"Old Ghost~ Let go! I can't breathe!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo's face had turned purplish red from lack of oxygen as he frantically slapped at Ghost Douluo's arm.
Seeing Chrysanthemum Douluo looking like he was about to roll his eyes back, Ghost Douluo finally snapped out of it and hurriedly let go.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo slumped into his seat, clutching his throat as he coughed violently.
Gasping for breath, he pointed a trembling orchid-like finger at Ghost Douluo, so furious he could barely get the words out.
"You... you old ghost! Are you trying to murder me?!"
"If the Spirit Hall elders turn on each other and you choke me to death, that scandal will spread across the whole continent by tomorrow!"
However, Ghost Douluo had no time to entertain his complaints.
His eyes, usually hidden beneath a veil of black mist, were now fixed on Lin Feng behind the counter, burning with unprecedented fervor.
"Yue Guan! Enough talking!"
Ghost Douluo's voice was hoarse and urgent as he yanked the still-coughing Chrysanthemum Douluo to his feet.
"Quick! It's our turn! Let's go place our order!"
Looking at his old partner, who had completely lost his composure and seemed almost possessed, Chrysanthemum Douluo suddenly forgot his resentment.
In its place came the smug superiority of someone who had been there before.
He gave a couple of light coughs and leisurely straightened his collar, which Ghost Douluo had rumpled. Every movement was deliberately elegant.
He tidied his hair, then reached out and gently poked Ghost Douluo on the shoulder.
"Old Ghost, stay calm~"
Chrysanthemum Douluo imitated Lin Feng's unruffled manner. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and his eyes carried a hint of "you're still too young."
"Look at you, acting like you've never seen the world. You're making our Spirit Hall elders look bad."
Ghost Douluo: "..."
Meanwhile, the three members of the Golden Generation nearly burst out laughing at the sight.
Yan's shoulders shook like a sieve. He clamped a hand over his mouth, his face turning red from holding it in.
Xie Yue also hurriedly lowered his head, pretending to keep admiring his Martial Soul, but the twitching corners of his mouth gave him away.
Hu Liena had the best self-control of the three, but even she couldn't help rolling her eyes. Her little hand instinctively brushed the fresh Gold Soul Cards in her Storage Soul Tool.
Hold it in! Whatever you do, hold it in!
That was three hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins in hush money!
Take someone's money, and you help them deal with their troubles.
Even if the sky fell today, Elder Ju would still be a dashing and awe-inspiring Titled Douluo in their eyes!
He was absolutely not the fool from yesterday, kneeling on the ground with snot bubbling from his nose, so stuffed that he rolled his eyes!
After "teaching" his old partner a lesson, Chrysanthemum Douluo finally turned back toward Lin Feng behind the counter, satisfied.
One moment, he had been putting on the airs of a Titled Douluo, acting like a seasoned veteran and implying, "You're still too young."
The next, his bewitching face was instantly covered in a fawning smile. His back bent instinctively, and he looked just like a shop assistant who had spotted the God of Wealth.
The speed of his transformation left Ghost Douluo speechless.
"P-predecessor!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo rubbed his hands together, smiling like a chrysanthemum in full bloom.
"The three youngsters have all drawn their prizes. Do you think... we can place our order now?"
He kept his voice light and gentle, afraid to disturb this distinguished guest.
Watching Chrysanthemum Douluo's face-changing act, worthy of a Sichuan opera performer, Lin Feng's eyes twitched.
Why didn't this guy lose points for changing his face?
Though Lin Feng felt like complaining, he merely nodded calmly to show his consent.
At Lin Feng's approval, Chrysanthemum Douluo's face blossomed into a smile.
Then he grabbed Ghost Douluo, who was still standing there in a daze, and shoved him into a seat.
Next, with something close to reverence, he picked up the menu from the table in both hands.
He handled it so carefully that he looked less like he was holding a menu and more like he was cradling some priceless treasure.
Ghost Douluo was taken aback by his behavior, but immediately sat up straight and turned his attention to the menu.
It was still the Level 9 Menu (Intermediate).
The name of every dish was imposing, and the prices that followed were enough to make any Soul Master hesitate.
However, Ghost Douluo was only surprised at first. He quickly composed himself.
Expensive?
Not at all!
Compared with Hu Liena's fourth Soul Ring, which could absorb eight thousand years, and the visible enhancement to Xie Yue's Martial Soul, what did this amount of money matter?
It was practically dirt cheap!
"Yue Guan, at this senior's place... is the lottery better the more you spend?" Ghost Douluo asked in a low voice, barely able to contain his excitement.
"Of course!" Chrysanthemum Douluo replied as if it were obvious. "This senior's establishment is fair to everyone. You get what you pay for!"
At those words, Ghost Douluo felt every dish radiate a fatal allure.
The more he looked, the more excited he became; the more he looked, the more tempted he felt.
At last, an irresistible impulse surged through him, and the words slipped out before he could stop them.
"With so many good things, I really want to order one of everything and try it!"
As soon as he finished speaking,
the air in the entire restaurant froze.
"Whoosh!"
Several gazes shot toward Ghost Douluo at once.
Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan all shuddered, looking at Ghost Douluo with pity and sympathy, as if he were a condemned prisoner about to be led to the execution ground.
In their minds, the miserable scene from yesterday came rushing back: Chrysanthemum Douluo stuffed until his eyes rolled back, then stripped of his Immortal Herb reward.
Chrysanthemum Douluo almost instinctively glanced at Lin Feng.
Chrysanthemum Douluo almost instinctively glanced toward Lin Feng in the rocking chair behind the counter.
That one look nearly scared the shit out of him.
Lin Feng's lazy eyes, which had been half closed, slowly opened. He glanced at Ghost Douluo with interest.
There was no murderous intent in his gaze, no pressure, not even the slightest trace of emotion.
There was only pure curiosity and amusement. He even curled the corner of his mouth into a smile.
It was over!
Why did that old ghost have to go looking for trouble like this?
Yesterday's scene of him getting himself stuffed half to death and losing his Immortal Herb was still fresh in Chrysanthemum Douluo's mind.
Was he really going to stand by and watch his old partner suffer the same fate today?
No!
Absolutely not!
In the blink of an eye, without giving it a second thought, Chrysanthemum Douluo swung his hand back and slapped Ghost Douluo hard on the back of the head.
Smack!
The crisp crack rang out, especially loud in the silent restaurant.
Ghost Douluo Gui Mei, an elder of great influence in Spirit Hall and a Titled Douluo of level ninety-five, was now clutching the back of his head, utterly stunned.
He slowly turned around. Beneath the black mist, his eyes now spelled out three questions: Who am I? Where am I? Who hit me?
When he saw Chrysanthemum Douluo's face, twisted with anxiety, a surge of fury shot from his heart straight to the crown of his head!
He had never suffered such humiliation in his life! Especially not from the old partner he had spent so many years with, right in front of three juniors!
"Yue Guan! Have you lost your mind?!"
Ghost Douluo almost instinctively went to slam the table, but before his palm could reach it,
Chrysanthemum Douluo grabbed his wrist in alarm. Then he twisted sharply and neatly locked Ghost Douluo's arm. Ghost Douluo's dark face was promptly introduced to the cold tabletop...