Before long, the waiter came over singing out as he carried a tray of food.
He swiftly set everything on the table. "Anything else you need, honored guest?"
Ling Qing picked up a spoon and took a spoonful of tofu pudding.
The rich, savory gravy, the tender, silky tofu, and the minced meat, wood ear mushrooms, diced pickles, and other toppings—
All burst across Ling Qing's mouth, making him let out an involuntary groan of pleasure.
"Now this is living. This is what a meal should be!"
He picked up a fragrant, crispy baked bun next. A bite of tofu pudding, a bite of baked bun, and before long, he had polished off the whole bowl.
Now thoroughly satisfied, he picked up a palm-sized steamed bun and finally had time to pay attention to Xiao Yi.
"Little waiter, if you're not too busy, would you mind sitting with me for a chat?"
After asking, he took a hearty bite of the bun and ate it with rice porridge and pickles.
"Of course, honored guest. Ask whatever you like."
"Sit."
Ling Qing stuffed the rest of the bun into his mouth, then finally freed up a hand to gesture toward the stool beside him.
When Xiao Yi tried to refuse, Ling Qing simply pulled him down onto it, then picked up a stick of fried dough.
"I wanted to ask you, little waiter: how far is it from here to Mount Lao?"
"Are you heading up the mountain to seek immortals and pursue the Way, honored guest? It's not far. Go east out of town for a dozen or so li and you'll be there."
Xiao Yi looked him over a few times and spoke with a smile.
"Don't mind me sticking my nose in, honored guest. Quite a few people come and go hoping to seek immortals, but most of them come back down after spending a year or so on the mountain.
Some last only three or five days.
You seem like a straightforward fellow, honored guest. I'd say you'd be better off not putting yourself through that."
"Oh? Are there really so many people coming and going to seek immortals?"
"Plenty. Of course there are. Most people like you are heading there to seek immortals."
Xiao Yi nodded firmly. He knew well enough how many there were.
Daling Town was the town closest to Mount Lao, and this inn was the only restaurant in town.
Most people seeking immortals stopped here for a meal and to ask about the mountains.
You could say the place was kept afloat by people like them. Especially these past few days, when there had been even more than usual.
"I don't know if there are immortals in those mountains, but I believe there are.
"As for whether anyone can become immortal...
"All I know is, plenty come in full of confidence, then leave in despair.
"Seems becoming immortal isn't as easy as eating or drinking—you can't just decide to do it and succeed.
"If you ask me, there's no harm in taking a look around the mountains, honored guest. Just don't get your hopes up too high.
"I hear life up there is harsh, with only thin porridge and bran cakes to stave off hunger.
"Our food here may not be fit for an emperor, but it's still delicious.
"If you go seeking immortals, you won't get to eat anything this good."
"Then thank you, little waiter. By the way, do you know which temple or Taoist temple people used to visit when they went looking for immortals? Have you heard of Shangqing Temple?"
Seeing that Xiao Yi was genuinely trying to help, Ling Qing didn't argue. He simply asked him directly.
"There are plenty of temples and Taoist temples on Mount Lao. I've heard people mention Shangqing Temple, too.
"They say it's on the eastern side of Shandong, near the sea. It takes two or three days to get there.
"But the mountains are high and the forests deep along the way. It won't be an easy journey."
Xiao Yi thought it over. He had indeed heard people mention it before.
He understood that people who sought immortals and pursued the Way were usually the sort who wouldn't turn back until they'd hit a wall.
There was no point saying too much. Better to guide them kindly and help them avoid a few wrong turns. Once they couldn't bear the harsh life in the mountains, they'd give up and come back on their own.
So, when Ling Qing asked, he didn't hide anything. He gave him detailed directions for entering the mountains.
"Honored guest, I'll go check on the kitchen."
Seeing that he'd said just about all there was to say, and that the chicken and fish in the kitchen steamers ought to be ready, Xiao Yi stood up.
"Your food's here!"
Before long, Xiao Yi called out and brought over a plate of chicken, fish, and meat dishes.
"Thanks for your trouble, little waiter."
Ling Qing tore off a chicken leg and shoved it into Xiao Yi's hand. Before the waiter could refuse, he dug right in.
"Thank you for the tip, honored guest." Xiao Yi thanked him and turned to leave.
He sometimes got to eat a bit of meat when cleaning up, but it wasn't the same as having a customer offer it to him.
"Ugh—"
After a whirlwind meal, Ling Qing rubbed his belly and let out a satisfied belch.
He hadn't gone hungry on the road, but the food had been truly awful.
"Little waiter, pack me a few roast chickens and some smoked fish to take with me."
After resting a little, Ling Qing slung the Book Box onto his back, picked up his wooden staff, and headed for the counter as he spoke to Xiao Yi.
"Coming right up!"
While Ling Qing paid and signed the register, Xiao Yi packed up the chicken and fish.
"Are you heading to Shangqing Temple, honored guest?"
Just as Ling Qing was about to leave, the proprietor suddenly spoke up.
"If you're not in a hurry, perhaps you could wait a little."
"Oh?"
"I remembered that two people yesterday said they were going to Shangqing Temple on Mount Lao. Why not travel with them, honored guest? It'll be nice to have company on the road."
"That's right, I'd completely forgotten!" Xiao Yi said hurriedly as he brought over the roast chicken and smoked fish.
"But those two arrived so late yesterday that the inn was almost closed. I only caught a word or two."
The proprietor continued, "Xiao Yi, go to the back and ask those two—"
"Old Zhu, hurry up! Hurry!"
Before the proprietor could finish, an impatient voice came from the courtyard behind the inn.
"What are you rushing me for? This is your own fault. You insisted on keeping me talking so late last night, and now you're in a hurry?"
The other man answered irritably.
But to Ling Qing, the two voices sounded familiar.
"I've suffered for so long, and now we're almost there. Of course I'm excited!"
"If we're too late to be admitted through the mountain gate, let's see how excited you are then."
"Bah, bah, bah! You pig's mouth never says anything auspicious. Can't you say something nice for once?"
As the voices drew nearer, two familiar figures appeared before Ling Qing.
"Proprietor, get us some food, right away! Hurry!"
One was a handsome young man holding a long saber, calling out loudly. Beside him hurried a stout Taoist priest in a robe.
They were Zhang Zhe and Zhu Guang.
"Zhang Zhe, Brother Zhu Guang! It's been a long time." Ling Qing raised a hand to greet them.
"Ling Qing?!"
"Brother Ling Qing?!"
The two looked up, then called out in delighted surprise when they saw him. "You've made it here, too!"
"So the three of you know each other. That makes things even more convenient," the proprietor remarked as he watched them greet one another.
After exchanging a few words, they didn't say much more. Zhang Zhe and Zhu Guang bought some food, then the three bid farewell to the proprietor and set off.
Once they left town, the three headed east.
As they walked, they traded stories about what they'd experienced after entering the instance.
After the instance began, everyone had chosen an identity and gone their separate ways, appearing alone near a small town or village.
Ling Qing had assumed from Zhang Zhe's outfit that he'd chosen a swordsman or something similar again. He hadn't expected him to choose a scholar, too.
Zhu Guang, as expected, had chosen the life of a lay cultivator. What he gained was a collection of esoteric knowledge, strange tales, and oddities.
Along the way, they had all encountered some eerie events.
Fortunately, they had all come well prepared and made it through without a hitch.
Before you continue