Causing Trouble

"Teacher, what's going on between you two?"

"Nothing's going on. This kid's got some talent, so I just took him to get certified as a Second Grade Forging Master."

"Then why do you look like that, Teacher?" Chen Ye asked, a strange look on his face.

Mu Chen glanced at them helplessly, then waved his hand.

"Go on, get out of here. Don't hang around and bother me."

As they left the Forging Master Association, Chen Ye looked at Tang Wulin. The boy looked just as helpless.

"He thinks I've got a lot of talent too. Maybe I reminded him of his good-for-nothing daughter."

"Come on, boss. Let's go eat. I'm starving. My whole body feels hungry."

Tang Wulin blinked as he spoke. Chen Ye gave a wry smile.

"Then let's go back and get Xie Xie and Gu Yue to join us." Chen Ye yawned. If he remembered correctly, Xie Xie knew a place called the Beef Stew Shop.

It had to be pretty good, or Xie Xie wouldn't keep going there.

When they got to the dorm, Zhou Changxi was there along with Xie Xie.

Seeing the two of them return, Zhou Changxi turned slightly away, clearly not wanting to deal with Chen Ye.

Chen Ye and Tang Wulin didn't pay him any attention at all. They called Xie Xie over, and the three of them headed straight out.

Only after the three had left did Zhou Changxi turn his resentful gaze toward the direction they'd gone. He took out his Soul Tool and made a call.

"My lord, the person I told you about has left the school. They just went out. You might run into them at the gate."

Zhou Changxi spoke with reverence, but the only response from the other end was a brief "Mm."

After meeting up with Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan at the academy gate, the five of them went for a stroll together.

Xie Xie took the initiative and recommended the Beef Stew Shop. The others looked to Chen Ye, and he nodded.

Entering the little hidden gem tucked away in a quiet corner, Chen Ye licked his lips.

The warmth drifting out from inside, mixed with the aroma of beef, made their mouths water.

"Not bad, Xie Xie! You even found a hidden gem like this?" Xu Xiaoyan patted Xie Xie on the shoulder with a smile.

The others glanced around and followed them inside. Xie Xie's eyes stayed mostly on Chen Ye.

Only after seeing that their boss wasn't displeased did he let out a long breath.

"My mom and I used to come here all the time. I just haven't been in a while," Xie Xie said, rubbing his head.

"No problem. We'll get a portion packed up for you to take to your mom. You can head back and stay with her tonight. I'll talk to Teacher Wu when he does the dorm check." Chen Ye glanced at Xie Xie. He noticed the hesitation in his eyes, but didn't make a big deal of it.

"Thanks, boss... This meal's on me!"

Xie Xie looked touched, but before Chen Ye could say anything, Tang Wulin nodded.

"Great! Xie Xie, you promised to treat us, so you can't back out!"

"Wait, you—" Xie Xie glared at Tang Wulin. Remembering that Tang Wulin usually ate fifteen bowls of rice, he fell silent for a moment.

"I said I'd pay, so I'll pay! You think I'm short that little bit of money?"

Xie Xie curled his lip. Uncle Li spotted him inside the restaurant, paused in surprise, then hurried over.

"Xie Xie, this is the first time you've brought friends here. These little dishes are on me."

"Uncle Li, bring us twenty portions of beef and rice. My friends can really put it away."

"Sure, I'll get them started right now. If you like my cooking, you can come by anytime!" Uncle Li smiled, then hurried back to the kitchen to start cooking.

The beef and rice came out quickly, but there was a lot of it to prepare.

With nothing else to do, the group sat around chatting.

"Boss, what kind of resources do you think the academy will give Class Zero?"

"Sure, our teaching is better than the other classes', but that's not what the academy promised us."

Tang Wulin wore a troubled expression. Compared to the others, his foundation was the weakest.

And he didn't have the money to buy spirit beasts or Soul Spirits.

Seeing their gloomy faces, Chen Ye said casually,

"Doesn't matter. In a little while, I'll take you all to the Rising Spirit Platform. You can improve your Soul Spirits while we're there."

"Really, boss? Won't that be expensive?" Tang Wulin looked embarrassed, and Xie Xie turned to look at Chen Ye too.

Their families could afford the Rising Spirit Platform, but it was still a considerable expense.

"Don't worry. He doesn't have to pay to take you there. Just go with him," Gu Yue said helplessly.

They all looked at Gu Yue, waiting for her to explain.

"We both took a teacher from the Spirit Pagoda as our master. He has a very high standing in the Spirit Pagoda."

"So the two of us don't have to pay to use the Rising Spirit Platform. Bringing you along is no trouble either."

"I see. Heh, looks like we'll have to stick close to Brother Chen from now on," Xu Xiaoyan said, blinking as she looked at Chen Ye too.

Whether he genuinely didn't know or was just pretending, Chen Ye had always been polite to her.

But even his politeness came with a certain distance.

At first, Xu Xiaoyan hadn't minded. But after spending all this time with him,

she found it strange whenever she saw how close he and Gu Yue seemed.

It was as if something that had belonged to her had been taken away.

One pot of beef stew after another was brought out. The rich beef broth paired with soft, fluffy rice was irresistible.

The others couldn't resist the aroma either. They picked up their chopsticks and dug in.

The beef melted on their tongues, its distinctive tenderness and rich fragrance blending together to delight their taste buds.

"This is so good! It's the best beef and rice I've ever had!"

"It's beef stew!"

Xie Xie glared at Tang Wulin, but before he could say anything more, the sound of dishes smashing came from the entrance.

"What are you doing? Didn't I already pay you protection money?"

Hearing Uncle Li's words, Xie Xie was the first to get up and head out. The others looked at Chen Ye.

Chen Ye didn't hesitate. He led the others after Xie Xie and went outside too.

As they neared the entrance, they saw Uncle Li sprawled on the ground, blood at the corner of his mouth. One of his eyes was already swelling shut.

The huge beef stew pot that had been sitting by the entrance lay shattered on the ground.

Standing in front of Uncle Li were three burly men. Two of them were smashing things, while the bald man in charge stared down at Uncle Li with cold eyes.

"That was the protection money for the first half of the month. You still haven't paid for the second half!"

"Hand over the money now and I'll leave. Otherwise, I'll shut this place down! You're running a shop without paying protection money—are you tired of living?"

The bald man looked impatient. At his words, Uncle Li lowered his head, his face filled with helplessness.

"Brother Long, it's not that I won't pay. Could you give me a few more days? I haven't paid this month's rent yet, and my wife's been sick lately."

"I've spent all the money I earned on her treatment. Could I pay you everything next month?"

"Could you? Hell no! Hand over the money right now, or shut the damn place down!"

Guang Long looked impatient. Chen Ye frowned.

He didn't exactly feel sorry for Uncle Li, but they were eating here, and now this guy had come in to smash up the shop and was even threatening to shut it down.

Xie Xie glared at Guang Long angrily, but when he saw how burly the man was, he helplessly turned to Chen Ye.

"Boss."

"It's fine. Leave it to me. This is nothing."