Xu Yan waited until Qin Yudie's excitement had died down before asking, "Miss Qin, are some people naturally stronger than others, and born suited to cultivation?"
He still remembered Jiang Li's performance yesterday. If Jiang Li could become a cultivator, that would be something worth celebrating.
Qin Yudie was startled by Xu Yan's question. She wondered to herself whether she had done something wrong, or brought up cultivation in a way that had displeased Senior Xu. Otherwise, why would he suddenly mention something related to cultivation?
But Xu Yan didn't look angry, so she relaxed and answered based on what she knew. "There are people like that. Some have special constitutions, while others are naturally close to the Great Dao. Cultivation comes twice as easily to them."
Xu Yan nodded without saying anything.
He didn't know whether Jiang Li had a special constitution or was naturally close to the Great Dao. But whether to cultivate was up to Jiang Li, so he didn't intend to interfere too much.
"Senior Xu, is something the matter?"
When Qin Yudie saw that Xu Yan wasn't speaking, she began to feel nervous.
If she didn't know what she'd done to anger Senior Xu, not only would her grandfather curse her out, she wouldn't forgive herself either.
Xu Yan waved a hand. "It's nothing. Something just came to mind."
Then he put the chessboard away. That was the rule he'd set: he would play no more than five games with Qin Yudie each day. Otherwise, if she kept playing with him, she'd drive him crazy.
Qin Yudie looked at Xu Yan, her cheeks faintly flushed. "Senior Xu, my twentieth birthday is in a few days. I'd like to invite you to my birthday banquet."
She really wanted Xu Yan to attend her birthday banquet, but she understood that as a reclusive expert, he probably wouldn't enjoy that sort of gathering.
So she asked only on the off chance he might agree.
Xu Yan said, "If I'm free that day, I'll come."
He wasn't interested in birthday banquets, but since she'd sincerely invited him, he didn't mind going if he had the time.
Qin Yudie exclaimed in delight, "Wonderful! I'll come pick you up that day. Yudie will take her leave for now."
With that, she hurried out of the shop, as if afraid Xu Yan might change his mind.
"That girl's so strange." Xu Yan shook his head with a smile and put the matter out of his mind.
Thinking it over, he realized it had been a while since he'd eaten anything good. He got up, planning to buy a roast chicken and treat himself.
Xu Yan walked into a little roast chicken shop and called out, "Boss Wang, one roast chicken, please."
The roast chicken here tasted better than any other in the nearby streets. He used to come by every few days to buy one.
Lately, Qin Yudie had come by to play chess with him every day, and he hadn't visited in over a week.
Boss Wang knew Xu Yan always got his food to go, so he packed it up for him at once and said with a smile, "Divine Doctor Xu, it's been a while since you last came by."
Xu Yan took the roast chicken, set twenty copper coins on the table, and said, "I've been a little busy lately. I ran into some strange people."
After that, he picked up the roast chicken and glanced at it, already practically drooling.
Boss Wang didn't even bother to count the coins before pocketing them. "There've been a lot of strange people in Tianren City lately. They say there are even some dangerous people of unknown origin about. Divine Doctor Xu, be careful at night, and make sure your doors and windows are locked."
Xu Yan nodded and headed back with the roast chicken.
Before he got home, though, he spotted a little fox lying in a corner of the street.
He went over to take a look and saw no external injuries, so he crouched down to check on the fox.
If it could still be saved, he didn't mind helping it.
Just then, the little fox suddenly opened its eyes and bit down on the roast chicken.
Its sharp teeth pierced straight through the bag and sank into the chicken.
The little fox's sudden stunt startled Xu Yan. He shook the roast chicken and cried, "Holy crap, let go! I bought this roast chicken. It's not for you!"
A moment later, he stopped shaking it. The little fox had already torn off a drumstick along with the bag.
The little fox wolfed down the drumstick, finishing the whole thing in no time.
Then she looked up at the roast chicken in Lin Yansheng's hand and licked her lips.
"Still not full?" Xu Yan was amazed by the appetite of such a small fox. Then he said helplessly, "Fine. I can't exactly eat the half you've bitten anyway, so I'll split it with you."
He tore the roast chicken in half, placed the half with the missing drumstick on the bag, and offered it to the little fox. Then he started eating the other half himself.
The little fox looked at Xu Yan, then at the half chicken in front of her, and began to eat too.
A peculiar sight appeared on the street: in one corner, a man dressed in white as brilliant as snow, handsome beyond compare, was sharing a roast chicken with a little fox—half for each of them.
After finishing the roast chicken, Xu Yan started walking toward his shop.
He hadn't gone far when he stopped, because the little fox was following him.
He turned to look at her. Not knowing whether she could understand him, he asked, "Why are you following me? I don't have any roast chicken left."
The little fox blinked her big eyes and thought, I'm following you because I don't have anywhere to stay. And I'm full, so I don't need any more roast chicken.
She wasn't an ordinary fox. She was a Fox Demon who had fled here while being hunted by other members of the Demon Race.
She had exhausted her Spiritual Power, and was so hungry she couldn't maintain her transformed state, so she had reverted to her true form.
Now, she couldn't transform back even if she wanted to. Otherwise, she'd scare anyone who saw her.
Besides, the Demon Race members hunting her had also reached Tianren City. Staying in her true form would actually help her hide better. She could, for instance, pretend to be an ordinary fox, enter a human household as a pet, and slowly recover her Spiritual Power.
Xu Yan and the little fox stared at each other for a moment. Then he said helplessly, "Fine. You can't understand me anyway. If you really want to follow me, go ahead. I already have a green-haired turtle, so I don't mind raising a little fox too."
With that, he walked all the way back to What Are You Looking At Small Shop, and the little fox, Su Jiuer, followed him inside.
Before entering the shop, Su Jiuer had thought Xu Yan was just a mortal. Only after stepping inside did she realize how terribly wrong she'd been.
The rules of the Great Dao manifested throughout the outer hall, and an ancient, primeval Sword Intent appeared, sweeping toward her.
Then... she fainted.
"What happened? She fainted as soon as she came in." Xu Yan felt a little puzzled when he saw the little fox collapsed on the ground.
Had she eaten too much and burst?
Serves you right. That's what you get for eating so much, little fox! Now you're paying for it!
Before you continue