Venerable Demon Chef

Chapter 562: Chapter 559: Black Shop (2)

Uncle Niu’s Kitchen God was only open for six hours a day, yet it catered to two major factions: the North District Hall of Envoys and the Demon Sect.

The three hundred Demon Sect disciples who had first tested the waters had already benefited from the restaurant, and they understood all too well the value of its Medicinal Cuisine.

Though the prices were exorbitant, it was absolutely worth the cost.

If it weren’t for Mo Qi’s rule that a meal could last a maximum of two hours, and the fact that they needed time to digest the Medicinal Cuisine, these three hundred people would have gladly moved into the restaurant and never left.

They knew full well what the North District Hall of Envoys was up to, so of course, they wouldn’t tell them the truth.

Besides, if the people from the North District didn’t dare to get in line, it would just be to the Demon Sect’s advantage.

Without exception, all three hundred of them immediately got back in line the moment they stepped out of the restaurant.

The people from the North District Hall of Envoys weren’t fools. They quickly figured out what was going on.

"It seems that Mo Qi kid really has some skill. He wasn’t just talking big."

"That’s right. The Demon Sect isn’t one to take a loss willingly, and Xiao Zhengheng is an old fox. If Mo Qi couldn’t bring them any benefits, that old fox would never be this invested."

"They came out calling it a rip-off, yet they got right back in line. The benefits must be significant!"

"I’m actually getting curious. I’d like to see it for myself."

"This is great! There’s hope for my condition!"

"Quick, send a message back! Have them bring the young master over! Me? I’m getting in line first, of course!"

The crowd murmured amongst themselves. Those who had been skeptical of the restaurant could no longer sit still.

Even the four of them—Feng Gong, Qin Hai, He Jincheng, and Gu Weitian—joined the queue.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to continue observing, but the line outside the restaurant already stretched for several miles, and it was growing longer by the minute.

According to Mo Qi’s rules, the restaurant served three hundred customers per session and was only open for six hours a day.

If they didn’t get in line soon, it would probably be several years before it was their turn.

...

Inside the restaurant, Gu Peng, Gu Lele, and Xiao Zhang served the customers as waiters.

The restaurant’s layout was clear: the first floor was the common area, which Xiao Zhang was in charge of.

The second-floor main hall was the elite area, which Gu Peng was in charge of.

The private rooms on the second floor were the VIP area, which Gu Lele was in charge of.

Why was a slender little girl put in charge of the VIP area?

Because the VIP area had fewer customers and the work was easier; she only needed to register the guests’ basic information and requests, then pass them on to Mo Qi.

The first floor was the busiest and most chaotic.

Most people were rooted to the spot the moment they saw the menu and its prices posted on the wall.

Rice in Soup: Ten Immortal Level Spirit Medicines.

Blanched Green Vegetables: Fifteen Immortal Level Spirit Medicines.

Steamed Vegetable Buns: Twenty Immortal Level Spirit Medicines each.

Steamed Meat Buns: Twenty-five Immortal Level Spirit Medicines each.

Scrambled Eggs: Thirty Immortal Level Spirit Medicines.

Braised Pork Belly: Fifty Immortal Level Spirit Medicines.

Wine: One hundred Immortal Level Spirit Medicines per jug.

At the very bottom, a line of small text followed the menu: More to come. New dishes unlocking...

Everyone had the exact same thought: ’That Mo Qi kid must be insane for money!’

Tens of Immortal Level Spirit Medicines for the slightest thing. Did he think they grew on trees?

And forget about the price for a second—just look at this random assortment of dishes!

Rice in Soup? Blanched Green Vegetables? Steamed Buns? Scrambled Eggs? Braised Pork Belly?

Couldn’t he have at least come up with some fancier, more impressive-sounding names?

’Are we getting fucking scammed?’

’That first group of three hundred couldn’t have been shills, could they?’

"The first floor is the common area, the elite area is on the second. If you’d like a personalized order, please head up to the private rooms," Xiao Zhang said, approaching them with a warm, beaming smile.

This was the second batch of customers. The vast majority still belonged to the Demon Sect; fewer than ten were from the North District Hall of Envoys.

Xiao Zhang’s "warmth" made the Demon Sect members’ foreheads break out in a cold sweat.

They already wanted to leave, but none of them dared to actually walk out the door.

Xiao Zhang might have been playing the part of a waiter, but who would dare treat him like one?

If they turned and walked out now, they could probably forget about having a future in the Demon Sect.

"Ahem, I’ll have... one order of Rice in Soup," someone said, the first to snap out of it. ’Since there’s no escaping this,’ he thought, ’might as well go with the flow.’

And so, steeling himself against the painful expense, he ordered the cheapest item: Rice in Soup.

Seeing this, the others sighed and followed his lead.

’Oh, well. We’ll just consider it spending ten Immortal Level Spirit Medicines to buy a bit of the Young Master’s goodwill.’

That was how the Demon Sect members consoled themselves.

The few from the North District Hall of Envoys, however, couldn’t come to terms with it so easily. They all looked like they were badly constipated.

Leaving was out of the question. After all, they had been sent in as the vanguard on a scouting mission.

If they left now without gathering any intelligence, wouldn’t the one Immortal Level Spirit Medicine they spent just to enter be a complete waste?

At this thought, they could only hold their noses, find a place to sit, and order a serving of Rice in Soup as well.

"Hmph! When I get out of here, I’m going to expose Mo Qi! And the Demon Sect, too! To think the great Demon Sect would conspire with some wet-behind-the-ears brat to swindle people!" one of the young men from the North District said indignantly.

The others’ faces fell, and they frantically shot him warning glances.

"Shh! Quiet! Are you an idiot? Can’t you see this place is full of Demon Sect members? You want to die?"

The young man immediately shut his mouth, but his expression remained defiant.

’I will expose their vile deeds to the world!’ he vowed silently, clenching his fist.

"Master, three hundred orders of Rice in Soup!" Xiao Zhang called out toward the kitchen.

Then, in a voice just loud enough for everyone to hear, he muttered, "A bunch of broke-asses."

The Demon Sect members hung their heads, not daring to look at Xiao Zhang.

The men from the North District, on the other hand, were so angry their faces turned bright red.

If not for the last shred of their self-control, they would have attacked Xiao Zhang to teach him a lesson.

"No need to complain. They’ll all be bankrupt soon enough anyway," the Scab Chicken said, smacking its beak as it waddled by with its plump body.

Xiao Zhang nodded. "True enough."

This short exchange terrified the three hundred customers.

Bankrupt?!

’What’s going on?’

’Are they going to rob us by force?’

"The Young Master isn’t really going to get rough with us, is he?"

"Sigh..."

The Demon Sect members sighed in resignation.

"This is outrageous!" The men from the North District were trembling with rage.

"Damn it! The restaurant is covered by an array! We can’t get any messages out to warn the others!"

Just as everyone’s imagination was running wild, Mo Qi’s voice rang out from the kitchen.

"Xiao Zhang, the food’s ready!"

Since he couldn’t use his cultivation, Xiao Zhang had to act like an ordinary mortal, using a large tray to bring the bowls of Rice in Soup to the customers one by one.

The Demon Sect members were overwhelmed by this unexpected favor. They scrambled to their feet, intending to get the bowls themselves, but were stopped by a stern glare from Xiao Zhang.

"You are the customers. Act like it!"

The Demon Sect members could only sit back down sheepishly. Having their Young Master personally serve them was frankly unnerving.

The next second, however, their attention was completely captivated by the Rice in Soup before them.