Chapter 297: The Addictive Mo Wu Tuan
Even though every cell in his body was resisting, Darn, as an agility-type Spirit Master with Windhound as his martial spirit, was much weaker than Paide, a power-type Spirit Master. With Paide's iron grip on his shoulder, Darn had no way of breaking free from his grasp. In the end, he could only sulk as they followed the route indicated on the map posted outside Han Shi.
What a disaster!
The alley where Ye Lingqing was located was quite remote—so much so that passersby on the bustling food street rarely noticed it.
However, with a map leading the way, it wasn't too difficult to find.
Soon, the duo arrived at the entrance of the alley.
They hadn't expected a dish personally recommended by Boss Qi to be hidden in such an out-of-the-way corner.
"I was just in this area at noon, but I didn't even notice this alley," Paide muttered, recalling his earlier food hunt.
"Paide, let's just go back. A place this secluded probably doesn't have anything good to eat…" Darn, who was still trapped under Paide's grip, pleaded pitifully.
"Nonsense!" Paide's large eyes widened. "Boss Qi personally recommended this dish—how could it not be good?"
After just one visit to Han Shi, Paide had already become a die-hard fan of Qi Han.
Hearing this, Darn fell silent.
Qi Han had never recommended any other dish before.
For him to break this habit, the food must be extraordinary.
But… wasn't this dish just as heretical as Exploding Honey Badger Intestine?!
Darn's face twisted in bitterness.
Why was Boss Qi's first food recommendation something like this?
"Ah! We're here! This must be the place!" Paide's excited voice pulled Darn out of his thoughts.
Looking around, Darn's expression turned a bit strange.
They had reached the end of the alley, and the only food stall in sight was run by a handsome young man engrossed in a book. A few simple tables and chairs were set up in front of him.
Clearly, this stall had to be the one recommended by Boss Qi.
But looking at the empty stall, both Darn and Paide had the same thought:
Why is it so deserted?
Their minds flashed back to the earlier chaos of the food street, where they had almost been swept away by the crowd.
This place was way too secluded.
Not even a single customer?
Ye Lingqing soon noticed their presence. Setting aside the book he had bought to pass the time, he turned to the two newcomers with a hopeful smile.
"Gentlemen, would you like to try Mo Wu Tuan, a specialty from Zhilán Village?"
After a brief pause, he quickly added, "Boss Qi from Han Shi has tried them too. Would you like to give them a shot?"
As he spoke, Ye Lingqing felt his face heat up with embarrassment.
Using Boss Qi's name as an advertisement… felt a bit shameless.
But after waiting for so long, he was afraid that his first potential customers might turn and leave, so he had no choice but to thicken his skin.
Hearing Ye Lingqing's words, Paide grinned. "We came here because Boss Qi recommended this place."
"Huh?"
Ye Lingqing was stunned.
Boss Qi recommended them… personally?
"You didn't know?" Paide chuckled at the young man's bewildered expression. "Boss Qi put up a sign at the entrance of Han Shi, with a map showing the way here. Otherwise…" He laughed again. "Otherwise, we would've never found this hidden alley."
Qi Han… had gone that far to help him?
Ye Lingqing's eyes welled up slightly.
He had already felt incredibly honored when Qi Han agreed to taste his food and give him feedback. After all, Qi Han was the most renowned chef in Shrek City, while he was just an unknown cook.
But now, not only had Qi Han tried his dish, he had even taken the initiative to recommend it to his customers.
Ye Lingqing suddenly recalled Qi Han's parting words:
"Be ready to serve your customers. You might get a pleasant surprise tonight."
So… this was the surprise?
"Young man, what are you spacing out for?" Paide's voice snapped Ye Lingqing back to reality. He shuddered slightly before refocusing.
"Gentlemen, would you like to try the Mo Wu Tuan?"
"We'll each have—"
"Actually, let's just get one." Darn suddenly cut Paide off, his face full of resistance. "I'll pass. I'll just watch you eat."
"Tch!" Paide clicked his tongue in disapproval but didn't argue.
He'd try them himself first.
"How much for one?"
"Five copper coins each…"
"Huh?" Paide blinked in surprise at the price, while Darn's expression also turned a bit strange.
"My Mo Wu Tuan are made using the finest braised sauce and the best soybeans from my hometown, so this price isn't expensive at all—" Thinking the two customers found it too pricey, Ye Lingqing quickly explained.
"If you think it's too much… four copper coins would be fine too." Although this was just the cost price—considering all the extra expenses, he might even be losing money—Ye Lingqing was willing to lower the price to keep his customers.
"Oh, no need." Paide shook his head and handed over five copper coins without hesitation. "Five it is. I'll take one to try."
It was just a few copper coins—he couldn't be bothered to haggle.
Neither he nor Darn was surprised because it was too expensive—rather, they thought it was too cheap.
Sure, there were plenty of snacks on the food street priced similarly, but this was a dish personally recommended by Boss Qi!
They had both assumed the Mo Wu Tuan would cost at least a gold coin.
"Thank you!" Ye Lingqing accepted the payment with excitement before quickly heading back to the frying station. "Please have a seat and wait for a moment—it'll be ready soon!"
"Alright!" Paide casually sat on a stool nearby and glanced at Darn, who sat across from him. "You really aren't gonna try it?"
"Not a chance!" Darn's refusal was absolute. "You know me—I never touch weird-smelling food. The only reason I'm even here with you is because of our decades of friendship!"
"Alright, alright." Paide shrugged, giving up on convincing him.
The two idly chatted, but before long, they suddenly fell silent.
"Darn, do you smell that?" Paide sniffed the air, raising an eyebrow.
Darn's face had already darkened like the bottom of a burnt pot. "If you can smell it, how could I not?"
"Hiss—" Paide sucked in a sharp breath and turned his gaze toward Ye Lingqing, who was busy at the fryer. His expression grew increasingly complicated.
This smell…
Boss Qi had called it unique?
Well… you could say that.
The Mo Wu Tuan weren't even out of the fryer yet, but as the hot oil bubbled around them, their special aroma filled the air. The scent—probably best described as stinky—had a strange, inexplicable pull.
Paide's first instinct was to recoil from the smell.
But somewhere deep inside, a little voice told him to take another whiff.
So he obeyed.
And then, he couldn't stop.
It stank, no doubt about it.
But why did smelling it once make him want to smell it again?
These Mo Wu Tuan…
They were even more addictive than Exploding Honey Badger Intestine!
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