The Tianxuan Continent.
Qingye City.
Absolute Flavor Tower.
Though many cultivators cared little for food, this place was always packed. Everyone knew the reputation of Absolute Flavor Tower—its dishes weren’t just delicious but crafted with ingredients rich in spiritual energy. High-grade spirit herbs and spirit beast meat made these meals not only appealing to the palate, but beneficial for cultivation as well. Such a combination naturally drew in those who couldn’t resist the pleasures of taste.
Of course, these high-tier ingredients came with a price, one that wasn’t small. Even so, Absolute Flavor Tower remained the dream destination for cultivators who loved to eat.
The Tower was already brimming with people. On this particular day, a new dish had made its way onto the menu—a delicacy centered on the meat of a Rank Six Thundercloud Leopard. It was said to be a delight for the senses, while greatly aiding cultivators who practiced lightning-based techniques.
Once word got out, chaos of eager diners followed. The place was full to bursting. Most people here were just here for the fun. After all, this was a dish made from the meat of a sixth-grade spirit beast. The price? Outrageous—far beyond what regular folk could afford. Still...
Even if they couldn’t afford to eat, who said they couldn’t enjoy the aroma?
That’s why Absolute Taste Pavilion was packed today. With so many people crammed in, conflicts were bound to spark. Although no one had started brawling yet, shouting matches were aplenty, filling the air with noise and chaos.
“You oversized oaf! Tired of living or what?”
“Watch your mouth, you hag! I haven’t gone after you yet, and you’re daring to threaten me?”
“Bah! You called me an ugly old witch first, then dared to act innocent!”
“‘Slandering scoundrel’—that’s what someone like you is. You called me a dumb brute, but now you’re pretending to be the victim? Playing the role of some tragic star, huh?”
“Big guy, you wanna settle this once and for all?”
“If that’s how you see it, then yeah, I’m looking for a fight.”
“Fine! Outside the Pavilion—is that bold enough for you?”
“Let’s go; I ain’t scared.”
In the midst of such disputes, Charles Wynn stood silent, his gaze fixed on the small girl in front of him. Her tattered clothes hung loose, dirt smudged all over her small face. Yet her bright eyes were locked onto the steaming dish on the table, unwavering. His lips twitched slightly as he took in the sight. The little girl in front of him looked no more than five or six years old. If you ignored the dirt on her face and her ragged clothes, she’d surely be a charming little thing. Especially her big, bright eyes—they sparkled with a liveliness that was impossible to miss, even with just a blink.
A kid like her, it was easy to stir up anyone’s pity.
But...
If Charles Wynn hadn’t seen her in action—first calling one guy a “dumb oaf,” and then calling the other a “ugly freak,” casually lighting the fuse that almost turned their quarrel into a full-blown fight—he might have felt sorry for her too.
Noticing his gaze, the girl slowly tore her eyes off the dishes on the table and looked at him instead. Her smile seemed forced, like she didn’t really want to be doing this.
“Hello there, big…”
She almost let the word “uncle” slip, but swallowed it back just in time, replacing it with something else.
“Hello there, big brother. You don’t seem to have much appetite, huh?”
