Venerable Demon Chef

Chapter 560: Chapter 557: The Restaurant’s Rules

Seeing the person in charge finally appear and scold Xiao Zhang, the crowd from the North District felt a little better.

However, their anger had barely subsided when Mo Qi’s next words made them lose their composure all over again.

"Zhang’er, didn’t I give you permission to control the Array? There’s no need to reason with boisterous people—just blast them out."

The crowd was dumbfounded.

’Right. So *that’s* what you meant by "Don’t be rude."’

"I was wrong," Xiao Zhang said, lowering his head, his face filled with shame.

His shame was genuine. In Xiao Zhang’s eyes, Mo Qi’s domineering and unpredictable nature was undoubtedly the purest form of the "Demon Dao."

He believed Mo Qi’s criticism was meant to guide him onto the true path of the Demon Dao, all for his own good.

’Wasting my breath on these hypocrites was my mistake. The Demon Dao is all about absolute freedom, about doing whatever you want. I shouldn’t have backed down just because of their status and Cultivation! I’m a follower of the Demon Dao—what is there to fear? Just get it done!’

After this bout of wild rationalization, Xiao Zhang unexpectedly felt his mind become clear and unhindered, and his connection to the "Demon God Grand Ceremony" grew much stronger.

A feeling of elation washed over him, and his state of mind actually advanced to a new level.

’Master is truly worthy of his title! A single, small hint from him allowed me to improve so much!’ Xiao Zhang was ecstatic, his admiration for Mo Qi reaching an unassailable peak.

Mo Qi had no idea that a casual, showy remark of his would benefit Xiao Zhang so greatly. He waved his hand, signaling for Xiao Zhang to stop sweeping.

"Go bring out what I prepared."

Xiao Zhang suppressed his joy, jogged into the restaurant, and came out carrying a silver metal pillar. It was as tall as a man and so thick it would take two people to wrap their arms around it.

The upper section of the pillar shimmered with a golden light, and one could faintly sense spatial fluctuations radiating from it.

"Now, let me tell you about the restaurant’s services and the rules you must obey," Mo Qi said with a smile.

"First, the restaurant is divided into three sections: the Regular Section, the Elite Section, and the VIP Section."

"To put it simply, the Regular and Elite Sections are both for dining. The difference is that the menu in the Regular Section is fixed, with ingredients I provide. The menu in the Elite Section, however, is up to you. You’ll need to provide your own ingredients, and I will be responsible for the cooking."

"As for the VIP Section, that contains what many of you are most interested in. It’s the very reason you’re here. I trust you understand what I mean."

The crowd fell silent.

’We’ve heard of restaurants having different sections. It’s nothing more than a way to separate customers by how much they spend.’

’But what the hell is this "Elite Section"?!’

’We have to bring our own ingredients to eat at your restaurant? What kind of twisted logic is that?’

’And besides, who the hell would actually come to your restaurant just to eat?’

’Don’t you have any damn idea what we’re really here for?’

There were too many things to complain about. But before the crowd could even start voicing their objections, Mo Qi spoke again.

"Next up are the restaurant’s rules. A friendly reminder: listen carefully and memorize them. If something happens, don’t blame me for not warning you beforehand. In my restaurant, violating the rules is a very serious offense. The cost might just be your life."

His words caused an immediate uproar in the crowd.

"Brat, are you threatening us? Just who do you think you are?" a handsome young man couldn’t help but sneer.

Mo Qi paused his explanation. Far from being angry, he broke into a brilliant smile.

’Troublemakers are inevitable. You just have to pluck them out, break them, and tell them to get lost.’

"The first rule I’m going to state is this: in my restaurant, every word I speak is a rule. I don’t accept objections... As for whether that’s a threat, why don’t you find out for yourself?"

The instant he finished speaking, an immense force manifested from thin air. It swatted the young man to within an inch of his life before flinging him dozens of miles away from the restaurant.

Before the young man’s elders could even react, it was all over.

"Mo Qi, you’ve gone too far!" roared an elderly man who had accompanied the youth.

Mo Qi rubbed his nose. "You want to stand up for him?"

The elder’s words caught in his throat. ’Stand up for him?’

’And get my head knocked off in the process?’

They were merely a minor family from one of the Sub-Palaces; they had only come to see what all the excitement was about.

If that young man hadn’t been his direct descendant, he never would have lost his composure and waded into these muddy waters.

To put it bluntly, they weren’t even in the same league as Mo Qi.

Having calmed down, the elder quickly cupped his fist. "My unworthy descendant was in the wrong just now. I apologize on his behalf."

Mo Qi had no intention of pursuing the matter anyway. He had made his move simply to make his stance clear to the crowd.

Now that he had achieved the desired effect, he wasn’t about to waste any more time on such trivialities.

"The second rule of the restaurant," Mo Qi said, getting back on topic. "I don’t care who you are, what your status is, or why you’ve come to my establishment. The moment you step inside, you pay!"

As he spoke, Mo Qi patted the silver pillar.

"One Immortal Level Spirit Medicine per person, per hour. Any time less than an hour will be billed as a full hour."

The crowd was speechless yet again.

’An Immortal Level Spirit Medicine just to walk in the door, and it’s billed by the hour? This isn’t a restaurant, it’s highway robbery!’

Of course, Mo Qi’s motive wasn’t simply to rake in money; he had his own reasons.

When you open a business, the customer is always right.

But what happens if you get malicious or hostile customers?

If someone wanted to cause trouble, they could send a few hundred people to occupy the whole restaurant, just sitting there without ordering and refusing to leave. How could he possibly do business then?

Therefore, Mo Qi established this rule precisely to prevent such a scenario.

This rule also prevented people from lingering over a single meal for ages.

What’s the key to making money?

Efficiency!

Mo Qi had no desire for his restaurant to become a teahouse. People were there to eat, not to waste time with idle chatter.

Besides, an hour was more than enough time for a meal.

"Third, this restaurant can only accommodate three hundred diners at a time. Anyone exceeding this limit must wait in line outside. Cutting in line is strictly forbidden."

"Fourth, all prices in this establishment are fixed. Haggling is not permitted. Furthermore, you are not allowed to waste any food, and we do not do take-out."

"Fifth, all forms of combat are forbidden within a three-mile radius of the restaurant."

"Finally, anyone who violates the above rules will be blacklisted immediately. There are no second chances. If you have any objections, please refer to rule number one."

Everyone was left dumbfounded, feeling as if their entire worldview had been shattered.

’Since you’re opening a restaurant, shouldn’t you be doing everything in your power to serve us?’

’With so many ridiculous rules, what are we doing? Paying for the privilege of being tortured?!’

"He’s insane! Absolutely insane! The kid must be desperate for money!"

"At a place like this, I bet only the VIP Section will get any customers. No one in their right mind would go to the other two sections."

"Exactly! Especially that Elite Section! Bringing your own ingredients just to have a meal? Is this some kind of joke? Besides, we Cultivators don’t really have much need for food in the first place."

"Well, I’m definitely not going. Only an idiot would."

"Haha, I’m curious to see how long this restaurant of his stays in business. I give it ten days, tops, before it shuts down for good."

Many people began to murmur amongst themselves. The vast majority were just waiting to watch Mo Qi make a fool of himself.