Venerable Demon Chef

Chapter 569: Chapter 566: Sky-high Diagnosis Fee

"You!" Feng Gong was livid, so angry his head throbbed.

He couldn’t even remember how many times he had lost his temper today. Ever since stepping into the restaurant, it had been one thing after another.

Qin Hai quickly shot Feng Gong a look, stopping him before he could fly off the handle. "Then we’ll have to ask Boss Mo to give us a diagnosis," he said.

Mo Qi rolled his eyes. "This is a restaurant, not a clinic. If you want a diagnosis, go find a physician yourself!"

Are you kidding me?

’I’m a chef, not a doctor. I can make Medicinal Cuisine, sure. But diagnose illnesses? Are you insulting my profession?’

Qin Hai said, "We’re willing to pay a consultation fee."

"Hahaha! Uh, Gu Peng, what are you waiting for? Hurry and make some tea for our distinguished guests!" Mo Qi’s face split into a grin in an instant. "It’s a flat rate. One hundred Immortal Level Spirit Medicines per person for the consultation."

Gu Peng was speechless.

Qin Hai and his three companions were speechless.

’Have you no shame?’

’And one hundred Immortal Level Spirit Medicines! Just for a consultation fee!’

’He might as well be asking for the moon!’

"Boss Mo, isn’t that consultation fee a bit outrageous?" Qin Hai couldn’t help but protest.

Mo Qi’s smile stiffened. "No money? Think it’s too expensive?"

He immediately called out to Gu Peng, who was about to make the tea. "Come on back. No need to make tea for these paupers."

Gu Peng was speechless.

Qin Hai and his three companions were speechless.

’Damn, this guy doesn’t pull any punches!’

Even though Gu Peng held immense respect for Mo Qi, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of second-hand embarrassment.

"Mo Qi, don’t take it too far!" He Jincheng roared.

Thanks to the matter with the Void Spirit Flash Flame, he harbored a significant grudge against Mo Qi.

Mo Qi pouted innocently. "Business is a matter of mutual consent. I just quoted a price. Whether or not you accept is entirely up to you. How is that ’taking it too far’?"

He Jincheng was about to retort, but Qin Hai stopped him.

He pondered for a moment before taking out one hundred Immortal Level Spirit Medicines.

He was curious to see what Mo Qi could possibly diagnose.

Know your enemy and know yourself. This would be beneficial for any future confrontations.

One hundred Immortal Level Spirit Medicines were precious, but if it meant probing Mo Qi’s capabilities, it would be a worthy investment.

"Impressive!" Mo Qi said, collecting the Immortal Level Spirit Medicines and giving Qin Hai a thumbs-up.

He Jincheng and the other two were dumbfounded.

’He just spent one hundred Immortal Level Spirit Medicines just like that?!’

’Is Qin Hai just a fool with too much money, or has the anger gone to his head?’

Although they were filled with doubt, they didn’t try to stop him. It wasn’t their money being spent, after all.

"So, Boss Mo, what exactly is my problem?" Qin Hai asked.

Mo Qi held up two fingers. "First, you’re afflicted by a curse. It has seeped into your flesh, your bones, your marrow, and even your very soul. Every hundred years, you must face a great tribulation. If you pass, you can live in peace for another century. If you fail, your soul will be utterly obliterated."

Hearing this, Qin Hai’s expression changed drastically. Killing intent flooded his eyes, and he barely restrained himself from unleashing his Cultivation.

He had assumed Mo Qi would try to fob him off with some nonsense about hidden injuries or Erysipelas. He never imagined the man would instantly pinpoint the deepest secret buried in his heart.

It was true that he faced a calamity every century, but it wasn’t a curse. It was a Soul-Catching Slave Seal.

The so-called Soul-Catching Slave Seal was a technique used to forcibly enslave another person.

The afflicted person had to receive a renewal from the caster every one hundred years to alleviate the pressure exerted by the Soul-Catching Slave Seal.

If they failed to receive this renewal, their soul would shatter, and they would be refined alive by the Soul-Catching Slave Seal until they died.

No one knew that the distinguished Patriarch of the Qin Family had been branded with a Soul-Catching Slave Seal and turned into someone else’s slave.

It was a good thing Mo Qi had called it a curse. If he had directly identified it as a Slave Seal, Qin Hai would have killed him at any cost to eliminate the threat.

"Hahaha, afflicted by a curse? That’s the funniest joke I’ve ever heard! Kid, do you even think before you spew this nonsense?" Feng Gong laughed mockingly.

He and Qin Hai had known each other for over three thousand years, and he’d never once heard of Qin Hai being cursed.

Besides, a great tribulation every hundred years? That was just too far-fetched.

Feng Gong expected Qin Hai to join him in laughing and exposing Mo Qi’s lies.

But Qin Hai paid him no mind. After his expression shifted through several emotions, he stared fixedly at Mo Qi and asked coldly, "What else?"

Feng Gong was stunned. "Qin Hai, is what this kid is saying true?!"

Qin Hai still ignored Feng Gong, his gaze never leaving Mo Qi.

Now even He Jincheng and Gu Weitian were shocked.

’Qin Hai was actually cursed!’

’And a very serious one at that!’

Mo Qi’s expression remained unchanged. "Second, you’ve tried to remove this curse. Not only did you fail, but you also triggered its self-preservation mechanism. Now, it’s gnawing away at your life force day and night. If I’m not mistaken, you won’t even make it to the next hundred-year cycle."

These words struck Qin Hai like a bolt of lightning. He froze, staring at Mo Qi in utter disbelief.

’He could even see that?!’

"Since you could diagnose it so easily, you must have a solution!" Qin Hai said, his voice filled with excitement.

Mo Qi looked at Qin Hai with a wry, unreadable smile.

Qin Hai’s heart dropped. ’I was too hasty,’ he thought.

When it came to the Soul-Catching Slave Seal, even he found it difficult to control his emotions.

Qin Hai took a deep breath, his expression turning solemn. "Boss Mo, I, Qin Hai, formally apologize. I was disrespectful to you earlier. As long as you can help me resolve this curse, I am willing to pay any price!"

Feng Gong and the others looked completely bewildered. With Mo Qi’s appearance, the situation seemed to have veered completely off course.

They wanted to question Qin Hai, but it was clearly not the right time.

"Would you agree even if I asked for half of your family’s estate?" Mo Qi asked with a smile.

Qin Hai sucked in a sharp breath, the shock pulling him out of his agitated state.

"Although I am the Patriarch of the Qin Family, I do not have the authority to give away half of the family’s assets. I only have complete control over my personal property," Qin Hai said seriously.

"Then I’ll take half of your personal wealth!" Mo Qi said.

"Deal!" Qin Hai agreed without the slightest hesitation.

But Mo Qi waved his hand. "Don’t be so quick to agree. I’m not finished yet."

"I can’t remove your curse for you, but I can solve the problem of your dwindling lifespan."

Qin Hai frowned, displeased. "Are you messing with me? You want half my wealth just to solve a lifespan issue?"

"Heh." Mo Qi chuckled. "Heaven and earth are vast, but nothing is more important than your own life. Are you saying half your fortune is worth more than that?"

Qin Hai’s expression turned grim.

"That’s the price. Take it or leave it," Mo Qi said nonchalantly.

"Fine! I’ll take the deal!" Qin Hai agreed, gritting his teeth.

"Qin Hai, you...?" Feng Gong and the others shot him questioning looks.

"We’ll discuss this when we get back. The kid really does have some ability. One hundred Immortal Level Spirit Medicines wasn’t too high a price for that consultation," Qin Hai sent to the other three via voice transmission.

The three men looked at each other. After a moment of contemplation, they each gritted their teeth and took out one hundred Immortal Level Spirit Medicines, handing them to Mo Qi.

Mo Qi wasn’t surprised by this at all. He knew perfectly well what kinds of problems these three were dealing with.

They were being fleeced, and all they could do was hold their noses and accept it.

P.S. I’ve finally sorted out all the messy real-life stuff. Here are three Chapters for you today! I (Mifan) am going to start making up for the missed updates! This isn’t another case of crying wolf, I promise! If I start releasing four or five Chapters a day starting tomorrow, will you still love me? Can you forgive this little cutie? *sniffle sniffle*