"The noodle shop owner is quite an interesting person."
Han Ruoruo held the crystal ball, and after reading the words carefully, she smiled as she spoke.
"A viewpoint quite contrary to common beliefs."
Ling Bai had also seen the text and felt a bit moved.
Shrek City was the stronghold of the continent's number one academy—Shrek Academy. Most of the Spirit Masters in the city were Shrek students.
Shrek Academy had a strict elimination system. Everyone diligently cultivated their spirit power day and night, even if they only made the tiniest, most insignificant progress. Yet, here was this shop owner telling the students that kindness and honesty were far more important than spirit power.
Ling Bai could see that Han Ruoruo was interested and took the initiative to say, "Elder Sister, let's eat here."
"Mm."
Han Ruoruo put down the crystal ball and walked into the noodle shop with Ling Bai.
The noodle shop wasn't very big but was kept extremely clean. Upon entering, one could see the kitchen behind a glass door, where a middle-aged auntie wearing an apron was busy working. Inside, there were six rectangular tables that could seat up to thirty people. At the moment, four of the tables were occupied by people slurping down noodles with gusto.
The temperature outside wasn't high today, so as soon as they entered the warm shop, the aroma of meat wafted over, giving them a feeling of comfort throughout their bodies.
"It smells so good."
Han Ruoruo took a deep breath of the delicious aroma. It seemed they had made the right choice.
"Hello there, please have a seat and rest for a bit."
The auntie quickly stepped out from behind the glass door when she saw customers arriving. She appeared to be in her forties, plump, with a very kind face.
Ling Bai and Han Ruoruo walked over to an empty table, the one closest to the kitchen.
"What would you like to eat?" The auntie handed them two menus and asked with a warm smile.
Ling Bai glanced down. The menu was mainly composed of noodles and rice bowls, along with some simple stir-fried dishes, simple and home-style.
"A bowl of beef noodles and a side of braised pork, please."
"I'll have a bowl of pork bone noodles."
Ling Bai and Han Ruoruo placed their orders.
"Alright." The auntie nodded. "The beef noodles and pork bone noodles are six spirit copper coins each, plus the braised pork, that comes to seventeen spirit copper coins in total."
Han Ruoruo took out a spirit gold coin to pay. In a city like Shrek City, where every inch of land was worth gold, this noodle shop's prices were among the cheapest.
One spirit gold coin was equivalent to ten spirit silver coins or one hundred spirit copper coins. While the auntie was making change, Han Ruoruo asked:
"Auntie, are you a Spirit Master?"
The auntie smiled and shook her head. "No, I'm just an ordinary person."
"Then why did you write those words next to the spirit power testing ball at the entrance?"
Ling Bai also cast a curious glance after hearing Han Ruoruo's question.
"Because I feel that you all seem so exhausted." The auntie handed the change to Han Ruoruo, her kind face softening a few more degrees.
"The meals at the Outer Courtyard cafeteria of Shrek are quite expensive, so some students come to my shop for a bite. They always seem particularly anxious, coming in a rush and leaving in a hurry.
Auntie knows the academy's elimination system is strict, but cultivation is something without limits. Spirit power doesn't represent your character, aspirations, or sense of responsibility. To ordinary people like us, a kind and honest Spirit Master is far more admirable than one with profound spirit power."
A trace of nostalgia flickered in Han Ruoruo's eyes as she recalled bits and pieces of her days in the Outer Courtyard—the freshman competition, running laps on the training field, the advancement examinations...
Those days were tight on time. Under the teachers' supervision, everyone seemed to be busy shuttling between classrooms, the cafeteria, and dormitories, focusing solely on cultivating spirit power. They often forgot that before becoming a qualified Spirit Master, one must first become a qualified person.
Ling Bai hadn't studied in the Outer Courtyard, but he had a general understanding. The Inner Courtyard of Shrek Academy was like the universities in his previous life, where liberalism prevailed. In contrast, the Outer Courtyard used strict rules to spur students' growth, sometimes neglecting character education. This oversight occasionally led students such as Huo Yuhao and Dai Huabin to behave in ways that could often be off-putting.
"Elder Sister, if you could turn back time, would you be willing to return to the Outer Courtyard to study again?" Ling Bai rested his arms on the table as they waited for their food and asked casually.
"No way."
Han Ruoruo refused decisively. She was only reminiscing about the days when she studied with Zhang Lexuan and Wu Ming. If she had to retake the Outer Courtyard all over again...
Sorry, but she couldn't stand it!
The beef and pork bones were pre-marinated, so it wasn't long before the auntie brought out two steaming bowls of noodles, a bowl of braised pork, and two plates of stir-fried greens. Each bowl also had an extra marinated egg.
Both Ling Bai and Han Ruoruo were momentarily stunned. They didn't recall ordering greens and marinated eggs!
"Auntie?"
The auntie understood the question in their words. Glancing at their red uniforms, she explained, "You're students of Shrek Academy, right? My son was also admitted to Shrek Academy this year. Since you're all classmates, consider these my treat. No charge!"
"This..."
Ling Bai and Han Ruoruo felt a bit embarrassed. The noodle shop's prices were already cheap, and now the auntie was adding two marinated eggs and two plates of stir-fried greens for free. She might be running at a loss.
"Eat while it's hot! If it's not enough, Auntie will bring you more!"
The auntie turned and went back behind the glass door, continuing her busy work.
Ling Bai didn't like owing favors. Even though it was just simple greens and eggs, he still felt indebted. Han Ruoruo felt the same. She planned to ask the auntie about her son later, intending to lend him a hand in the future.
The noodles emitted a rich beef aroma, and the broth was golden in color. Ling Bai could see chunks of the tender and soft diced beef fall apart at the slightest touch of his chopsticks.
The intense beef flavor blended with the savory broth, perfectly balanced by the noodles. Eating it warmed him from the stomach up, bringing an indescribable comfort. The noodles were chewy and springy, offering plenty of bite. Paired with the fresh stir-fried greens, it was unbelievably delicious.
Even Han Ruoruo couldn't help but be moved after taking a bite. She even felt that, in terms of taste alone, the auntie's culinary skills were no worse than Uncle Mo's. And don't forget, Uncle Mo used spirit beast meat and rare ingredients from all over the continent!
Just as the two were seriously considering whether to order another bowl, a figure pushed open the shop door and loudly announced:
"Mom, I'm back for lunch!"
The booming voice reverberated throughout the not-so-large noodle shop. Everyone instinctively raised their heads and let out shocked gasps.
Ling Bai and Han Ruoruo immediately stopped picking at the noodles with their chopsticks and, with a 'little kitten peeking' expression, peered over to the entrance to see... a lump of a person walking in.
That's right, a lump.
The newcomer was a round, fleshy figure that resembled a white mountain of flesh. He stood 1.7 meters tall with a similar 1.7-meter waistline. He squeezed through the door with a silly, honest smile on his face.
"Huanyue is back! Quickly, find a seat. Mom will make you a bowl of noodles!" The auntie's face was brimming with happiness.
Huanyue... Xie Huanyue?
Observing the guy's physique and considering the noodle shop's name, 'Little Elephant Noodle Shop,' and the Rubber Elephant Martial Spirit, Ling Bai connected the dots.
The auntie skillfully cooked the noodles, scooped out the beef, added greens and a marinated egg, and poured meat sauce over the top. Ten minutes later, she placed a bowl of noodles in front of Xie Huanyue.
"Huanyue, your favorite beef noodles."
Han Ruoruo couldn't help but laugh with a 'pfft' when she saw Xie Huanyue's beef noodles. That bowl of noodles was a bit too sumptuous—beef, pork bones, large ribs, meatballs... all steaming hot and exuding a rich, meaty aroma.
Ling Bai lowered his head to look at the mere two pieces of beef left in his own bowl and suddenly found his beef noodles much less appetizing.
"Little Junior Brother, your treatment isn't quite up to par!" Han Ruoruo laughed softly, her eyes curving into beautiful crescents.
Ling Bai replied 'sourly', "How can I compare to the actual son?"
"No worries, you have an actual Elder Sister."
Han Ruoruo picked up the untouched marinated egg from her bowl and placed it into his bowl to comfort him.
Their playful banter didn't escape Xie Huanyue's notice. He didn't dare to make a sound because the two of them were wearing the red uniforms of Shrek Inner Courtyard students!
Better not to bother them, eat noodles, eat noodles!
Ah, so delicious!
Half an hour later, Ling Bai and Han Ruoruo left Little Elephant Noodle Shop, owned by Xie Huanyue's family. They chatted as they leisurely made their way back to Shrek Academy. As they passed by the East Gate, a rich and enticing aroma wafted into their nostrils.
"Eh? What's that smell?"
Han Ruoruo's nose twitched slightly as she searched for the source of the aroma.
"Xiao Huo's Grilled Fish?"
Han Ruoruo zeroed in on the target but hesitated, a look of indecision appearing on her face.
Ling Bai spotted a familiar face working hard at the grilled fish stall and said with a smile, "If you want to eat, let's go try it."
"But I've already eaten so much today. Eating grilled fish on top of that might not be a good idea..."
Hearing her words, Ling Bai asked seriously, "Elder Sister, do you know what happens to your face when you eat grilled fish too often?"
Han Ruoruo pondered earnestly, "Do I get pimples?"
"Wrong. You'll get a happy smile."
With that, Ling Bai took hold of her fair wrist and led her straight to Xiao Huo's Grilled Fish. They ended up standing behind a girl in a purple Shrek Academy uniform with a curvy figure and a bunny-ear headband...