Chapter 24: The Infinite Wonders of Whale Rubber — A Not-So-Ordinary Night
Lin Qingmo was soaking in the medicinal bath. This time, Bibi Dong unexpectedly walked over. In her hand was a jade bottle. She held it out in front of him.
"Drink this."
"Master, what is this?"
Lin Qingmo opened his eyes. He looked curiously at the gelatinous substance inside. It carried a faint fishy-sweet scent, unlike anything he had ever seen before.
"Drink it, and you'll know."
Bibi Dong's tone left no room for refusal. Though Lin Qingmo was puzzled, he trusted his master completely.
"Ah…"
He opened his mouth. Bibi Dong poured the gelatinous substance into it. The substance was thick as it entered, carrying a slight warmth as it slid down his throat, quickly melting away.
At first, Lin Qingmo didn't feel anything unusual. But not long after— a scorching surge of energy erupted from his abdomen, rapidly spreading through every meridian and bone in his body.
"Ugh!"
He instantly felt as though he had been tossed into a furnace. His entire body burned. Even his skin turned bright red.
"So hot… it burns…"
Lin Qingmo couldn't help but groan. His body began to writhe uncontrollably. His consciousness gradually grew hazy.
"Hold your mind steady. Circulate your soul power and guide the energy."
Bibi Dong's voice was cold yet resolute. Like a calming draught, it brought a bit of clarity back to Lin Qingmo's chaotic thoughts. He hurried to comply. He tried to circulate his soul power, guiding the searing energy. The process went smoothly, but the heat only grew more unbearable.
"Hot… so hot…"
Lin Qingmo's awareness continued to blur. His hands flailed instinctively, trying to grab onto something—anything—to cool himself down.
Suddenly, he felt something cool beside him. Like a lifeline, he immediately reached out and hugged it tightly. What he grabbed was soft to the touch and carried a faint, elegant fragrance.
"…"
Bibi Dong stared in stunned silence at the octopus-like Lin Qingmo. He was still murmuring, "So hot… cooler… a little cooler…"
The air around her seemed to freeze as well. She could clearly feel that the little fellow in her arms was burning hot, like a tiny furnace. The strength in his flailing arms wasn't great—yet it left her completely at a loss. The effects of the thousand-year whale rubber were even more intense than she had anticipated. Lin Qingmo's body was still that of a child. The first time, he simply couldn't adapt easily. Seeing him frown in discomfort, his small face flushing crimson, the helplessness in Bibi Dong's heart slowly gave way to softness.
"Ah…"
She let out a quiet sigh. She didn't push Lin Qingmo away. Instead, she reached out and lifted him from the wooden tub. His body was still slick with medicinal liquid clinging to his skin, but Bibi Dong didn't mind. She carried him to the bed and gently laid him down. Then she lay down as well, pulling him tightly into her arms. Feeling the little one's breathing gradually steady, a gentle curve appeared at the corner of Bibi Dong's lips.
As expected… still just a child.
The night passed without incident.
When the first ray of sunlight filtered through the cracks of the wooden hut and fell upon Lin Qingmo's face—"Mm…"
Lin Qingmo slowly opened his eyes. His consciousness gradually returned. The first thing he felt was a warm, soft embrace. He was nestled snugly in someone's arms, his nose filled with a faint, pleasant fragrance. He jerked his head up—what greeted his eyes was a stretch of snowy white. Only then did he fully realize his current situation.
"D-Dong—Master?!"
Lin Qingmo froze on the spot. His mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg. Why was he sleeping while hugging his master?! He hurriedly tried to break free—only to discover that his arms and legs were still tightly wrapped around Bibi Dong. His entire body clung to her like a koala hugging a tree.
"W-What did I do last night?"
Lin Qingmo's face instantly flushed bright red. Panic and embarrassment surged through him. He tried hard to recall what had happened the previous night. He only remembered drinking something his master had given him. Then he got very hot. After that… everything became a blur.
But soon, he began comforting himself. 'It's fine, it's fine. I'm only a six-year-old kid right now. Even if I did something, it was just a child's unconscious behavior. Master probably won't mind.'
With that thought, Lin Qingmo finally calmed down a bit. He lowered his head and examined his own body. To his surprise, his physique seemed noticeably stronger. The lines of his muscles were more defined than before. The soul power within him also felt thicker and purer, flowing far more smoothly.
"This is…"
Lin Qingmo's eyes lit up. He instantly understood.
"Could this be the effect of what I drank last night?"
Just then, Bibi Dong slowly opened her eyes. A trace of post-sleep languor lingered in her violet pupils. Seeing Lin Qingmo's wide-eyed expression, a faint, plum-blossom-like smile appeared at her lips. In a light, teasing voice, she asked, "You're awake?"
"M-Master!"
Lin Qingmo hurriedly released his limbs and sat upright. He lowered his head, not daring to look at her.
"About last night… I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"
"It's nothing."
Bibi Dong replied calmly, rising and unhurriedly adjusting her black robe. "What you drank last night was melted thousand-year whale rubber. It can rapidly enhance your physical constitution and lay a foundation for exceeding your limits when absorbing soul rings in the future."
"Whale rubber?!"
Lin Qingmo snapped his head up. Shocked! That had actually been whale rubber?! More importantly, his master actually knew about whale rubber's ability to enhance physical strength?!
'Could it be that Master is really some legendary reclusive Titled Douluo, which is why she knows so many hidden secrets?'
That explanation seemed reasonable. Otherwise, how could she possess a hundred-thousand-year soul ring?
His shocked expression made Bibi Dong secretly amused. But outwardly, she maintained her composure and reminded him, "The secret of whale rubber must not be told to anyone else."
"Yes!"
The doubts in Lin Qingmo's heart instantly vanished. Whatever the case, keeping it secret was the right move!
"Thank you, Master!"
"This is only the beginning."
Bibi Dong's voice returned to its usual cold clarity. "Although whale rubber's effects are remarkable, they still require follow-up training to be consolidated."
"From today onward, your training intensity will increase threefold."
"Th-Threefold?!"
The smile on Lin Qingmo's face instantly froze. His mouth fell open as he wore an utterly despairing expression! The daily training was already brutal enough—and now it was going to be three times harder?! This was practically training him to death!
"Master, can we… can we not increase it?"
Lin Qingmo looked at Bibi Dong pitifully, shamelessly using his blue-haired boy body to act cute and beg for mercy.
"..."
For a brief instant, Bibi Dong felt her heart soften. But only for an instant.
"No."
The word brooked no argument. Cuteness was useless.
"If you want to become strong, you must endure hardships far beyond what ordinary people can imagine."
"If you can't even handle this much suffering, you will never become a top-tier soul master."
Ah Qing, everything I do is for your own good.
"…Alright."
Lin Qingmo drooped his head. Master was right. Endure the bitterest hardships to rise above others!
That said, just thinking about the upcoming triple-intensity training made his scalp tingle. Seeing his aggrieved, pitiful expression, the corner of Bibi Dong's lips curved once more into a barely perceptible smile. This little fellow might be glib at times, but deep down, he was resilient. With proper nurturing, he would surely become a powerful figure in the future.
She turned and walked out of the wooden hut, leaving behind a single sentence.
"Get ready. Training begins in ten minutes."
"Got it, Master…"
Lin Qingmo replied weakly. But his hands moved quickly as he got dressed.
…
End of Chapter.