Chapter 154

“Damn it. Stop acting all high and mighty. Nice words. Your Lingyang Sect wants to profit from the chaos too. Don’t think I’m easy to fool.”

“Hmph. You’re the one who’s dirty. Don’t assume everyone else is like you.”

“You little bitch. Don’t think I won’t hit a woman. Best shut your trap. Or else you’ll piss me off and get a beating anyway.” The burly man stomped on the young man sprawled on the ground as he bellowed. “Listen, kid. Don’t play innocent in front of me. I can’t stand people like you. **You’re rotten to the core yet try to put up a virtue facade. Pfft~”

Inside, Murong Qiufeng couldn’t help but chuckle at his words. She found herself admiring the brute’s blunt nature. He seemed straightforward and genuine. Though his motives weren’t pure, he was far more likable than those hypocrites who hid their malicious intentions behind a veneer of righteousness.

Shangguan Ye saw that fellow finally coax a smile from Murong Qiufeng. He raised an eyebrow, temporarily forgiving the man for interrupting their meal.

His words instantly set the surrounding onlookers into uproarious laughter.

“You… you lowly commoner! I’ll kill you!” The woman’s face flushed crimson with rage as she drew her sword, ready to strike.

“Junior Sister, let your senior brother handle this. Don’t dirty your hands with trash like him.” Another man beside her grabbed her wrist, simultaneously drawing his own sword. He glared coldly at the burly man. “Today, I’ll make you regret every word you just spoke. Watch this!”

“Bullshit. If you wanna fight, fight. Why all the nonsense?” The burly man spat again. Then, with a flick of his toes, he kicked the young man he’d been trampling, sending him flying straight toward the man.

The surrounding crowd scattered, making space for them. Tables and chairs toppled, bowls and plates shattered on the floor.

The shopkeeper cowered behind the counter, trembling violently while desperately clutching his prized possessions.

Only the table where Murong Qiufeng sat remained completely unfazed. He watched the chaos outside with leisurely composure, as if the scene were a performance.

The shopkeeper cowered behind the counter, trembling, his heart aching for his ruined wares.

Yet at Murong Qiufeng’s table, all remained utterly unmoved. They watched the chaos unfold with leisurely detachment, as if observing a tedious play. Ah Si had already led a trembling waiter from the back yard, carrying wine and dishes.

Outside, the one-on-one duel had escalated into a brawl. Though the burly man appeared coarse and simple-minded, his strength was formidable. His opponents couldn’t withstand even a single blow. It soon devolved into a mob attack. Naturally, the burly man’s companions couldn’t stand idly by and joined the fray. In an instant, the inn descended into utter chaos.

A curtain separated one world from another. Shangguan Ye leisurely yet diligently served soup and dishes to Murong Qiufeng. Murong Qiufeng, consumed by anxiety for the Xianjian Sect, ate with his head down, eager to leave. The two elders watched with envy. Indeed, once a son had a wife, he forgot his mother.

The food on the table vanished at a visible pace. The plate before Murong Qiufeng was nearly piled high like a small mountain.

Two pairs of chopsticks finally met. Both had reached for the last piece of chicken leg in the dish. Shangguan Ye looked up to find his master narrowing his eyes at him. Elder Bai Feng also raised an eyebrow, his expression clearly saying, ‘Shouldn’t you stop now?’

He twitched his lips, released the piece he’d grabbed, and awkwardly reached for something else.

But wherever his chopsticks went, the Snow Demon Venerable’s chopsticks followed. Finally, resigned, he set his chopsticks down and cleared his throat. “Ahem. Please, you two go first.”

The Snow Demon Sovereign flipped his chopsticks around and smacked them right on Shangguan Ye’s head. “You brat! Only now do you remember us? All these years we’ve raised you for nothing. Never once did you serve us food, and now you’re trying to snatch it? Do you think we’re dead? You ungrateful little thing!”

Shangguan Ye twitched his mouth again, rubbing his sore forehead. “Even if I’m pulling, it’s pulling inward. My little treasure isn’t an outsider.” Only these two elders dared to hit him with chopsticks like that without fear of retaliation.

Only then did Murong Qiufeng notice something was off. Realizing his mistake, he face flushed bright red. Glancing at the food on the small plate before him, his mouth twitched. Embarrassed, he pushed the plate toward the opposite side of the table. “Elder Xue. Elder Bai. Please eat.” Meanwhile, his foot stomped hard on Shangguan Ye beneath the table. He wanted to find a hole to crawl into. How humiliating.

Shangguan Ye raised an eyebrow, turning to look at him with a pouty expression. Shamelessly playing the cute card, It looked rather incongruous.

The two elders instantly softened their expressions, smiling warmly as they pushed the plate back. They even added some food to it, saying, “You eat, you eat. I just can’t stand this kid’s arrogant attitude. Here, eat more. Look how thin you are. You need to eat more. Otherwise, how will you withstand this kid pushing you around?”

“Pfft. Cough cough…” Murong Qiufeng nearly choked on his saliva. Thankfully, he wasn’t eating at the time, or the embarrassment would have been even greater. He could only cover his mouth, coughing incessantly, his face flushed crimson.

Shangguan Ye, feeling sorry for him, hurriedly patted his back while narrowing his eyes at the Snow Demon Sage, who wore an innocent expression. “Master Xue, Master Bai. It’s getting late. Finish your meal and let’s depart.” He rarely addressed them as master or senior master—mainly because the two elders disliked it.

After catching his breath, Murong Qiufeng shot Shangguan Ye a glare before taking a sip of tea. Whatever. Dignity and pride? Probably didn’t have much left of those anyway.

Suddenly, a figure streaked toward them.

Murong Qiufeng turned his head to look. Shangguan Ye, however, calmly took advantage of the distraction to make a pass. The Snow Demon Sage casually flicked his sleeve, as if merely brushing off dust.

Outside, the person hurled toward them didn’t even touch the curtain as they approached. As if colliding with a solid wall, he bounced back, crashing to the floor and smashing another table.

This sudden commotion instantly silenced the chaotic crowd. All movements ceased as eyes turned toward the curtain. Only faint, blurred silhouettes could be discerned through the fabric.

Everyone exchanged glances, staring at the figure on the floor whose condition was unclear. Their eyes held added caution, gravity, and a mix of worry and fear.

After a long silence, the burly man who had started the trouble stepped forward first. He bowed his hands in a slightly respectful gesture. “We apologize for disturbing your meal, honored elder. Please forgive our offense.”

They had indeed seen someone inside earlier. But because several wore silk caps, they seemed rather conspicuous. One appeared to be an elder, silver threads visible in his hair. This gesture now led them to believe it must have come from that elder. After all, such profound cultivation could only come from someone over sixty years old.

“When you’ve finished your commotion, leave. Don’t linger here and obstruct the view,” the snow demon elder remarked indifferently, continuing to eat leisurely.

Yet that single, soft, and seemingly calm utterance caused every face outside to change. Though it was clearly the voice of a gentle woman, to their ears it felt like a violent jolt.

Many exchanged glances, several instinctively retreating, wanting to leave. They all knew the people inside were not to be trifled with. If a mere woman possessed such formidable power, the others likely weren’t far behind. Especially that old man.

The atmosphere grew heavy. The remaining crowd prepared to depart.

“Hold on. Before you go, compensate the shop for its losses,” Murong Qiufeng suddenly added.

Murong Qiufeng’s voice was clear and gentle, carrying a hint of softness. Yet to their ears, it held none of that now. It felt like a death sentence. They scrambled to push their way out, some obediently leaving silver coins on the counter. Soon, only three or four remained, including the burly man.