The lunch did not have to be eaten together. There were tables and chairs available all throughout the tavern, so if anyone wanted to go eat separately, they could. However, since everyone was gathered together, they all felt like eating together. Or maybe they had so other intentions.
Regardless, Lex snapped his fingers to arrange a line of picnic benches laid in a line for all the Dao Lords to sit together and face to face. As they sat down and opened their dishes, they were welcod to the sight of deep fried chicken with a few rolls of garlic bread, so coleslaw and a number of dips. Alongside the food were a number of drinks
"Before we begin," said the Innkeeper, his voice washing over all the Dao Lords. Many of them, actually, had already begun to eat but that didn't matter for the plates in front of them were promptly replaced. All the Dao Lords, sitting together at the table, looked towards the Innkeeper who stood at the hood of the table, Eclipse, Ventura and the others sitting close by him.
"I would like to share a little about mortal customs with you all, though I am sure you all are already aware of them," the Innkeeper continued, glancing towards one of the three clones Wu Kong had at the table. Although the monkey didn't appear to be doing anything, Lex in keeping with the assumption that he was always up to sothing, gave him a glance as if warning a mischievous child at the family dinner table.
"Mortals live a fleeting life, so short that they are gone in the blink of an eye. They are so of the weakest, most insignificant beings in the universe, and yet they are still very much a part of it, and many renown figures co from mortal origins. Their mortality grants them a perspective and outlook that only the absolute knowledge of forthcoming death can grant - and one of the most important of those perspectives is gratitude."
A hundred faces ant a hundred different thoughts. Everyone who sat at the table interpreted his words differently, but there was nothing Lex could do about that. His only actual goal was to llow out the excitent after all the previous activities. After all, instigating a new universal war was still a distinct possibility since the tea party had many days left.
"In the eternal pursuit for more, it is rare to take ti out to appreciate what we already have. At least, that has been my experience. So, before we begin this al, let enact a mortal custom of a host giving a speech, and saying a prayer - not to anyone else, but perhaps to our inner selves.
"The universe is a precarious place, and the tis are even more unusual. There is unrest and distrust in the very fabric of reality, so during this tumultuous ti I am extrely grateful that so many prestigious guests could co and honor my humble establishnt with your presence.
"I am grateful that at this ti where the universe is plotting and conspiring against one another, that we can sit here together and enjoy each other's company. I do not know when I will hold such a tea party again, and I do not know how many of you will be able to attend the next ti I do either. The future is uncertain, and the past is shrouded in mystery, but at least in this mont, we are all happy and healthy."
The Innkeeper raised a single mug of lemonade, and said "cheers."
Many other Dao Lords raised their mugs too, and afterwards chugged their own drinks before beginning to partake in what was, genuinely, the most humble al any of them had ever had in their lives.
So of them, however, felt chills. On the surface, it seed like the Innkeeper was wishing them all well, and appreciating the opportunity. However, it also seed like a warning. The Innkeeper did not know how many of them would attend the next tea party.
Did that an they would be busy, or that they would be dead? What did it an to be grateful for what they had right now? Did that an they were going to lose it?
While many of them were speculating upon each and every single word he had uttered, there was one in particular who glanced towards the Innkeeper. As it happened, the Innkeeper looked back at him at that exact mont.
Did the Innkeeper know?
Why did he ntion plots and conspiracies? Was his plan seen through from the very beginning? If that was the case, why didn't the Innkeeper reveal it? Was he only speculating? Or did he have other considerations?
That Dao Lord decided, in that mont, to cancel all his plans for the tea party. This was not a risk he could take. Instead, he should be grateful that he's even allowed to leave here alive that is surely what the Innkeeper ant.
He would... rember this.
So Dao Lords gave speeches as well, and the al went well-though it did not last very long at all. As soon as the al was over, many of the Dao Lords quickly separated into groups again.
Not only did they need to continue their previous etings, they needed to reassess so of their plans based on what had co to light. Things were going to take a significant change after this eting, for the threat of being trapped in that do in Arch-Heaven was a very real one.
Harriot had already stated that if there were any significant developnts regarding the do, he would inform them, but it was unlikely that there were going to be many changes.
To Lex's imnse surprise, nothing major seed to happen after that. The lunch was a massive success in the sense that no one complained about the food, and Lex personally enjoyed the flavor quite a lot.
Thus, Lex spent the next few hours in unexpected silence. Most of the Dao Lords went into etings, this ti including Ventura and Voidmaw. Eclipse and Nulli continued to sit together in the garden, chatting amongst themselves and Little Crusty just straight up left the tavern and went into the garden, unconcerned about anyone else.
After patrolling the tavern a few tis and finding not a single other Dao Lord outside, Lex went to Mary who was wearing jeans and a maroon tshirt, and sitting on the railing of the terrace, looking out at the garden.
"What are you thinking?" Lex asked her through his mind, not even relying on spirit sense. Nothing save the system could ensure privacy in this setting. Who knew if Wu Kong was actually sitting behind them? Or soone else for that
matter.
"I was just... thinking about how far we've co," Mary said, her eyes turned towards the garden but her gaze sowhere far beyond it.
Lex did not speak, instead looking out as well. He had a feeling that Mary had a lot on her mind at that mont.
"When we t you were a depressed man at a park, and I was an incomplete soul with barely any mories of who I was. When the system scanned your mories to adapt to you, it was your mories that gave a face... a na. Now, I have Dao Lords trying to court and take my opinion on things that just seem like common sense to . It's... been a journey."
Lex thought back to that night. Life was so dull back then. How simple had his desires been? He just wanted to feel anything other than like his life was so aningless. Although the tumor had a lot to do with that, on so level, it had to reflect his own thoughts as well, right?
As much as he doubted and suspected the system... without it, his life would
not be anywhere as interesting and amazing as it was. Sure, he put in plenty of work himself as well, but he could not deny that it was the system that started it all, and took him on a journey that could have never happened without it.
"What brought all this on?" Lex asked, finally.
Mary shrugged.
"I don't know. Maybe it's the speech you gave about gratitude that made think about all we've been through and just... appreciate where we are." Lex took in his surroundings. He was sitting on the terrace of the Midnight tavern with one of his closest friends, inside the Primordial Garden, one of the most exclusive places in the universe. He had been hosted by the owner of the garden herself, and given a lot of respect by many of his guests - even if they had so misunderstandings about him.
"Yeah, life can be pretty crappy sotis, but it can also be pretty great," Lex said as he thought back to so of the dark and happy monts he'd experienced along the way.
Wow, things were getting unexpectedly sentintal.
"Do you mind if I state a random theory of mine?" Mary asked, finally looking
away from the scenery and looking at Lex.
Author's Note: If you are reading this, please go read the actual authors note made on this chapter on webnovel. That is a ssage I want to share with anyone who has ever read and liked The Innkeeper.
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