Yun Mu's Wrath at the Snack Street

The three quickly returned to their dormitory, changed back into their own clothes, and headed outside the academy.

The three boys huddled together, laughing and roughhousing. Their shoving and jostling brimmed with the vibrant energy unique to youth, and even the wind seemed to carry a touch of their high spirits.

But just as they reached the gate, Xie Xie spotted someone standing by the academy entrance and abruptly stopped.

For some reason, even though Xie Xie and Gu Yue had not fought this time, he still could not get along with her and found her unpleasant every time he saw her.

"I'm going with you too," Gu Yue said as she looked at them.

"I don't play with girls," Xie Xie said with a look of disgust.

Gu Yue instinctively looked at Yun Mu. "Would you be willing to bring me along?"

Xie Xie cut in first. "Why should we bring you? You're always looking for Brother Mu one moment and Wulin the next. Who exactly are you trying to be with?"

Xie Xie had not thought much about it. He was merely blurting out a complaint instinctively.

Gu Yue hesitated, then immediately realized that she had been led astray by Xie Xie's bizarre train of thought.

"What nonsense are you talking about? I'm just asking the two strongest cultivators in our class for advice," Gu Yue snapped.

"Then why don't you ask me? My cultivation is high too," Xie Xie said without thinking.

Gu Yue looked Xie Xie up and down, then shook her head and threatened, "If you don't take me with you, I'll tell Teacher Wu that I don't think our coordination is good enough and that we should have extra training."

Xie Xie immediately grabbed Gu Yue. "I was wrong. If you want to come along, then come along."

"Come with us, then. Xie Xie, hurry up. You're leading the way today," Yun Mu said with a smile.

"Fine, fine, I'll lead the way. Let's get something to eat first. Isn't that what you all like? I know a snack street. Let's go eat there," Xie Xie said with a grin.

"Are you sure you're treating us?" Tang Wulin asked with a smile.

"It's just snacks. Do you think I can't afford that? Brother Mu, don't pay anything today. I've got it," Xie Xie said with a hearty laugh.

"Sure, I won't pay today. Besides, I wasn't planning to anyway." Yun Mu's eyes were full of amusement, and his tone was teasing.

"You reek of money," Gu Yue said deliberately.

"I wasn't planning to treat you anyway," Xie Xie said irritably.

"I wasn't planning to eat anything you treated me to either. Brother Mu, you wouldn't refuse to treat me, would you?" Gu Yue said coquettishly to Yun Mu.

Yun Mu froze instantly, because Gu Yue's coquettish gesture and expression were exactly the same as Na'er's. Hadn't Na'er already been separated from Gu Yue?

After all, in the original story, Tang Wulin had not noticed any similarities between Gu Yue and Na'er at all.

"Alright, I'll buy it for you," Yun Mu said instinctively.

Gu Yue paused for a moment before quickly returning to normal. "Then thank you, Brother Mu."

Gu Yue looked provocatively at Xie Xie. "Cheapskate, see? Someone's treating me. I'm not eating anything you buy."

Xie Xie was so angry that his cheeks puffed out. He took several deep breaths. He could not beat her, and he could not argue with her either. He had no idea why Brother Mu always protected her so much.

Clearly, he was Brother Mu's dear roommate.

The snack street was not close to Eastsea Academy, and it took the four of them more than half an hour to get there.

Normally, they should have arrived sooner, but Xie Xie and Gu Yue started arguing again along the way.

Yun Mu and Tang Wulin still did not join their battle. After all, offending either side would not end well.

The snack street was lined with shops, and before they even entered, the enticing aromas already rushed toward them.

With one glance, Yun Mu spotted the Yu Hao Grilled Fish shop where he had eaten with Tang Wulin last time.

"Let's eat that first. Their braised beef in clay pots is especially tender. It's best with some white rice," Xie Xie said excitedly.

"Let's go, then." Yun Mu closely followed Xie Xie's steps. He remembered that the original story had described that shop as having very delicious food.

The four entered the shop. It was not large, and even the cooking stations were outside. There were nearly a hundred small fire pits on top, each with beef simmering over it.

Yun Mu felt that he had eaten this dish in his previous life as well, and it had tasted quite good.

The four sat down at a table.

"My Mom used to love the braised beef in clay pots here most. I come here every so often," Xie Xie said sadly.

Yun Mu patted Xie Xie on the shoulder. "No matter what happened, it's all in the past. We need to look ahead."

"Oh, Xie Xie's here, and you brought three friends too. The usual?" a middle-aged Big Man asked with a smile.

"Thanks, Uncle Li. You all have to properly try Uncle Li's cooking later. His skills are excellent," Xie Xie said with a smile.

"Then I'll have to give it a proper taste," Yun Mu said.

Before long, four portions of braised beef in clay pots, four bowls of rice, and several small plates of vegetable side dishes were brought to the table.

That small portion was obviously not enough for Tang Wulin, but Yun Mu did not make Xie Xie pay for the extra food. He paid the bill himself.

Although their future bond would surely be worth far more than this little bit of money, he still felt that, when he had money himself, making others pay for such unnecessary expenses was not very appropriate.

Most importantly, he was not short on money.

Tang Wulin ate more than a dozen portions, while Gu Yue ate two or three. Yun Mu once again marveled at the stomachs of these big eaters. Seriously, how could their stomachs hold so much?

The four of them laughed and bickered their way through the entire street.

Of course, Yun Mu mostly only sampled things. Whenever Tang Wulin bought a serving, Yun Mu would pick out a bite to try.

It had to be said that having such a big eater while strolling around was quite nice. He was even better than a trash can.

In any case, Yun Mu had thoroughly enjoyed eating today.

The four slowly made their way back when they suddenly heard a disturbance ahead. Looking up, it seemed to be coming from the braised beef in clay pots shop.

Yun Mu hurried forward. After pushing through the crowd, he saw Uncle Li lying at the entrance of the shop, blood at the corner of his mouth, one eye swollen, his face filled with grief and Wrath.

Yun Mu's anger instantly became impossible to contain, but he still knew that he had to treat the injured person first.

After all, this move of his could both attack and heal.

Yun Mu swiftly released his Sword of Life Martial Soul. Three purple Soul Rings appeared at once.

The Third Soul Ring lit up instantly. Third Soul Skill, Sword Domain—Fleeting Splendor.

The petals filling the sky suddenly lost their usual softness. Like shattered blades tempered with cold gleams, they surged toward the three burly men with raging fury.

Only a few scattered petals still held onto the warmth of old memories, drifting gently onto Uncle Li's body and turning into pale green light that slowly repaired his wounds.

When Xie Xie saw Yun Mu release his Martial Soul from behind, he immediately realized that things had gone wrong and rushed over at once.

"Uncle Li, how are you?" Xie Xie slowly helped Uncle Li up while gently brushing the dust from his body, his voice full of concern.