Xiao Yang

Hearing the diners' chatter, Xiao Yang's brows furrowed.

He had a handsome, imposing face and wore a gray-green felt hat and a plain white cotton robe.

He piled all the meat slices from his bowl onto the plate of the hunter seated across from him, then began stirring the remaining Wood Powder Porridge counterclockwise.

Li Zhen got the hint and immediately stood up, pointing at the diners and berating them. "What the hell are you all talking about? How could Miss Yun Ling possibly marry this good-for-nothing?" As he shouted, he pointed at Xian He, who was carrying Wood Powder Porridge to a customer.

"Anyone else who talks shit is getting beaten to death!" Li Zhen's voice boomed like a vicious dog ready to tear someone apart.

The diners were all too scared to say a word.

Some lowered their heads and shoveled porridge into their mouths, while others simply dropped their money and ran.

Li Zhen was a Four-star White Obsidian martial artist. Though his cultivation was inferior to Xiao Yang's, nobody dared provoke him.

"Good-for-nothing, get over here!" After berating the diners, Li Zhen curled his finger at Xian He with a sneer.

How could anyone spread a rumor that this good-for-nothing and Miss Yun Ling were involved? Had their brains been kicked by a demon donkey?

Miss Yun Ling was Xiao Yang's boss's exclusive woman. No one but Xiao Yang's boss was allowed to touch her! Not even in a rumor!

It was all because this good-for-nothing was always hanging around Yun Ling that those idiots had started spreading rumors about the two of them. He had to teach this good-for-nothing a lesson and make sure he stopped dreaming of a toad eating swan meat!

Xian He ignored Li Zhen. He set down the customer's porridge, picked up the tray, and turned toward the kitchen.

"Oh?" Li Zhen's temper flared. This good-for-nothing actually dared to treat his words like fart? He sure had some damn nerve!

He kicked a stool over and charged toward Xian He like a terrifying hyena.

"I'm talking to you, damn it! Are you deaf?!" Li Zhen stepped in front of Xian He, grabbed him by the collar, and lifted him with one hand.

A good-for-nothing at the Two-star Azure Obsidian level dared to act arrogant in front of him? That was like jumping in a latrine—looking for shit!

Xian He grabbed Li Zhen's iron-clamp hand and replied calmly, neither servile nor overbearing. "My name isn't Good-for-nothing. It's Xian He. How was I supposed to know who you were calling?"

Damn it, you're the good-for-nothing! Your whole family is!

If you've got the guts, kill me today. Otherwise, I'll make sure I kill you someday!

"Oh? You're talking back now? You want another swim in the river, is that it?" Li Zhen sneered and lowered Xian He, but kept hold of his collar. "Your daddy's in a good mood today, so I don't feel like messing with you."

Ever since Xian He had invented that waterwheel and become a favorite of the tribe leader, Li Zhen had only dared to run his mouth. He wouldn't actually lay a hand on him.

Li Zhen pointed at Xian He's nose and warned him, "Stay the hell away from Miss Yun Ling from now on. If I hear another rumor about you two, or catch you near her, see this fist? I'll break your bones, snap your tendons, and beat the shit out of you!"

"Hey! Watch your mouth! Why are you talking about shit? It's disgusting! Are you trying to ruin our boss Xiao Yang's meal?" one of the hunters couldn't help reminding him.

"Sorry about that, Boss Xiao Yang. I promise I won't mention shit again." Li Zhen let go of Xian He's collar and apologized to Xiao Yang sincerely.

Xiao Yang rolled his eyes and didn't bother arguing with Li Zhen, that idiot.

He was more concerned about how Yun Ling was doing.

Yun Ling was usually the one busy at the Congee Shop. Why had Xian He taken her place today? Was she sick?

"Brother Xian He, come over here for a moment!" Xiao Yang smiled and beckoned to him.

Since Xian He had taken Yun Ling's place, he should know what had happened to her.

"I'm not coming over. I'm busy—I still have porridge to bring to the customers!" Xian He shook his head. He didn't want to have much to do with Xiao Yang, that thick-skinned, black-hearted bastard.

If that bastard hadn't schemed against him behind his back, he wouldn't have been shoved into the river by that bastard Li Zhen when he was a child.

"My boss told you to come over! Are you deaf?"

Li Zhen dragged Xian He over to Xiao Yang.

"Let go of Brother Xian He. Don't be so rough. We're civilized people," Xiao Yang gently chided him.

Xian He was close to Yun Ling. If he spoke ill of Xiao Yang behind his back, Yun Ling would surely come to hate him.

"Boss Xiao Yang is right," Li Zhen said with a foolish grin, letting go of Xian He.

Surrounded by a group of White Obsidian-level hunters, Xian He felt a little nervous.

A martial artist at the White Obsidian level had at least six hundred pounds of strength in one arm. If he took a slap from one of them, he'd probably get a concussion.

But he had the Mountain River Society Diagram. If they dared lay a hand on him, he could just hide inside it, keep his head down until his cultivation surpassed theirs, then come back for revenge!

Xian He replied calmly, neither servile nor overbearing. "Say what you have to say. I still have porridge to bring to the customers."

He was Yun Ling's husband. Even if he were killed, he would never bow his head to a man who coveted her.

"It's nothing important." Xiao Yang smiled faintly. "What happened to Miss Yun Ling today? Why didn't she come to the Congee Shop to help? Is she sick? If you know, sorry for the trouble, but please let me know. I'm worried about her."

Whenever he thought of Yun Ling's lovely face, her breathtaking smile, and her bright, lively eyes, Xiao Yang's heart began to stir.