"So that's how it is!"
Wang Zhong rubbed his chin, suddenly enlightened. Looking at the cheerful trio, he leaped up, dusting off non-existent dust from his pants.
"Alright, since this money doesn't need to be sent back, and you need it, Xie Yue, I'll give it to you."
"Since I can't go out anyway, I'll go train first."
Waving goodbye to the three, Wang Zhong jogged away.
"Did... he get angry!"
Xie Yue scratched his head sheepishly, watching Wang Zhong's retreating back, and asked Hu Liena.
Her delicate nose twitched slightly. Hu Liena said impatiently, "Why didn't you consider that when you took it? And now you're worried, honestly."
"Since we were kids, has Wang Zhong ever been stingy with us?"
Xie Yue gave an embarrassed chuckle and said sheepishly, "It was just a moment of impulse!"
"Besides, with such a large sum of money, I wasn't sure, that's why I was a little worried!"
Hu Liena casually tossed the purple crystal card in her hand into the air and caught it again. She said seriously, "Zhong would never get angry with us over trivial matters like money. In his heart, our friendship is much more important than this million."
Seeing Hu Liena's solemn little face, Xie Yue put on a playful smile, thinking inwardly: It's Nana, you are more precious than that million!
But seeing Yan, who was still smiling foolishly beside them, Xie Yue swallowed the words.
There were some things that he and his sister could say to each other without reservation when no one else was around, but there were some things that, as a brother, Xie Yue absolutely could not say lightly.
This was a tangled affair between Hu Liena, Wang Zhong, and Yan, and how it would be resolved should be decided by Hu Liena, the key figure. As a brother, he just needed to unconditionally support his sister's choice.
"Nana, hurry and give me the purple crystal card! I've been craving that set of spatial storage soul tools in the Treasure Pavilion at school for a long time!"
The Treasure Pavilion was a shop-like establishment within the Spirit Hall Academy, filled with all sorts of unimaginable rare treasures. As long as you had money and sufficient authority, you could buy anything you desired!
Even soul bones, which were hard to buy with gold in the Soul Master world, were clearly priced!
However, money alone wasn't enough to buy these things; you also needed authority. And the so-called authority was your class rank or strength ranking within the academy. Without these, you'd be refused even a glance.
"No! I snatched it, why should I give it to you!"
"Nana, don't be like that. I'm not buying it for myself, you all have them!"
"No, what's so good about soul tools? I want to buy lots of pretty clothes and shoes!"
"Nana, this is a whole million Gold Soul Coins. How can you use that much on clothes? Even if you did, can you wear so many clothes! Come on, give it to me, please, my dear sister!"
"No, I won't give it!"
In the apartment, Xie Yue's pleas and Hu Liena's childish voice could be heard incessantly, occasionally interspersed with Yan's foolish laughter.
Jogging all the way, Wang Zhong arrived at a secluded forest in the southeast corner of the academy. After passing through the forest, and about a few hundred meters further, a huge waterfall cascaded down from the sky like a silver dragon, landing in a deep pool hundreds of feet wide below. The water then flowed outwards along the river channel.
The immense roar and the mist from the water rushed towards him, the coolness carrying moisture bringing a deep breath of air to Wang Zhong.
The coolness entered his lungs, bringing a sense of comfort.
On the edge of the pool stood a small wooden cabin, which Wang Zhong had spent half a day building. It had the same appearance and configuration as the one in the deep mountains far from the orphanage.
A small bed, a small wooden table, and some simple living supplies. As a simple temporary resting place, everything that should be there was present.
"I was just wondering who would find this place and build a small wooden cabin here. It seems it was you."
"Little fellow."
Suddenly, a clear and serene voice, carrying an inexplicable meaning, echoed throughout the area.
Wang Zhong's body stiffened abruptly, because this voice was very familiar to him. Although he had only heard it a few times up close, the owner of the voice was a woman who, once seen, would leave a deep impression in one's heart.
His limbs stiff, he slowly turned around. On the side of the pool, hidden in a blind spot obscured by a large tree, Wang Zhong saw a tall and gentle silhouette.
At this moment, she had shed her noble, radiant long dress symbolizing the Pope, and changed into a light yellow woven gauze dress. Her tall and slender figure was full of grace and tranquility.
The high crown and scepter were gone. She stood with her hands behind her back, quietly gazing at the deep pool in front of her. Her wine-red hair was tied with a bright yellow ribbon, falling behind her.
Because of Wang Zhong's arrival, she slightly turned her head, her pale pink eyes carrying a hint of blame and displeasure.
"Pope... Your... Your Eminence."
Wang Zhong's limbs were as stiff as real wood, and even his speech was disjointed.
After being here for so long, he had never imagined he would encounter the most noble and powerful Pope of Spirit Hall here.
Wang Zhong's rigid posture and stuttering words made Bibi Dong chuckle lightly.
Walking in front of Wang Zhong, her slender jade fingers tapped his forehead. Bibi Dong said with a smile, "Little fellow, why are you so nervous at this hour?"
"Weren't you quite mischievous and bold during the grand competition?"
As she spoke with a light laugh, Bibi Dong gently tapped the back of her smooth right hand. That direct hint made Wang Zhong blush uncontrollably.
"Your Holiness, I apologize!"
"I really didn't know at the time, it wasn't a kiss on the hand!"
Her solemn apology and nervous demeanor made Bibi Dong shake her head with a smile.
"Alright, relax a little. I don't blame you."
"You are a student of Spirit Hall Academy, and I am the principal of the academy. A little mischief is one thing, but I would never get angry with a child like you."
"I came out for some fresh air and ran into you by chance. Since you've found this place, I should be going."
Gently stroking Wang Zhong's soft hair, Bibi Dong slowly walked away.
Wang Zhong let out a deep sigh of relief.
When he first saw Bibi Dong, Wang Zhong was almost scared enough to run away. He instinctively felt that she was here to scold him. After all, he had made so many mistakes and done such an outrageous thing in the all-school grand competition. Not being scolded on the spot and being reprimanded later was quite normal.
"Phew, thankfully she's not here to scold me. I was scared to death."
Wang Zhong patted his chest, looking like he had "survived a disaster."
"With the Pope's words, I don't have to worry about those things from the grand competition anymore."
"Now I have to train hard!"
"Go for it! Wang Zhong! Your enemies are more than just one Titled Douluo!"