However, for Liu Gezhu and the other three, this meal was nothing but a torment.
Not only were the four of them squeezed together, but they would occasionally tremble all over due to a single glance or a word from Uncle Jiu.
Their appearance was like that of a few lambs that had mistakenly wandered into a pack of wolves.
"Little Friend Taiping, thank you for today's hospitality. This meal was very satisfying for me and my friends."
Uncle Jiu, while picking his teeth, reached out to pat Xu Taiping's shoulder.
"Are you... really... satisfied?"
Xu Taiping glanced at Liu Gezhu and the other three who were still huddled together, and couldn't help but ask.
"Little Friend Taiping's cooking is truly remarkable!"
"Indeed, this roasted lamb is perfect in color, aroma, and taste, a rare delicacy!"
The four of them praised Xu Taiping's cooking in turn, their words sincere and heartfelt, touching to hear.
"Satisfied... as long as you're satisfied."
Xu Taiping smiled awkwardly and nodded.
"Taiping, we've troubled you today, it's time for us to leave."
Bai Hong smiled and bid farewell to Xu Taiping.
"Not at all, Uncle Bai, if you have time, feel free to come by often."
Uncle Jiu, who was picking his teeth, suddenly leaned in.
"If you come, it's best to visit every two or three months. After all, this is a place for cultivation, not a restaurant. Besides, your appetite is four to five times that of an ordinary person, so the meal cost will be higher..."
"Enough, enough, I don't need your meal!"
Uncle Jiu abruptly interrupted Xu Taiping, who was speaking earnestly.
After saying that, he glared at Liu Songshan and the others in front of him and said:
"What are you looking at? Get lost! I never want to see you again!"
The four of them quickly fled.
Bai Hong, let's go, we still have things to do."
After driving those people away, Uncle Jiu, seeing how Xu Taiping and Bai Hong were getting along, immediately called Bai Hong over with a jealous look.
"Alright, Uncle Jiu." Bai Hong first nodded to Uncle Jiu, then turned to Xu Taiping and said:
"Taiping, we're leaving. Stay here and cultivate in peace, no one will disturb you again. If I have free time in a few months, I'll come to see you."
"Thank you, Uncle Bai, for bringing Uncle Jiu to my small courtyard."
Xu Taiping bowed earnestly to Bai Hong in gratitude.
In his view, if it weren't for Bai Hong, someone like Uncle Jiu wouldn't have come to his small courtyard for a meal.
So in his eyes, Uncle Jiu was just a guest, while Uncle Bai was the one truly deserving of thanks.
"Taiping, you probably..."
Bai Hong was about to explain but was interrupted by Uncle Jiu behind him.
"Stop dawdling, we should go."
Uncle Jiu glared at Bai Hong, then stepped onto a flying sword and soared into the sky, the air currents from the flying sword splitting the clouds in two.
"Uncle Jiu, wait for me."
Bai Hong spread his wings and followed.
"Why didn't Uncle Jiu tell Taiping the truth? He should be grateful to you."
After catching up with Uncle Jiu, Bai Hong asked, puzzled.
"Do I, Sword Nine, need a little brat to be grateful to me?"
"Of course not, Uncle Jiu."
Bai Hong naturally saw through Uncle Jiu's insincerity but didn't point it out.
"However, if that brat had been constantly flattering and fawning over me today, I would have been displeased. His behavior today suits my taste. He knows my status is high but still maintains his composure, a quality that far surpasses his peers, even among the inner disciples of the Seven Peaks."
Bai Hong, who had known Uncle Jiu for so many years, saw him praise a junior for the first time, and his eyes showed a hint of surprise.
"Could it be that you, Uncle Jiu, are thinking of taking him as a disciple?"
Bai Hong asked tentatively.
"A magic lotus has grown in the Heavenly Pool of the Greedy Wolf Kingdom in the Northern Border. If left unchecked, it could lead to another demonic nation in the神州. I plan to destroy the magic lotus before it fully emerges, which will take at least two years. If this brat can successfully break through to the Opening Gate realm within these two years, even if his talent is just average, I, Lü Jianniu, am willing to take him as a personal disciple and teach him my sword techniques."
Uncle Jiu's expression became unusually serious.
Bai Hong was stunned. He didn't expect Uncle Jiu to really consider taking a disciple, and even more so, to be willing to impart all his sword techniques. The Seven Peaks disciples of the Qingxuan Sect had begged the sect leader to learn his sword techniques, but even the sect leader's request was refused by Uncle Jiu.
"Little Bai, this trip to the Greedy Wolf Kingdom is a matter of life and death. If you are afraid, you can turn back now."
Uncle Jiu suddenly turned to look at Bai Hong.
"Bai Hong is not afraid and is willing to follow Uncle Jiu to cut off the roots of the Greedy Wolf."
Bai Hong's expression changed, and he said with unwavering determination.
In a forest several dozen miles away from the Green Bamboo Residence.
Xu Youzhi, the hall master of the Fierce Wind Hall, used both hands and feet to slap Zuo Ju and kick Zhou Gu.
He pointed at the two kneeling on the ground and scolded them.
"This time, it's because of the magnanimity of the Grand Uncle that you two aren't being held accountable. If it were in the past, you two would have been obliterated long ago!"
Liu Gezhu also glared at the two fiercely.
Hall Master, we will never dare, never dare again!"
"Yes, how were we to know that the brat had the Grand Uncle as his backer!"
The two knelt and begged for mercy.
"Liu Gezhu, do you think the Grand Uncle really won't pursue this matter?"
Xu Youzhi asked Liu Gezhu with some concern.
In other words, if the Grand Uncle still intends to pursue this, these two cannot be left alive.
"I observed carefully earlier, and it seems that Xu Taiping is not acquainted with the Grand Uncle but is very close to Bai Hong. I suspect that Bai Hong is using the Grand Uncle's authority to intimidate us."
Liu Songshan frowned and pondered.
"Sure enough, it's that scoundrel!"
Xu Youzhi stomped his foot in anger, crushing a rock into powder.
"Let's keep these two for now. The Grand Uncle wouldn't care about the life of an ordinary outer disciple; he was just acting on a whim."
Liu Songshan finally decided.
"What about that scoundrel Bai Hong? Are we just going to let him off?"
"I heard that Bai Hong will be accompanying the Grand Uncle to the Greedy Wolf Kingdom in the Northern Border, and it will take at least two to three years to return, or he might even die there."
"Bai Hong, relying on his ability to command the spirit birds in the western mountains, has always been against our West Wind Pavilion. If he dies in the Greedy Wolf Kingdom, it will be a great joy for us."
Xu Youzhi said with a greedy look in his eyes.
"After Bai Hong leaves, his wife, Night Sparrow, will take over the command of the spirit birds in the western mountains. Her cultivation is far inferior to Bai Hong's. Perhaps we can find a way to remove her. Then the entire western mountain will be under the control of our West Wind Pavilion. Even if Bai Hong returns alive, it will be too late, and he will be helpless."
Liu Songshan narrowed his eyes and looked at Xu Youzhi with a cunning smile.
"Brother Liu, your words are wise!"