There were only two private rooms on the entire third floor. Private Room One was already empty, so they had not closed the door, and someone now came up shouting and cursing.
"What's going on this time?"
Qin Xiao asked Ye Jiarong with some curiosity.
"That's my father's voice."
Ye Jiarong lowered his head awkwardly. He must have sent someone home to fetch Spirit Stones, and his father had grown furious upon hearing the news, coming straight to the restaurant to find him.
"Where is he? Get out here, you little beast! Do you really think your father's Dantian is a Spirit Stone vault? Asking for twenty thousand right off the bat-see if I don't skin you alive!"
Voices grew closer and closer, nearing the entrance of the room.
"Great Aunt, Ancestral Grandmother, save me! My old man's going to beat me to death!"
Knowing his father's temper all too well-that if he said he would beat him, he certainly would-Ye Jiarong dropped to his knees to plead for help from the two elders.
"Never mind that. Get up; Ancestral Grandmother will back you up."
Having just praised Ye Jiarong for handling matters well, Ye Qiuyue was naturally inclined to protect him.
Ye Yuanhua was about to let loose another curse when he caught sight of the figures inside the room, instantly swallowing his words.
"Yuanhua pays respects to Great Aunt, and to my aunt."
Recognizing who was present, Ye Yuanhua hurried forward and bowed low.
Inwardly, he was weeping bitter tears. You little rabbit, why didn't you mention the elders were here? Now your father has been dragged into a mess because of you!
"Making such a ruckus, what kind of composure is that? Do you still look like the head of a family?"
Ye Qiuyue rebuked the bowing Ye Yuanhua directly.
"Great Aunt, this junior was wrong. Please forgive me."
Daring not to talk back, Ye Yuanhua could only accept the reprimand obediently.
"Forget it. Pay attention next time. Sit down."
It was only a light reprimand; it was hardly a grave matter, and she wasn't about to subject him to a genuine family punishment.
"Great Aunt, there is no need. I will stand. And you, little beast, come over here and stand as well."
Seeing Ye Jiarong make a move to take a seat, Ye Yuanhua barked a quick reprimand.
After a moment's hesitation, Ye Jiarong obediently stepped aside. Though Ancestral Grandmother had offered her protection, a county magistrate is not as useful as the official directly in charge; it was safer not to defy his father.
"Xiao'er, is the food to your liking? If it is not enough, we can order more."
Every time Ye Qiuyue looked at Qin Xiao, she found him more agreeable. He had even presented her with a Saint Origin Spirit Fruit-where could one ever find such an exemplary disciple?
"Senior Sister, I am quite full, but the spiritual food here is exceptional. Would there be any issue if I packed some more to take along?"
Qin Xiao was certainly satisfied, but since he was here, he needed to stock up. Packing portions was an absolute must.
"What kind of talk is that? Pack as much as you please."
Seeing that Qin Xiao merely wished to take some food with him, Ye Qiuyue waved her hand dismissively, telling him to take whatever he liked.
"In that case, take that menu and prepare ten more copies for me to take away. Where is the attendant?"
Qin Xiao calculated briefly. Ten copies should be enough; hoarding excessive amounts served little purpose. He glanced around for an attendant, but none were visible.
"I will go give the instructions. You all continue chatting slowly."
Hearing that Qin Xiao intended to order ten more copies, Ye Yuanhua hurriedly stepped into the conversation.
Though he kept shouting insults at his unfilial son, he had indeed brought twenty thousand Spirit Stones-yet that sum was only sufficient to cover a single copy. Ten more would require someone to be sent home for additional funds, giving him a convenient excuse to step away and handle the matter.
"Go on, then."
Ye Qiuyue gave an indifferent wave.
In truth, neither Ye Qiuyue nor Ye Tianyi lacked Spirit Stones, and neither expected the younger generation to foot the bill. However, when the Ye Family hosted a banquet, they could hardly let an elder pay.
The restaurant management had been wondering what manner of extraordinary client had arrived today, or what distinguished guest the Ye Family was entertaining. Ordering a single copy of such a meal was already startling enough; now they were adding ten more. The staff immediately scrambled to procure fresh provisions.
Having settled the arrangements, Ye Yuanhua returned upstairs. A quick mental calculation told him that one copy ran around twenty thousand Spirit Stones, meaning eleven copies would total over two hundred thousand.
Such a sales figure likely exceeded the restaurant's entire turnover for the past year, given that ordinary cultivators rarely touched items of such astronomical value.
After a short while, fresh dishes were brought up in succession, though Qin Xiao promptly transferred every last plate into his System Space.
"That unfilial son! Where is that unfilial son of mine?"
That same booming voice echoed once more from the stairwell.
"You've got to be kidding me. Grandfather is here too?"
Ye Jiarong was rendered utterly speechless.
"How did this reach Father? Wasn't he in Secluded Cultivation?"
Ye Yuanhua was equally bewildered.
"Hold on. Why does this exact scenario feel so familiar?"
Qin Xiao blinked, feeling as though this very scene had played out only moments before.
Just as he was about to erupt in fury, Ye Tianyun caught sight of the room's occupants and abruptly choked on his words, matching Ye Yuanhua's reaction.
"Tianyun pays respects to Aunt, and to Elder Sister."
Recognizing who sat before him, Ye Tianyun followed Ye Yuanhua's example and offered a respectful, subdued greeting.
"Senior Sister, your family is truly fascinating. You all look as though you were cast from the very same mold, haha."
Watching the recurring spectacle, Qin Xiao could no longer contain his amusement and laughed out loud.
"Qin Xiao, be quiet."
Ye Tianyi felt a wave of mortification. Why were her younger brother and his family so consistently unreliable? They were enough to render her speechless.
Ye Tianyun had actually been in Secluded Cultivation, stepping out only for a breath of fresh air. Upon seeing the estate steward rushing about in a panic, he had paused to inquire, only to learn that his reckless son had squandered over two hundred thousand Spirit Stones on a single tavern feast. How could he let such a thing pass? If the head of the family behaved in this manner, how were they to discipline the younger generation? Seizing the Spirit Stone pouch from the steward in a rage, he had stormed over.
"Ah, you are making Xiao'er laugh. Tianyun, what is the meaning of this? You are a grown man, why must you remain so rash?"
Ye Qiuyue felt a touch of exasperation. The Ye Family was not normally given to such theatrical displays; what had possessed them today?
"Ah-Aunt, it is a misunderstanding. I was unaware you were entertaining guests here. I thought these fools were casting aside ancestral precepts and indulging in sheer waste, so I came to set them straight. It was truly a misunderstanding!"
Ye Tianyun hastily offered an explanation.
"Enough, enough. Since all of you are here, I shall make formal introductions. This is Qin Xiao, Peak Master of the Seven Stars Peak of the Tianyuan Sect, a Personal Disciple of Qin Changqing, and also my own disciple. Henceforth, should the Ye Family cross paths with him, offer assistance wherever possible. Remember, he must never be offended."
Seeing three generations of the family gathered, Ye Qiuyue decided to formally present Qin Xiao to them.
"Aunt, you are actually taking him in as one of our own? I refuse to accept this. I will not have it! He is merely a disciple of Qin Changqing; what does that have to do with us?"
While the other family members dared not voice their thoughts, Ye Tianyi was the first to object. If Aunt took him as a disciple as well, wouldn't that make him her peer? That was entirely unacceptable.
"You refuse to accept it? On what grounds do you object? Do you have any idea how I managed to break through to the Body Integration realm so rapidly? It was entirely thanks to Qin Xiao! And you still dare to object? Had Qin Xiao not assisted my breakthrough, our falling out with that old bastard Chen today would not only have meant the destruction of the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion-the entire Ye Family would have perished as well. He essentially saved your life, yet you still raise objections?"
Seeing Ye Tianyi protest, Ye Qiuyue flew into a rage. You dare object? Without Qin Xiao, today's outcome would have been entirely different.
"What? It was him? How can that be? Where would he even obtain treasures capable of elevating the Primordial Spirit?"
For a moment, Ye Tianyi struggled to process the revelation. She knew Qin Xiao possessed wealth, but items capable of strengthening the Primordial Spirit could not be acquired merely with Spirit Stones; otherwise, she would have bankrupted herself to purchase one for her aunt long ago.
"Senior Sister flatters me. We are all one family here; there is no need to speak of favors. As long as Senior Sister's cultivation advances, this disciple naturally shares in the benefit."
Flustered by the high praise, Qin Xiao hurriedly offered a modest reply.
"Look at him. He rendered us such aid, yet he refuses to boast and remains entirely humble. What further objections could you possibly have?"
Hearing Qin Xiao's response, Ye Qiuyue grew even more pleased.
"Aunt, I was wrong. I submit."
No matter how displeased Ye Tianyi felt, she knew her aunt was right. Qin Xiao had indeed bestowed a massive favor upon the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion; to continue protesting would be utterly unreasonable. Furthermore, it was Qin Xiao's timely intervention that had averted disaster earlier-even if he had also been the one to escalate the confrontation.
"That is more like it. Tianyi, from now on you will address Qin Xiao as Junior Brother; since he is my disciple, he is naturally your Junior Brother as well. And Qin Xiao, you will call Tianyi Senior Sister."
Seeing Ye Tianyi concede, Ye Qiuyue formally established their standing. Since he addressed her properly, he could not remain without proper standing in the family.
"Many thanks, Senior Sister."
Qin Xiao expressed his gratitude promptly. Excellent-he now held an established position within the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion. If things ever became untenable at the Tianyuan Sect, he would always have a fallback here.
"Pavilion Master, this is bad! The City Lord's patrol guards have sealed our storefronts!"
Just as the group was conversing amicably, a disciple of the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion rushed up in a panic to report the news.
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