Chapter 20

Ximen Wudi, his memories stirred, wore a faint smile on his lips.

He led Jiang Yuyan inside.

"Welcome, esteemed guests! Are you here to eat or to stay?"

Gangyijin Sect.

Bai Zhantang hurried forward with a beaming smile.

But when he saw the faces of Ximen Wudi and Jiang Yuyan, he paused in surprise.

The "expert's" instinct told him.

The two before him.

Whether in appearance or aura, they were no ordinary people!

"We'll stay. Also, take good care of the donkey outside."

As if sensing his reaction,

Ximen Wudi glanced at him coolly.

His tone was calm and unhurried.

"Got it! Gentlemen, this way upstairs."

Bai Zhantang replied and climbed the stairs to lead the way.

Seeing this,

Ximen Wudi and Jiang Yuyan followed after him.

After choosing a room,

the two came downstairs to the main hall.

They ordered a simple meal.

No sooner had they sat down

than Jiang Yuyan opened the bundle she never let out of her sight.

Carefully, she took out a pre-packed set of tea utensils and tea leaves.

She brewed tea with practiced ease.

"You've thought of everything."

Ximen Wudi, seeing this, chuckled and shook his head.

He truly hadn't expected

that the bundle she guarded like treasure all along

contained her own tea set.

"Young Master, here's your tea."

After a lengthy, elaborate brewing process,

Jiang Yuyan handed him a steaming cup of tea.

In her clear eyes lingered a thread of anticipation.

He reached out and took the cup.

Gently blew on it twice.

Ximen Wudi sipped it slowly and deliberately.

After a few breaths,

he nodded in approval, seeing her slightly anxious expression.

"Your skill has improved."

"As long as Young Master likes it, Yan'er… Yan'er is willing to brew tea for you for life."

Jiang Yuyan smiled faintly.

Such a simple, ordinary remark

brought her immense inner satisfaction.

As she spoke, she shyly lowered her head.

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum.

Even her cheeks flushed with a faint blush.

Fortunately, at that moment,

Bai Zhantang arrived carrying plate after plate of dishes.

He unknowingly rescued her.

Otherwise,

she wouldn't have known how to face him next.

"Eat."

He drained the tea in his hand.

Ximen Wudi handed her a pair of chopsticks.

Jiang Yuyan reached out, took them, and ate quietly, head bowed.

At that moment,

a guest at the nearby table called out to Bai Zhantang, who was busy.

"Old Bai, got any new stories lately? Tell us a couple."

At these words,

guests at other tables joined in the clamor.

After several rounds of polite refusals.

Bai Zhantang, unable to refuse such warm hospitality, smiled and cupped his fists to the crowd.

He sat down beside the long table in the main hall.

At some unknown moment, a waking block had appeared in his hand.

*Slap! *

As the waking block struck the table.

The once-noisy main hall instantly fell into solemn silence.

Bai Zhantang, his voice raspy, began to speak with an expressive face.

"This matter must be told starting from a few days ago."

"On that day, as the Heavenly Dao Golden List announced the seventeenth name on the Nine Provinces Combat Power Ceiling Ranking."

"A forbidden existence rapidly spread across the Nine Provinces continent."

"That's right!"

"This person is precisely the forbidden expert who defeated the Great Yuan Primordial Heavenly Being Realm National Preceptor Ba Shiba in half a move—Ximen Wudi!"

Hearing Bai Zhantang bring up this person.

The melon-eating masses in attendance all grew interested one after another.

They pricked up their ears, watching him without blinking.

Afraid they might miss some wonderful plot.

And Ximen Wudi, who was not far from Bai Zhantang.

Upon hearing himself mentioned, the hand holding his tea paused slightly, then returned to normal.

Jiang Yuyan, sitting across from him.

Her eyes shimmered with endless curiosity as she secretly began to listen.

Seeing everyone's reaction so strong.

Bai Zhantang gave a slight smile, cleared his throat, and continued.

"'Ahem... Speaking of such a forbidden existence who is like a divine dragon that shows its head but never its tail, I imagine none of you here are strangers to him.'"

"'But what everyone doesn't know is.'"

"'Not long after this figure appeared on the Heavenly Dao Golden List, a young lady of our Great Ming boldly confessed her love!'"

Hmm???

Confessed her love?

The crowd's spirits were instantly roused.

Their eyes blazed with Xiong Xiong's gossip fire.