Do you want to wash

The hall fell silent. The nobles in their crimson and purple robes had been chatting and laughing just a moment ago, but in the next instant, their expressions froze.

The sound had come from the arena, but Empress Chuge heard it clearly. She cast a silent glance at the eunuch beside her, who immediately cracked his golden python whip with a sharp snap.

"Blasphemy against the Heavenly Venerable’s dignity! Such audacity!"

Li Mo looked up.

Under the ornate canopy, the crimson-robed nobles, the princes and dukes, and even Jiang Yu on the stage all turned their expressionless gazes toward him.

The sun seemed to dim, swallowed by dark clouds, leaving only a faint glimmer in the oppressive gloom.

For some reason, the suffocating weight of the gathering storm felt even heavier than the imperial authority Jiang Yu had exuded earlier.

For a moment, all fell silent.

"......"

Tian Miao’s lips parted, but no sound emerged.

Ying Bing stepped forward, her face as cold as ice, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Li Mo.

"We are weary. Let today’s affairs end here."

Emperor Jingtai waved his hand dismissively, the beads of his imperial crown swaying slightly, obscuring his expression.

The light returned to the sky, and the three suns, nearly sunk below the horizon, once again cast their dusky glow.

The patrolling guards and warriors, who had been tense and fearful, finally relaxed.

"Brother Li, you’ve got nerves of steel. If this were judged as a crime, it’d be a death sentence for your entire family," Huang Donglai exhaled in relief, loosening his grip on his hidden weapon.

Had things gone south, he would’ve hoisted Li Mo onto his back and made a swift escape.

"What do you want to eat tonight?" Li Mo asked casually, grinning.

"Barbecue? Maybe some seafood? Sea cucumber?"

"Brother Murong might not approve..."

As he boarded the carriage, Li Mo maintained his smile, but his mind was deep in thought.

Those crimson-robed nobles gave him an eerie, unsettling feeling.

It was like the time he visited the Moonlit Pavilion—beautiful and flawless on the surface, yet reeking of something foul beneath...

Was it just his imagination?

By evening, the streets were ablaze with lanterns, the night alive with noise and bustle.

The Cloud-Stepping Tower was abuzz with excitement. The Crown Prince had officially taken residence there today and had sent invitations to all the prodigies on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, hosting a grand feast in their honor.

There was a two-day break between the next round of duels, meant for the participants to recover from injuries and restore their strength.

Inside the tower’s grand hall, wine cups clinked amid the glow of countless lanterns.

Meanwhile, outside the Cloud-Stepping Tower, Li Mo had set up a barbecue stall. The Qingyuan Sect members were gathered by the roadside, grilling and eating.

"Huh? Isn’t that the ‘Divine Hammer Little Tyrant’?"

"And the Frost Fairy is here too..."

"Don’t forget that sharp-tongued monk, the ‘Swift Poison Twin-Turtle,’ and Xie Xuan... Are all these people from the Hidden Dragon Ranking?"

"Why are they setting up a stall here?"

Bystanders were baffled, but Li Mo himself was perfectly at ease.

The aroma of his skewers, however, was too irresistible—soon, passersby were drawn in, eager for a taste.

"Mister, how much for a skewer?"

A little girl with pigtails sneaked over while her parents weren’t looking.

"Uh... Here, have some first. Let me think about the price..."

Li Mo handed her a few skewers, still calculating the cost, when her father suddenly rushed over, scooping her up under his arm.

"My apologies, the child doesn’t know better. This is too presumptuous..." The man was flustered, hastily returning the skewers.

Li Mo noticed the man’s gaze—nervous, almost fearful, as if looking at something not human.

"I’m happy to sell. She wanted to eat—where’s the presumption in that?"

"Your food isn’t for the likes of us."

"??"

As the man retreated with repeated bows, Li Mo’s head filled with question marks.

What do you mean, "not for the likes of us"?

Am I not human? Am I really not human?

"If you do this again, I won’t bring you out next time," the man scolded his daughter as they melted into the crowd.

"But Daddy, it smelled so good..."

The little girl pouted, then suddenly felt something pressed into her hand. She looked up to see the skewer-selling brother had somehow followed them, winking at her.

She understood—he was telling her to eat in secret.

Ying Bing watched as Li Mo returned from the crowd, still muttering about skewer costs, and allowed herself a faint smile.

Still as childish as ever.

Though his name now echoed across the heavens and earth, some things never changed.

"Ice Block, why do you keep smiling at me?" Li Mo asked, puzzled, as he walked over with skewers in hand.

"I like smiling."

Li Mo: "??"

Everyone knew Ice Block had a beautiful smile. But everyone also knew Ice Block rarely smiled.

You think I’m an eight-year-old you can fool?

After dinner, everyone exchanged stories about their opponents in the arena, and Li Mo eventually retired to his room at the top of the Cloud-Stepping Tower.

Along the way, whether it was the tower’s staff or the Hidden Dragon prodigies, some looked awkward, others pretended not to see him.

All avoided him like the plague.

"Big Brother Li, do you smell?"

Princess Little Jiang sniffed curiously but only caught the scent of barbecue.

"Those who chase power and status will never achieve greatness," Xie Xuan remarked with a shake of his head.

Li Mo frowned, understanding the reason.

Many prodigies on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, after making a name for themselves, chose to remain in the imperial capital. Today, everyone had witnessed the Divine Hammer Little Tyrant clash with the Crown Prince.

When the prince wasn’t around, it didn’t matter—people could act freely in private. But now that he’d taken residence in the Cloud-Stepping Tower, greeting Li Mo openly would be political suicide.

As for those returning to their sects, most came from powerful factions that dictated their stance.

They couldn’t afford to be careless either.

Well, not that Li Mo cared. He wasn’t close to these people anyway. The ones he was close with had already shared barbecue with him.

"Tch, people gave me weird looks when I used the hammer, and now they still do with the sword. Whatever. I’m used to being the ‘Divine Hammer Little Tyrant’—might as well embrace it..."

Li Mo grumbled as he climbed the stairs.

Ying Bing’s gaze, cool yet gentle, settled on him. "How outsiders see you has nothing to do with what you wield."

"And how about those close to me?"

"They see a childish fool pretending to be strong."

"......"

Li Mo was momentarily speechless. Then, his expression turned serious.

"Then this childish fool needs to recharge in your room."

"Just recharge? Then there’s no need to come to mine."

"No, I’ll recharge you. You’ve been standing all day—your feet must be exhausted." Li Mo declared righteously.

"I’m not tired..." Ying Bing’s eyes flickered away.

"Impossible. Don’t pretend to be tough. Even I feel like my butt’s about to die after sitting too long. That’s when my secret revival technique comes in handy."

Ying Bing pressed her lips together, her gaze unfathomable.

"I’m afraid you won’t be able to control Hammer Treasure."

"Who says? Hammer Treasure listens to me best!"

Half an hour later, Li Mo regretted his earlier confidence. He had to admit—he might’ve spoken too soon.

In the room.

Behind the folding screen, the sound of splashing water echoed. Li Mo sat hunched over—a special posture of the "Gentleman Li."

Hammer Treasure was being very disobedient!

He desperately tried to control himself, but the splashing sound of water seemed almost magical, conjuring up all sorts of absurd images in his mind!

Damn it, of all things, he hadn’t accounted for the fact that the ice block would take a bath today!

You block of ice, why even bother bathing? And for so long—aren’t you afraid of melting?

After a long while, a clear, melodious voice drifted from behind the screen, laced with faint amusement:

"Care to join me?"