Chapter 418: Meeting

Chapter 418: Meeting

“When my immortal artifact was still in my possession, those coins seemed to have legs and ran straight into my purse! This meager copper change isn’t even worth a glance!” Lü Xiucai pretended to disdainfully eye the shop boy who had just thrown him out.

“Sir, I’m truly sorry, but no matter what you say, our establishment does not accept credit—” The shop boy said with a drooping face, slung his white towel over his shoulder, and turned to enter the main hall.

“Hey!” Before Lü Xiucai could say anything else, he was stopped by the woman beside him—his wife Tao’er, purchased with silver.

She unslung her bundle from her back, pulled out two pieces of vegetable flatbread, and offered them to him.

“I don’t want it! If you’re going to eat, then eat! As a man of integrity, do I need to feast on leftovers from a woman?” Lü Xiucai pushed the bread back.

He had momentarily thought of returning to Niuxin Mountain to find Li Huowang, but he had no money left. Though the distance wasn’t far, he had spent every penny he earned that day, leaving nothing behind.

Originally, he had planned to seek help from the brothers he once shared wine and meat with, but to his surprise, these bastards had turned their backs on him without a second thought.

“So noble, are you? Then how is it that Lü Xiucai, a man of such principle, can’t even afford a meal?”

Hearing the mocking voice from behind, Lü Xiucai’s face instantly darkened. He rolled up his sleeves and turned around, only to see Chun Xiaoman and Bai Lingmiao on the carriage.

“Oh my! What luck to meet you like this! You’re heading back to Niuxin Village? Let me drive!” Lü Xiucai prepared to climb aboard, but was instead kicked to the ground.

“Did I invite you to get on the carriage?” Bai Lingmiao looked down at Lü Xiucai from the carriage window.

With Tao’er’s help, Lü Xiucai stood up, puzzled by the white-haired woman before him.

This woman felt completely different now—whereas Bai Lingmiao used to be gentle and quiet, she had become arrogant and domineering.

“What happened to Bai girl?” Lü Xiucai asked Chun Xiaoman, who was holding the reins.

Chun Xiaoman sighed lightly. “What else? She’s just like you.”

“Oh? Did she also take hold of Master’s sword?” Lü Xiucai’s eyes widened in shock.

“Xiaoman, let’s go,” Bai Lingmiao ignored Lü Xiucai and pulled the curtain closed.

“Hey! Why did you leave so quickly? Give us a ride! Are you going back to Niuxin Mountain? We’re going the same way! Hey! Has Master returned to Niuxin Mountain yet?” Lü Xiucai hurried after the carriage, pounding on its wooden sides, but received no response.

Lü Xiucai followed along until the carriage finally stopped at an inn.

The shop boy led the carriage into the backyard while Bai Lingmiao ignored Lü Xiucai and walked toward the main hall with Chun Xiaoman.

As soon as Lü Xiucai and Tao’er sat down at the Eight Immortals table, Bai Lingmiao coldly swept her gaze over them. “Did I invite you to sit?”

“Hey! Bai girl, don’t be so heartless. We’ve known each other for so long—” Lü Xiucai tried to make amends.

“What relationship do we have? Are you my fellow disciple who escaped with me, or are you part of the Bai family?”

A fire surged within Lü Xiucai’s chest. This woman had always been kind—why had she changed so much? “Fine! So what if I miss one meal? Am I going to starve to death?”

He grabbed Tao’er and moved to an empty table nearby.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Chun Xiaoman opened her mouth to speak, but was kicked in the foot by Bai Lingmiao, who fell silent.

Soon, four dishes and a soup were served. Listening to the chewing and slurping sounds around him, Lü Xiucai couldn’t help but swallow hard.

“Oh, by the way.”

When Bai Lingmiao spoke to him, Lü Xiucai pretended not to care and glanced away.

“You don’t need to follow anymore. Go find food elsewhere. Niuxin Village belongs to the Bai family. I decide who stays and who doesn’t. And as for you, seeing you makes me sick.”

“What!?” Lü Xiucai jumped three feet high. “You can’t do this! Our Lü Clan also lives there!”

“Then it’s their house? If you dare to follow, I’ll have the entire Lü Clan expelled.”

Lü Xiucai tried to speak again, but when he saw the ominous figures of the Two Gods appear behind Bai Lingmiao, he could not utter a word.

He slammed his fist on the table, eyes red, grabbed Tao’er, and stormed out.

Watching the departing figure, Chun Xiaoman said, “Miao Miao, maybe you went too far? After all, he is the son of the Lü Clan leader.”

“I didn’t hit him or scold him. How is that too far? Have you seen how he treats his own father? Why should I help such a disowned scum? Besides, was that the attitude of someone begging for mercy just now?” Bai Lingmiao finished speaking and picked up her fourth bowl of rice to continue eating.

After finding a county town, Bai Lingmiao didn’t hurry to leave. She decided to rest well at the inn before continuing her journey.

In the bustling market, Lü Xiucai muttered angrily, occasionally gritting his teeth and cursing under his breath.

But no matter how much he cursed, his stomach wouldn’t stop growling. He glanced at the quiet woman behind him, who followed silently, and took her hand to continue searching for food in the town.

But without money, where could they find food? By sunset, they had only filled their stomachs with water.

“Hey! Buddy! Come here! Are you short on cash?” A man beckoned to Lü Xiucai from a dim alley.

Lü Xiucai walked over, curious. “What’s up?”

The man spread his hand, revealing several silver coins before Lü Xiucai. Just as his eyes lit up, the bearded man quickly snatched them back.

When Lü Xiucai eagerly asked, he pointed to Tao’er behind him. “Three taels of silver. Would you like to rent your wife as a concubine for a year?”

“Rent a concubine?”

“What? Don’t understand? It means borrowing your wife’s womb to bear a son. Once the child is born, she’ll be returned to you whole and sound.”

“Your grandmother!” With a bang, Lü Xiucai punched the man in the face. Naturally, the man retaliated, and the two began fighting.

Lü Xiucai was shorter and smaller than the man, and was beaten badly.

Just as Tao’er rushed in to break up the fight, she was slapped aside. Seeing this, Lü Xiucai’s eyes turned red.

“Your grandmother! I’ll kill you!” Lü Xiucai pulled out a small dagger from his sleeve, which finally stopped the man’s fists.

Looking at Lü Xiucai’s murderous glare, the man sneered nervously and turned away.

Once the tension eased, Lü Xiucai realized his entire body ached. He licked his tongue, spat out two bloodied molars onto the ground. “Damn it, why am I so unlucky!”

(End of Chapter)