After the battle concluded, Li Dixian met with Xue Qinghe and then with the Dugu grandfather and granddaughter who had returned from hunting for spirit rings.
Xue Qinghe invited him to meet at Lotus Lake tomorrow morning.
Dugu Yan had gathered delicious mountain delicacies in Star Dou Forest and asked him to come taste them in the afternoon.
As for the Ye family… he had no good feelings towards Madam Ye, who was overly controlling.
However, Ye Lingling invited him to the same noodle shop again tomorrow night.
When the girl's clear blue eyes looked at him, the refusal on Li Dixian's lips ultimately remained unspoken.
The next day.
The weather was a bit dim, with a touch of coolness.
Li Dixian arrived at Lotus Lake as agreed and stayed with Xue Qinghe until noon.
After they parted, he held a delicate parasol in his hand.
At the same time.
Inside a courtyard in the Imperial City.
"Get out!"
"All of you, get out of here!"
"A bunch of useless people!"
Zhao Wuji cursed at the doctors.
After chasing away the sixth group of helpless doctors, he gritted his teeth, trembling as he looked at Ma Hongjun, who lay unconscious and mutilated on the bed.
"Ruined..."
"Ruined..."
"Ma Hongjun's entire life is ruined..."
Qin Ming, standing to the side, looked dejected and said in a low voice,
"Teacher Zhao..."
"I have already sent someone to Soto City."
"The Dean and the others... will arrive soon."
Zhao Wuji closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When he opened his eyes again, they were bloodshot and terrifying, but his voice was unusually calm.
"Qin Ming, who is Jian Jiu?"
Qin Ming's expression stiffened.
"Teacher..."
"Don't tell me you don't know!"
Zhao Wuji interrupted him sharply.
"You are the youngest Heaven Dou-level teacher in Huangdou Academy!"
"With your connections, don't tell me you can't find out Jian Jiu's identity!"
"Qin Ming..."
Zhao Wuji said each word distinctly.
"If you still remember our past teacher-student relationship..."
"If you still remember that you are a graduate of Shrek..."
"Then tell me."
A look of struggle flashed across Qin Ming's face.
Finally, it turned into a helpless sigh.
"I... I do know..."
"It looks like it's going to rain."
Dark clouds covered the sun in the sky, hinting at an approaching storm.
Ye Lingling held two umbrellas, standing quietly on the arched bridge, gazing at the misty lake.
From a distance, she saw the figure in white.
Her delicate face remained cool.
But a faint light seemed to flicker in her blue eyes.
"Let's go."
"Are we still going to that noodle shop?"
"Yes, I need to hear how that Storyteller is slandering me."
Ye Lingling secretly glanced at Li Dixian.
He said he was being slandered, but the curve of his lips couldn't be suppressed.
"Oh, young lady, why are you here again? This is your third bowl of noodles today."
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, Li Dixian looked up at Ye Lingling.
The girl's expression was outwardly cool, but her slender hands, hidden in her sleeves, were tightly clenched.
She had come twice that morning because her previous performance with Li Dixian had not been good.
So, today she had specifically "practiced" twice beforehand.
"One bowl of hot soup noodles, one side dish, two cloves of garlic."
"He and I..."
"Wait a moment."
Li Dixian's gaze returned from the Storyteller and landed on Ye Lingling's delicate face.
"Ye Lingling, you don't need to cater to me."
Ye Lingling blinked her blue eyes.
Li Dixian reached out and moved the oil and vinegar bottle that was between them, saying earnestly,
"I don't know exactly what your mother said to you."
"But you really don't need to work so hard to cater to me."
"You are..."
At this point, Li Dixian faltered.
He frowned, racking his brains, but couldn't find any suitable inspirational advice.
"You ask me to comprehend swords, brew wine, and I can do it with ease."
"But advising people... it's so hard."
Ye Lingling rested her chin on her hand, looking at the conflicted Li Dixian, and a faint smile appeared on her delicate face.
How amusing.
Yesterday, with the Soul Arena battle imminent, Li Dixian was still talking about sweet plums.
Today, just advising her made him so troubled.
At this moment.
Outside the small stall's oilcloth canopy, a light rain began to fall.
Two birds nestled together on the banner pole hanging at the stall entrance, used to attract customers.
One bird held a leaf in its beak, trying to shield the other bird from the rain.
Ye Lingling watched this scene and suddenly said softly,
"Li Dixian, are you worried about me?"
"Hmm?"
Li Dixian, who was still struggling with inspirational advice, looked puzzled.
Ye Lingling pointed her slender finger at the banner pole.
"Just like them."
"Come on, you're really something."
His noodles were served.
Li Dixian exhaled, mumbling,
"They are lovebirds."
"You and I, well, we're friends."
"I'm not good at those persuasive words."
"I just want to tell you that you don't need to cater to anyone, including your mother."
Li Dixian swallowed the noodles in his mouth and looked at Ye Lingling.
"For example..."
"Today, you are not allowed to order the same as me."
"Eat whatever you like."
"Eat whatever you want."
"Oh."
Ye Lingling lowered her head, twisting the corner of her clothes without speaking.
Li Dixian ignored her.
He ate his noodles, listening to the Storyteller across the street, whose words flowed like a torrent, through the dense curtain of rain.
Every now and then, he would chime in with a "Good!"
Ye Lingling looked up at him several times, wanting to speak but hesitating.
"Still haven't decided what to eat?"
Li Dixian looked helplessly at his nearly empty bowl.
"I'm almost finished."
Ye Lingling's voice was soft and weak, with a hint of grievance.
"But... but I just want to eat hot soup noodles."
"You won't let me."
While accompanying Ye Lingling for noodles, the Storyteller began an interesting anecdote.
"Honored guests, what do you say?"
"This old man believes that Lord Jian Jiu probably knows me!"
The audience immediately burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha, what the hell are you?"
"Even the Ye family, Poison Douluo, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince went to support Jian Jiu; you old man, have you gone mad from storytelling?"
The Storyteller slapped the gavel.
"Not so!"
"Last night, the Soul Arena was packed, and this old man's brush flew, writing furiously!"
"Suddenly, a gold coin shot through the air, split the brush in my hand, and landed directly in my chest!"
"This old man quickly looked up—"
"And guess what?"
The guests were curious, craning their necks and pricking up their ears.
"What?"
The Storyteller lowered his voice:
"I saw a white-robed figure disappearing into the depths of the corridor. If it wasn't Lord Jian Jiu, who had just defeated the scruffy Fire Phoenix, who else could it be!!!"
This was too ridiculous.
The guests laughed and cursed as they dispersed.
"Hey, son of a bitch!"
"I've already loosened my pants, and you say this?!"
"Finished eating?"
Li Dixian and Ye Lingling got up to leave.
As they reached the entrance, Li Dixian suddenly remembered something.
He flicked his finger.
Another gold coin spun and landed on the Storyteller's counter.
The rain was getting heavier.
The Storyteller wanted to go home early today.
His grandson wanted crispy pastries from across the street, and he couldn't forget that.
The Storyteller muttered to himself.
Suddenly, he caught sight of the bright yellow gold coin on the table.
His eyes nearly popped out.
After parting ways with Ye Lingling, Li Dixian walked home under his umbrella.
The rain fell more and more heavily.
The world was a vast white curtain of water, and raindrops rolled in strings from the edge of his umbrella.
Returning to his small courtyard, he pushed open the door.
Just as the door was about to close, Li Dixian's gaze passed through the narrowing gap, looking out at the low-hanging, leaden clouds outside, dark as night.
"A storm is brewing..."
At midnight, the torrential rain poured down as if the entire world was being overturned.
Outside Li Dixian's courtyard gate, a burly figure in a coir raincoat, carrying a killing intent colder than the chilling rain, arrived unexpectedly, standing silently in the downpour.
These two chapters are suitable to be posted together, which is why it's a bit late.
There will be another chapter tonight! Thanks to all the readers!