Hungry Ghost Reincarnation, Ma Hongjun is Despised by All

In the small town outside the Star Dou Great Forest—

Zhao Wuji spoke to Li Xiaoyao.

"Li boy, it'll be dark soon. Going into the Star Dou Great Forest now is dangerous."

"How about you follow me to find an inn nearby, have a good meal and rest for the night, and then we split up tomorrow when we enter the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Li Xiaoyao thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Alright! No problem!"

"Then we'll do as Teacher Zhao arranges!"

Ning Rongrong's target for her third soul ring had long been chosen, so he wasn't in a rush. He could take the chance to inspect the Blazing Heaven Earth Cover.

After a moment's thought, Li Xiaoyao added.

"Teacher Zhao, how about we all go to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel together?"

Star Dou Town—

This town, built because of the Star Dou Great Forest, wasn't as large as Suotuo City, but it had everything one needed—food, drink, entertainment, and all the supporting facilities for Soul Masters.

A place that raked in money like this naturally couldn't lack the presence of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Before setting out, the two of them had already planned this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest.

However—

Hearing Li Xiaoyao's suggestion, Zhao Wuji fell into thought.

"Uh..."

"The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel?"

It wasn't that he had a bad relationship with Li Xiaoyao and Ning Rongrong.

On the contrary, seeing how tired the kids looked from the journey, he wanted them to rest up properly.

But thinking about the cost of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel made the straightforward Immovable Ming King hesitate.

Because—he was really broke!

Zhao Wuji rubbed his rough palms, his voice carrying a hint of embarrassment.

"Hehehe! Li boy!"

"It's not that I, Old Zhao, want to spoil your fun, but I really can't afford the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel!"

Zhao Wuji lowered his voice—

As if afraid others might overhear, he added.

"Last time I heard that stingy Flender mention it, even their cheapest vegetable dish costs dozens of Gold Soul Coins, and any dish with soul beast meat starts at several hundred."

"I don't mind you laughing at me, but that miser Flender still owes me several years of wages."

"The Gold Soul Coins I have left are only enough for a few nights at an ordinary inn."

Feeling Ning Rongrong's speechless gaze—

Zhao Wuji quickly added.

"Of course—"

"That's not to say Rongrong's family hotel is a rip-off."

"It's just that for a poor civilian Soul Master like me, spending once at the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel would make me ache for half a month."

With that, Zhao Wuji patted his storage Soul Tool, which held few Gold Soul Coins, solidifying his resolve to change the plan.

"Li boy, Rongrong, so listen!"

"Let's just find a hotel with better value for money. Eat well and sleep well, no need to waste money."

Li Xiaoyao and Ning Rongrong exchanged a glance, then both rolled their eyes at Zhao Wuji.

Li Xiaoyao spoke up.

"Teacher Zhao, don't worry!"

"With Sister Rongrong here, how could we possibly make you pay?"

"Besides!"

"Brother Dai Mubai warmly invited me to visit Shrek Academy, and he's looked after me in every way these days. I can't just keep freeloading without even arranging a thank-you meal, can I?"

"This meal is both Sister Rongrong's way of showing classmate friendship, letting everyone taste her family's signature dishes."

"And it's my chance to properly thank Brother Dai Mubai for his warm invitation during this time."

"When we get to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel, just eat your fill. Don't worry about the cost."

A few thousand Gold Soul Coins were nothing. Even without Ning Rongrong, he, Li Xiaoyao, could afford it.

"Hahaha!"

"Good, good, good!"

"Since it's Young Li and classmate Rongrong's goodwill, this Old Zhao won't stand on ceremony!"

The embarrassment on Zhao Wuji's face vanished in an instant, his hearty laughter shaking the surrounding air.

"To be honest, I've long heard that the spirit beast medicinal meals at the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel are nourishing, but I just couldn't bear to spend the money to try them."

"Since you two are so generous, this Old Zhao will gladly accept!"

With Zhao Wuji's call, Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others responded weakly, then dragged their exhausted bodies forward.

Within a few minutes, the group stumbled into the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel and ordered a large table of dishes.

The moonlight was like ink.

Inside the private room of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel.

Facing a table full of delicacies, Ma Hongjun acted like a starving ghost reincarnated, directly grabbing plates of food and shoving them into his mouth.

This made everyone present frown.

Did Ma Hongjun have no table manners at all?

Zhao Wuji's face darkened, and he slapped Ma Hongjun on the back of the head, scolding.

"Hongjun! Watch your image!"

"Even if you're a starving ghost reborn, you need to have some decorum while eating!"

Shameful!

Extremely shameful.

Ma Hongjun had thoroughly disgraced Shrek Academy!

"Uh..."

"Teacher Zhao! You can't blame me for this!"

"I'm just too hungry!"

Ma Hongjun stumbled from the slap, half a piece of grilled meat still stuffed in his mouth as he mumbled indistinctly.

Zhao Wuji's tiger eyes bulged.

"Heh! You little brat, still talking back?"

"With that wolfing-down manner, you're disgracing Shrek Academy!"

"Making it look like us old-timers have been mistreating you—does the academy cafeteria not give you enough to eat?"

"Starving you into such an uncouth state!"

Li Xiaoyao cast a faint glance at the commotion, his eyes undisturbed.

Fortunately, the round table at the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel was large enough, and Ma Hongjun sat next to Zhao Wuji, with Dai Mubai and Oscar farther away, so it didn't affect him and Ning Rongrong.

"Sister Rongrong, you should eat more too."

"Brother Xiaoyao, this chicken stewed with mushrooms is your favorite—try some!"

Li Xiaoyao and Ning Rongrong were feeding each other, which made Xiao Wu look at Tang San with restless longing—she wanted Third Brother to feed her too, so she stared at him with eager eyes.

But—

Before Tang San could react, Ma Hongjun finished the last piece of grilled meat in front of him, sauce still glistening on his greasy lips, and his eyes darted around like a thief spotting a new target.

His gaze swept over the table of dishes and finally landed on the crystal crab in front of Li Xiaoyao and Ning Rongrong—only two bites taken. The crab meat was plump and sweet, coated in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel's special honey, looking absolutely delicious.

Ma Hongjun was about to reach for the dish in front of them when he immediately met Li Xiaoyao's faint glance.

That look carried no anger, but it was like ice-quenched cold jade, exuding an invisible pressure that made his whole body stiffen, as if locked in place by Soul Power, unable to move.