The inner disciples could fly on their swords, but the outer disciples refused to be outdone. Some pulled donkey carts with four or five people perched on them, while those with more money rode horses straight over, kicking up clouds of dust.
According to Cloud Radiance Sect disciples who took part in the battle for the Restaurant's tables and chairs, the scene had been terrifying. Absolutely terrifying! Fellow disciples who were normally your best buddies turned on you without a second thought, flying their swords faster than they did when setting out to slay demons.
Even some of the usually quiet, demure female disciples muttered things like "Beauty Hot Pot," and "I'll secretly get prettier and stun everyone," before shooting straight to the front with a whoosh.
"A private room! I want to book a private room! There are six of us. Bring us one portion of every signature Demonic Beast meat you have! And we want the Yin-Yang Hot Pot!"
"Waiter! Recommend a broth for us, would you? It's our first time, and we have no idea what's good."
"I heard you have a beauty broth here. Is that true? If we eat hot pot here, can we discuss the secrets of staying young forever with Senior Sister Qingli?"
Shen Leyan scribbled away on a sheet of scrap paper, calculating each table's bill. As he looked at the packed dining hall, his face lit up with smiles.
"Everyone, if our Restaurant advertised it, then we definitely have it! Qingli! Someone's asking for your beauty secrets!"
Qingli came skipping over. "Coming!"
Less than an hour after classes ended, every seat in the Restaurant was occupied except for the largest, most expensive private room.
The disciples who arrived late beat their chests and stamped their feet in frustration. Those without afternoon classes sat right down on the grass outside to wait. Those who did have classes were so envious that they asked their companions whether they wanted to go all out and simply skip class!
The Restaurant had hired plenty of staff, but there were even more customers, so Shen Leyan helped serve dishes and clear tables too.
Only once every customer had their food did he take a brief break, stepping outside to glance at the mountain peak where Cicada Song Pavilion stood.
According to Senior Brother Zheng, Sect Master Lu had matters to discuss with several elders today and probably wouldn't be able to come.
Still, judging by the Cloud Radiance Sect disciples' enthusiasm today, whether he came or not wouldn't affect Shen Leyan's ability to rake in silver.
"Look... isn't that the sect master's Jiangxue Sword?"
"No way. The sect master rarely leaves Cicada Song Pavilion. Has something serious happened?"
"I haven't heard of any powerful Demons wreaking havoc lately that would require the sect master to deal with them personally..."
The Azure Sky was spotless today, the sun blazing overhead. Beneath its dazzling light, that frost-white sword radiated a chilling cold. Even from a thousand meters away, its sharp, icy aura seemed palpable, like a blade about to pierce flesh, striking terror into the heart.
One disciple remarked, "They say the sect master's Jiangxue Sword has drunk so much Demon blood that even its Sword Spirit has become steeped in a sinister aura. Its blade is like the glaciers at the ends of the earth that haven't thawed for ten thousand years. Anyone with insufficient cultivation will be injured by the cold just by getting a little too close."
As the Jiangxue Sword drew nearer, more disciples waiting outside the Restaurant turned to watch, with nothing else to do.
"The Jiangxue Sword doesn't look like it's leaving the sect. It seems to be heading our way."
"Does the Sword Spirit like hot pot too?"
"Sword Spirit can't eat human food, can it...?"
Standing at the Restaurant entrance, Shen Leyan watched the frost-shrouded sword descend from the sky and fly straight toward him before stopping.
When the village had caught fire, he had only seen the sword light unleashed by the Jiangxue Sword. This was his first time seeing the actual blade.
It was crystalline and transparent from end to end, with almost no ornamentation. Only its hilt was wrapped in dark gold markings resembling a flood dragon. That was probably where the "Sword Spirit" those disciples spoke of resided.
Although the body he had transmigrated into looked almost exactly like his body in his previous life, it was much weaker, especially vulnerable to the cold.
In the summer heat, he could run and jump like anyone else, but once the temperature dropped, he felt something battering around inside his lungs and couldn't help doubling over in a coughing fit.
Shen Leyan took several steps back, putting some distance between himself and the ice-cold Jiangxue Sword.
For some reason, whenever he retreated a step, the Jiangxue Sword moved a step closer. When he shifted to one side, the sword shifted along with him.
Shen Leyan had no choice but to speak. "Sword... esteemed Sword Spirit? This disciple can't withstand the cold. What brings you here? Does Sect Master Lu have any instructions?"
The Jiangxue Sword paused, perhaps trying to understand his words. Once it grasped that he was sensitive to the cold, it quickly withdrew the frost surrounding its blade and moved a little farther away.
Then the blade gave a faint hum, and its hilt pointed toward the Restaurant, as though it wanted to go inside.
The disciples on the grass outside the Restaurant wore all sorts of expressions, some astonished and some thoughtful, but every one of them was watching what happened.
"Look at the Restaurant's owner... he looks like a kid who isn't even twenty yet. Doesn't he look familiar? Isn't he the one who called the sect master by name through a Voice Transmission Talisman the other day?"
"Oh! Now that you mention it, I think he is!"
"But the newspaper the sect published today said that incident with the Voice Transmission Talisman was an accident. It was that outer disciple's first time using a talisman, and he was too frantic to worry about etiquette..."
"Then how do you explain the Jiangxue Sword coming to the Restaurant to find him today?"
"Well... perhaps, perhaps the Sword Spirit is here to inspect the Restaurant?"
"Do you even believe that yourself?!"
Listening to the chatter outside, Shen Leyan gestured for the Jiangxue Sword to follow him inside and sighed inwardly.
It looked like he would have to write another newspaper article tomorrow. Otherwise, even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn't wash away the suspicions about his relationship with the Jiangxue Sword.
As it happened, there was still an empty private room on the second floor. He led the Jiangxue Sword up the stairs, while the diners stared like searchlights, practically boring holes through both him and the sword.
"Listen, esteemed Sword Spirit," Shen Leyan said, lowering his voice. "Couldn't you shrink a little and be less conspicuous?"
At his words, the Jiangxue Sword turned into a streak of light and entered the private room.
Shen Leyan hurried after it and closed the door.
"Can you tell me now what instructions Sect Master Lu sent you with?"
A flurry of snow suddenly rose. Startled, Shen Leyan instinctively tried to dodge, only to realize that none of its chill had spread toward him.
A moment later, a young man with silver hair and golden eyes, dressed in snow-white robes, sat in the wooden chair before him.
Shen Leyan was speechless.
"...Didn't you say you weren't coming today, Sect Master Lu?"
He certainly didn't believe the man had come at this hour to conduct an inspection.
[I'm realizing more and more just how right Qingli was. I really can't look at Lu Yuanyi through the lens of the original novel. This guy is a complete liar!]
"I was discussing matters with several elders, but we've finished. Didn't you say in the Reflection Stone that the Restaurant's earnings would be split evenly with the sect, and that I absolutely had to be here today?"
[I originally invited you to attract more disciples here to eat. But seeing how we don't even have enough seats today, it doesn't really matter whether you come or not.]
Shen Leyan put on a perfectly polite, harmless smile.
"Of course, this disciple couldn't be happier to welcome you, Sect Master Lu. But our Restaurant is only a small business, so, Sect Master Lu, perhaps you could..."
[(´＄ω＄｀)]
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