Chapter 909: Ch 908: Problem Child

Outer Gate 1028—

A female bartender in a tailcoat poured the freshly mixed cocktail into a glass with a flourish and set it on the bar.

"First time here, handsome?" she asked with a grin, a set of bar tools tucked into her belt.

"Mm," Ryo hummed, picking up the glass.

The bartender wasn't surprised. She figured the man in front of her was a bar newbie.

"Then as an official representative of this establishment, let me give you a piece of advice." She smiled sweetly at Ryo, tipped her chin toward the stage, and said, "Watch out for women. And I mean every woman who walks into this place."

Ryo followed her gaze and saw several of them: a blonde with wavy hair, a girl with long straight black hair, beastkin, humans, even elves.

The moment he turned his head, they blew him some very flirtatious kisses. A few of them licked the corner of their lips, giving him a come-hither look.

"..." Ryo went quiet for a moment, then smiled. "I think I'm in the right place."

---

As he chatted with the bartender, the sound of the door swinging open caught his attention, followed by a familiar spiritual signature.

"You made me change the meeting spot on purpose, then kept me waiting ten extra minutes. Honestly, you're..."

He cut himself off.

He'd sensed a third presence. It was completely unfamiliar, but blazing like fire. Even suppressed, it had such a strong presence that even Ryo couldn't ignore it.

Did Shiroyasha bring someone with her?

The thought came with an immediate urge to bolt.

He was seriously worried that the Buddha had somehow stopped Shiroyasha's scheme and sent someone to bring in her accomplice, meaning him.

Judging by the spiritual signature, it was probably a buddha.

Can't fight it. Better run.

Ryo had barely stood up to leave when a hand clamped down on his shoulder.

That speed... Before he could finish being startled, a surprised female voice rang out beside his ear.

"Huh? You're that guy, the one who... what's your name again..."

"Sorry, I think you've got the wrong person," Ryo said, turning his head to look at her.

She was petite, maybe not even five feet tall, with golden hair like ripe wheat and deep green eyes.

She was standing on tiptoe just to reach his shoulder, and clearly struggling with it.

"I'd definitely remember meeting a girl this cute." He pried her hand off as he spoke.

The instant they touched, her hand felt furry, like it was covered in fur. But when he looked back, it was just a normal girl's arm, soft and smooth again.

"Cute, huh? Smooth talker, aren't you?" She grinned, then narrowed her eyes. Her green pupils and white sclera flashed into blazing golden fiery eyes.

"Just touching your body made me instinctively go on guard." She bared her teeth, showing off her fangs. "Are all the lower-layer folks monsters like you these days?"

"Heh, I figured you two would clash! Hahaha!" With a burst of laughter, Shiroyasha, who looked about twenty, slung an arm around Ryo's neck and pinned him against the bar.

"Shiroyasha..." Ryo tried to wriggle free with a deadpan look, but couldn't budge.

This woman was bullying people with the body of the strongest Star Spirit.

Realizing it was hopeless, he gave up and just asked, surprised, "You're okay?"

"What's gonna happen to me?" Shiroyasha rolled her eyes, then waved at the tiny girl. "Come on, Monkey, sit here! This is the seat of honor!"

She patted the stool next to her with her free hand. Her little palm made soft thumping sounds against the cushion.

'Monkey...' Ryo's brow twitched. Something about this felt off.

"Nah. I don't wanna drink free booze and get cornered for it." Sun Wukong grumbled, glanced at Ryo, and plopped down in the seat right next to him instead.

From this distance, Ryo noticed that once she sat, her legs didn't reach the floor. Her feet just rested on the footrest under the stool.

"That look is pretty rude, you know..." Sun Wukong eyed him dangerously, then suddenly grinned. "Exactly like your shameless foster mom."

So she'd already figured out who he was. Ryo relaxed a little. "Canaria isn't my foster mom."

"She's not?" Sun Wukong blinked. "Didn't Arcadia have some brat she adopted..."

"That's Kurousagi, idiot. How did you get dumber after becoming a buddha?" Shiroyasha teased with a smirk. "Did Baldy knock your brains loose with his vajra?"

Wukong instinctively touched her head, realized how that looked, and shot Shiroyasha a glare. "Shiro! At least save me some face in front of strangers!"

"Pfft. Your face is worth what, exactly?" Shiroyasha curled her lip and called to the bartender. "The usual. And bring that Monkey a glass of peach juice."

"Right away, boss," the bartender said cheerfully.

Meanwhile, Ryo lowered his voice and sent a private message. "What is going on? Did you get caught or what?"

"Like hell I got caught!" Shiroyasha nearly leapt off her stool, her voice ringing through the room. "I handed the thing off to Shaka just fine! And by Shaka, I mean Shakyamuni—that's just his nickname."

"..."

The lively bar fell dead silent in an instant.

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