Chapter 27: Xiao Ning's Invitation

Chapter 27: Xiao Ning's Invitation

The next morning, the sun shone brightly. Warm rays of sunlight filtered through the ventilation shafts, falling upon the cheeks of Xiao Se and Long Kui.

Xiao Se slowly opened his eyes, gently withdrawing his slightly aching arm from beneath Long Kui’s snow-white neck. He carefully put on his clothes, sat cross-legged on a stone slab nearby, and took a small sip of the Pei Yuan Spirit Liquid. He then channeled the "Burning Flame Technique" and the "Soul Returning Technique," entering a state of cultivation.

Morning was a vibrant time, the perfect period for cultivating Dou Qi.

An hour later, the faint scent of food wafted into Xiao Se’s nose. He formed a hand seal to conclude his session and emerged from his meditative state. Glancing toward the corner of the stone chamber, he saw that Long Kui had already prepared breakfast.

"Brother, you’re awake! Come and eat; breakfast is freshly made," Long Kui said, a gentle smile gracing her beautiful face as she saw Xiao Se stop his cultivation.

Xiao Se nodded slightly, stood up to stretch his slightly numb legs, and walked over to Long Kui, praising, "Long Kui, what did you make today? It smells so good."

"Hehe..." Xiao Se’s praise made Long Kui’s eyes curve into crescent moons. She giggled, "It’s lean meat porridge, made with Brother’s favorite beef."

As she spoke, she reached out with her slender hand, took a small bowl, ladled some out, and carefully handed it to him.

Xiao Se took it and sniffed the fragrant beef porridge. His mouth watered instantly. He blew on it gently and, ignoring the heat, gulped it down.

Watching Xiao Se finish the porridge in one go, a smile appeared on Long Kui’s lovely face. She cherished the time she spent with him.

Sitting on the stone slab, Xiao Se finished most of the large pot of beef porridge. Although Long Kui was a soul entity and did not need to eat, she enjoyed the life she shared with him and had a bowl herself.

After finishing the last bowl, Xiao Se rubbed his still-flat stomach in satisfaction. He gave Long Kui a thumbs up and joked, "Long Kui, you have such great skills. Whoever marries you in the future will be truly lucky."

"Long Kui doesn't want to get married. Long Kui wants to be with Brother forever!" Hearing Xiao Se talk about her getting married, Long Kui became anxious. The jade bowl in her hand clattered to the floor as she flew into Xiao Se’s arms.

"Er—" Xiao Se was momentarily stunned, feeling a pang of guilt. It seemed his joke had gone too far. He immediately stroked her hair, comforting her, "Long Kui, Brother was just teasing you. I don't want you to marry anyone. Even if someone else wanted to, Brother would kill him."

"Really?" Long Kui wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, looked up, and asked with red eyes.

"Of course, it’s true!" Xiao Se vowed. He wasn't lying; if someone tried to marry Long Kui after she was resurrected, he would be the first to object.

"Really, really?" Long Kui asked again.

"It’s really, really true!" Xiao Se nodded firmly.

"Then let’s pinky swear." Long Kui extended a small finger.

"Pinky swear." Their fingers hooked together.

"Pinky swear, sealed for all eternity, never to change."

After the oath, they looked at each other and smiled.

"Brother, did you get up to cook something last night?" Long Kui asked suddenly while nestled in his arms.

"No, why?" Xiao Se asked, puzzled.

"One of the eggs from last night went missing. I was planning to use it to make egg porridge for you today," Long Kui pouted, explaining.

Hearing the word "egg," Xiao Se had a sudden realization. His mouth twitched as he recalled trading it to Yu Xiaogang. Yu Xiaogang’s egg was still sitting warm in his system inventory!

He rubbed the back of his head and laughed dryly, "Oh, I remember now. I was a bit hungry last night, so I used my beast fire to roast and eat it."

Hearing this, Long Kui nodded slightly, suspecting nothing, and stood up to clean the dishes.

Leaving the cave, Xiao Se practiced his Dou techniques in front of the waterfall for another hour before slowly heading down the mountain toward the Mittel Auction House. Today was the day his Pei Yuan Spirit Liquid would be auctioned, and it was also one of his last few days in Wutan City.

He would be leaving in three days, and he had no idea how long it would be before he returned. Perhaps he would only come back for the Canaan Academy enrollment; after all, he was determined to obtain the Fallen Heart Flame, ranked fourteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.

Passing through the Xiao family’s bluestone plaza—the only way to the auction house—Xiao Se encountered someone he didn't want to see: Xiao Ning.

"Hehe, Xiao Se, you’ve picked a good time! Let me tell you, the Mittel Auction House sent our family invitations yesterday. Besides the family head and the three elders, they gave us ten extra spots. These spots are for the family's core members. Even that waste Xiao Yan, despite being the son of the family head, isn't qualified to participate. I specifically asked my grandfather for an extra spot. Let’s go, I’ll take you to see the world," Xiao Ning said, slinging an arm over Xiao Se’s shoulder like they were best friends.

Xiao Se glanced at Xiao Ning with a hint of disdain and said calmly, "Is that so? Then thank you."

"Don't mention it! With your relationship with my sister, we’re practically family!" Xiao Ning boasted, patting his chest. He didn't mention that the spot had originally been intended for Xun'er, who had rejected it.

"Xiao Ning, hurry up! We’ll be left behind if we don't move," urged a core member of the Great Elder’s faction from up ahead.

"Oh, coming!" Xiao Ning called back, then patted Xiao Se’s shoulder again and grinned, "Let’s catch up."

"Mm." Xiao Se nodded slightly and followed Xiao Ning toward the Mittel Auction House.

It had to be said that the Mittel Auction House’s promotional efforts were highly effective. Xiao Se had only handed over the Pei Yuan Spirit Liquid yesterday, yet today, all the major and minor factions in Wutan City were gathered at the auction house.

Looking at the jostling crowd ahead, Xiao Se followed Xiao Zhan and the others through the VIP entrance, led by the auction house staff. Upon entering the auction hall, Xiao Se, despite wanting to sit in a quiet corner, was pulled by Xiao Ning to a position closer to the front.

"Hehe, Xiao Se, do you know what treasure the Mittel Auction House is auctioning today?" Xiao Ning asked from his right, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

"I don't know," Xiao Se feigned ignorance.

"Then let me educate you. It’s the Pei Yuan Spirit Liquid, a Tier 2 medicinal pill that speeds up a Dou Zhe’s cultivation. You know Zhang San, the owner of the Yuelai Inn west of Wutan City? A month ago, he was stuck at the 8-star Dou Zhe stage for years. After spending a fortune to buy the Pei Yuan Spirit Liquid, he broke through to 9-star Dou Zhe in just a few days. They say he’s working hard to reach the Dou Shi level now," Xiao Ning said with the air of a sage, sounding very confident.