Ding-a-ling—
With another crisp ring of the bell, Chrysanthemum Douluo dragged a disheveled figure inside.
Lin Feng cracked one eye open and stole a glance. He nearly broke character on the spot.
What the—where had Chrysanthemum Guan picked up this fresh leek?
What a unique look.
Her hair was as messy as a bird's nest, her clothes were covered in dust (from when Chrysanthemum Douluo had sent her flying earlier), and there were two lumps of something or other stuffed up her nostrils...
Wait, was that bloodstained silk?
Good grief, what kind of brand-new business model was this?
Kidnap someone, beat them up, then drag them in to spend money—a one-stop service?
Was this the kind of thing the Spirit Hall got up to these days?
Lin Feng's mind was full of sarcastic commentary, but on the surface he remained as steady as an old dog, swaying in his rocking chair.
Chrysanthemum Douluo had Spirit Kite Douluo slung over his shoulder like a sack, and he'd raced all the way here. She was so furious her lungs were about to burst.
She swore that the moment she hit the ground, she'd make this clueless freak understand that the Spirit Hall's only female elder was not to be trifled with!
But just as she was dragged to the entrance of the restaurant called Maple Dye Pavilion, an indescribably powerful aroma instantly shattered all her anger and defenses.
It wasn't the smell of ordinary food.
The fragrance seemed alive, burrowing gently yet forcefully into every pore. It soothed the rampaging Soul Power inside her and awakened the most primal hunger for food deep within her soul.
"Gulp."
Spirit Kite Douluo's throat bobbed against her will, and she stopped struggling in an instant.
Her beautiful eyes, blazing with fury moments ago, were now filled with confusion and shock.
What... was that smell?
It smelled so good...
Suddenly, her nose felt a little uncomfortable.
She looked down and remembered the two wads of silk she'd used to stop her nosebleed, still stuffed firmly in her nostrils.
Now, under the assault of that rich aroma, the plugs had become the biggest obstacle.
"This smell..."
Spirit Kite Douluo raised a hand without thinking, carefully pinched a corner of the silk sticking out, and gently tugged.
The moment the first wad came out, a clearer, richer fragrance rushed into her nostrils.
She couldn't help pulling out the other one, too.
Then she took a deep breath.
"Hsss—haa—"
The powerful aroma surged in like a tide, leaving her so intoxicated she swayed slightly. An unnatural blush spread across her cheeks.
Chrysanthemum Douluo watched her cautious yet utterly enraptured expression from the side, the corner of his mouth curling into a smug smile.
See? No one could resist the charm of Senior Lin's restaurant!
Then Spirit Kite Douluo turned her head and slowly looked into the restaurant.
And there she saw a sight she would never forget for the rest of her life.
At a table inside, Demon Bear Douluo, known for his thick skin and hot temper, was clutching a bowl bigger than his face and wolfing down its contents.
He wasn't eating.
He was making a pilgrimage!
He shoveled glistening rice mixed with meat juices into his mouth by the mouthful. Scalding tears streamed down his rugged cheeks as he let out muffled sobs.
"Mm... delicious... so delicious..."
"I've lived nearly a hundred years... and only today have I learned what real food is..."
Where was the dignity of a Titled Douluo in that blissful, tearful, utterly lovestruck expression?
He looked like a lost child who'd wandered for a hundred years and finally found home.
Just smelling the lingering fragrance in the air and watching Demon Bear Douluo's exaggerated eating was enough to bring Spirit Kite Douluo's appetite roaring to life. It howled and churned inside her.
At that moment, the humiliation of being forcibly dragged there and the clothes and jewelry that had been ruined were all tossed to the winds.
There was only one thought in her mind.
Eat!
She wanted to eat, too!
"Yue Guan?"
Ghost Douluo's voice pulled Spirit Kite Douluo out of her daze. He looked at her, still held by Chrysanthemum Douluo, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
"Why did you bring her here? What about that fellow Ghost Leopard?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo casually pushed Spirit Kite Douluo, who had gone completely docile, onto a chair. Then he cocked his pinky and pursed his lips in annoyance.
"Don't get me started!"
"That tasteless fool of a leopard ran faster than a rabbit. I couldn't be bothered to deal with him!"
He glanced at Spirit Kite Douluo out of the corner of his eye, his tone tinged with pride, as though he were doing her a favor.
"Lucky for her, she ran into me halfway there. I let her in on this tremendous opportunity!"
"Hmph, she doesn't even know how to appreciate a good opportunity. Serves that stupid leopard right for being stuck at rank ninety-three for the rest of his life! He'll never improve!"
Then Chrysanthemum Douluo cleared his throat. His bewitching face was plastered with a fawning smile as he respectfully introduced the newcomer to Lin Feng, who was lounging in his rocking chair.
"Senior."
His back bent almost ninety degrees, his posture thoroughly deferential.
"This new leek... ahem! This new customer is also an elder of the Spirit Hall, Spirit Kite Douluo, rank ninety-three."
At that, Lin Feng lazily cracked one eye open.
His gaze swept over Spirit Kite Douluo's wretched appearance, then slowly closed again. All he gave was a barely audible "Mm."
The whole sequence had been smooth and effortless, casual yet imbued with an indescribable pressure.
Spirit Kite Douluo was dumbfounded.
Yue Guan, had you gone mad?
You were a rank-ninety-five Titled Douluo, an elder of high standing in the Spirit Hall, yet you were treating an ordinary-looking young man with such respect?
Had you two gotten your positions mixed up?
And that young man!
A Titled Douluo was treating him with such deference, yet he couldn't even be bothered to lift an eyelid? Could anyone in the world be that arrogant?
But all her doubts and indignation seemed utterly trivial when she caught a whiff of the increasingly powerful fragrance in the air.
Spirit Kite Douluo couldn't be bothered to dwell on it anymore.
There was only one thought in her mind now.
Time to eat!
But when her trembling hand picked up the menu, which looked utterly ordinary, she felt as though she'd been struck by lightning.
Were these prices for real?
A bowl of the plainest noodles cost nearly ten thousand Gold Soul Coins?
Why didn't the restaurant just rob people?!
Seeing the classic, wide-eyed, looked-like-she'd-seen-a-ghost expression on Spirit Kite Douluo's face, Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately understood.
He cleared his throat, cocked his pinky high, gathered his breath, and prepared to launch into the "investment value" speech he'd already rehearsed with Demon Bear Douluo.
He knew the pitch by heart.
"Ling Yuan, don't let the price scare you. Let me tell you, the real value of Senior's place lies in..."
But what happened next took everyone by surprise.
Spirit Kite Douluo suddenly looked up, past Chrysanthemum Douluo, and fixed her gaze on Demon Bear Douluo at the next table, sobbing uncontrollably with his arms around his bowl.
That was Demon Bear Douluo!
A brawny hothead known for his thick skin and explosive temper!
And now he was crying his eyes out over a bowl of rice like a three-year-old child.
That was more convincing than any words could ever be.
The next second, she made her decision.
"Boss."
Spirit Kite Douluo's voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally firm, like a blade cutting straight through Chrysanthemum Douluo's passionate opening pitch.
"One serving of Phoenix Marrow Hundred-Ingredient Dry Noodles."
"One serving of Thousand-Tribulation Nirvana Feather Pastry."
"And one serving of Ice-Flame Vermilion Bird Wings."
Chrysanthemum Douluo: "..."