Chapter 235: Qi Poxiao's Excitement
"Enough about that—where are your other little followers? Only one of them's here," Qi Poxiao asked with a grin, casting a glance at Yu Hua, who stood behind Tang Qianqiu.
Tang Qianqiu couldn't help but roll his eyes. Little followers? Yu Hua was the leader of one of Shrek's branch halls, after all. Though given their ages, the four hall masters did seem like youngsters to the two of them.
Tang Qianqiu's face briefly flashed with embarrassment as he recalled how yesterday Tai Lei and Zhao Yunsheng had taken leave, dashing off to the Star Luo City branch for a "family visit."
Those idiots! he thought, determined to keep this from Qi Poxiao. Some things are better left unsaid.
"They're off on a Tang Sect mission," he replied smoothly. "Why do you even care?"
"Fair enough." Qi Poxiao shrugged, a little disappointed. He'd hoped to tease Tai Lei for old times' sake, but alas, no chance today.
…
"Achoo!"
Tai Lei let out a sneeze like a rumble of thunder, rubbing his nose. "Who's thinkin' about me now?"
Standing behind him, Zhao Yunsheng rolled his eyes.
"Hey, old sparrow, when are we headin' back to Shrek City?" Tai Lei muttered, staring at the closed door of the Small Shop restaurant. "I'm still not tired of this hotpot yet. Maybe… we stay a few more days?"
The two of them had rushed to Star Luo City yesterday, only to find out that Small Shop's owner, Qi Han, had already left and gone back to Shrek City. Disappointed but enticed by the aromas wafting from Small Shop, they found themselves lured back in by the scent of all kinds of hotpot broths.
One taste, and they were astonished.
They'd never seen food like this before—cooking the ingredients yourself, dipping them in sauces, and choosing from various broths. It was truly unique.
Tai Lei, a meat lover, was especially won over by the sheer variety of meats and the intense, spicy broth, which was just to his taste.
Zhao Yunsheng, on the other hand, loved the refined presentation and the elegance of swishing ingredients lightly through the broth before dipping them in sauces. His preference for a mild-flavored broth was well met by the selection on offer.
Hearing Tai Lei's suggestion, Zhao Yunsheng wore a rare expression of hesitation.
During their stay, he discovered that the branch master of the Star Luo City Intelligence Hall was a member of the Bai family. Although they hadn't interacted directly, Zhao Yunsheng harbored little fondness for anyone from the Bai family, and the feeling appeared mutual. The situation was somewhat awkward for him, making him eager to return.
But… he'd only had two meals of hotpot and felt he hadn't fully appreciated its flavors. How could he leave now?
Unlike the simple-minded Tai Lei, Zhao Yunsheng had the foresight to ask a server, a young man named Ke Ke, about the hotpot's availability. He learned that even if they returned to Shrek City, this unique hotpot wasn't available there yet. It was exclusive to the Star Luo City branch.
So, with a sigh, Zhao Yunsheng resigned himself.
Alright… a few more days it is. I'll just avoid running into that unpleasant fellow.
Taking a deep breath, he finally said, "Let's stay a few more days. We might not get to enjoy this hotpot back in Shrek City."
Just then, with a creak, the restaurant's door opened as Ke Ke pulled it open, and both Tai Lei and Zhao Yunsheng's faces lit up.
At last, they were open for business!
…
Meanwhile, back in Shrek City, news of Small Shop reopening had swept through the city like wildfire as the gathering of dozens of powerful figures spread the word.
Countless eager diners poured out from their homes, racing toward Small Shop, desperate to secure a spot in line.
As Fu Ya opened the doors, customers flooded in, and the first thing they did was glance at the price board. When they noticed the six new dishes listed, delight spread across their faces.
Of these six new dishes, two—like the previous "Fish Belly Stuffed with Lamb"—were marked with purple prices, indicating their premium cost. While too expensive for ordinary patrons, high-level spirit masters were thrilled. If the "Fish Belly Stuffed with Lamb" had such miraculous effects as deep meditation, what unique benefits might these new dishes offer? Their curiosity was piqued.
The remaining four dishes, however, were reasonably priced for most patrons. With such a well-rounded selection, there was something for everyone to enjoy.
Excitement reached a peak when Fu Ya announced the addition of a new item: Blazing Cup. It was a drink.
Wine!
One of the biggest complaints about Small Shop had been the absence of alcoholic beverages; the only available drink was the sweet and refreshing Qinan Juice.
While satisfying, it couldn't please patrons who relished a good drink with their meal.
In this rustic world where people had an even greater passion for wine than back on Earth, many had resorted to bringing their own to pair with Small Shop's delicious dishes.
Now, finally, Small Shop had its own wine on the menu—who could resist?
Tang Qianqiu and Qi Poxiao found a vacant table and sat across from each other, with Yu Hua taking a seat beside Tang Qianqiu.
The fourth seat was still open, so Qi Poxiao waved over Cao Rang.
Once seated, Qi Poxiao cast a glance at Tang Qianqiu. "You must've tried all these dishes back in Star Luo City, right? Any recommendations?"
Tang Qianqiu gave him a wry look. "If I recall correctly, you've got quite a few old injuries yourself, don't you?"
"Of course. When you're over a hundred, having a few hidden injuries is just par for the course," Qi Poxiao replied calmly.
While Tang Qianqiu had opted for a non-traditional path for a plant-based spirit master, mastering the Blue Silver Overlord Spear and the powerful spear arts, his Blue Silver Grass martial spirit still had nurturing qualities. His Living Spear Will was a steady, balanced style.
However, Qi Poxiao's martial spirit was inherently aggressive—a pure spear that required raw force. As such, he bore far more injuries than Tang Qianqiu, accumulated over years, and they were challenging to heal. It was the reason Qi Poxiao, despite being close in age to Tang Qianqiu, appeared aged and worn.
"Try the Qing Dynasty Blessed Pork Meat," Tang Qianqiu replied with a cryptic smile, eyeing the menu. "You might be surprised."
"Huh?" Qi Poxiao gave him a puzzled look. What's that supposed to mean? Was this guy deliberately keeping him in the dark?
Turning to his disciple, Qi Poxiao asked, "Cao Rang, what's up with this Qing Dynasty Blessed Pork Meat?"
Unlike Tang Qianqiu, Cao Rang didn't dare play coy with his master. Tang Qianqiu's words reminded him of his teacher's old injuries, bringing a hint of excitement to his face. "Master, the Qing Dynasty Blessed Pork Meat has a healing effect for stubborn ailments and can treat hidden injuries without any side effects."
"This dish could be a game-changer for you!"
Qi Poxiao stared blankly at Tang Qianqiu. "So… all your old injuries… are healed?"
Tang Qianqiu nodded, a smile forming. "If we fought now, I could take on two of you!"
"Bah!" Qi Poxiao rolled his eyes but felt his heart race.
For the first time in years, this powerful spirit master struggled to keep his composure.
A hundred years!
For a century, he had been plagued by these injuries, forced to hold back whenever he fought, knowing full exertion would worsen his condition.
He had spent years meditating under the Golden Tree, letting its natural essence maintain his fragile health, but he was weakening by the year.
If the Qing Dynasty Blessed Pork Meat could truly cure his old wounds…
"One order of Qing Dynasty Blessed Pork Meat!" he called out, unable to contain himself.
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