Who Let Him Cultivate？

Chapter 77: Where’s the Shop Owner? Come Out!

“I’m exhausted, I don’t want to do anything,” the three of them yawned in unison, their eyelids heavy and fighting to stay open.

What kind of terrible idea was this from the Branch Leader, coming all the way here to eat?

They were on their way back to the barbecue shop. After a day of scheming and battling wits to infiltrate the enemy’s ranks, all they wanted was to eat a big meal and sleep soundly.

The Immortal Cult’s process of concentrating everyone’s thoughts into the Mountain River Tripod generated immense fatigue.

“Luckily, before we left, I had the Changui prepare the skewers properly, so we can open for business as soon as we get back,” Man Gu said with some relief.

Arriving at the barbecue shop entrance, Lu Yang spotted a familiar person.

“Captain Wei? What are you doing here? Is something wrong?”

Captain Wei had been knocking on the barbecue shop door for a long time, but no one answered. He thought the shop was empty.

The shop was indeed empty of people, with only two hardworking Changui threading skewers. The two Changui were terrified when they heard Captain Wei knocking and didn’t dare open the door.

Just as Captain Wei was about to give up, Lu Yang arrived.

Captain Wei’s face lit up with joy. “Shopkeeper Lu, you’ve finally returned.”

Lu Yang nodded, a ready-made lie coming easily. “This morning, the weather looked good, so the three of us discussed it and thought it was a perfect day for an outing. We just got back from a stroll.”

“Will you be opening for business today?”

Lu Yang thought about it. The Branch Leader and his group were coming, a full twenty people. That should count as business. “Yes.”

Captain Wei spoke in as gentle a tone as possible. “Shopkeeper Lu, here’s the thing. Your barbecue shop has gained quite a reputation in the area. I often come here with a few of my brothers to eat.”

“I know you just enjoy running the barbecue shop, with no intention to expand or have others promote you.”

Lu Yang nodded.

Captain Wei said regretfully, “My brothers can’t keep their mouths shut. After eating, they go back and praise how delicious your food is. Now, others have heard and are craving it too. They said they’d come here together after their shift ends today. The brothers on night duty at the yamen also asked us to bring some back for them.”

Lu Yang looked at Captain Wei’s expression and thought to himself, *It probably wasn’t just your brothers talking; you, Captain Wei, must have promoted it too, right?*

“So?”

“Yanjiang County has quite a few constables, enough to fill all the tables. The Chief Constable is coming too. I was wondering if we could book the entire place for tonight, just for us.”

Lu Yang suddenly understood, then showed a troubled expression. “But tonight, I have a few friends coming as well. I’m afraid…”

Captain Wei quickly said, “No problem, no problem. A few extra people won’t matter. We can all eat together; it’ll be livelier with more people.”

Captain Wei had already boasted to his colleagues before coming that they’d definitely get to eat here. If they couldn’t, he’d lose face.

Lu Yang agreed. “Alright then. We’ll prepare and open in half an hour.”

Captain Wei, satisfied with the confirmation, went back happily.

…

When the time the Branch Leader had specified approached, people from all directions gathered at the barbecue shop entrance: the Branch Leader, eleven Deacons, and seven new members.

Chi Xulong and Shen Jinyi, showing great initiative, were even carrying several jars of wine.

“I was worried the wine at this small shop wouldn’t be strong enough, so I specially brought a few jars of thirty-year-old ‘Daughter’s Red’ spirit wine,” Chi Xulong said to Shen Jinyi.

This spirit wine was extremely potent; even Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn’t neutralize its effects.

The other five new members also wanted to offer wine as a tribute, but they were only at the Qi Refining stage and couldn’t produce anything of good quality.

For the meal, the Branch Leader had changed his mask to one that revealed the lower half of his face.

Lu Yang and the other two came out of the barbecue shop and invited everyone in. “Please come in quickly. Everything’s ready. Originally, the place was booked out for tonight, but after much persuasion, the person who booked it agreed to save a table for us.”

The Branch Leader nodded. Initially, he had worried that Lu Yang’s trio might be troublemakers who wouldn’t follow orders and needed to be put in their place. Now, it seemed they were quite sensible, knowing to reserve a table in advance.

“Don’t just stand there; go inside,” the Branch Leader called to everyone.

The barbecue shop was empty. The Branch Leader naturally sat at the largest table in the center, which suited his status perfectly.

Lu Yang cautiously reminded him, “Branch Leader, this table has been reserved by someone else.”

Before the Branch Leader could say anything, Chi Xulong cut in, “Make them sit somewhere else! What kind of trash dares to compete with us for a seat?”

Seeing the Branch Leader didn’t object, Lu Yang said nothing more.

Everyone sat down. Man Gu brought out the menu. “What do you want to eat?”

Shen Jinyi handed the menu to the Branch Leader. “Branch Leader, please.”

The Branch Leader waved his hand. “Order whatever you like.”

“You’re the host, so you should order.”

“No need, go ahead.”

The menu was passed around the table in a circle of politeness, eventually ending up back in Man Gu’s hands. Man Gu curled his lip, thinking these people were making a fuss over nothing, being so hesitant about ordering skewers.

Man Gu wasn’t one for polite refusals. After ordering himself, he took the menu to the backyard and had the two Changui start grilling.

Soon, Man Gu brought out plates of skewers that looked, smelled, and tasted delicious. Just from the aroma, everyone knew the flavor would be good.

“Come on, the skewers are here! Pour the wine!” the Branch Leader laughed, signaling everyone to pour the wine.

Meng Jingzhou smiled. “No need for wine. I’m used to drinking tea; I don’t like alcohol.”

The Branch Leader chuckled. “Little Meng, to navigate the jianghu, you must know how to drink. There will be many drinking occasions in the future. Have three cups to get used to it.”

Meng Jingzhou still refused.

The Branch Leader felt his authority challenged and frowned slightly. Chi Xulong seized the opportunity to scold, “What’s wrong with you? The Branch Leader tells you to drink, and you refuse? Are you disrespecting the Branch Leader’s face?”

Meng Jingzhou sneered. “It’s just drinking. How does it relate to face? If the Branch Leader forces me to drink, isn’t he disrespecting my face?”

Chi Xulong was about to say, *Who do you think you are to have face in front of the Branch Leader?* but before he could speak, the Branch Leader stopped him.

The Branch Leader knew Meng Jingzhou had a bright future and didn’t want to clash with him.

Only the Branch Leader knew the Cult Leader’s evaluation of Lu Yang’s trio; even Lu Yang and the others themselves didn’t know.

“There aren’t so many rules for a welcome meal. Let me introduce myself first. My surname is Chu. You can call me Branch Leader Chu.”

After the Branch Leader introduced himself, it was the turn of the tall, thin man who had gone to the brothel with Qin Yuanhao. “I’m Wang He. People who know me like to call me Big Mouth Wang.”

“Bai Zifang.”

“Peng Shuo.”

The eleven Deacons introduced themselves one by one. It was more like stating their names; they didn’t mention their cultivation levels, hobbies, or specialties, revealing no other information.

In demonic cults, trust was rare, so they hid as much as they could.

As if the earlier dispute hadn’t happened, everyone ate happily.

“These skewers really do taste great,” Chi Xulong said after eating a few, genuinely surprised. They were the best skewers he’d ever had.

Greed stirred in him. He quietly asked the Branch Leader, “Should we force the shop owner to hand over the recipe? Even if we sell these skewers for Spirit Stones, there’s a market. We could make a huge profit!”

The Branch Leader was tempted too. He’d done plenty of killing, robbery, and extortion; one more time wouldn’t hurt.

Lu Yang asked from the side, “What if the shop owner doesn’t hand over the recipe?”

A cold glint flashed in Chi Xulong’s eyes. He grinned ferociously. “Then we’ll see if he values his life or the recipe more!”

He slammed the table, ready to make trouble, and shouted angrily, “Where’s the shop owner? Come out! All the skewers are served, but you don’t show your face. Do you understand the rules?”

Immediately, Captain Wei’s voice rang out from outside the door. “Haha! Where’s the shop owner? I’ve brought all my brothers.”

A crowd of constables poured in, including the Golden Core stage Chief Constable, surrounding the Branch Leader’s table.

(End of Chapter)