Wanmin Restaurant was already swamped and extremely busy due to the crowd.
Now, with the arrival of several adepti, the place was instantly packed to capacity!
Everyone wanted to seize this chance to catch a glimpse of the adepti. Unfortunately, the wooden door to the private room where the adepti were seated was tightly shut, making it very difficult for anyone to see inside.
Master Mao had even stationed several waiters outside the door to stand guard. The fact that adepti had deigned to visit a mortal restaurant must not be disturbed.
This commotion also caught the attention of a certain Tianquan Star. Her sources of information and network of informants were always extensive, and within minutes she learned of the trio's arrival.
However, she wasn't overly concerned about it. Compared to such matters, she preferred to lay more groundwork for her own future plans.
It was indeed surprising that adepti would come to the mortal realm of Liyue.
But since they were allies, there was little to worry about. However, the adepti's arrival could create unnecessary complications regarding certain security matters.
Therefore, the Tianquan Star, Ningguang, only dispatched Ganyu and some Millelith soldiers to observe the situation and maintain order.
(Ganyu is the secretary of the Liyue Qixing, with both human and adeptal beast blood flowing in her veins. By nature elegant and serene, yet the gentle temperament of the adeptal beast "Qilin" does not conflict in the least with her firm, diligent work ethic.)
(T/N: Author started adding character descriptions out of nowhere.)
As a half-adeptus, Ganyu was often holed up in her office, tirelessly processing documents, frequently missing many opportunities for rest.
Her work was to follow the "contract" with Rex Lapis and seek the greatest good for the majority of lives in Liyue.
Shortly after the recent demon god incident was resolved, Ganyu first checked the surrounding situation. Once she confirmed everything was in order, she returned to her office.
But just as she returned, she immediately received the task of checking on the status of the two returned adepti. Ganyu was quite curious about this assignment.
After all, she had once followed Rex Lapis and the other adepti during the Archon War and had at least a passing acquaintance with the two returned Vigilant Yakshas.
It was precisely because of this that Ganyu temporarily set aside the mountainous pile of documents in her office and came to the vicinity of Wanmin Restaurant.
Ganyu was very agile and swift. In no time at all, she was standing atop a high rooftop.
---
On a Rooftop Somewhere
If an observant person looked up at the rooftops, they would surely see a woman standing on a very high and precarious rooftop.
The woman on the rooftop was Ganyu. Her hair was long and blue, gathered into a ponytail at the back that fell naturally.
A single strand of hair stuck up on top of her head, and two small black-and-red Qilin horns grew on either side of her head.
A golden cowbell hung from her stand-up collar. Her Cryo Vision was attached to a Chinese knot at her waist. She wore a white, short qipao with golden patterns, with a one-piece, form-fitting, backless garment underneath. Black sheer pantyhose covered her legs, with golden patterns on the garters.
Her hands were covered by white sleeves with double-layered cuffs, the inner layer a gradient blue flaring outward. She wore black gloves that reached her forearms, with the color on her lower arms also a gradient blue.
At this moment, Ganyu was tilting her head, looking around with a puzzled expression, muttering softly to herself.
"Huh? Where are those two adepti?"
Ganyu looked left and right in confusion. The address is correct, isn't it? And there's a crowd gathered here.
"They must be inside sampling the dishes, right? Then it wouldn't be appropriate for me to disturb them. I should wait for them to come out first..."
Ganyu spoke to herself in a very gentle voice, thinking internally, Just wait a little while longer.
Ganyu wanted to finish handling the matter quickly and leave Wanmin Restaurant immediately. It wasn't because she disliked the place, but because the food here smelled too delicious.
Once, Ganyu had the fortune of visiting here. The vegetarian dishes, prepared with Chef Xiangling's innovative methods, were incredibly tasty—the kind you couldn't stop eating once you started.
That time, she had eaten until her belly was quite full. To avoid gaining weight! She must not give in to that temptation for a tasty meal!
Hmm, absolutely must not!
Thinking this, she first swallowed her saliva, then stood quietly on the rooftop, watching the crowd below, waiting for the group to emerge.
.....
A while later
Perhaps her willpower wasn't very strong, or perhaps the intense work of the past few days had left her utterly exhausted.
As a result, she stood on the rooftop, her little horned head nodding, occasionally making soft gu gu sounds, as if extremely sleepy.
A bit more time passed
Finally, after this long wait, Ganyu ultimately couldn't resist the temptation of drowsiness and fell asleep standing right there on the rooftop. It was quite impressive.
After all, sleeping while standing on a rooftop—such a dangerous feat—wasn't something an ordinary person could achieve easily.
One could only say, as expected of the Secretary of the Liyue Qixing, as expected of a half-adeptus, effortlessly accomplishing what a human could not.
---
Back to the Private Room with Zhongli and the Others
(A Few Minutes Earlier)
"Wow! It's the Conqueror of Demons! Has the Conqueror of Demons come to try my new dishes again?"
Upon hearing from her father that adepti had arrived, Xiangling rushed in, her face flushed with excitement.
The rosy color on her face suggested this young girl might be up to something, giving off a sense of foreboding.
(Xiangling is the Wanmin Restaurant's new head chef and waitress, possessing an immense passion for the culinary arts, and especially skilled at preparing spicy dishes. Though young, her cooking skills are superb, earning her considerable fame among the gourmands of Chihu Rock.)
At this moment, Xiangling was very excited. Perfect timing—she had just developed several new dishes! She could bring them out for the adepti to sample!
"Oh! So, Mr. Zhongli is here too!" Xiangling ran to Zhongli's side, looking at him with starry eyes. This was a VIP!
Mr. Zhongli could always offer better suggestions regarding ingredients. Xiangling remembered many times when she had new half-finished dishes that she had shelved for a long time because she couldn't find inspiration.
It was after Mr. Zhongli tasted them and offered advice that Xiangling was finally able to complete those half-finished dishes and add them to the menu.
"Chef Xiangling is as energetic as ever, I see..."
Zhongli nodded slightly. Xiangling, like Hu Tao, was a very lively girl, though Xiangling was slightly outmatched by Hu Tao.
After all, Xiangling had also been given quite a few headaches by Hu Tao, who loved pranks and enjoyed teasing Xiangling.
But there was no need to worry, as his old friend (Guoba) would step up for Xiangling. He didn't need to intervene personally.
"Enough about that for now! Mr. Zhongli, what would you like to eat? I highly recommend the new dishes from these past few days!"
"I went to a dangerous region! The ingredients there were exceptionally fierce! Thankfully, Guoba protected me!"
Xiangling's smile was radiant. Young Master Xingqiu of the Feiyun Commerce Guild once said, the brighter Xiangling smiles, the worse off you are.
Because she will use you to test her new dishes.
"What would you three like to eat?" Zhongli asked, looking at the three Vigilant Yakshas sitting across from him.
"Mr. Zhongli, I'll just have Almond Tofu. No Mora Meat, please..." Xiao responded.
"Anything is fine for me! Just something with meat will do!" Bosacius said with an expectant look. During the Archon War, they often ate spicy steamed buns.
It wasn't that meat was unpalatable, but because there was simply no time, as preparing meat was much more complicated than making steamed buns.
And steamed buns were more suitable for long-term carrying.
"I don't want seafood..." Bonanus thought for a moment in her little head and only said this.
The Hydro Yaksha's true form seemed to be a creature of the sea, so Bonanus guessed the Hydro Yaksha probably wouldn't like seafood.
"Your preferred foods remain the same as before. However, rather than searching the menu one by one for suitable dishes, it would be better..."
After saying this, Zhongli slowly closed the menu, exhaled softly, and then uttered that classic line.
"Then, as per custom, put the bill on the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's account... and then..."
"I'll have it all!"
Just as these words fell, a familiar female voice suddenly rang out at the door. A Guoba was in front of the girl, pushing hard to get her out of the room.
"Mr. Zhongli! Mercy on your palate!"