Yunxiao glanced at the visibly depressed "Xue Qinghe" and the bewildered Ning Caichen. Then, he looked down at the sobbing Su Yatou in his arms.
She was dressed in a form-fitting and seductive black cheongsam, her fluffy cat tail twitching behind her. Her legs were clad in smooth black stockings, and her small feet were adorned with a pair of exquisite black high heels. Clearly, this was an outfit carefully prepared by the auction house.
Seeing this, Yunxiao finally spoke up. "Ahem, Manager Ning, could you arrange for a set of girls' clothes to be brought over?"
Despite Su Yatou's tearful appearance, or perhaps due to her impoverished background leading to stunted growth, the teenage girl, now in her early teens and possessing Soul Power, was not unattractive. Though her figure wasn't particularly striking, she still had the necessary curves. It was like the saying, "The lotus bud just begins to show its tip," a result of her underdeveloped state.
This wasn't Yunxiao exaggerating. After all, capturing a woman who didn't meet certain beauty standards would be a loss for those unscrupulous Soul Master Mercenaries, who lacked conscience, morals, and professional ethics. Not only would they fail to make money, but they would also have to cover the costs of her basic needs.
"Uh... yes, of course. Please wait a moment, Elf Crown. I'll arrange it right away," Ning Caichen replied, snapping out of his daze and promptly leaving the hall.
In no time, Ning Caichen returned with a female staff member and a set of more conservative clothing. With the staff's assistance, Su Yatou changed into her new outfit—a simple black knee-length dress that concealed her cat tail, paired with black stockings and short black boots. In Earth terms, Su Yatou now looked like a perfect anime-style cosplay maid.
By the time Su Yatou's situation was resolved, the sun had already begun to set. Shortly after, Yunxiao left the Heaven Dou Auction House and headed straight for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Hotel.
Of course, when he had arrived at the auction, it had been just him and "Xue Qinghe." But now, as they left, they were accompanied by a little maid—Su Yatou.
Before long, the trio arrived at the grand lobby on the top floor of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Hotel. Seeing Yunxiao, who had been in seclusion for some time and had now reappeared, Manager Ning greeted them with a warm smile.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince, and Elf Crown. And this young lady..." Manager Ning said.
"Xue Qinghe" and Yunxiao were already regulars at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Hotel. Not just Manager Ning, but any staff member in the hotel would recognize them. As for Su Yatou, though Manager Ning had only just met her today, his years of mingling in noble circles had honed his ability to navigate any social situation. He knew exactly what to say and when to say it, as clear as day.
Of course, this Manager Ning was not the same as the previous one.
The manager of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Hotel, much like the manager of the Heaven Dou Auction House, is often referred to as Manager Ning by many.
However, the difference lies in their identities. The manager of the Heaven Dou Auction House is named Ning Caichen, a man in his forties with the strength of a 79th-level Soul Saint. His Martial Soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and he is a core elder with significant authority, second only to Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong.
On the other hand, the manager of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Hotel is named Ning Pangpang, also in his forties, but he is a 61st-level Soul Emperor. His Martial Soul is also the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Unlike Ning Caichen, who holds considerable power as a core elder, Ning Pangpang is merely a direct disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Due to his average talent, he struggled to stand out within the sect and was thus assigned to manage this hotel.
When Yunxiao saw Ning Pangpang, he greeted him warmly.
"It's been a while, Ning Pangpang."
The reason Yunxiao encountered Ning Pangpang here was not the same as with Ning Caichen. As the person in charge of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Hotel, Ning Pangpang naturally had to personally attend to important guests on the top floor. These guests included major nobles from the Heaven Dou Empire, as well as influential families and sects with Soul Saints or Soul Douluos. And of course, Titled Douluos like himself.
Since Yunxiao was a "regular" at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Hotel, over time, he had become quite familiar with this "carefree" and "shrewd but not scheming" food-loving manager.
"Ning Pangpang, let me introduce you! This is a new young lady I've taken in. Her surname is Su, and her name is Xiaoli. For tonight's dinner, just add one more portion as usual."
The name Su Xiaoli was one Yunxiao had given to the young girl. Because she bore a striking resemblance to a character from a certain anime on Earth, he decided to name her Su Xiaoli. Her tragic background, her physical mutation that made her "different," and the countless strange looks and malice she endured—all of it mirrored that character's story.
For Su Xiaoli, the new name symbolized a fresh start. Her father was a scoundrel noble, and her mother had died young from overwork. Even in her former village, not a single villager had treated her kindly. Because of this, Yunxiao had taken her in without hesitation.
For this little girl who believed in him, Yunxiao naturally couldn't just abandon her. Without any ability to protect herself, Su Xiaoli would likely be captured again by those "toxic" mercenaries if she were to leave him. She might be sold to an auction house or to some "perverted" noble.
As the saying goes, "If you save someone, save them completely; if you send Buddha, send him all the way to the West." Taking in a devout believer was no big deal. In the end, it was just an extra bowl and chopsticks, an extra mouth to feed. After all, as a Titled Douluo, could he not afford to support a devout believer, a little maid?
"Alright, no problem. In that case, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Elf Crown, and Miss Su Xiaoli, please follow me."
When Yunxiao called him "Pangpang," Manager Ning, or Ning Pangpang, didn't react much.
Although the two could not be considered "best friends," when it came to being food enthusiasts, they were undoubtedly "kindred spirits."
Under Ning Pangpang's familiar and adept hospitality, Yunxiao and his two companions were led to an exquisitely decorated, luxurious private room with an elegant style.
Having long heard Yunxiao complain about the previous private room, which was adorned in pure gold, Ning Pangpang naturally took the initiative to inquire about Yunxiao's preferences in decor.
Moreover, he had specially designed and created a private, luxurious room tailored exclusively for Yunxiao.
Shortly after Yunxiao and his companions were seated, several attendants dressed in refined purple qipaos entered in an orderly procession.
They placed a series of exquisite dishes on the cloud-patterned, gold-rimmed carved dining table.
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