
He could only swallow this bitter pill,
as if bitten by a dog.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He pursed his lips and muttered, "It's all because someone kept tempting me with the 100,000-Year Soul Beast."
"Isn't it because you couldn't resist the temptation?"
Bi Bi Dong retorted directly.
"Hmph! Sweet dreams."
Ye Tian snorted coldly and fell silent, continuing to sit cross-legged by Bi Bi Dong's bedside to cultivate.
"Mmm~"
Bi Bi Dong opened her eyes with a smile, quite satisfied with Ye Tian's thoughtful farewell.
It seemed this kid was rather cute.
Sniffing Ye Tian's scent, Bi Bi Dong closed her eyes but found it difficult to fall asleep. Her mind kept replaying Ye Tian's words, as if she had missed something.
Half an hour later,
Bi Bi Dong suddenly opened her eyes again, her delicate and slender jade-like foot emerging from under the blanket and pressing lightly against Ye Tian's shoulder, swaying gently twice. Only after confirming that Ye Tian was listening did she speak:
"I can't sleep."
"Can I take a look at the compendium Yue Guan gave you?"
"..."
Without a word, Ye Tian dropped a thick book right in front of Bi Bi Dong.
Thud!
Bi Bi Dong quickly raised her hand to catch it.
"You're really heartless. If you made my nose bleed, I wouldn't let you off!"
As soon as she finished speaking,
Bi Bi Dong held the book and slowly sat up, leaning close behind Ye Tian. She asked softly, "By the way, aren't you quite familiar with Xue Er? Why haven't I heard you mention what Immortal Herb she absorbed?"
"!!!"
Ye Tian's eyes widened instantly.
His earlier impatience vanished, replaced only by shock and horror.
This woman wasn't sleeping in the middle of the night!
She actually went back to review everything!
Cold sweat began to seep from Ye Tian's back.
"Hah!"
Suddenly, a sharp object pressed against the center of his back, making Ye Tian almost cry out.
A concerned voice sent his heart racing.
"Are you sweating?"
Bi Bi Dong's jade-like finger poked Ye Tian's back as she asked expressionlessly:
"I remember I just asked you what Immortal Herb she absorbed, didn't I? Also, the name 'Xue Er' seems to have only come out of your mouth today, right?"
"Ahaha..."
Ye Tian forced a smile.
He never expected that his way of addressing Qian Renxue would become a flaw.
He was even more afraid...
After Bi Bi Dong got her hands on the Herbal Compendium, would she guess that the Immortal Herb Qian Renxue absorbed was the Immortal Herb King, Love's Heartbreak Red, on the last page?
If Bi Bi Dong really found out...
Wouldn't that be the end?!
"How could that be? Why would I sweat in this weather? I was just startled when you suddenly spoke. I thought you were already asleep."
Ye Tian's mind was in turmoil. Pinching his thigh, he tried his best to stay calm and explained:
"I probably just forgot to mention it earlier."
"Is it too late to tell me now?"