Chen Zhihao was just about to ask if he had gone to the wrong place when he heard Jiang Tang gasp in surprise, "Oh my god! Ning Chen, are you born in the year of the pig? How can you eat so much?"
Xu Shuyan widened her beautiful eyes as well.
They had only been gone for a moment, and yet half of the more than thirty dishes on the table were already gone.
Had he actually eaten all that, or had he just dumped it out?
Ning Chen stopped eating. "Weren't you leaving? Why are you back?"
Xu Shuyan folded her arms across her chest. "Hmph, I paid the bill. Is there something wrong with me coming back to eat? Mind your own business!"
"Wait a minute!"
At that moment, Chen Zhihao stared blankly at Ning Chen and pointed. "Shuyan, who is this guy?"
"Oh, his name is Ning Chen. He's the son of my mom's best friend. Today is his first day in Qingzhou from Dongyang, and my mom asked me to show him around," Xu Shuyan explained truthfully.
Just as Jiang Tang had expected, Chen Zhihao's face instantly darkened.
It had taken him so much effort to go on a date with his goddess, so what was the deal with some bumpkin sitting here stuffing his face?
"Buddy, you're full, right?"
Chen Zhihao stepped forward and patted Ning Chen's shoulder. "Now that you're full, you should get going. Shuyan and I have some serious matters to discuss."
Ning Chen was entirely focused on a plate of stir-fried beef kidneys.
"Hey, buddy?"
Ning Chen reached out and grabbed a lemon chicken, tearing off a chicken leg first.
"Buddy, how about this? I'll give you two thousand yuan, and you can go eat somewhere else."
Ning Chen took a sip of the lotus flower soup. "Not enough salt."
Chen Zhihao: "..."
"I'm telling you to eat my foot!"
Chen Zhihao directly slapped the half-eaten lemon chicken out of Ning Chen's hand.
His fiery temper flared up!
He was talking to him, and the guy couldn't even hear? Was he really going to force him to lose his temper?
"Heehee, Shuyan, the good show is about to start."
Jiang Tang giggled mischievously, pulling Xu Shuyan back out of the way.
Then Xu Shuyan watched as Ning Chen stood up, grabbed Chen Zhihao by the hair, and shoved his face straight into a basin of crucian carp soup.
"Glug, glug, glug..."
There was plenty of soup in that basin, and Chen Zhihao almost drowned in it.
"You bastard, I'll fucking kill you, glug, glug..."
"L-let go! Glug, glug..."
"I'll glug, glug..."
"Help... help! He- glug, glug..."
No matter how hard he struggled, Ning Chen's hand was like a pair of iron pliers, holding him firmly down in the soup, completely unable to move.
Chen Zhihao's voice grew weaker and weaker.
"Oh my god, this guy is so strong!" Jiang Tang covered her open mouth.
"Stop standing there, Xiao Tang, go save him!"
Seeing that the situation was turning bad, Xu Shuyan hurriedly rushed forward to pull Ning Chen away.
They were just having a meal, they didn't need to get anyone killed!
With her slender arms and legs, Xu Shuyan certainly couldn't pull Ning Chen away, but Ning Chen had no intention of killing him either; he just wanted to teach this arrogant rich kid a lesson.
As a grand cultivator in the Nascent Soul Stage, even though he was severely injured, could he really be bullied by some secular punk?
"Remember, don't disturb me when I'm eating."
Ning Chen pushed Chen Zhihao's head back into the soup, sat back down in his seat, and continued enjoying his grand meal.
He didn't want to eat like this every day.
By eating a large amount all at once and using true qi to compress it in his stomach, he could sustain his Spiritual Qi consumption for many days.
Although the Spiritual Qi content in these secular ingredients was pathetically low, it could still make up for a bit of his depletion.
"Thud!"
Chen Zhihao collapsed to his knees, crucian carp soup gushing out from both his mouth and one of his nostrils simultaneously.
Why only one nostril?
Because the other one was plugged with a massive fish eyeball.
A few fish bones were even stuck in his face, causing him to howl in pain.
"You surnamed Ning, just wait! If you've got guts, don't you dare leave!!!"
Chen Zhihao scrambled up from the floor, his head covered in white pieces of crucian carp meat, his eyes filled with hatred.
How many years had it been since he lost face like this in front of a girl!
And right in front of his goddess, no less!
You bastard, I'm definitely going to kill you today!
"Fine, go call your people then," Ning Chen said casually as he slurped down some river snails.
"You just wait!!!"
Chen Zhihao slammed the door and stormed off.
The moment he left, Ning Chen called the waiter over and asked him to pack up the remaining food to go.
By the time Chen Zhihao changed his clothes and brought people back, Ning Chen and the other two were long gone.
"Zhihao, where are they?"
A delinquent youth with a cigarette dangling from his mouth stared at him blankly, followed by four or five lackeys.
"Damn it, we got played!"
Chen Zhihao kicked the door and roared at the top of his lungs.
"Ning Chen, you coward, this isn't over! I won't let you off! I'm going to make sure you can't survive in Qingzhou!!"
...
Ning Chen didn't give Chen Zhihao a second thought.
Leaving the shopping mall, he got into Xu Shuyan's car and arrived at Greenland Rose Garden.
This was a well-known wealthy neighborhood in Qingzhou.
It was comfortable, quiet, and filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers.
Ning Chen could even sense that the Spiritual Qi here was slightly denser than in the bustling city center.
"I really don't know why Mommy had to bring him home. What a violent maniac!"
Xu Shuyan glanced at Ning Chen through the rearview mirror.
Chen Zhihao had merely knocked away one of his lemon chickens, and the guy had almost drowned him in crucian carp soup—it was terrifying!
If she ever married someone like that, he would definitely commit domestic violence!
Alas, Mommy had called and given strict orders that Ning Chen had to be brought back.
Jiang Tang, on the other hand, seemed very interested in Ning Chen, asking him a ton of questions all the way, most of which Ning Chen brushed off with vague answers.
Soon, the car stopped in front of a detached villa.
An elegant and graceful woman in her forties had been waiting for a long time, accompanied by an elderly butler in a tailored suit.
"Mommy~"
Xu Shuyan got out of the car and immediately trotted over, her pretty face full of grievance.
"If there's ever a next time like this, don't make me do it. You have no idea, this Ning Chen is an absolute brute!"
After listening, the elegant woman shook her head and said, "What are you talking nonsense for? Xiao Chen is an honest and hardworking boy, very athletic and cheerful."
Xu Shuyan stamped her little foot. "Hmph, he only looks honest on the outside."
At that moment, Ning Chen walked over, carrying a huge package in his hand.
"Aunt Qiao? It's been so many years, you're getting more and more beautiful."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Qiao immediately smiled. "My, why has Xiao Chen's mouth become so sweet? Oh dear, you came to visit, why did you bring things? Old Fan, come help him carry it."
"Yes, madam."
The old butler stepped forward, causing Jiang Tang, who was standing beside Ning Chen, to chuckle.
"Aunt Qiao, Uncle Fan, these aren't gifts. This is food Ning Chen packed up from the restaurant."
Ah?
Packed leftovers?
Aunt Qiao was stunned for a moment, but then broke into a brilliant smile. "Good, good, saving food makes him a good boy. Xiao Chen, from now on, living here, you must get along well with Shuyan and just treat her like your own younger sister."
"He's not good at all, he's a super violent maniac..."
Xu Shuyan's snitching was cut short by a sudden shriek.
"Mommy, what did you just say?!"
Chapter 4: Heilong
Seeing the several large bags of luggage piled up in the living room, Xu Shuyan completely broke down.
"Mommy, you... you can't be serious, right?"
"If you let me live with this violent maniac, how am I supposed to sleep at night?!"
Xu Shuyan sat on the sofa and cried, her jade-white, porcelain-like calves kicking continuously against the floor. "Wuuu wuuu, no, I don't want this..."
"Xiao Tang, hurry up and talk some sense into Mommy, otherwise both of us will be in danger from now on!"
The Jiang and Xu families were family friends.
Jiang Tang had lived with Xu Shuyan since middle school, and the two were closer than sisters.
Jiang Tang said, "Aunt Qiao, Shuyan and I are both girls. It wouldn't be very convenient for a boy to suddenly move in."
Aunt Qiao smiled slightly. "Auntie trusts Xiao Chen's character."
Jiang Tang: "This..."
At this moment, Ning Chen was gazing at the scenery in the courtyard, his eyes shifting as if searching for something, completely unconcerned about the matters on their side.
"Hey, say something will you? Don't just stand there like a mute!"
Xu Shuyan got irritated just looking at Ning Chen's indifferent expression. "I don't want you moving in!"
"My name isn't Hey, it's Ning Chen."
Ning Chen glanced at her sideways. "This place is very nice, I want to stay."
Xu Shuyan: "..."
Jiang Tang: "..."
Aunt Qiao's face broke into a smile. "This child, he's just straightforward and says what's on his mind."
"Old Fan, what do you think?"
Aunt Qiao asked the elderly man in the suit behind her.
The old man, named Fan Yi, was the Xu family's butler and concurrently Xu's father's bodyguard.
He had also been sizing up Ning Chen for a long time and nodded slightly to Aunt Qiao. "Madam, just as you said, this child is indeed not bad—mature and steady."
"Uncle Fan, how can even you help this violent maniac speak up!"
Xu Shuyan hugged a throw pillow and sobbed.
Aunt Qiao called Ning Chen out to the courtyard.
"Xiao Chen, Shuyan has been spoiled by me since she was little. You're the older brother, so yield to her a bit."
Aunt Qiao said, "This girl's nature isn't bad; once you spend more time together, you'll see."
"Yeah, alright," Ning Chen said as he pulled an envelope out of the pocket of his luggage that he had just taken out.
Inside was a thick stack of cash.
Aunt Qiao was puzzled. "Xiao Chen, what are you doing?"
Ning Chen said with a straight face, "This is the rent. I don't know if it's enough, Aunt Qiao, please count it."
Aunt Qiao instantly grew displeased. "Are you kidding me? You're staying at Aunt Qiao's house and paying money? Anyone who doesn't know would think I had a falling out with your mother!"
"Take it back right now, or Aunt Qiao will be angry!"
"Oh." Ning Chen stuffed it right back; he was just trying to be polite anyway.
"That's more like it."
Aunt Qiao's smile returned. "Xiao Chen, if you really mean it, just help Auntie keep an eye out and protect Shuyan a bit more at school."
"You know how it is, Shuyan is pretty and attracts boys. Your mother said you used to go mountain climbing and rock climbing every day, so your physique must be really well-trained..."
Ning Chen listened with a head full of question marks.
Was Xu Shuyan very pretty?
He couldn't really tell.
She felt, at best, slightly better-looking than an ordinary person, and completely incomparable to the pure jade maidens and alluring enchantresses of the Lesser Southern Heavens.
As an old monster who had lived for two thousand years, his human emotions were actually already quite faint.
Yet he faintly remembered that when he was little, his father's business failed and their family was so poor they couldn't even afford meals, it was Aunt Qiao who sent money time and again to help their family get through the crisis.
Most importantly, however, the location of this villa happened to be a Spiritual Eye!
"With such thin Spiritual Qi, this Spiritual Eye should have dried up long ago, but a few wisps of the spiritual veins still remain."
"Forget it, I'll stay here for a while."
After Aunt Qiao left, Ning Chen wandered around the courtyard.
This detached villa had a building footprint of over four hundred square meters, plus a five-hundred-square-meter courtyard; its value was probably no less than a hundred million.
The Xu family's financial resources were truly astonishing.
"Woof! Woof woof woof!"
Suddenly, the barking of a dog rang out.
Ning Chen looked toward the sound.
He saw Xu Shuyan leading a German Shepherd, walking aggressively toward him.
This German Shepherd was missing an ear, had a large build, and looked majestic and imposing—someone with a timid disposition wouldn't even dare get close to it.
"Ning Chen, I don't care how you fooled my Mommy, but you cannot live here!"
Xu Shuyan was wearing bunny pajamas, holding the dog leash in one hand and placing the other on her willow-like waist. "Are you leaving or not? If you don't leave, I'll let Heilong bite you."
The German Shepherd, named Heilong, bared its teeth and growled at Ning Chen.
"Which room is mine?"
Ning Chen ignored the question. "If no one has assigned one, I'll pick my own."
"You... who do you think you are? Do you really think this is your home?"
Unable to contain her anger, Xu Shuyan directly let go of the dog leash and pointed at Ning Chen. "Heilong, chase him out of here for me!"
Heilong let out an angry bark and lunged at Ning Chen with all fours.
"Shuyan!"
By the back door of the courtyard, Jiang Tang's cry of alarm rang out.
The next second, Ning Chen simply glared at Heilong. That pair of dog paws slammed on the brakes instantly, and it fled for its life, scurrying back into its doghouse in a flash.
From inside the doghouse, pitiful "Aowu aowu" whimpers echoed, as if it had run into a ghost in broad daylight.
Jiang Tang: "..."
Xu Shuyan pointed at Ning Chen, her face turning pale. "You... you-you..."
Ning Chen crossed his hands behind his head. "What about me?"
Xu Shuyan made a bold guess. "Y-you... have you killed people before? Otherwise why would Heilong be scared off by you? Heilong was trained with military dogs in the army..."
A sunny arc curved at the corner of Ning Chen's mouth. "Well, you're finally a bit smart."
"Ah!!!"
Xu Shuyan tossed the dog leash aside and shrieked as she fled back up to the second floor.
Ning Chen whistled and walked back into the living room.
In the end, it was Jiang Tang who assigned him a room located right under the staircase on the second floor.
Ning Chen didn't mind and moved right in.
He lay on the bed lazily with his hands behind his head, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Sigh, what should I do from now on?"
"My Niwan Palace is shattered, and my dantian is broken as well. Both my divine soul and physical body have suffered heavy trauma. Injuries like these would be extremely difficult to heal even in the Lesser Southern Heavens."
"Fortunately, I still have over eight thousand years of lifespan left, so I can slowly figure out a way."
After thinking for a long time, he felt he only had two paths.
Either find immortal medicine on Earth to repair his Niwan Palace, or find a chance to return to the Lesser Southern Heavens.
As he thought about it, a wave of drowsiness suddenly washed over him.
The damage to his divine soul made his energy much lower than before.
He slept all the way until nine o'clock in the evening.
The housekeeper had come by, but Xu Shuyan deliberately prevented her from waking Ning Chen for dinner, and even had the housekeeper throw away all the food he had packed to go.
She wanted to force out Ning Chen's violent side!
As long as this guy dared to throw punches or curse a few foul words, she would have enough leverage to kick him out!
"Shuyan, that guy went out."
Up on the second-floor balcony, Jiang Tang watched Ning Chen's figure strolling away and said,
"He can endure this much?"
Xu Shuyan's pretty cheeks puffed out like two little buns. "Then let's lock the doors tonight and make him sleep on the street!"
Chapter 5: Su Wanwan
Ning Chen strolled all the way to the vicinity of the university town.
There were many food streets around here.
He picked a place called "Limei Barbecue Restaurant" and walked in.
Ordering a few random items, he began eating skewers while browsing web novels online.
So boring, he couldn't cultivate.
As a grand cultivator in the Nascent Soul Stage, he had suddenly become completely idle, so he had to pick up his high school hobby of reading web novels.
"Wanwan, look, this kid looks thin and tall, about your age. Who would've thought he could eat so much—he ordered over six hundred yuan worth of food in one go."
The proprietress of the barbecue restaurant was a woman in her forties who was sorting leeks while smiling at her daughter.
Being in her forties as well, she couldn't compare to Aunt Qiao at all; she looked as if there were a twenty-year gap between them.
That was the power of skincare.
Her daughter, who was helping sort vegetables nearby, turned out to be bright and pretty, with rosy lips, a dainty nose, and wearing an old high school uniform that added a touch of youthful, campus innocence.
"Mom, aren't you afraid this is just another jerk trying to dine and dash?" the female student asked.
"There are only a few like that in a month; most customers pay honestly," the proprietress gave a bitter smile.
"A few a month, and we'd be working for nothing several days," complained the student, Su Wanwan.
"Forget it, Wanwan, there's nothing we can do about it. We mother and daughter can't afford to provoke local tyrants like Brother Xiao and his gang," the proprietress sighed and shook her head.
"That's why Mom is working herself to the bone to put you through school, so you can enter upper-class society and stay away from these hoodlums."
"I know, Mom..."
Ning Chen listened to the mother and daughter's conversation, maintaining a blank expression as he continued reading his web novel.
Before long, a group of people with their hair dyed in all sorts of colors arrived at the barbecue restaurant.
The interior instantly became noisy.
Seeing this group of people, Su Wanwan's expression changed, and she fearfully tugged on the proprietress's apron. "Mom! Th-they're here!"
"Quick, hurry and hide in the kitchen!"
Seeing this, the proprietress hurriedly told her daughter to leave.
"Boss lady, why aren't you serving us brothers yet? What are you dragging your feet for?"
A punk wearing a skull bandana and acting all slick walked past Ning Chen, kicking a few chairs aside. A grating "creak, creak" noise echoed through the shop.
Ning Chen frowned.
He simply used true qi to seal his hearing and continued reading his novel.
He was right at the exciting part.
"Y-yes, Brother Kun," the proprietress said with a full smile, presenting the menu. "Big brothers, take a look at what you'd like to have."
"Same as before!"
The punk named Brother Kun waved a hand dismissively and patted the proprietress on the body.
"Mei Jie, you're still somewhat charming after all. What's the good of following that coward Su Haichao? You might as well be with me, Ma Kun!"
"At least around this Water Moon Street area, no one dares to bully you. Am I right, brothers?"
The five punks at the table burst into uproarious laughter.
"Brother Kun, what kind of joke are you making? I'm old and faded, how could I catch your eye?"
"Just wait, I'll go right to the kitchen and make it now. Today I'll specially gift you big brothers a grilled fish on the house."
Limei, the proprietress, groveled submissively.
"Good, go prep it!"
Ma Kun waved his hand, propped his feet up on the table, and drank and chatted with his brothers.
The content of their conversation was unprintable.
Either they were discussing which nightclub girl was hot, or bragging about which gang they had brawled with; their voices were loud and grating.
There had originally been several other customers in the shop, but they were all scared away.
Seeing that the departed customers hadn't paid, Su Wanwan, who had been hiding behind the cashier counter, couldn't hold it in anymore. Covering her face with her school uniform sleeve, she trotted outside.
"Eh? Damn, Brother Kun, look at that—where did such a fresh schoolgirl come from?"
A punk with dyed yellow hair pointed at Su Wanwan as she ran out.
Ma Kun turned his head to look, and his eyes instantly lit up!
Another lackey chimed in, "I think I've seen her before. She's Limei's daughter; she usually goes to high school in the south city and only comes back every few months."
"This old woman, hiding such a fresh-faced daughter and even sending her off to the south city to study, guarding against us like we're thieves. Let's see how I deal with her in a bit."
"Glug, glug, glug, glug..."
As Ma Kun chugged his beer, he looked at Su Wanwan's youthful figure with a wicked smile.
"Phew, finally got some back."
Su Wanwan was walking back holding a few hundred-yuan bills when a hand suddenly snatched them away.
"What are you doing? This is my money, give it back!"