Wen Ning Treated Everyone

It took Wen Ning a full hour to explain everything that had happened with Xiao Ya from beginning to end.

Wen Zhong never interrupted him, simply listening in silence.

He only showed a little reaction when Wen Ning mentioned using his monster customer group as an intelligence network.

When Wen Ning explained how Meng Jiang had helped him check the Underworld's records, he nodded in approval.

Once Wen Ning had finished telling the whole story,

Wen Zhong leaned back in his grand armchair and stared at him without a word.

His stare made Wen Ning uneasy. He had no idea whether he had handled the matter well or badly.

Only then did Wen Zhong speak.

"You did well on this. Not because you used your Thunder Arts well, but because you put your heart into it. You handled it very appropriately."

Hearing Wen Zhong's words made Wen Ning happy.

It was the first time he had heard his godfather speak to him in that tone. This wasn't some standard, formulaic remark, but genuine praise.

"That Bathhouse of yours..."

Wen Zhong continued.

"I used to think it was a place for you to uncover problems and solve them. Now I see that it's not just your cover. It's also an advantage unique to you. Those monsters trust you and are willing to help you. Not every immortal can achieve that."

Wen Ning didn't think he had treated them with any special regard. He had simply treated them as equals.

"All right, stop standing there like an idiot."

Wen Zhong picked up his teacup and took a sip, his expression returning to its usual effortless authority.

"Keep putting your heart into your work. If you encounter something you can't handle, come to me."

Wen Ning felt that his godfather was in a good mood, making this the perfect chance to ask again. He ventured cautiously,

"Godfather, can we take down that Bathhouse sign, then?"

"No."

Wen Zhong set down his teacup.

"Your grandmaster decided on it. If you have objections, take them to her."

Upon hearing that it had been his grandmaster, Dipper Mother, who had decided, Wen Ning didn't dare bring it up again.

He picked up the plastic bag containing the Huazi cigarettes by his feet.

"Godfather, this carton of Huazi is a gift for you. If you don't smoke, you can give it to Grandmaster."

Wen Zhong looked at the plastic bag Wen Ning held out.

"Last time, I accepted a carton of Liqun from you and left it smoking in the incense burner for half a month. The entire Thunder Department was full of secondhand smoke. When the Queen Mother passed by, she thought we were smoking cured meat in here."

Uh... Wen Ning was speechless.

When Wen Ning emerged from Wen Zhong's office, Lu Ming was lurking around the corner of the corridor, peeking out. The moment he saw Wen Ning, he rushed over, covering his bell with one hand so it wouldn't ring and alert Wen Zhong.

"How did it go? Did the Heavenly Venerable praise you? I heard him praising you through the door just now! Before, I copied a stack of documents half as tall as a person. Last time he passed my desk, he glanced at them and said my handwriting was neater than before. I nearly cried right there. But he actually praised you directly! Do you know what that means? Approval from the Heavenly Venerable! Recognition from the boss!"

Bai Lu also came over and patted Lu Ming on the shoulder.

She held a backup copy of Wen Ning's work report.

"I just checked it over for you. There are no formatting issues, and your Merit reward has already been credited. Ten thousand Merit, enough to meet the threshold for Late Earth Immortal. I suggest you don't rush to advance yet. Save up twelve thousand and break through in one go. You'll get more for your Merit that way."

"Bai Lu, why are you here again?"

Lu Ming brushed her hand away.

"You always scare me by patting my shoulder!"

Bai Lu handed the papers to Wen Ning.

Turning to Lu Ming, she said,

"Wen Ning earned himself some credit this time. Shouldn't you shell out a little and treat him to a meal?"

The moment Lu Ming heard that, he grabbed Wen Ning's arm and headed toward the Heavenly Court Commercial Street.

"Right, right! Food! My treat today! Wen Ning did such a great job, we have to celebrate! I saved some Merit from my last paycheck. It's enough for a good meal at the Heavenly Court Food City!"

The Heavenly Court Food City stood next to the shopping center. It was a three-story cloud building with two strings of red lanterns hanging by the entrance, each lit by an ever-burning Ten-Thousand-Year Whale-Oil Lamp.

Lu Ming led Wen Ning straight up to the third floor, chose a seat by the railing, and picked up the menu to order, introducing the dishes as he went.

"We have to get this Jade Nectar! It's really just rice wine brewed here in the Heavenly Court. Not very strong, but incredibly fragrant! And these Lingzhi Steamed Dumplings—the filling is real Lingzhi Mushroom, not dried lingzhi. It's fresh! Then there's this Jade Pool Lotus Seed Soup. It's expensive, but I'm going all out today. Order it! Wen Ning, get whatever you want. Don't try to save me money! I haven't spent all this month's pay anyway, and once it's gone, there's always next month's. Though it would be even better if you could lend me some Merit. I've had my eye on that Spirit-Silkworm Silk Bathrobe for ages."

Wen Ning watched Lu Ming putting on a show of generosity he could barely afford.

"I'll order, and I'll pay. Ten thousand Merit sitting in my account isn't going to multiply on its own. Let me treat you all to a good meal today."

Lu Ming's eyes lit up when he heard Wen Ning was paying.

He immediately flipped to the last page of the menu, pointed to the most expensive dish, and called out,

"Waiter! Add a Stewed Snow Frog with Flat Peaches!"

Wen Ning glanced at the price.

He felt that this little deer's shamelessness was probably growing faster than his cultivation.

Meng Jiang sprang up and rapped Lu Ming on the antlers.

"Are you taking Wen Ning for some rich sucker?"

Then Meng Jiang turned to the approaching waiter with an apologetic expression.

"We won't need the Stewed Snow Frog with Flat Peaches. Sorry for the trouble."

Bai Lu also changed Lu Ming's order of Lingzhi Steamed Dumplings to a half portion. Merit wasn't something to squander.

Meng Jiang sat opposite Wen Ning and placed the dark food container she had brought on the table.

She opened the lid, revealing a plate of Black Sesame Cake, a specialty of the Underworld.

The food arrived quickly in the Heavenly Court.

As Lu Ming ate, he began dreaming about the future, half a lingzhi steamed dumpling stuffed in his mouth.

"After this work report, Wen Ning is bound to get a promotion and a raise. Maybe he'll even get transferred back to the Heavenly Court for an office job."

Wen Ning replied,

"I still prefer my Bathhouse."

Hearing that Wen Ning didn't want to come to the Heavenly Court, Lu Ming said,

"Why are you still so attached to that shabby shop? Life in the Heavenly Court would be great!"

Wen Ning didn't want to explain too much to Lu Ming. A group of regulars was waiting at his shop for him to scrub their backs. A golden retriever was waiting by the entrance for him to come home and feed it. And a mountain god on Black Wind Mountain still owed him a meal. Perhaps that everyday warmth was what he loved.

Bai Lu remarked mildly,

"You're probably the first person to turn back-scrubbing into a career."

Wen Ning said,

"Exactly. He's the only licensed back-scrubbing immortal in the Three Realms."

At that, all four of them laughed.

Their laughter drew glances from several female immortals at the next table. What was with these immortals? They didn't have the slightest air of immortal dignity.

After the meal, Lu Ming grabbed Wen Ning and insisted that he visit Mount Tai.

Wen Ning didn't refuse.

"I'll definitely go on my next vacation. I'll bring my back-scrubbing gear and scrub the Lord of Mount Tai's back as a first-meeting gift."

Even Lu Ming's bell trembled in fright.

"You'd dare make our venerable ancestor lie in a big tub for a back scrub?"

Then he tried to picture the scene, but couldn't.

Bai Lu headed back as soon as she finished eating.

Before leaving, she told Wen Ning to use this format for all his future work reports and not to follow Lu Ming's example.

Once his friends had all left, Wen Ning didn't hurry back to the mortal world. He decided to take a proper stroll around the Heavenly Court, all by himself.