"You bet!"
"A great day to see you off!"
Bai Ziye wore a gentle, smiling expression while viciously grinding his heel against Lin Yujin's foot under the table.
Lin Yujin's eyes welled up with tears. "Master, you know I've been away from my mother since I was a child."
Hua Buxiu: "......"
So what?
What does you being away from your mother have to do with a table full of food?
Besides, did these four little brutes dare to hide private money behind his back?
With so many dishes, it must have cost a pretty penny in Spirit Stones!
This was all his money!
Hua Buxiu held firmly to the belief that what belonged to his disciples was his, and what was his remained his.
His heart ached terribly.
Instantly losing his pleasant mood, he raised the arch of his brow and gave a cold, chilly laugh. "Speak like a human!"
Lin Yujin's tears vanished immediately.
"Look at how you've been both father and mother to the four of us, raising us all by yourself. It just so happens your birthday is in two months, so wouldn't you know, we wanted to celebrate early for you?"
Su Qingliu: "......"
You absolute blockhead! You didn't need to say that last part!
Hua Buxiu's birthday was obviously three months away!
Bai Ziye: "......"
I told you to act, not add your own scenes!
Besides, Hua Buxiu's birthday was obviously four months away!
Jiang Xianwan: "......"
There's just no carrying these teammates.
Though, come to think of it, is Hua Buxiu's birthday in two months?
By then, I suppose no one will be celebrating it with him anymore, will they?
How pathetic.
"Oh?"
Hua Buxiu's pair of captivating peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly, dragging out his tone.
With a look that was neither a smile nor a sneer, he swept his gaze across his four disciples, who were standing in a row and unusually straight and proper for once.
Su Qingliu had only been here for ten months.
Bai Ziye had only been here for nine months.
Lin Yujin had only been here for eight months.
Jiang Xianwan had only been here for six months.
When on earth had he raised them through all the mess and trouble?
Besides, his birthday was clearly today!
A bunch of blockheads!
Were these four little brutes trying to trick him again?
"Is that so..."
"Come, sit."
Hua Buxiu lowered his eyelids indifferently, his fingertips tapping rhythmically against the tabletop.
The four of them exchanged glances, their expressions unchanged as they calmly took their seats.
Don't panic.
As long as Hua Hua takes a single bite of their food, it will definitely make him pass out cold!
Bai Ziye wore a sweet smile while viciously grinding his heel into Lin Yujin's foot under the table once more.
Lin Yujin bared his teeth, continued to well up with tears, and delivered his lines through them. "H-Hua, M-Master, can we eat now?"
Hua Buxiu rested his chin lazily in his hand, an inscrutable glint in his eyes. "Eat up, my good disciples."
He wanted to see what these four blockheads were up to!
Lin Yujin quickly picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a bite from every single dish, and shoved it into his mouth.
Hua Buxiu was somewhat baffled.
Still, seeing that the expressions of his four wicked disciples remained normal, he smiled affectionately.
"Good disciples, don't stand on ceremony. Dig in."
Su Qingliu and the other two picked up their chopsticks in unison, executing the movement with impeccable neatness.
They devoured the food like a whirlwind sweeping through the clouds.
Hua Buxiu was completely lost.
Could it be that these little brutes had actually seen the light and learned to be filial to him?
If so, could he ask for even more money from them in the future?
Watching the table of spiritual dishes rapidly dwindle, he quickly picked up his chopsticks and reached for the plate of stir-fried pork with green peppers that looked the most delicious.
He popped it into his mouth.
His eyes instantly lit up.
Little did he know, four pairs of eyes were shining even brighter than his.
Four sets of chopsticks were quietly laid down on the table.
With a piece of meat still clamped between his teeth, Hua Buxiu frowned. "You're not eating anymore?"
The corners of Su Qingliu's lips curved into a faint smile. "Enjoy your meal, Master."
Bai Ziye offered a gentle, tender smile. "Enjoy your meal, Master."
Lin Yujin grinned broadly. "Enjoy your meal, Master."
Jiang Xianwan gave a sweet smile. "Have a safe trip, Master."
"Snap!"
His chopsticks clattered to the floor.
Hua Buxiu's hands shook like a sieve.
"What do you mean, have a safe..."
Before he could finish, his eyelids suddenly grew heavy.
A bunch of utter wretches!
Weren't they just asked for a bit of money? To think they actually dared to drug him!
Utterly lawless!
"Thump—"
With a jarring sound, Hua Buxiu didn't even get to finish cursing before his head slammed heavily onto the table.
"Wicked... disciples!"
With that, he closed his eyes and promptly passed out cold.
Lin Yujin nudged him with a single chopstick, his eyes shining like stars, practically glowing with excitement.
"Hua Buxiu won't move!"
Bai Ziye gave him a poke as well. "Hehe! He's sleeping so soundly."
Su Qingliu was a man of action; without another word, he tucked Hua Buxiu under his arm.
"The drug's effect only lasts for the time it takes to burn an incense stick. Let's go, Junior Sister, go call the gate."
"Wait!"
Jiang Xianwan raised a hand to stop him.
Bai Ziye put on a wary expression. "You aren't having second thoughts, are you?"
"No way!" Lin Yujin retorted even faster than Jiang Xianwan. "Junior Sister is the most heartless among us!"
Jiang Xianwan, the "most heartless," cast a resentful glance at Lin Yujin. "If you guys don't want Hua Hua's little treasury, I'll take it myself."
"I want it!"
"I want it!"
"I want it!"
The three youths chorused in unison.
Almost forgot the main event!
Su Qingliu immediately dropped Hua Buxiu onto the floor.
Eight hands started patting him down all at once.
And as hoped, they felt around and fished out a Mustard Pouch.
Lin Yujin: "Tsk tsk, not gonna lie, Hua Hua's muscles feel pretty nice."
Bai Ziye cast him a disgusted glance. "Such heavy tastes, even taking advantage of Hua Hua."
Jiang Xianwan sneaked a feel as well. "...They really are firm."
Hua Buxiu's physique was old-school sexy.
"..." Su Qingliu fell silent for three seconds before deciding to remain the sensible one. "Let's figure out how to open it on the way back. First things first."
"You got it!"
The four of them seized the moment and hurried next door.
The two disciples guarding the mountain gate were still on night watch. Seeing the four of them come charging over like dogs with their tails on fire, carrying someone between them, they exchanged a perplexed look.
Why were those five wild monkeys from the neighboring peak, who were always bouncing off the walls all day, coming over in the middle of the night?
One of them crossed his arms, raised an eyebrow, and asked irritably, "What do you want?"
What did they want?
Jiang Xianwan pulled out a Mustard Pouch and twirled it gently on her fingertips. "Tell Qin Qin to come out. One incense stick's time, and we're leaving."
Catching sight of the Taixu Sect insignia on the Mustard Pouch in her hand, that disciple was utterly shocked. Knowing the visitors meant trouble, he said coldly, "Wait right here!"
With that, he produced a Jade Slip to report the matter to the outer sect elder.
After some unknown amount of time, a flash of snowy light pierced the nocturnal gloom.
A youth in white robes landed on a treetop, his toes resting lightly on the foliage, radiating an icy, bone-chilling cold.
When he recognized one of the figures, his sharp brows knitted together, and his face turned ashen as he raised his sword and swept straight toward them.
"Jiang Xianwan! How dare you show your face here again! What? You didn't rob enough, so you came straight to my doorstep to steal?!"
"Stop!" Jiang Xianwan raised a hand in time and unhurriedly hoisted a Spirit Stone. "I have a recording! If you dare make a move, I'll sell it to the Black Market right now!"
"Senior Brother Qin lost his underpants while fighting—wouldn't that make quite the interesting story?"
Su Qingliu: "......"
Why is Junior Sister still stripping people's underpants?
Bai Ziye: "......"
Can stripping someone's underpants really be said with such righteous confidence?
Lin Yujin: "Hee hee hee~~~"
Doesn't that mean Junior Sister got to see Qin Qin's big white butt? Spooky.
Qin Qin froze abruptly, slamming on the brakes as his sword momentum cut short with a violent jerk.
Because of that explosive remark, his sword Qi had been released with immense force and reined in just as violently, causing him to stagger back half a step.
His complexion flashed between green and red as he choked down his fury for three full seconds.
Taking two long strides in three, he marched straight up to Jiang Xianwan, the tips of his ears burning red. "Y-Y-You shameless wretch!"
"Mm, I'm shameless."