Chapter 12: Unmatched Arrogance

Zhou Wen's gaze lingered on Li Wei and Leng Yue, his mind racing with questions. 'What cultivation realms are they in?' Their movements betrayed no weakness, their confidence more than skin-deep. The sheer audacity of Li Wei's behavior suggested a power that might match—or exceed—his own Nascent Soul realm. 'Formidable, perhaps,' Zhou Wen thought. 'Though his behavior is... unconventional.'

As a well-traveled cultivator, Zhou Wen had met many powerful individuals, and most shared one trait: subtlety. Strength didn't need to announce itself. Yet here was Li Wei, throwing subtlety to the wind with reckless abandon. Zhou Wen's instincts told him this was a man who could back up his bravado, but whether that made him more dangerous or more foolish remained to be seen.

Li Wei, meanwhile, had his own frustrations. 'Why hasn't a quest triggered yet?' He sighed inwardly, annoyed that his elaborate display of arrogance hadn't yielded a single system prompt. Just as he considered abandoning the charade, a notification flashed before him.

Side Quest: A True Young Master Has No Equal in Terms of Wealth

Objective: Spend extravagantly and make it clear that the masses are beneath you.

Reward: 500 EXP, 200 System Coins, 1 Reputation Point

A satisfied smile curled on his lips as he read the quest. Turning to Zhou Wen, he declared, "Since you work for little Mei Mei, I'll overlook your earlier words. Consider yourself lucky. In fact,"—he gestured magnanimously—"pick out any one item you desire. I'll cover it."

Zhou Wen's eyes flickered with surprise, but his expression quickly returned to one of measured calm. 'What game is he playing?' he wondered.

Li Wei wasn't done. His gaze swept over the room, landing on three women in the crowd. He pointed at them, one by one. "You, you, and you. Pick something as well. Anything you want—it's on me."

The murmurs started almost immediately, outrage rippling through the crowd.

"What does he think he's doing?" a young man growled, fists clenched at his sides.

"Flaunting his wealth like this—it's disgusting," another snapped, his face red with anger.

"He's treating us all like beggars," a third hissed, glaring at Li Wei.

The women, however, hesitated, their expressions torn. The offer was undeniably tempting, but their partners' visible fury made the choice a dangerous one.

"Don't waste your chance," Li Wei said coolly, his voice carrying over the rising tension. "It's not every day you're offered a glimpse of a better life."

One by one, the women made their decisions. Each stepped forward, selecting items from the shelves. Their partners erupted in protest.

"I could've bought that for you," one man spat, his voice thick with indignation. "Why humiliate me like this?"

"Is this how little you value my pride?" another demanded, eyes blazing with jealousy.

"This is a disgrace!" the third barked, his fists trembling.

The women looked torn, clutching their newfound treasures. "It's just a gift," one said hesitantly. "You said yourself you couldn't afford it."

"Ungrateful wench!" her partner hissed. "You've shamed me in front of everyone."

The arguments grew louder, voices overlapping in a chaotic din. Zhou Wen watched silently, tension coiling in his chest. 'This isn't just arrogance. It's deliberate. He's stoking the fire on purpose.' He glanced at Liu Mei, hoping for some insight, but her face was a mask of fury. Her clenched fists betrayed her barely-contained anger.

Amid the chaos, a figure stepped forward: Shen Fu, the floor manager. A middle-aged man with polished manners and a perpetually strained smile, he quickly assessed the scene and identified the source of the disturbance.

"Good day, sir," Shen Fu said, bowing slightly to Li Wei. His tone was polite, but the vein throbbing on his temple betrayed his irritation. "May I inquire what you hope to accomplish with this… generosity?"

Li Wei smirked. "Nothing much," he said lazily. "Just saving these fairies from their poverty-stricken frogs."

Shen Fu's smile tightened. His voice carried a hint of steel as he replied, "A noble sentiment, sir. But may I ask—can you afford to spend like this?"

The crowd hushed, their eyes darting between Shen Fu and Li Wei. If this arrogant young master couldn't pay, the humiliation would be legendary.

"It's nothing," Li Wei said dismissively. He glanced at Leng Yue, who stepped forward without hesitation. From her storage ring, she withdrew a bag of spirit stones and placed it in Shen Fu's hands with a resounding thud.

Shen Fu's practiced composure faltered for a split second as he opened the bag, revealing its contents.

"The total," he announced, his voice slightly unsteady, "is fifty mid-grade and one thousand low-grade spirit stones."

A collective gasp rippled through the room.

"That's more than most clans make in a year," someone whispered, awe-struck.

"Even Zhao Tian couldn't drop that kind of money casually," another murmured.

Li Wei's smirk widened as Shen Fu stepped back, bowing slightly. The manager's forced smile returned, but the tension in his posture suggested he wanted nothing more than for Li Wei to leave.

Turning back to the room, Li Wei's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Now," he said, his tone deceptively casual, "I'd like to explore the city. Which of you lovely ladies would like to show me around?"

The women he had gifted glanced nervously at each other, then at their seething partners. Just moments ago, they had assumed Li Wei was posturing. But now, seeing his unshaken demeanor after such an extravagant display, doubt crept into their minds. 'Could he really be as powerful as he seems?'