Don't mess with that Miao boy, he's sickly and perverted.

Initially, Ouyang Huaiyuan intended to attend the banquet for the Crimson Blood Silkworm, but after learning of Ji Fangshi's arrival, he had a more important matter to entrust to him.

But the white cat was happily gnawing on a pig's trotter.

The white fur around the cat's paws was already greasy and sticky, but it wasn't in a hurry. It would nibble a few times and then stop, slowly licking its paws clean. After washing them, it would continue eating.

The cat, which weighs only a dozen pounds, was stuffed with things that almost exceeded its own weight.

The cat's belly was visibly getting rounder and rounder, bulging as if it were inflated with air.

Ouyang Huai couldn't find a chance to interrupt, so he waited silently for a long time until it finished its feast. Only then did he speak respectfully:

"I've heard that Master Ji is skilled at exorcising evil spirits. I have a matter I'd like to ask for your assistance with. Would you mind if we could discuss it further?"

The white cat licked its paws clean, then used its paws to gently wipe its face before saying, "Master Ouyang, please speak freely. All the young people at this table are my close friends, though we are not old friends. We have traveled together, so there is nothing to hide."

Hearing this, Ouyang Huai naturally had no reason to refuse and had to honestly confess: "This matter concerns my son, and it goes back more than ten years."

"Since Rui'er was five or six years old, he has been plagued by nightmares every night. After waking up, he suffers from severe chest pain and cries incessantly. Over the years, I have consulted countless sorcerers and searched for countless exorcising artifacts, but to no avail."

He sighed, his brow furrowing deeper: "Now Rui'er dares not sleep alone, so I have had to find several dancers and bed warmers for him to take turns serving him in his room every night, only then—"

"Father!" Ouyang Rui's face instantly turned ashen. He rushed forward, grabbed a chicken leg, and shoved it into Ouyang Huai's mouth. "The food's getting cold, eat more!"

Ouyang Huai choked on the chicken leg, finally managing to pull it out of his mouth. He glared at Ouyang Rui before turning to Ji Fangshi and asking, "Does Ji Fangshi have a solution?"

With that, he waved his hand earnestly, "If you can relieve this worry that has weighed on my heart for so many years, you can choose any treasure in my treasury; the amount of money is entirely up to you!"

"Oh dear, Master Ouyang, you flatter me." The white cat quickly waved its paws. "Slaying demons and monsters is our duty, and I will naturally lend a hand. As for money, it's all just material possessions, no need for that—"

"Ten thousand taels!"

A clear and loud voice suddenly interrupted.

"Ten thousand taels of gold is our minimum charge, usually starting at twenty thousand. But considering the meal today, we'll give you a 50% discount and only charge ten thousand taels."

Chai Xiaomi put down her chopsticks and said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhiyu and Song Yueyao exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with questions, and then both looked at Xiaomi.

The white cat was both amused and annoyed, and immediately tiptoed through the gaps between the cups and plates to the millet noodles.

He leaped onto her shoulder and said in a low voice, "Little Xiaomi, you've ruined my reputation! I travel the world exorcising evil spirits and catching ghosts, and I've never taken a single penny of money. At most, I'll just mooch a few meals."

"Old Ji, just do me a favor," Chai Xiaomi leaned closer, her voice softening. "I need the money urgently. Besides, the Ouyang family is rolling in money. Ten thousand taels of gold is just a drop in the ocean for them, but for some people... it's a lifeline."

She blinked her bright, watery eyes, looking at the white cat with a pleading gaze.

Being stared at like that, the white cat hesitated, a rare occurrence for it.

In truth, it's common for other immortal sects to charge money for exorcising evil spirits for ordinary people. But its master was the one who valued his reputation the most, and established a rule early on that the disciples of the Pure Bright Platform must relieve the people's worries free of charge.

Just as it hesitated, Xiaomi smiled and moved closer. "Old Ji, I'll make you a new whisk later, I guarantee it'll be even more beautiful than this one. I'll add a few more tufts of feathers, making it look majestic, how about that?"

The white cat's whiskers twitched slightly; its heart was moved.

"Alright, alright! I'll help you this time, but don't do it again." It turned its face away and said reluctantly.

Oh well, since Master has already ascended to heaven, breaking the rule once won't get me scolded.

So the white cat turned to look at Ouyang Huai, coughed awkwardly a few times, opened its mouth, and said embarrassedly, "If I can cure Young Master Ouyang's nightmare, I will have to accept ten thousand taels of gold."

"Of course, of course!" Ouyang Huai replied repeatedly, his tone completely unconcerned. "Not to mention ten thousand taels, even a hundred thousand or a million taels would be fine."

To him, ten thousand taels of gold were nothing more than a few copper coins, not worth mentioning.

Ouyang Rui had long lost his appetite, but upon hearing this, his eyebrows lifted and his eyes lit up; he had finally found a reason to talk.

He turned to his father, his tone light: "Father, when you ask someone to do something, you should pay a deposit first. How about I send something over as a deposit?"

As a father, Ouyang Huai was well aware of his son's ulterior motives.

The nightmare always tormented Rui'er, making him extremely anxious on ordinary days. It was a rare moment when he was so radiant. Ouyang Huai, who always doted on him, simply went along with him: "Alright, then let the girl beside you go and get it."

This assist struck a chord with Ouyang Rui. He turned to Xiao Mi, his eyes bright and his smile clear:

"Come with me, I have something for you."

Seeing that Wu Li had also put down his chopsticks, Ouyang Rui raised an eyebrow and smiled with a hint of amusement: "Young Master Wu, my Ouyang family's treasury is filled with countless treasures, and we've always only allowed one person to enter at a time. Why are you keeping such a close watch on me? Do you not trust your wife, or do you not trust your own magic spell?"

His tone was as familiar as a friendly joke, but as he spoke, Ouyang Rui's gaze was fixed on Wu Li's face, not missing any subtle changes, hoping to find even the slightest hint of guilt.

He actually had no concrete evidence of the love potion; it was just speculation based on conjecture. So, he said this only to test the boy and trick him.

Unfortunately, the young man remained as nonchalant and composed as ever. He slowly raised his eyelids and said in a leisurely tone, "When did I say I was going to go? I just ate too much and am resting for a while. Isn't Young Master Ouyang being a bit too paranoid?"

Ouyang Rui smiled, casually raised his arm, and gracefully made way for her, his tone gentle as water: "Mi'er, this way please."

He then turned to the people at the table and said politely, "Li'er, Yu'er, Yao'er, Mao'er, please excuse me for now, I'll be right back. Please enjoy your meal."

"....."

The air suddenly froze for a moment.

Just then, a crow flew over the eaves and cawed a few times.

Ouyang Huai looked up in surprise and glanced at the servants beside his son. His eyes were full of questions. How come they were calling each other so affectionately in just a day or two?

It's one thing for a young woman to be addressed that way, but for a young man to be addressed like that feels rather odd.

Seeing his son so relaxed and happy, he didn't ask any more questions.