[This is what it's like when a dream is right in front of you—people always feel like it's not real.]
[Looks like Fengdeng Lou isn't just putting pressure on Liuli Pavilion and Xinyue Kiosk—the pressure on chefs is really no joke.]
[Helper selection standards are strict? Then I recruit 20 helpers in three minutes—what do you think of that, Xiangling?]
Under Lumine and Paimon's operations, Xiangling officially became a temporary helper at Fengdeng Lou. Like Lumine, she would stay for a while and then leave.
After all, Xiangling was ultimately a chef at Wanmin Restaurant—her dream was to run Wanmin Restaurant well.
While becoming the head chef wielding the ladle at Fengdeng Lou was also a dream, Xiangling herself felt that reaching that level with her current skill would take a very long time, so she chose to focus on Wanmin Restaurant.
"Just like that?" Xiangling asked. "No other requirements? I can really enter Fengdeng Lou's kitchen now?"
"Xiangling, you're not dreaming—this is real." Xingqiu could tell at a glance what state Xiangling was in right now.
Xiangling still looked dazed and out of it.
"Seeing her like she's possessed, this Hall Master will take her aside for an exorcism first. You guys chat." Hu Tao took Xiangling to the side to prepare an exorcism ritual.
"Looks like Xiangling is really happy." Paimon sighed in admiration.
"After all, she gets to enter the holy land in her heart." Xingqiu said understandingly. "If one day, Paimon, you learned you could enter a place full of delicious food, you'd understand how Xiangling feels right now."
"When you put it that way, I can really put myself in her shoes." Paimon said happily.
"How have things been lately?" Lumine asked.
Xingqiu nodded: "Although Three Bowls Restaurant was flooded and Iron Tongue Tian has nowhere to tell stories, fortunately Wanwen Bookhouse wasn't flooded, so I still have a place to find some books to read."
[I thought the only one who cared about Three Bowls Restaurant flooding was Zhongli—didn't expect Xingqiu to care too.]
[No official material ever said Xingqiu likes listening to storytelling either.]
"So Xingqiu likes listening to storytelling too?" Paimon asked curiously. "You never mentioned it before."
"Ah? Oh, it's just a coincidence. I'm not personally interested in storytelling—it's just that the last story Iron Tongue Tian told really caught my interest." Xingqiu explained.
"A story that interests a book-lover like Xingqiu must be really exciting." Lumine said with interest.
Xingqiu nodded: "What Iron Tongue Tian told was a self-made story he created after gathering material from Qingce Village—the life of the Qingce Sword Immortal, a tale with no records in books."
"It was very exciting. After hearing it, I've been looking forward to the next part. Unfortunately, before the next session came, this disaster struck, and Three Bowls Restaurant got flooded."
"That's too bad." Paimon said regretfully. "But Xingqiu, was the Qingce Sword Immortal's story really that amazing?"
"It's no exaggeration to say it's a story every swordsman has fantasized about." Xingqiu smiled. "At least I really thought that story was pretty good."
"Hmm…" Paimon pondered, then her eyes suddenly lit up as she looked at Lumine.
"Lumine, how about we invite Iron Tongue Tian to tell stories at Fengdeng Lou? Just to help Xingqiu out."
"Actually, you just want to hear it yourself, right?"
"Aiya, it's the same thing, the same thing."
Lumine hesitated: "It's possible, but I'm worried about the business side."
Xingqiu said: "Don't worry—with Iron Tongue Tian's skill, he'll definitely take Fengdeng Lou's business to the next level."
"That's exactly why I'm worried~"
"Eh?"
[Oh! The long-foreshadowed Qingce Sword Immortal—finally starting to unfold the plot?]
[Because the Qingce Sword Immortal is related to Jun Bai, that's why Jun Bai's Story Quest requires completing all of Fengdeng Lou's series quests?]
[Xingqiu's "Eh?" is so funny.]
[Protagonist: We're already too busy as it is—business doesn't need to go to the next level!]
In the end, Lumine agreed to Paimon's suggestion.
One reason was to spoil her, and the other was that she herself was curious about the Qingce Sword Immortal's story.
Although she could just ask Jun Bai directly—he would definitely be willing to tell—but remembering the dim look in Jun Bai's eyes when the topic was brought up before, Lumine couldn't bring herself to make a sound.
If she asked about the Qingce Sword Immortal, Jun Bai would surely tell her, but that would mean forcing Jun Bai to actively reopen the wound in his heart—Lumine couldn't do something like that.
Listening to a storyteller's adapted version would be fine.
It probably wouldn't differ too much from the original story.
So the group agreed to meet at Fengdeng Lou before opening tomorrow morning.
Xingqiu would bring Iron Tongue Tian over, Lumine and Paimon would handle his onboarding, Xiangling would come early to get used to the work, and as for Hu Tao… she was here to add an extra pair of chopsticks.
The next day, at Fengdeng Lou.
Iron Tongue Tian looked at the blonde Traveler and the floating unknown object in front of him in shock and asked:
"Are the two managers serious? I can really tell the stories I wrote myself in this thousand-year-old establishment?"
"Of course." Paimon nodded.
"Fengdeng Lou accepts all forms of art. As long as sir's skill is sufficient, you can naturally showcase your works freely here at Fengdeng Lou." Ning Yao maintained a proper smile.
"Thank you so much." Iron Tongue Tian was extremely excited. The environment here was worlds apart from Three Bowls Restaurant—telling stories here was too good to be true.
Ning Yao reminded him: "Mr. Iron Tongue Tian, please don't get too excited yet. You still need to demonstrate your skill before you can take the lead performer spot."
"Oh, yes, yes."
[Look how excited Iron Tongue Tian is.]
[Unemployed person's mental state upon landing the same job but in a much better work environment be like:]
"I don't know how I should demonstrate my skill?"
"Please perform a segment of storytelling in front of everyone—this humble one will judge accordingly." Ning Yao said. "Normally that's how it is, but today's situation is special."
"Boss, please."
Ning Yao gave a slight bow toward the door. Jun Bai, with black hair and red eyes, walked in from the entrance under everyone's gaze.
"Jun Bai?" Paimon said in pleasant surprise. "You're here?"
"This is really sudden." Lumine said.
"I came to inspect work—didn't expect to arrive at just the right time." Jun Bai smiled. "Next, regarding Mr. Iron Tongue Tian telling stories at Fengdeng Lou—can I handle it? Proxy managers."
"Of course." ×2
"So he's the owner of this Fengdeng Lou? He looks so young—probably an outstanding younger generation in the family?" Xingqiu secretly observed Jun Bai's appearance and thought to himself.
Compared to Xingqiu, Hu Tao was much more direct.
She rushed straight up to Jun Bai excitedly: "Little Brother Jun Bai, what fate we have! Not long after parting at the Rite of Descension, we meet again here."
"I never expected you to be the owner of Fengdeng Lou. Rich people really are generous—with one move, it's Peach-level service."
"Uh… Director Hu, I'm happy to see you too. But right now, could you let me handle business first?"
"Oh, sorry—it was this Hall Master's rudeness."
Hu Tao stepped aside.
Jun Bai carried over a stool, sat down in front of Iron Tongue Tian: "Please begin your performance, Mr. Storyteller."