XIAO SHUXIANG'S

453 - Mo Huai [Revised]

The one who opened the door was none other than Hu Li. He had previously walked quietly and intended to see the state of his Young Master. But as his steps drew nearer to his Master's room, Hu Li immediately heard a roar of grief.

He who was worried that something was happening inside his master's room immediately rushed over. O Zhan and Lan Xiao came running behind him.

When he managed to shift the door violently, Hu Li flinched when he saw that there were many people inside his Young Master Xiao's room, moreover they seemed to have shocked expressions.

"Young Master Xiao..?!" Hu Li ran over, he just noticed well that the one who screamed just now was Yi Wen and was completely shocked to witness what was happening here.

"Young Master.."

"You look tired, Hu Li." Xiao Shuxiang himself behaved as usual even though his eyes were excited, ".. Rest, you've helped me a lot in my marriage,"

"Young Master Xiao, what are you doing?! You-you all.."

"What else am I doing? Of course play. You know, the groom wasn't let out of the room. And they all visited and accompanied me here. Do you want to join in too?"

Hu Li smiled bitterly, she did not know what kind of expression her Young Master had to have. Moreover, when he noticed Yi Wen, he felt as if he had entered a place he should not.

"Hu Li~ Did I surprise you?" Yi Wen was still in pain, yet she kept talking to Hu Li and tried to smile. Her eyes were watery, but she did not hate the pain she felt.

".. Don't worry, Hu Li. It's fun~" Yi Wen gasped, ".. So sick..! But I like~"

Yi Wen started to stand up and walked slowly to where Jing Mi was. He dropped his body on the bed and started wriggling while groaning in pain.

Yi Wen did not take the Dragon Breath Pill. He still wanted to feel the pain of every finger on his left hand.

Her tears flowed and her breathing was interrupted. Yi Wen's vision was blurry due to her tears, but she could still smile.

"It hurts~ hurts so much..! The blood hasn't stopped coming out.." Yi Wen tried to look at the blood that poured out on each finger of his left hand.

".. I'll have a hard time using my hand now~ Aaah! It felt unbearable~" Yi Wen laughed before returning to groaning in pain.

He seemed to have his own pleasure towards pain and honestly it was rather frightening. Moreover, Yi Wen's eyes were now gleaming and he began to fumble indistinctly.

Xiao Shuxiang exhaled and looked at his companions who were directing their gaze to where Yi Wen was.

"You don't think about that girl. Yi Wen is at a level where you, good beings cannot imagine it.."

Xiao Shuxiang looked at the card on the table that had previously been hit by Yi Wen's blood splash. His lips were interested in forming a smile that suddenly burst into laughter.

!!

Xiao Shuxiang's laughter shocked his friends including Zhi Shu who was still faithfully sitting by his side. Xiao Shuxiang even flailed the table to his delight.

Hou Yong and Hai Feng felt that nothing was funny, yet somehow their Brother Xiao laughed so loosely.

Siu Yixin and Zhi Shu also felt it. No one was making a joke between them, so upon seeing Xiao Shuxiang laugh, it felt very awkward.

"Mo Huai, why are you smiling?" Hai Feng looked at the young man standing at the side of Zhi Shu. He made Mo Huai flinch.

"Ehm.. L'm.. Don't know. Merely, seeing Young Master Xiao let out a laugh.. Makes me happy."

Mo Huai's voice was soft and gentle, he was a young man who had the look and posture of a commoner.

Hu Li exhaled. Among his friends, only he was likely to know the reason behind Xiao Shuxiang's laughter.

The alchemist chef laughed at Yi Wen and laughed at those who did not understand. There was a sense of salute and ridicule mixed in the amused laughter of his Master.

Xiao Shuxiang saluted Yi Wen because the girl had been in the class of pain connoisseurs like him. While Xiao Shuxiang mocked his other friends for not being able to catch up with Yi Wen's level.

The Mad Beggar Boy exhaled. In a half-whispering voice, he told Hou Yong that Xiao Shuxiang already outnumbered the insane.

".. I am indeed known as the 'Crazy Beggar Boy', but I never laugh for no reason like that person. Have you ever seen me laugh alone or talk to myself?"

Hou Yong blinked, he rubbed the back of the young man holding the bamboo stick and then spoke.

"I know your madness comes from your deviant nature that has not found a cure. You obviously cannot be equated with the madness that exists in my Brother Xiao. But to be honest, my brothers and I made Brother Xiao a role model. You know what that means, right?"

The Mad Beggar Boy smiled bitterly before finally exhaling. He had lived a long time ago and only this time he knew he had a roof with a group of wild children crawling into monsters.

Xiao Shuxiang started to be able to control himself and seemed to be smiling happily. He tidied up the bloodstained cards and invited Hu Li to sit down with him.

"Young Master Xiao, you better stop this. If any outsider knows, you could get into trouble."

"Hu Li, there's no need to be afraid. Right now the family of my White Cat is busy punishing their students. And the servants were there to witness the mass punishment. So you better be here with us, okay?"

"But Young Master.."

Hou Yong and Hai Feng got up from his chair. They approached Hu Li and embraced the young man.

"You can't go anywhere. Stay here," Hou Yong smiled meaningfully. He and Hai Feng sat Hu Li between them.

Siu Yixin went to close the door of Xiao Shuxiang's room and rejoined her friends.

"All right, let's play again. So who's next now? Hu Li, do you want to play cards with me?"

Hu Li shook his head in response to his Young Master's question. He obviously didn't want to get involved knowing the game in front of him wasn't an ordinary game. Unfortunately Hou Yong and Hai Feng did not let him leave this room.

Xiao Shuxiang did not force Hu Li. He also invited Hou Yong to play, but his brother had not yet answered, a soft and soft voice sounded.

"Anu.. Young Master Xiao. Can I play cards against you?"

?!

Xiao Shuxiang and his friends turned their heads. The one who had just volunteered was Mo Huai.

"Well, I didn't expect this. Your courage is commendable. Let's sit down,"

"♩♪ Yo, yo..! Are you really sure, you want to fight Xiao Shuxiang? Think about it, man, you could lose your head yo! ♬♪"

"Brother Mo, are you sure?!" Hou Yong looked at Mo Huai in disbelief. Hai Feng and Zhi Shu also gave him the same look.

"I.. Maybe it can't be as strong as you guys.." Mo Huai bowed, his voice sounding soft. ".. But I want to try this game. L'm.. There is something I want to ask from Young Master Xiao.."

The Crazy Beggar boy tilted his head, he noticed the gray-clothed youth in bamboo patterns from top to bottom.

Among the people in this room, only Mo Huai looked the weakest. That young man was indeed a cultivator, yet his level was even below Nie Shang.

Mo Huai used to be an ordinary human from the Cold Cloud City. He had once ventured with Jing Mi and Xiao Shuxiang to Demonic Beast Island despite never contributing to the fight.

Mo Huai's presence at that time was like a burden. This was because on some occasions, he had always received protection from Xiao Shuxiang. Even several times the Alchemist Chef was almost doomed to help him.

Although Mo Huai knew she was completely useless, Jing Mi never thought of her as such. Nie Shang, Siu Yixin and her other friends accept her as one of the family members.

Mo Huai had once promised Xiao Shuxiang that he would become strong. But until now, his ability still does not stand out.

The Crazy Beggar Boy noticed the young man who started to sit opposite Xiao Shuxiang. Mo Huai's head was bowed and was like awkward from being stared at by the many pairs of eyes.

Jing Mi joined in. Honestly speaking, he wasn't sure Mo Huai would win. Not only him, but his other friends thought the same.

Hu Li felt anxious, she was worried about Mo Huai. Hopefully when his Young Master wins, he doesn't make a terrible request to this young man.

It didn't take long, until the last card from Mo Huai ran out and won the game. He shocked everyone including Xiao Shuxiang.

"Mo Huai, you're a good player.."

"Ehm.. At inn.. I always play card games with the guests."

Xiao Shuxiang and his companions blinked. This young man they saw had talent, but lacked confidence. Mo Huai was too easily nervous, not even daring to raise his head when he spoke.

At the Thousand Year Inn, Mo Huai served many guests. He was only nervous when he was with Xiao Shuxiang and his friends. His personality in the inn looked like a reliable person.

Unlike the reckless Xiao Shuxiang, Mo Huai was a cautious person.

The Alchemist Chef could have patted the shoulder of a Grand Elder and called him 'Tua Bangka' without hesitation, but Mo Huai could not possibly have done that.

For him, being careful in his speech and acting would slightly keep him from dying. Although he was aware, he had befriended people who favored danger.

Siu Yixin said that Mo Huai was actually known by the maids and also the cook in the kitchen of the Thousand Year Inn. The young man always busied himself greeting the guests and helping their various needs without ever taking part in training with him.

Siu Yixin even had to look for Mo Huai to various places in the inn, not even infrequently having to drag the young man and urge him for practice. But never did he expect, Mo Huai had this kind of talent.

"Because you won, so what do you want?" Xiao Shuxiang did not underestimate Mo Huai, and he had always been confident in himself. That's why this defeat was honestly shocking for him.

"Brother Mo, make him cut off one finger..!" Hai Feng exclaimed excitedly.

"Brother Mo, ask Brother Xiao to pull out his leg bone." Hou Yong added.

"Mo Huai~ Ask Brother Xiao to pry.. Aaaahk.. Huh.. His one eye for me~" Yi Wen groaned, he was still in bed enjoying the pain in his left hand.

That strange behavior from Yi Wen even made Jing Mi goosebumps. He couldn't stand being too close to her. The girl sometimes laughed, groaned in pain, and then raved indistinctly. So he chose to sit with his friends back to what he is now.

"There's no need to listen to Yi Wen. Assuming he's not here," Zhi Shu looks frozen, his speech gets a stiff nod from his friends.

They seemed to already know the intent of Xiao Shuxiang saying Yi Wen was in a different class than the others. The girl was at a level where the pain gave her a strange stimulus.

"If you hear Yi Wen moaning again, think of it like the wind. Don't discuss it, don't mind it, and try not to imagine anything." Hai Feng's voice was slow, he stared at every face of his friends.

Jing Mi, Hu Li, and Hou Yong nodded despite appearing all red on their cheeks. Siu Yixin and the Crazy Beggar Boy also nodded despite both having more mature self-control.

Only Xiao Shuxiang smiled at the behavior of his friends. He called Mo Huai who had been silent since then and asked about the young man's wishes.

"Young Master Xiao.." Mo Huai hesitated, yet he still made his request. Both of his hands firmly gripped his clothes and tried to gather courage.

".. Can I just.. Beseech.. Um.. Those pills?"

!!

Jing Mi and her friends were shocked. It was unexpected that Mo Huai would make this kind of request, even Xiao Shuxiang himself was shocked as well.

"You want the Dragon Breath Pill?"

Mo Huai nodded slowly, he looked at Xiao Shuxiang timidly. He was a human as well as an ordinary cultivator, weaker than anyone, yet understood the true efficacy and value of the pill that was in the wooden box in front of him.

"Young Master Xiao.. You are a great Alchemist, and your pills must be very difficult to make.." Mo Huai's voice sounded trembling, he swallowed his saliva for a moment before returning to speak.

".. You wear them in this kind of game.. It is not wise action. It's like.. Throw away diamonds with something.. Um.. Which is useless."

Mo Huai was really scared if he offended the handsome young man in front of him. He was just an ordinary human being, even to this point he did not want to be called a 'Cultivator'. He was the weakest, it was obvious that this was the last day of his life.

Mo Huai's heart skipped a beat, a point of sweat formed on his forehead. Indirectly, he lectured Xiao Shuxiang. What if the young man was angry and strangled her?

Alright. Strangling too easily. What if his fingers were broken one by one, then twisted and plucked until disconnected?! Or worse than that.

Mo Huai could not feel his legs now. She blames herself for talking too much. He's definitely gonna die. This might be his last moment.

"What's wrong with you?"

!!

Mo Huai was surprised. He looked at Xiao Shuxiang like he was looking at a death angel. No one knew the meaning of the innocent face of the handsome young man in front of him. He felt his life was at the end of his head.

"You don't have to be that scared, I'm not gonna bite you." Xiao Shuxiang smiled, he liked Mo Huai's honesty and was happy about it.

"Buddy, you're so right that what I'm doing is like wasting diamonds. But happiness is expensive, and what I do is not in vain."

Hu Li, "Young Master Xiao. Your Dragon Breath Pill is very useful to help many lives, and you even squander it like this. Aren't you a person who loves treasure? Where's my stingy Young Master's nature?"

Xiao Shuxiang took out one small pot containing ten Dragon Breath Pills from within his Semestal Bracelet. He put down the pot while looking at Hu Li.

"I make a lot of it, Hu Li. And your master is indeed very stingy. Rather than these pills I sell or hand out to the people of this Continent and make me even more famous, I'd rather throw them all away.."

Xiao Shuxiang then directed his gaze at Mo Huai, ".. My pills can't be appreciated with anything. But if you can beat me three rounds of this game in a row, I'll give you this little pot."

Mo Huai blinked and immediately nodded involuntarily, he was enchanted with Xiao Shuxiang's smile. He was unlike Hu Li and the others who felt shocked by the remark from the Alchemist Chef.

"Brother Xiao, your pill indeed cannot be appreciated with anything. But you're using it as a reward bet, are you crazy or stupid?" Hou Yong spoke spontaneously, he was supported by Hai Feng and Jing Mi.

Xiao Shuxiang snorted, he started to tidy up the cards on the table and then shuffled them.

"Hou Yong, Mo Huai would not get it for free, he would have to risk his life for it." the little grin appeared when Xiao Shuxiang handed the card to the young man in front of him. He made his friends exhale and didn't know what else to say.

"Haiy.. You're wasting your talent." The Crazy Beggar Boy was regretting this. Somehow God gave the Alchemist ability to people like Xiao Shuxiang. The young man obviously only cared about his own pleasure.

"If only Lan'Er Gege were here.. He can definitely discipline you,"

"Crazy Beggar, don't remind me of him. I'm now enjoying my free days without that flat-board face.." Xiao Shuxiang was seen focusing on his cards, ".. Mo Huai, be careful. You might lose one leg,"

!!

"Brother, you don't scare her..!" Jing Mi exclaimed, she patted Mo Huai's shoulders softly looking trembling, "Don't be afraid Brother Mo, I'll support you."

Mo Huai nodded slowly, he stared at his cards and then gulped. His hand trembled every time he put down one of his cards to face Xiao Shuxiang's card.

"They're good people. They accepted me who was just this weak and ordinary young man.." Mo Huai noticed the bloodstains on the back of Xiao Shuxiang's card and fell back down.

".. I might not be of any use, but I hope with my little strength.. I can support and help everyone."

Among Xiao Shuxiang and his other companions, Mo Huai was the happiest one as he could be a part of these powerful warriors. He is not treated like a stranger, even looks-Xiao Shuxiang is so serious against him in card games.

".. I will definitely not be able to win against Young Master Xiao if this is a fight. I will die with just one finger. But looking at Young Master Xiao who did not underestimate me at all.. I don't know why I feel like a strong person."

Mo Huai silently smiled as he watched the look on Xiao Shuxiang's face, the young man in front of him frowned and seemed to be thinking hard. Xiao Shuxiang appears to be blowing rough his front bangs.

***