31: A former genius.

The two entered the city.

Goodness, this Xiangyang City truly lives up to its reputation!

As a crucial frontier town of the Great Song Dynasty, it was more than just bustling with people; it was an uproar, with noise soaring into the sky!

How could Nanny, this little girl, have ever experienced such worldly hustle and bustle?

Her pair of obsidian-like eyes darted around non-stop, almost glowing with excitement.

She looked left and right, wishing she had two more pairs of eyes to take it all in!

“Qin Jiu, look!”

She pointed with a small hand, her voice clear and crisp, filled with the excitement of discovering a new world.

“Ah! That guy over there breaking stones with his chest! How amazing!”

The little girl exclaimed again, her head shaking like a rattle drum.

“Qin Jiu, and that osmanthus cake! It smells so good, it’s going to kill me!”

Her little nose twitched, and her mouth was practically watering.

The little girl clutched Qin Jiu’s sleeve tightly with one small hand, afraid of being separated by the surging crowd.

Her other hand became a little general, pointing everywhere, her mouth chattering non-stop.

Qin Jiu was pulled from side to side by her, his ears ringing and his head throbbing faintly.

My little ancestor! You’re having a blast, but my old bones can barely take it anymore!

To think of him, Qin Jiu, a dignified Prince, first confined to the palace, then entering the Immortal Sect for arduous cultivation.

Such a vibrant and lively scene of the mortal world was a unique and novel experience for him.

After wandering for a while, the two chose a restaurant that looked bright and clean, and walked in.

As soon as they sat down, Nanny eagerly waved her small hand and shouted crisply, “Waiter! Bring us all your signature dishes, all the mountain delicacies, wild game, rare and exotic foods! All for… uh, for us! And make it fast!”

Her demeanor was very much like that of a little rich woman throwing money around, making Qin Jiu’s eyelids twitch beside her.

My little ancestor, with words like that, are you afraid people won’t know we’re fat sheep from out of town?

Fortunately, the waiter in this restaurant was also well-traveled. Seeing that the two were dressed extraordinarily (Nanny’s clothes were made by Lu Yuchen from unknown spiritual silkworm silk, and Qin Jiu had changed into the Outer Sect Disciple uniform of the Tai Xuan Immortal Sect, the fabric far from ordinary), he quickly bowed and nodded:

“Alright! Please wait a moment, honored guests, I’ll go arrange it right away!”

On the second floor of the restaurant, in a quiet corner by the window.

A young man in green, with a slightly thin build but a face showing some defiance and resolve, was sitting alone, silently drinking his sorrows away.

His name was Xiao Huohuo.

Once upon a time, he was also the pride of the Xiao Family in Xiangyang City. At fifteen, he had already touched the threshold of a second-rate Martial Artist, hailed as a martial arts Genius rarely seen in the Xiao Family for a hundred years, with a bright future ahead of him.

Unfortunately, Heaven envied his talent.

Three years ago, a mysterious change caused the Internal Energy in his body to be like a bursting river, not only stagnating but even strangely dissipating and regressing.

He fell from the clouds into the mud, from a Genius who was the focus of everyone’s attention, to a good-for-nothing whom anyone could step on overnight.

Now, three years later, he had exhausted his efforts and could only barely maintain the pitiful level of a third-rate Martial Artist, unable to compare even with some ordinary collateral Disciples in his Family.

“Good-for-nothing… Haha, I, Xiao Huohuo, have actually become a good-for-nothing in other people’s mouths…”

Xiao Huohuo picked up the coarse ceramic wine cup in front of him and drained it in one gulp. The pungent wine burned his throat like fire, but it couldn't extinguish the burning bitterness and unwillingness in his heart.

In his mind, the humiliating scene from yesterday involuntarily surfaced.

East of the city, the Yun Family mansion.

Cloud Mirage, who was once his childhood sweetheart and had sworn eternal love with him, threw a cold annulment letter harshly in his face in front of a hall full of guests.

“Xiao Huohuo, you are now nothing but a good-for-nothing even worse than a third-rate Martial Artist. Do you even deserve to dream of me, Cloud Mirage?”

“My Yun Family cannot afford this disgrace!”

“This marriage, let it be annulled today! From now on, you and I shall go our separate ways, with no further connection!”

Cloud Mirage’s icy words, every single one of them, were like a poisoned blade, mercilessly cutting into his already scarred heart.

The contemptuous, mocking, and gloating gazes from the surrounding guests were like thousands of steel needles, piercing him all over, making him wish he could find a crack in the ground and disappear into it on the spot.

Humiliation!

Anger!

Annoyance!

And that bone-deep… helplessness!

“Bang!”

Xiao Huohuo slammed his fist heavily on the square table in front of him, making the cups and plates clatter.

“Thirty years of prosperity in the east, thirty years of decline in the west; do not bully a young man for his poverty!”

He gritted his teeth, his eyes almost spitting fire, and an indomitable will roared wildly in his heart.

I, Xiao Huohuo, will never sink into oblivion!

One day, I will make those who once mocked and humiliated me kneel on the ground and look up at my back!

But… where is hope?

On the other side, Nanny’s mouth watered as she looked at the plates of colorful, fragrant, and delicious dishes.

Braised pork hock, roasted chicken, roasted duck, osmanthus fish… and a jar of fragrant Daughter Red wine.

The two disregarded their manners, grabbed a shiny chicken leg, and started gnawing on it.

Qin Jiu was also starving, his appetite stimulated, and he feasted with Nanny.

After they devoured everything like a whirlwind, the table was a mess of cups and plates.

Nanny patted her round little belly, letting out a satisfied burp.

“I’m full! Qin Jiu, let’s pay the bill and leave, and go watch the fun at Mount Hua!”

Qin Jiu nodded, just about to call the waiter.

Suddenly, his face stiffened, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Oh no!

He suddenly remembered a fatal problem!

They… seemed to have no money!

When he was a Prince, he naturally didn’t have to worry about money when traveling.

After entering the Tai Xuan Immortal Sect, he focused on cultivation and had no concept of such worldly silver and gold.

Nanny, let alone, she was just a little girl.

“Wh-what… what do we do?” Qin Jiu’s voice trembled slightly.

Nanny also froze, blinking her big eyes, confused: “Qin Jiu, what’s wrong?”

“We… we don’t seem to have money to pay…” Qin Jiu said with a mournful face.