When she reached the bamboo forest where they had previously agreed to meet, Dongfang Huaizhu saw that Xiaoyou had already been waiting there for quite some time.
Xiaoyou caught sight of Dongfang Huaizhu's figure and then walked towards her slowly with a smile.
"Then... let's get started!" Xiaoyou held a long sword across her chest, curling her lips into a dashing smile.
"Okay." Dongfang Huaizhu nodded.
Xiaoyou carefully repeated to Dongfang Huaizhu, word by word, the technique of how to channel her inner strength.
She asked Dongfang Huaizhu to try to mobilize her inner strength.
Dongfang Huaizhu nodded, then closed her eyes and carefully felt the inner strength in her body flowing continuously.
Suddenly, flames sprang up from Dongfang Huaizhu's hand.
With tears in her smiling eyes, Dongfang Huaizhu looked at the demon - slaying divine fire re - ignited in her hand and wept for joy.
"Finally! I can use the technique freely!"
Before they knew it, Dongfang Huaizhu and Xiaoyou had practiced for an entire night. Dongfang Huaizhu quickly clasped her fists and thanked Xiaoyou, saying, "I'm really grateful to you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have made such rapid progress."
Xiaoyou waved her hand and said, "It's nothing. I just told you the method of operating the technique. Anyone could teach you this. The most important thing is you. Your inner strength is originally very powerful. An ordinary person can only master one - tenth of this technique, while you can mobilize all of it."
Then, Dongfang Huaizhu said, "By the way, Xiaoyou, are you also here for the birthday banquet of the former head of the Wangquan family?"
Xiaoyou replied with an even broader smile, "You mean my father. Of course..." But as soon as the words left her mouth, she seemed to realize she had said something wrong and stopped herself.
"Yes," Xiaoyou said, heaving a sigh of relief when she saw Dongfang Huaizhu looking utterly confused.
At this moment, Dongfang Huaizhu saw the sun gradually rising on the horizon. After saying goodbye, they left one after another.
Just as Dongfang Huaizhu was about to reach her room, a voice suddenly called out to her.
"Sister!" Dongfang Qinlan was holding her little flower umbrella and striding towards Dongfang Huaizhu aggressively.
Dongfang Huaizhu groaned inwardly and turned around.
"Sister, what were you doing wandering outside so early in the morning?" Dongfang Qinlan looked up at Dongfang Huaizhu and asked.
"I just got up and was going to have breakfast," Dongfang Huaizhu quickly came up with an excuse.
When Dongfang Huaizhu turned a corner, she saw Steward Fei walking towards her with his eyes half - closed.
"Steward Fei, thank you for taking care of us these days," Dongfang Huaizhu said with a smile, her eyes full of apology.
Steward Fei generously waved his hand and said, "The Divine Fire Mountain Manor has a long - standing friendship with our Wangquan family. You and your sister traveled such a long way to congratulate our former head on his birthday. It should be me who feels embarrassed."
Steward Fei still had a smile on his face as he watched Dongfang Huaizhu's back with a shrewd look in his eyes.
Dongfang Huaizhu walked towards her room.
Then, she walked to the bedside and gently lay down. After practicing the technique all night, her skills had improved significantly, and she no longer felt like a headless chicken.
Thinking of this, Dongfang Huaizhu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Before she knew it, Dongfang Huaizhu felt a wave of drowsiness and slowly fell asleep.
When Dongfang Huaizhu slowly woke up, it was already afternoon. The sun on the horizon was gradually setting, and the distant sunset was turning fiery red, shining on Dongfang Huaizhu's face.
Dongfang Huaizhu rubbed her eyes, got up from the bed, and then walked out of the room.
She had been staying at the Wangquan family for several days, living off their hospitality. It was okay for Dongfang Qinlan since she was just a child, but she herself had been freeloading for so long and should do something in return.
Then, Dongfang Huaizhu found Steward Fei in the yard, who was arranging the servants.
"You! Go to each room right away. If there are still guests in their rooms, ask them if they've had dinner. If not, prepare dinner immediately. Make sure all the guests are taken care of properly!" Steward Fei stood with his hands behind his back, staring sharply at the rows of servants in front of him and shouting sternly.
"Yes!" With the unanimous response of all the servants, Steward Fei waved his hand and told them to go and start working. Immediately, all the servants scattered quickly and nimbly.
At this moment, Steward Fei noticed Dongfang Huaizhu, who had been waiting not far away for a long time.
Steward Fei quickly walked over with a confident stride and said, "Miss Huaizhu."
"Steward Fei, your servants are really efficient," Dongfang Huaizhu said, looking at Steward Fei with gentle eyes.
Steward Fei also nodded slightly as he watched the servants scattering in all directions and said with a smile, "It's the head's birthday banquet. The least we can do is to arrange everything properly. We don't want the guests to leave and then accuse us of poor hospitality. Am I right, Miss Huaizhu?"
Dongfang Huaizhu nodded with a smile and then said, "Steward Fei is so dedicated. This banquet is sure to satisfy everyone. By the way, I noticed that there seem to be not enough servants. Is there anything I can help with?"
Seeing Dongfang Huaizhu's good intentions, although there was currently no task for her, to make Dongfang Huaizhu feel better, Steward Fei still decided to let her do a small favor. He said, "There's just a small thing that I need Miss Huaizhu's help with."
Dongfang Huaizhu quickly asked with a smile, "What is it? Just tell me."
Steward Fei said, "In the evening, a large number of guests will arrive. There aren't enough tableware in the kitchen. Could you please go with me to get some?"
Dongfang Huaizhu quickly nodded in agreement.
Steward Fei and Dongfang Huaizhu walked one after the other on the small path when they suddenly saw a familiar figure.
Dongfang Qinlan was holding a bunch of candied haws and chatting merrily with a girl. They seemed to hit it off very well.
Dongfang Qinlan also seemed to notice Dongfang Huaizhu and quickly stood up.
"Sister!" Just as Dongfang Qinlan blurted out, she was suddenly grabbed back by the girl beside her.
Only then did Dongfang Huaizhu see the girl's face clearly. It was Xiaoyou, with whom she had practiced the technique last night.
Dongfang Huaizhu took two big steps and reached Dongfang Qinlan.
Dongfang Qinlan looked up and then turned her head, only to find that the girl she had been chatting with had disappeared without a trace. "Hey? Where did she go?"
At this moment, Dongfang Huaizhu noticed that Steward Fei had been waiting beside them for a long time. Without thinking too much, she followed him into the warehouse.
Although the warehouse was large and filled with many odds and ends, under Steward Fei's management, all the sundries were neatly arranged in an orderly manner.