Chapter 28 Open and Honest, Bibi Dong's Suspicion
"What...what do you want?!"
Ling Yuan felt a little scared at this moment, but she felt more wronged and sad.
Protecting Qin Mu was the order she received.
Moreover, Qin Mu's identity is so important in the Spirit Hall that if something happens to him, I'm afraid she won't be able to escape punishment either.
However, setting aside orders, Ling Yuan was also very willing to protect Qin Mu.
Since Qin Mu joined the Spirit Hall, Ling Yuan has been the person who has spent the most time by his side.
Although Ling Yuan was decades older than Qin Mu, she always treated him as a junior, or even a younger brother, like family.
That's why she trusted Qin Mu so much and believed that he wouldn't harm her.
But reality taught her a harsh lesson.
The feeling of being betrayed was so painful that Ling Yuan felt as if her heart was being torn apart.
"I've always treated you like a younger brother, I never expected..."
"I admit it. Just tell me what you want to do."
Ling Yuan's expression gradually returned to calm, but the sadness deep in her eyes could not be concealed.
"Sister Ling Yuan, to be honest, I have always regarded you as an older sister."
Upon hearing this, Ling Yuan gave a self-deprecating laugh.
"If she truly treats me like an older sister, how could she possibly lead me to make a mistake?"
"Stop pretending, just state your purpose!"
Hearing Ling Yuan's words, Qin Mu didn't explain anything. He just smiled, but there was a hint of mockery in his smile.
"Sister Ling Yuan, you keep saying you treat me like a younger brother, but aren't you still the spy that the teacher placed by my side?"
"Is this how you treat your family?"
Qin Mu remained expressionless, but his words shocked Ling Yuan.
"You! How did you know?"
"Just as I expected."
Qin Mu sat on a boulder, his arms crossed, looking straight at Ling Yuan.
"You...you tricked me?!"
Ling Yuan wasn't good at this kind of negotiation, and Qin Mu almost got her to reveal her secrets with just a few words.
"Not entirely. I just don't believe that after I argued with my teacher, especially after I wrote down the theory of Soul Master cultivation, my teacher would be so at ease in letting me go."
"Even if the informant isn't you, it will be someone else."
"However, based on your behavior these past few days, I've concluded that you are an informant."
"You can't back out now. So let's have an open and honest talk, shall we?"
Although Qin Mu spoke in a calm tone, his words gradually increased the pressure on Ling Yuan.
"Now you only have three paths."
"First, you can choose not to cooperate, but I will definitely report your consumption of the Phoenix Sunflower to the Spirit Hall."
"Second, you can kill me directly, but because of my identity, you will probably have to live in anonymity and hide from the Spirit Hall's pursuit."
"Third, sit down and talk to me. I swear on my Spirit that I will not tell anyone about this, and from now on, I will give you more benefits."
The Spirit Hall has always maintained very strict control over the loot obtained from missions.
If anyone is found to have concealed or used the items without authorization, they will be severely punished.
This was not the outcome Ling Yuan was willing to accept.
As for the second path, although Ling Yuan isn't very bright, she's not stupid.
It's important to know that Qin Mu was a talent personally selected by the Spirit Hall to be cultivated. When she went on missions, she was protected by Title Douluo like herself, which shows how much the Spirit Hall valued him.
She believed that if she dared to do that, she would have to live in hiding forever.
Even someone as powerful as Tang Hao has been relentlessly hunted down by the Spirit Hall over the years, let alone her.
Qin Mu outwardly offered three paths, but in reality, he only offered Ling Yuan one.
Moreover, Qin Mu used his Spirit to swear an oath, which is the most trustworthy bargaining chip in the Douluo Continent.
With Ling Yuan's intelligence, she only needed to think for a moment before sitting down on the rock opposite Qin Mu.
"Sister Ling Yuan, I hope that after we finish talking this time, our relationship can be the same as before."
"After all, we both kept things from each other before, so now we're even."
"I'm not lying to you, the Phoenix Sunflower you ate was a genuine Immortal Herb, and it even enhanced the essence of your flames!"
Qin Mu's words softened Ling Yuan's previously cold expression slightly.
"That's right, the Pope did send me to monitor your every move."
"The Pope originally trusted you a lot, but about three years ago, she suddenly asked me to protect you and report on your detailed actions."
Ling Yuan slowly recounted what had happened, while Qin Mu calculated the time beside her.
Three years ago, when he was searching all over the continent for Tang San.
But why would Bibi Dong become suspicious of him?
If there's anything that bothers her, it's probably that she once mobilized manpower to search for Yu Xiaogang in order to find Tang San.
Could it be?
"This time will be the same. I will give you a detailed report every now and then on what you have been doing during this period."
That's all I know.
After listening to Ling Yuan's words, Qin Mu still felt that something didn't make sense.
Ling Yuan's mission was nothing more than to monitor him, but what was there in what he had done that was worth Bibi Dong's attention?
Qin Mu frowned, recalling the two times Bibi Dong had argued with him because of Yu Xiaogang, and suddenly a clue seemed to have been grasped in his mind.
"What did the elders of the Hall of Priests say? How did they evaluate me?"
Qin Mu suddenly raised his head and stared straight at Ling Yuan.
Ling Yuan thought for a long time, then said with some difficulty, "You know I'm just an ordinary elder. The elders in the Hall of Priests have a higher status than me, and I usually don't have access to them."
"However, in the few meetings of the elders that they attended, they all spoke highly of you. Even the Grand Priest and the Second Priest praised you highly."
really!
After piecing together all the clues, Qin Mu finally figured out why Bibi Dong didn't trust him.
Considering the attitudes of Qian Daoliu and the other elders towards him, coupled with his inexplicable search for Yu Xiaogang, Bibi Dong mistakenly believed that he had been turned against her by the elders of the Hall of Priests.
She sought out Yu Xiaogang on her own because she had received orders from the Hall of Priests and mistakenly believed that he would be detrimental to Yu Xiaogang.
That idiotic, love-struck woman!
Qin Mu stood up, walked to Ling Yuan's side, and gently patted Ling Yuan's shoulder.
"I understand the situation now. Don't worry, I definitely won't tell anyone what I promised you."
"I hope this won't affect our relationship, after all, I've always treated you like an older sister."
Qin Mu's words were sincere and earnest, and Ling Yuan did not sense any hypocrisy in them.
Furthermore, since she had indeed reached the peak of level 94 in soul power as a result, it was impossible for her to still have any dissatisfaction with Qin Mu.
But I didn't say anything, so how did he understand everything?
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[end of the chapter]