Nighttime Talk at the Restaurant (Part One)

Night had fallen, but the bustle of Lin Hai County's night market had not faded with the darkness. Instead, it seemed to grow even more prosperous.

Shops lined both sides of the street, and all manner of lanterns cast the bluestone road in shimmering colors. The air was thick with the aroma of food, the briny smell of seafood, and the clamor of passersby.

Sun Yun was clearly very familiar with this district. Her steps were light as she darted through the crowd like a fish, introducing the surroundings to Chen Yuan at her side as if reciting treasures from her own home.

"See that Brocade Silk Shop?" Sun Yun lifted a slender finger toward a grand, exquisitely decorated storefront. "That's the dowry shop of County Lieutenant Lord Gao's third wife. Everything inside is in high demand. The wealthy young ladies and wives in the county all love going there."

Chen Yuan followed her gaze and saw two alert-looking shop assistants standing at the entrance, eagerly welcoming and seeing off customers.

After only a few more steps, Sun Yun pointed at a bustling restaurant. "Drunken Immortal Restaurant, one of Cloud Sea Martial Arts School's businesses. Their Hundred Flower Brew and Eight Treasures Seafood Soup are unmatched, though the prices are steep too." She paused and lowered her voice. "I hear Master Liu often entertains county yamen officials and traveling merchants there."

"Over there, Hengtong Escort Agency." Wang Meng's rough voice sounded out as he pointed toward a courtyard with imposing stone lions at the gate and banners flying high overhead. "It's one of Town Mountain Martial Arts School's core businesses. They escort shipments and guard estates, and their reputation is excellent."

Chen Yuan silently nodded. As he casually bought some snacks to bring home for his family the next day, he stored all this information away in his mind.

Along the way, he seemed to see an invisible net binding Lin Hai County's various powers tightly to these streets and businesses.

Martial arts schools, clans, government offices—their reach had long since spread into every corner of this small coastal city.

As they talked, the three had arrived at the liveliest stretch of East Market. A three-story wooden restaurant stood before them, with upturned eaves, carved beams, painted rafters, and an extraordinary air of grandeur.

A row of enormous lanterns hung beneath the eaves, bearing the three golden characters: "Hundred Flavors Tower."

Carriages and pedestrians streamed past its entrance, guests filled the doorway, and the attendants hurried busily about with smiling faces. It was a thriving scene.

"We're here, Hundred Flavors Tower." Sun Yun smiled. "This is considered the best seafood restaurant in the county. Its owner has quite a background too, with connections all the way to the prefectural government."

The sharp-eyed attendant at the entrance spotted Sun Yun and immediately set down what he was doing, jogging over with a beaming smile. "Oh! Miss Sun, it's been quite some time since you last came! Quick, please head upstairs to a private room! We've kept one reserved for you all this time!" His manner was exceptionally warm; Sun Yun was clearly a regular here.

Bowing low, the attendant led the three through the noisy first-floor hall. Every table was occupied, and the sounds of drinking games, laughter, conversation, and clattering bowls and chopsticks were endless. Once they climbed the wooden stairs to the third floor, the surroundings immediately became much quieter.

The private room was elegantly arranged. The tables and chairs were all made of fine rosewood, while several ink-wash paintings of distant, evocative seascapes hung on the walls.

Best of all, one side facing the street had a row of delicate carved wooden windows. They were open now, allowing the cool night breeze to drift in, carrying a faint briny scent from the sea.

Looking out from the window, they could take in the glittering night view of more than half of East Market. Lights stretched into the distance like the Milky Way, while the black sea horizon and scattered fishing lights could vaguely be seen farther away.

"This is a great spot." Chen Yuan could not help praising it.

"Right?" Sun Yun smiled proudly. "I reserve this room every time I come. You can enjoy the food and take in the night view at the same time."

The three took their seats, and the attendant swiftly served hot towels and fragrant tea. Sun Yun was clearly an expert at ordering. Without even looking at the menu, she casually named several dishes. "Roasted Silver Knife Fish, Drunken Sea Crab, Steamed Razor Clams, Poached Sea Shrimp, and Steamed Sea Urchin Egg Custard... Hmm, add two stir-fried seasonal vegetable dishes as well. As for wine, bring us a pot of your three-year cellar-aged Sea Soul."

"Right away! Miss Sun, Young Master Wang, and this gentleman, please wait a moment. The wine and dishes will be here shortly!" The attendant noted down the order, acknowledged it loudly, and bowed his way out.

While they waited, Sun Yun and Wang Meng told Chen Yuan more interesting stories about Hundred Flavors Tower and the origins of its signature dishes. They spoke of the county's food and entertainment as if they knew every treasure in their own home, and Chen Yuan, this "outsider," listened with great interest, quickly becoming more immersed in the atmosphere of the county.

Before long, the dishes arrived one after another. The enticing fragrance immediately filled the entire private room.

The Silver Knife Fish had been grilled until charred on the outside and tender within, its fat sizzling as it was sprinkled with fine spices. It was enough to make one's forefinger twitch with appetite.

The enticing orange-red Drunken Sea Crab revealed a shell full of rich roe and creamy innards when opened. The aroma of wine mixed with the seafood's distinctive fresh sweetness rushed straight at them.

The crystal-clear Poached Sea Shrimp was plump and springy, while the Steamed Sea Urchin Egg Custard was as smooth and tender as pudding... Every dish was perfect in color, fragrance, and flavor, displaying Hundred Flavors Tower's exceptional skill.

"Come on, dig in! Junior Disciple Brother, don't be polite!" Wang Meng was impatient by nature. He was the first to pick up a large piece of Silver Knife Fish and put it into his mouth, narrowing his eyes in satisfaction.

Chen Yuan also tasted some of the Drunken Sea Crab's roe. The rich, savory flavor exploded in his mouth. It truly was extraordinary, far beyond anything an ordinary home kitchen could produce.

Wang Meng picked up the wine pot and filled the large coarse porcelain cups before himself and Chen Yuan with clear liquor.

The wine looked pure and transparent, yet it gave off a powerful aroma imbued with the scent of the sea.

"Our Lin Hai County's Sea Soul Wine is said to be brewed with deep-sea spirit spring water and sorghum. It has quite a kick, but it has plenty of benefits too!" Wang Meng raised his cup. "Come, Junior Disciple Brother, let's have one! To celebrate your joining us and becoming one of our own!"

Sun Yun also raised her cup with a smile. Hers contained a lower-proof fruit wine.

"Congratulations, Junior Disciple Brother!" the two said in unison.

Warmth stirred in Chen Yuan's heart. He raised his cup. "Thank you, Senior Disciple Brother and Senior Disciple Sister!" Their cups lightly clinked in the air.

Chen Yuan tilted his head back and drained the wine in one gulp.

The liquor was fiercely spicy as it entered his mouth, like a blazing line of fire shooting down from his throat into his Dantian.

Yet immediately afterward, a warm current spread out from that "line of fire," slowly flowing through his limbs and bones. His whole body grew pleasantly warm, and even his qi and blood seemed to stir slightly, as though being gently massaged and nourished.

"It truly is good wine!" Chen Yuan praised. This wine really did provide warriors with a small benefit.

After several cups of Sea Soul Wine, the atmosphere in the private room grew even livelier.

Wang Meng was a bold man who could never keep words bottled up. He slapped Chen Yuan hard on the shoulder, his voice booming.

"Junior Disciple Brother, you have no idea—you're already famous in our martial arts school! You were stuck at the Qi and Blood Realm for one or two years, then the moment you broke through Skin Grinding, you went straight into the sea and slaughtered an Arrow Bone Fish! Heh, those lads in the Outer Court talk about you like you're some kind of monster now. They're both envious and impressed!"

Sun Yun covered her mouth with a soft laugh and added, "Not just the martial arts school. The well-informed people in the county, like those from Sihai Shipping Company and Zhangji Fish Market, have probably heard that Blackwater Martial Arts School has produced another formidable figure. And now you're the Martial Hall Master's personal disciple. Quite a few people have their eyes on you. When you go out in the future, keep an extra eye open in everything you do."

Chen Yuan set down his cup, his expression calm and without the slightest hint of pride. "Senior Disciple Brother, Senior Disciple Sister, please don't praise me further. The Arrow Bone Fish matter was largely luck and truly not worth mentioning. The road of cultivation ahead is long. I, Chen Yuan, have only just arrived and do not understand many of the rules. I will certainly need to seek much guidance from Senior Disciple Brother and Senior Disciple Sister."

"Haha, excessive humility is pride!" Wang Meng refilled his cup and praised him, then his expression grew a little more serious. "Still, Junior Disciple Brother, I like your temperament. You're neither arrogant nor impatient. You're good material."

"Since we've come to this, now that you've succeeded in Skin Grinding and become the Martial Hall Master's personal disciple, there are some things you should understand. Lin Hai County may not be huge, but its waters aren't shallow either. The powers here are tangled together like roots and branches, each with backing behind them. Their relationships are complicated as hell."

He counted on his fingers and began explaining in detail. "On the surface, the county yamen is naturally the greatest power, representing the laws of the Imperial Court."