Chapter 33: Playing the Big Spender

"Young Master Shang, you're here. Please, come in!"

Before the two men and one beast had even entered the tavern, a middle-aged man came forward with a smile.

The steward of Hongtian Tower, Wu Chou!

"Find us a quiet spot. Teacher Cao Xiong and I want to have a good drink!" Shang Bin said.

"This way, please!"

Wu Chou quickly arranged seats for them.

"Young Master Shang, this Steward Wu always looks down his nose at me when I come here, barely acknowledging me. How is it this time..." Cao Xiong couldn't help asking.

Although Hongtian Tower was a tavern, it was said to have powerful backing; otherwise, it couldn't have been built inside Hongtian Academy on such a scale!

In the past, when he came to eat, this Steward Wu never paid him any attention, but now he was bowing and scraping, showing utmost respect—it was almost unbelievable.

"You've probably heard of Elder Hong Hao from the academy, right?" Shang Bin said.

Cao Xiong nodded.

Hongtian Academy was founded by Hong Tian, and after his death, his descendants carried it on. Therefore, elders surnamed Hong in the academy held a revered status.

He had indeed heard of this Elder Hong Hao before—extremely powerful, and it was said he had even competed for the position of academy head. But later, for some unknown reason, he suddenly resigned from his elder post, and there had been no news of him since.

"After resigning as elder, he opened this tavern. He was once my grandfather's best friend, so every time I come, this Steward Wu treats me well!" Shang Bin said with no small amount of pride.

"So that's how it is!" Cao Xiong nodded.

No wonder Hongtian Tower was on such a scale—it was opened by the former Elder Hong Hao.

To be personally received by a steward in such a large tavern was certainly a great honor.

"Huh?"

Just as he was enjoying this unprecedented treatment, Cao Xiong suddenly stopped, his face darkening.

"What's wrong?" Shang Bin looked over, puzzled.

"Isn't that Zhang Xuan? How does he qualify to eat here?" Cao Xiong pointed.

"Zhang Xuan?" Shang Bin looked, and as he saw the young man, he also saw the figure sitting with him. His brows shot up, and anger flared: "How is she eating with that waste? I've invited her several times, and she always refused, and now she's eating with someone else! Damn it, damn it!"

He, the son of an elder, a senior teacher of the academy, a Fifth Layer Strength Realm martial artist, had invited this Shen Biru many times, but she had never agreed. He thought she never ate with anyone, never dreamed that now she was sitting with the academy's notorious waste!

He nearly fainted from rage on the spot.

He slammed the table and stood up, wanting to rush over and confront them, but then he thought of Shen Biru's attitude and immediately wilted.

She hated being disturbed the most. If he rushed over and confronted her, and she got angry, then pursuing her would be hopeless!

"Young Master Shang, don't be angry. I have an idea that can make Teacher Shen see Zhang Xuan's true colors and also highlight your majestic bearing!" Cao Xiong, a shrewd man, saw the situation clearly. His eyes twinkled as he smiled.

"What idea?"

"This Zhang Xuan must be currying favor with Teacher Shen, treating her to a meal. He's a lowliest teacher—how much salary can he have? We just need to rig it so he can't pay, and he'll make a fool of himself! Then you, Young Master Shang, can come to the rescue like a hero saving a beauty... Teacher Shen will surely see you in a new light, and might even give you her heart and throw herself into your arms..." Cao Xiong laid out his plan.

"Good, let's do it!" Shang Bin's eyes lit up, and he nodded with satisfaction.

It would both humiliate his rival and elevate his own status—this idea was simply perfect!

It seemed this Cao Xiong wasn't just good at teaching; he also had a way with people. He'd have to nurture him in the future...

...

Zhang Xuan, unaware that he was being plotted against, ate the delicious food on the table, nodding repeatedly.

Although the cooking techniques weren't as good as on Earth, this world's abundant spiritual energy made the ingredients fresh and tasty, giving them a unique flavor.

Soon, the table full of food and wine was mostly consumed, with Zhang Xuan devouring almost everything. Shen Biru only took a symbolic bite of each dish.

Seeing that this guy was only focused on eating and didn't even pay her any attention, Shen Biru puffed out her cheeks in anger.

She had thought he was pretending, trying to get her attention, but now she realized he really didn't care about her at all...

Even the academy's genius teachers and star teachers would go out of their way to flatter and please her, but this guy, ranked dead last in the academy, treated her as if she were invisible. It made her so angry she could grind her teeth, wanting to kick him twice.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Knowing that if she continued eating, she'd die of rage, she turned and called out sharply, "Check, please!"

"That'll be 1,280 gold coins."

A waiter came over.

"1,280?" Shen Biru was startled. "How is it so expensive?"

As a senior teacher like her, her monthly salary was only a thousand gold coins. Had she just eaten a month's salary in one meal?

How could it be so much?

When she ordered, she had calculated carefully—it was less than a hundred. How had it suddenly reached over a thousand?

"Sorry, but this bottle of wine alone costs 1,200 gold coins," the waiter said.

Earlier, while they were eating, a waiter had asked if they wanted wine. Shen Biru thought a little wine wouldn't hurt and agreed, never dreaming it would be so expensive!

"This bottle of wine was brought to us; we didn't know the price..."

Shen Biru's face darkened.

Even she wasn't that naive; she knew they had been set up.

"If you really didn't want it, you could have asked beforehand. You didn't say anything, so we assumed you knew the price and didn't mention it," the waiter said coldly.

"Hmph!" Seeing the waiter's attitude, Shen Biru knew arguing was useless, and making a scene would only make things worse. She stopped talking and opened her purse to pay, but suddenly her pretty face turned pale, and she looked embarrassed: "I don't have that much money on me. How about I owe it for now, and I'll go back and get the money to bring to you..."

She had come to the library today to read and hadn't brought much money. Later, she met Zhang Xuan and was so shocked by his teachings that she forgot about it. Now she remembered—she only had about a hundred gold coins on her, far short of the thousand-plus.

Treating someone to a meal and not being able to pay...

Her face burned, and she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

"If you can't afford it, don't order. Since you ordered, pay up. If you want to eat for free, that's not allowed here!" the waiter snorted.

"You..."

Shen Biru's pretty face flushed red with anger.

"What's going on here?"

Just then, a scolding voice rang out, and Shang Bin, along with Baotian Lion and Cao Xiong, strode over.

Dressed in white, hands clasped behind his back, he walked with his head high, exuding an air of superiority. In the past, with his bearing and looks, combined with the fierce Baotian Lion, he could indeed be considered elegant and handsome. But now, with his face swollen and blackened eyes, from a distance he looked utterly ridiculous.

However, he didn't feel that way. Instead, he felt quite pleased with himself, his gaze deep and distant. As he approached, his eyes fell on Shen Biru, and he put on a surprised expression: "Teacher Shen, what a coincidence, you're here too?"

He turned to the waiter: "What's this all about? Making such a racket, what a disgrace!"

"Ah, it's Young Master Shang!" The waiter was startled, his previous aggressiveness gone, replaced by a cautious demeanor: "It's like this—they ate but can't pay..."

"Can't pay?"

Shang Bin shook his head, putting on a disappointed look, and turned to Zhang Xuan: "Teacher Zhang, I'm not one to criticize, but if you don't have money, don't play the big spender and invite people out to eat. Now you've embarrassed yourself! You're already used to being the academy's last place and losing face, but dragging Teacher Shen down with you—that's going too far!"

...

Seeing this guy's self-satisfied look, Zhang Xuan was taken aback. He turned to Shen Biru: "Hey, he seems to be talking about you. If you don't have money, don't play the big spender. See, now you've embarrassed yourself..."

"You..."

Hearing his words, Shen Biru was already angry. Then hearing Zhang Xuan repeat them, she nearly exploded. She looked up sharply at Shang Bin, who was smugly expecting to impress the beauty, and ground her jade teeth: "Shang Bin, who are you calling a big spender?"