Lü Shaoqing returned once more to the Juxian Restaurant.
Wang Yao approached, greeting him. "Senior Brother Lü!"
"Are you here to check on Junior Sister Xiao?"
Lü Shaoqing waved his hand dismissively, "No, just find me a seat. No need for a private room, just out here will do."
"Ugh, Tianyu Peak has been unbearable lately. People keep visiting, it's so annoying."
"It's just a small breakthrough, reaching the Nascent Soul stage. What's the big deal?"
Wang Yao's face flushed, and he felt stifled, almost unable to hold back his words.
What do you mean, 'just a small breakthrough'? And 'what's the big deal'? Some people spend their entire lives stuck at that stage, never reaching the Nascent Soul. I'm still at the Qi Refining stage myself!
Wang Yao quickly walked away, fearing that if he stayed any longer, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from retorting.
Lü Shaoqing settled into his seat in the main hall, and soon enough, he spotted his junior sister, Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi had been working at the restaurant for nearly a month.
Compared to when she first started, she had changed quite a bit. She now greeted customers with a smile and responded warmly.
Even when faced with flirtatious remarks from some patrons, Xiao Yi managed to handle them with ease, defusing the situation skillfully.
Seems like it's about time, Lü Shaoqing thought to himself.
When Xiao Yi had first arrived at Tianyu Peak, she still carried a sense of immaturity. Though she wasn't an arrogant young lady, she still had the habits of a pampered one.
Working here, immersed in the atmosphere of the marketplace, had gradually changed her mindset. It was exactly the kind of transformation Lü Shaoqing had aimed for.
Xiao Yi, having grown up as the cherished daughter of the Xiao family, had been born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
She had never experienced the harsh realities of society, and her mind wasn't yet fully mature.
In Lü Shaoqing's eyes, before one cultivates skills, they must first cultivate their heart. Only when one's mindset is steady and grounded can their cultivation efforts yield double the results.
Xiao Yi wasn't a genius, but she wasn't ordinary either—her aptitude was decent. Letting her gain some real-world experience before delving deep into cultivation would do her more good than harm.
Lü Shaoqing himself had spent time training in the time chamber inside his ring. Initially, he could only last a day or two before it became unbearable. Gradually, he extended that to ten days, then a month, several months, and eventually a year.
Each time he emerged from training, he felt a deep sense of emptiness and desolation.
That's why he needed to lie down and relax afterward; otherwise, he would have gone mad.
"There's no choice. Our senior brother is a monster."
"To be his junior brother or sister, you have to maintain a steady mindset; otherwise, you'll crack."
Lü Shaoqing muttered quietly to himself.
Ji Yan was too powerful—gifted and diligent. Being in the same sect as someone like him was a lot of pressure.
It was easy to feel discouraged.
Without a strong and stable heart, one would eventually crumble under the weight.
When Xiao Yi first arrived, she almost couldn't last through the first month. Lü Shaoqing noticed this and decided to have her pause her cultivation to work at the restaurant for a while.
He wanted her to temper her mindset before taking the next steps.
Now, after a month, Xiao Yi's attitude had improved considerably.
After finishing his meal, Lü Shaoqing sought out Fang Xiao.
Seeing Lü Shaoqing, Fang Xiao smiled and said, "Master Lü, you mentioned bringing Master Ji Yan here for a meal."
"I still haven't seen him."
"Could it be that you've forgotten about it?"
Ji Yan was currently the top headline in Qizhou.
Everyone marveled at this young genius.
Not yet thirty, and already a Nascent Soul cultivator—his future was limitless.
If someone like Ji Yan dined at her restaurant, Juxian Restaurant would undoubtedly become the number one restaurant in Lingxiao City.
Lü Shaoqing replied, "No rush. Senior Brother is busy right now."
"We'll come when he has time."
"Alright then, I hope Master Lü isn't deceiving me."
Fang Xiao knew that Ji Yan was indeed tied up at the moment. Her words were merely to build a closer relationship with Lü Shaoqing.
As Ji Yan's junior brother, getting close to Lü Shaoqing—maybe even Ji Yan—would only bring her benefits.
Additionally, there was a curious glint in Fang Xiao's eyes.
This person standing before her was also remarkably powerful.
She wondered why he kept such a low profile.
Unlike Ji Yan, who was widely known, Lü Shaoqing remained unbelievably inconspicuous.
Even as Ji Yan's junior brother, Lü Shaoqing stayed largely unnoticed.
By rights, someone as well-known as Ji Yan should have every detail of his life scrutinized. Yet, when it came to Lü Shaoqing, he was like a ghost—impossible to pin down.
Had Fang Xiao not accidentally witnessed his capabilities, she too would have been fooled by Lü Shaoqing's unassuming demeanor.
However, even after discovering this, she dared not expose him—she valued her life.
Fang Xiao then asked Lü Shaoqing, "Master Lü, is there something you need?"
Lü Shaoqing said, "I'm here to take my junior sister back. Could you please settle her wages?"
"So soon? It hasn't been a full month yet."
Lü Shaoqing replied, "A day or two short is fine."
"But if she agreed to work a month, it should be a full month."
"With just a few days left, it's tricky to calculate her wages."
Fang Xiao wanted Xiao Yi to stay a bit longer. Having her work there would allow her to build a closer relationship with both Lü Shaoqing and Xiao Yi.
If Xiao Yi stayed, Lü Shaoqing would occasionally drop by. With time, their relationship would deepen.
Having ties with someone as skilled as Lü Shaoqing was definitely beneficial.
So, Fang Xiao didn't want Xiao Yi to leave just yet.
But her words made Lü Shaoqing narrow his eyes with suspicion.
"Boss, are you planning to dock my junior sister's wages?"
"How could you? She's just a young girl working hard to earn some money, and you want to cut her pay?"
"Boss, you can't be so heartless."
Fang Xiao felt speechless.