The people who were gradually withdrawing stopped in their tracks upon seeing this.
The young man also seemed momentarily surprised, but quickly regained his composure. His gaze fell upon Guo Xiao, who was lying on the ground clutching his arm and screaming. A section of Guo Xiao's arm bone protruded through the flesh, a gruesome sight. A flicker of an unreadable emotion crossed the young man's eyes.
The guards drew their swords upon seeing this.
The young man raised his palm, "Fellow Daoist, why did you strike him?"
Xiao Man ascended the stairs with unhurried grace, not even bothering to look back. "Mind your own dog. If your dog barks everywhere, people will assume it's about to attack. Self-defense is justified. If it gets injured, it's just a lesson. If it dies, it deserved it."
The young man faltered, "I merely fancied the young Earth-Splitting Bear cub in your arms. I wasn't going to refuse payment. Why must you injure him!"
Xiao Man reached the second floor, paused, and turned around, looking down at the young man below. "I want your life. How much money would it take for you to give me your life?"
The guards, who had already been eyeing her menacingly, uniformly pointed their sword tips at Xiao Man, awaiting the young man's command to strike her down on the spot.
"You want my life?"
"What use is your life?" Xiao Man retorted. "Taking what belongs to others without asking is theft. Asking and being refused, then resorting to force, makes you bandits, doesn't it?"
"My young master fancies..."
"I don't care for such flattery," Xiao Man interrupted the guard. "If you feel it's unfair, feel free to try and take it by force."
"Xiao Qin, you are too presumptuous!" Just then, Elder Lai entered with his men, approaching the young man and bowing respectfully. "Lai Zhongjie of the Cang Lang Sect greets Young Master Mu."
Xiao Man narrowed her eyes. The surname Mu… could he be a young master from one of the Five Great Families, the Mu family?
"Is she a disciple of your Cang Lang Sect?"
"Replying to Young Master, no, she is a disciple of the Hundred Medicines Hall."
"Hundred Medicines Hall." Mu Qi furrowed his brow slightly. Among the Seven Sects, the only one he held in any regard was Lu Qing of the Hundred Medicines Hall. His family had put considerable effort into recruiting Lu Qing in the past, but the man remained indifferent to their offers, content to stay at the Hundred Medicines Hall. Su Dan Novel Network.
"Do you know Lu Qing of the Hundred Medicines Hall?"
"What if I do, what if I don't?" Xiao Man asked casually, gently stroking the Earth-Splitting Bear cub in her arms.
"Xiao Qin, Young Master is asking you a question. What kind of attitude is this?"
Xiao Man's gaze turned cold, her sharp eyes piercing towards Lai Zhongjie. Lai Zhongjie shivered, intimidated by Xiao Man's stare, and took two steps back. Realizing his reaction was amiss, he strode forward again.
"Xiao Qin, do not be so arrogant. Normally, when you talk back to elders, we tolerate it out of respect for your master. However, you cannot act out in front of Young Master."
"Did I tell you to speak?" Mu Qi reprimanded with displeasure. Though young, he was not foolish. The person upstairs was only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, yet the Golden Core stage Lai Zhongjie seemed to fear her. This indicated either considerable skill or a powerful backer.
"Young Master, this Xiao Qin has always been overbearing, she..."
"Enough, do I not see her overbearing nature?" Mu Qi said coldly, glancing at Guo Xiao, who was getting up from the ground, with a hint of disappointment. Guo Xiao turned his face away in shame, unable to meet Mu Qi's gaze.
"You are Xiao Qin? I am Mu Qi." Mu Qi was also shrewd. "My guard was rude, and I apologize on his behalf. However, I am indeed very fond of the young Earth-Splitting Bear cub you have. Would you be willing to part with it?"
"Apologies, I cannot."
"That is truly a pity." Mu Qi sighed deeply. "I see this Demonic Beast cub is not yet contracted, and your cultivation is only mid-stage Foundation Establishment. Carrying an uncontracted Demonic Beast cub is not advisable. You… should be more careful."
"Thank you for the reminder." Xiao Man replied, then turned and went back inside.
The innkeeper, seeing the farce conclude, brought the food and goat milk upstairs to Xiao Man's room. He then had Mu Qi and his entourage settled before wiping the cold sweat from his brow.
"Shopkeeper, are there any more rooms?" Elder Lai was seething. This young master Mu was not one to suffer indignity. Xiao Man had publicly embarrassed him, and this young master would surely not let it go. He intended to stay and watch the show, and perhaps, when Xiao Man was in trouble, he could add insult to injury.
"Immortal Master, I am very sorry, but all the rooms in this humble establishment have been booked by that young master."
Elder Lai choked. He dared not contend with a young master from the Mu family for a room. Although he wished to stay and witness the drama, doing so too obviously might invite Xiao Man's attention and retribution before Mu Qi could act. After some deliberation, he chose to leave.
As Elder Lai departed, the entire inn fell quiet.
The guards had hot water brought in, and a maid helped Mu Qi bathe and change. "Is Young Master unhappy?"
"Zi Lan, what do you think of Xiao Qin?"
"This servant cannot fathom her. If you say she is arrogant and overbearing, she doesn't seem to be unreasonable. If you say she is haughty, she has a certain restraint. Furthermore, she shows no fear of Young Master's status. Even that Elder from the Cang Lang Sect was respectful to Young Master, yet she displayed no subservience."
"You like her," Mu Qi stated with certainty.
"Young Master jokes. This servant is merely offering an objective evaluation."
"I like her," Mu Qi continued. "For so many years, everyone has looked at me as if I were a monster. Now, to encounter someone who looks at me as a normal person… it has been a long time since that happened."
The maid did not reply. Their young master had peculiar habits. In private, they referred to Mu Qi and two others as "eccentrics," not just for their talent but also for their temperaments. All three were prodigious geniuses, yet their personalities were exceedingly strange. Even as she served Mu Qi closely, she harbored a deep sense of fear.
"This time, the appearance of a divine dragon in the Dong Yue Forest has attracted many to investigate. I am merely an alchemist. What use can I be here? I am merely joining the excitement." Mu Qi fiddled with a small braid hanging down, then suddenly smiled. "Send one of the Void Entering Pills I refined to Xiao Qin."
Upon hearing this, the maid immediately took the pill box Mu Qi handed her and turned to leave expressionlessly to deliver the message.
Mu Qi, leaning against the edge of the bathtub, curved his lips into an intrigued smile. "The Void Entering Pill is beneficial for cultivators at the late stage of Foundation Establishment to form a Golden Core. Although Xiao Qin is only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, she will eventually reach the stage of forming a core. This Void Entering Pill will be useful. A single Void Entering Pill is worth a fortune. Xiao Qin, after accepting my Void Entering Pill, how will you repay me?"