128: Chapter 128 Na Ran Yan Ran - A Bet

This little fatty was Ximen Hou—the one who had a face full of chili powder blown at him by Xiao Xie right when he first entered the Tianji Holy Land years ago.

Who could have imagined that from then on, this fellow would devotedly recognize Xiao Xie as his Big Brother? The two caused trouble together, got into mischief together, and were punished together, making their bond increasingly unbreakable.

Licking a piece of candy, Ximen Hou leaned in and crouched down, lowering his voice and saying mysteriously, "Boss Xiao, I heard a new barbecue shop opened in the town at the foot of the mountain. Business is incredibly booming. How about tonight we..."

"Not going." Xiao Xie didn't even turn his head. "I'm still being punished."

"It's not like you can't run away while being punished..." Ximen Hou muttered, stealing a glance at him before tactfully shutting his mouth.

Xiao Xiao giggled nearby, scooping up a handful of water and splashing it toward Ximen Hou. "Brother Hou, you've got noodles hanging under your nose again!"

Ximen Hou quickly raised a hand to wipe it away, chuckling foolishly.

Xiao Xie thought for a moment and couldn't help but remind him, "Hou, can you usually eat a bit less? Wipe your snot clean and pay attention to your image. This look of yours is as low as it gets. Walking with you makes me look particularly cheap, you know?"

"This look of mine... is there a problem?" Ximen Hou looked innocent, looking down at his round belly and then raising a hand to wipe away some snot, his movements so practiced it was heartbreaking.

Xiao Xie sighed. He felt that as a teenager, his self-esteem must be strong at this age, and he would care about girls' opinions.

He tried to advise him, "Don't you have a girl you like? With you looking like this, would anyone even look at you? Listen to your boss: lose some weight, tidy yourself up, and maybe you'll be able to win a girl's heart."

"Why should I win her heart?" Ximen Hou blinked in confusion again.

"If you don't win a girl's heart, are you waiting for a girl to come and win yours?" Xiao Xie rolled his eyes.

"Didn't you say it yourself, Boss? Once I become President Hou, girls will naturally undress for me." Ximen Hou righteously brought up Xiao Xie's 'golden quote' from back then and added another blow, "Besides, with my strength, it's not like I couldn't just take what I want."

"But forced fruit isn't sweet." Xiao Xie tried to salvage the kid's values.

"I know," Ximen Hou licked his candy, looking calm. "But it quenches thirst."

"..."

Xiao Xie packed up his fishing rod, feeling a bit disoriented. "Holy crap, when did your tongue get so slick? You're talking nonsense so seriously, yet why do I inexplicably feel it makes sense and find it completely impossible to refute?"

Ximen Hou chuckled and wiped away another glob of snot. "It's all because the boss taught me well."

Xiao Xie's face darkened. "...I didn't teach you that."

"Then it was teaching by example." Ximen Hou looked at him with admiration.

Xiao Xie sighed toward the heavens—this kid was probably beyond saving.

Xiao Xie completely forgot that he himself was only a nine-year-old child.

After Ximen Hou's antics, Xiao Xie was no longer in the mood for fishing.

Fishing or not, one still had to eat.

So, he sneakily led his sister and Ximen Hou down the mountain to eat barbecue—it was mainly because the fatty wanted to eat, and the two of them were just tagging along for a free meal.

The three of them arrived at a barbecue shop called 'BBQ Bar.' Smoke swirled at the entrance, and the aroma of meat was so pungent it made one's mouth water just from the smell.

Just as Xiao Xie stepped inside, the waiter quickly stopped him. "Three customers, I'm sorry, but the shop has been booked out today."

The candy almost fell out of Ximen Hou's mouth as he asked urgently, "Who booked it?"

"It is the Personal Disciple of the Holy Lord of Tianji—Naran Yanran."

"That's my Senior Sister!" Ximen Hou's eyes lit up, and he puffed out his chest as if he and Naran Yanran were very close.

"We're one of her own, let us in quickly."

While the waiter was still hesitating, a group of people suddenly swarmed out of the shop.

Leading them was a young girl, surrounded by a crowd of Disciples like stars around the moon. Her chin was held high as she walked arrogantly toward Xiao Xie, a half-smile playing on her lips. "Oh, isn't it the Three Demon Children? What are you doing here?"

"Doing what? Eating barbecue, obviously." Xiao Xie rolled his eyes irritably.

They were old acquaintances.

This woman had a grudge against them.

Years ago, when Xiao Xie was younger, Naran Yanran had bullied him quite a bit, relying on her status as the Holy Lord's Personal Disciple.

Later, Xiao Xie took advantage of her bathing in the Jade Maiden Lake and stole all her clothes, leaving this arrogant Senior Sister soaking in the lake all night, nearly freezing into an icicle.

The feud was settled then, and from that point on, they glared at each other like fighting cocks whenever they met, neither willing to yield.

"I'm sorry, but I've booked the place today." Naran Yanran crossed her arms over her chest and added with a smile, "Try another day."

Ximen Hou got anxious and stepped forward, not even bothering to wipe his snot. "Senior Sister, spare us a table. There's only three of us."

"Impossible." Naran Yanran tilted her chin up. "Unless... you can beat me in a fight."

"Holy crap—" Ximen Hou's temper flared on the spot. "Woman, you're three years older than us, and you actually have the face to make such a request? Do you have no shame?"

Naran Yanran wasn't angry; she smiled and goaded them, "What? Scared?"

"Fine! A fight it is!" Xiao Xie thudded his fishing rod onto the ground. "But just getting a seat if we win is too small a prize. How about this—"

He held up a finger. "If we lose, the monkey will kowtow to you. If we win, you kowtow to us and let us in to eat barbecue."

"Deal." Naran Yanran agreed instantly, without the slightest hesitation.

Lose? How could she possibly lose?

She had just achieved a Breakthrough to Core Formation and was planning to celebrate today by booking out the shop.

And from what she knew, the strongest of these Three Demon Children was only at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment.

She just wanted to use this sparring match to properly teach these two foul-mouthed brats a lesson.

Xiao Xie's mouth curled into a grin, revealing a row of white teeth.

He didn't just want to win; he really wanted to see this Senior Sister kowtowing—the thought of that scene was exciting.

Ximen Hou muttered quietly from behind, "Boss, you're betting my kowtow, but I'm not the one making the bet..."

"You're my lackey. You kowtowing is the same as me kowtowing. It's the same thing." Xiao Xie didn't even look back.

Ximen Hou opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Fine, it wasn't the first time he'd been set up by the boss anyway.

—

In front of BBQ Bar, Naran Yanran crossed her arms and looked at the three of them expectantly. "Which of you will fight me?"

The three of them looked at each other.

Ximen Hou was the first to shrink his neck back. "Boss, I'll leave it to you."

Xiao Xiao raised her small fists, her face full of trust. "Go for it, Brother!"

Xiao Xie stuffed the fishing rod into Ximen Hou's arms, rolled his wrists, and the corners of his mouth curled slightly. "Don't worry, in a moment I'll have her kneeling and calling me daddy."

"Just you?" Naran Yanran sneered, not taking him seriously at all.

Xiao Xie didn't waste words. He stepped forward, lazily raised his hand, and gave a casual push.

He didn't even use a Cultivation Technique, didn't draw a sword, and didn't transform. It was just a simple push.

A majestic, almost terrifying surge of spiritual energy erupted from his palm like a crashing wave, slamming violently into Naran Yanran.

"What—"