I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense - Chapter 480:

Chapter 480: Chapter 481: Want to Dine and Dash?
Zong Yao’s expression was somewhat unnatural; she had noticed the other party’s intentions and appeared a little flustered.

“Yao’er, these are not only your sentiments towards your mother, but also my way of showing filial piety to Elder Zong. An elder’s birthday within the clan is a major event, and no matter what, I am determined to give this birthday gift. Although these Magic Treasures are pleasing to the eye, they are still considered low-level goods. Consider this a heads-up.”

“On the great occasion of Elder Zong’s birthday, my Situ Household will personally bring gifts to celebrate.”

The young man said with a smiling face, stuffing the Spirit Stones that Zong Yao had taken out back into her hands; he wouldn’t have his beauty spending money.

“But…”

Zong Yao wanted to say more, but the young man interrupted her.

“That’s enough, Yao’er. Don’t you understand my intentions? Your mother is my mother too. What’s the big deal about giving some gifts on her birthday? Take it.”

Seeing the young man’s eagerness to take charge, Li Xiaobai’s heart was nearly blooming with joy. He had not expected to encounter a rich second generation at this port. Although he didn’t make much from this transaction, he could still earn around a hundred thousand or so.

“The two of you, these are the Magic Treasures you asked for. Because there were cultivators competing in price before, the price of these Magic Treasures has now stabilized at around eight thousand top-grade Spirit Stones. Observing that the young master has an extraordinary bearing, I’ve rounded down the amount. The total is one hundred and ten thousand top-grade Spirit Stones, please accept them.”

Li Xiaobai passed the Space Ring containing the treasures with a beaming smile.

The young man’s face was expressionless as he took the ring and then turned around with Zong Yao, leaving without any intention of settling the bill.

Li Xiaobai was stunned by this. What was happening? Why did they take the items and just walk away?

Could it be they forgot to pay?

“Ahem, please wait a moment. I kindly request you to settle the Spirit Stones. One hundred and ten thousand top-grade Spirit Stones. My shop operates on thin margins and does not offer credit.”

Li Xiaobai still wore a smiling face, cheerfully speaking. As the saying goes, harmony brings wealth. He was just running a temporary stall at the port, taking the money and leaving without any intention of returning. It wasn’t necessary to leave on bad terms. The less trouble, the better.

However, it seemed that the group of youngsters up ahead didn’t think the same way. Many turned their heads, looking at Li Xiaobai with a mocking smile, their eyes full of scorn.

“Kid, what did you say?”

“Spirit Stones? Our Yao’er lady was bullied because of your crappy stall, and you still have the nerve to ask us for Spirit Stones?”

“Do you know who Brother Situ is? From the Situ Household in Aolai Country of the Eastern Sea. Didn’t you do some research? A mere country bumpkin who can browse your stall should be considered giving you face!”

“Know how to appreciate others, don’t be ungrateful. Brother Situ deigning to visit your stall is your ancestor’s fortune being burned brightly, it’s a great blessing. How dare you demand Spirit Stones from Brother Situ? Who gave you the audacity!”

The young cultivators jeered and sneered, their expressions filled with disdain.

A mere stall owner dares to ask them for Spirit Stones. If it were not for being within the Eastern Sea’s territories, this man would surely not survive until dawn.

Upon hearing this, the air suddenly grew tense.

Li Xiaobai’s eyes narrowed slightly, the smile on his face gradually fading, as he stared coldly at the group of people in front of him. They were trying to dine and dash!

He had always been the one to skip out on bills, not the other way around. When had anyone ever taken advantage of him?

Not to mention that this was practically a barbaric act of looting, blatantly disregarding him. The Situ Household of the Eastern Sea was quite arrogant!

“Hey, don’t say it like that. When we’re out and about, we still need to watch our words and actions. This here is the famous Li Xiaobai, Young Master Li, a man who has survived from the clutches of the various clans of Central Province. You should speak more politely.”

The young man with the surname Situ said with a faint smile.

“Young Master Li, I am Situ Renjie, the second son of the Situ Household from the Eastern Sea’s Aolai Country.”

“I rushed out today and didn’t bring any Spirit Stones with me. You too are a person of exceptional ability, so let’s consider this making a good connection. I can assure you that no one here will reveal your itinerary to Central Province.”

“Furthermore, it seems that Young Master Li is also heading to the Eastern Sea’s Aolai Country. Once you’ve reached the territory of the Eastern Sea, just mention the name of the Situ Household, and I’ll take care of you.”

“As for this Spiritual Artifact today, let’s consider it as putting it on my tab, how about that?”

The words were polite, but the disdain in the man’s eyes was unmistakable. He was merely spouting courtesies, and Li Xiaobai could tell that the man didn’t truly regard him.

At this moment, many cultivators who were watching the excitement began to think about backing away. It seemed that the stall owner was also a tough nut to crack – people had just subdued a bunch of Transcendance Tribulation Stage experts, and here he was, daring to ask for Spirit Stones. He also seemed to be someone who didn’t like to suffer losses.

It was said that Li Xiaobai was also a genius at the Tribulation Crossing Stage; if a fight were to break out, they feared they might be caught in an unjust disaster.

Li Xiaobai snorted at Situ Renjie’s remarks. He almost ruled the Immortal Spirit Continent, did he really need this fellow’s protection?

Besides, he had come with the Vice Leader. Could the Situ Household be more capable than the Vice Leader?

“Brother Situ, you are also a person of remarkable appearance. Why would you also emulate the commoners and dine-and-dash?”

“Paying debts is the natural order of things. If Brother Situ intends to use the name of the Eastern Sea’s Situ Household to forcibly take my treasures, then I concede.”

Li Xiaobai sat peacefully, speaking indifferently, not believing the man would dare to lose face like that, bringing shame upon his family in public.

“What do you mean by that, Brother Li? I’ve already said I don’t intend to rob you; I merely want to put it on my tab. Once I return to my clan to get the Spirit Stones, I will immediately deliver them to Young Master Li.”

“Besides, being able to keep Young Master Li’s itinerary a secret and protect you from being hunted by the various clans of Central Province, surely that is worth more than just a few treasures?”

Situ Renjie’s gaze was growing dangerous, sending shivers of menace, coldly watching Li Xiaobai. Had they not been at the docks but instead at sea, Li Xiaobai would have been a dead man already.

He never intended to pay from the start, completely indifferent to the price.

“I’ve already said that the so-called warrants from the old ancestors of the clans of Central Province are nothing but worthless paper, not worth mentioning. I appreciate Brother Situ’s kind intentions, but without Spirit Stones today, I’m afraid you won’t be able to take these items.”

Li Xiaobai sat cross-legged on the ground, stating quietly.

He didn’t care, for it was Situ Renjie who was losing face, trying to dine-and-dash without possessing the capability.

Zong Yao didn’t expect that Situ Renjie would actually attempt to rob, just as she was about to say something, she was stopped by him.

“What if, I insist on taking it?”

Situ Renjie stared at Li Xiaobai, saying with a smile that barely concealed the flash of coldness in his eyes.

Behind him, Elder Mo stepped forward, his expression indifferent, ready to suppress Li Xiaobai the moment he refused.

Unperturbed, Li Xiaobai answered with a faint smile, “Then we shall see each other in the Immortal Spirit Daily.”