As we reached Wofeng Town, Long Yue said she was hungry and wanted to eat. However, after a brief look around, she returned, declaring the restaurants too dirty and suggesting they eat in the city instead.
"You're familiar with this area, right? Is there anything good to eat in Fucheng city?" Long Yue asked me.
I was so squeezed in the back that I couldn't even breathe. If I took a deep breath, I'd be trapped between the bulging chests of the two Purple Qi experts, their qi storage looking like inflated bags, making me feel suffocated.
"I'm not too familiar with it either. I only know of a Western restaurant called Milan Pastry," I said in a low voice.
"Either Chinese or Western is fine, I'm not picky. How do we get there?"
I'd only been there once, maybe twice, and had long forgotten the way. I had to use my phone for navigation. As I unlocked the screen, I noticed someone had @-mentioned me in a WeChat group – the one belonging to Northeastern Yaos. I glanced at the Purple Qi expert beside me. She looked at my phone, then at me, and turned her face away, indicating she wouldn't interfere. After all, I couldn't escape anyway.
I opened the WeChat group, and to my surprise, some Yaos were already present, likely positioned on a nearby mountain. They had posted a picture, taken from above after the area had been leveled, into the group. This particular Yao had clearly witnessed Long Yue casting her spell. They described the entire process in a lengthy, exaggerated post, causing some of the other Yaos to consider backing out.
Just as I was about to send a message telling them not to come, a new member was admitted by the administrator. I recognized the WeChat avatar as Sha Wuji. So, I didn't act, instead switching to Baidu Maps to navigate to Milan Pastry.
When I switched back, Sha Wuji had just finished introducing himself, surprising everyone. Many Yaos knew him, or at least had heard of his reputation. Sha Wuji helped me explain and persuade them to leave. His words carried weight.
One Yao asked what the result of the incident was. Sha Wuji didn't answer. The nosy Yao then questioned the one who posted the photo, but they also hesitated to speak. Finally, the Yao who had initially added me to the group spoke up: "This matter ends here. Everyone, go about your business."
Sha Wuji then sent a "cupped fists" emoji. The Yaos, understanding the cue, fell silent. However, quite a few people added me privately, one after another. Fearing the workload, I accepted none of them and silenced my phone, putting it back in my pocket.
Long Yue was an experienced driver, and the car's horsepower was more than sufficient. Carrying six people felt no different from carrying two.
She first dropped off the helicopter pilot at the hospital, giving him a golden card and telling him to rest assured and stay there. She assured him that members of the Mohe clan would come to look after him.
The pilot, personally taken to the hospital by the "Big Boss" and with his medical expenses covered, was overcome with gratitude. He tearfully pledged his absolute loyalty.
Long Yue was quite patient, smiling as she waited for the pilot to finish expressing his thanks. She waved him off, saying, "Oh, hurry up and go! You'll bleed dry soon!"
"Yes, master!" The pilot entered the hospital, looking back over his shoulder repeatedly. As we drove away, I saw from the rearview mirror that the pilot could no longer stand and had collapsed into a nurse's arms. It was unclear whether he truly couldn't hold on, or if he was taking the opportunity to flirt with the nurse.
The front passenger seat was empty, but it was covered in bloodstains left by the helicopter pilot. None of the three Purple Qi experts were willing to sit there, and I didn't want to either. So, we remained crammed in the back. It was actually quite warm, with the body heat from the two Purple Qi experts on either side acting like little stoves!
Five minutes later, we arrived at Milan Pastry. Five of us got out. After stretching my limbs, I, as the captive, sensibly entered the restaurant first to inquire about private rooms.
They didn't have any. But as soon as I mentioned Shen Xingyue, the server immediately said they did. Shen Xingyue had told me earlier that she had some influence in Fucheng.
We entered a private room on the second floor with the four fierce beauties. The room had opposing three-seater sofas on either side. Long Yue occupied one side alone, and the three Purple Qi experts sat on the other. It seemed there was no seat for me. I didn't dare sit next to Long Yue, so I asked the server to bring over a small stool and sat on the floor by the side.
I asked Long Yue what she wanted to eat. She replied that she had never eaten there before and didn't know what was good, asking me to order. So, I ordered the same dishes I had eaten with Shen Xingyue before, as they were all very delicious. I added a few more dishes, enough for five people.
Milan Pastry served food extremely quickly, and we ate just as fast, finishing within half an hour.
During the meal, no one spoke, truly adhering to the principle of "eat without talking." If we drove back to Siping, I felt we wouldn't reach it before dark and might have to spend the night on the road. I wondered if they would be able to maintain "sleep without talking" then.
After finishing our meal and leaving the Western restaurant, I specifically asked for some paper towels and wiped the bloodstains from the front passenger seat before inviting a Purple Qi expert to sit there.
However, the expert shook her head: "How could I dare sit at the same level as the master?"
"...This is the front, not the back," I said with a frown.
"If you want to sit, then you sit," she said coldly.