I'm So Disappointed in You!

The next morning, the first rays of dawn appeared in the east.

A lingering fragrance remains beside the bed.

Every morning, there was no sign of Ice Block, but Li Mo had long been used to it.

After silently assessing his progress in training, he got up and went downstairs, where Ying Bing was already waiting for him.

The hot pot restaurant didn't have a female owner today, but a beautiful figure appeared under the tree at the entrance.

A deep blue fish-tooth brocade concealed her exquisite figure as she cradled a long sword.

Through the veil of her flowing hat fluttering in the wind, one could almost see the serene light in her eyes.

"Who is she?"

"Wow, those legs are longer than my life."

"I wonder which powerful sect's female warrior she is?"

"I've heard that the current top disciple of Clear Abyss Sect is a woman of unparalleled beauty and formidable strength. Could it be...?"

Wherever she appears, she automatically becomes the center of attention.

Let's go.

After a few seconds of eye contact, Li Mo chuckled and spoke.

As he entered the city with the morning breeze, Little Li finally felt a sense of immersion in the world of fast-paced adventure.

Within the Prefecture City, carriages and horses flowed in a constant stream, and the people moved about like smoke.

Li Mo realized it had been a long time since he had visited Princess Little Jiang and the children, so he decided to buy some food and bring it over.

Candied hawthorn berries!

"Are the white plums sweet? Yes, they are!"

"Family members, I'm having a special day! This exotic wine of mine, originally priced at eighty-eight taels, is now only eighty-eight coins..."

"Wrap up all the candied hawthorns for me."

"Li the Great Philanthropist? Hahaha, Li the Great Philanthropist ate my candied hawthorns!"

One of the stall owners was overjoyed.

Then take out a wooden plaque and write on it:

'Candied hawthorn berries, highly recommended by Mr. Li.'

The effect was outstanding, and many people immediately became curious and went to watch and buy it.

"Mr. Li, have some of mine!"

Do you like roasted yams?

"Mr. Li, are you buying clothes? My women's clothing is so beautiful!"

"Huh, where did everyone go?"

The scene became somewhat chaotic at one point.

It took Li Mo quite a while to finally squeeze out, clutching the bamboo pole used to make candied hawthorns, and he even used the Wind Shadow Step.

"Li Dashan?"

Ying Bing turned her head, wondering why Li Mo was so famous in the Prefecture City.

"It's your fault, really."

"..."

After learning the whole story...

After a brief recollection, Ying Bing turned her gaze, her red lips pursed slightly behind the veiled hat.

Before long, the two arrived at Mud Horn Alley.

The once messy yard has been cleaned up and is now spotless. Although there are many odds and ends, it looks very tidy.

The roof of the dilapidated house was repaired, and a stove was even built in the yard.

"Big Brother Li!"

"Sister stuttering, look! Big Brother Li is here!"

"Huh, who's that older sister?"

"Wow, I've been craving candied hawthorns for ages."

The little ones immediately swarmed around.

After exchanging pleasantries, they wondered why the stuttering sister, whom they talked about every day, wasn't coming today.

Li Mo looked up and caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a figure hiding in front of the door, only half its head peeking out, its face flushed, too shy to approach.

That appearance reminded Li Mo of the socially awkward kitten he raised in his previous life, which would hide whenever a stranger came to the house.

Stranger?

Li Mo glanced at the Ice Block, a question mark appearing above his head.

You asked me to find her, but it turns out you and she... don't seem to know each other very well?

What's going on?

Ying Bing looked at Jiang Chulong, whose breathing was steady and whose complexion was rosy despite her thinness, and her expression softened.

Li Mo tried waving at her:

"Chulong, I brought you something delicious."

"Um..."

Jiang Chulong then walked out, slightly nervous.

Even though her eyes were covered, she could still sense it.

That older sister isn't a bad person.

The small courtyard in Mud Horn Alley welcomed its head chef.

Li Mo tied on her apron and began preparing today's meals for the little ones.

Jiang Chulong secretly glanced up at Ying Bing, and realizing that the other person was also looking at her, she quickly lowered her head again.

This older sister appears even more refined and noble than the other ladies in the palace... well, they all seem more so.

She has such a powerful aura.

"Big Brother Li, I..."

"What's wrong?"

"It's okay... I'll help you... cook..."

She skillfully drew the Crimson Firmament Sword and assisted Li Mo.

Ying Bing took half a step forward, then pulled back.

Half an hour passed.

Just as the food was about to be served.

"What are you doing here?!"

A voice filled with disappointment and frustration suddenly came from the courtyard gate.

It was a young man dressed in brocade robes, holding two strings of candied hawthorns in his hand.

Snap--

The candied hawthorn in her left hand fell to the ground.

"Luo Yu?"

Li Mo leaned back slightly; what was that conspicuous bag doing here?

"I have been waiting for you at the Prefecture Office for a long time. Why have you not come as promised?"

"You've already arrived in the Prefecture City."

Luo Yu asked loudly and righteously.

"Uh... I forgot."

Little Li suddenly remembered that he had forgotten something.

Well, he never intended to act with Luo Yu and the others.

"You can forget something like this?"

Luo Yu's brows were furrowed.

"So what have you been doing since you came to the Prefecture City?"

"To become a hot pot restaurant owner."

Li Mo said earnestly.

Hearing his matter-of-fact tone, Luo Yu felt his Qi and Blood surge.

That's so unreliable!

He looked at Ying Bing with a sliver of hope:

And what about you?

"Counting money."

Ying Bing didn't even glance at him.

She didn't even know the name of this jumpy guy.

Who are you? I don't recognize you at all.

Counting money? Isn't that the boss's wife?

Luo Yu's vision went black, and he was so angry he felt like vomiting blood.

The candied hawthorn in his right hand also rolled to the ground.

Purple Sun Prefecture City is located at the foot of Clear Abyss Mountain. You don't care about the safety of the people, yet you have the nerve to open a lousy hot pot restaurant?

You gave this official leave?!

"Hmph, I thought you guys were someone special, but now I'm so disappointed in you!"

"And you, Miss Ying Bing, have also fallen so low!"

Luo Yu stormed off in a huff.

Li Mo sighed, "What is all this nonsense?"

Ying Bing shook her head slightly, indicating that she didn't quite understand and wasn't particularly interested.

They had just picked up their bowls, ready to eat.

But then Luo Yu, who had just stormed out, returned.

Li Mo: "?"

"Um, could you lend me two candied hawthorns?" Luo Yu's face turned pale and then red.

What he just dropped on the ground were the last two candied hawthorns, which he had managed to snatch with great difficulty.

"You actually like this kind of thing?"

Li Mo was both amused and exasperated. "Take it, take it."

"Hmph... my sister wants to eat it..."

Luo Yu picked two candied hawthorns from the candied hawthorn skewer placed at the door.

Then he turned back and emphasized repeatedly:

"Don't think I've forgiven you just like that; I'm still very disappointed in you all."

He pointed with the candied hawthorn berries.

Just as he was about to walk out the door, he paused, his gaze sweeping over Li Mo and the group of little ones gathered around the dining table, before muttering in a low voice:

"Recently, there have been frequent cases of children going missing."

He left after saying those words.

He certainly didn't come out specifically to buy candied hawthorns; he came out to conduct research and investigation.

However, no clues have been found yet.

Li Mo: "...?"

"Child missing..."

Ying Bing seemed to be deep in thought upon hearing these four words.

Li Mo looked at the little ones and asked:

Have you seen any suspicious people in the neighborhood recently?

"No, Big Brother Li."

"We're clever enough that human traffickers can't fool us."

"Yes, yes."

"Yes, the stuttering sister is really amazing. She even beat that big, vicious dog at the alley entrance into submission. She'll protect us."

The little ones quickly promised.

Li Mo, however, was thinking about whether he should simply take them to the shop and perhaps help them out.

Um... wouldn't this count as child labor?

"Cough!"

A cough came from outside.

It was Xiao Qin in disguise.

His expression was solemn as he surveyed his surroundings.

When Li Mo arrived, his first words were:

"The Laughing Maitreya has sent a message."