Ron wore a wry smile on his lips.
Despite the newcomer being a dog licker, their fate seemed pitiable. Licking led not only to trivial matters but now encompassed their very life.
However, this guest was no longer human but a tiger standing on two legs. Donning a regal high crown, adorned in blue purple attire, the tiger's imposing figure strode forward. The red cloak billowed behind him, giving off an air of leadership.
This guest was none other than a Tiger, a figure from Ron's childhood— Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit Seven Heroes.
"Why would someone of your status lick a rabbit?" Ron couldn't comprehend it.
Observing Ron's perplexed expression, Rayleigh, lost in his memories, turned to take a glance.
"Minks?" Rayleigh paused momentarily. In the auction house, the minimum bid for Minks members could reach a staggering 70,000,000 Berries! If the human traffickers in the Sabaody Archipelago caught wind of this, they'd spare no effort in capturing them.
Upon sensing Rayleigh's scrutiny, Hei Xiaohu glanced back. Rayleigh's tension skyrocketed, instinctively preparing for a confrontation.
Incredible strength! The Minks before him was undoubtedly more powerful than the two Minks leaders he knew, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi! Yet, the newcomer appeared remarkably young.
Could this be a result of genetic mutation due to the tiger's lineage mixing with other Minks races?
"Relax," Ron reassured Rayleigh with a smile. He then turned to Hei Xiaohu, asking, "What would you like to drink?"
Hei Xiaohu remained silent, his gaze fixed on the potent aroma of wine emanating from a bottle in front of Rayleigh.
Approaching the bar, Hei Xiaohu seated himself and pointed out, "The jars are identical. I hope the voice that guided me wasn't deceiving me. Is the wine here truly akin to fairy wine?"
Rem brought a bottle of Moutai and placed it before Hei Xiaohu, advising, "Take your time with the drink."
Hei Xiaohu nodded silently, disregarding Ron, and consumed most of the bottle within minutes, seemingly venting his emotions.
Observing this, Ron spoke softly, "Since you're here to drown your sorrows, maybe that old man beside you can offer some assistance."
Rayleigh's expression darkened. Did Ron believe his comment was humorous? Couldn't he see the strength of this Minks? And was he genuinely referring to that advice?
Hei Xiaohu regarded Rayleigh with a hesitant look, taking another sip before sharing, "Before I arrived, I used my internal energy to heal the wounds of the girl I love."
"But..." He paused, continuing in a deep tone, "When she awakened, she called out another person's name.Why was it you, Hongmao Shaoxia?"
Hei Xiaohu felt despondent. Despite his pleas to Blue Rabbit, all he received were blank stares. The farmer's three punches didn't hurt much, as Rayleigh advised, "Young man, look away. You're still young and will find someone better."
"Perhaps in the future, you'll encounter another woman, nearly risking your life for her, struggling to move on," Rayleigh added, nearly causing Ron to spill his wine.
Hei Xiaohu felt his dignity crumble repeatedly. In frustration, he finished the remaining wine in one go and remarked wryly, "I won't encounter her again. A woman of love and righteousness, unwavering in her principles—I'll never meet another like her."
"It would be better if... we weren't enemies," Hei Xiaohu remarked, though he refused to fully accept it.
He reasoned, "Blue Rabbit lost her memory, and I, Qiu, had no wrongdoing. After ten years of seclusion, I emerged as a formidable martial artist. I only captured Qilin to save my father. What's the difference between me, Hei Xiaohu, and Hongmao?!"
Ron patted his shoulder gently, offering a soft remark, "Young people shouldn't get too captivated by such a stunning woman. Otherwise, she'll linger in your thoughts forever... even if She's truly beautiful."
Hei Xiaohu nodded silently. Despite his skill in handling seven swords, her ice soul sword pierced through, causing immense pain.
Rayleigh sighed, "Well, I'll assist you. Don't always be overly nice to her. Show her that you can thrive without her. Life can be better, with more women! This way, she'll have moments of doubt and recollect all the experiences she had with you."
Hei Xiaohu's eyes sparkled with newfound understanding. "A true mentor," he thought. If he had met Rayleigh earlier, perhaps his relationship with Blue Rabbit might have turned out differently.
"But she always favored someone else in her heart, never truly giving me a place," Hei Xiaohu lamented.
Rayleigh offered a comforting smile, "It's alright. You can cause a little mischief behind her back."
Hei Xiaohu's expression darkened slightly, stating firmly, "I, Hei Xiaohu, have led an honest life and cannot stoop to such deceitful deeds!"
Ron, however, interjected with a slap on Hei Xiaohu's face. "Come on. You're already a licker; your pride doesn't matter. Plus, your history doesn't align with being straightforward. Don't forget your record—poisoning, kidnapping, arson."
At this moment, Ron handed Hei Xiaohu another bottle of wine.
The conversation continued as Ron intervened with advice for Hei Xiaohu. He mentioned, "Your pride might be intense, but can you overcome that feeling? If you can't, perhaps your friend can help."
Initially hesitant to intervene, Ron knew Hei Xiaohu's status as the martial arts alliance leader's son, a wealthy individual. However, he made it clear that Hei Xiaohu's survival would depend solely on his own actions.
Hei Xiaohu accepted the offered wine this time and began drinking without resistance, as if he had just arrived at the tavern. After finishing the wine, his previously confused eyes gained clarity. Placing a few gold ingots on the table, he stood up and acknowledged, "I've noted your advice. I'll visit another time."
He exited the tavern, disappearing not just into the night but from that world, returning to his original realm.
Rayleigh, with a bag of gold coins, also departed, bearing a bitter expression, preparing to confront past humiliations.
One could only imagine the daily struggles Rayleigh endured in his older age. Today marked a day of reckoning for him.
"Let's close up for the night," Ron declared after collecting the money. He, Rem, and Ram closed the tavern, tidying it for the day.
As the tavern's door shut, the system's voice echoed unexpectedly: "[Order complete: customers Rayleigh and Hei Xiaohu have fulfilled their confessions.]"
Ron was taken aback. The system presented him with options for Hei Xiaohu's abilities: Demon Dance, Star Absorbing Technique, Kuafu Zhuri... Likewise, abilities were listed for Rayleigh: Overlord Haki, Observation Haki, Armament Haki...
Ron couldn't help but react, slapping his face in disbelief. "Are you seriously being this generous? And these names are so embarrassing!"