Jun Moxie couldn't bear to look, covering his eyes and letting out a groan. He was deeply curious in his heart: "What kind of woman could possibly endure this nearly five-hundred-pound weight? It couldn't help but spark some curiosity in his mind.

After breakfast, the two of them stared at each other for a while longer. Calculating the time, it was nearly upon them. So, bringing along a large retinue of guards, they set off amidst the clamor of their entourage to meet the fair lady.

“Third Young Master, what if Miss Sun thinks I’m too fat, too heavy? What should I do?” Tang Yuan was clearly preoccupied throughout the journey, plagued by anxiety and self-doubt. His mount was panting heavily, snorting loudly, foam flecking its muzzle, finding every step an ordeal.

Jun Moxie responded with noncommittal grunts, his eyes scanning the roadside with an air of distraction.

Fatty Tang, entirely oblivious to the Third Young Master's preoccupation, sighed heavily while worrying over his own bulk. Suddenly, struck by an idea, he emphatically twisted his waist on horseback and asked with great enthusiasm, “Third Young Master, do you think if I start slimming down— nb;nb;—and you supervise me, it would be effective?”

The moment he twisted, the magnificent steed let out a mournful cry. Its four hooves trembled violently, and it gasped for several deep breaths. The horse turned its head, cast a mournful glance at Tang Yuan, and slowed its pace even further… It seemed Fatty Tang’s sudden twist had caused the poor horse to throw out its own back.

“Yes, well, once I’m done with this current business, your injuries will have largely healed, and I’ll start working on getting you slimmed down,” Jun Moxie said with a decidedly wicked smile, stroking his chin. “I’ll make sure you’re as skinny as a bean sprout.”

“Then I’ll be completely reliant on you…” Tang Yuan patted his own flesh. “You know, if I weren’t this fat, I’m actually quite handsome and dashing…” He formed a delicate, almost feminine gesture with his hand and gave Jun Moxie a suggestive wink.

“Drive on!” The great master Jun suddenly cracked his whip across the horse’s rump. As they bolted forward, he immediately turned his head back and spat out a loud retch.

Fatty Tang’s seductive wink had been overwhelmingly lethal.

“She chose to meet here!?” Jun Moxie’s eyes widened as he surveyed the tavern ahead, which looked almost as if it were under martial law. “Your fiancée actually asked to meet at a public establishment? That’s quite surprising to me. Are you absolutely certain you didn't suggest this location?!”

“It definitely wasn’t me. What’s wrong with meeting at a tavern? I think it’s perfectly fine!” Tang Yuan gave the Young Master a bewildered look and pressed, “What’s so strange about that?”

“Isn’t it strange? If it were men meeting, a tavern is perfectly acceptable, of course. But for a woman to summon her fiancé for a meeting, and choose a tavern as the venue—that’s rather extraordinary,” Jun Moxie clicked his tongue twice. “Fatty, it seems your future half is no ordinary young lady herself.”

“What’s the big deal? Should she ask to meet in a secluded courtyard instead?” Tang Yuan rolled his eyes, clearly failing to grasp the Young Master’s implications. He snorted through his nostrils, “You just haven’t seen much of the world!”

Before Jun Moxie could reply, a streak of white flashed out from the tavern. Almost the instant the white blur became visible, it landed squarely on Jun Moxie’s shoulder—its speed was absolutely comparable to that of a first-rate expert.

Faced with this sudden aerial assault, the great master seemed completely unperturbed, allowing the white shadow to rest on his shoulder. Instead, the shadow let out two soft whimpers before quickly sliding down to his chest. With a muffled sound, it burrowed into his embrace. His chest feathers rose and fell, and a small head poked out from the collar of Jun Moxie’s robe, looking around inquisitively before settling contentedly right there, still and silent, as if nestled in the most intimate, reliable, and comfortable haven.

“Ah! Little thing, what are you doing here too?” With the sharp senses of the great killer Jun, he had already discerned the nature of the white shadow. He gently pinched the little creature’s ear while holding it close and asked softly, “What are you doing here too?”

The small entity that had descended from the sky was naturally the Iron-Winged Leopard belonging to Dugu Xiaoyi! Judging by the weight in his arms, the little fellow had gained considerable size in just a few days.

Moreover, on its ribs, a pair of small protuberances were now angling slightly upward. Iron-Winged Leopards normally only developed fleshy wings when they reached maturity and their strength peaked. Yet, this little one, barely a month old, already possessed rudimentary formations. This creature’s future potential was clearly boundless.

Hearing his dear Jun’s gentle inquiry, the little one looked up with its large, distinct black and white, watery eyes. It let out two soft whimpers, its gaze full of affection, and extended its small pink tongue to gently lick the fabric near his dear Jun’s collar. Overjoyed, it flipped over, extending its tiny paws to grip Jun Moxie’s collar, looking utterly blissful—it seemed to wish it could be held for five hundred more years.

The little thing was clearly on guard against the good man throwing it away; as for the question he asked, it couldn't understand.

The little girl cherished this small creature as the apple of her eye. Its presence here meant…

Jun Moxie shook his head. There was no need for further deliberation. Since this little creature appeared, the little girl Dugu Xiaoyi must also be nearby! Recalling the girl’s demanding temperament, the great master felt a familiar headache starting to brew.

To be frank, in the entire Fragrant City, including the Sovereign of the Tianxiang Empire whom he hadn’t yet met, Jun Moxie might not necessarily feel compelled to show deference... but when it came to someone he truly needed to avoid, that was Dugu Xiaoyi. However, since they were already at the entrance, retreating was no longer an option. Jun Moxie braced himself, beckoned Fatty Tang down from his horse, and the two men proceeded inside.

Was this not the very definition of marching toward the tiger’s lair despite knowing the danger?

It seemed the Minister Sun’s faction had gone to great lengths and expense to book the entire grand tavern just for this meeting… The entire establishment hosted only one table of guests in the central hall!

And there were only two people seated there!

The one dressed in pale green robes, strikingly small in stature, was clearly that girl, Dugu Xiaoyi. Just looking at the habitual motion of her braids swaying twice every time she spoke confirmed it. But who was sitting next to her?

Beside Dugu Xiaoyi sat a burly figure. Viewed from behind, he was broad-shouldered and thick-backed, with powerful arms. His hair was slightly yellowish, immediately suggesting this man was a formidable figure in the mundane world, a true powerhouse of society! Perhaps the Dugu family hadn't quite trusted her and sent one of Dugu Xiaoyi’s brothers along as a bodyguard. Which of the renowned heroes among their ranks could it be?

Yet, with the keen sight of the great master Jun, he could distinctly sense that this man’s bearing absolutely surpassed any one of the seven heroes mentioned previously. Had the Dugu family kept an ‘Eighth Brother’ hidden away?

As the Young Master Jun and Tang Yuan entered, they naturally spotted the pair. Just as they were about to approach, Jun Moxie suddenly sensed something else was amiss.

The great master Jun smacked his forehead: Today he was accompanying Fatty Tang for an arranged meeting, it wasn't his blind date! But where was Miss Sun? It seemed that besides Dugu Xiaoyi, there wasn't a single other woman present. A sense of unprecedented dread bloomed inexplicably within him, refusing to dissipate.

His thoughts racing, the great master Jun vaguely inf.CN Xincheng Novel Network considered a highly improbable possibility. He tugged at Fatty’s sleeve and whispered, “Fatty, your fiancée, that Miss Sun—have you ever met her before?”

Tang Yuan was already sweating nervously, feeling entirely uncomfortable. He was fiddling constantly with his clothes, twisting his large, fat head back and forth, observing his surroundings to ensure he presented a perfect impression to his fiancée. Hearing Jun Moxie speak, he whispered back, “No. But my fiancée is a true lady from a noble house! She never leaves the inner chambers, so how could ordinary people meet her?”

After speaking, Tang Yuan leaned conspiratorially close to Jun Moxie’s ear. “But I estimate the person must be correct, because I once overheard my grandfather mentioning her in passing. He had a very good impression of Miss Sun. With my grandfather’s discerning eye, he certainly wouldn't be mistaken.”

“What did your grandfather say?” Jun Moxie was quite curious.

“My grandfather said: That girl from the Sun family has a large bottom, she’s definitely capable of bearing sons. She’s a perfect match for you, my boy.” Tang Yuan smiled knowingly, his short eyebrows twitching with excitement. “Third Young Master, you know as well as I do, I’ve always preferred women with curves! My fiancée is my dream woman, hehehe, hehehe…”

Jun Moxie rolled his eyes and walked forward, leaving the extremely vulgar Fatty alone. To speak so carelessly about his own fiancée… Truly, what kind of girl would be a ‘perfect match’ for Fatty? Given his current character, coupled with the sordid affair he’d managed recently, the fact that Minister Sun hadn’t broken off the engagement seemed highly unusual nb;nb;.

Just as the Young Master Jun was pondering this strangeness, a voice directly stunned the great killer Jun!

“Ah, Jun… Brother Moxie, you’ve arrived,” Dugu Xiaoyi was the first to spot them and rushed over excitedly. “I guessed you would definitely accompany Fatty, so I insisted on staying with Sister Sun as well, hee hee. I was right! You actually came. Come over quickly!”

Jun Moxie shuddered all over, raising goosebumps. Dugu Xiaoyi’s address of “Brother Moxie” sent a chill down his spine—when had this girl ever been so polite to him?

“Uh, it’s you, Miss Dugu. What a coincidence that we meet everywhere… Um, which Miss Sun are you referring to?” Jun Moxie replied quickly, making a calculated effort for the ‘just in case’ scenario.

“You’re still calling me Miss Dugu!” Dugu Xiaoyi pouted in displeasure, glaring at him resentfully. She suddenly reached out and plucked the little white creature from Jun Moxie’s arms, ignoring its squeaks of protest. She puckered her lips and said, “Isn’t that her?”

Tang Yuan, who had been eagerly awaiting a glimpse of his fiancée, immediately stretched his neck to look but still couldn't find the fair Miss Sun. Because in the direction Dugu Xiaoyi was pointing, there was only the towering, robust man drinking by himself—there was no Miss Sun in sight.

The great master Jun secretly cheered in his heart: Old Man Tang was indeed right. They are truly a perfect match, a celestial pair made in heaven!