Li Qing Is Arrested

The sky was overcast today, with great swathes of clouds drifting overhead. The weather was quite cool.

A few minutes later, Li Qing was led by the guard in silver-white armor to the foot of the platform in front of Gourmet Plaza.

The guard turned and spoke coldly to Li Qing.

"Wait here for now. If necessary, I'll call you up later."

Li Qing nodded. "Alright, no problem."

The moment he saw the platform, Li Qing understood. The only person who could sit in the pavilion atop it was the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Ye. There was a ninety-nine percent chance that this guard had been sent by Xue Ye.

"But why would Xue Ye come looking for me?" Li Qing pinched his chin and pondered nonstop. Before long, he arrived at the correct answer.

"Could it be because of that bang just now?"

To be honest, the bang Li Qing had made earlier had indeed been a little too loud. Moreover, his stall was close to this platform, less than twenty meters away.

Li Qing looked up at the platform, his pupils shrinking slightly.

Li Qing guessed that the noise he had made had definitely disturbed Xue Ye, which was why he had sent soldiers to bring him over.

"If that's really the case, then this is bad."

At that moment, an icy drop landed on Li Qing's face.

"It's raining."

A sparse drizzle fell from the sky. For some reason, Li Qing felt as though something was about to happen.

Inside the pavilion atop the platform.

"His Majesty, the person you requested has been brought here. He is waiting below."

"Mm, good. Then let me see who made such a commotion that our President Wan accidentally placed the wrong chess piece. Hahahaha..."

"Your Majesty jests."

Xue Ye rose to his feet and looked down.

Wan Tianlin also stood up. He recognized the person below at a glance and thought, Isn't he the child who makes popcorn?

"Hmm? Gu Xiang, that person below is just a child. Are you sure you didn't bring the wrong person?"

Xue Ye questioned the guard standing behind him with a puzzled look. He was the very guard who had brought Li Qing over.

His name was Gu Xiang.

Gu Xiang cupped his fists and hurriedly explained, "I would not dare. That enormous sound came from him while he was preparing food."

"Preparing food?" Xue Ye frowned slightly. "What kind of food could make such a loud sound? Tianlin, do you know?"

Wan Tianlin shook his head. "I do not."

"Now that's interesting. Even the Head of the Chef Association does not know of this food. I would very much like to see it. Gu Xiang, go down there and have this child demonstrate again how he makes his food."

"Yes!"

A moment later, Gu Xiang came down. His face remained rigid and expressionless.

"His Majesty orders you to demonstrate how you prepared that food earlier."

Upon hearing Gu Xiang's words, Li Qing immediately breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Xue Ye was in a decent mood. Rather than punish him, he merely wanted him to demonstrate how popcorn was made.

"But I didn't bring any corn or other ingredients, and there's also that long bag!"

"Zhou Hai, come here!"

Gu Xiang called out to a guard stationed near the tower.

"Chief, what do you need?"

"You, go over there..."

"Yes!"

Zhou Hai immediately jogged toward Li Qing's stall. Before long, he returned carrying a bag of corn kernels, all kinds of seasonings, and the long burlap sack specially used for the "cannon blast."

"Here!"

"Alright, then."

Now that the ingredients had arrived, Li Qing began setting up the stove and rack. He then added corn kernels, honey, and white sugar to the stove...

The stove spun continuously as it heated.

Every movement he made was watched closely by Gu Xiang. Though Li Qing felt slightly uncomfortable, he had no way to refuse.

Making sure nothing went wrong was also part of his duty as a royal guard.

After about five minutes, Li Qing removed the stove. Looking at Gu Xiang, he said,

"Everything is ready. Shall I demonstrate it now?"

Gu Xiang looked up at the platform. After receiving some sort of signal, he nodded.

"You may!"

"Alright."

Li Qing crouched down and placed the stove at the mouth of the burlap sack. Then he straightened up and put his foot against the stove's lid.

Li Qing exerted force with his foot in an instant, producing a tremendous bang.

Along with the loud sound came a cloud of white smoke, while a faint fragrance wafted out from the sack.

"Hmph, hmph, hmph. That smells rather nice."

Xue Ye closed his eyes, nodded gently, and spoke.

Wan Tianlin naturally smelled the fragrance as well, but he keenly noticed that it seemed somewhat similar to the scent of yesterday's popcorn.

"Gu Xiang, have that kid bring the food up!"

A deep voice rang out from the platform. It was Xue Ye's voice.

"Yes, His Majesty!"

"Go on. His Majesty wants you to go up."

Gu Xiang turned to Li Qing and said.

Li Qing really wanted to complain, I'm not deaf. I heard him. Why repeat it? But of course, he could only think it.

Li Qing filled a bucket with popcorn and followed Gu Xiang toward the pavilion atop the platform.

"Greetings, His Majesty!"

When he reached the pavilion, Li Qing stopped and respectfully bowed to the person inside.

"Mm, rise."

"Thank you, His Majesty!"

Li Qing straightened up and looked at Xue Ye. Although Xue Ye wore a smile, an invisible aura of pressure radiated continuously from him in all directions.

Seated at the same table as Xue Ye was a middle-aged man with two small mustaches beneath the corners of his mouth.

"What is your name?" Xue Ye asked.

"Li Qing."

"The white item you are holding is the food you just made?"

"That is correct. It is called popcorn, and it is made from corn kernels."

"Popcorn... Present it."

"Yes."

With that, Gu Xiang, who stood to one side, took the popcorn from Li Qing. Just as he was about to pick up a piece, Xue Ye spoke.

"That's enough, Gu Xiang. You do not need to taste it. I trust that such a young child would not be a problem. Besides, it was all made right before my eyes. There won't be any issue. Present it."

Gu Xiang hesitated for a moment. Thinking over what had happened earlier and confirming that Li Qing had not done anything suspicious, he ultimately decided to obey Xue Ye's order.

"Then let me taste what this earth-shaking... hmm... popcorn tastes like."

Crunch~

Xue Ye immediately narrowed his eyes. Only one thought remained in his heart...

This popcorn was simply too delicious! That sweet, delectable flavor, that crisp texture, that fragrance lingering between his lips and teeth!

"Not bad, not bad! Li Qing, you may be young, but your culinary skills are remarkably excellent. That is truly rare." Xue Ye lavished praise upon Li Qing's popcorn.

"His Majesty flatters me," Li Qing said modestly.

"Come, Tianlin. You should try this popcorn as well. I guarantee that you have never eaten such a delicacy before!"

"Then I shall respectfully accept."

Wan Tianlin reached out and picked up a piece of popcorn. Just as he was about to put it into his mouth, an unexpected change...

Occurred!

Xue Ye's face suddenly flushed red. He spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted...

"His Majesty!" Wan Tianlin immediately rushed to Xue Ye's side and called out anxiously.

"His Majesty! Damn it! Men, seize him at once!"

Seeing this, Li Qing practically exploded on the spot!

Only one thought kept surging through his mind.

It's over!