On the peak of a small mountain, Bibi Dong and Wang Zhong arrived. Without the obstruction of trees, the sunlight fell, warm and scorching. Standing here and looking down, they could see vast canyons covered by dense forests.
"This place is nice, just no caves for resting."
With his hands behind his back, Bibi Dong glanced around and sighed with regret.
"A place to rest!"
"That's simple!"
Wang Zhong chuckled and responded. His tree martial soul and four spirit rings appeared simultaneously. His second spirit ring slowly rotated. "Second Spirit Skill, Mimicry·Wooden House."
As soon as he spoke, countless tree roots surged from the ground and intertwined. In a short while, after the excess parts fell off and disappeared, a neat, square wooden house appeared.
And it was two stories tall!
Bibi Dong's delicate eyebrows twitched. She had never imagined that Wang Zhong's second spirit skill could accomplish such a feat, as if he could generate whatever he wanted at will.
"Your second spirit skill, in terms of practicality and versatility, far surpasses your other spirit skills."
Bibi Dong walked closer to the wooden house and pushed open the door. The furniture inside, though all wooden, was not luxurious or noble but fully equipped with everything one could need.
She lightly praised Wang Zhong's second spirit skill for this.
Receiving the praise, Wang Zhong grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head, a hint of embarrassment on his face.
Seeing Wang Zhong's action, Bibi Dong's brows furrowed noticeably. She walked in front of him, her expression serious.
The sudden change startled Wang Zhong, who was somewhat bewildered. But Bibi Dong soon explained the reason.
"Little Wang Zhong, you need to change that habit of scratching your head from now on."
As she spoke, Bibi Dong squatted down, pulled Wang Zhong's hand away from the back of his head, and simultaneously clasped his hands behind his back.
She placed her hands on his somewhat surprised little face, gently adjusting its position. When his gaze was level with hers, she nodded with satisfaction.
"Your Excellency, what are you doing?"
"Don't move!"
His confused question was not answered, but instead met with a stern, low reprimand.
Her hands moved back and forth on Wang Zhong's body, tidying his clothes, adjusting his posture and some details. His legs were slightly apart, toes pointed outward, his waist stood straight, and his shoulders were pulled back, keeping them level.
Standing tall like a pine, straight as a sword!
This was the posture Wang Zhong maintained after being adjusted by Bibi Dong's delicate hands.
But the adjustment was far from complete. Bibi Dong's slender hand gently touched Wang Zhong's small face, smoothing his surprised mouth, pulling it upwards slightly to create a hint of a smile at the corners, her eyes subtly pulling back, causing his eyes to droop slightly. His entire little face became calm with a touch of depth.
"From now on, if you still want to scratch your head, replace it with this posture and demeanor. You are not allowed to show that look to others in front of outsiders, understand?"
"Otherwise, I'll spank you!"
Taking a few steps back, Bibi Dong observed Wang Zhong's current appearance, nodding in satisfaction before warning him in a serious tone.
"Okay!"
Wang Zhong instinctively wanted to reach up and scratch the back of his head, but Bibi Dong's glare stopped him. He could only remain in this posture, unmoving.
As if to deepen the memory, after a long while, Bibi Dong asked, "How is it? Have you memorized this movement, demeanor, and expression?"
Wang Zhong nodded repeatedly. He had stood in this pose and expression for nearly an hour, how could he not have memorized it.
"This is form! That is, demeanor!"
"As my child and disciple, you have far more to learn than others. In these four years, I will teach you knowledge and demeanor, even ways of handling matters, that teachers in academies cannot.
"And you must learn these things, without any slacking or laziness."
"Do you understand!"
Bibi Dong's expression was devoid of any softness or warmth. At this moment, she transformed into the most rigorous teacher, or perhaps, a mother.
Becoming her child and disciple was a blessing, but also an misfortune.
While you gain an identity and status beyond the reach of others, you must also bear unimaginable burdens and pressures.
Pontiff!
These are not just two simple words, but the will represented by millions of people.
Disciple of the Pontiff!
This is the inheritor of that represented will.
Bibi Dong possessed absolute skill and strength to twist those wills into what she needed, but it also took immense effort and heartache.
Not to mention Wang Zhong did not yet possess these qualities, so he had to learn to become a qualified disciple of the Pontiff in the eyes of others.
Only when he had sufficient strength and means to grasp everything could he reveal his true self.
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
Wang Zhong placed one hand over his chest, his demeanor serious and solemn.
What Bibi Dong was preparing to teach was something that others could not even touch in their lifetime. No king, overlord, or emperor would easily pass these things on to another.
If there were any, they would undoubtedly be their sons, their descendants, the most outstanding heirs of a kingdom, family, or sect!
Seeing the solemnity on Wang Zhong's face, Bibi Dong sighed softly in her heart, "This is just the beginning. Can you bear what comes next, little Wang Zhong?"
Her wine-red eyes gently closed. Bibi Dong's voice became exceedingly cold and cruel at this moment. She said coldly, "Wang Zhong, from today onwards, you are forbidden to have any correspondence with the people from that orphanage!"
"And starting tomorrow, I will order the complete dissolution of that orphanage! Even if you wish to know, I will not let you know where they have gone."
"Can you accept this?"
Her calm, cold words shattered the seriousness and solemnity on Wang Zhong's face. His emerald eyes trembled with unease, "Wh-why..."
Although she had long known the orphanage held extraordinary significance for Wang Zhong, even when he was with Dugu Bo, he had not forgotten to entrust Yue Guan and Gui Mei with letters to Hu Liena to be mailed.
But seeing his uneasy expression, Bibi Dong felt a pang of reluctance.
She walked forward, embraced Wang Zhong, and softly replied, "Because you are my disciple!"
"The title 'Disciple of the Pontiff' dictates that you must abandon them!"
Wang Zhong tightly pursed his lips and said hoarsely, "Is it because of my status? I am noble, so they are lowly? But I came from there too!"
Feeling the pain in Wang Zhong's voice, Bibi Dong held him tightly and said solemnly, "It is not about status, nor about the trivial matter of nobility or lowliness."
"If you truly care about them, you only have this one choice!"
"Unable to become spirit masters, without the power of self-preservation, they are like lambs to the slaughter, becoming bargaining chips to threaten and control you!"
"You can protect them for a while, but not for a lifetime. As long as you are my disciple, Bibi Dong, bearing the title of Disciple of the Pontiff, those people will forever be targets for others."
"You can only hide them in your heart."