Chapter 7

After a good night's sleep, the group rose early before dawn as usual to practice their martial arts. Only Xiao Ai, who was accustomed to sleeping in, remained in her room. She struggled to sit up three times, only to flop back down each time, burying her head and falling fast asleep again.

It wasn't until she was unbearably hungry that she groggily got up to search for food.

Opening her eyes, she suddenly remembered she had transmigrated into another world. She wasn't at home but staying at an inn in this strange land. After a dazed moment of confusion, she gloomily went downstairs to ask the waiter for some food, ending up sitting alone in the deserted main hall eating a combined breakfast and lunch.

As she ate, she kept looking around for her senior brothers and sisters. After waiting for a long time without spotting a single one, Xiao Ai slumped onto the table in utter dejection.

"Why are you here all alone?" A pleasant voice suddenly came from above her. Xiao Ai listlessly raised her head and saw it was Su Heng. Her eyes instantly lit up, and she sprang to her feet.

"Um, well... my brothers and the others all went out. I... I overslept," Xiao Ai said somewhat awkwardly.

Su Heng nodded with a smile. "Oh, I see." He then glanced at the cold steamed bun and plain congee in her hand and continued, "Why are you eating something like this?"

Xiao Ai smiled sheepishly. Too embarrassed to admit it was because she didn't have much money, she explained, "Well, I overslept, you see. The kitchen really didn't have anything left. The waiter was kind enough to give me this bun and congee."

Hearing this, Su Heng looked quite displeased. With a cold expression, he barked at the waiter, "She still shouldn't eat this. Magui, go make some proper food and bring it up immediately."

Magui, who had been busy on the second floor, rushed down upon hearing Su Heng's order, hurried to the kitchen to give instructions, and promptly brought up a pot of hot tea.

From this, it was clear Su Heng was a regular here, and the inn staff were quite afraid of him. Unfortunately, Xiao Ai, currently captivated by his good looks, failed to notice these unusual details.

Su Heng smoothly took a seat next to Xiao Ai, pouring her tea and wiping the table for her, being exceedingly attentive. Xiao Ai's heart soared. Staring at Su Heng's face, she was already lost in self-indulgent delight.

Soon, the waiter Magui brought up steaming hot dishes along with an unknown beverage. Su Heng not only helped serve the rice but also carefully rinsed her spoon with hot tea.

Xiao Ai felt sweetness bubbling in her heart, though she wore a shy expression. Taking the spoon, she ate in small, delicate bites, occasionally stealing affectionate glances at the person beside her. The two enjoyed this sweet, intimate meal for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

By the time Jing Yuan returned to the inn with the junior disciples, Xiao Ai was long gone. Jing Yuan, Xu Haoyue, and the others searched around but couldn't find her, growing quite anxious. They cornered the waiter Magui and asked, "Hey, waiter, have you seen where our little sister went?"

Magui scratched his head, thinking, then replied, "The young lady who was with Young Master Qi?"

Jing Yuan frowned, thinking hard. "What Young Master Qi?" Xu Haoyue reminded him helplessly, "It's that Su Heng from yesterday!"

"Oh~ Him." Little Wu and Youyou, who were sprawled on the table, heard this and grinned mischievously. "Sounds like a maiden's spring heart is stirring! Hahahaha."

In that short moment, A Xu had actually changed clothes and come downstairs. As soon as she reached the bottom, she heard something about a 'spring heart' and asked, "What's stirring?"

Magui, seeing their lively and seemingly cheerful discussion, couldn't help but interject, "Honored guests, I know I shouldn't speak out of turn, but your little sister seems so innocent and lovely, it's truly hard to bear. That Young Master Qi is a disciple of the Qi Shang Sect. And this Qi Shang Sect..." The waiter suddenly lowered his voice. "Their sect leader is most fond of the 'way of shared joy,' and his disciples are even more notorious for chasing after flowers and stirring up grass—they're regular patrons of the pleasure houses. You'd best keep an eye on your little sister, don't let her be deceived."

Xu Haoyue wasn't entirely convinced. "That can't be right. That Su Heng didn't look like a bad person to me."

"Ah, young lady, you can know a man's face but not his heart! If you weren't all friends of Young Master Qi Ziguang, I wouldn't be telling you this much." Having said that, he shook his head and went back to his work.

A Xu finally pieced together that they were talking about Xiao Ai and Su Heng. She instantly flew into a rage. "Why are you all still sitting here? Go find Xiao Ai immediately! I knew it, that Qi fellow didn't look like a good person from the start."

Her outburst startled Little Wu and Youyou, who immediately jumped to their feet and rushed out to search without another word. Even the chubby disciple hiding nearby and sneaking snacks couldn't help but shift his backside nervously. After searching all around to no avail, they returned to the inn only to find Xiao Ai had already come back on her own. She was sitting in the main hall, a blissful smile on her face, humming a tune and sipping tea.

Seeing this, A Xu's temper flared all at once. Before Little Wu and Youyou could stop him, he charged forward and, with a great slap of his palm, knocked over the teapot on the table. Xiao Ai was so startled she dropped her own teacup!