Xiao Shan’s gaze flickered towards a corner on the second floor, a cold glint in his eyes.
He stood up, leaping with a single bound. Amidst the gasps of the crowd, he agilely scaled the railing and ascended to the second floor. Then, with lightning speed, he rushed to the corner and apprehended someone who had no time to escape.
The person had an ordinary face, pale from a lack of sunlight, and half-finished paintings in their hands.
Xiao Shan looked at the unfinished artwork. "Are you sure he won't punish you for painting it like this?"
"Your... Your Excellency General Shenwu, this servant, this servant was merely following orders," the secret guard forced himself to remain calm.
Caught!
Would it be a severed hand or foot this time?
"It's too ugly! Tell him the Divine Maiden has nothing to do with him anymore! Don't disgust people with that cheap familial affection! Scram!"
Xiao Shan tore the painting and kicked the secret guard.
It seemed he needed to send Xing Mei to cause some trouble elsewhere, to distract that fool.
The secret guard, having narrowly escaped with his life, felt immense relief and fled, covered in a cold sweat.
Xiao Shan returned to the main hall and saw two more plates of chicken legs placed on Ling Yao’s table.
Again?
The waiter beamed. "Sir, these weren't served by us. They were ordered by guests over there."
He pointed to guests two tables away. A fat man, smiling like a Maitreya Buddha, grinned and waved at Xiao Shan.
Looking beside him, even though the young man was trying to hide his face, Xiao Shan recognized him instantly – the same fellow who had made advances on Ling Yao that day!
Truly a persistent nuisance!
If it was free food, why would he need to be treated?
He then looked at Ling Yao, who had already eaten almost a whole plate!
Did she have no sense?
"Who is it?"
She asked Xiao Shan while eating, not wasting a bit, even crunching on the soft cartilage around the leg bones, as if her teeth wouldn't break!
"Who else could it be, your..."
Before he could finish, a woman leaning in interrupted him.
"Brave sir, your skills are impressive. I... I fancy you and will grant you the position of my personal bodyguard."
The woman was veiled, revealing only her eyes. Her affected tone was utterly repulsive. Xiao Shan didn't even look at her, merely taking a handkerchief to wipe the oil from Ling Yao's lips.
But Ling Yao was displeased. She threw the chicken bone in her hand directly onto the woman, eliciting a shriek.
"A toad trying to eat swan meat!"
Xiao Shan was delighted by this remark.
Had he, one day, become a swan?
A black swan?
"Presumptuous!"
The burly man beside the woman, with eyes like copper bells, protectively shielded her. With a fierce expression, he was about to slam his hand down on Ling Yao's table, but Xiao Shan grabbed his wrist. With a surge of strength, he flung the man away like a kite.
The surrounding people scattered. The man, disoriented, had a foolish look on his fierce face.
"Wow! No wonder the little immortal eats so much, it must be from her father! With such divine strength, how could she eat little?"
The diners craned their necks to watch.
This burly man, weighing at least 200 pounds, was casually tossed away like this! It was truly eye-opening. The money spent today was well worth it!
"Father, I want to learn martial arts too," the young boy swallowed.
This way, he could protect the little fairy.
The plump official nodded absently, his gaze fervent. "Ah, ah, learn, learn."
His household was in need of a guard. He wondered how much silver it would take to hire this mighty warrior?
The veiled woman was startled by Xiao Shan's action. She dropped her pretense and took a few steps back, her voice forcing calmness. "How dare you! Do you know..."
She began to doubt Xiao Shan's identity again and felt the situation was unfavorable, wanting to leave. However, before she could finish her blustering words, Young Master Du beside her chimed in.
"Do you know the identity of this esteemed person! You are truly audacious! How many heads do you have to lose!"
The woman secretly lamented and ran to the burly man, whispering, "Leave quickly! We cannot provoke this person!"
"Oh? And what is their identity?" Xiao Shan sneered, his sharp eyes like an unsheathed sword fixed on Young Master Du.
"Perhaps an actor?" Ling Yao mumbled.
Putting on airs, changing their guise.
Laughter erupted from the surroundings.
Young Master Du, chilled by Xiao Shan's gaze, couldn't help but roar upon hearing Ling Yao's childish voice and the surrounding mockery, "Ignorant child! That is the current Divine Maiden and General Shenwu!"
The laughter abruptly ceased.
The Divine Maiden? General Shenwu?
This was no laughing matter, and no one dared to laugh anymore.
The veiled woman and the burly man, who had been halfway to leaving and clutching his waist, froze in place.
Young Master Du, his face full of panic, ran over. "General, Divine Maiden, it is not that this servant intentionally revealed your identities. It is simply that these uncivilized commoners are too ignorant, and this servant could not help himself."
The woman coughed dryly. "Forget it. This empress will not quibble with commoners. However, I truly have no appetite to dine. Let us go!"
"Steward Chen, look at the mess you've made!" Young Master Du glared fiercely at Steward Chen.
Steward Chen: "..."
Is it really the Divine Maiden and the General?
"Wait a moment!" Ling Yao ran over to block the two, her tender face filled with pure innocence.
"Are you the Divine Maiden?"
She looked at the woman's white attire and the so-called General Shenwu's black attire. Were they just dressing up to swindle people?
They should at least spend some money on more regal clothes!
"Little girl, this empress is on a tour in disguise. Please do not shout so loudly." The woman pinched her voice, trying her best to appear delicate.
However, her eyes were filled with impatience. She was extremely wary of Xiao Shan standing behind her and wished to leave this place immediately.
"Then show me your divinity."
Steward Chen wished he could give a thumbs up. The little immortal child was just a child. If the Divine Maiden was benevolent, she surely wouldn't bother with a child, assuming she truly was the Divine Maiden.
Xiao Shan gritted his back teeth. This remark sounded somewhat familiar?
The woman's eyes flickered, her expression darkening. The burly man again revealed a fierce demeanor, his hand inadvertently brushing aside the hem of his robe, revealing a waist token.
Xiao Shan sighed: It's one thing to imitate the Divine Maiden, but at least she's veiled and can't be seen. This fool imitating him, glaring and puffing out his chest, is just too ugly. Wasn't he called the God of Slaughter, not for scaring people with his looks?
"Your, the Divine Maiden's abilities are not something you can demand to see!"
Young Master Du was truly exasperated by these fools!
He shouldn't have come to the Dongfeng Wine House today. Steward Chen was usually perceptive, but today he was like a block of wood. Offending this esteemed person, he'd surely face consequences!
Xiao Shan reached out, and the waist token from the burly man was in his hand. "General Shenwu's waist token?"
"You know it well. This general values talent and will not hold it against you today!" the man said proudly.
Scared, weren't you?
However, the waist token landed on the ground with a clatter. A large foot stomped on it, and it shattered into pieces.
"General Shenwu's waist token was bestowed by the late Emperor. It is made of gold mixed with ten or more materials such as profound iron, ivory, and jade. It is impervious to blades and fire. Are you not being a bit too flippant, coming out here to swindle people with a piece of scrap metal?"
Xiao Shan's fierce eyes slowly turned towards the woman, who was now trembling like a sieve.
"What is the crime for impersonating the Divine Maiden?"