"Wow! Someone actually sent a private red envelope to Sister Xiao Wu!"
Xiao Wu's eyes instantly lit up like stars. Her previous slight anxiety was instantly thrown to the back of her mind as she couldn't wait to tap 'Claim'.
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining: 10,000 gold coins!]
"Oh my god! Ten thousand gold coins!"
Looking at the string of glittering zeros displayed on the Brick, Xiao Wu was so excited she almost jumped off the bed, her mouth nearly watering.
"How many Carrots can this buy! I'm rich, I'm rich, I've hit the jackpot, hehehe..."
She rolled around on the bed excitedly while clutching the Brick. Her mind was filled with images of Carrot stew with meat, Carrot fried rice, Carrot juice... all kinds of Carrot delicacies.
As for Tang San?
Well... he hadn't sent Sister Xiao Wu a red envelope anyway, so if he was sold out, then so be it.
Who told gold coins to be more enticing?
Tang San: One should have a conscience. Has a rabbit eaten your conscience?
...As noon approached, Li Yuan was in the dormitory consolidating his spirit power.
The dormitory door suddenly opened with a "creak," and a pink figure dashed in like a whirlwind.
"Xiao Yuan! Xiao Yuan!"
Li Yuan opened his eyes helplessly, looking at the reckless Xiao Wu who had barged in. "I say, Xiao Wu, is something wrong with you? I'm in the middle of Cultivating, and you just burst in. You gave me a fright."
Xiao Wu stuck out her tender pink tongue and made a face, skipping over to him. "Oh, my bad, sorry~ I came to find you because I have good news!"
Seeing her "weasel paying a New Year's visit to a chicken" look, Li Yuan knew this girl definitely wanted something:
"Tell me, what is it?"
"Heehee, this time is different."
Xiao Wu giggled, grabbed Li Yuan's hand, and shook it. "Let's go, I came specifically to treat you to a meal!"
Li Yuan raised an eyebrow and teased her on purpose, "Oh? Is the sun rising from the west today? The famous Miserly Rabbit of our Nuoding Academy is actually willing to drop some coins and treat me to a meal?"
"Pah, pah, pah!"
Xiao Wu slapped the back of his hand in embarrassment and annoyance. "What kind of talk is that? When has this Young Miss ever been stingy? I'm just asking, are you coming or not?"
Li Yuan stood up and stretched. "Fine, fine. Since Sister Xiao Wu is so sincere, I'll reluctantly grace you with my presence. Tell me, where are we eating?"
Xiao Wu's eyes curved into crescents as she gave a mysterious smile. "How about we go to Nuoding Restaurant?"
"Nuoding Restaurant?"
Li Yuan pretended to know nothing and intentionally looked surprised. "Whoa, Xiao Wu, did you really strike it rich?"
"Hehe, it's a secret!"
Xiao Wu lifted her chin proudly, made a "shh" gesture at him, and pulled him outside.
Li Yuan's mouth curled up; his heart was as clear as a mirror.
Although he hadn't checked the group chat, he could guess what had happened.
Most likely, those "rich ladies" in the group had sent red envelopes and this girl had snatched one. Otherwise, with her usual penny-pinching nature, she would never proactively go to Nuoding Restaurant even if she were beaten to death.
The two walked toward the academy gate, chatting and laughing. Just as they stepped out, they heard hurried footsteps and a familiar voice from behind.
"Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu, where are you guys going? Can I come along?"
The newcomer was Tang San.
Seeing Tang San, Xiao Wu's bright smile instantly vanished. Her face fell, clearly showing her reluctance.
But since Tang San had at least treated them to a meal before, she felt awkward about directly chasing him away. She asked half-heartedly, "Tang San, we're going to eat... do you want to come?"
Anyone could see that her attitude practically screamed "I don't want to take you."
Yet Tang San seemed completely oblivious. A smile immediately broke across his face as he nodded happily. "Sure, I happen to be hungry too."
Xiao Wu: "..."
Helplessly, she cast an apologetic glance at Li Yuan.
It was supposed to be a private meal, but now it had turned into a group of three.
What bad luck!
Li Yuan shrugged.
He didn't really care. Since it was a free meal, it didn't matter who he ate with.
Afterwards, the three of them headed to Nuoding Restaurant together.
Along the way, Xiao Wu and Li Yuan chatted and laughed. Tang San tried to join the conversation several times, but they didn't include him at all.
This made Tang San incredibly depressed.
Looking at the backs of the two, who looked like a perfect couple, a sentence suddenly came to his mind: "I should be under the car, not here!"
Upon arriving at Nuoding Restaurant, Xiao Wu waved her hand grandly and ordered a table full of lavish signature dishes.
Braised Red Flame Boar Trotters, Steamed Silver-Scaled Fish, Stir-fried Dragon Whiskers... The table was covered with dishes, and the aroma filled the air.
Tang San's eyes went wide as he looked at the exquisitely presented dishes, which were perfect in color, aroma, and taste. He couldn't stop marveling, "Wow! Xiao Wu, so the food at Nuoding Restaurant is like this? It's so exquisite! This... this must cost a lot of money, right?"
Tang San thought Xiao Wu had ordered so many expensive dishes to thank him, and he was instantly moved. The unhappiness from the walk here vanished immediately.
In his past life, Tang San had struggled at the bottom of the Tang Sect, eating coarse food and vegetables. Where had he ever seen such a display?
At this moment, he was like a country bumpkin entering the city. Everything was fresh to him, and everything looked high-class and grand. He would occasionally let out clicks of admiration.
His unsophisticated behavior caused customers at nearby tables to look over with strange glances, and some were even whispering.
"Look at that country bumpkin..."
"Exactly, making such a fuss over a meal..."
"Probably some poor kid from the countryside..."
Xiao Wu's cheeks burned from the surrounding gazes. She lowered her voice in annoyance and nudged Tang San with her elbow. "Tang San, can you stop making such a scene? It's so embarrassing."
Tang San only then realized he had lost his composure, but instead of feeling ashamed, he felt that the people around him were looking down on him.
A surge of nameless anger flared up.
He suddenly stood up and instinctively released his Blue Silver Grass Spirit. Faint fluctuations of spirit power appeared on his body as he glared fiercely at the people who were talking about him.
"What did you say?!"
Tang San's intention was to use his status as a Spirit Master to intimidate them and make them shut up.
But he forgot that among those who could afford to eat at the best restaurant in Nuoding City, who didn't have a few Spirit Masters in their family?
Besides, his Blue Silver Grass Spirit... in many people's eyes, it really wasn't a powerful Spirit.
"Oh? You think being a Spirit Master is a big deal?"
"Exactly. It's just a lousy Blue Silver Grass Spirit. Who are you trying to impress?"
"A trash Spirit shouldn't come out and make a fool of itself!"
These merciless taunts instantly stung Tang San's sensitive pride.
His face turned bright red, his chest heaved violently, and he panted like a bull. He clenched his fists, ready to rush forward and fight.
"Tang San!"
Li Yuan frowned and pressed a hand onto Tang San's shoulder.
A force as heavy as Mount Tai came down, forcing the enraged Tang San back into his seat.
"If you're here to eat, then eat properly. What kind of skill is fighting?"
"If you have the ability, use your strength and reason to make people admire you, instead of acting like a street thug who wants to fight because he's frustrated."
"I..."
Tang San still wanted to argue, but he suddenly felt a massive force and was forced back into his seat on the spot.
He glanced at Li Yuan in shock. While his face remained calm, his heart was in turmoil: "When did Li Yuan's strength become so terrifying?"
He remembered clearly that he had sparred with Li Yuan a few times before.
Back then, although Li Yuan's strength was decent, it definitely didn't have this kind of overwhelming pressure that made him completely unable to resist!
How much time had passed?
How could his strength have increased so quickly?!
Didn't Teacher say that an External Beast Spirit provides very few attribute bonuses to the Spirit Master themselves?
But what was going on with Li Yuan?