Descending the stairs, Li Mo reached the entrance.
The hotpot restaurant had reopened for business.
Everything seed unchanged.
Zuo Qiuyang was still in the kitchen, but behind the counter, the owner had been replaced by i Yun, while a group of young helpers bustled about the shop.
Jiang Chulong, her frail fra draped in an oversized linen robe, weaved through the dining area with a tray in hand. Despite the cloth covering her eyes, she moved with effortless grace.
The robe was one Li Mo had worn when he was the owner. She had washed it clean but couldn’t bear to throw it away.
Without even turning around, Jiang Chulong knew who had co downstairs. She timidly scurried over, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Big Brother Li..."
"You seem happy working here?" Li Mo couldn’t help but chuckle at her deanor.
Who in the world would find joy in labor?
But for soone like the little Princess Jiang, it sohow made sense.
"Mmm... yes... very happy," Jiang Chulong nodded earnestly.
"Useless things... are just... just trash."
"Now... I can help Big Brother Li..."
Li Mo: "..."
What kind of corporate-level understanding was this?
"Do things that make you happy."
"But... helping Big Brother Li... makes happy..." Jiang Chulong tilted her head.
Li Mo sighed. "Then I’ll leave this shop in your care."
Jiang Chulong stiffened abruptly, the smile vanishing from her delicate face.
"Big Brother Li... are you going back?"
"Yeah."
Li Mo nodded, exhaling with a hint of nostalgia.
"You have the hotpot shop now—no worries about food or shelter."
"With Aunt i by your side, you won’t have to fear bad people either."
"I’d say my work here is done."
He had once considered taking Jiang Chulong back to the Qingyuan Sect.
But given her identity, staying in the city was the wiser choice.
Besides, there was still i Yun—this little aunt was still being hunted by the Sky Patrol Guards.
Strangely, though, the manhunt seed more bark than bite.
After much deliberation, Li Mo had decided to entrust the hotpot shop to them.
This was probably the best arrangent.
Just as Li Mo was feeling a sense of accomplishnt—
Jiang Chulong’s face paled, her voice trembling.
"Big Brother Li... are you abandoning ?"
"Huh?" Li Mo froze.
"From now on... will Big Brother Li... never co to see again?"
Jiang Chulong seed to lose her soul, the cloth over her eyes darkening with dampness.
Little Princess Jiang, your whole vibe just changed!
"What??" Li Mo was utterly bewildered.
She had a place to live, a secure future.
Shouldn’t she be overjoyed?
Why was she crying now?
A princess reduced to running a hotpot shop as a kitchen helper—sure, it was a fall from grace.
But it was still better than before, wasn’t it?
The logic of Little Princess Jiang’s mind was as unfathomable as Ying Bing’s mood swings.
Li Mo decided won were harder to understand than swords.
"Big Brother Li... please don’t abandon ... I..."
Jiang Chulong was trying hard to hold back, but her tears flowed like a broken faucet.
Li Mo: "..."
He hadn’t done anything wrong.
So why did he feel like guilt was drowning him?
The surrounding diners were already shooting him looks that scread "you monster." If he didn’t calm her down soon, soone might actually step up to "deliver justice."
Regular custors all assud Jiang Chulong was the previous owner’s daughter.
"You’ve misunderstood. That’s not what I ant."
"R-really?"
"My hotpot recipe is a family heirloom. I’ve entrusted sothing so precious to you. I’ll be back periodically to check on the business, okay?"
"Thank you... Big Brother Li... you’re the best."
Jiang Chulong’s tears turned to a smile.
"Also, keep training. When you reach the Inner Breath realm, I’ll give you a gift."
Li Mo helplessly patted her head.
"Mmm!" Jiang Chulong nodded eagerly. "I... I’ve opened twelve ridians... I’ll work hard."
"It’s just... the martial arts I’ll practice next... I haven’t decided yet."
She had been practicing a self-created martial art.
As her temporary "Heavenly Venerable" teacher, Li Mo had given it a provisional na: Wild Grass Sword Scripture.
By continuously assimilating other sword techniques and refining them, she could grow stronger indefinitely.
Once I’m back in the mountains, I’ll need to gather more sword manuals to feed her progress.
Li Mo mused silently before adding softly,
"Don’t rush. Haste makes waste."
"Mmm, mmm!"
"Go on now."
Li Mo ruffled her hair again, and only then did Jiang Chulong reluctantly return to the kitchen.
The promise of a gift had lightened her steps considerably.
i Yun, watching from the counter, sighed quietly.
If Chulong can live an ordinary life from now on, that would be the best outco...
Wasn’t that what His Majesty had sched for all along?
---
With Little Princess Jiang pacified, Li Mo pondered on the carriage ride back.
What sword manual should I get for her?
With my current contribution points, I can access the sixth floor of the library a few tis.
"Speaking of which, why hasn’t Ice Block shown up yet?"
Thinking of recent events, Li Mo rubbed his temples.
Ying Bing was his biggest patron.
Why did it feel like their relationship had reset overnight?
Glancing beside him, he saw Shang Wu sprawled out in deep sleep, limbs splayed gracelessly.
At least Master is easy to understand.
His beautiful master only needed wine and naps to stay happy. But Ying Bing’s thoughts? Far more complicated...
Before long, Ying Bing boarded the carriage as well.
The vehicle began moving, heading toward the Qingyuan Sect.
Silence filled the journey.
Ying Bing kept her eyes downcast.
Li Mo had no idea what to say.
I stay quiet, and you don’t talk much either~
---
By evening, they arrived at Autumn Water Pavilion.
Li Mo ducked into the kitchen.
There’s truth in the saying—no place is better than ho, even if it’s a humble one.
Back in familiar surroundings, Ying Bing felt an inexplicable serenity settle over her.
Especially with the sounds of cooking drifting from the kitchen and that figure bustling about.
Her mind, so prone to replaying the morning’s incident, finally quieted.
That outfit...
And just a door between us...
Only when her emotions had stabilized did she finally check the system’s notification.
What’s the next punishnt for the defeated?
The penalty had been decided earlier—she just hadn’t looked.
[Punishnt for the Defeated: Confird]
[Condition]: "Bathe with the one who defeated you."
[Requirent]: "Wear the lingerie set provided by the system."
Ying Bing: "..."
Each punishnt is worse than the last.
And those so-called "rating rewards"—how are they rewards at all?
If the disciples of her past life, the ones who revered her as the Celestial Phoenix Empress—the woman who demanded severance of all earthly ties—learned she was sharing a bath with a man...
They’d probably stab themselves on the spot, convinced it was a nightmare.
This is going to be the death of .
An image involuntarily surfaced in Ying Bing's mind.
The bathtub in the Autumn Water Pavilion wasn't particularly large—if two people were in it, they'd undoubtedly be pressed against each other...
"Little Bing, your tea."
Shang Wu raised an eyebrow.
There was sothing off about Little Bing today.
"Hmm?"
Ying Bing looked down to find the tea had already overflowed, soaking the table.
"Are you alright?"
"Just lost in thought."
Ying Bing shook her head, banishing the ntal image.
As long as she didn't lose, $2he punishnt might as well not exist.
Then... there was no need to dwell on it.
...
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