14: Cafeteria controversy!

After a night of secluded cultivation in the Great River, his consciousness returned to his main body, and Li Qing slowly opened his eyes.

The rations for a martial arts hall attendant—that bit of coarse rice and green vegetables—were now not even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.

"Grumble..."

His stomach growled at an inopportune time.

Li Qing shook his head helplessly, got up for a simple wash, changed into the simple clothes of an attendant, and prepared to go to the dining hall.

Inside the dining hall, the noise was as bustling as ever.

Just as Li Qing stepped into the side hall, he caught sight of Lu Yunfei, who was surrounded like the moon by stars.

He was still dressed in white today, holding a folding fan, chatting and laughing with several inner sect Junior Sisters, drawing many gazes from around him.

Chen Meng was also not far away, holding a meal tray, but her gaze drifted toward Lu Yunfei from time to time, with a hint of admiration in her eyes.

Li Qing shook his head inwardly; this Senior Sister Chen Meng's mind was still a bit too simple.

He walked to the food service window.

The Utility Disciple behind the window briskly served him a scoop of green vegetables, a piece of diced meat the size of a fingernail, and two scoops of coarse rice.

Just as Li Qing turned around with his meal tray, a figure charged across from the side.

With a "thud," it slammed into his arm.

The tray wobbled, and more than half of the food spilled onto the ground.

"Ouch!"

That person let out an exaggerated cry.

It was a burly attendant with a Face full of flesh, glaring at Li Qing.

"A newcomer?"

"Don't you have eyes when you walk!"

"Don't you know any rules!"

Behind him followed two gloating attendants, clearly part of the same gang.

Li Qing had a slight impression of this person; he seemed to be the lackey of some inner sect male Disciple, and he usually liked to throw his weight around.

Li Qing's brow furrowed imperceptibly, and anger welled up in his heart, but his Face remained expressionless.

He looked down at the food on the ground, then looked up at the burly attendant.

While that attendant was gloating, thinking Li Qing would swallow his pride...

Li Qing's feet moved seemingly at random, and his right foot subtly hooked in front of the left foot the burly attendant was about to step forward with.

A trip.

"Aiyoh!"

The burly attendant was about to continue his scolding when he felt his foot twist.

His center of gravity became unstable, and his whole body lunged straight forward.

His hands flailed wildly, and he almost fell flat on his Face.

Fortunately, his lower body was somewhat stable; he stumbled a few steps and finally managed not to fall completely, but he was in a sorry state.

The two lackeys behind him wanted to laugh but didn't dare, their Faces turning red from holding it in.

Li Qing bent down and unhurriedly picked up his meal tray.

He tapped the edge of the tray to shake off the dust, his tone flat and emotionless.

"Walking without eyes—you're the one who should learn the rules."

His voice wasn't loud, and his gaze was as calm as water, carrying an inexplicable chill.

It made the burly attendant's heart skip a beat, and the harsh words he had prepared couldn't even come out.

"You... you brat!"

The burly attendant steadied himself, his Face turning blue and white.

He pointed at Li Qing, but didn't know how to lash out.

Have a fight?

It wasn't that he was afraid of the Inner Sect Disciple behind him.

It was that the martial arts hall had rules; if there was a conflict, go to the arena.

Fighting in other places was strictly prohibited.

But if he just let it go, he would lose Face.

Li Qing ignored him, carrying the almost empty tray, thinking of going back to the window to ask for another portion.

But then he remembered what Hou San had mentioned last night.

The rules of the martial arts hall's dining hall were strict; the rations for attendants were fixed.

Each person only got one portion per meal, with no refills.

Thinking of this, he dismissed the idea, his dissatisfaction with the martial arts hall's food growing.

This little bit of food—is it for feeding a cat!

Oh well, this is a good Opportunity to leave the martial arts hall and take a walk in the city.

Along the way, he could solve his hunger issue and also get a feel for the situation in Jinling City.

Hou San, who was watching from the side, clicked his tongue inwardly.

This kid Li Qing looked refined and weak, quiet and unassuming, but he didn't expect him to be a tough nut to crack.

That trip just now was truly clever.

It seemed he wasn't someone who could be pushed around easily.

Seeing that Li Qing was ignoring him...

And with the onlookers around, the burly attendant felt it was pointless.

He gave Li Qing a fierce glare and slunk away with his two lackeys.

Li Qing looked at the empty tray, and the protests from his stomach grew louder.

He had to find more food sources as soon as possible.

Otherwise, he would be too hungry to Move.

His gaze instinctively drifted toward the dining hall's kitchen, where the aroma of meat wafted out.

If there was a chance... forget it.

He had the Clone System.

As the Clone grew, he would naturally grow as well.

There was no need to take risks!

Developing stealthily is the kingly way.

The morning passed quickly.

For Li Qing, it was nothing more than helping Chen Meng clean the courtyard or running errands to deliver things.

The rest of the time was his to use freely.

By noon, that pitiful ration was even more like a drop in the bucket.

Li Qing finished it in a few bites, but the feeling of hunger only grew stronger.

The martial arts hall rules stated that attendants had two hours of leave every day, and after accumulating for half a month, they had one holiday to return home and visit relatives.

Li Qing made up his mind and went to find Chen Meng.

Chen Meng was practicing a set of palm techniques in the courtyard, her movements creating gusts of wind, looking quite impressive.

"Senior Sister Chen Meng."

Li Qing called out from outside the courtyard.

Chen Meng finished her Move, sweat on her forehead, breathing slightly.

"What is it?"

"I want to leave the martial arts hall for a bit and walk around the city," Li Qing said.

Hearing this, Chen Meng's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she sized him up.

In her view, Li Qing had only been at the martial arts hall for a few days.

Instead of staying to familiarize himself with the environment and thinking about how to find some work in the hall, he was in a hurry to run outside.

"Go ahead, come back early, and don't delay for too long," she granted indifferently.

But she thought to herself...

After all, he hasn't seen the world; he's already lost his patience and wants to go to the city for fun.

Not at all like Senior Brother Lu, who is so diligent and hardworking, focused entirely on martial arts.

Li Qing thanked her, turned around, and walked toward the main gate of the martial arts hall.

He could roughly guess Chen Meng's thoughts, but he was too lazy to explain.

Some things are useless to explain; strength is the best proof.

All he could think about now was how to get more food...

And whether that prosperous Jinling City hidden any Opportunity that could allow his Clone to grow stronger quickly.