Are you the Xianzhou marshal?

The news that Marshal Hua was mingling with the people in Aurum Alley was certainly shocking.

But for Qingque, an unambitious slacker, a moment of shock was enough.

It had nothing to do with her anyway.

Surely Marshal Hua wouldn't need a sect leader like her to entertain him?

Let's be honest here. Am I even worthy?

A little while later.

The Starskiff docked in Aurum Alley.

They had barely stepped off the Starskiff in Aurum Alley.

When Qingque received a message from Fu Xuan.

She initially assumed it was another instruction.

Instead, it turned out to be good news.

Qingque smiled so broadly that her eyes narrowed to slits.

"Ahem!"

"Everyone."

"Eyes on me!"

"I have an announcement!"

Qingque cleared her throat, deliberately keeping them in suspense.

"Lady Fu Xuan just sent a message inviting all of you, along with that Jiang Yao, to a little get-together!"

"As for the venue, hehehe, it's at the Supreme Flavor Garden!"

"You weren't feeling your best yesterday, so make up for it today!"

The thought of the Supreme Flavor Garden reminded Qingque of the wonderful time she'd had last night.

No wonder reservations there were booked two years out.

They really knew their stuff!

If not for the general and the Lord Diviner.

How could she possibly have eaten there two days in a row?

Ah, slacking off is wonderful.

Without slacking off, I couldn't have become a sect leader. Without being a sect leader, I couldn't have hosted the honored guests from the Astral Express.

Without hosting those guests, how would I ever get the chance to feast like this?

Which just goes to show.

Sparrow Gate!

Who would have thought.

Welt, Stelle, and March 7th merely nodded without much enthusiasm.

"All right."

A simple reply.

There was no anticipation on their faces.

There was even a tiny hint of distaste...

That's not right, is it?

Where did things go wrong?

Is that really all?

They're way too calm!

There's absolutely no way they'd react like this.

Impossible!

At the Divination Commission, a single meal at the Supreme Flavor Garden was something you could brag about for ages.

Qingque couldn't make sense of it.

So she reminded them again:

"Everyone, remember not to eat too much!"

"Remember, the Lord Diviner is treating you this afternoon at the Supreme! Flavor! Garden!"

March 7th lowered her head and rubbed her empty stomach. "Thanks to the Lord Diviner, but asking me not to eat my fill is just too much!"

It wasn't as though she hadn't tried the Supreme Flavor Garden's food yesterday.

Could it compare to Jiang Yao's cooking?

Especially the meat. They went on about their "Five Lords of Mountains and Rivers," boasting that they only used the choicest cuts.

And the result?

It wasn't even as delicious as Jiang Yao's meat buns!

Stelle blinked, suddenly realizing something, and asked, "Qingque, did you not hear a single word Bailu and I said yesterday?"

Qingque looked blank. "Huh?"

During dinner last night.

Stelle and Bailu had sat right beside each other.

Qingque had been a little farther away.

And Qingque had been happily engrossed in her food.

She really hadn't paid much attention to what Stelle and Bailu were saying.

"Hehe, you'll find out in a minute."

"Supreme Flavor Garden? The best on the Luofu? One look tells you the truth: it's no match for Jiang Yao's cooking!"

Stelle was brimming with confidence.

So much so that Qingque almost believed her.

"Is it really that good?"

Qingque sounded skeptical.

Looking at Welt, March 7th, and Stelle's expressions.

She could tell how highly they thought of Jiang Yao.

But could his food really be better than the Supreme Flavor Garden's?

Qingque found that hard to imagine.

Still, she was a little more excited now.

They could put it to the test and see what he was made of~

Meanwhile.

Jiang Yao, standing at the center of the whirlwind, had yet to realize what effects his simple cooking and improvements to Luofu snacks would inadvertently bring about.

He was just getting ready to start improving them.

Of the Dream Tapir Roll, Singing Lotus Root Cake, and Hot Floating Mutton Milk.

Only the first needed some baking time.

The other two could be served up quickly.

So, naturally, the first order of business was preparing the Dream Tapir Roll.

However.

Before he got started.

Phantylia, who had been following him around but had barely made her presence felt, stepped forward on her own.

"...Jiang... Yao...?"

Phantylia's voice still carried disbelief.

She suspected that Jiang Yao wasn't the Xianzhou marshal, but she had no proof.

The only person who matched the information Yukong had given her was Jiang Yao.

But could Jiang Yao be the Xianzhou marshal?

What a joke. If Jiang Yao is the Xianzhou marshal, then what does that make me?

Even Phantylia had to admit.

She wasn't good at combat.

Dealing with a few of the Luofu's generals was no problem.

But the marshal of the Xianzhou Alliance...

That was well beyond her capabilities.

Besides, could someone at Jiang Yao's level become the Xianzhou marshal?

What a joke.

If he were the Xianzhou marshal, or even only slightly weaker than the Xianzhou marshal.

The Destruction Legion would laugh themselves silly in their dreams.

They wouldn't even need to intervene. They could just sit back and wait for their enemies to destroy themselves.

As for him being stronger than the Xianzhou marshal?

Ha, what a joke.

There's no way!

Where does Jiang Yao show even a trace of a ruler's bearing?

To put it in human terms and analogies:

Without exaggeration, I could trick a foodie like him into bed at least three times~

"Hm?"

Jiang Yao was surprised.

Phantylia? Why are you still here?

Pfft, no, no, wrong script again.

"What's wrong?"

Jiang Yao wondered whether Phantylia was about to leave.

Well, you're certainly no good.

But you haven't done anything while you've been with me.

Maybe I should treat you to something?

"Are you... the Xianzhou marshal?"

Phantylia's tone was exceedingly strange.

"...Huh?"

Jiang Yao froze too.

What nonsense is she spouting now?

"Huh?! What did I just hear?"

Bailu was stunned as well.

She blinked her large eyes at Jiang Yao.

"I just received a message from Lady Yukong."

"Lady Yukong said Marshal Hua is in Aurum Alley."

Phantylia felt reassured.

Exactly.

How could Jiang Yao possibly be the Xianzhou marshal?

That would be absurd!

Besides, Yukong was the one who gave me this assignment.

Wouldn't Yukong know whether Jiang Yao was the marshal?

So...

What exactly is going on here?

"Huh? The marshal came to Aurum Alley? Then he definitely has to try Jiang Yao's snacks!"

Bailu didn't have much of a reaction.

But she figured that, as the marshal, he must be someone truly important. He should come have some skewers with them!

"Oh, and?"

Jiang Yao figured the marshal could come if he wanted. Surely the Xianzhou didn't require a business license and a food hygiene permit too?

Besides, this was Auntie Gao's stall. She had them.

"Lady Yukong also said Marshal Hua is in Aurum Alley sampling snacks... improving snacks... and planning to share delicious food..."

Phantylia enunciated every word.

The more Jiang Yao heard, the more something seemed off.

Why does that sound a little familiar?

"So, do you have any idea what's going on?"

Phantylia spread her hands.

She couldn't understand it.

Jiang Yao hadn't even done anything!

How had this news ended up matching him so absurdly well?

Jiang Yao fell silent.

There weren't many people in Aurum Alley to begin with.

And he had already walked around the place that morning.

How could he not know where all the action was?

Surely he hadn't only just arrived?

That gap in time, that timing.

Wasn't it a little too convenient?

"So, are you the Marshal of the Xianzhou?"

Phantylia sighed and planted both hands on her hips.

"I... am?"

Even Jiang Yao sounded unsure now.

Hadn't Phantylia just described him?

To put it more bluntly, hadn't she based that description on his own actions?

Phantylia raised an eyebrow. "Are you?"

Jiang Yao scratched his head. "I am? I'm not famous yet..."

Phantylia shook her head. "I'm telling you, you're not!"

Jiang Yao pointed at himself. "You're saying I'm not?"

Phantylia nodded firmly. "You're not!"

Jiang Yao took a deep breath and spread his hands. "I don't think I am either!"