Chapter 720 First experience
He couldn't help but feel the saying that said fortunes and disaster went hand in hand had some truth to it. It wasn't long before he made his way to the Celestial Herb Garden.
With 80,000 high-grade spirit stones burning a hole in his pocket, he could finally enjoy the ambiance of the Celestial Herb Garden.
As per its name, the restaurant was designed to mimic a garden-like building. It was dimly lit with scarlet carp flowers providing gentle light from above, the wall and the flooring were made of star trail vine wood that coiled from the walls to the floors, with several of its branches, branching out into the tables and seats around.
Ice waterfall lianas were mixing in with the star trail vinewood at the walls. The ice waterfall lianas released a slight foggy gentle blue glow that produced a refreshing coolness around the restaurant whilst also producing the relaxing sounds of a waterfall.
Everything within the restaurant was geared to provide the ultimate comfort and scenery while enjoying good food. Yang Qing had always been unable to appreciate it because of how gorging the prices were, but now, it was like a veil had been removed from his eyes and he could appreciate the beauty of the restaurant.
It was already in the early hours of the morning, but the place was already slightly packed. Even though he didn't recognize any of them, Yang Qing could tell from their robes, that the patrons present were from the palace courts and above, with the majority of the number being those from the inner palace courts, or late-stage palace realm experts, as he had spotted a few who had indistinctive robes that had no markings or designation. Yang Qing guessed they were roaming inquisitors based on how powerful their auras were.
As he was looking around deciding where to sit, he spotted an outer core court inquisitor, wearing the same look he had the first time he stepped in here. He couldn't help but smile to himself when he saw the change in expression running through that inquisitor's face.
There was admiration and excitement at first before slight worry started to sink in when he looked around and realized the rank of the patrons who frequented the place. Yang Qing could detect the panic flare-up when the young inquisitor noticed the two domain court judges at one of the tables.
Yang Qing could tell the panic wasn't out of a sense of fear from the disparity in cultivation base as the Order didn't have such sort of hierarchy-based fears, but it was from the realization that one would get when they look around them and the only people they can see are people above their stations, which insinuated a couple of things, that an insightful inquisitor would definitely think about.
As if on cue, the inquisitor hesitantly asked for the menu and instantly went pale when it was brought to him. Yang Qing couldn't help but smile when he saw this, and he wasn't the only one to smile, as the other patrons did so too, and some of the staff from the Celestial Herb Garden.
The reaction was considered a rite of passage for every new customer, especially if they were as young as the inquisitor. Today was remuneration day and as it always went, most if not some would be excitable about spending it, especially if it was their first pay. They would want to spend it on something good, of course, those who would do something crazy as go to a major auction house like Yang Qing did, were far and few in between, but most would entertain the thought of using it on something worthwhile and the Celestial Herb Garden was one such place.
Visiting the place even once, as a newbie would garner you high repute amongst your peers. It was like venturing into some mysterious realm, which was why every new employee of the Order regardless of their post would likely visit the place at least once, and their reaction was always the same as the inquisitor in front of him. It was excitement at first before dread kicked in once one saw the prices.
The young inquisitor sensed the smiles and couldn't help but smile awkwardly filled with embarrassment as he tried to hide within the vines on the wall.
Yang Qing took his seat, and a staff member dutifully came to take his order.
"I'll have the celestial phoenix sea food soup, the golden lotus broth, cloud mist herbal soup, and the jade river ginseng soup, with sides of pork dumplings and spring rolls.." said Yang Qing with a salivating mouth.
"We will bring it shortly.." politely said the staff member as he left for the kitchen to give the Order.
After around three minutes, the first of his soups was brought forth with a basket of spring rolls. It was the golden lotus broth. Yang Qing couldn't help but close his eyes as he inhaled the aromatic steam wafting out of the broth and spring rolls.
Unable to hold back, he immediately began digging in, just in time to see the young inquisitor choose his order. Yang Qing had a feeling it would be the cold leek soup which was at the middle of not too expensive and not too cheap. It cost 10 middle-grade spirit stones and came with a basket of pan-fried dumplings. The staff took his order with a smile as she left for the kitchen leaving the antsy inquisitor behind, who no doubt was filled with regret and embarrassment for coming to the restaurant.
A few moments later, the staff came with a whole tray of all kinds of soups, one of which included the cold leek soup ordered, and the golden lotus broth that Yang Qing was having.
Yang Qing along with the other patrons secretly glanced at the inquisitor. The staff member went toward the table of the young inquisitor, and placed the cold leek soup in front of him, followed by the rest of the soups that were on her tray.
"So...rry but I haven't ordered this. I can't afford them.." hesitantly said the inquisitor as he pulled his seat backward with trepidation written all over his face.
The staff member smiled as she said,
"Don't worry, we are not charging you for any of this. This is your first meal, and as tradition, you get to have every single soup on the menu for free of charge."
"Buuut.."
Just as the inquisitor was about to refuse, one of the patrons spoke.
"Accept it, kid, think of it as a gift from your seniors. It's a tradition that has been there for the past 400 years. There's a special fund made by those who come here, and it's meant to cater to the first experience of those from the Order who come here. So enjoy it and work hard, so you can afford to sponsor another person just like yourself.."
The inquisitor who still looked to be hesitant stood up.
"Junior Zou Long thanks you all.." he said with solemnity in his voice.
The other patrons, laughed as they gave their opinions on which soups he should start with first, which turned into a soup debate that slowly relaxed the atmosphere.
Yang Qing took all of this in with a heartfelt smile on his face as he told himself that this was one of the reasons he liked being at the headquarters. That sense of wholesomeness that he had grown so accustomed to.
This chapt𝒆r is updated by free(w)ebnovel(.)com