Aside from the guests he'd invited personally, there were a few more whom other girls had gone to fetch.
Klee, Amber, Sucrose…
Xia Zhi returned to the Church of Favonius, entered the Serenitea Pot, and began preparing the food.
Although he'd been slightly delayed by the massage and training advice, it wasn't a big problem—he had the ability to accelerate time, after all.
As usual, Xiangling and Guoba were in the kitchen helping him.
The first dishes he prepared were [Gods' Temptation], followed by [Hundred Herbs Broth].
Every dish today was made in an extra-large batch, though he plated them in normal portions for serving, storing the rest in his inventory.
The invited guests gradually arrived.
Lisa, curious, wandered into the kitchen—only to be instantly captivated by the fragrance of [Gods' Temptation] as its lid was lifted.
She lingered by the pot, unwilling to leave, peppering Xia Zhi with questions about the recipe.
He told her about the long list of transcendent ingredients he'd used.
Lisa was left stunned—more than half the ingredients were ones she'd never even heard of.
Reluctantly, she left the kitchen.
The Dragon King eyed the scholarly-looking beauty and whispered, "Mountain Shaper boy, what's your read on her?"
Mountain Shaper could only laugh helplessly. "I told you, I'm just guessing."
"Then guess again."
"…Fine. I think she's connected to Mr. Xia somehow."
"In that case, Moon Carver boy, do a divination."
"Dragon King."
"Hurry, hurry, hurry!"
With no choice, Moon Carver pulled out his old coins and cast a hexagram for Lisa.
The pattern formed.
"What's the verdict?"
Moon Carver's expression turned odd. In a low voice, he said, "According to the hexagram, this Miss Lisa indeed will have a special connection with Mr. Xia."
"Then guess again—that green-haired one over there… Sucrose, was it?"
"I think… she's connected."
"Hurry, hurry, cast the hexagram."
Moon Carver cast again.
The pattern formed.
"Well?"
"According to the hexagram, this Miss Sucrose also will have a special connection with Mr. Xia."
Mountain Shaper was ready to curse. "Is that the only line you know? Are you just making this up?"
Moon Carver shot him a glance and said nothing.
When it was time to eat, they started with the regular dishes.
Once everyone had eaten their fill, he brought out the [Gods' Temptation] and [Hundred Herbs Broth].
It was Venti's first time tasting [Gods' Temptation]—and due to its trait, he fell into a dazed stupor on the spot.
The others, though lacking that trait, were also left stunned for a long moment.
Lisa gazed at the [Gods' Temptation] in her bowl like it was a priceless treasure. "It's such a pity Jean couldn't come today."
Beside her, Kaeya nodded in agreement. "To miss something this delicious really is a shame."
---
To accommodate Venti, today's dinner was split into two tables.
Diona sat on the left, Venti on the right, the distance between them just enough to keep Venti from triggering his sneezing fits.
Xia Zhi, Xia Ci, and Xia Zhen sat with Venti.
Since there were two seasoned drinkers at the table—Venti and the Dragon King—good wine was, of course, a must.
Xia Zhi poured everyone a round of Extreme Rainbow Liquor, as promised—bottomless refills.
After a few rounds, the Dragon King called for Venti to play something on the lyre.
Venti took out his wooden lyre, played a short ballad, then turned the tables and insisted Xia Zhi perform as well—something about them both being champions, so he couldn't refuse.
Smiling, Xia Zhi took out the [Dragon's Call Guqin] and set it on the table.
Here in the small world of the Serenitea Pot, there was no worry about Dvalin overhearing.
Xia Zhi plucked the strings, beginning the song he had long prepared for Azhdaha.
From the moment eyes were carved into stone, to fighting side by side, to the Archon War, to turning against each other, and finally, to the calm and quiet of the present.
As the Dragon King listened, the traits [Dragon Resonance] pulled him deep into memory. He couldn't pull himself free, his eyes even turning red—whether from sorrow or anger, it was hard to tell.
Mountain Shaper and Moon Carver, hearing it, couldn't help but sigh over the past.
Cloud Retainer and Madame Ping sat stunned, gazes fixed on Xia Zhi still playing—one watching the man, the other the music.
The song ended.
Venti let out a soft sigh. "My dear friend, you really are better than me."
Xia Zhi chuckled. "This world's second-best bard—please, call me the world's number one."
Venti laughed and swore. "Get lost."
When the meal was over, everyone began to take their leave.
Some of the girls were heading straight to the fishing competition, so Xia Zhi handed them water flasks infused with Stamina Recovery Pills, along with [Strange Fish Bait].
He also stopped Amber, asking her to deliver two packed meals to Acting Grand Master Jean and Noelle.
Amber smiled. "Mr. Xia, you really are so thoughtful."
Xia Zhi couldn't help but think of Hu Tao.
When he first opened his shop last year, Hu Tao had said something similar to him.
He wondered how her figure was doing these days.
---
Amber arrived at the Knights of Favonius headquarters and knocked on Jean's office door.
"Master Jean, I came to see you!"
"Amber."
"Eh? Master Jean, you're eating instant noodles?"
"Yes, I'm pressed for time. Lots of work to get through."
"You work so hard."
"If there's nothing urgent, please let me get back to it."
"There is something! Ta-da! Look, Master Jean!"
"…This is?"
"These are the dishes we had for lunch today. Mr. Xia packed some for you ahead of time and asked me to bring them over."
Jean paused for a moment, then smiled.
"Mr. Xia is really too much, going to such trouble."
Amber immediately said, "Master Jean, you have no idea what you missed at lunch today!"
"Oh? What did I miss?"
"You missed the most delicious dish in the world."
"Last time you said that, you were talking about instant noodles."
"That was last time."
"What dish is it?"
"It's called [Gods' Temptation], and it's absolutely incredible! Mr. Xia must've packed some for you in the food box too. You should eat it quickly before it gets cold. I still have to bring Noelle's share."
"Oh, alright."
Amber turned to leave.
Jean set aside her freshly-prepared instant noodles, walked over, and picked up the heavy stack of food boxes.
That's when she noticed a book on the floor.
How had a book suddenly appeared in her office?
She thought for a moment—it must have slipped out when Amber took the food boxes from her space ring.
Amber had only just received the ring, so she probably wasn't fully used to it yet.
Jean picked it up and saw the cover.
Liyue script.
Naturally, she could read it.
The synopsis suggested it was a cultivation novel.
Jean didn't open it further, placing it on her desk to return to Amber later.
She opened the first food box.
An alluring fragrance immediately filled the air, overpowering the instant noodle smell that had dominated the room.
Jean couldn't help swallowing.
So fragrant.
She opened the second box.
An even more enticing aroma spread, completely overtaking the first dish's scent.
Clearly, the second box contained something better.
If Mr. Xia had packed the dishes in this order, then the very bottom one should be the [Gods' Temptation] Amber had mentioned.
Curious, Jean carefully lifted the final box and opened it.
A rich, complex aroma washed over her.
Just from the smell alone, Jean found herself stunned.
After a long moment, she finally came back to her senses and took a small, cautious bite.
Mm…
Jean nearly cried from how good it was.
How could something taste this divine?!
Instant noodles? She never wanted them again.
----
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