Chapter 31: The Marvelous Boy

At the same moment, in front of the Delicacy Pavilion.

As on previous days, the entrance was crowded and lively, a sea of people that left no room to pass. The round wooden target that had stood at the gate yesterday had now been removed. In its place was a long rectangular stretch of open ground, cordoned off with barriers to keep others from wandering in during the challenge.

This was the standing long jump arena. The barriers were set to prevent accidental interference as challengers took their leaps. The area was divided into several zones. The closest to the starting line was marked “Ten Percent Off.” This area was less than five feet away—so close that even a three-year-old child or an eighty-year-old elder could manage it.

Ahead of the ten percent zone was the twenty percent zone, then the thirty, fifty, and seventy percent zones, and finally, at the very far end, was the “Free Meal Zone.” The free meal zone was a long way off—over ten feet, or about three and a half meters from the starting line.

Several waiters from the Delicacy Pavilion were loudly repeating the rules and gameplay for the standing long jump, drawing even larger crowds to the establishment. While the sport seemed simple, achieving a good score was anything but easy, demanding both explosive leg power and core strength—one couldn’t do without either.

Like the dart-throwing game before, each contestant was granted three jumps, and only their farthest counted.

On the second floor, in a street-facing room, Xu Mo and Ning Yongqiang stood side by side at the window, taking in the entire scene below. After observing for a while, they noticed most participants only landed in the thirty or twenty percent off zones, with only a rare few reaching the forty percent zone.

Ning Yongqiang turned and asked, “Mr. Xu, do you think we’ve set the free meal zone too far? If it stays like this, people might lose interest.”

Xu Mo smiled. “Not at all. It’s only just begun. Word hasn’t spread yet—the truly skilled haven’t arrived.”

Ning Yongqiang nodded, continuing to watch the crowd below.

About the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, the first customer leapt into the seventy percent zone. He was heavily muscled and thick-legged—clearly a seasoned athlete. His achievement sent the crowd outside the Delicacy Pavilion into a frenzy. Seeing someone win such a prize, people grew eager to try their luck, forming a jostling queue.

Inside, the restaurant was already packed, with many still holding numbered slips and waiting their turn.

Xu Mo and Ning Yongqiang were both satisfied with the day’s turnout, their conversation growing light and cheerful. Just as the novelty of the long jump was wearing thin, a boy of fourteen or fifteen appeared at the starting line.

His hair was unkempt, a tattered bundle slung over his back. His clothes were threadbare, patched in many places, and his bare feet were so dirty that their original color was almost invisible.

“Hey, hey, hey! Little beggar, what are you up to? Off with you, don’t make trouble…” The supervising waiter, assuming the boy was a beggar, immediately tried to shoo him away.

The boy protested at once, “I’m not a beggar—I’m here to eat!”

“Oh! Dressed like that, and you still claim you’re not a beggar?” the waiter scoffed.

Unhappy, the boy raised his voice. “I’ll say it again, I’m not a beggar! And besides—even if I were, I should still be allowed to take the challenge, right? You never said beggars couldn’t participate!”

The onlookers all nodded in agreement, but even so, the waiter refused to let the boy join and kept driving him away.

The boy, indignant, argued loudly with the staff. In their heated exchange, tempers flared, and a scuffle broke out.

Xu Mo, seeing things getting out of hand, hurried downstairs with Ning Yongqiang to intervene.

“Enough, enough! The boss is here! Let’s hear what he has to say!” someone shouted, and both sides finally stopped.

Ning Yongqiang said nothing at first, simply giving the boy a thorough once-over. The boy stood tall, facing Ning Yongqiang’s scrutiny without flinching.

Ning Yongqiang glanced at Xu Mo as if to ask whether to let the boy compete. Xu Mo nodded in affirmation.

Ning Yongqiang turned to the staff and declared, “The young man spoke truly. Our Delicacy Pavilion never said beggars can’t join the challenge. So long as you earn your discount and can pay for your meal, everyone is welcome!”

On hearing this, the boy clasped his hands in a gesture of respect. Ning Yongqiang waved it off with a smile.

The crowd made space, and the boy took his place behind the starting line, ready to leap.

Xu Mo noticed the boy’s bundle looked heavy and suggested, “Why not set your pack down first? It might affect your jump.”

The boy shook his head. “No need. It’s nothing.”

Xu Mo didn’t press further, merely watching in silence, curious to see how far the boy could go.

The boy inhaled, bending his knees and shifting his weight forward, then sprang out with a clean, crisp movement, not a hint of wasted effort.

The jump stunned everyone—including Xu Mo. All stared in disbelief, frozen in shock.

For the boy had landed squarely in the free meal zone, not even touching the line—and with several inches to spare.

The next instant, the crowd erupted in thunderous cheers.

“Good heavens! That boy is incredible—how did he jump so far?”

“Amazing! Did he fly over?”

“He’s something else—almost like he’s grown wings!”

Praise rang out on all sides, and the applause was deafening.

The boy, not expecting such a reaction, scratched his head in embarrassment, grinning sheepishly.

Ning Yongqiang shook his head in disbelief and turned to Xu Mo. “Mr. Xu, this boy is quite a marvel!”

Xu Mo nodded thoughtfully. To leap so far with such a heavy pack—what would he manage without it? Truly a remarkable youth.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Xu Mo: could the boy have trained in lightness skills?

Curious, Xu Mo stepped forward to ask, “Young man, what’s your name?”

The boy quickly wiped the grin off his face. “My name is Qin Muto.”

“Qin Muto?” Xu Mo found it amusing and couldn’t help but chuckle. “That’s quite a unique name.”

Qin Muto was unconcerned with Xu Mo’s opinion, asking eagerly, “Sir, since I landed in the free meal zone, does that mean I can eat for free now?”

Xu Mo replied cheerfully, “No charge! Eat as much as you want—have your fill!”

Qin Muto quickly waved his hands. “That’s not necessary! I—I’ll just have a little, just enough to fill my belly.”

Xu Mo smiled, then he and Ning Yongqiang led Qin Muto inside.

Inside, the restaurant was bursting at the seams. Qin Muto had never seen such a scene and gawked in amazement.

While he was looking around, Xu Mo whispered something to Ning Yongqiang. Ning Yongqiang frowned, reluctant. “Huh? You want him to eat in my room? But—he’s barefoot, and all grimy…”

Xu Mo knew Ning Yongqiang found Qin Muto too shabby, so he said, “Come on, Young Master Ning, don’t be stingy! Do me this favor, and I’ll teach you a few more stir-fry dishes.”

“You said it!” Ning Yongqiang instantly relented.

Xu Mo grinned and turned to Qin Muto. “Brother Qin, there’s no room down here. Let’s go upstairs.”

Qin Muto nodded and followed them to the second floor.

In Ning Yongqiang’s room, Qin Muto sat ramrod straight, his hands alternately resting on his thighs and rubbing together nervously.

Xu Mo poured a cup of water and placed it before Qin Muto. “Brother Qin, set your pack down. No need to carry it indoors.”

Qin Muto realized it made sense, so he nodded and placed his bundle on the table.

Clang!

As soon as the pack touched the table, a metallic sound rang out.

Ning Yongqiang, curious, asked, “Hey, what have you got in there?”