Hearing this, Yu Qing wanted to ask if he had taken the wrong medicine. “I say, Old Nine, which eye of yours saw that you were not welcome? Just because you were criticised a few words by other guests, you jump to the conclusion that the host does not welcome you?”
The corner of Mu Aotie’s mouth twitched, and he turned to leave. “Forget it. This kind of occasion is not suitable for me. You go ahead, I am going back to my room.”
“Are you joking?” Yu Qing grabbed him. “You happened to sit right next to her. This is a great opportunity to get to know her properly. Now you are telling me you do not want to do it anymore. Are you playing with me?”
Mu Aotie really wanted to say that this was a gathering of your sect leaders, so what business did I have forcing my way to the table?
But the words stopped at his lips, and he asked instead, “Have you not figured out why I am leaving? That young master Liang’s expressions and manners clearly show he is interested in that proprietress. Do you think our honey trap is still necessary to continue? There is no need to do useless work.”
Yu Qing shook his head vigorously, his voice involuntarily rising a few notches. “No, can you guarantee that all women in the world like pretty boys? Can you guarantee she is not into your type?” He gestured at Mu Aotie’s physique. “If I were a woman, I would definitely like your type.”
Seeing him ramble on endlessly, Mu Aotie asked again, “Do you think it is still appropriate for me to go back now?”
He did not want to slap his own face. If he went back now, it would be too awkward, and he could not accept that.
Yu Qing spread his hands. “What is inappropriate? You are using a fake name. Who knows who you are? I still say the same thing, how do you know it will not work if you do not try?”
Mu Aotie had made up his mind. He shook off Yu Qing’s arm and walked away again. “I am not going.”
Yu Qing grabbed the back of his collar and said in a deep voice, “Money and face are right in front of you. Which one do you choose?”
Mu Aotie’s resisting figure froze, and his expression clearly showed hesitation.
“This is not a small amount of money. Why not try? You will not lose anything.” Yu Qing pulled him back again and reasoned earnestly, “Why does everyone use fake names when they come to Tianji Mountain? Is it not so that no one knows who they are after they wipe their hands and leave? Old Nine, if you delay our major affairs just to care about this face, that is a bit ridiculous. To be honest, if I had such a good physique as yours and a beauty was right in front of me, I would go up myself. Would it even be your turn?”
Mu Aotie frowned and fell silent. He raised his hand to slowly close his lapel, which Yu Qing had just pulled open.
Unexpectedly, Yu Qing’s gaze swept over, his eyes suddenly becoming lively, and he immediately said, “Do not move.”
He slapped Mu Aotie’s hand away and personally helped him adjust his lapel. However, this adjustment was far from proper. He actually pulled Mu Aotie’s lapel open a bit more, exposing his solid chest, and even patted it twice with his hands, wearing a mischievous smile.
Mu Aotie subconsciously wanted to close his lapel.
“Do not move.” Yu Qing pushed his hand away again. Only after helping him adjust his clothes to look naturally open did he nod and say, “Just like this. That is sufficiently appealing.”
Mu Aotie’s face darkened. “You must have listened to too many dirty jokes on the mountain, right?”
He was referring to the past when some senior martial brothers were still at the Linglong Temple. Some improper senior brothers liked to gather and tell dirty jokes, speaking with great animation about wild men and pretty wives, or women who loved strong men like wolves and tigers. Even Yu Qing, who was just a little kid back then, liked to squeeze in to listen, looking so spirited, and was then instigated by a group of senior brothers to climb onto roofs in the village to peep at women bathing.
Of course, he was also one of those influenced by what he heard and saw.
Yu Qing ignored the talk of dirty jokes and pushed him. “Alright, that is it. Put aside your high and mighty attitude later. Face is not worth money. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. If you have no money, what the hell kind of face do you have?”
Right above this small living room, on the inverted bowl-shaped dome, there was another secret room. A copper pipe rose from the ground, topped with a trumpet-shaped opening, and Hu Niu was pressing her ear to the opening, listening.
After confirming that the person had left the small living room, Hu Niu also turned and left.
At the banquet venue, the guests were chatting idly. No one touched the delicious food in front of them. Everyone was waiting, not knowing when the person who left would return. Fortunately, Lian Yu was talking and laughing charmingly and enchantingly, so no one felt bored.
At this time, the group of sect leaders finally learned Liang Ban’s identity. They did not expect him to be a descendant of the Liang family from Haishi City, and their attitudes immediately became much more respectful.
They also finally understood why this person seemed to have romantic intentions towards Lian Yu. It turned out he had a background that did not fear Nie Rifu.
Amidst the talking and laughing, footsteps sounded. Everyone turned their heads to look, only to see a cheerful Yu Qing and an expressionless Mu Aotie returning.
Those sect leaders could not help but look at each other. They were not surprised that Yu Qing returned, but they did not expect Mu Aotie to have the nerve to come back, and moreover, he looked as if nothing had happened.
Liang Ban, fanning himself with a folding fan, could not help but snort. However, glancing at Lian Yu beside him, the mocking words on the tip of his tongue were ultimately left unspoken.
Lian Yu glanced behind the two of them. Not seeing Hu Niu return, she was also quite surprised.
Of course, she specifically stood up for this reason and invited Mu Aotie to sit back by her side. After all, the hospitality was inadequate, causing the guest to feel wronged. She intended to apologise and comforted him with a sentence, “Brother Zhang, just some joking words, do not take them to heart.”
Mu Aotie, who originally wanted to remain calm, glanced at the scene. He found that everyone’s eyes were focused on him, and their looks seemed a bit strange. Coupled with the mocking expression on Liang Ban’s face, and catching a glimpse of the bright and flower-like Lian Yu beside him out of the corner of his eye, he could not help but blurt out, “I went out to wash my ears. I have kept you all waiting.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Qing was shocked. He did not expect the usually quiet Old Nine to be able to say something so sophisticated. In one sentence, he cleared away the awkwardness of leaving and returning.
At the same time, he secretly thought this was bad. They had agreed just now that Old Nine should put aside his pride and focus on the main business. How could he get competitive again as soon as he turned around? Was this sentence not reigniting the flames of war?