Liu Mengdi stared at Jiu Shen's expressionless face with a bewildered look.

'Wine Master Jiu won't punish me for this, right?' Liu Mengdi muttered in his heart.

Jiu Shen did a motion with his right hand as he produced a few wisps of black flames. These small flames then enveloped the mangled remains on the floor and burned everything into nothingness, not even an ash remained... The most surprising thing was that the floor, chair, and even the table still appeared to be in pristine condition seemingly unaffected by Jiu Shen's black flames.

Liu Mengdi was in awe as he witnessed the scene.

'Wine Master Jiu did it even more flawlessly than Young Miss Theia! His strength is indeed unfathomably deep! Awesome!' Liu Mengdi exclaimed in admiration.

Jiu Shen grabbed a chair for himself and took a seat with a calm look. He then stared at Liu Mengdi and said. "Those guys haven't paid for their wines yet, so you'll have to pay for them since they are part of your Liu Family."

Liu Mengdi was speechless when he heard his words and he became even more stunned when he saw the serious look of Jiu Shen. "But Wine Master Jiu..."

Jiu Shen raised his right hand and prevented him from speaking. "If you don't pay, I can't promise that Theia won't grill you as well." He said in a cold tone which immediately sent chills down Liu Mengdi's spine.

Liu Mengdi chuckled dryly as he fiercely nodded his head. "Of course! Of course! Who said that I wouldn't pay for it? It's just a few True Crystals anyway. Hahaha!"

Liu Mengdi's heart almost bled as he spoke those words.

'I can't pay this amount right now, but the Liu Family should be able to pay it for me. Now that those uncles of mine are dead, their faction would surely lose support and I will be able to gain control of the entire Liu Family!' Liu Mengdi said to himself.

Jiu Shen stretched his right hand with an open palm as he looked at Liu Mengdi. "Pay up." He said.

Liu Mengdi's face instantly froze.

"This... I-"

"You don't have enough True Crystals?" Jiu Shen asked in a calm tone, but Liu Mengdi could sense that the temperature around them had suddenly dropped.

"No! I mean ah... I have, but my True Crystals are still in the Liu Family. I can pay everything, but I have to go back to the Liu Family first to get them." Liu Mengdi said with a wry smile.

"So you want me to wait for you? Or are you planning to run away without paying? Hm?" Jiu Shen's eerily calm voice made Liu Mengdi swallow back the words he was about to say.

'Oh shit! I'm finished!' He lamented in his heart.

"Since you can't pay, then you might as well work here in my store to pay up for everything. Not just for the wines, but for this whole event. You know what I mean, right?" Jiu Shen said as he patted Liu Mengdi's shoulder.

Liu Mengdi's shoulder almost caved in from this 'casual' pat, making him internally cry in pain. 'Ouch! He definitely did that on purpose! Ow! That hurt!'

With a tear-stained face, Liu Mengdi immediately nodded his head. "I will! I will! Wine Master Jiu, could you get your hands from my shoulder now?" He said with a forced smile.

"Oh, my bad..." Jiu Shen said carelessly as he pulled his hand back.

Liu Mengdi sighed in relief, but he was still crying inwardly because of the intense pain he was feeling after that 'casual' shoulder pat...

"Make sure that you can also attend the opening of my sect. I will make an exception and accept you as the first internal disciple of my sect." Jiu Shen said before he walked away, leaving behind the stunned Liu Mengdi with mouth agape.

"Did he just... Did Wine Master Jiu just say that he wants me to join his sect?" Liu Mengdi muttered silently with a blank look, but his expression turned into excitement after a few seconds.

"Hahaha! I accept your offer, Wine Master Jiu! I will be part of your sect and become the first internal disciple! Hahaha!" Liu Mengdi said as he stood up from his seat. He laughed like a madman, making the customers glance his way, but when they heard his words, they immediately became surprised.

Wine Master Jiu actually invited Young Master Liu Mengdi personally? What a great honor it was!

"Woah! Way to go, Young Master Liu! Don't forget us when that time comes!"

"The opening of Wine Master Jiu's sect is one of the most awaited events in the whole Profound Dragon Continent. Some young elites from the Alliance might even apply during the opening ceremony! What a great opportunity it is for Young Master Liu to become the first internal disciple! Amazing!"

Everybody cheered for Liu Mengdi, making the latter overwhelmed with intense emotions. He clenched his fists tightly and said in his heart. 'This is just the start of my journey! Wine Master Jiu, I won't forget this great opportunity! I will forever remember this!'

Jiu Shen went back to his seat grabbed the sleeping little girl on top of the table. He then laid her gently on his lap and rubbed her hair affectionately. 'Just wait a bit more, Little Tiger...'

With her eyes still shut tight, the corner of Ice's lips curved upwards, forming a happy smile that could melt anyone's hearts. She seemed to be immersed in a beautiful dream...

Jiu Shen smiled gently as he stroked her short snowy-white hair, but his smile instantly froze when he felt a warm liquid on his lap.

A line of drool can be seen at the corner of the little girl's lips...

"Stinking human... Gib meow milk... I want the big one... Gib meow..." She muttered with her eyes closed.

Jiu Shen chuckled lightly when he heard her words.

"This little glutton..."