"Master Lu, why aren't you eating?" Chen Jinfa asked curiously.
"Brother Chen, Mr. Liu, I'm afraid these moon-gazing eels might not be safe to eat," Lu Fei said seriously.
Everyone's chopsticks paused mid-air.
Liu Fugui, who had already taken a couple of bites, felt a sudden foreboding. "Little Master Lu, why? Is there something wrong with the eels?"
All eyes in the room turned to Lu Fei.
"I've heard of a type of moon-gazing eel that grows large from feeding on the corpses of cats, dogs, and other carrion," Lu Fei explained calmly. "In ancient times, there was a saying: 'Never eat moon-gazing eels, no matter how poor you are,' because these eels, having long fed on dead flesh, are highly toxic. People who eat them could develop health issues, or worse, die."
"What?" Liu Fugui's face turned pale, and his chopsticks trembled in his hand. "I already swallowed some... Am I going to die?"
"You won't die! Don't worry, Brother Fugui!" Chen Jinfa relaxed, laughing and waving his hand. "Haha, I thought it was something serious. Turns out Master Lu is talking about that kind of eel."
"Don't worry, everyone, eat up. The eels here are farm-raised by the owner and are not the wild, toxic kind. I guarantee they're safe."
"Really?" Lu Fei furrowed his brow, glancing at the tempting eels on the plate. "But I feel there's a faint smell of corpse emanating from these eels, as if they've fed on human flesh."
"Human flesh?!"
The room fell silent instantly.
"Master Lu, is that possible? Could you be mistaken?" Chen Jinfa asked, astonished. "Corpse smells are usually foul, aren't they? These eels smell delicious."
"When the stench reaches a certain level, it stops being putrid and becomes fragrant. This is known as corpse fragrance," Lu Fei explained solemnly. "Mr. Liu, tell me—doesn't this scent remind you of the corpse oil Xiaomei had?"
Clatter!
The chopsticks in Liu Fugui's hand dropped, and he looked stricken. "It... it does have a similar smell... Am I really that unlucky?!"
First, he slept near a dead body, and now he was eating eels possibly raised on human flesh. Why was he constantly plagued by the dead?
Chen Jinfa glanced between Liu Fugui and Lu Fei, struggling to believe it.
"That can't be! This place is always packed, and people keep coming back for more. If these eels really were fed human flesh, wouldn't there have been incidents by now? Everyone praises the eels here."
"And they sell hundreds of eels daily—where would they find enough bodies to feed them without anyone noticing? The sheer number would have raised alarms long ago!"
"You're right. I've never eaten these before, so I could be mistaken," Lu Fei admitted, rethinking it. "Sorry for the scare, Brother Chen. Go ahead and enjoy your meal."
Despite Lu Fei's reassurance, everyone lost their appetite, fearing a remote possibility.
"No worries, we can skip this dish! There are plenty of delicacies out there," Chen Jinfa said, turning what could have been an awkward situation around. He instructed Ah Long to call the waiter for additional dishes.
Ah Long had just stood up when the door opened, and a bald man with a bottle of wine stepped inside, smiling warmly.
"Brother Chen, all the dishes are served? Why hasn't anyone started? I should've been there to greet you personally, but business was so hectic. I finally managed to free up some time."
The moment the bald man entered, Lu Fei noticed several small dark figures clinging to him like infant spirits.
Unaware of them, the bald man uncorked the wine and poured a drink for Chen Jinfa.
"You're a busy man now, President Hua. We understand," Chen Jinfa said, his tone neutral.
"Brother Chen, don't say that. You were and always will be my big brother," said the bald man, his shrewd eyes scanning the room before resting on Lu Fei. "Is this the famous Master Lu of the Evil Pawnshop?"
"Indeed!" Chen Jinfa confirmed.
"I've heard so much about you, Master Lu!" The bald man strode over to Lu Fei, the dark figures following him, trailing a faint, chilly breeze.
However, no one else could see them, so they only felt a slight chill as the bald man passed by.
"Your reputation precedes you, Master Lu. People say the Evil Pawnshop specializes in acquiring supernatural items. Meeting you today confirms the rumors!" The bald man poured wine enthusiastically, but his eyes held a touch of doubt.
Lu Fei, used to such skepticism, kept a polite smile. "You're too kind, Mr. Hua. The Evil Pawnshop deals in some unusual trinkets."
"You're modest, Master Lu. Your shop's fame spreads far and wide. I heard you resolved Brother Chen's construction site issue in just two days!"
Mr. Hua's flattery was thick, his smile unwavering.
But Lu Fei sensed insincerity. Beneath the surface, the man seemed calculating—a typical smooth operator.
The infant spirits clinging to him grew clearer the closer he got. Lu Fei counted seven in total: one latched onto his back, another hugged his leg, one perched on his shoulder, and one clung to his neck.
Seeing someone infested with so many infant spirits was rare. More perplexing, a single infant spirit could bring terrible luck or illness, yet Hua seemed perfectly fine—full of energy and in high spirits.
Lu Fei was puzzled.
"Alright, Lai Tou Hua, cut the pleasantries!" Chen Jinfa waved dismissively. "If you have a supernatural issue, show it now. Don't waste Master Lu's time!"
A flicker of irritation crossed the bald man's eyes, but he maintained his smile. "Aren't we here to eat? No matter how urgent, Master Lu should eat first, right?"
"Order more dishes, too. Master Lu isn't fond of the moon-gazing eels."
"Not fond?"
Hua's surprise was genuine as he turned to Lu Fei. "Master Lu, these eels are our signature dish, freshly prepared. Was there something wrong with them? Tell me your preference, and I'll have the chef make a new one."
Every movement he made caused the infant spirits to shift, an eerie sight.
"No need to trouble yourself, Mr. Hua. I just don't like fish," Lu Fei said smoothly. "If you do have an issue, we can discuss it now as we eat."
"Is that appropriate?" Hua glanced at Chen Jinfa.
"Yes, as Master Lu said! But do have more food brought in!" Chen Jinfa insisted.
"Alright, Master Lu, enjoy your meal. I'll make preparations," Hua said, nodding and leaving the room.
The moment he was gone, Chen Jinfa muttered, "Master Lu, no need for courtesy with him. Lai Tou Hua was just an errand boy under me once. He only made money from this restaurant in recent years."
Lu Fei thought for a moment and asked, "Does he have any children?"