Venerable Demon Chef

Chapter 566: Chapter 563: Pauper

Qin Hai, He Jincheng, Feng Gong, and Gu Weitian walked into the restaurant.

Unlike the other patrons, who were filled with anticipation and excitement, they found a secluded spot and sat down, their gazes dark as they scanned their surroundings.

The exorbitant menu was already common knowledge, its medicinal effects and flavors described as nothing short of miraculous by those who had dined here before.

After half a month, the restaurant’s reputation was firmly established. Even first-time customers no longer hesitated upon arrival.

They came mentally prepared and ordered with clear goals in mind.

Given the prices, the vast majority ordered the Soup Over Rice.

Only a few returning customers would try the other Medicinal Cuisine.

A small portion of patrons headed straight for the private rooms in the second-floor VIP area. While they coveted the Medicinal Cuisine in the main dining hall, they were more desperate to solve their personal afflictions.

In contrast, the elite section managed by Gu Peng was completely empty, so he could only go and lend Gu Lele a hand.

Xiao Zhang went around taking orders and collecting payments.

The restaurant was bustling, yet everything was perfectly orderly.

No one dared cause a scene in the restaurant. Over the past half-month, anyone who had tried to stir up trouble by flaunting their status had their limbs broken by Mo Qi, was stripped naked, and thrown out.

They were also added to the restaurant’s blacklist, forbidden from ever stepping foot inside again.

The factions backing these individuals were naturally indignant, but what could they do?

Mo Qi had fortified the entire restaurant with layer after layer of Arrays. No one could break through them without unleashing power exceeding the Void Realm.

Mo Qi had even prepared an exclusive spot in the restaurant for Elder Ku Mu, treating him to three fine meals a day. Who would dare openly violate Mo Qi’s rules right in front of such a powerhouse?

So, no matter how much they resented Mo Qi, they could only swallow their pride and endure it.

"What can I get for you four?"

When it was the turn of Qin Hai’s group, Xiao Zhang recognized them, and a wicked grin spread across his face.

"Four orders of Soup Over Rice to start," Feng Gong said, tossing forty stalks of Immortal Level Spirit Medicine to Xiao Zhang. "This one’s on me."

Xiao Zhang accepted the Immortal Level Spirit Medicine into his Storage Space and stared quietly at Feng Gong, as if waiting for something.

"What are you gawking at? Go get the food!" Feng Gong scowled, growing impatient.

Xiao Zhang shrugged. "You said it was your treat, but you only paid for one serving."

Feng Gong froze. "Didn’t I already give you forty stalks of Immortal Level Spirit Medicine?"

Xiao Zhang nodded. "You did. Now you’re short another one hundred and twenty."

Feng Gong was completely baffled.

’Another one hundred and twenty?!’

’Where is this coming from?’

’Isn’t Soup Over Rice ten stalks per serving? Did this kid mishear me?’

"We want four servings of Soup Over Rice!" Feng Gong stressed.

"I know you want Soup Over Rice." Xiao Zhang held up four fingers. "And Soup Over Rice is forty stalks of Immortal Level Spirit Medicine per serving."

Feng Gong nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"What? Forty stalks a serving? Do you think I’m blind?" Feng Gong shouted, pointing at the menu on the wall. "Doesn’t that clearly say ten stalks per serving?"

"Oh." Xiao Zhang’s expression remained unchanged. "We’ve raised the price. It’s forty stalks a serving now."

Feng Gong and the others: "..."

’The price went up?!’

’Of all the times for a price hike, it just had to be the moment we ordered?!’

’Like hell I believe that!’

Just then, a lavishly dressed young man in the distance, still not satisfied after finishing his Soup Over Rice, took out another ten stalks of Immortal Level Spirit Medicine.

"Another serving of Soup Over Rice."

"You got it! Please wait a moment!" Xiao Zhang called out before turning his gaze back to Feng Gong. "So, about that treat... are you paying or not?"

Feng Gong: "..."

"Didn’t you say you raised the price? Why did he only have to pay ten stalks?"

Xiao Zhang rolled his eyes. "Because I felt like it. Is that any of your business?"

Feng Gong flew into a rage. "Are you deliberately targeting me?"

Xiao Zhang chuckled. "Just figuring that out now? You’re a bit slow on the uptake."

"You’re courting death!" Feng Gong slammed his hand on the table.

CRASH!

The immense force shattered the dining table.

The commotion attracted the attention of everyone else in the restaurant, who were either eating or waiting for their food. All eyes turned toward them with curiosity.

Xiao Zhang remained unfazed. "Trying to cause trouble?"

As the City Lord of Yunfeng City, how could Feng Gong possibly stomach such an insult? He was about to turn hostile on the spot.

Qin Hai and the other two quickly held him back.

"Calm down. The kid’s deliberately trying to provoke you. Don’t fall for it!" Qin Hai urged via voice transmission.

Feng Gong knew that, of course, but reason alone isn’t always enough to control one’s emotions.

"Our target is Mo Qi. Don’t ruin our plans!" He Jincheng added, also using a voice transmission.

Feng Gong took a deep breath and, with great effort, suppressed his rage. However, Xiao Zhang’s next words set him off all over again.

"Oh, right, I forgot to remind you. For deliberately destroying the table and disturbing the other guests, you need to pay compensation of five hundred stalks of Immortal Level Spirit Medicine, or other items of equivalent value."

’Five hundred Immortal Level Spirit Medicines?!’

Feng Gong was so shocked he nearly bit his tongue off.

The onlookers were also stunned, each one gasping in disbelief.

This wasn’t just extortion; this was blatant, daylight robbery!

"Is this table of yours made of Immortal or Divine Materials? Five hundred Immortal Level Spirit Medicines? Have you gone mad with greed?" Feng Gong laughed, enraged.

"It doesn’t matter what the table’s made of. You broke it, so you have to pay. Five hundred Immortal Level Spirit Medicines is the rule my Master set!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Zhang took out an Array Plate and channeled his True Essence into it.

A powerful Power of Imprisonment erupted from the Arrays surrounding the restaurant and from the ground beneath, enveloping Feng Gong and his three companions.

"You have two choices. Either pay up, or... well, you know the alternative!"

Feng Gong and his men were dumbfounded.

Ordinarily, an Array of this level would be nothing more than child’s play to them, something they could shatter with a single wave of their hands.

But this was the Desperate Mountain Range, and Elder Ku Mu was sitting not far away, basking in the sun.

Even if they had a hundred times the nerve, they wouldn’t dare use power at or above the Void Realm here.

They knew exactly what Xiao Zhang’s "alternative" was.

Not only would their limbs be broken, but they’d also be stripped naked.

And naturally, all the wealth they carried would be looted.

"I’ll give you three seconds to think it over. If you don’t choose, I’ll assume you’ve picked the second option," Xiao Zhang said, making no effort to hide the eager excitement in his grin.

’Hmph. Daring to send assassins after Master.’

’If I weren’t worried about the repercussions, I’d kill you all right here and now!’

Xiao Zhang wasn’t just stirring up trouble for no reason; he was targeting Feng Gong’s group to get a bit of payback on Mo Qi’s behalf.

"Three."

"Two."

"One..."

"I’ll pay!"

After some persuasion from Qin Hai and the others, who offered to split the cost among the four of them, Feng Gong finally relented.

Five hundred stalks of Immortal Level Spirit Medicine was a painful loss, even when split four ways.

Xiao Zhang accepted the payment and, thoroughly satisfied, deactivated the Array Power.

"So, about that treat... are you still paying?"

Xiao Zhang bringing the matter up again made Feng Gong feel as if he’d just swallowed a fly.

Seeing this, Qin Hai and the other two each took out forty stalks of Immortal Level Spirit Medicine and tossed them to Xiao Zhang.

Xiao Zhang collected the Spirit Medicine and shouted toward the kitchen, "Four bowls of Soup Over Rice!"

Then he turned to leave, muttering just loud enough for Feng Gong’s group to hear, "Tch. Broke-ass. All talk, pretending to be a big shot. Said he was treating, but made everyone else pay for themselves. Utterly shameless!"