Sea Horse Douluo's righteous and resounding declaration—filled with a so-called fearless spirit of sacrifice—echoed through Feng Ran Pavilion.
Hearing this familiar, shameless rhetoric—one that conveniently used a certain "traitor" as an excuse—the members of Spirit Hall felt their heads buzz. The looks they cast toward Posey and Sea Horse Douluo gradually turned… subtle.
Demon Subduing Douluo could no longer hold back. He leaned toward his elder brother, Thousand Jun Douluo, poked him with an elbow, and whispered with a face full of disbelief.
"Brother… why do I feel like…"
"…everyone from Sea God Island is shameless?"
Thousand Jun Douluo's gaze lingered on Posey's face—specifically, the approving expression of this child can be taught that appeared after Sea Horse Douluo's speech.
When he saw her even give a slight nod of agreement and praise, Thousand Jun Douluo expressionlessly turned back to his foolish younger brother and corrected him flatly.
"Remove the words 'I feel like.'"
Demon Subduing Douluo: "…"
Oh heavens.
Oh heavens.
Having received the High Priest's "affirmation," Sea Horse Douluo was instantly invigorated.
He sprang up from the ground with remarkable agility. The confusion in his eyes vanished completely, replaced by pure longing for delicious food and a boundless vision of the future.
Rubbing his hands together, he strode to an empty table, sat down, raised one arm high, and shouted toward the counter with all his strength:
"Boss! Three bowls of egg fried rice! Extra egg! Double the egg!"
However—
Before his voice had even fully faded, a golden afterimage exploded in his vision.
Sea Horse Douluo felt his collar tighten, and an irresistible force yanked him straight out of his seat.
He looked up in shock.
What greeted him was Qian Daoliu's old face—so dark it seemed capable of wringing out water.
"You—"
Before Sea Horse Douluo could ask what was happening, Qian Daoliu's cold, suppressed voice sounded by his ear, word by word.
"Kid."
Qian Daoliu narrowed his eyes slightly. A dangerous glint flickered within his golden pupils.
"Just now, you ate a spoonful of egg fried rice that Xi Xi handed to you."
Sea Horse Douluo froze, then nodded subconsciously.
Yes… the taste had been absolutely incredible.
But the next sentence struck him like a thunderbolt.
"That spoonful," Qian Daoliu said coldly, "was taken from my bowl."
His voice was low, yet filled with undeniable dominance.
"So," he concluded, "you ate my rice."
Sea Horse Douluo: "???"
So… so what?
His mind failed to process it. His face was filled with confusion and innocent bewilderment.
Unfortunately, in Qian Daoliu's eyes, that expression translated directly into blatant provocation and shameless feigned ignorance.
Qian Daoliu's face darkened even further.
Grabbing Sea Horse Douluo by the collar, he dragged him closer until they were nearly face to face, squeezing out words through clenched teeth.
"I don't care who gave it to you."
"If you ate my rice, you return it."
He raised two fingers and waved them in front of Sea Horse Douluo's eyes.
"When your food arrives, you owe me at least two spoonfuls."
"That's interest. Understand?"
Sea Horse Douluo was petrified.
He stood there slack-jawed, staring blankly at the High Priest of Spirit Hall—whose face clearly screamed don't test me—with a lump stuck firmly in his throat.
What… what kind of logic was this?!
He subconsciously turned his pleading gaze toward his own High Priest.
But Posey appeared completely oblivious to the situation.
She calmly lifted her spoon, savoring her egg fried rice with graceful elegance, her expression serene and content.
The message was unmistakable.
You caused this. You deal with it.
Sea Horse Douluo's heart sank halfway into the abyss.
Just then, Qian Daoliu forcibly turned his face back, lowered his voice, and spoke with the dissatisfaction of a superior.
"What are you looking at her for?"
Before Sea Horse Douluo could react, Qian Daoliu puffed out his chest, pointed at himself, then gestured toward Posey.
"Get this straight, kid."
"In this shop's security department, I am the captain."
"And she," he said, lifting his chin toward Posey with a trace of pride, "is the vice-captain."
Then his gaze returned to Sea Horse Douluo, sharp and scrutinizing.
"And you—are a newly hired, probationary, intern security guard."
"So I'm your direct superior. Understood?"
Sea Horse Douluo stood completely dumbfounded.
His resolute face was plastered with massive question marks.
Who am I? Where am I? What did I just hear?
"I… when did I become a security guard?"
"Hm?"
Qian Daoliu's eyes widened slightly, his expression clearly saying, You want to back out now?
"Didn't you say you wanted to stay and assist the High Priest—ahem—assist the vice-captain in apprehending traitors?"
"That makes this an internal security matter."
"As an intern security guard, it's bad enough you're not helping. And now you want to question your superior?"
He leaned closer, his voice drifting ominously into Sea Horse Douluo's ear.
"Or… do you not want to stay here anymore?"
"And don't want to eat anymore either?"
That final sentence struck straight at Sea Horse Douluo's Achilles' heel.
He shuddered violently. His expression switched from confusion to obedience at lightning speed—faster than a Spirit Fusion Skill.
"No! No, no, no!"
"Captain! Captain Qian Daoliu!"
Sea Horse Douluo grabbed Qian Daoliu's arm, his face filled with sincerity and near-tears.
"I was wrong! I admit I was wrong!"
"I am a security guard! A glorious intern security guard!"
At that moment, he finally understood.
From the instant he chose to stay, he was no longer one of the Seven Sacred Pillars protected by the High Priest.
Here, he was merely an ordinary—perhaps even lowly—intern security guard.
And this golden-haired old man standing before him?
He was the security captain of Feng Ran Pavilion.
A higher rank crushed everything.
"From now on, if you tell me to go east, I'll never go west! If you tell me to chase dogs, I'll never catch chickens!"
"My rice is your rice!"
"Forget two spoonfuls—three! I'll give you three!"
"You're the captain! You decide!"
Hearing these sensible words, the storm clouds on Qian Daoliu's face finally dispersed.
He released his grip with satisfaction, even helping Sea Horse Douluo straighten his rumpled collar. Patting him on the shoulder, he spoke in the tone of an experienced elder.
"That's more like it."
"Young man, you need to understand the rules."
With that, Qian Daoliu clasped his hands behind his back and returned to his seat with steady, dignified steps—completely satisfied.
Only Sea Horse Douluo remained, standing there in disarray, feeling the full bitterness of life.
On the other side, Thousand Jun Douluo, who had witnessed everything, quietly lifted his teacup and took a sip.
He glanced at his elder brother's smug posture, then at Sea Horse Douluo's aggrieved yet silent expression.
The corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Turning his head, he whispered to Demon Subduing Douluo, who had been watching the spectacle with amusement.
"Indeed."
"We really shouldn't laugh at others."
The smile on Demon Subduing Douluo's face stiffened.
True enough.
The people of Sea God Island were shameless.
But what about Spirit Hall?
His elder brother had just threatened and extorted someone over a spoonful of egg fried rice.
And His Holiness the Supreme Pontiff had practically emptied Spirit Hall's treasury just to open a monthly package…
Thinking about it that way—
They were all birds of a feather.
No one had the right to mock anyone else.
Demon Subduing Douluo silently lowered his head and focused on his food, not daring to say another word.
Just as the restaurant returned to that strangely harmonious dining atmosphere—
"Burp~"
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