As the True Spirit Food Competition entered its final day, Reika and Faron finally uncovered the grand conspiracy behind the Voidclaw Brotherhood. They weren't just trying to ruin Reika and Faron's food stall — they were attempting to monopolize the entire spirit food market and control the outer city's grain supply. This revelation sent Reika into a fiery rage.
"Faron, today we're flipping the whole thing upside down!" Reika clenched her fists, eyes blazing with determination.
Faron nodded, picking up his trusty spirit scissors with a calm but deadly look. "It's about time we made them pay. They've pushed us around for far too long."
Reika was about to call on Zephyr for backup, but as she glanced around, she realized he was nowhere to be seen. She groaned, exasperated. "Where's Zephyr? He better not have run off at such a critical moment!"
Faron chuckled, explaining, "Zephyr told me last night that he had some urgent business to attend to. He hasn't returned yet, but don't worry — the shop's been less busy with all the Voidclaw trouble. We'll manage."
Reika pouted, clearly annoyed. "Ugh, what if he's off meeting some secret girlfriend? He's always being so mysterious — I wouldn't be surprised if he shows up one day with some girl hanging on his arm."
Faron shook his head with a knowing smile, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Sometimes things happen in their own time, kid. You don't need to rush."
Reika mumbled under her breath, "Yeah, yeah... But when he gets back, I'm definitely giving him a piece of my mind!"
With Zephyr absent, Reika had no choice but to seek out Senior Brother Lee — the poor guy who once ate Reika's "special accident" elixir dumpling and ended up running fifty miles with his mouth spitting fire, much to his own horror.
When Reika presented the evidence of Voidclaw Brotherhood's grain-hoarding and market manipulation, Senior Brother Lee's eyes widened in disbelief. His face flushed with anger.
"What?! Those scumbags at Voidclaw Brotherhood have really gone too far this time!" Senior Brother Lee slammed his fist on the table, his previous humiliation from Reika's failed dumpling still fresh in his mind.
"It's not just me — they've been oppressing the entire city's cultivators and commoners for too long!" Lee's fist clenched with renewed fury. "Not only do they want to wipe out the competition in the food market, but they're also aiming to take over the whole thing!"
Sensing an opportunity, Reika added fuel to the fire. "Exactly! We can't let them get away with this, Senior Brother Lee. You're one of the most respected figures in Springwood City. If anyone can lead the charge, it's you!"
Lee let out a snort, waving his hand. "Leave it to me! I'll see that justice is done. Let's take them down!"
Soon enough, Senior Brother Lee rallied the merchants and cultivators of the city, and together they marched on Voidclaw Brotherhood with righteous fury. The oppressed commoners, tired of the Brotherhood's bullying, eagerly joined the cause. Their numbers swelled, filling the streets like a tidal wave of anger and determination.
When they reached the gates of the Voidclaw Brotherhood, Lee shattered the protective barrier with a single punch. The flood of angry cultivators and shop owners stormed in like a tsunami. The Brotherhood's members, seeing the massive crowd, scattered in all directions, too scared to put up any fight.
"You villains! Surrender now, or face the consequences!" Reika shouted from the front of the charge, holding up her trusty "Unbreakable Spirit Cookbook" as a shield. She looked as fierce as a lioness defending her pride.
Immediately, the Brotherhood's members fell to their knees, crying and begging for mercy.
"It wasn't me! I'm just the delivery guy!" one of them wailed, tears streaming down his face as he knocked his forehead on the ground repeatedly.
"Please forgive me! After eating your spirit dumplings, I've had stomach pains for days! I swear I was forced into this!" another one groaned, clutching his belly dramatically, looking both pitiful and ridiculous at the same time.
Reika couldn't help but stifle a laugh but maintained a cool, authoritative look. "Seeing as you're all so... pitiful, I'll let you off today. But next time you try something, there will be no mercy!"
"Never again! We swear!" The defeated disciples wept, snot and tears mixing into one messy stream. It was a pitifully funny scene.
While Reika and Lee were leading the charge against the Voidclaw Brotherhood, Zephyr was busy elsewhere, conducting his own secret investigation. He hadn't returned to the competition because he had uncovered the Brotherhood's dark dealings with Drunken Moon and Five Flavors Tavern, as well as their illicit trafficking of obsidian crystals.
Zephyr pulled out a strange-looking carrier pigeon. Its feathers were a sleek, glossy black, and its eyes gleamed with an unusual sharpness. However, this pigeon had a personality quirk that made Zephyr roll his eyes — it refused to work unless it got fed first.
"You greedy bird... what do you want this time?" Zephyr sighed, fishing a small spirit pill from his bottomless pouch. The pigeon's eyes immediately lit up, and it flapped over eagerly. Zephyr crossed his arms, pretending to be stern. "No wonder you fly so slow. You eat more than you work!"
The pigeon pecked at the pill contentedly, then took the sealed documents from Zephyr and flapped its wings, flying off into the sky.
As the pigeon disappeared into the distance, Zephyr's gaze grew cold. The contents of that letter could not fall into the wrong hands — especially not those of his uncle, the current head of the Eastern family, Eastern Azure. Zephyr had long suspected his uncle of involvement in his father's death, and the evidence he had gathered would be delivered to his father's old loyalists.
Zephyr stood atop the rooftop, watching the pigeon vanish. His face remained as calm as ever. "The time isn't right yet. I need to go deeper into hiding."
A cold smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, his fists clenched. "This evidence could destabilize their entire plan, but it's still not enough. I can't let them know I'm already this far ahead... When the time comes, they won't know what hit them."
He glanced back at the ruins of the Voidclaw Brotherhood. His eyes glinted with determination as he considered his next steps. On the surface, he was just a minor family member sent to Springwood City by the family head, but in reality, he was slowly unraveling the mystery of his father's death.
As for the Voidclaw Brotherhood's leader, Lucian Bloodworth , he had long since disappeared. With their fall, the True Spirit Food Competition came to an abrupt and anticlimactic end. The cultivators dispersed, leaving behind nothing but the ruins of the Brotherhood's stronghold.
Reika stood before the destruction, letting out a long breath. "It's finally over... but I have a feeling the real storm hasn't even begun."
Faron gently patted her on the shoulder, his voice filled with kindness. "Don't worry, Reika. No matter how big the storm gets, we'll face it together."
＊＊＊
With the fall of the Voidclaw Brotherhood, peace finally returned to the Outer City. Reika and Faron, having exposed the grand conspiracy, were hailed as heroes among the townsfolk. However, the memories of exploding food and out-of-control spirit power from customers still lingered in everyone's minds. While Reika and Faron were undoubtedly the saviors of the city, her "spirit food explosions" left people feeling both thankful... and terrified.
One day, a group of merchants and townsfolk secretly gathered to discuss something important.
"That girl, Reika, she's been shaking up the Outer City a lot lately," one shopkeeper muttered quietly, a trace of relief in his voice.
"Yeah, yeah," another merchant agreed, lowering his voice as well. "It'd be better to send her off to the Inner City. That way, we won't have to worry about her dumplings suddenly blowing up on our dinner tables."
The first shopkeeper nodded, then leaned in. "Last time I ate one of her dumplings, I spent the whole day... laying eggs. My knees are still wobbly!"
"Hahaha! You're lucky! Senior Brother Lee had it worse — he had to run fifty miles, fire spewing from his mouth, scaring off every spirit beast in his path!" chimed in a third neighbor, laughing. "We've got to find a way to send her off with a nice gift. Make it... polite, but effective."
And so, the plan was hatched. They decided that Senior Brother Lee — the unfortunate "victim" of Reika's spirit dumpling mishap — would be the one to present her with a special award. It would be a "symbol of gratitude" for all the "help" she had given the Outer City.
On the day of the award ceremony, the entire neighborhood gathered. The scene was as lively as a festival. Senior Brother Lee stood on stage, holding a small, intricately designed spirit pot. His emotions were mixed, but he managed to keep a smile on his face — a very sincere smile.
"Reika, you and Faron have done so much for the Outer City, exposing the Voidclaw Brotherhood's schemes. We're all deeply grateful," Senior Brother Lee said, his smile growing more strained as he continued. "This is a special award from all of us, the merchants of the Outer City. It's called the 'Most Special Spirit Food Award.' We hope you'll continue to reach new heights and have a bright future ahead!"
Reika, her eyes wide with surprise, accepted the small glowing spirit pot. It seemed to be made from some special material, with the words 'Most Special Spirit Food Award' engraved on it. Her heart swelled with emotion, and she lifted the pot high above her head, beaming with joy. "Thank you, everyone! I won't let you down! I'll make spirit food that will blow your minds — in a good way!"
Meanwhile, down in the crowd, the townsfolk exchanged knowing looks and subtle smiles. Inwardly, they all prayed, "Let's hope she doesn't blow up the Inner City next..."
After the award ceremony, everyone came forward to offer their "congratulations."
"Reika, the future is yours!"
"Yeah, with food as explosive as yours, the Inner City's sects will definitely be impressed!"
Their words were filled with warmth... and hidden relief. But Reika, oblivious to their true intentions, was deeply moved. She proudly declared, "I'm going to become a real spirit food master!"
However, the real meaning behind those "blessings" didn't escape Faron's keen eyes. Standing quietly by her side, a small smile tugged at his lips. Although proud of her growth, Faron couldn't help but feel a little sad. He knew that Reika was about to embark on a new journey, one full of challenges and unknowns.
"Reika," Faron's voice was gentle, filled with fatherly affection as he looked at her, "you've come a long way. I know leaving the Outer City isn't easy, but going to the Inner City to study in the sect will make you stronger. You might even find the answers to your lost memories."
Hearing those words, Reika's eyes grew misty. "Faron, I'm going to miss you so much..."
Faron patted her shoulder softly, smiling. "Silly girl, this place is too small for you. One day, you'll soar far beyond what you ever imagined. I'll be right here, waiting for you to return with honor."
Taking a deep breath, Reika fought back her tears. "I'll be back, Faron, and when I do, we'll make spirit dumplings together again!"
But as this heartfelt farewell unfolded, a thought suddenly crossed Reika's mind—Where was Zephyr?
"That jerk... how could he not show up at such an important moment!" Reika puffed out her cheeks in annoyance, her mind racing with irritation. He's always around when I don't need him, and now, when I actually want him here, he's nowhere to be found! Is he scared of saying goodbye?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She started to imagine Zephyr hiding somewhere, laughing at her frustration.
While Reika was lost in her thoughts, the townsfolk began escorting her to the gates of the Inner City. As she stepped through the gates, a loud, urgent sound of drums filled the air, followed by the bang bang bang of firecrackers. Fireworks exploded across the sky, lighting it up in a brilliant display.
"Finally, she's gone!"
"Hahaha, no more exploding spirit food in my house!"
Reika turned around, just in time to see the townspeople at the gates banging drums, cheering, and practically dancing with joy. Some of them were so excited they nearly jumped out of their robes.
"Wait... are they... celebrating me leaving?" Reika blinked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion as a sudden realization dawned on her.
"Hold on a minute... isn't this celebration just a little... too enthusiastic?"