Bu Fang walked out of the kitchen, stretched his body, and dried his hands . Then, he pulled out a chair to rest for a bit .
Having stayed in the kitchen all morning, he had finally finished making the dishes that his customers had ordered . It was certainly nice to steal a moment of leisure from the rush of business and take a catnap .
Mu Lingfeng sat afar, drinking his fish soup while observing Bu Fang emerging from the kitchen . He had been to the store for many days now, and this Owner Bu gave him the impression of maintaining his composure even before an erupting volcano .
However, Bu Fang's cooking skills were superb, and could easily be considered top-rate among the gourmet delicacies he had tried himself .
If it weren't for the Five Stripes Path-Understanding Tree sitting in this store, Mu Lingfeng would love to come here often for a small meal or a drink . What a pity… as the saying goes, the precious stone may land its possessor in jail . To possess a treasure as prized as the Five Stripes Path-Understanding Tree meant this store was destined to meet a tragic end .
He knew that, not after long, this store would be wiped out in a split moment .
"That fellow Sheng Mu is bringing Elder Xia to the store . What a shame…" Mu Lingfeng took a sip of the Ice Heart Jade Urn Wine and emitted a light sigh .
. . .
A group of burly men trod the streets of the Imperial City, and finally arrived at the tranquil alleyway .
"Is it here?" As Elder Xia flicked a glance at Sheng Mu, the muscles on his ferocious face quivered as he inquired .
"Yes, that store is located in this plain, unremarkable small alleyway . " Sheng Mu stroked the head of the black cheetah on which he rode and chuckled lightly .
Elder Xia instantly knitted his brows, a with sneer smearing over his lips, "It is in an awfully remote area . Could the Five Stripes Path-Understanding Tree really rest in such a cornered little store?"
However, he didn't say much more and led his crew right into the small alleyway . It did not matter whether this store was located in a remote area or in the small corner of an alleyway, as his sole target was the Five Stripes Path-Understanding Tree . As for the store… it was not among his primary concerns… For all that matters, he could simply wipe it out if it got into his way .
Standing before the entrance of the store, Elder Xia twisted his neck . All the muscles in his body begun to shake and throb, as a stirring dragon .
Sheng Mu squinted his eyes, hopped off from the back of the cheetah, and turned his head to face Elder Xia . "Elder Xia, are we going in or not?"
"Come on, let's check out that Five Stripes Path-Understanding Tree first? Is it really as you've described… to be honest, I still don't believe your words . How could gems like the Five Stripes Path-Understanding Tree appear in this random corner of an alleyway . " Xia Da twitched his mouth .
Sheng Mu was taken back and wasn't sure how to respond . However, he quickly laughed it off and led the crew into the store .
Stepping into the store, he was hit by the cozy atmosphere within, which caused his complexions to change . As a seventh grade Battle-Saint, he was especially sensitive to spirit energy . The rich food aroma and spirit energy that filled the air as well as one's stomach were both marvelous and incredible .
The atmosphere inside versus outside of the store were drastically different . Once in a while, the Path-Understanding Tree spread Path-Understanding Notes that penetrated one's spirits and heart .
"The Five Stripes Path-Understanding Tree really does exist!" Sheng Mu's eyes lit up . He turned to look at Elder Xia, who had also stepped into the store .
The expression of the latter had become somewhat odd .
"For dining, please consult the menu behind you . Let me know what you want to order . " Seeing numerous strong men entering the store, Ouyang Xiaoyi wrinkled her brows . The store was pretty small, and with these new additions, had begun to seem crowded .
"Dining? Haha! You little lassie, I am not here to eat, I'm here for the treasure!" Sheng Mu guffawed .
Ouyang Xiaoyi was startled, and for a moment, didn't know what to do .
Bu Fang, who sat on his chair, wrinkled his brows and gazed at these hefty men .
"Get me the store owner . Tell him to hurry his ass if he still wants this cornered little store to survive and stay open!" Sheng Mu was fierce and ruthless .
Bu Fang stood up, shielded Ouyang Xiaoyi with his body, and walked before this crowd of people .
"I am the owner of the store . Is something up?"
From a distance, Mu Lingfeng shook his head . Sure enough… these warriors of the Ferocious Hall, with their well developed limbs but heads of a moron, had found their way here . However, he didn't bother moving himself, and merely remained in his seat whilst enjoying the delicious fish soup .
"Something's up? Sure there is! Didn't you hear what I said before, that I've come to the store in search of the treasure? Don't play possum with me . The Five Stripes Path-Understanding Tree, fork it over…"
Sheng Mu formed a fist, and with the muscles on his face quivering, laughed viciously .
Bu Fang glanced at him without any facial expressions, curled his lips, and then opened his mouth: "There are countless people seeking treasures from me… who do you think you are?"
Sheng Mu was absolutely dumbstruck . He glared back with bulging eyeballs and summoned up a deadly force of energy . However, before he had the chance to make a move, he stopped abruptly in astonishment . That was because he felt a swift and fierce force of energy gushing through the doors and directly locking him down .
"Who is making trouble in this store?"
Outside, a cold voice rang in the air . The shadow of a figure had appeared .
The bystanders, including Bu Fang himself, peered outside of the door in curiosity . They realized quickly that the fellow out there with such bellicose utterances turned out to be a serpent-man .
Bu Fang didn't know whether to laugh or cry . Serpent-man Yu Feng was really there protecting his store… Who would have thought that he'd actually dare to show up . The crowd before him emitted powerful forces of energy, so where did he gather the courage…
"Hey ho? You intend to defend this store?" Sheng Mu broke into a chuckle . Was this seventh grade Battle-Saint serpent-man the store's trump card? If so, it would really take the fun out of it .
"Owner Bu, I have promised you that I will look after the store . I live up to my words . " The serpent-man Yu Feng remarked solemnly .
A long, black spear appeared in his hands . It swept across the air and pointed directly at the warriors of the Ferocious Hall standing within the store .
Bu Fang wanted to say something, but Sheng Mu and his crew had already walked out of the store and into the alleyway to face the serpent-man Yu Feng .
Bu Fang rolled his eyes, completely at a loss for words .
Though he couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry at the current circumstances, he still felt a touch of warmth inside .
"Serpent-men are actually appearing in the Imperial City of the Light Wind Empire? How interesting…" Amidst the crowd, Xia Da curled his lips into a smirk . Seeing the serpent-man Yu Feng, he couldn't help but laugh .
"The fame of the Grand Serpentine City, located in the Illusory Spirit Swamp, has spread even to the Hidden Dragon Continent . The Serpentine Sovereign had singlehandedly built a magnificent grand city even under the difficult circumstances in the Illusory Spirit Swamp . For that, he had gained the respect of countless people . I wonder if you yourself is from the Serpentine Sovereign's Grand Serpentine City?" Xia Da asked coolly .
The serpent-man Yu Feng was slightly taken back, after which he wrinkled his brows, with the long spear still waving about, and replied: "Even though I myself am not a serpent-man from the Grand Serpentine City, I was fortunate enough to meet the Serpentine Sovereign in person . "
When he divulged this, Yu Feng felt a sense of pride . As he came from a branch of the serpent-men tribe, it was already the utmost honor to meet face to face with the legendary Serpentine Sovereign .
"Oh… so you have met the Serpentine Sovereign? Then for the sake of the Serpentine Sovereign, I'll let you scram . Beat it . " Xia Da flicked a glance at the serpent-man Yu Feng, waved his hand, and snickered as he replied .
The nearby crowd, consisting of Sheng Mu and the crew, also burst out into laughter .
The serpent-men… were a species they looked down upon, as they were equivalent to man-beasts . Deep into the Wildlands, man-beasts proliferated and lived as the lowest level of species, garnering no respect whatsoever .
Yet now, this serpent-man stood before them vowing to defend the store… It was simply ludicrous .
Bu Fang leaned by the door frame and observed this stand-off calmly . Before he knew it, fat ole Whitey had already emerged behind him, standing like a piece of stiff wood, and its mechanic eyes flashed beams of red .
"How presumptuous!"
The serpent-man Yu Feng did not recognize this strapping, muscular fellow before him . However, he could certainly discern this brute's insulting and disdainful tone . That was absolutely unpardonable!
"Scram? Your audacity is laughable!" Yu Feng's eyes flashed . His serpent tail swung, and waves of true energy surged out of his body . The long, black spear began spinning and piercing towards the brazen man .
In that moment, it felt like the air was almost ripped into shreds . Rat-a-tat, such sounds rang continuously . A furious torrent of true energy rose up like tides, instantly distorting the atmosphere within the small alleyway .
As expected, a warrior at the peak of seventh grade Battle-Saint summoned a terrifying force of pressure when he made a move .
The faces of Sheng Mu and the crew had changed colors . This serpent-man had a truly impressive cultivation level . No wonder he had the guts to stand out… None of the seventh grade Battle-Saints currently present could take him down without a struggle .
Unfortunately… this serpent-man had no idea of whom he was in presence, nor what kind of an unimaginable existence they represented!
Xia Da remained in his spot with squinting eyes . The mighty spear was just short of a meter away from his body when Xia Da finally decided to sluggishly lift up his brawny palm .
Crack…
An ear-splitting sound reverberated in the air . The serpent-man Yu Feng's pupils shrank . This human before him had managed to catch the long, black spear he had hurled, and only with one hand .
Bu Fang, still leaning by the door frame, was also taken back . To be able to resist the strike of a seventh grade Battle-Saint with a single hand, this burly brick before his eyes must have a stunning cultivation level himself .
"No wonder he dared to provoke the store… did he feel assured with the addition of superior combat abilities?" Bu Fang twitched the corners of his mouth and murmured quietly . Of course, not a single trace of anxiety had flashed across his heart .
He patted Whitey's chubby stomach, perfectly unflustered .
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