Qiu Xia wanted to say more, but the night watchman nearby couldn't take it anymore. He slammed a few copper coins onto the table with a sharp clatter. "Talking about this sort of thing in the middle of the night... what a load of bad luck. Old Chen, I'm heading out."
With his brass gong in hand, he stomped out of the shop.
Seeing the watchman leave, the woman made a move to follow him. At that moment, Qiu Xia spoke up. "Big Sister, that fellow might have a sharp tongue, but he's never done a wicked deed in his life. He's suffered enough. Let him walk his path in peace."
The woman's expression shifted instantly. "Are you trying to teach me how to do my job?"
"I'm merely making a suggestion," Qiu Xia replied smoothly. "As for how you choose to proceed, that is entirely up to you, isn't it?"
The woman snorted coldly. "It's good that you know. We of the Underworld handle our own business; it isn't for people like you to interfere! You'd best focus on your own cultivation. Otherwise, I might just have to take you for a tour through the 18 Levels of Hell."
Leaving that threat behind, the woman turned and walked out of Old Chen's noodle shop.
Old Chen, who had been listening to their conversation from the side, couldn't help but shiver. The Underworld? They were here to take him? But he was still standing right here... and she had just left without him?
Once the woman was gone, Ren Tingting spoke up with a frown. "Qiu Xia, that woman was incredibly rude. She didn't even seem that strong. Why didn't you put her in her place?"
"She wasn't wrong," Qiu Xia said. "Matters of the Underworld aren't supposed to be our concern. Some officials might give us a bit of face because we're cultivators, but if they choose not to, there isn't much we can do."
"I suppose you're right," Ren Tingting nodded, finding his reasoning sound.
But was he really going to let it slide? Of course not. Was Qiu Xia truly that magnanimous? While he occasionally did good deeds and preferred fair trades, it didn't mean he was broad-minded. On the contrary, he was quite petty.
For instance, after he had brought the Duke of Cats and Dogs back and the creature started making a ruckus, Qiu Xia had given it a sound thrashing before using a Talisman to turn it back into a literal cat and dog for an entire week.
Qiu Xia turned his gaze toward the dazed Old Chen. "Boss, are the noodles ready yet?"
Old Chen snapped out of his fright at the sound of Qiu Xia's voice. "Oh! Yes, they're ready!" He hurriedly served two bowls and brought them over.
The Yangchun Noodles Old Chen made were excellent, and Qiu Xia ate with great satisfaction. In his opinion, they could even rival Ichiraku Ramen, though Ichiraku had many varieties while Old Chen only served this one kind.
Soon, Qiu Xia and Ren Tingting finished their bowls and asked for more. Despite the recent scare regarding the Underworld and the woman's strange talk, Old Chen continued to cook. Qiu Xia ate bowl after bowl. After his fifth, he pulled a Silver Dollar from his pocket and placed it on the table.
"Ren Tingting, let's head out."
Old Chen looked at the Silver Dollar and shook his head. "Customer, this is far too much. I can't give you change. How about thisthis meal is on me today."
Qiu Xia looked at him. "Are you sure you want to treat us?"
"I'm sure," Old Chen smiled. "I might be a poor man, but I can afford a few bowls of noodles."
Qiu Xia nodded. "Fine. Since you've been so kind, I won't let you lose out. I'll look after your daughter. I'll make sure she lives out the rest of her life in peace and safety."
Old Chen's eyes widened in disbelief. How did this man know he had a daughter?
"You did what you did for her sake," Qiu Xia continued. "And though those you killed were beasts in human skin, it was still murder. The marriage match you arranged for her will surely fall through now; they wouldn't dare accept her.
But don't worry. Since you treated me to a meal, I'll return the favor. I will watch over her. I can't promise her a life of luxury, but a life of peace and security is well within my power."
Old Chen's eyes turned red. He moved to drop to his knees and kowtow, but Qiu Xia caught him by the arms, holding him steady.
"Don't kneel. you've spent too much of your life on your knees. Go to your rest standing tall."
"Thank you... thank you!" Amidst his repeated thanks, the Yin Qi surrounding Old Chen began to dissipate. His soul departed for the Underworld.
After Old Chen vanished, a man with a long braid appeared and looked at Qiu Xia. "The Big Sister earlier already told youdon't meddle in the affairs of the Underworld. Didn't you hear her?"
Qiu Xia glanced at the man. "And how should I address you, Soul Ferryman?"
"Zhao Li!"
Finding his guess correct, Qiu Xia nodded. "I don't believe I was interfering. We were just chatting. Besides, while the dead belong to the Underworld, the affairs of the living are still managed by the living."
"Just chatting? You completely dissolved his resentment and obsession! You call that chatting?" Zhao Li's face was dark with irritation.
"It certainly counts as chatting. After all, I didn't use any other methods, did I?"
"You're just being difficult. No matter how you spin it, you interfered with the order of the Underworld. You owe me an explanation."
"You're putting this on my head too? Aren't you pushing it a bit, Soul Ferryman? Do you take me for a pushover just because I have a good temperament?" Seeing Zhao Li pressing him, the smile finally vanished from Qiu Xia's face.
"So what if I'm pushing you? The Underworld King hates nothing more than cultivators messing with the order of the Netherworld, and I"
Before Zhao Li could finish his sentence, Qiu Xia vanished from where he stood. A moment later, he reappeared directly in front of Zhao Li, his foot connecting in a sharp upward arc.
With a "Generation-Ending Kick," Zhao Li was launched into the air. His head smashed through the roof, leaving him dangling from the ceiling as he let out a scream like a slaughtered pig.
After dealing with Zhao Li, Qiu Xia grabbed Ren Tingting's hand and vanished without a trace. They didn't leave alone; Old Chen's blind daughter, Fengdie, disappeared with them. When he had made the promise to Old Chen,
Qiu Xia had used his Starlight Spirit-Searching Technique to locate her. He had originally planned to pick her up the next day, but since Zhao Li was being so persistent, he decided to cut the night short.
As he departed, Qiu Xia didn't forget to leave one final word: "Zhao Li, you bastard, I gave you face and you threw it back at me. Just you waitI'll make sure you learn the price of offending me."
Hanging from the roof in agony, Zhao Li almost fainted from rage. Where did this little bastard of a Taoist come from? He just wanted a little bribe, and the kid played so dirty! A sneak attack to the vitals, followed by such an insult? If anything was permanently damaged down there, he swore he'd drag that brat through every one of the 18 Levels of Hell.
The commotion drew the Soul Ferryman woman back. Looking at Zhao Li hanging from the ceiling, she stared in shock. "Zhao Li? You actually got beaten up by a kid?"
Zhao Li managed to struggle free and dropped to the ground. He sucked in a breath of cold air, his legs involuntarily buckling inward. "How was I supposed to know the little bastard played so dirty? I don't know which Taoist Sect he's from, but I'm going to make him pay for this sneak attack."
The woman glanced at him. "The Underworld might not like cultivators interfering, but both of those youngsters carried a significant amount of Merit. Based on their conversation earlier, they didn't seem like the type to cause trouble for no reason. You must have done something to provoke them."
"What did I do? I just said a few words and wanted a bit of a tip! Who knew the kid's face would change so fast? He has no martial virtue! A sneak attack with no warning! And he hit so hard... I think I need to see a Ghost Doctor when I get back, just in case."
"I think you'd better worry about cleaning up your mess," the woman replied. "Those two are so young, yet they already have the strength of a Taoist Master. They must belong to a major sect or a hidden great family. The Underworld is powerful, but we can't deploy too much force in the human realm. If they send their elders after you, you'll be in real trouble."
"Clean up my mess? Me? With my status?" Zhao Li huffed, though his voice lacked conviction. "If that kid hadn't ambushed me, I never would have lost. Let them come! I'd love to ask their family exactly how they're raising their children!"
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