One person: After starting with the academic atmosphere, I'll take down Xia He!

After Zhuge Qing gave Ma Long a lot of inspirational advice, Ma Long felt comforted.

He then prepared to get up and leave, since the banquet was almost halfway over and he hadn't finished meeting all the guests.

"Young Master Long, don't worry, eat and drink as you please."

Your destiny is not defined by anyone else!

As soon as Zhuge Qing stood up, the fiery red-clad youth beside him stretched out two large, bright red claws and poked them directly in front of Zhuge Qing's face.

It startled him, and he was displeased: 'What is this thing?'

Braised pig's trotters?

This is so disrespectful!

Luckily it was me; if I treated the guests like that, they would have been terrified!

Zhuge Qing squinted and coughed lightly, "Ahem, put the pig's trotters on the table, I'm not in a hurry to eat them now!"

Be more mindful of portion sizes when serving food next time.

Hong Bin was stunned. He had already opened his mouth to speak, but immediately stopped: "Pig's trotters?"

He was referring to my hand?

Melon rind!

Hong Bin immediately withdrew his hand and roared, "You idiot!"

I wanted you to read my palm, but what do you mean by "pig's trotter"?

Are you polite?

The shouts that rang in his ears startled Zhuge Qing awake. His eyelids widened instantly, and he saw that behind the so-called pig's trotters was a fiery red-clad boy.

'Damn, looks like I can't keep squinting all the time anymore; not being able to see things clearly is terrible!'

"Uh~ It's Little Vulcan!"

Sorry, I was using the Qimen Dunjia mental technique just now, and my eyes are a little uncomfortable, so I couldn't see clearly.

I'm already very tired today. How about you come see me another day?

Let me calculate it for you separately.

Zhuge Qing had no time to deal with Hong Bin right now, especially his pair of red claws with peculiar patterns that couldn't be deciphered in a short time.

Hong Bin nodded helplessly. After dealing with Hong Bin, Zhuge Qing was finally about to leave.

He stood up, took a deep breath, straightened his suit, and picked up the wine glass in his hand.

"I'll go check on the other guests; you can drink as you please."

Just as he turned around, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a golden figure.

Out of curiosity about the unknown light source, Zhuge Qing peeked through his narrow eyelids again.

It turned out to be a bald man with a golden head, who looked like a monk.

There was a large bowl in front of him, filled with vegetables. Monks eat vegetarian food, so he didn't think much of it.

However, Zhuge Qing remembered that just now, the bowl in front of the monk was covered with a layer of vegetables, and it was still full now.

Moreover, there weren't many vegetables on the table, and Zhang Lingyu only ate a small amount from the plate.

Out of curiosity, Zhuge Qing lingered for a moment and happened to see what happened next.

The monk picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a large piece of spinach leaf from the bowl, and with a forceful snap, popped the bulging spinach leaf into his mouth.

Through the gap between the vegetable leaves and the bowl, Zhuge Qing could see clearly that under the vegetables were indeed the Zhuge family's homemade pure meatballs.

The monk appeared to be eating vegetables, but the oily sheen at the corners of his mouth betrayed him.

Zhuge Qing initially looked down on him, thinking he might be a wild monk or someone who had just left the monastic life.

After all, the Salvation Palace accepts all comers and no one is a different story, so it's not surprising that such monks exist.

But the golden light on the monk's body seemed a little different. Zhuge Qing was knowledgeable and had long since memorized the books left by his ancestors.

'Is this... Buddhist golden light?'

Legend has it that only by practicing asceticism in a temple and being bathed in the Buddha's light all day long can such a transformation occur.

For someone his age to have a body covered in golden light, there's only one possibility: he has simultaneously passed through the Buddhist Golden Light Formation and the Arhat Formation!

Hiss~ This isn't something you can just easily get through.

This monk should be a highly accomplished master, so why has he fallen so low as to become a wandering monk here?

Zhuge Qing had a guess in his mind: Could this person be the Golden-bodied Little Arhat Bao Chan?

He still had high expectations for Baochan and couldn't believe that the wild monk in front of him was the same person.

Zhuge Qing bypassed Hong Bin and came to Bao Chan's side, saying, "Little Master!"

I wonder where you became a monk?

"So, you've come here to participate in our Dragon and Tiger Showdown?"

At this moment, Bao Chan was still basking in the pleasure of the delicious food. The firm and tender meatballs were wrapped in spinach. He took a few bites haphazardly and swallowed them.

The enticing aroma still lingered in his throat and mouth.

Bao Chan was unwilling to open his mouth, afraid of revealing even a trace of the delicious essence.

Of course, the aroma of the meat in his mouth couldn't be smelled by anyone else, especially by Zhuge Qing who suddenly appeared!

Faced with Zhuge Qing's question, Bao Chan was stunned for a moment, then pretended not to hear and ignored it completely.

Zhuge Qing was surprised that the other party completely ignored him: "Master?"

Why are you silent? Did you not hear me?

Zhuge Qing spoke earnestly, almost whispering in Bao Chan's ear, as he continued to inquire.

Bao Chan was speechless: 'You...you think I'm deaf?'

That's too presumptuous!

Bao Chan could only remain unmoved, but fortunately Hong Bin stepped forward to explain: "Zhuge Qing, you are showing too little respect for the master."

He was a highly accomplished monk who had cultivated himself for many years. He needed to cultivate both his character and his speech, so naturally he kept quiet.

Why do you keep asking me these questions!

After being pushed aside by Hong Bin, Zhuge Qing waved his empty wine glass in his hand: "Hmph, an enlightened monk, huh?"

What a highly virtuous monk he is!

With a look of utter disdain in his narrow eyes, Zhuge Qing turned and left.

"You silly kid, you're so stupid!"

Hong Bin, not understanding what was going on, sat down and continued eating.

Bao Chan escaped unscathed and continued to enjoy the delicious food.

Ma Long looked at his palm, pondering Zhuge Qing's words, and finally looked at Xia He beside him, extending his hand as well.

"Sister, you helped me cut down a peach grove before, but I didn't pay any attention to it."

Now it seems, it really happened?

This was still too strange for Ma Long, so he asked Xia He to confirm it.

Xia He put down her cup and gently pursed her lips: "Hehe, when have I ever lied to you?"

"But you little rascal, you're always causing me trouble!"

Xia He readily admitted it, leaving Ma Long utterly shocked: "My dear sister!"

Why am I finding it increasingly difficult to understand you?

"You've acquired a new skill?"

Xia He stretched out her delicate pink hand and placed it on Ma Long's shoulder, bringing her forehead close to his as she pondered, "Hmm~ I don't know either."

Anyway, I feel like my training has sped up recently, and I'm unconsciously learning some skills.

"Unconsciously? You can learn skills?"

Wow, this is like gaining skills for no reason!

From now on, you must stay by my sister's side often and protect me!

Xia He chuckled, then pointed a finger at Ma Long's forehead: "Hehe, do you still need me to protect you?"