When Yu Longyue heard Huo Yuhao's words, he nearly sprayed out the coffee he had just taken into his mouth.
"A date? What's going on in that head of yours? This is my friend Gu Yue. We're not on a date. We just happened to run into each other at the coffee shop and sat together for a while."
Strangely, though, Gu Yue made no attempt to contradict Huo Yuhao. She merely sat there, looking at Yu Longyue without reacting.
Instead, she felt that what he said was only natural.
Huo Yuhao scratched his head awkwardly.
"Sorry, I saw you sitting together and... thought... I apologize."
Yu Longyue waved a hand to show he didn't mind.
"It's fine. You've got quite the imagination."
Then he looked at Gu Yue beside him.
"I'm going shopping with my friends today, just to relax. Want to come?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Gu Yue's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a hint of a smile.
"Your friends won't mind?"
"Not at all. The more, the merrier," Huo Yuhao said at once. Since Yu Longyue had invited her in front of him, it meant the girl before them was at least an ally.
"Since you're inviting me, I'd be glad to. Count me in."
Huo Yuhao led Yu Longyue and Gu Yue out of the coffee shop to meet up with Tang Wulin and the others waiting outside.
"Brother Yue!"
As soon as Tang Wulin saw Yu Longyue coming, he excitedly waved him over.
Yu Longyue waved back at Tang Wulin, a friendly smile appearing on his face.
"Wulin, long time no see. How's your cultivation been lately?"
"Pretty good. I'm already level thirteen. Brother Yue, how come you had time to come over today?"
"What, can't I come see you when I have time?" Yu Longyue wore his signature polite smile.
A cold-faced youth in a black tracksuit looked at Yu Longyue in surprise.
After all, it was the first time he had seen Tang Wulin act so warmly toward an outsider.
"First, let me introduce him. This is Xie Xie, our roommate and classmate. He's pretty talented and is almost a Soul Grandmaster," Huo Yuhao said cheerfully as he made the introduction. Clearly, he was already a leader in their little group.
Then he turned to Xie Xie and introduced Yu Longyue and Gu Yue to him.
"Sorry for barging in on your time to relax. You don't mind, do you?" Yu Longyue asked Xie Xie.
Xie Xie nodded, then tossed the ball to Huo Yuhao.
"Not at all. How about we go to the snack street?"
"Mm."
The five chatted and laughed as they went to the snack street, where shops lined the road. As soon as they reached the entrance, Yu Longyue caught the delicious aromas of all kinds of food.
"Grrr-"
Hearing a stomach rumble, everyone looked around at one another in confusion. In the end, their gazes all settled on Yu Longyue, who was walking beside Gu Yue at the back of the group.
"Haha, sorry, sorry. I haven't eaten much today, so I'm pretty hungry." Yu Longyue rubbed the back of his head. Having the Golden Dragon King Bloodline, he had naturally inherited the original Tang Wulin's capacity for food.
"It's fine. Let's go eat that first: slow-cooked pot beef. It's especially tender, and it's at its most delicious with some white rice," Xie Xie, the local Eastsea City host, offered.
"Sure. It's my first time here, so let me treat you as a gesture of friendship."
Xie Xie was a little surprised. He looked at the equally luxurious fabric of Yu Longyue's clothes, then shook his head.
"You're the Brother Yue Tang Wulin's always talking about, right? Let me treat you. If that really won't do, how about I ask you for some pointers next time?"
There was a hint of anticipation in Xie Xie's gaze as he looked at Yu Longyue. Clearly, he had heard about him from Tang Wulin.
"Heh, sure. Of course, no problem."
He readily accepted.
He had been wondering how to make Xie Xie his little brother as quickly as possible.
There were only five small rectangular tables in the shop, seating twenty-odd people at most. Half the seats were already occupied.
Xie Xie led them inside, murmuring as he went.
"Mom used to love the slow-cooked pot beef here. I come back every once in a while."
As he spoke, he walked in and sat down at the table farthest inside.
The five happily tucked into five portions of slow-cooked pot beef.
Yu Longyue, in particular, ate to his heart's content, as if he hadn't had street food in a long time.
"Delicious, delicious! Boss, another serving!"
"Coming right up!"
Xie Xie's eyes went wide. He looked at the dishes piled so high in front of Yu Longyue that they hid him completely, then turned to Tang Wulin.
"He... eats that much?"
"Uh, he's been a big eater since I met him. Honestly, I'm pretty envious." Tang Wulin blinked.
Gu Yue, who had been silent all this time, quietly watched Yu Longyue eat his fill. She stared blankly for a moment; no one knew what she was thinking.
But before they had eaten their fill, some blind fools came looking for trouble.
Three burly men swaggered into the shop. The moment they entered, they bellowed at the top of their lungs:
"Everyone not involved, get out!"
At the sudden shouting, the customers in the shop all looked up at the three burly men, their faces showing displeasure and alarm.
Though the shop was small, its slow-cooked pot beef was famous far and wide. The diners were therefore unwilling to give up their chance to enjoy the food just because these troublemakers had interrupted them.
Xie Xie and the others also put down their utensils and looked at the three men with slight frowns. A cold glint flashed in their eyes, but they quickly regained their composure.
Among the three, a bald man shouted harshly:
"Li, the day's come. Get out here and pay your protection fee."
Despite the bitter cold, his arms were bare, revealing dragon-shaped tattoos.
The other two were also tall and broad, and their fierce, scowling faces made it plain they were no good.
The owner was a middle-aged man. As soon as he heard the bald man's voice, he hurried out, his face somewhat pale.
"Brother Guang Long, could you give me a little more time to pay? My wife is sick, and I need to save money to get her treated..."
"Spare me that, Li. A wise man knows when to submit to the times. There's nobody on this street who dares refuse to pay protection. If your slow-cooked pot beef weren't actually pretty good, I'd have crippled you long ago." Guang Long was brimming with killing intent; he had come with ill intent.
"Cut the crap. If you can't produce the money today, don't bother opening this shop again."
The owner pleaded, "Brother Guang Long, I really don't have any money. It all went to my wife's treatment. Please, give me a little more leeway..."
"Leeway? If I give you leeway, who the fuck is going to give me any?!" Guang Long was just about to strike when a flash of yellow light appeared before him, and he instinctively dodged back.
"Who?!"
Xie Xie had activated his Light Dragon Dagger Martial Soul, and a Yellow Soul Ring flashed beside him.
"This is a place to eat, not a place for you to cause trouble. Please leave."
"A One-Ring Soul Master, huh? Haha, that's what you're relying on?" Guang Long looked at the owner, then, without another word, swung his right fist at Xie Xie.
At the same time, all the exposed skin on his body turned into iron-gray scales, and one white and one yellow Soul Ring flashed.
A Soul Grandmaster!
Xie Xie was startled. He had no time to react, and just as the punch was about to hit him, a small hand caught it for him.
Once he came to his senses, he saw that Yu Longyue had blocked the punch with one hand, the other held behind his back. He even spoke to Xie Xie with concern.
"It's good that you're not hurt, but... didn't you want to ask me for pointers? If you don't show a little strength, how can I give you any pointers?"