"My apologies. Allow to properly introduce myself. I am Song Changsheng. A pleasure to et you, Fellow Daoist Zhu," Song Changsheng said, clasping his hands in a formal salute.
"So, does this an Fellow Daoist Song agrees to be friends with ?"
"Fellow Daoist Zhu, you have a chivalrous heart. You spoke out for a complete stranger. It is my good fortune to make your acquaintance."
Song Changsheng was more than willing to befriend people with good intentions. After all, in this life, it was always better to have one more friend than one more enemy.
"Hahaha, you flatter , Fellow Daoist Song. I just couldn’t stand by and watch that man cheat and swindle everyone.
I feel like we hit it off right away. If you’re not busy, why don’t we find a place and have a few drinks?" Zhu Yiqun said modestly, though inwardly he was overjoyed.
Song Changsheng had more or less finished his browsing anyway. Hearing Zhu Yiqun’s suggestion, he nodded. "That sounds wonderful. I’ve heard the Jade Cuisine Workshop in Liuyun Marketplace is exceptional. Why don’t we go and see what they have to offer?"
"Hahaha, excellent! After you, Fellow Daoist Song." Zhu Yiqun readily agreed. He had suggested the drinks, so it wouldn’t have been proper for him to also pick the location; they weren’t that familiar with each other yet.
The Jade Cuisine Workshop was an incredibly popular restaurant. Its owner belonged to no power in Ling Province, nor even in the entire Daqi Cultivation World.
It was a chain restaurant that spanned multiple countries and had an incredibly powerful backer. Rumor had it that even in the most chaotic of lands, no one could touch you once you stepped inside a Jade Cuisine Workshop.
Over ti, dining at the Jade Cuisine Workshop had beco a symbol of status.
Song Changsheng chose this place for two reasons: first, to show how seriously he took this new friendship, and second, to guard against any potential foul play.
Making friends was one thing, but one still had to be vigilant.
"Welco, esteed guests. Table for two? What can I get you?" As soon as they walked in, a smiling waiter greeted them enthusiastically. His attitude was respectful without being obsequious—a perfectly struck balance.
Song Changsheng glanced around and found the spacious first floor a little too noisy for his liking. He said to the waiter, "Do you have any private rooms available? We’d like one by the window. And please bring us a selection of your house specialties."
The waiter nodded at once. "Of course. This way, esteed guests."
The waiter led them to a private room nad "Orchid." After pouring them tea, he said, "Your food and wine will be out shortly, esteed guests. Please enjoy the wait."
"Thank you for your trouble." Understanding the etiquette, Song Changsheng took out two Spirit Stones and handed them over as a tip.
After the waiter left, Song Changsheng gestured for Zhu Yiqun to take a seat. "I haven’t yet asked, Fellow Daoist Zhu, which sect do you hail from?"
Zhu Yiqun smiled. "I am but a humble Loose Cultivator. I can’t possibly compare to you, Fellow Daoist Song."
Song Changsheng didn’t think he was lying, which ca as a surprise. ’He seems to be about my age, but I can’t read his cultivation level at all. It must be quite impressive.’
’If he’s truly a Loose Cultivator, his talent must be astonishing.’
Though he saw the doubt in Song Changsheng’s eyes, Zhu Yiqun had no intention of explaining himself. Instead, he pointed at Song Changsheng’s waist. "Fellow Daoist Song, I can sll the distinct aroma of wine. You’re carrying so good stuff."
Song Changsheng paused, then took the Treasure Gourd from his waist. "Your sense of sll is incredible, Fellow Daoist," he said, amazed. "I can’t believe you could detect it."
The stout man laughed heartily, drained his teacup in one gulp, and set it down before Song Changsheng. "It’s not just my nose that’s sharp; my judgnt of character is first-rate, too. The very first ti I saw you outside the Marketplace, I knew you were soone worth knowing.
"Now, slling this wine, I’m more certain than ever. You, my friend, appreciate good wine, and I appreciate good food. We’re a perfect match!"
"Hahaha, I bet you’ve been after my Spirit Wine this whole ti, haven’t you, Fellow Daoist?"
Song Changsheng teased as he uncorked the gourd and filled both their cups. Instantly, a soul-stirring fragrance filled the private room.
Zhu Yiqun’s eyes lit up. He lifted the cup, took a delicate sniff, then a small sip. His eyes narrowed in bliss. After a long mont, he licked his lips. "This wine is llow and smooth, without a trace of harshness, and the finish is long and pleasant. Excellent wine. Truly excellent."
With that, he drained the Spirit Wine from his cup, an expression of pure satisfaction spreading across his face.
Song Changsheng refilled his cup and smiled. "This Spirit Wine was brewed by my own mother. If I didn’t feel such a kinship with you, Fellow Daoist, I wouldn’t have dread of bringing it out."
"Is that so? Well, in that case, I must have so more!" Zhu Yiqun tilted his head back, and the cup was empty in an instant.
Just like that, the two began to drink together, toasting and downing their cups.
Before long, the waiter brought in their dishes.
There was a small platter of jerky, a whole stead Spirit Fish, and several side dishes mixing at and vegetables.
The mont the food was placed on the table, its rich aroma completely overpowered the scent of wine that had filled the room.
"The Jade Cuisine Workshop certainly lives up to its reputation," Zhu Yiqun said with satisfaction. "The presentation, the aroma, the flavor—it’s all perfect. And all the ingredients and seasonings are top-quality Spiritual Materials."
"Fellow Daoist Zhu, you call yourself a gourmand. I wonder, where would you rank the Jade Cuisine Workshop’s cooking?" Fellow Daoist Song asked, taking a sip of wine.
Zhu Yiqun grinned and replied confidently, "Among the restaurants I’ve actually eaten at, Jade Cuisine Workshop easily makes the top five. But if you include all the chefs I know *of*, it wouldn’t even make the top fifty."
Song Changsheng popped a piece of fish into his mouth and was stunned by the exquisite taste. Hearing Zhu Yiqun’s claim, he asked doubtfully, "Only in the top five? You an you’ve eaten at four places even better than this?"
"Of course," Zhu Yiqun affird with a nod. "But three of them are places you wouldn’t have heard of."
"Does that an there’s one I should know?" Song Changsheng frowned, racking his brain. As far as he knew, no one in all of Ling Province could rival the Jade Cuisine Workshop.
Seeing Song Changsheng deep in thought, Zhu Yiqun gave a mischievous grin. He pointed a chubby finger at his own nose and said, "It’s , Fellow Daoist Song! Tell , do you know or not?"
"Fellow Daoist, I thought you were a gourmand. Are you saying you can cook as well?" Song Changsheng asked, eyeing him skeptically. When a Cultivator claid to be a cook, it ant they were a ranked Spirit Chef, not just soone who could handle a wok.
"That’s a narrow-minded view, Fellow Daoist. How can a true gourmand not know how to cook? As it happens, I am a Tier One top-grade dicinal food chef," Zhu Yiqun said, clasping his hands in a perfectly straight-faced manner.
This ti, Song Changsheng was genuinely astonished. dicinal Chef was a truly rare profession, second only to Sword Forger in scarcity. He never imagined this portly man had such a skill.
"It seems you’re still not convinced, Fellow Daoist. In that case, I’ll have to give you a little demonstration."
Zhu Yiqun produced a small porcelain vial from his sleeve. He uncorked it, sprinkled so yellowish-brown powder onto the jerky, and said proudly, "This is my own special seasoning. I’m not just bragging when I say that no matter the dish, a dash of this will elevate the flavor to a whole new level. Please, Fellow Daoist, be my guest."
Dubiously, Song Changsheng picked up a piece of jerky. After discreetly checking that it was safe, he popped it into his mouth.
He chewed for a mont, and his pupils instantly dilated...
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