Chapter 196: No Full Serving

"Why are you out today?" Weng Mingshu asked curiously.

Yuan Yao said, "I'm out today to register for the formation competition."

"You're going to join the formation competition?" Weng Mingshu looked slightly surprised, then smiled, "If I'm free then, I'll definitely come watch your match."

"Alright." Yuan Yao replied with a light laugh.

At that moment, she sensed another gaze, looked up, and saw Yan Haonan's handsome, upright face.

【Target character Yan Haonan, Awakening Value reaches 10.】

Yuan Yao gave Yan Haonan a slight nod.

Yan Haonan's expression flickered; he involuntarily pressed his lips together and nodded in response.

At that same time, Cang Li and the other Carefree Sect disciples entered the teahouse.

"Third Senior Brother, over here!" Yuan Yao reached out, calling.

When Cang Li and the others arrived before Yuan Yao, she said, "There's no room left in the teahouse; let's go somewhere else."

"Fine." Cang Li glanced at the nearly full main hall and curled a smile.

Weng Mingshu pursed her lips, grabbed Yuan Yao's sleeve, "Why are you leaving just as I arrived?"

Yuan Yao raised an eyebrow, "Then would you like to come stroll with us?"

"Sure!" Weng Mingshu agreed at once, then turned to Weng Mingbi, "Mingbi, you go back to the training courtyard first."

Weng Mingbi's handsome face fell instantly, his tone plaintive, "Sister, you clearly invited me today!"

Cang Li also noticed Weng Mingbi, "Huh, this young master looks just like you; could he be the Weng family's eldest son?"

Weng Mingshu let out a light hum.

"Yes, he's my younger brother."

Weng Mingbi said firmly, "I also want to come with you."

Cang Li clasped both hands, his expression serious, "Then today's expenses, shouldn't they be covered by the Weng family's eldest son?"

"If you insist, then so be it!" Weng Mingbi waved his hand arrogantly.

Cang Li said gratefully, "Then thank you, eldest son of the Weng family."

Hearing that, Weng Mingbi instantly gained confidence, his back straightened even more.

Weng Mingshu, seeing his clueless look, wanted to yank his ear hard, but under everyone's eyes she held back.

…

Yuan Yao and her party strolled through the various streets of the Heaven and Earth Domain.

As time passed, the sky grew dim.

The group then went together to the restaurant inside the Seven Spirits Pavilion.

After entering the restaurant, Weng Mingshu walked to the side, laughing, "I've heard the spirit cuisine at Seven Spirits Pavilion's restaurant is especially delicious and can boost spiritual power. Tonight we must try it properly!"

The restaurant's waiter greeted them respectfully.

Weng Mingbi boomed, "Do you have a private room?"

"Yes, and there's also a 'Heaven' room private suite!" the waiter quickly laughed.

"Take us there quickly!" Weng Mingbi shouted.

After spending the day together, Yuan Yao and the other Carefree Sect disciples had almost gotten used to Weng Mingbi's loud, overbearing behavior.

The waiter, being well‑versed, wore a standard smile and respectfully led them.

The Seven Spirits Pavilion restaurant has seven floors.

The waiter guided Yuan Yao's party to a private room on the sixth floor.

Weng Mingbi sat like a lord now, a hint of contempt in his brows, "What do you want to eat? Order it!"

"Lord Weng, you are truly generous," Cang Li laughed, then turned to the waiter, "Bring out a portion of all the spirit dishes from your restaurant; I want to try them all."

The waiter was stunned.

"Hold on!" Weng Mingshu immediately shouted, "Not all of them!"

Saying that, she glared at Weng Mingbi, the spendthrift, with a look.

Originally, after hearing Cang Li, Weng Mingbi was a bit flustered; now, being glared at fiercely by his own sister, he instantly felt guilty, tucked his head back, and sat properly.

Weng Mingshu took a deep breath, stared at Cang Li, "Cang Li, even though my brother is as dumb as a pig, you still can't bully him like that! I'm good friends with Yuan Yao, so I'm kind of a friend to you as well; that means Mingbi is your friend's younger brother, so cut him some slack."

Cang Li was about to say something when Yuan Yao kicked the leg of the table.

"Fine," Cang Li sighed, "but Weng Mingshu, your brother really is rather annoying. You still need to find time to discipline him."

Upon hearing that, Weng Mingbi was about to lose his temper.

But his own sister smacked the back of his head hard.

The force made his mind blank for an instant.

"Sis…" Weng Mingbi lifted his head, face full of grievance, eyes reddened.

Immediately after, Weng Mingbi was about to storm out.

But when he passed Yuan Yao, she grabbed him.

"Let go of me!" Weng Mingbi snapped.

Weng Mingshu, also seething, "Let him go!"

Yan Haonan's brows showed worry, he said, "Mingbi, your sister is also looking out for you."

"What right do you have to speak? Shut up!" Weng Mingbi glared at Yan Haonan with disgust.

Yan Haonan pressed his lips; he knew Weng Mingbi had despised him since childhood, even… hated him.

He didn't understand what he had ever done to provoke him.

Weng Mingshu said, "Mingbi, how can you speak to Eldest Senior Brother like that? Apologize!"

Weng Mingbi said with a grim expression, "If you want me to apologize to him, you'd have to kill me first!"

After dropping that line, he rushed out of the private room.

Four attendants immediately gave chase.

At that moment—

In Yuan Yao's sea of awareness, the 250 system voice rang: "Target: Weng Mingbi, Awakening Value has reached 30."

Her expression flickered briefly, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.

Since they first met in the teahouse, the system had never reported Weng Mingbi's Awakening Value, and now it was the first time.

Weng Mingbi's initial Awakening Value was unexpectedly 30.

Weng Mingshu said, "Sorry for disturbing your mood. I'll treat you to this meal; I'm feeling a bit unwell, so I'll leave first."

Having said that, she was about to leave.

Yuan Yao stood up and said to her, "My third senior brother has a spirit stone; let him foot the bill, and I'll accompany you for a walk."

"Go then," Cang Li said at the right moment, "Daoist Yan, you stay here."

Yan Haonan looked at the two of them with some unease, but could only nod in agreement.

…

Yuan Yao and the other strolled inside the Seven Spirit Pavilion.

Weng Mingshu lowered her head, then spoke, "Actually, my father and mother didn't get along well. Since they only gave birth to me and Mingbi, they have high expectations for us. My cultivation talent is average compared to other prodigies, and I don't know why my younger brother's talent is even poorer."

"When we were young, my brother actually loved cultivation, but his progress never improved. Over time, the family and sect members secretly mocked him behind his back. They all said he was unfit for great responsibilities."

"My younger brother was adorable as a child, refined and scholarly, looking like a genteel young scholar. But later, I went to the Heavenly Cloud Sect to cultivate and left the family and him. From that point, my brother seemed to change completely; his once obedient and sensible nature vanished, replaced by endless rebellion and indulgence."

"He idles around all day, and even befriends a shady group of friends, wandering and causing trouble. Mother and the family elders tried to discipline him, but after each punishment he showed no change. Moreover, the elders consider his talent abysmal, so they are reluctant to intervene further."

"I know, actually he's quite well‑behaved."

"He puts on a false front, arrogant and overbearing, only because he's afraid…"

"Others bully him."