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"Hehe, you'll meet many more people in the future," Dugu Qianye said as he gently tapped Xiaohuo's head with his finger.
"Wow, what a cute little bird," While Dugu Qianye and Xiaohuo were communicating telepathically, an exclamation came from behind, "Hey, stop right there. I'll give you a gold coin, sell me your little bird."
Dugu Qianye and Mo Feng turned around to see a man and a woman approaching. The man was in his twenties, dressed in a green robe, casually flipping a folding fan, with slicked-back, overly groomed hair, and a sleazy face. The girl was about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in fiery red riding attire, holding a fiery red whip.
"Oh, look who it is, if it isn't the useless Ah Jiu. How about it, sell me your little bird," The woman, seeing it was Dugu Qianye, grew even more arrogant. She was a Phantom Master, and to her, speaking with a useless person like him was truly beneath her dignity!
Dugu Qianye glanced at the two people, the Ji Family's "Twin Tyrants," Ji Anyang and Ji Lingling. Ji Anyang was twenty years old and already a fifth-level Phantom Master; Ji Lingling was sixteen and a first-level Phantom Master. They were both direct descendants of the Ji Family with high talents and were very much favored in the family.
"Not for sale," Dugu Qianye glanced at Ji Lingling and turned to leave.
"Stop!" Ji Lingling was infuriated by Dugu Qianye's disregard for her, "You waste, I am doing you a favor by offering to buy it, don't be ungrateful!"
Seeing that Dugu Qianye not only didn't stop but continued to walk forward, Ji Lingling lashed her whip towards him. Dugu Qianye, pulling Mo Feng along, moved forward quickly and avoided the whip.
"If you don't want to die, get lost!" Dugu Qianye barked coldly.
Dugu Qianye wondered why all these arrogant women liked to carry whips?!
"I've taken a fancy to your little bird. Not selling, huh? Then don't blame me for not being nice," she said, as she lashed her whip toward Dugu Qianye once more, "If you die, the little bird will be mine!"
"Master, beat the bad person, beat the bad person," Xiaohuo told Dugu Qianye telepathically.
Not wishing to continue the confrontation with Ji Lingling, Dugu Qianye activated the Ethereal Step Technique, dodging left and weaving right, easily avoiding the whip and arriving beside Ji Lingling. With a flick of his right middle finger and a swift turn of his hand, the whip was snatched away. Taking two steps back and dancing the whip, he swiftly bound Ji Lingling.
"Gosh, Ji Lingling actually can't even defeat the useless Ah Jiu."
"Exactly, it's so strange, right?"
"Did you guys see how she got to Ji Lingling's side? Did anyone see it clearly?"
"Tsk tsk, can't even beat a useless one."
A murmur went through the surrounding crowd.
"You… you waste, let me go!" Ji Lingling twisted her body, trying to break free from the whip.
Not wanting to get entangled, Dugu Qianye released the whip. Once free, Ji Lingling gathered orange Phantom Power in her hands and threw it at Dugu Qianye, who effortlessly dodged.
"Big brother, help me catch her!" Ji Lingling called out to Ji Anyang after seeing her attack fail against Dugu Qianye.
Ji Anyang, seeing his sister bullied, gathered Phantom Power and attacked Dugu Qianye. Dugu Qianye, not wanting to expose his true strength, was about to dodge when suddenly the attack was disrupted by another force of Phantom Power.
"What's the matter, Ji Family siblings, planning on bullying the outnumbered? Or do you think Mo Family folks are easy to bully?" Mo Lian's ethereal voice came through the crowd.
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Mo Lian walked up to Dugu Qianye, looking at Ji Anyang and Ji Lingling. Mo Ju glared fiercely at Dugu Qianye, presumably thinking she had embarrassed the Mo Family again.
"Hmph, we were just..."
"Hehe, it's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. We were merely sparring a bit with Miss Ji," Ji Lingling hadn't finished speaking when Ji Anyang interrupted her.
"In that case, we will take our leave now, as it's getting late. Master Ji, Miss Ji, as you were," Mo Lian said, glanced at Dugu Qianye, and turned to leave.
Dugu Qianye looked at the blazing sun and was somewhat speechless. However, since they had almost finished their shopping, she called Mo Feng and Mo Lian to return home with her.
Once the crowd dispersed, Ji Lingling stomped her foot and complained to Ji Anyang, "Big brother, why did you let them go just like that?"
"We are on the main street after all, with so many people watching. It's not to our advantage to fall out with the Mo Family in public. If we create a scene with the Mo Family now, we might even get punished when we go back."
"That useless girl made me lose face, I will kill her!" Ji Lingling ranted. She had never been so humiliated in her life.
Ji Anyang tapped Ji Lingling on the head with his fan and said, "Have you forgotten the competition between the four great families in two months? Every family member aged fifteen to twenty-five must participate, and this year the preliminary is against the Mo Family. How we deal with her will be up to us then."
"Oh yes, how could I forget that. Hmph, I want to see who will come to her rescue at that time!" Ji Lingling clenched the whip in her hand.
As Dugu Qianye and her party walked towards the Mo Residence, Mo Ju kept shooting her daggers with her eyes.
"Really, can you do anything other than embarrass the Mo Family?! Hmph, consider yourself lucky to have bumped into us today. You won't be so fortunate next time." Because of the trauma left by her swift defeat at the hands of Dugu Qianye last time, Mo Ju dared not scold Dugu Qianye, but keeping it all inside was uncomfortable for her, so she kept grumbling to herself incessantly.
Upon reaching the entrance of the Mo Residence, Mo Lian did not look at Dugu Qianye but turned to Mo Ju and said, "Let's go, we need to give the things we bought to mother." Then she strode off without asking Dugu Qianye why they had gone into town or why they got into conflict with the Ji Family.
Mo Ju followed Mo Lian, took a few steps, stopped, turned around, and spitefully said to Dugu Qianye, "Next time you see people from the Ji Family, stay far away."
Dugu Qianye nodded. Considering she had stood up for her today, Dugu Qianye decided not to take offense at her attitude.
Back in their yard, Dugu Qianye began to arrange her room, and by the time they finished setting up the newly-bought furniture, it was already evening. Looking at their yard, transformed anew, Dugu Qianye was in a good mood and decided to cook something to celebrate.
"I'm treating you to something delicious tonight," Dugu Qianye said excitedly to Mo Feng before diving into the kitchen.
Once Mo Feng had cleaned up his own room and came to the kitchen, seeing Dugu Qianye busily moving about filled him with a sense of familial warmth.
"You're done? Dinner will be ready soon, wash your hands and get ready to eat," Dugu Qianye said as she brought the stir-fried dish to the table and saw Mo Feng standing at the door, calling out to him.
Mo Feng wiped his moist eyes, washed his hands and stood by the table. Dugu Qianye sat down and said, "From now on, it's just the two of us living together. You're two years younger than me, so you should call me sister from now on. Come on, sit down and let's eat."
"I, I..." Mo Feng's eyes moistened again.
"Hehe, you always took care of me before, now it's my turn to take care of you. You are my brother." Dugu Qianye cheerfully looked at Mo Feng and laughed, "Try the food I've made. The seasonings aren't great, but it should be edible."