Yu Xiaogang hid in the alley, his back against the cold wall, panting heavily.
He recalled how he had just been brutally beaten in the street by Bibi Dong's guards, treated like a beggar.
If he weren't afraid of being overheard by passersby outside the alley and getting beaten up again, he would have pointed in the direction of the Pope Palace and cursed Bibi Dong's name right now!
Yu Xiaogang grew angrier the more he thought about it. The wounds on his face and the dust on his body became his indictment of that woman's incompetence.
He has already made up his mind.
When he saw Bibi Dong, he didn't say a word.
He would use his injuries, his face, and his disheveled appearance to silently question her!
He wanted to make her feel guilty! To make her regret! To make her understand how low-level and unforgivable her mistake was!
She must, very seriously, apologize to herself!
Only when he is satisfied will he be willing to "magnanimously" forgive her and go to that Maple Dye Pavilion to break free from his shackles!
Otherwise, he'll just turn around and leave!
Make her lose all chance to win herself back!
Just as Yu Xiaogang was immersed in his imagined script, an extremely domineering yet incredibly alluring fragrance unexpectedly entered his nostrils.
The aroma seemed to possess some kind of magic, instantly igniting the hunger in his stomach.
Glug~
Yu Xiaogang's stomach growled involuntarily, and he subconsciously swallowed.
After all, he hadn't eaten anything for a whole day and night since he left Shrek Academy yesterday.
"It would be good to eat something before we look for Bibi Dong."
He muttered to himself, as if this were a reward for his hard work.
He patted the shoe prints off his body, raising a cloud of choking dust, but he couldn't get rid of the disheveled look no matter what he did.
Finally, he gave up on tidying himself up and, following the enticing aroma, limped deeper into the alley.
But when he got closer, he froze on the spot.
The source of the aroma was an exquisitely elegant two-story restaurant.
The walls of the restaurant were inlaid with huge, almost extravagant, "glass" panels, clear and flawless, reflecting a dreamlike brilliance in the sunlight.
This alone is enough to make any chamber of commerce on the mainland feel ashamed.
Above the entrance of the restaurant hangs an antique plaque with three large characters written on it in a vigorous and elegant style.
Maple Dye Pavilion!
Yu Xiaogang's breathing suddenly stopped.
He found it!
This is the place Ning Fengzhi spoke of, the place that can transform a person completely!
In other words, it was the belated compensation that Bibi Dong had prepared for herself!
Beside the entrance stood a tall, handsome middle-aged man. (Let's assume Qian Daoliu's appearance is that of a middle-aged man.)
But at this moment, his eyes were lifeless, his face was shrouded in an unyielding cloud of sorrow, and his whole being exuded a deathly aura of utter despair, as if his soul had been emptied out.
Yu Xiaogang naturally didn't recognize him, let alone guess that the distraught "gatekeeper" in front of him was the true Sea God the Spirit Hall, the level 99 Peerless Douluo, Qian Daoliu.
Upon realizing what was happening, an unprecedented glint of light flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes!
The Maple Dye Pavilion has been found!
Bibi Dong must be inside right now, anxiously waiting for my arrival, right?
Thinking of this, Yu Xiaogang snorted coldly in his heart, the humiliation of being beaten by the guards earlier surging up in his mind again.
He straightened his back, and the next second, he was ready to storm in!
He wanted to show that woman with her own eyes just how much he had suffered to come see her!
However, just as he was about to step onto the steps...
"Clang!"
A golden holy sword, formed entirely of condensed light, appeared out of thin air and instantly stood in front of him.
The holy aura flowing from the sword and its incomparably sharp sword intent startled Yu Xiaogang, who immediately took three large steps back and almost fell to the ground.
He looked up, still shaken.
The middle-aged man who had seemed distracted just moments before was now staring coldly at him.
Although Qian Daoliu was distraught over Qian Renxue's departure, his basic duty as a "security guard" at the Senior's Restaurant was still ingrained in his bones.
It is absolutely impossible to allow anyone of unknown origin, who is filthy and disrespectful, to set foot on this sacred land!
Qian Daoliu a cold face, looked down at Yu Xiaogang and sized him up.
His face was bruised and swollen, his clothes were disheveled, his body was covered in dust and footprints, and his eyes held a lingering resentment.
Qian Daoliu's brows furrowed instantly.
Who are you?!
"How dare you set foot here in such a filthy and disrespectful manner?!"
The voice was cold, carrying an undeniable air of authority.
In that instant, Yu Xiaogang felt a terrifying pressure bearing down on him, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
Title Douluo!
The person in front of me is definitely a powerful expert at the Title Douluo level!
Yu Xiaogang's calves felt a little swollen for a moment.
But the next second, he realized something.
His fear was quickly replaced by an even stronger sense of arrogance.
Since this person is so strong, he can't possibly be an ordinary gatekeeper!
He must be one of Bibi Dong's trusted and powerful subordinates!
Unlike those watchdogs outside who beat him up, Bibi Dong must have already told this person her identity!
So, the reason he's stopping me now isn't to drive me away at all!
He was probably specially sent by Bibi Dong to greet me here!
As long as I state my name, he will immediately put away his weapon and respectfully invite me in!
Thinking of this, Yu Xiaogang's anger from being beaten and her fear of facing a Title Douluo dissipated considerably.
Hmph! Bibi Dong, at least you have some brains, knowing to send someone of importance to pick me up!
Even so, you must give me a satisfactory apology for the injustice I suffered today!
Yu Xiaogang's head, which had just been lowered slightly out of fear, was immediately raised high again.
He imitated the image of those reclusive sages he had imagined, putting his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky at a 45-degree angle, hiding his panda eyes in the shadows, and speaking slowly in a calm yet aloof tone.
"My name is Yu Xiaogang."
He believed that these five simple words were enough to explain everything.
Upon hearing this statement...
The hand holding the sword, Qian Daoliu, which was blocking his way, suddenly trembled.
The Angel Holy Sword, formed from Soul Power, flickered for a moment due to the violent tremor in his mind, and almost shattered on the spot.
His eyes, which had been dull and lifeless, widened in an instant, and blood vessels spread rapidly at a visible speed!
He stared intently at the bruised and swollen man before him, his voice hoarse and distorted with extreme shock.
"You... you said your name is... Yu Xiaogang?"
Hearing Qian Daoliu's drastically changed tone, Yu Xiaogang felt even more smug.
See!
Just as I expected!
This name carries such weight among the high-ranking members of the Spirit Hall!
A smug smile crept onto his lips, but he quickly suppressed it, forcing himself to adopt an even more inscrutable, seemingly unfazed expression.
He slowly turned his head and glanced at Qian Daoliu with a look that said, "You finally recognize me."
"Exactly!"