At this moment, Bao Shou and his group of dog-legged followers were having a lavish feast on the second floor of the grand Qingfeng Tower. Naturally, the entire second floor was strictly reserved for noble guests of extremely high status!
"Brother Shou, this spiritual food is truly countless times better than the garbage found back in Mingyue City!" a lackey couldn't help but say in awe.
Bao Shou merely gave him a sideways glance, looking at him as if he were staring at an ignorant country bumpkin. This gaze instantly made the speaker flush with embarrassment.
However, even he felt that this meal was far better than what was served in the Bao Clan!
Suddenly, a terrifying, suffocating spiritual pressure swept through the entire second floor!
A loud, unquestionable voice instantly rang out, echoing like thunder. "I request all esteemed guests vacate the floor! An extremely esteemed guest has arrived. My Qingfeng Tower will naturally compensate everyone generously for this inconvenience."
Hearing this, the expressions of many people drastically changed. They immediately stood up and hurriedly prepared to leave. After all, if this mysterious guest possessed such heaven-defying status that they could make the proud Qingfeng Tower clear the floor and give them such face, what could they possibly do to resist?
Bao Shou, however, was greatly shocked! His eyes widened in disbelief.
This was the first time in his entire life he had encountered a situation where he was forced to compromise for someone else! Relying on his status as the Young Master of the Bao Clan, he was accustomed to bullying others. When had he ever yielded to anyone?
Instantly, his face flushed with anger. He furiously slammed the table and roared, "Is this the way Qingfeng Tower treats its paying guests?! I demand a clear explanation right now!"
The fleeing passersby couldn't help but halt their footsteps and stare at Bao Shou as if looking at a complete, brain-dead idiot.
Did this country bumpkin not know that Qingfeng Tower was firmly backed by the Xuantian Sect?! Who in this entire city dared to publicly claim they could afford to offend the Xuantian Sect? This kid was simply impatient to reincarnate!
Soon, that same deep voice sounded out again, laced with a bone-chilling coldness. "Oh? You need an explanation? Very well! Let this old master give you a proper explanation!"
Boom!
A vast, terrifying pressure descended from the heavens, viciously smashing directly onto Bao Shou's shoulders like a towering mountain!
"Urgh!" Bao Shou let out a miserable grunt of pain. Unable to resist in the slightest, his knees heavily smashed into the solid floorboards!
His arrogant face finally twisted into an expression of pure and endless fear. He was merely a second-generation young master who entirely relied on his family's status to look down on others. When had he ever been forcefully suppressed to his knees by a true expert?
Extreme unwillingness furiously boiled in his heart, but he wasn't a total idiot. Facing this terrifying aura, his arrogant heart completely collapsed! He instantly learned his lesson.
"Senior! I... I apologize! Please give face to the Bao Clan and let this junior's mistake go!" Bao Shou screamed, his voice trembling violently.
Having no other choice, he could only desperately bang his forehead against the hard floor repeatedly!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He ruthlessly kowtowed until his forehead split open and fresh blood started to flow! The surrounding passersby didn't feel a single ounce of pity for him. After all, who told this arrogant fool to blindly offend the mighty Qingfeng Tower?
Bao Shou felt like he was going completely crazy. Extreme, agonizing pain flared with every single bang of his head, but he simply didn't dare to stop! Compared to his pitiful pride, he still desperately wanted to keep his life!
Finally, the terrifying pressure firmly pinning him down vanished into thin air.
Bao Shou directly collapsed onto the bloody ground like a dead dog, heavily panting for breath.
His terrified servants quickly scrambled forward, grabbing his arms and frantically dragging him down the stairs. They were terrified of getting into any more trouble!
Meanwhile, inside an incredibly luxurious VIP room located on the first floor—a special room strictly reserved for special noble guests—sat Meng Yao, Xu Xing, and a painfully thin girl dressed in tattered rags.
"What is taking them so incredibly long? Usually, they clear out much faster than this," Meng Yao grumbled, her beautiful brows knitting together in slight annoyance.
Just a few minutes ago, Xu Xing and Meng Yao had noticed this little girl standing outside the grand Qingfeng Tower. She was tightly clutching her stomach, her large, watery eyes staring at the steaming food through the window.
Noticing the little girl's painfully thin figure, looking as if she hadn't swallowed a single grain of rice for days, a surge of pity swelled in Meng Yao's heart.
She immediately suggested taking the poor girl inside with them. Xu Xing naturally agreed without hesitation, leading to the present situation.
"Senior Sister, how exactly did you get your hands on a VIP card for Qingfeng Tower?" Xu Xing asked. He was very curious.
"Oh, this?" Meng Yao casually raised a pitch-black token. The token was clearly forged from an extremely precious material, looking incredibly elegant and profound.
She let out a mischievous giggle. "Hehehe... I stole it from Master's vault!"
"What?!" Xu Xing's eyes widened, completely dumbfounded. He thought his ears were playing tricks on him.
But after repeatedly confirming her proud expression, he finally realized his Senior Sister had actually dared to boldly steal from their Master!
Still, Xu Xing didn't dislike this action at all. After all, wasn't he currently reaping the benefits? Now that they were thoroughly partners in crime, he would help her conceal this secret!
Xu Xing then shifted his gaze, glancing at the thin figure of the girl sitting timidly beside him. She was nervously fidgeting with her filthy fingers.
"What is your name?" Xu Xing asked in a gentle voice.
Mu Xinghe felt incredibly nervous, her small heart violently pounding against her chest. After a brief moment of hesitation, she timidly replied, "Mu... Xinghe."
Grumble~
Suddenly, a loud, protesting sound echoed directly from Mu Xinghe's empty stomach! Hearing this, the little girl couldn't help but flush deep scarlet red in embarrassment, wishing she could instantly find a hole to crawl into.
Xu Xing lightly chuckled. "It seems you are truly starving. Let's talk more after you've properly eaten your fill."
They didn't need to wait much longer. A servant soon knocked gently on their door and politely led the trio up to the now-empty second floor.
Xu Xing and Meng Yao casually took their seats at the grand table, while Mu Xinghe remained standing stiffly to the side, terrified of overstepping her bounds. It was only after Meng Yao forcefully pulled her down that the little girl finally dared to sit nervously beside her.
Very soon, various steaming, mouth-watering spiritual dishes were swiftly served. Each exquisite dish radiated a mesmerizing aroma, clearly prepared from precious ingredients that were hundreds or even thousands of years old!
Mu Xinghe had never heard of such delicious food, let alone seen it back in the Bao Clan's estates! Staring at the tasty food, she couldn't help but forcefully gulp down a large mouthful of saliva.
Meng Yao felt that this little girl was truly far too pitiful. So young, yet painfully thin to the point of just skin and bones! Using her chopsticks, she actively grabbed several hot pieces of meat and personally started to feed the girl.
Initially, Mu Xinghe felt extremely embarrassed. But the very second she tasted the flavor, her hunger completely took over! She quickly grabbed her own chopsticks and began to madly devour the food like a starving beast!
Even Xu Xing was eating incredibly quickly. He inwardly sighed in amazement; the food here was truly too damn tasty! He made a decision in his heart to visit this Qingfeng Tower at least twice a month!
After a while, the duo comfortably finished their meal, but Mu Xinghe was still greedily devouring everything in sight. Seeing this somewhat silly scene, Xu Xing and Meng Yao couldn't help but give warm smiles.
Mu Xinghe suddenly seemed to sense their gentle gazes. Her small face turned red with embarrassment, and she slowed down her eating pace.
Only after she had finally eaten her fill did Xu Xing gently ask, "Did you happen to get lost around here? Why were you standing outside all alone?"
Mu Xinghe's body slightly stiffened. She simply wasn't sure how she should explain her miserable situation. She had clearly realized that these two were incredibly rich and were noble cultivators, just like the members of the Bao Clan.
She was terrified that if they discovered she was merely a lowly servant, they would instantly look at her with disgust and hatred!
"I-I did not get lost!" Mu Xinghe stammered, her hands clenching her tattered robes. "My older brother will soon be here to find me..."
Xu Xing and Meng Yao were not fools. They could immediately tell the little girl was lying poorly! They looked at her with questioning gazes.
Realizing her lie had been seen through, she panicked and immediately added, "I-I am actually here with my brothers to participate in the upcoming Xuantian Sect recruitment exam!"
Hearing this, Meng Yao and Xu Xing felt their initial doubts were somewhat answered. But they still keenly felt something was entirely off... If she was truly here with her older brothers, why was her figure so painfully thin and malnourished? They genuinely wanted to help this poor girl.
Mu Xinghe seemed to have noticed their thoughts. Terrified of her lies being further exposed, she hurriedly interrupted, "M-My brothers should be anxiously waiting for me right now! I really need to leave!"
Seeing her resolute attitude, the duo naturally couldn't force her to stay against her will. They could only helplessly escort her back, dropping her off near the inn she led them to.
After gently waving goodbye to the little girl, Xu Xing and Meng Yao turned and left.
As Mu Xinghe slowly walked up the creaking stairs toward her room, she silently reflected upon everything that had happened just now. Her lips unconsciously curved into a slight, beautiful smile.
She truly felt incredibly happy today! Not only did she get to eat a mountain of tasty spiritual food, but she didn't have to worry about beatings or insults while sitting with those two nice brother and sister figures.
"If only... if only every single day could be exactly like this..." she bitterly wished in her heart.
This brief taste of warmth made her even more absolutely determined to pass the Xuantian Sect exam! Only by joining a mighty sect could she and her mother finally experience such a peaceful life every day!
She soon reached the specific room where Bao Shou stayed and gently knocked on the wooden door.
She couldn't help but feel a familiar surge of intense nervousness... But if Bao Shou's temper happened to be good today, she might actually be able to get away without suffering a beating.
Creak.
A bruised servant soon opened the heavy door. However, what Mu Xinghe saw inside instantly made her beautiful eyes widen in pure shock!
Bao Shou was heavily slumped on a chair, his entire head tightly covered in thick, blood-stained bandages! He looked extremely miserable, yet an aura of terrifying anger radiated from his body.
The moment his bloodshot eyes landed on her, he looked at her with a vicious, sadistic gaze—the terrifying look of a predator finally finding a helpless prey to vent its rage upon!
Click!
Mu Xinghe suddenly heard the heavy door firmly lock shut right behind her!
Her small body violently trembled, and she could only gulp heavily in absolute fear. Her large eyes instantly became teary, filled with deep despair.
"Perfect timing, little Xinghe..." Bao Shou's voice was hoarse and laced with extreme, venomous malice. "This Young Master is very angry today!"