Qin Xiao and the other two naturally heard what that follower said and were holding back their laughter.
Which scion from a family isn't spoiled? It's just a matter of degree. He was already fourteen or fifteen years old, yet eating required servants to feed him.
When they reached the second floor, Ye Jiarong caught Qin Xiao's smile and felt even more embarrassed.
"Senior, it's like this. Some time ago, I suffered a mishap in my cultivation that caused my meridians to reverse flow, leaving my arms weak and making it inconvenient to eat. I had them feed me for a time, but now I'm completely recovered and naturally don't need it anymore."
Ye Jiarong could only offer a helpless explanation.
"It doesn't matter. Hurry and find a place to eat; I'm hungry."
Qin Xiao had no desire to pry further and simply wanted to get on with the meal. His stomach was empty.
"Senior is right. It is rare indeed for Senior to honor us with your presence. Today we shall dine on the third floor. There are many private rooms on the second floor, but they cannot compare to the third floor. The third floor has only two large private rooms, and whether for the view or the service, they are the finest."
To salvage his pride, Ye Jiarong decided to be extravagant and treat Qin Xiao and his companions to the third floor.
Under the guide's lead, the four of them arrived on the third floor.
"Young Master Ye, the Heaven-grade number one private room already has guests. How does number two suit you?"
The guide opened the door to the second private room and inquired.
"What does Senior think?"
Rather than answering, Ye Jiarong turned to consult Qin Xiao.
"Either is fine. We are merely eating."
With that, Qin Xiao led Yun Man and Lin Shimeng inside.
Indeed, the third floor offered an excellent view. Tall buildings were scarce in Tianyi City, and looking out from this height revealed vast stretches of houses and intricate streets.
"Is there a menu? Or perhaps you can tell us what you serve here."
After a brief glance outside, Qin Xiao prepared to order.
"Here is the menu. Whatever the guests desire, simply tell me, and I shall record it."
Already prepared, the guide handed Qin Xiao a jade slip menu.
Qin Xiao glanced through it and found the prices quite reasonable. The most expensive dish was only eight hundred and eighty Spirit Stones, while the rest cost mere single digits.
"Forget it. I am unfamiliar with the dishes and wish to try everything. Bring the entire menu. There is no need to record individual items-bring out every single dish listed."
As this was his first time tasting spirit food, Qin Xiao wanted a taste of everything. Rather than choosing selectively, he ordered the lot.
"What? The entire menu?"
The first to look startled was not the guide, but Ye Jiarong, since he would be footing the bill.
Whenever he came here to dine, he rarely spent more than two hundred Spirit Stones, largely due to his family's strict allowance. Though he had managed to save a few thousand Spirit Stones of pocket money, believing it more than sufficient for any ordinary meal, he now felt as though he might weep.
"What is it, Young Master Ye? Are you concerned I will not finish it? Rest assured, whatever I cannot eat, I will have packed to go. I do not waste."
Assuming the youth was worried about extravagance, Qin Xiao offered an explanation.
"Senior is entirely right. It is nothing-so long as Senior is pleased. I have a matter to instruct my followers below, so I shall step down for a moment."
With that, Ye Jiarong hurried back down the stairs.
"Master, do you suppose that fellow has run off?"
Lin Shimeng asked with mild curiosity, having also glanced at the menu and calculated that ordering the entire selection would cost at least ten thousand Spirit Stones.
To spend over ten thousand Spirit Stones on a single meal-even the wealthy did not squander wealth so recklessly.
"If he runs, he runs. I never expected anyone else to pay in the first place. Am I, your master, short of a few Spirit Stones? It was the boy who insisted on treating. Should he flee, we will simply pay for our own meal."
Qin Xiao remained entirely unconcerned. A mere ten or twenty thousand Spirit Stones could truly be dismissed as a trifle in his eyes.
Ye Jiarong certainly wished to flee, but how could he? He had already invoked his family's name, and everyone in the restaurant recognized him and knew he had brought guests to the third floor. If he ran now, not only would he offend a senior expert, but the restaurant would come straight to the Ye Family to collect the debt. By then, a mere beating would be the least of his worries.
"Young Master, you've come down so quickly! Did you remember us and wish for us to come up?"
Seeing him descend, the follower hurried forward, convinced the young master had not forgotten them.
"Shut your mouth, you talk far too much! Go home immediately, find my father, and bring me Spirit Stones. Bring ten thousand-no, bring twenty thousand! I have an urgent use for them, go!"
With a swift kick, Ye Jiarong sent the follower scurrying back home for funds.
"Ah, this servant understands!"
The follower had intended to ask more, but seeing another kick incoming, he hastily turned and bolted.
Before long, Ye Jiarong hurried back to the Heaven-grade number two private room.
"Senior, are you satisfied with the arrangements?"
Opening the door, he anxiously sought Qin Xiao's approval.
"Oh, you've returned. I thought you had run off."
Qin Xiao was genuinely surprised to see the Ye Family youth come back.
"What is Senior saying? I invited you to dine; if I were to bolt, what face would the Ye Family have left?"
Though still harboring secret anxiety, Ye Jiarong had already dispatched someone for money, giving him some semblance of reassurance.
"Pavilion Master, please enter."
As the two conversed, the guide outside swung the door open, welcoming none other than Ye Tianyi, the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion.
"Hm? What is the meaning of this? Why are you all here?"
Staring at Qin Xiao and his companions, Ye Tianyi wore an expression of utter bewilderment.
The City Lord had invited her today, claiming the Grand Commander wished to confer with her. She had reluctantly attended, only to open the door and find her grand-nephew alongside Qin Xiao's group.
"Ah? Pavilion Master, are you not here to see Young Master Ye?"
The guide finally realized her mistake; the Pavilion Master had not been visiting the young master at all, but was headed for a different room.
Knowing that the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion and the Ye Family, though separate entities, were essentially branches of the same clan, she had naturally assumed Ye Tianyi was arriving to visit her grand-nephew, resulting in this awkward mix-up.
"Grand-aunt? Why are you here? This grand-nephew pays respects to Grand-aunt."
Ye Jiarong was equally stunned. It was rare enough for him to frequent the third floor, yet he had managed to run straight into his grand-aunt. Seeing him indulge in such extravagance would undoubtedly earn him a severe reprimand.
"Pavilion Master Ye, what a coincidence. To think we would cross paths in a restaurant. Does a cultivator of your realm still require meals? Or were you searching for your grand-nephew?"
Qin Xiao was equally taken aback upon seeing Ye Tianyi, initially assuming she had come looking for the young man, but he offered a polite greeting nonetheless.
The commotion outside soon drew the attention of the occupants in the adjacent room, who stepped out to investigate.
"How do you manage affairs? Pavilion Master Ye is my honored guest, yet you lead her to the wrong room! Do you still wish to keep your position?"
Catching sight of Ye Tianyi standing outside the second room, City Lord Chen Lou immediately berated the guide.
"City Lord Chen, there is no need to vent your anger on the subordinate. These are acquaintances of mine; I merely stepped over to exchange greetings."
Unwilling to let the guide suffer a penalty over a trivial misunderstanding, Ye Tianyi quickly intervened.
"Apologies, apologies! It was entirely my oversight!"
Terrified of offending the City Lord, the guide could only bow repeatedly in terror.
"It is nothing. You may step away first."
At Ye Tianyi's behest, the trembling guide hastily withdrew.
"So they are friends of Pavilion Master Ye. In that case, Chen naturally wishes to make their acquaintance as well."
With a smooth stride, Chen Lou approached the group.
"This junior pays respects to City Lord Chen."
Recognizing the official, Ye Jiarong hurriedly offered a salute.
"Ah, it is only Young Master Jiarong. No harm done. But who might these three be?"
Relieved to see it was merely the Ye scion, Chen Lou's gaze shifted to Qin Xiao and his two female disciples, his eyes instantly lighting up.
Having mediocre natural talent, he knew his limits would likely cap his cultivation at the Nascent Soul stage, or perhaps the Soul Formation stage should he stumble upon some great Fated Chance. Consequently, he had long since abandoned arduous cultivation in favor of taking numerous wives and concubines to indulge in luxury and worldly pleasures. The sight of Yun Man and Lin Shimeng immediately stirred his dark desires.
"I am merely a rogue cultivator, and these two are my disciples. I thank the City Lord for his concern."
Sensing the predatory gleam in Chen Lou's eyes, Qin Xiao felt an immediate wave of disgust and offered a cold, perfunctory dismissal.
"City Lord Chen Lou, did you not mention the Grand Commander was waiting to discuss matters? We should make haste lest we keep him waiting any longer."
Sensing the tense and abnormal atmosphere, Ye Tianyi sought to avert potential trouble by hastily changing the subject.
"Quite right, quite right, I almost forgot. My uncle has been waiting within the private room for quite some time. Pavilion Master, please."
Though Chen Lou smiled warmly on the surface, his mind was already plotting how to get his hands on the two women.