"Um, Asheng, I'm sorry. Grandpa Tail didn't mean to target you. I'm really sorry!"
As for Grandpa Tail, Huohuo hadn't expected him to show such intense hostility toward Bai Sheng right off the bat. She had finally made a friend, and she didn't want their friendship to end over something like this.
Bai Sheng only smiled, patted Pandora, and said:
"It's fine. I have plenty of ways to deal with someone like that. But is it really okay for that thing to be on your tail? I remember your tail didn't have anything like this back then."
Bai Sheng pointed at the talisman on Huohuo's tail. He could sense that the yellow talisman was being used to suppress something. It was probably that heliobus.
"He, he's called Grandpa Tail. Not long after we came back from Kasantiya, I found him in a patch of grass. He was just a tiny ball of fire back then, and he looked like he was about to go out. I felt sorry for him, so I put him on my tail.
"But how was I supposed to know he'd eat my tail in one bite? After that, someone from the Ten Lords Bureau came and sealed him inside my tail with a talisman.
"Ever since then, we've been like this. Um, Asheng, you don't mind, do you?"
Huohuo spoke cautiously, but Bai Sheng tilted his head and asked:
"Mind what? That heliobus called Grandpa Tail? Do you think he dares come out? If I'm not mistaken, normally, when you introduce him like that, he'd immediately jump out to stop you, right? But look at him now."
After speaking, Bai Sheng quietly watched the blue-green tail behind Huohuo.
"Hey, hey, kid! Don't think I'm easy to bully! If you've got the guts, have that little coward take off the talisman and see how I beat you senseless!"
Grandpa Tail spoke indignantly from inside the tail.
"Oh? You think I can't handle you? Huohuo, take off this talisman. I'll show him the harsh realities of society!"
Provoked like that, Bai Sheng lost his temper too.
"N-no, we can't. Lady Xueyi said it mustn't be removed."
"Fine, then."
There were rules against it, so Bai Sheng couldn't make Huohuo embarrass herself by being left alone in trouble.
"By the way, does the Ten Lords Bureau take child laborers?"
"Child laborers? Huh? No. Xianzhou has clear laws stating that minors aren't allowed to work in the Six Bureaus."
Huohuo answered seriously.
The tail behind her couldn't stand listening any longer and burst out laughing:
"Hahahahaha! Little coward, didn't you hear him? That kid is obviously talking about you! Hahahahaha! And you're seriously arguing about the law! Hahahahaha!"
"Grandpa Tail, shut up."
Bai Sheng pulled out Pandora. Grandpa Tail instantly stopped laughing—not that it was because that scythe could directly harm energy-based lifeforms, it was just that this old man—
"What? I'm already an adult."
Huohuo pouted, looking utterly adorable.
"Jingle, jingle..."
Huohuo's Jade Abacus rang. She took it out and looked at it, then said apologetically:
"Sorry, Asheng. Lady Xueyi is calling me, so I'll have to excuse myself."
With that, Huohuo bowed deeply to Bai Sheng, her fluffy ears trembling with the motion.
"It's fine, it's fine. You go ahead. We can chat again when we have time."
"Mm-hm! I still have to repay your kindness, hehe. Bye-bye, Asheng~"
"Bye-bye."
Huohuo left the barbecue restaurant looking delighted. Seeing this, Bai Sheng put Pandora away and stretched. There weren't many customers at the barbecue restaurant during the day, so he only needed to keep an eye on the place. Later, he could go study with Jing Yuan and find someone else to watch the shop.
"Excuse me, is anyone here?"
The wind chime at the entrance jingled as the door opened.
"Here for some barbecue? Not many people come here at this hour."
Bai Sheng looked toward the entrance. It was a young man, not very tall and seemingly quite young. But after his earlier lesson with Fu Xuan, Bai Sheng no longer dared to vaguely judge an Eternal's exact age based on appearance and height.
He wore a blue robe, a mandarin jacket, and armor with bronze decorations, along with arm guards. A string of bells hung from his left hand, and he wore a longevity lock around his neck. He had yellow, tousled hair, and a blue sword strapped behind him.
"Hello, I'm looking for Bai Sheng. Is he here?"
The young man politely clasped his hands and asked.
"That's me. What's the matter?"
Bai Sheng was curious. Could this be another person like Huohuo? But he'd never heard of any race besides foxians having a tradition of repaying kindness.
"You're Bai Sheng! Let's have a spar!"
It was as if meteors flashed through the young man's eyes, and boundless fighting spirit surged from him.
"A spar? Have I offended you?"
Bai Sheng asked curiously. It seemed Huohuo's situation really was unusual.
"No. The general said you're very strong, and Yan Qing wants to challenge strong opponents to temper himself. Please, you must accept my request!"
With that, Yan Qing bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle.
"Hey, hey, there's no need for that. Come on. I'm free anyway. Your name is Yan Qing, right? Name the time and place, and I'll be there."
Jing Yuan had sent him. Could this be the disciple he'd mentioned on his phone before?
To be honest, Bai Sheng was itching for a fight too. It had been a long time since he'd last fought.
Although he had been training diligently, he still felt restless. The Path Energy Beleria had drained from him had recovered by about half, but that was enough for Bai Sheng to handle most situations.
"Yes. If you have time, you can come with Yan Qing to the Cloud Knights' military training grounds now."
Seeing how persistent Yan Qing was, Bai Sheng brought him outside, locked up the shop, and followed Yan Qing toward the training grounds.
Chang Le Tian was still some distance from the training grounds, so the two of them called a Taxi Star Rail to get there faster.
"Driver, take us to the Cloud Knights' military training grounds."
"Sure thing! So, are you two in a hurry?"
"In a hurry!"
Yan Qing could hardly wait to spar with Bai Sheng, whose strength the general had said was no less than that of the general's personal guards.
"Then hold on tight. I'm a veteran Star Rail driver. I guarantee we'll get there as fast as possible!"
...(Separator: I'm alive! ε?(?＞?＜)?3)
"So... you called me here for a spar, but you don't have any money?"
Bai Sheng looked at Yan Qing helplessly, while the latter merely lowered his head awkwardly.
"I'm terribly sorry. Every month, as soon as I receive my salary, Yan Qing goes to the swordsmith's shop to buy swords. I accidentally spent it all. Please rest assured, I'll repay you the moment I receive my salary next month."
Yan Qing pressed his palms together and spoke with great embarrassment.
Who could have known the swordsmith's shop would suddenly release new products this month? Spending all his money had been unavoidable.
Yan Qing thought to himself.
"All right, all right. Let's go. You don't have to repay me. It wasn't much money anyway. Just come by my barbecue restaurant more often when you have time and support my business."
"I definitely will!"
Yan Qing answered seriously.
"Commander, you've arrived."
A Cloud Knight addressed Yan Qing respectfully.
That rank sounded pretty good. Cloud Cavalry Vanguard, was it?
Bai Sheng thought to himself.
"Mm. Open the entrance to the training grounds. I'm going to spar with a friend."
"Yes."
The Cloud Knight quickly opened the entrance, and the two entered the training grounds...
Before you continue