Pass It On, Marshal Hua...

"..."

"Iced Floating Mutton Milk, obviously! Ice-cold all the way through, enough to make your heart soar~"

Oh, great. You opened your mouth and turned the whole world upside down, huh?

Heaven only knew how despairing those diners, caught between indignation and delight, felt when they heard that.

They even looked at Jiang Yao as though he were an idiot.

What sane person drank Hot Floating Mutton Milk cold?

Who didn't know that Hot Floating Mutton Milk turned bitter and disgusting once it cooled?

But!

If the person saying that...

Was Jiang Yao...

Hiss.

Hard to say.

It really was hard to say!

Especially for the customers lucky enough to have watched Jiang Yao make those spun-sugar Qiongshi Bird Skewers from start to finish.

Common sense told them: this was impossible.

Jiang Yao had slapped common sense twice, pinned it to the ground, and ground its face into the dirt.

That wasn't even a slight exaggeration.

Of course, Auntie Gao's little stall didn't have refrigeration equipment.

But that didn't mean there was nowhere to find some.

She certainly trusted Jiang Yao.

Never mind anything else.

Just look at Gao Tang earlier.

The owner of the Supreme Flavor Garden.

He was famous throughout the Luofu.

It was just that not many people had met the chef in person.

How arrogant and defiant had he been at first?

And what happened?

He had used common sense to argue against a method he'd never seen before.

Little did he know that there was always someone better, always a higher peak.

Merely watching Jiang Yao work and smelling the aroma...

Without even getting to taste Jiang Yao's spun-sugar Qiongshi Bird Skewers...

Had been enough to win him over.

In the end, he had even slunk away with his tail between his legs.

Oh, if he knew Jiang Yao had doubled back for another round, he would probably be furious.

So how could Auntie Gao not trust Jiang Yao?

Beaming, she took the Hot Floating Mutton Milk Jiang Yao had bought and went to borrow some refrigeration equipment.

It really was hot...

Even a little too hot to hold.

After handing the Hot Floating Mutton Milk to Auntie Gao...

Jiang Yao set about preparing Dream Tapir Rolls and Singing Lotus Root Cakes.

Honestly.

They were both pretty ordinary.

The Singing Lotus Root Cake was decent—it was fried lotus root.

It put technique to the test more.

As far as technique went, did anyone need to worry about Jiang Yao's skill?

He was already considering getting fancy with it.

Something a little more unorthodox, for instance: fried lotus root that laughed when you bit into it~

As for the Dream Tapir Roll...

Uh...

It really was just an ordinary cake roll.

Only its appearance was a little prettier.

It might be especially effective against a child like Bailu.

However.

There was one kind of dessert...

That appealed to young and old alike, was not only delicious but fun, and was so delightful you wouldn't want to put it down once it sat in your palm.

As it happened, the Dream Tapir Roll could undergo surgery for a complete makeover.

Jiang Yao decided to do it!

While Jiang Yao threw himself into improving the Luofu's snacks...

Auntie Gao cheerfully took the Hot Floating Mutton Milk to a shop run by another friend of hers.

"Sis Gao, long time no see."

"Long time no see. Could you help me chill this Hot Floating Mutton Milk?"

"Huh? Hot Floating Mutton Milk? Chill it?"

"Mm-hmm. Hehe, to tell you the truth, a master is going to improve our Luofu snacks."

"Oh... Who's this master? He sounds awfully confident."

"Have a little faith first!"

"Really? Now that you've said that, I'm pretty curious. Where's this master from?"

"Hmm, I'm not quite sure. They say he's an outworlder, but he doesn't seem like one to me. Maybe he's some honored guest. I heard the young Foxian girl with him works for the Sky-Faring Commission."

"Ohhh~~~"

"That honored guest has real skills... Who knows? Some big shot might have invited him!"

Auntie Gao and her close friend chatted idly.

Neither of them knew at the time...

That another performer was sitting in the shop, having finished breakfast and about to leave.

Her name was Guinevere.

Her Luofu name: Guinaifen.

Nor did they know...

That very soon, their conversation...

Would take on a whole new form across the Luofu and whip up a frenzy.

"Everyone, Little Gui here! Right now, I'm in the Luofu's historic neighborhood, Aurum Alley!"

Guinaifen started her livestream. The conversation between Auntie Gao and the shopkeeper had given her a whiff of a hot story.

"I just heard from the owner here that a biiig shoooot has come to Aurum Alley!"

With a Foxian girl from the Sky-Faring Commission accompanying him, how could he not be a big shot?

"Apparently, he came for the Luofu's snacks!"

Improving Luofu snacks still counted as coming for Luofu snacks. Nothing wrong with that, right?

"Remember to like, follow, and share, everyone!"

Guinaifen raised her fingers, adorably counting out one, two, three.

"Let Little Gui take you along to investigate!"

Guinaifen figured she had quite a bit of potential as an eating streamer!

She was also full of anticipation for the master Auntie Gao had mentioned.

Improving Luofu snacks!

That was seriously difficult.

And she had tried Auntie Gao's Qiongshi Bird Skewers before.

They tasted fantastic and authentic.

She had confirmed that herself, so how could it be wrong?

Brimming with anticipation, Guinaifen...

Didn't notice...

The comments in her livestream.

Ahem...

[Did you hear? A big shot came to Aurum Alley.]

[Hey, he even came specifically for Aurum Alley's snacks!]

[Seriously?]

[What big shot? I'm right here. He's improving the snacks, and there's a young Foxian girl from the Sky-Faring Commission with him! Heh, we'll even get some free samples later~]

[Pass it on: an honored guest so important that even the Sky-Faring Commission has to entertain him with seduction has arrived in Aurum Alley.]

[Pass it on: an honored guest personally entertained by the general and the master diviner has come to Aurum Alley to sample the snacks.]

[Pass it on: Marshal Hua came specifically for Aurum Alley's snacks! And will share them with the people!]

[...]

Yan Cui, who had headed out overnight to fight monsters from beyond the heavens, returned with a full haul.

She had been very lucky.

She had run into two Shataan Birds, one large and one small.

There were even four eggs!

Most Shataan Birds only laid two or three eggs per clutch.

They almost never had more than three.

That was because Shataan Birds were naturally fierce and brutal.

Two or three were fine.

Any more, and trouble would break out among them.

Four was the absolute limit.

Five was definitely out~

As Yan Cui exclaimed over her good luck, she wore a smile full of compassion.

Because, very unfortunately, those two Shataan Birds, one large and one small, seemed to have suffered heatstroke from the excessively hot nighttime weather.

Kindhearted Yan Cui couldn't bear to leave them and graciously brought them home.

She hadn't left the eggs behind either.

A family ought to stay together, after all.

But the Shataan Birds didn't seem to appreciate it. Refusing treatment was a serious mistake.

For the sake of their lives and safety...

Yan Cui had no choice but to knock them unconscious.

If the Luofu hadn't been rather unsettled lately, prompting the Cloud Knights to step up their vigilance, inspections, and checkpoint security...

She could have made it back before dawn.

She could also have settled the Shataan Birds in and given them a change of clothes.

In weather this hot, how could they wear something so thick?

Besides, creatures from beyond the heavens probably never bathed, did they?

I'll even give you a medicinal bath here.

With things like scallions, ginger, garlic, and chilies.

They're wonderful for your health.

Unfortunately, the Shataan Birds were far too large.

They had undergone a lengthy inspection before she was cleared to return.

Still, it made no real difference.

As long as she could get back~

Yan Cui contacted Jiang Yao right away.

After confirming what her big-spending client wanted, she eagerly arranged a freight Starskiff and prepared to return to her shop.

Her big-spending client was there~

Yan Cui excitedly worked out where she should travel once the outstanding balance was paid.

She had heard that Penacony's once-an-amber-era Charmony Festival was about to begin.

How could she not go take a look?

And she had heard there seemed to be some pretty good ingredients there.

She absolutely had to make the trip!

She walked as she thought.

Before long, Yan Cui returned to Aurum Alley.

Usually, whenever she brought back monsters from beyond the heavens, she drew a crowd.

But today...

Huh, what was going on?

Where was everyone?

Why was everyone rushing farther in?

From the direction they were heading, wasn't that our part of the alley?

"Hey, Tie, what's going on?"

Yan Cui stopped an acquaintance surnamed Tie and asked.

"Oh, Yan Cui? Been out hunting again? Too bad you missed it! I heard the Marshal came to Aurum Alley to try the snacks!"

"I'll get going, then!"

Tie rattled off a quick explanation.

Then he zipped away.

Yan Cui was dumbfounded.

Huh?

The Marshal?!

Are you serious?

In the Xianzhou Alliance.

The title of Marshal could only mean one person—

The Marshal of the Cloud Knights, Hua!

She was a pillar of the Xianzhou, second only to the Reignbow Arbiter!

Why had she suddenly come to Aurum Alley?

To try the snacks, no less?

Come on, didn't I know exactly what food Aurum Alley had to offer?

What delicacy hadn't the Marshal already tried? Even if, against all odds, there was something she hadn't tasted...

One word from her in the morning, and the snacks here would be on her dining table by noon.

Was there really any need to come here in person?

Yan Cui couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.