Who would relieve themselves on a treetop, unless they were out of their minds? But how was he to answer the question from this adorably naive beauty?
Fortunately, Cheng Xiaofan was no ordinary person, and was more than capable of deflecting a beautiful woman's inquiry.
"That, that's my master's privacy, you shouldn't ask so many questions!" Cheng Xiaofan said sternly to Li Mingxi.
"Oh!"
Since it was her master's privacy, Li Mingxi, as his disciple, pouted and could only remain silent.
Yet, in her heart, she was extremely curious. True masters were indeed masters, even their moments of convenience required them to ascend to treetop vantage points for a broader view.
"Mingxi, why did you come into the woods?" Cheng Xiaofan asked as they walked out.
Li Mingxi replied, "I saw Master enter the woods, and then others followed. You were in there for a long time without coming out, so I was worried something had happened and rushed over!"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan immediately found an excuse for his descent from the sky and chuckled, "It's precisely because I discovered I was being followed that I jumped up onto the treetop!"
"..." Li Mingxi thought, wasn't that your privacy? Why are you saying it again?
But it didn't seem like privacy to her!
Alright, you are my master, whatever you say goes.
"Mingxi, did you bring the car?" Cheng Xiaofan asked.
Li Mingxi smiled and said, "I brought the car!"
She led Cheng Xiaofan to a red Ferrari and said, "Master, this is my car. I'll be responsible for taking you back to Zhuxi Village today!"
"However, it's already noon. Let's go to a restaurant in town to eat something before we leave!"
"Okay, let's eat something first before we go, but—"
Cheng Xiaofan put on a show of poverty, "I've already used up all the money I have on me. This lunch will have to be on you!"
Thinking of his four hundred and ten billion that had instantly transferred to the black market bank card, Cheng Xiaofan felt his heart ache as if it were about to bleed.
Hearing this, Li Mingxi chuckled, "I am your disciple. It's only natural for a disciple to treat her master to a meal. Even if you wanted to pay, I wouldn't let you!"
"Also, I must tell Master that Lu Bureau had a special instruction for me to accompany you to the auction. I must ensure you successfully acquire the pair of Dragon Bone Claws!"
Cheng Xiaofan smiled and asked, "Mingxi, what ability do you have to guarantee I can get the Dragon Bone Claws?"
Li Mingxi smiled, "Money. Lu Bureau said if you don't have enough funds, our Martial World Affairs Bureau will support you."
"In short, no matter how much you need, we will find a way to support you!"
"Ah, there's such a thing?" Cheng Xiaofan really wanted to cry out in despair.
What kind of disciple are you? Why didn't you tell me about such good fortune earlier!
At least I wouldn't have needlessly thrown away hundreds of millions.
At that moment, Li Mingxi continued with a laugh, "I really didn't expect Master to be so rich. You actually took out four hundred and ten billion at once. You really scared this baby to death!"
Cheng Xiaofan pondered for a moment and asked again, "Mingxi, tell me, why does your Martial World Affairs Bureau help me so much?"
Li Mingxi replied, "I don't know. I asked Lu Bureau, and even he doesn't know. He only said it's the headquarters' directive."
"..." Cheng Xiaofan was somewhat speechless.
He knew that Lu Shengming was transferred to the southern region because of him.
At that time, he had already become a target of concern for the Martial World Affairs Bureau headquarters.
Now, to ensure he could successfully acquire the pair of Dragon Claws, they were even willing to invest heavily to support him. This seemed a bit excessive.
Why would they do this?
Never mind!
If he couldn't figure something out, he wouldn't dwell on it.
The only regret was that his "cheap" disciple, Li Mingxi, should have given him a heads-up earlier. That way, he wouldn't have wasted money unnecessarily and could have even earned more.
Alas!
What an unpromising beautiful disciple!
Before long, Li Mingxi led Cheng Xiaofan into a hotel.
The hotel had booths downstairs and private rooms upstairs.
"Let's go to a private room to eat!" Li Mingxi suggested.
Cheng Xiaofan smiled, "There are only two of us, no need for a private room. Let's just get something simple to eat!"
Li Mingxi quickly said, "No, this is the first time I'm treating Master to a meal. How can I just get something simple to fool Master?"
"It has to be presentable, no matter what."
Cheng Xiaofan smiled and asked, "Can you get reimbursed for this treat?"
Li Mingxi replied without hesitation, "Yes, I can get reimbursed. Accompanying Master to Wangyan Mountain is entirely considered official duty!"
Cheng Xiaofan asked, "Is there a spending limit for food and drinks?"
Li Mingxi immediately said, "No. Eat as much as you want!"
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled upon hearing this and said, "Alright, order a plate of steamed wild old turtle, and shark's fin, and so on. Order whatever is the most expensive and best!"
Normally, it would be impossible to eat such good food here.
Because the black market was set up at Yuyan Mountain this time, various merchants had gone to great lengths to bring in all sorts of delicacies from other regions.
"Okay, I'll go order now!" Li Mingxi said.
Cheng Xiaofan noticed that his entering the hotel had also attracted a large number of other cultivators, who followed in one after another.
Judging by the anxious expressions on their faces, their intentions were not for the food. They were all staring at the pair of Dragon Bone Claws in the bag on his back.
If they weren't within the territory of Yuyan Mountain, these people would have probably already tried to snatch them away.
However, these people had no idea that the Dragon Bone Claws had already perfectly fused with Cheng Xiaofan's hands.
But in Cheng Xiaofan's eyes, these cultivators who wanted to make a move on him were not even worthy.
Back at the auction hall, Cheng Xiaofan had surveyed the entire venue. The only ones who could contend with him were the people from the Black Lion Gate.
Now, those people from the Black Lion Gate were hiding in the bushes not far from the hotel.
The people from the Black Lion Gate were working hard to get the Dragon Bone Claws. Cheng Xiaofan almost felt a pang of sympathy. Should he invite that bald guy over for a few drinks?
Putting himself in others' shoes, he could imagine how anxious the bald guy must be feeling at the moment!
One shouldn't be too selfish. He had a beautiful woman accompanying him for drinks, while they were hiding in the bushes, lying in the grass, and enduring insect bites. How tragic!
But would that bald guy be willing to come if he invited him?
Just as Cheng Xiaofan's "saintly" heart was overflowing, Li Mingxi returned after ordering, and smiled at him, "I've ordered one dish that will surely surprise you."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan smiled, "What dish could surprise me?"
Li Mingxi smiled and said, "I actually found Drunken Chicken here, and the address is Zhuxi Village. I didn't expect Drunken Chicken to be sold all the way here!"
Cheng Xiaofan burst into laughter and said, "What's so surprising about that? It can only be said that it's their luck that this hotel can get my Zhuxi Village's Drunken Chicken."
"How much do they sell it for per portion?"
Li Mingxi replied, "Half a catty per portion, and they sell it for six hundred yuan per portion!"
Cheng Xiaofan nodded and said, "As expected of shrewd merchants. The factory price is only three hundred yuan per portion, and here it's sold for six hundred. They're making a hundred percent profit!"
As they were talking, the waiter began to serve the dishes.