....
Downstairs lobby.
With a loud crash as the table shattered, the entire restaurant fell into a deathly silence.
The waiter, who had been so aggressive just moments before, was now so frightened that he lost control of his bladder, and a foul odor filled the air.
"Ouch! What happened! What happened!"
A chubby middle-aged man tumbled out of the kitchen; it was the restaurant owner. He had been doing the accounts in the back and was terrified by the commotion.
As soon as he came out, he saw wood chips all over the ground, and a child who was radiating a golden glow and looked like a young Tyrannosaurus Rex.
The boss is a discerning person; although he is a businessman, he has seen a lot of the world.
The terrifying effect of the martial spirit possession, the suffocating pressure, and the imposing presence at such a young age.
This is no poor kid at all! This is clearly a young master from some top-tier hidden sect or a great family of soul masters who has come out to train!
Only a colossal creature like that could cultivate such a terrifying monster even before it has been given a spirit ring!
If you offend someone with such a powerful background, you won't even know how you died.
"Misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding!" The boss kicked away the waiter who was sprawled on the ground, bowed repeatedly to Xuan Hao, and put on a fawning smile. "Young Master, it's my fault for not disciplining him properly. This snobbish fellow offended you! This meal is on me to make amends!"
Upon hearing this, the red light in Xuan Hao's eyes dimmed slightly. He turned to look at the diners at the next table who were already stunned: "Are prices in this town usually like this?"
The diners trembled with fear when those silver eyes swept over them: "Yes...yes, yes! It's a bit expensive, but it's definitely...the normal price."
Upon hearing this, the coldness in Xuan Hao's eyes lessened somewhat.
Since it's not a black market specifically targeting him, there's nothing we can do.
The golden light emanating from him gradually subsided, his hair slowly turned back to silver-white from the roots, his vertical pupils returned to their original sky-blue color, and the dragon scales beneath his skin disappeared.
As the martial spirit was released from its possession, the suffocating oppressive feeling finally disappeared, and everyone in the hall breathed a long sigh of relief.
Xuan Hao reached into his robes and pulled out the three heavy gold soul coins. Although his heart was bleeding with pain, he gritted his teeth and casually tossed the gold soul coins to the shopkeeper.
"I'll pay for the meal!"
"Oh dear, young master, this... this is unacceptable..." The shopkeeper held the gold soul coins as if they were hot potatoes, unsure whether to accept them or return them.
"It's only right that I pay for my meals!"
Xuan Hao snorted coldly, then pointed to the pile of broken tableware: "But this table was broken because your people insulted me first. I won't pay for it!"
Do you have a problem with that?
The boss quickly shook his head, shaking it like a rattle-drum: "No objection! Absolutely no objection! This table should have been replaced anyway! Good job smashing it! Good job smashing it!"
"snort."
Xuan Hao snorted coldly, gave the waiter one last look, turned around, put his hands in his pockets, and strode out of the restaurant with an air of indifference.
He left behind a room full of dumbfounded diners and a boss holding a gold soul coin, looking like he had just escaped a disaster.
From the second-floor railing, Bibi Dong watched the departing figure of the silver-haired boy, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.
"Nana, it seems this trip to relax will bring unexpected rewards."
"The harvest?" Hu Liena was slightly taken aback.
"Ghostly." Bibi Dong's red lips parted slightly, her voice enveloped in soul power, coalescing into a line that precisely reached a dark corner.
"Go follow that kid. Don't let him find out; I want to see what he's really like."
In the darkness, a ghostly shadow flickered slightly before vanishing without a trace, as if it had never existed.
...
Meanwhile, Xuan Hao, who had just left the hotel, was walking on a dirt road on the edge of the town, one hand clutching his chest and the other gripping his pocket tightly, his heart bleeding.
Originally, all I had were thirteen gold soul coins, and before I even entered the forest, I had already killed four of them!
He looked up at the sky and then touched his empty money pouch.
Entering the Star Dou Great Forest is no joke. You need to buy weapons, armor, dry food, water, and those ridiculously expensive detailed maps... You have to be very careful with the remaining nine gold soul coins.
As for accommodation?
Who knows if that shabby inn will charge him two more gold soul coins?
"Isn't sleeping there the same as sleeping there?" Xuan Hao glanced at the dense grove of trees not far away, snorted, and resolutely turned around and walked towards the dark grove.
As a wild child who grew up in the countryside, climbing trees to sleep was a basic skill.
By the moonlight, Xuan Hao chose a large tree that looked lush and had wide branches.
He used both hands and feet to quickly climb up the tree, found a comfortable branch, leaned against the trunk, crossed his arms over his chest, and closed his eyes.
A cool night breeze rustled the leaves.
However, just as Xuan Hao was about to drift off to sleep, a sudden chill ran down his spine and up to the top of his head.
It wasn't a drop in temperature, but a shiver that came from the depths of my soul.
He suddenly opened his eyes, and by the dappled moonlight filtering through the leaves, he was shocked to see a blurry, dark figure standing at the very end of a thin branch of the tree!
The shadow was there, without breath, without heartbeat, and even gravity seemed to have no effect on it. It hung lightly on the treetop, with a pair of faint eyes staring intently at him!
"..."
"A ghost!!!"
A piercing scream shattered the tranquility of the grove.
Xuan Hao was so frightened that he didn't even dare to look back. He jumped down from the tree branch and scrambled to his feet, heading straight for the only street in the distant town that was still lit up. He ran as fast as he could.
On the treetops.
The ghost froze, its face, hidden beneath the black mist, filled with astonishment.
He...was he discovered?
He's a level 95 Title Douluo! A Title Douluo whose agility-based attacks are unparalleled in the world!
He had only intended to take advantage of the boy's sleep and quietly bring him back to His Holiness the Pope. In order not to disturb the child, he had even completely concealed his presence and blended into the night.
This kid doesn't even have a spirit ring, how did they find him?!
...
Xuan Hao had no idea that he had messed up a Title Douluo. He only had one thought in his mind: Run! Run to where there are more people!
That shadow was definitely not human!
Who can stand on the tip of a leaf without casting a shadow?!
He ran wildly, panting heavily, and when he saw the bright lights of the town ahead, he felt a little more at ease.
Just as they turned a corner, a figure dressed in a purple robe emerged from the shadows.
At this moment, Xuan Hao was like a cannonball that couldn't be stopped, and with his shock still lingering, he had no time to react.
"Bang!"
He buried his head in a soft, warm embrace.
The touch was incredibly soft, and a faint, delicate fragrance, like that of a noble violet, instantly filled my nose.
Bibi Dong hadn't expected the child to charge forward so fiercely.
Despite her immense power, the sudden impact still caused her to take a slight step back.
What surprised her even more was the child's physical strength. This was no six-year-old child; it was more like a savage little spirit beast that had charged at her.
"Ouch..."
Xuan Hao was thrown to the ground by the recoil, his head spinning.
But he quickly came to his senses, remembered the "dirty thing" behind him, and turned pale with fright. He hurriedly scrambled to his feet and bowed repeatedly to the person in front of him.
"I'm...I'm sorry! I bumped into you and hurt you! I'm so sorry!"
"I didn't mean to!"
He looked up and saw that the woman standing in front of him was breathtakingly beautiful.
But he had no time to appreciate the beautiful woman. Panting heavily, he pointed to the dark street behind him and shouted incoherently, "Sister! Run! There's a ghost! There's a ghost behind us!"
That terrified little face, coupled with that messy silver hair and clothes covered in grass clippings, made her look exactly like a frightened little rabbit. Where was there any trace of the domineering demeanor she had when she smashed the table in the restaurant?
"ghost?"
Bibi Dong looked at the little guy trembling and clutching her skirt, a barely perceptible smile flashing in her eyes.
Of course she knew who that "ghost" was.
She never expected that the ghost would scare the child so much, nor did she expect that the child would accidentally discover the ghost.
Hu Liena, standing behind Bibi Dong, also had a strange expression on her face, wanting to laugh but not daring to.
I wonder what kind of expression Elder Ghost would have if he knew he was being treated as a wandering ghost.
Bibi Dong slowly squatted down, extended a slender, jade-like hand, and gently patted Xuan Hao's shoulder. Her voice was gentle, completely devoid of the Pope's majesty.
"Don't be nervous, little brother."
She pointed to the empty street behind Xuan Hao and gently comforted him, "Look, there's nothing there."
"There are no ghosts in this world. It must have been too dark for you to see clearly."