Chapter 153: The Person Has Arrived

As the rich aroma of the cigar drifted through the air, everyone around could not help but feel a sense of intoxication.

A middle-aged man, who appeared to be a cigar aficionado, walked over politely and said:
"My friend, where did you buy this cigar? Could you tell me? I am willing to give you ten thousand yuan as a reward."

Ouyang Xiaobai said coldly:
"Get lost!"

The man frowned slightly.
"Hey! How can you be so rude? I am just asking you politely!"

Ling Xiao smiled indifferently.
"A 1886 Reserve Edition cigar from the Franklin factory, one hundred thousand US dollars per stick! Ordinary people needn't even think about buying it. This is a special reserve, and there are currently fewer than ten thousand sticks left in the entire world!"

"Hiss—!"

The man gasped sharply, then immediately bowed and apologized to Ling Xiao and Ouyang Xiaobai.
"I... I'm sorry. I was being presumptuous just now. Please forgive me, you two. I'm leaving right now!"

With that, without even finishing his meal, he hurriedly fled.

Ouyang Xiaobai handed a cigar to Ling Xiao.
"You certainly know your stuff!"

The two lit their cigars. Ouyang Xiaobai looked at the traffic outside the window, his expression turning somewhat cold as he said:
"All these years, I haven't told my sister the truth. I only told her I was studying at a university in Yanjing. I didn't want my sister to worry about me!"

Ling Xiao nodded.
"You're not a bad person."

"Don't think that by buttering me up, you can get close to my sister! The Tournament of a Hundred Sects—I can lose, but as for my sister, I will not let anyone easily harm her!"

Pausing for a moment, his tone softened slightly.
"I can tell that my sister seems very interested in you!"

"You're overthinking it. Your sister cares most about you. As for me, it's just the natural curiosity of one sex toward another. Besides, I already have a girlfriend."

"That's for the best!"

Ouyang Xiaobai took a puff of his cigar, his expression turning solemn as he looked at Ling Xiao.
"Withdraw from the Tournament of a Hundred Sects! I won't hide it from you! I have mastered the ultimate art of the Hegelian Blade. You... will not be my match!"

Ling Xiao looked at him with a half-smile.
"How can you be so certain that the Hegelian Blade is the strongest?"

"You know nothing of the power of the Hegelian Blade!"

"And my strength is beyond your imagination!"

The two clashed like the sharp tip of a spear against a hard awl, neither willing to yield even half a step!

The atmosphere in the air froze abruptly, and two powerful auras surged toward the sky.

The sky over Jiangnan suddenly began to churn with wind and clouds, accompanied by lightning and thunder.

The terrifying sound of thunder made everyone involuntarily shiver.

"That's strange! The weather forecast clearly said there wouldn't be any rain today!"

Just as the atmosphere remained tense and oppressive, Ouyang Yuluo suddenly popped out of nowhere and reached out to pluck the cigar right out of Ouyang Xiaobai's mouth.

The tense atmosphere vanished in an instant.

Ouyang Yuluo furrowed her pretty brows and said with a trace of annoyance:
"Smoking is bad! Besides, this is a public place. Can you have some manners?"

Ouyang Xiaobai looked at the one-hundred-thousand-dollar cigar that had only been puffed once and thrown straight into the trash can, feeling a pang of heartache.

It wasn't really about the money, but this was a limited collector's edition! The quantity was strictly limited, and once it was smoked, it was gone!

"Sis, why did you only take mine away instead of his?"

Ouyang Yuluo glanced stealthily at Ling Xiao, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Dr. Ling already has a career! Besides... he... I'm not his girlfriend, so of course I can't just go taking things from him!"

Ouyang Xiaobai shot Ling Xiao a resentful glance. Ling Xiao merely shrugged and continued blowing out rings of smoke.

The meal turned out to be extremely pleasant after all.

When the time came to part ways, Ouyang Yuluo went to settle the bill, and the two men shook hands at the restaurant entrance.

Ouyang Xiaobai said: "Young Master Ling, if the day ever comes when you and I truly face each other in battle, I hope you won't hold back!"

"Then you might die a miserable death."

After a brief moment of silence, the two exchanged a knowing smile.

Then, Ling Xiao's phone rang. He checked the text message and let go of Ouyang Xiaobai's hand.
"I must take my leave first. You wait for your sister. If you have the chance, it's better to make things clear to her. Some things cannot be hidden forever."

Watching Ling Xiao's retreating figure, a flash of inexpressible emotion crossed Ouyang Xiaobai's eyes.

Almost at the exact same moment, a woman wearing sunglasses appeared by his side and said in a low voice:
"Young Master, why didn't you kill him just now? He must have been at his most unguarded!"

Ouyang Xiaobai narrowed his eyes, and a wave of killing intent instantly enveloped the woman!

The woman trembled uncontrollably as Ouyang Xiaobai said coldly:
"My Saber Emperor Sect acts with integrity and honor. If you ever dare to suggest such base and dirty tricks again, I will kill you!"

"Yes... please forgive me, Young Master!"

"Hmph!"

With a cold snort, Ouyang Xiaobai spoke once more:
"This Young Master of the Valley of Medicine Ghosts is not as simple as you think! If he unleashes his full strength, even I might find him rather troublesome."

"Hiss—!"

The woman gasped sharply and said:
"Young Master, you are someone capable of defeating enemies across realms. Is he really that powerful?"

Ouyang Xiaobai let out a long sigh toward the heavens.
"The sacred land of Divine State is a place of outstanding people and abundant resources. It has never lacked geniuses!"

Having said that, his gaze grew a fraction colder.

"However, in this Tournament of a Hundred Sects, I am determined to restore the Saber Emperor Sect to its former glory and claim the second-place ranking!"

"This subordinate offers early congratulations to the Young Master for the realization of your wish! In addition, clues regarding the White Tiger Profound Iron Token have already been found."

Ouyang Xiaobai narrowed his eyes.
"Have someone keep a close watch on it first. I'll head over in a moment!"

"Yes!"

The woman adjusted her collar and melted into the crowd.

Ouyang Yuluo happened to walk out of the restaurant at that moment. Gazing at the alluring retreating figure, she asked with lingering confusion:
"Xiaobai, who was that?"

"Just someone asking for directions. Let's go, Sis. It's been a long time since we went home, let's head back."

"Oh!"

Ouyang Yuluo nodded, but a flash of inexplicable loneliness lingered in her eyes.

It seemed like resentment, and it seemed like a sigh!

...

As for Ling Xiao, after leaving the restaurant, he quickly headed to the Jiangnan Airport!

The moment he arrived at the airport, a wave of fragrant breeze rushed over him, directly burying itself into his embrace.

"Ling Xiao, I've missed you so much!"

Ling Xiao hugged her tightly, stroked her smooth hair, and rested his chin on the top of her head.
"Silly girl, I've missed you too."

The person who had come was none other than Mu Yiren!

"Have you finished dealing with everything at the company?"

"Yes! I worked overtime through the night, and as soon as I finished, I came to find you right away!"

"Little silly girl, you have dark circles under your eyes!"

Ling Xiao pinched Mu Yiren's cheek and channeled a stream of spiritual energy into her, feeling an immense warmth in his heart.

Mu Yiren smiled mysteriously.
"Aside from me, there is someone else who came along!"

"Who?"

"Sister Mingyan!"

Mu Yiren pointed behind her, and only then did Ling Xiao notice that Gu Mingyan had come along as well!

However, she was dressed very inconspicuously in a trench coat, baseball cap, and face mask. If Mu Yiren hadn't pointed it out, Ling Xiao wouldn't have noticed Gu Mingyan at all.

Gu Mingyan pulled down her mask and giggled.
"Ling Xiao, do I get a hug as well?"