Chapter 420: Meeting

"Back when I still had my divine artifact, money practically grew legs and walked into my purse! I wouldn't even give mere coppers a second glance!" Scholar Lu scoffed, glaring dismissively at the waiter who had just thrown him out of the establishment.

"My apologies, sir," the waiter said with a downcast face, "but no matter what you say, this establishment does not extend credit." He slung his white towel over his shoulder and turned, heading back into the main hall.

"Hmph!" Scholar Lu was about to retort when the woman at his side stopped him. It was Tao'er, his wife, whom he had purchased with silver.

She unslung the bundle from her back, pulled out two vegetable pancakes, and offered them to him.

"No! You eat it!" Scholar Lu shoved the pancakes back. "I am Scholar Lu, a man of dignity! Am I reduced to eating a woman's scraps?"

He had momentarily considered returning to Ox-Heart Mountain to find Li Huowang, but he lacked travel funds. The journey wasn't long, but he lived hand-to-mouth, spending his earnings the same day he made them, never saving a single copper.

He had planned to seek help from the companions with whom he once feasted and drank, but to his dismay, these ungrateful wretches had turned their backs on him so quickly.

"Oh, so you're full of pride, are you? If you're so high and mighty, then how is it that you, Scholar Lu, can't even afford a meal?"

Hearing the sarcastic voice from behind, Scholar Lu's face instantly flushed with anger. He rolled up his sleeves and spun around, only to see Chun Xiaoman and Bai Lingmiao seated in a carriage.

"Well, well, what a coincidence! It's you two! Are you heading back to Ox-Heart Mountain? I can drive!" Scholar Lu moved to climb into the carriage but was promptly kicked, sending him sprawling.

"Did I give you permission to get on the carriage?" Bai Lingmiao gazed down at Scholar Lu from the carriage window.

Scholar Lu stood up, leaning on Tao'er for support, and gazed quizzically at the white-haired woman before him.

This woman felt suddenly very different from how she used to be. The Bai Lingmiao he remembered had been gentle and quiet, but the current Bai Lingmiao was far more assertive and overbearing.

"What's gotten into Miss Bai?" Scholar Lu asked Chun Xiaoman, who was holding the reins of the horse.

Chun Xiaoman sighed softly. "What else could it be? She's become just like you."

"Oh? She also wielded our Master's sword?!" Scholar Lu's eyes rounded in astonishment.

"Xiaoman, no more talking, let's go." Bai Lingmiao ignored Scholar Lu and pulled the carriage curtain shut.

"Hey! Why are you leaving? Give us a ride! Are you heading back to Ox-Heart Mountain? That's our route! Has Master returned to Ox-Heart Mountain yet?" Scholar Lu hurriedly followed, slapping the wooden carriage, but received no response.

Scholar Lu followed them for some distance until the carriage finally pulled to a stop outside an inn.

After the waiter led the carriage into the backyard, Bai Lingmiao ignored Scholar Lu standing nearby. She pulled Chun Xiaoman with her and headed towards the main hall.

Just as Scholar Lu and Tao'er followed them and sat down at the eight-immortal table, Bai Lingmiao's cold gaze immediately swept over them. "Did I invite you to sit?" she asked.

"Come on, Miss Bai, don't be so unreasonable! Our relationship is already so—" Scholar Lu attempted to ingratiate himself.

"What connection do I have to you? Are you a fellow disciple who escaped with me, or are you a member of my Bai clan?"

A surge of anger flared within Scholar Lu. This woman used to be perfectly pleasant; how did her personality become so obnoxious now? "Fine! It's just one meal, isn't it? Am I going to starve to death if I miss one meal?"

He immediately grabbed Tao'er by the arm and marched over to an empty table nearby.

Sensing the tension in the air, Chun Xiaoman started to speak, but then felt a kick to his shoe from Bai Lingmiao, and he said no more.

Soon, four dishes and a soup were served to their table. Hearing the sounds of chewing and soup-slurping from the table beside him, Scholar Lu involuntarily swallowed, his mouth watering.

"Right."

When Bai Lingmiao addressed him, Scholar Lu immediately feigned indifference and glanced away.

"You don't need to follow us anymore. Go find food elsewhere. Ox-Heart Mountain belongs to my Bai family; only those I permit may live there. And you, I find your very presence sickening."

"What?!" Scholar Lu leapt to his feet. "You can't do that! Our Lu Family Troupe resides there too!"

"Just because they live there, it makes it their family's? If you dare to follow, I'll make sure the entire Lu Family Troupe is thrown out."

Scholar Lu still wanted to argue, but facing the eerie Ershen that suddenly appeared behind Bai Lingmiao, he found himself utterly speechless.

He slammed his fist on the table. His eyes red, he grabbed Tao'er and stormed towards the door.

Watching their departing backs, Chun Xiaoman spoke up. "Miaomiao, wasn't that a bit harsh? After all, he is Troupe Master Lu's son."

"I neither hit him nor cursed him, so how is it too much? Have you seen how that brat treats his own father? Why should I bother with such a contemptible ingrate? Moreover, was that just now the attitude of someone asking for help?" Bai Lingmiao finished, picked up her fourth bowl of rice, and resumed eating.

Having finally reached a county town, Bai Lingmiao was in no hurry to leave. She decided to get a good night's sleep at the inn before resuming their journey.

In the bustling market, Scholar Lu muttered indignantly to himself. Every so often, he would grit his teeth and mutter a curse under his breath.

But no amount of cursing could silence the rumbling in his stomach. He glanced back at the woman quietly following him, her brows downcast, and pulled her along, continuing their search for food in the town.

But with no money, food was impossible to find. By the time the sun set, they had only managed to fill their stomachs with water.

"Psst! Buddy! Over here, over here! Are you short on cash?" a man beckoned to Scholar Lu from a dim alley.

Scholar Lu walked over, surprised, and asked, "What's this about?"

The man opened his hand, revealing a few pieces of silver in front of Scholar Lu. Just as Scholar Lu's eyes lit up, the man with the two-pronged mustache quickly withdrew them.

Seeing Scholar Lu's impatient gaze, he gestured towards Tao'er, who was standing behind Scholar Lu. "Three taels of silver for your wife to be a temporary concubine for a year, how about that?"

"A temporary concubine?"

"What's wrong? Don't you understand? It means I'll use your wife to bear a son, and once the child is born, I'll return her to you, entirely unharmed."

"You son of a bitch!" With a thud, Scholar Lu's fist connected directly with the man's face. Hit, the man naturally retaliated, and the two immediately engaged in a brawl.

Scholar Lu was shorter and less built than his opponent, and was naturally badly beaten.

Just as Tao'er rushed over to intervene, the man slapped her away. Seeing this, Scholar Lu's eyes immediately blazed with fury.

"You bastard! I'll kill you!" Scholar Lu pulled a small dagger from his robe, which finally made his opponent's fists pause.

The man met Scholar Lu's menacing gaze, then let out a cold snort, a flicker of apprehension in his eyes, before turning and walking away.

Once the adrenaline faded, Scholar Lu felt pain throbbing throughout his body. He ran his tongue over his teeth, then spat. Two molars, stained with blood, landed on the ground. "Damn it, why am I so unlucky?!"