As the group entered the Thousand Flavors Restaurant, Cheng Yuan, walking at the back, wore an expression of utter shock. His reaction wasn't due to the extravagant use of red starlight wood in the restaurant's construction; it was entirely because of the young man ushering them inside—Cao Ying.
From what Cheng Yuan could tell, Cao Ying appeared to be around 14 or 15 years old. Yet, despite his youth, his cultivation had already reached the early stages of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Specifically, Cao Ying was at the peak of level three, just a small step away from breaking through to the fourth stage.
Cheng Yuan found it hard to believe that someone so young, working as a mere servant in a restaurant, possessed such monstrous talent. In his sect, disciples labeled as prodigies were those who managed to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm by the age of 40.
What unsettled Cheng Yuan even more was that Cao Ying felt vastly different—several levels more powerful than what was typical for someone at his stage. There was an intangible yet undeniable depth to his aura that exceeded the norm.
The encounter shook Cheng Yuan deeply. His ambitions of elevating the Green Fog Swamp Sect to greatness faltered as he grappled with the stark realization: if even a servant in a restaurant could be this strong, what about the rest of the cultivation world? The rank-three sects and higher, and especially the Order itself, must be home to unfathomable powerhouses.
Yang Qing and the others noticed Cheng Yuan's reaction but chose not to comment, simply continuing on their way.
The restaurant's interior proved to be as impressive as its exterior. It lived up to the grandeur of those capable of building an entire establishment from red starlight wood. The air inside was saturated with qi—three times richer than that of the outside world.
Cheng Yuan's pores opened involuntarily as he basked in the density of the qi surrounding them. The chairs and tables, crafted from the same red starlight wood, featured delicate and intricate designs that seemed more like works of art than mere furniture. They were arranged in four neat rows, each spaced evenly apart.
What truly captured Cheng Yuan's attention—well, his nose, to be precise—was the array of tantalizing food fragrances filling the air. Strangely, it wasn't a chaotic blend of aromas, as one might expect in a restaurant. Instead, the scents seemed to follow an inexplicable rhythm, as if all the fragrances stemmed from a single harmonious source.
Seconds later, a low grumbling sound broke the silence, and moments after that, a much louder one, akin to the roar of a tiger, reverberated through the room. Cheng Yuan flushed with embarrassment when his stomach growled, but his shame was short-lived. The second, thunderous rumble startled him so much that it nearly gave him a heart attack.
To his astonishment, the culprit behind the tiger-like roar showed no hint of embarrassment. Instead, Yang Qing patted his stomach with the expression of a bloodthirsty beast ready to pounce on its prey.
"Cao Ying, let the chefs know not to slack off today. Thanks to Yi Jie here, I haven't eaten anything all day. I'll need a few bites to tide me over," Yang Qing said, his eyes locked on the door leading to the kitchen. He licked his lips and audibly slurped, a sound that grew louder with each passing moment.
Cao Ying could only let out a dry laugh and shake his head. Yi Jie and Mao Yunru were already used to Yang Qing's antics—after all, there was an even bigger glutton among them: Feng Xin.
As for Cheng Yuan, he silently thanked Yang Qing's tiger-like stomach for overshadowing his own embarrassing moment.
"Heeeeey! Yunru, over here!"
Mao Yunru's name was called out by a group of women seated a few tables away to her right. They wore the same blue robes as her and were equally striking in appearance, their beauty seemingly matching hers.
"Does the Order only accept beauties?" Cheng Yuan wondered to himself as he glanced at the group waving Mao Yunru over.
"See you later, Yang Qing," Mao Yunru said with a cheerful wave before heading toward her friends.
As for Yi Jie, he had already vanished to the second floor with another companion, leaving Yang Qing and Cheng Yuan.
"Would you look at that! Our soon-to-be model palace judge decided to grace us with his presence! Yang Qing, what are you doing here this early? It's barely midday. Wasn't your old buddy, Supervisor Lei Weiyuan, making rounds near your court today? No way you managed to pull a fast one on him," teased a young man seated to Yang Qing's left near one of the windows.
He sat at a table with a group of five, including himself—three men and two women. The young man had yellow wavy hair, matching yellow eyes, and a build similar to Yang Qing's. His crafty eyes and goofy smile gave him the air of someone who always had a joke ready. Like Yang Qing, he wore the blue robes of the Order with the numeral IV inscribed on the back, marking him as a superior core court judge.
Of the group, two others also wore blue robes with the same numeral IV.
One was a tall, slender young woman with pink, plum-like hair that flowed smoothly over her shoulders. Her beauty was breathtaking, reminiscent of a sakura tree blooming in winter. She carried herself with a soft yet boldly confident air.
The other judge was a man with black hair tied neatly into a top bun. He had a slender build and an almost aristocratic appearance, his demeanor meticulous and polished, much like his robes, which seemed untouched by even a speck of dust. If a stranger were to guess who among the group was a judge, he would undoubtedly be the first pick. His noble-like presence and righteous aura made him stand out.
The remaining two members of the group wore dark gold robes with the numeral I on the back, signifying their status.
One was a carefree-looking young man with medium-length, brown-black curly hair tied into a loose ponytail with a pink ribbon. He sported a coarse beard that looked like he couldn't decide whether to shave it or not, and his robes were loosely worn, revealing a bit of his chest. His grin exuded a wild, freedom-loving spirit, a stark contrast to the refined noble seated nearby.
The last member was a petite young woman with chin-length, jet-black hair, and deep blue eyes. Her cheeks were adorably fluffy, and she wore a shy, docile expression. She alternated between staring down at her plate and fidgeting with her food, avoiding eye contact with those around her. Despite her timid demeanor, her beauty was radiant, like the blazing sun peeking through clouds.
"Of course, I need to come to this place and raise its standards a bit. A certain yellow-haired ruffian keeps dragging it down," Yang Qing said as he approached their table, stretching out his palm. "That reminds me—pay up the three thousand high-grade spirit stones you owe me. It's been almost half a month."
"Yu Huifang, Zhang Qingge, Dai Chen, and Xia Boqin," Yang Qing continued, nodding at each of them in turn, "why do you all keep hanging out with him? Especially you, Xia Boqin. With your meticulous personality, how do you tolerate this walking heap of trouble?" He gestured toward the yellow-haired judge with a mock exasperation.
"I think of it as mental training," Xia Boqin replied softly, adjusting his already immaculate robes. "Not that you're any different."
"Hahahaha, you two are always at it!" Dai Chen, the rough-looking young man in the dark gold robes, laughed boisterously as he took a hearty gulp of rice wine. "The next monthly competition is being held at Zhang Qingge's place, right? Can't wait for it."
"Huuh… it's… i-it's my turn?" Zhang Qingge stammered, her voice shy and trailing off as her face turned red. "But I haven't prepared anything yet. I've been swamped with work… and reprimands… again."
The shock of hosting seemed to have made her look up, and Cheng Yuan, who had been silently observing the group, inadvertently gulped. How could someone look so stunning? Even Yu Huifang, seated calmly at the side, had an undeniable beauty, though she carried an air of unapproachability that made him avert his gaze.
"Don't worry, Qingge. I'll help you," Yu Huifang said gently, her warm smile directed at the flustered young woman. She looked at Zhang Qingge as if she were a younger sister who couldn't manage without her.
"YOU WILL? Thank youuuu, Sister Huifang! That saves me so much trouble. I was worried about the food and drinks. Yang Qing eats like a million pigs, and Dai Chen drinks like a deep abyss whale… EEEEEH!!! DID I JUST SAY THAT OUT LOUD?!" Zhang Qingge suddenly shrieked, her excitement betraying her, before she quickly lowered her head and covered her face with her hands, utterly mortified.
The table erupted into laughter, even the ever-composed Xia Boqin unable to hold back a chuckle.
"I'll bring the food," Yang Qing said, still laughing.
"I'll bring the drinks," Dai Chen chimed in without missing a beat.
"See? Everything is sorted," Yu Huifang gently reassured Zhang Qingge, her soft smile brimming with warmth.
"Qingge never disappoints," Kang Huilang added with a teasing grin as he pushed away Yang Qing's outstretched hand.
"Thank you," came a barely audible, mosquito-like reply from under the table. The rest of the group could only smile at her endearing shyness.
"Huilang, spirit stones, please," Yang Qing said, turning back with a sly grin. "Don't think this little interlude will get you out of paying what you owe."
"Fine, fine, I'll pay by the end of the day," Kang Huilang grumbled, crossing his arms. "How can a palace court judge be so stingy? Collecting every single debt, even from a lowly superior core court judge like myself. You sully that esteemed post. Why can't you be magnanimous like Dai Chen or Qingge? They have the true demeanor of palace court judges." His tone was drenched in mock bitterness.
"Accountability, my good friend Huilang—accountability," Yang Qing said with a self-righteous air, puffing out his chest. "I am the embodiment of order and justice. I will not bend the rules, even for friends!"
But, like a chameleon, Yang Qing's expression immediately shifted, and his posture drooped into a sleazy subservient bow.
"Big Brother Dai Chen, Sister Qingge, please pay for this lowly one's meal," he pleaded, his tone utterly humble. "As my seniors in the Palace Courts, it's only right to take care of your junior in his hour of need. That old man Lei Weiyuan has halted my payments for the past three months! I barely have anything left. Please, I beg you!"
His righteous, indignant aura from moments ago had vanished, replaced by the groveling demeanor of a fawning underling.
"I don't have much myself," Zhang Qingge softly replied, still covering her face and looking down. "It was taken away for reparations… because of an accident. Big Sister Huifang is paying my bill."
"Reparations again?" Yang Qing exclaimed, his shock apparent.
"It wasn't my fault this time! I tried my hardest, and things just ended up that way. It really wasn't me!" Zhang Qingge suddenly raised her head, her voice defensive like an aggrieved cat. Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.
"It's definitely her fault," everyone at the table unanimously thought, though no one dared to say it out loud.
"Okay, I believe you…" Yang Qing said with exaggerated sincerity, quickly changing the subject. "Big Brother Dai…" His tone shifted, now filled with pleading.
"Fine," Dai Chen relented with a sigh. "But just the appetizer. Wait—forget the appetizer! I almost forgot you're shameless enough to order a million of them. I'll cover only a thousand middle-grade spirit stones for your meal. Anything above that, you pay for yourself."
"Thank you," Yang Qing said with a cheerful grin.
Dai Chen wasn't fooled by his amiable expression. He caught the faint clicking sound Yang Qing made.
"Well, I'll leave you guys to it. Oh, before I forget…" Yang Qing turned and gestured to Cheng Yuan who looked slightly unnerved. "This is Cheng Yuan, a diligent sect master of a Rank 4 sect in the Green Fog Region. Cheng Yuan, these are my friends."
Cheng Yuan was too nervous to speak and ended up cupping his trembling fists in greeting. His face was pale, and his movements were stiff. The group nodded in acknowledgment, though Zhang Qingge briefly stared at him. Seeing someone even more nervous than herself emboldened her for a moment, but she quickly went back to quietly eating.
"Alright then," Yang Qing said. "Don't forget to come to my ceremony. And Huilang—END OF DAY," he added, shooting Kang Huilang a pointed debt collector's glare.
With that, he led Cheng Yuan a few steps over to another table by the window. This particular spot, where the aroma of the Thousand Flavors Restaurant was densest, was clearly Yang Qing's preferred seat. He sat down with a satisfied expression, motioning for Cheng Yuan to join him.
"You'll cover that thousand from the 12,000 spirit stones you owe me, Huilang," Dai Chen casually remarked once Yang Qing was out of earshot.
Kang Huilang froze mid-drink, choking as blood drained from his face.
Zhang Qingge, sitting nearby, fidgeted with her chopsticks, clearly debating whether to ask him something. However, after one glance at his pitiful expression, she shook her head and quietly returned to her meal.