"Young Proprietress, this... this can't be right?!"
"I've always heard the Xianzhou's tea culture is deeply rooted in history and that their hospitality is renowned throughout the Cosmos."
"But how on earth did things turn out like this when I came here?!"
"Am I not a guest? Am I not a guest?! Am I a guest or not?!"
As the group drew closer to The Sleepless Earl, the sound of Scott's heated argument with the young proprietress grew clearer.
"G-Guest... sir, it's like this... at our establishment..." the young proprietress stammered, attempting to explain.
But before she could utter more than a few words, Scott's anxious, bewildered, and indignant voice cut through her thoughts again.
"Don't call me 'Guest'! You don't even see me as a guest!"
"Is my request really so unreasonable? Not too hot, not too cold—just the right temperature? Is that really asking too much?"
"What heinous crime have I committed? Why is the Xianzhou, famed for its hospitality throughout the Cosmos, singling me out like this?!"
Scott roared, his voice cracking with anguish, as if rebelling against the injustice of fate itself.
"And another thing, this tea tastes like mud! How dare you charge me for this swill?"
"Are you just bullying an honest man? You're bullying an honest man!!!"
"Huff..."
Having vented his frustrations, Scott took a deep breath, calming down slightly.
"Stelle, do you hear that barking?" March 7th asked loudly, feigning confusion as she approached Scott and the Young Proprietress of The Sleepless Earl. Instead of immediately throwing a punch, she amplified her voice to make sure her words carried.
"Yeah, I hear it," Stelle replied, playing along perfectly. "It's a dog named Scott, yapping non-stop."
As well-coordinated members of the Astral Express Crew, March 7th initiated the confrontation, and Stelle naturally followed suit.
Their loud exchange ensured Scott heard every word clearly.
"Oh, look who it is—a couple of righteous heroes rushing to the rescue!" Scott sneered, his simmering anger reigniting at the sarcastic tone.
He turned to face the source of the voices, spotting Yanqing, Yunli, March 7th, and Stelle.
When he saw them, Scott's eyes narrowed behind his sunglasses. He frantically scanned his surroundings, glancing left and right, and let out a faint sigh of relief when he didn't spot a certain pure-white figure.
Five small children and a plain, even slightly clueless-looking woman. Scott's worries quickly dissipated.
Lumina: ...
Is this guy badmouthing me in his head?
Though Scott's eyes were hidden behind sunglasses, they couldn't escape Lumina's perception.
The disdain in Scott's eyes as he looked at her was unmistakable.
Clearly, Scott was judging people based solely on appearances.
Plain looks must mean a plain, unremarkable person.
Lumina disliked this feeling. So...
So next time I go shopping, I won't bother with being plain. If I have to disguise myself, I'll transform into a super invincible, adorable beautiful girl!
Snapping out of her thoughts, Lumina focused her gaze back on Scott.
"Mr. Scott, I am Yanqing, Cloud Knight Lieutenant. Please refrain from causing trouble in public."
"Ha?" Scott immediately adopted an expression that said, "Are you sure you've got the right guy?" "Trouble? Am I causing trouble? I don't think so. I'm just a regular customer giving the Boss feedback about the terrible tea."
"How is it that, in your version of events, I'm the one causing trouble?"
"If the Cloud Knights are so fond of twisting truth and prioritizing their own kind, I doubt anyone across the Galaxy will dare come to the Luofu for tea anymore."
With Lumina absent, Scott felt no reason to fear the Cloud Knights. He planted his hands on his hips and, speaking from the perspective of a regular tourist, gestured dismissively at the Cloud Knights.
"But your behavior is severely disrupting the normal operations of The Sleepless Earl," Lumina countered, noticing the growing crowd of onlookers. "You've crossed the line from ordinary customer to a nuisance, and you're certainly not acting like a normal tourist."
Xianzhou people from all walks of life had gathered around, whispering and pointing at the scene and The Sleepless Earl.
For the Long-Life Species of the Xianzhou, nothing was more enticing than stumbling upon a juicy bit of gossip during their leisurely strolls.
Moreover, the Luofu was teeming with sensationalist media accounts. If this incident escalated, they would pounce, twisting the story beyond recognition and fabricating details to generate sensational headlines—the kind of clickbait that could make one wish they were an orphan.
Ultimately, this could severely damage The Sleepless Earl's reputation and business.
"Ha? How am I just an ordinary consumer? How am I not a normal tourist?" Scott retorted, his gaze snapping to the unremarkable woman before him—ordinary from head to toe, with not a single standout feature.
"I ordered tea that didn't match its advertised description. I wanted it neither too hot nor too cold, just the right temperature, but they couldn't even get that right."
"I'm simply standing up for my rights. Is that considered causing trouble?" Scott scoffed, crossing his arms.
He then sized Lumina up and down, his expression puzzled. "And who are you anyway? I'm talking to the Young Proprietress and the Cloud Knights. What's it to you? Go mind your own business!"
Having found no trace of Cloud Knight affiliation on Lumina, Scott dismissed her as just another bystander. He waved her aside, telling her to stop meddling.
"Uh..." The others, except for Yunli, wore expressions of stunned disbelief at Scott's brash words. None of them had expected him to speak so disrespectfully to Lumina.
"Um, Sister Lumina," March 7th asked, after snapping out of her daze and glancing at Scott, "did you... use some kind of disguise when Scott saw you?" She leaned closer to Lumina.
"Yes," Lumina nodded lightly. "In his eyes, I'm just an ordinary woman, nothing special about me."
"No wonder," March 7th nodded, her small face wearing a "I knew it!" expression.
Just think about Scott's reaction when Sister Lumina first appeared at the Artisanship Commission. If he knew who she really was, he'd never dare say such offensive things.
Still...
Even if Scott doesn't know who she is, his rude words toward Sister Lumina have already sealed his fate! March 7th thought coldly, resolving to teach Scott a proper lesson.
But before March 7th could act, a certain blue-haired individual lunged forward, furiously raising their claws as if to tear Scott to shreds.
"Ugh..."
But before those claws could strike, Lumina, with lightning reflexes, grabbed the attacker by the collar mid-air and yanked them back.
"Calm down, Little Swarm. No violence is allowed on the Luofu," Lumina murmured gently to the slightly agitated creature.
Just as March 7th had suspected, the moment Scott uttered such insulting words to Lumina, Little Swarm had already marked him for death.
You can insult anyone, but never the Great Creator!
"Mm-hmm..." Under Lumina's soothing whispers, Little Swarm gradually calmed down, nodding obediently.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing? Want to get violent?" Scott shouted, glaring at the blue-haired girl who looked ready to tear him apart. "Cloud Knights! Arrest them immediately!"
"Forget the Cloud Knights," March 7th retorted, planting her hands on her hips and glancing at Yanqing. "The Cloud Knights are right here with us." She turned back to Scott. "Listen up, buddy. If you dare bully the Young Proprietress again, don't blame my sword if it disagrees!" She lifted the longsword at her hip, delivering a clear threat.
Though March 7th longed to teach Scott a proper lesson, they were currently in the Luofu's most bustling district, making a public confrontation unwise.
If that's the case, she thought, I'll just have to find a reason.
A reason to thoroughly beat Scott and avenge the insults he hurled at the Young Proprietress and Sister Lumina!