Almost instantaneously, both Huo Wushuang and Feng Xiaotian unleashed sharp, ear-splitting shrieks of pure psychological devastation.
Fortunately, Huo Wu stepped in immediately, delivering a swift, heavy punch to each of their heads, effectively silencing the two human-shaped sirens before they could completely disrupt the entire establishment. From the sheer octave of their screams, one could easily discern a mixture of three parts confusion, three parts absolute incomprehension, and four parts utter, horrified disbelief.
To make matters infinitely more hilarious, as the two men desperately tried to tear themselves apart, they realized their fingers had somehow become hopelessly locked and tangled together during their previous scuffle. This comical, agonizing struggle was thoroughly enjoyed by Fu Ye and his three lovely companions as the perfect pre-meal entertainment.
"Sisters, if these two big brothers don't join a circus to perform comedy acrobatics, they are truly letting their natural-born talents go to waste," Wu Ling remarked, her voice dripping with mock sweetness that was almost saccharine enough to give someone cavities.
Huo Wu stared at her elder brother and that absolute buffoon Feng Xiaotian, her face a perfect mask of exasperated disappointment. These two brainless idiots were single-handedly dragging Blazing Academy's prestigious reputation straight through the gutter!
Look at Tianshui Academy over there. Their girls are all so elegant, beautiful, and— wait, hold on a second!
Huo Wu's fiery eyes suddenly blinked. Looking closely at the three breathtakingly beautiful young girls sitting at the adjacent window table, a profound sense of familiarity washed over her. No, I need to take a better look!
As Huo Wu turned her entire body around to get a proper view, she found Fu Ye and his three girls staring right back at her with amused expressions. The atmosphere descended into a brief, slightly self-conscious silence.
"You three... you're members of the Tianshui Academy Team, right?" Huo Wu inquired cautiously, her sharp, dominant tone softening slightly in the face of their ethereal beauty.
"Mm-hm! Hello, big sister! My name is Wu Ling, it's a pleasure to meet you!" Wu Ling chimed in happily, her ruby eyes sparkling with absolute innocence.
"Hello, I am Zhu Zhuqing. It's a pleasure to meet you," Zhu Zhuqing greeted with her signature cool elegance, her calm voice carrying a soothing, velvety undertone.
"Heehee, I'm Ning Rongrong. I'm very happy to meet you too," Ning Rongrong smiled brilliantly, her noble, refined upbringing radiating effortlessly from her posture.
The three lovely girls gracefully shook hands with Huo Wu one by one. It was only after exchanging pleasantries with them that Huo Wu's gaze finally drifted toward the far corner of the table—where Fu Ye sat quietly.
( д )
In an instant, Huo Wu's breath caught completely in her throat, her crimson eyes widening to their absolute limits. The moment her gaze locked onto Fu Ye's otherworldly, flawlessly handsome countenance, the entire bustling restaurant seemed to vanish. His supreme, god-like charisma completely ensnared her mind, making her fiery, prideful heart thud violently against her ribs. She literally could not look away for even a single millisecond.
Being a naturally bold, outspoken, and fiercely passionate girl, Huo Wu didn't hesitate. She took a decisive step forward, her eyes locked onto his face as she stretched out both of her hands and tightly clasped Fu Ye's right hand.
"Hey, handsome! Which academy do you belong to? I am Huo Wu, the Vice-Captain of Blazing Academy. It is an absolute, profound pleasure to meet you! Where do you come from?"
The moment she boldly grabbed his hand, the comfortable, loving atmosphere around the table instantly froze. The "Harem Defense System" was triggered in a flash, and the three young girls' eyes simultaneously flashed with an intense, sharp possessiveness.
Wu Ling:Woman, you have severely crossed the line!Zhu Zhuqing:We literally just met, but Brother Fu Ye belongs entirely to us! Hands off!Ning Rongrong:You audacious woman, release your filthy hands from my man this instant!
However, entirely blinded by her sudden infatuation, Huo Wu paid absolutely zero attention to the localized blizzard of jealousy brewing around her. She simply stared at Fu Ye with a completely starstruck, star-eyed expression.
"Hello. I am the Chief Commander and Team Leader of the Tianshui Academy Team. My name is Fu Ye, it is a pleasure to meet you too," Fu Ye replied smoothly, a polite, slightly amused smile playing on his lips.
He had known this spicy little hidden gem was passionate, but this was a bit excessive. Grabbing his hand with both of hers right off the bat? The relationship progress bar was being yanked forward at a terrifying velocity.
"Big sister, doesn't Brother Fu Ye's palm feel incredibly warm and comfortable?"
Suddenly, before anyone could react, Wu Ling ghosted right up to Huo Wu's side. Leaning in close, she whispered the teasing reminder directly into the older girl's ear, her voice carrying a playful, possessive edge.
"Ah!"
Startled by Wu Ling's sudden, ghostly proximity, Huo Wu gasped and instinctively snapped her hands back, inadvertently freeing Fu Ye's hand from her grip.
"Heehee, big sister, you're actually really cute," Wu Ling giggled.
Having successfully broken the enemy's grasp, Wu Ling turned around and, without a single shred of hesitation or shame, hopped directly back into Fu Ye's embrace, nesting herself snugly upon his lap. She wrapped her slender arms around his neck, inhaling his familiar, intoxicating masculine scent while sending a triumphant look toward her sisters.
Zhu Zhuqing:...Hmm?Ning Rongrong:There is a serious problem with this rebel disciple.
Sitting triumphantly in Fu Ye's lap, Wu Ling looked across the table at Rongrong and Zhuqing, playfully poking out her small, pink tongue and making a comically mischievous face. "Bleeeh~"
Watching the little troublemaker act so wildly in his embrace, Fu Ye couldn't help but chuckle softly. He knew perfectly well who had taught her these spoiled, playful antics—Xiao Wu's influence was written all over it.
"Alright, you little rascal. You've been getting bolder and bolder lately, haven't you? You even dare to publicly ambush your own master now. Don't do this when we're outside next time, understand?"
Fu Ye scolded her with absolute, overflowing indulgence. He reached out and gently pinched her flawless, cute little nose, causing her to giggle cutely before he gently lifted her up and placed her back into her own designated seat.
"Heehee, Master is the bad one," Wu Ling pouted beautifully, her eyes completely filled with sugary sweetness.
Soon enough, their custom-ordered dishes were elegantly served onto the table. Sitting at the adjacent table, Huo Wu's crimson eyes blinked in deep confusion when she noticed that Fu Ye's food looked entirely different from anything featured on the official menu.
"Um... Commander Fu Ye, your dishes don't seem to be listed on the menu at all."
Hearing her curious question, Fu Ye offered a warm, gentle smile and politely explained, "Ah, these dishes are made from specific ingredients I brought myself. I simply requested the head chefs in the back to process and cook them for me, which is why they look different."
He smiled faintly. It wasn't that he disliked the restaurant's standard food, but the ingredients he had personally pulled from his system storage were all supreme spiritual treasures over a thousand years old. Consuming them provided an immense boost to one's spirit power and cultivation. The restaurant's highest-grade standard ingredients were, at best, around the hundred-year level, which fell entirely short of his current dietary requirements.
"Oh~ So that's how it is," Huo Wu murmured, nodding in enlightenment.
Right at that moment, Ning Rongrong seized the opportunity to elevate her man's prestige. She leaned in slightly, a proud, beautiful smirk appearing on her flawless face as she boasted with a hint of queenly smugness:
"Heehee, you should know that this entire Juxiang Pavilion chain, along with every single branch across the surrounding principalities and cities, is actually Brother Fu Ye's personal private property. Under normal circumstances, the head chefs here would never dream of processing outside ingredients for regular patrons."
The moment Ning Rongrong's words fell, it wasn't just Huo Wu who froze; even Huo Wushuang and Feng Xiaotian—who were still struggling with their locked fingers—stared at Fu Ye with absolute, unadulterated shock.
After all, the reputation of Juxiang Pavilion was legendary throughout the empire. Feng Xiaotian's sect was located in Fengdu City, which hosted a highly prominent branch. However, because he was always entirely consumed by bitter cultivation and cared very little for culinary luxuries, he had never personally visited.
Meanwhile, the Blazing Academy's home city, Huoyun City, also possessed a major Juxiang Pavilion branch. The sibling duo were frequent, loyal patrons of that establishment. They had specifically chosen to visit the Imperial Capital's headquarters today during their tournament break just to taste the peak culinary craftsmanship. The taste and texture here were indeed flawless, matching their hometown branch perfectly. Given the massive portions and incredibly fair pricing, they had long considered themselves hardcore fans of the brand.
To think the supreme magnate behind this continent-spanning culinary empire was sitting right in front of them!
"Mm, please don't mind her. She's just teasing," Fu Ye smiled humbly, downplaying the revelation. "I am indeed the primary owner of Juxiang Pavilion, but I have long since handed over the daily administrative operations to the professional managers. Since I currently reside within Tianshui Academy and have no shortage of wealth, I only drop by occasionally for a simple, casual meal."
Ning Fengzhi (Internal monologue):Ah, yes, absolutely. If it weren't for my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan handling the commercial logistics and financial investments, your Juxiang Pavilion would have faced major administrative hurdles years ago! What's that? Who am I? Young man, remember this: you can call me an old fox, you can call me a profit-driven businessman, but you absolutely can never question my supreme commercial acumen!
Despite Fu Ye's humble explanation, the immense shock swirling within Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang's eyes didn't diminish in the slightest. Even Feng Xiaotian stared at the youth with profound, unmitigated respect. To seamlessly establish and manage such a colossal, multi-city commercial powerhouse across the Heaven Dou Empire's first-tier cities was a feat that defied imagination for someone who looked so young.
"Commander Fu Ye... if I may ask, what exactly is your current cultivation level?" Huo Wu asked, her voice trembling slightly with intense curiosity as her crimson eyes locked onto him. "You look to be only around twenty-two or twenty-three years old. To hold the supreme position of Chief Commander for the entire Tianshui Team, your strength must surely have reached the level of a high-tier Spirit Emperor, right?"