Su Yu didn't expect his teacher to bring this up, his cheeks slightly flushed as he whispered:
"It was just good luck."
"Luck is also part of one's strength." Bi Bidong gently patted Su Yu's head.
"Can you tell teacher? Why were you keeping such a distance from me earlier?"
"Teacher! I feel... that you don't seem to particularly like boys!"
Bi Bidong's fingers still rested on Su Yu's head, pausing slightly at his words before she calmly withdrew her hand.
Her gaze fell on his somewhat anxious face, remaining silent for a moment before speaking slowly:
"Why do you think that?"
"Your eyes told me, teacher! Every time you interact with males, there's always a trace of disgust and impatience in your eyes!"
His voice grew softer as he spoke, and after finishing, he secretly glanced at Bi Bidong, as if afraid he had said something wrong that might anger her.
Seeing his cautious demeanor, Bi Bidong felt a complex emotion stir within her.
She raised her hand again, this time not patting his head but gently tapping his shoulder, her tone softer than before:
"You and Nana are both my disciples. To me, there's no difference between you."
She paused briefly before adding: "It was my own issue before. It won't happen again, so there's no need to deliberately avoid me."
"Really, teacher?"
Su Yu's eyes instantly lit up, as if filled with starlight, brimming with unbelievable anticipation.
"Yes."
Bi Bidong nodded gently, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the cufflinks on her sleeve.
Su Yu hesitated for a moment, as if gathering immense courage, and asked quietly:
"Then teacher, can I hug you like Nana does?"
"No!"
Bi Bidong almost instinctively refused. As soon as the words left her mouth, she met Su Yu's instantly dimmed eyes.
That small disappointment felt like a fine needle gently pricking her heart.
Looking at the child's tightly pressed lips and those downcast eyes that seemed veiled in mist, her heart softened.
Forget it, he's just a child. She was being too sensitive!
Thinking this, Bi Bidong's tone unconsciously softened. When she spoke again, her voice had become much gentler:
"...You may."
Su Yu suddenly looked up, the disappointment in his eyes completely gone, replaced by renewed brightness.
He tentatively extended his small arms and gently wrapped them around Bi Bidong's arm, his movements careful as if afraid of breaking something precious.
Bi Bidong's body stiffened slightly but then relaxed, allowing him to lean against her.
The child's body warmth transmitted through the fabric of her clothes, carrying a comforting warmth that wasn't unpleasant to her.
Seeing this, Hu Liena also cheerfully approached, firmly grasping Bi Bidong's other arm. She playfully winked at Su Yu, as if saying:
"See, teacher is wonderful, isn't she?"
The carriage continued its smooth journey, and the atmosphere inside became unprecedentedly harmonious.
Bi Bidong looked down at the two children nestled against her on either side - one lively and spirited, the other well-behaved and reserved.
A corner of her heart that had been frozen by past experiences seemed to feel a warm sensation slowly spreading.
Perhaps this isn't so bad, she thought to herself.
Half an hour later, the carriage slowly came to a stop at the entrance to the Soul Beast Forest's outer perimeter.
A Spirit Hall outpost was established here, and several armored guards immediately stepped forward to bow respectfully upon seeing the carriage stop:
"Your Holiness the Pope!"
Bi Bidong lifted the carriage curtain, her gaze sweeping over the dense forest ahead where the low growls of Soul Beasts echoed faintly.
She gave a slight nod. "Open the gate. I've brought my disciples to hunt for Soul Rings."
"Yes, Your Holiness the Pope!"
The guards responded in unison, swiftly operating the mechanism. The heavy iron gate creaked as it swung open on both sides.
Bi Bidong stepped down from the carriage first, her purple dress shimmering softly in the morning light.
An invisible pressure radiated from her, making the surrounding air feel almost stagnant.
For a moment, even the chirping of insects in the forest quieted down.
Su Yu and Hu Liena quickly followed, jumping down from the carriage and curiously observing the Soul Beast Forest.
The trees here were not particularly thick, with vines winding around their trunks and the ground blanketed in a thick layer of fallen leaves.
The air carried the damp scent of soil and the fresh fragrance of vegetation.
Occasionally, a few low-level Soul Beasts darted through the woods, only to retreat hastily into the undergrowth upon spotting the group.
"Stay close to me!" Bi Bidong reminded, glancing back.
"Although thousand-year Soul Beasts are rare in this forest, they do exist. Do not wander off recklessly."
"Understood, Teacher!"
The two replied in unison, quickening their pace to keep up with her.
The guards closed the wooden gate behind them and stood watch at the entrance.
Bi Bidong led Su Yu and Hu Liena into the forest, their footsteps producing soft rustling sounds on the fallen leaves.
Her spiritual power spread out like an invisible net, slowly probing the auras of nearby Soul Beasts.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the foliage, casting dappled spots of light on the ground.
"Xiao Yu, have you considered what kind of Soul Ring you wish to absorb?"
Su Yu quickened his steps to catch up and replied earnestly, "Teacher, I might not need to worry too much about the type of Soul Beast—focusing on its age should suffice."
"Hmm?" Bi Bidong halted and turned to look at him, a trace of confusion in her eyes. "Why do you say that?"
"Teacher, I've always felt my Martial Soul is different from ordinary ones. Please trust me on this!"
As he spoke, Su Yu clung to Bi Bidong's arm, gently shaking it a couple of times.
Bi Bidong's figure stiffened slightly from his shaking. Her brows instantly furrowed, and her tone deepened.
"Nonsense!"
She gently withdrew her arm, her expression turning stern.
"The importance of Soul Rings to a Soul Master is surely covered in the academy's theoretical classes. This foundation affects your entire life—how can you be so careless?"
"If you absorb an incompatible Soul Ring, at best it will hinder your cultivation; at worst, it could damage your Martial Soul or even endanger your life. Do you take this as a game?"
"Teacher, even if my Martial Soul absorbs a Soul Ring, it won't generate a Spirit Ability!"
"Enough, Xiao Yu! If you keep deceiving me with such talk, I will truly be angry!"
"Teacher! I'm not lying to you!"
Seeing that Bi Bidong didn't believe him and was about to continue forward, Su Yu hurriedly stepped in front of her to block her path.
"Teacher, I'm really not lying!"
"Xiao Yu!"
"Teacher, I know you don't believe me, but I will prove it!"
Just then, a series of "thumping" sounds emerged from the woods ahead, and a burly Gale Wind Boar suddenly burst into view.
Its body was covered in gray-black bristles, with two curved tusks gleaming coldly.
Fierce intensity emanated from the folds on its forehead, indicating an age of roughly over two hundred years.
The Gale Wind Boar immediately fixed its gaze on the small figures of Su Yu and Hu Liena, letting out a deep, muffled growl from its throat.
Its four hooves scraped the ground before it charged straight forward with its tusks bared, like a small war chariot!