...
"Worry?"
Upon hearing those two words, Bibi Dong felt a surge of inexplicable anger.
She gave a cold laugh, her gaze turning dangerous, and said in a sarcastic tone:
"Oh, our Holy Prince is such a busy man, what a good older brother."
"Back then, you ran away for half a year without even sending a message.
Didn't you think about whether I would worry?
Didn't you think about whether Nana would worry?"
"Now look what's happened! You've only been back a few days?
You haven't even had a chance to sit down properly, and you're already in such a hurry to go back to find your dear sister?"
"What? Is Wuhun City too hot to stand in?
Or is my teacher so annoying that you don't want to stay here a second longer?"
"Ouch!"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Hao was not afraid at all. Instead, his eyes lit up as if he had discovered a new continent.
He grinned and moved closer to Bibi Dong, his face almost touching her nose.
"Teacher, what you're saying... sounds so sarcastic."
He blinked his deep blue eyes, a mischievous grin spreading across his face:
"You're not...jealous, are you?"
"roll!"
Bibi Dong, her secret exposed, glared at him angrily and raised her hand to hit him, "Stop talking nonsense! Who's jealous of you?
You don't even deserve it!"
"Yes, yes, I don't deserve it.
I'm just a little cabbage that no one cares about or loves."
Xuan Hao deftly dodged the hand that wasn't using any force, then smoothly moved behind Bibi Dong and naturally began massaging her shoulders, coaxing her as he did so:
"Teacher, please rest assured, in my heart, your position is supreme, and no one can compare to you."
"Na'er is cute, but she's still just a child.
Why are you arguing with a child?"
"My heart is devoted to you, as clear as heaven and earth, as bright as the sun and moon!
Anyone who dares to say I am disloyal to my teacher, I will be the first to fight them!"
"Alright, alright, stop being so sarcastic."
Bibi Dong rolled her eyes at him, though she said it with disdain, the slight upturn of her lips betrayed her good mood.
She stretched lazily and leaned back on the soft couch.
"Since you're in such a hurry, let's set off tomorrow."
"Anyway, nothing major has happened in Wuhun City lately, and most of the necessary government affairs have been handled.
It's a good time to go out and relax, and see what kind of magic your so-called good sister has that can bewitch you so much."
"Hehe! Teacher is brilliant!"
Xuan Hao was overjoyed, "Once we get to Tian Dou City, you'll definitely like Na'er!"
"oh?"
Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a half-smile:
"Don't make promises you can't keep. What if I don't like it?"
"That can't be!"
Xuan Hao slapped his thigh and retorted confidently:
"Teacher, you like me so much, how could you not like Na'er?"
"Think about it, Na'er looks exactly like me, and—"
Xuan Hao held up one finger, his face full of pride:
"She has all the good qualities I have; and she has none of the bad qualities I have!
She's practically a perfect, purified version of me!"
"How could you not like such a fairy-like girl?"
"Pfft..."
Bibi Dong was so angry at these extremely narcissistic remarks that she laughed.
She turned around and looked at Xuan Hao with great interest, as if she were seeing him for the first time:
What are your strengths?
"Come, come, our Holy Son, don't be modest. Tell your teacher, what do you think are your strengths?"
"this..."
Xuan Hao cleared his throat, straightened his collar, and then began counting on his fingers, reciting them as if they were his most treasured possessions, speaking at an extremely fast pace without pausing for breath:
"That's too much! Listen carefully, teacher—"
"I am a kind, sincere, honest, reliable, responsible, optimistic, humble, intelligent, talented, quick learner, have strong execution skills, am creative, diligent in my practice, possess strong leadership qualities, can withstand pressure, and am ambitious..."
"Moreover, I also have an outstanding temperament, a presentable appearance, approachability, a sweet smile, a pleasant voice, understanding, a sense of humor, patience, a calm and composed demeanor, meticulousness, thoughtfulness, assertiveness, helpfulness, and loyalty..."
"Stop! Stop! Stop!!"
Listening to Xuan Hao's string of self-praises without taking a breath, Bibi Dong's lips twitched wildly, and she couldn't help but interrupt him.
She stared speechlessly at her incredibly self-important apprentice, feeling her head spinning.
"Xuan Hao, do you have any shame?"
"Have you used up all the good words in the world? Listen to yourself, is this even fair?"
"ah?"
Xuan Hao stopped counting on his fingers, looking at Bibi Dong with an innocent and confused expression:
"Teacher, could it be... that I said something wrong?"
"These...don't you possess these virtues, disciple?"
"you..."
Bibi Dong opened her mouth, about to retort, "What merits do you have?", but the words suddenly caught in her throat.
She subconsciously went through the words Xuan Hao had just said in her mind.
Kind, sincere, and loyal?
This guy would go to great lengths for his friend, and to apologize to her, he was willing to bring out a divine herb that even a 100,000-year-old soul beast couldn't compare to.
That's certainly impressive.
Intelligent, wise, and talented?
At nine years old and forty-two levels, he swindled and deceived the Heavenly Dou royal family and Dugu Bo; his brain is indeed very sharp.
Is he diligent in his practice and has a strong desire to improve?
This is even more impeccable; when they cultivate, they work harder than anyone else.
Possessing a presentable appearance and outstanding temperament?
Looking at his porcelain doll-like face, Bibi Dong had to admit that the boy was indeed good-looking, especially when he was acting cute and charming; she couldn't bear to hit him.
Even "thoughtful, considerate, and understanding"...
Looking at the hands massaging her legs, Bibi Dong couldn't deny it.
"hiss--!"
Bibi Dong gasped, startled.
She suddenly realized that if she didn't look at him through the tinted lens of "mischievousness," this brat... actually seemed to have nothing but good points?!
Even ridiculously good?!
"teacher?"
Seeing Bibi Dong's ever-changing expression, Xuan Hao looked puzzled:
"Do you think I'm just a troublesome, annoying, and useless brat?"
"Please, teacher, you're the Pope, your standards are so high.
If I were really that kind of person, would you be so tolerant and doting towards me?"
Xuan Hao shrugged, delivering the fatal blow:
"Teacher, you like me and tolerate me because, compared to my many shining strengths, my little flaws are completely insignificant!"
"..."
Bibi Dong was completely speechless.
That makes a lot of sense.
Logical closed loop.
That's true.
But... she was really upset and didn't want to admit that this shameless brat was actually so perfect that she couldn't refute him!
"roll!"
In the end, Bibi Dong could only utter this one word in a fit of anger and embarrassment, in order to cover up her inner "defeat".
Read 20+ chapters ahead at Patreon
patreon.com/TaroYamato
patreon.com/TaroYamato