Xiao Yi scoffed after hearing Lü Shaoqing's explanation. "Second Senior Brother, you're definitely making this up."
"Why don't you believe me?" Lü Shaoqing retorted. "I never lie, especially not to you."
Xiao Yi made a face at him. "I don't believe you."
After indulging in some gossip, Xiao Yi felt much more refreshed, and her appetite returned. As she looked at the spread of delicious dishes on the table, comparable to the last time they visited, she asked curiously, "Second Senior Brother, how much does a meal like this cost?"
"It should be about three or four thousand spirit stones," Lü Shaoqing estimated. "But don't worry, the owner promised me a fifty percent discount. It'll only be around one or two thousand—shouldn't be a problem for you, right?"
Xiao Yi's face fell, and she suddenly lost her appetite. "Second Senior Brother, I don't have that many spirit stones."
Are you trying to rob me here? Though she was from the Xiao family, her spirit stone allowance wasn't unlimited.
Lü Shaoqing waved her off. "Don't worry. Just eat."
"But Second Senior Brother, the owner already offered to waive the fee. Why didn't you accept? That's not like you at all," Xiao Yi noted. "You're always saying that passing up a free meal is foolish."
Lü Shaoqing scoffed. "We don't know each other that well. If she suddenly offers me such a generous discount, it's definitely not out of kindness. I'd rather avoid any hidden traps."
That does sound like Second Senior Brother, Xiao Yi thought. He hates trouble.
"Still, what if we can't pay the full amount later?" Xiao Yi said, worried. "I only have a little over five hundred spirit stones on me."
Lü Shaoqing shrugged. "Relax, I have my ways."
Fine, Xiao Yi thought. If Second Senior Brother says it's taken care of, then I'll just trust him. He wouldn't sell me off, right?
With that reassurance, Xiao Yi regained her appetite and continued enjoying the meal.
Once they had finished eating, Lü Shaoqing called Wang Yao to settle the bill. After the discount, the total came to one thousand nine hundred and thirty lower-grade spirit stones.
Lü Shaoqing's eyes widened. "That much? Is this place a rip-off?"
Wang Yao nearly burst into tears. "Senior Brother Lü, this is already the lowest price. The boss even offered to let you dine for free, but you refused."
You want to play the big shot and then accuse us of overcharging? Who does that?
Lü Shaoqing frowned at him. "Do I look like the kind of person who takes advantage of others? Where's the owner? Bring her here."
Fang Xiao arrived.
Lü Shaoqing looked at her and said, "Boss, are you running a scam? This is way too expensive."
Xiao Yi covered her face in embarrassment. Stuffing yourself and then accusing the owner of overcharging—what kind of shameless Senior Brother is this?
When Fang Xiao realized Lü Shaoqing couldn't pay, she waved it off generously. "No need to pay, Senior Brother Lü. This meal is on me."
But Lü Shaoqing shook his head. "No, absolutely not. I can't let you bear the cost."
He turned to Xiao Yi. "Junior Sister, give her all your spirit stones."
Xiao Yi handed over her five hundred spirit stones to Wang Yao. "Second Senior Brother, this is all I have."
Lü Shaoqing then said to Fang Xiao, "Well, Boss, as you can see, we don't have enough. How about letting my junior sister work here to pay off the debt?"
"Second Senior Brother—" Xiao Yi felt like crying. He really is selling me off!
Fang Xiao was stunned. "Senior Brother Lü, are you serious?"
Asking a direct disciple of Ling Xiao Sect to work off a debt? And Ji Yan's junior sister at that?
"Is there a problem?" Lü Shaoqing asked with a serious expression.
Fang Xiao forced a smile. "There's no need for that, Senior Brother Lü. Really, I insist—this meal is on me."
Lü Shaoqing responded righteously, "I can't accept your kindness. A disciple of Tian Yu Peak should take responsibility. If we can't pay, then we work for it. That's what it means to have integrity."
The room went silent.
You really have the audacity to say that?
Xiao Yi tugged at Lü Shaoqing's sleeve. "Second Senior Brother, why don't you work to pay off the debt? You ate the most, and you were the one who ordered everything."
Lü Shaoqing shrugged off her hand with no remorse. "I'm your senior brother. If I worked here, it would disgrace Tian Yu Peak."
The three others in the room—Xiao Yi, Fang Xiao, and Wang Yao—fell silent again.
It looks like you've already disgraced Tian Yu Peak long ago.
Xiao Yi fumed internally. If only Master could see what you're doing now, he'd definitely expel you from the sect.
Fang Xiao was at a loss. Lü Shaoqing adamantly refused her offer to pay and insisted that Xiao Yi work to settle the debt. What exactly is he planning?
Had she not witnessed that night's events, she might have assumed Lü Shaoqing was simply being stubborn or trying to prove a point by making his junior sister suffer. She might have even suspected that Lü Shaoqing was using this opportunity to get her attention. After all, others had tried similar tactics before.
But after seeing what Lü Shaoqing was capable of, Fang Xiao knew better. There's more to him than meets the eye.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yi said, "But Second Senior Brother, if I work here, I won't have time to train. What will Senior Brother say when he finds out?"
Lü Shaoqing replied, "Senior Brother Ji handed you over to me, remember?"
Xiao Yi's eyes widened. "But Senior Brother gave you a thousand spirit stones too!"
Lü Shaoqing shrugged. "That's my teaching fee."
Xiao Yi scrunched up her nose. "Hmph, you promised to help me learn sword intent and break through my current level in two months. How will I achieve that if I'm working here instead?"
Fang Xiao's interest piqued. She asked Lü Shaoqing, "Senior Brother Lü, are you really going to make Miss Xiao work here?"
"Of course," Lü Shaoqing said. "She needs to learn the value of hard work and avoid being deceived by a pretty face offering her a meal."
Xiao Yi felt utterly speechless. How can you say such things with such conviction?
Fang Xiao nodded. "Alright, no problem. If Miss Xiao is willing, she can work here."
"I—I don't want to," Xiao Yi stammered. I'm a noble lady from the Xiao family. If word got out that I was working here to pay off a debt, I'd be laughed at!
Lü Shaoqing remained firm. "It's not up to you. Right now, you'll listen to me."
"I'll go find Master or Senior Brother!" Xiao Yi declared.
"Go ahead," Lü Shaoqing shrugged. "But you know it's useless. Do you really think you can endure Senior Brother's training methods?"
Xiao Yi hesitated, her resolve weakening.
Lü Shaoqing patted her shoulder. "Just think of this as taking a break, a way to relax your mind."
"However, I have one condition," he added. "You must follow my instructions strictly."
"What condition?" Xiao Yi asked warily.
"You'll work here as an ordinary person," Lü Shaoqing explained. "Unless your life is in danger, you can't reveal your true identity or your strength."
"If someone bullies you, just take note of their name. After your work is done, you can go find them and settle the score later. If you can't handle it, just call Senior Brother Ji."