Chapter 62: A Kindred Spirit

Heishan and Chifeng listened to Wang Yan's grand proclamation, and both of their rough, rugged faces simultaneously broke into expressions of exasperation.

Goodness — was this guy trying to get them to taste-test for poison?

Heishan was just about to say something sarcastic when Si Chen, sitting beside him, gave a calm nod.

"Sure."

He was genuinely interested in Wang Yan's idea of "cooking as alchemy." It sounded far more interesting than all those dry theories.

Wang Yan froze completely.

Half of what he'd just said had been genuine enthusiasm, and the other half was pure waiter habit — just talking big. After all, painting grand pictures cost nothing.

But he never, in his wildest dreams, expected that this young master with his extraordinary bearing would not only refrain from scoffing, but actually agree so earnestly.

This young master even traveled with a beast companion — clearly someone of remarkable background.

The two burly men at his side radiated an aura so thick it was frightening — undoubtedly top-tier Cultivators.

Receiving such "high-caliber" validation, Wang Yan felt a surge of hot blood rush straight to his head.

"Young Master! You… you truly are my kindred spirit!"

Wang Yan's face flushed red with excitement, and the towel on his shoulder nearly flew off as he gestured wildly.

"Young Master, rest assured! Just for those words of yours, I, Wang Yan, would sell everything I own to get an alchemy furnace! When the first batch of supreme-grade spirit elixirs comes out, you'll be the first one I invite to taste them!"

"Just wait! I'll go oversee the kitchen right now and make sure they bring out every trick they've got! I guarantee our honored guests will eat to their hearts' content!"

He moved as if injected with energy, practically flying on his feet, working harder than ever — refilling tea, pouring water, introducing dishes — as if he wanted to tear out his own heart to prove that what he'd said wasn't just empty boasting.

Before long, all the dishes arrived, filling the air with an enticing aroma. Heishan and Chifeng immediately buried their heads and got to work.

Si Chen tasted a few bites. The flavors were genuinely unique — the spirit ingredients had been handled with perfect precision, the heat control impeccable. The trip had been worth it.

He glanced around the lively restaurant and asked Wang Yan, who was bustling back and forth, with mild curiosity: "In Danding City, it seems like there are an unusually large number of restaurants?"

"Young Master, your observation is spot on!"

Wang Yan now treated Si Chen as a true kindred spirit, and his floodgates opened wide.

"In our Danding City, there's no shortage of anything — except Alchemists! And those seeking apprenticeships or pills, there are even more of those."

"When there are more people, there's more business. Negotiating deals, pulling strings, repaying favors — you can't exactly do all that standing in the middle of the street or at the door of an alchemy chamber, can you?"

"Once you sit down, don't you need a drink and a bite to eat? When the atmosphere is right, business gets done!"

As he neatly refilled everyone's tea, he lowered his voice slightly, sharing insider knowledge with a hint of local pride:

"So you see, of all the restaurants and eateries in this city, eight out of ten have an Alchemist backing them — or were simply opened by an Alchemist themselves."

"Put plainly, many pill formulas and favors aren't settled beside the alchemy furnace — they're settled right here at the dining table!"

Si Chen nodded in understanding. So that was it — all the prosperity of Danding City ultimately revolved around the word "alchemy."

Heishan and Chifeng, however, looked utterly baffled. Why was the human world so complicated? If you know alchemy, just do alchemy — why open a restaurant?

In their demon clan, if someone knew alchemy and refused to do it, you'd give them a good thrashing first.

Still refusing? Beat them until they comply. And once they're done, they'd better thank you for sparing their life!

Just then, a few more people entered the restaurant. They were dressed in fine, flashy clothes, led by a young Cultivator with an arrogant, haughty expression.

His gaze swept across the main hall and landed on Wang Yan, who was beaming as he chatted at Si Chen's table.

Wang Yan, ever alert, immediately smiled and went to greet him: "Young Master Zhao, you're here! Please come in! Your usual private box has been kept for you as always. Today we have some newly arrived…"

But Young Master Zhao waved him off dismissively, his face carrying a condescending smirk. "Wang the waiter, quite the enthusiasm. What, still pitching your grand 'cooking as alchemy' vision to these new customers of yours?"

He was clearly not doing this for the first time.

Wang Yan's smile didn't waver. He gave a slight bow and deflected with practiced smoothness: "Young Master Zhao is joking. I was just entertaining the guests while they waited for their food — telling a little story to pass the time. When it comes to the true art of alchemy, only an expert like yourself would truly understand."

"An expert? I wouldn't dare claim that."

Young Master Zhao let out a contemptuous laugh and, rather than leaving, took a few leisurely steps forward. "Wang Yan, I'm not trying to be harsh. A person should know their own limits. You're a waiter — you've learned a few characters, read a couple of pill books, and now you think you can leap straight to the top?"

"If alchemy were really that simple, why would your mother's ailments have dragged on until now?"

"Just focus on earning your Spirit Stones and buy your mother some proper supplements. That's better than chasing these pipe dreams. Don't end up failing to refine a single pill and gambling away the last of your old mother's funeral savings — now that would be unfilial!"

Those words were genuinely vicious.

The smile on Wang Yan's face stiffened for just an instant, and a flash of barely-suppressed fury and pain crossed his eyes.

But he drew a deep breath and, almost by reflex, plastered the smile back on: "Young Master Zhao's lesson is well taken. I'm just letting my imagination run wild. Please don't take it to heart — the private box is right this way, right this way…"

Si Chen and Heishan had not intended to get involved. Everyone had their own lot in life, and they were merely passing through.

But Young Master Zhao seemed to be warming up, continuing to lecture without end, and it was seriously ruining everyone's appetite.

Clack!

Heishan, fed up with the incessant buzzing, slammed his chopsticks down on the table.

"Fuck… shut the hell up!!"

He glared at Young Master Zhao with eyes like copper bells and barked: "We're trying to eat here! Are you going to keep yapping forever?! If you want to put on airs, go do it somewhere else!"

His voice boomed like a muffled thunderclap, and the entire hall fell silent for a moment.

Young Master Zhao was startled by the outburst. He was used to throwing his weight around in Danding City — when had anyone ever dressed him down like this in public? Anger surged onto his face as he turned to retaliate: "Which blind fool…"

One of his attendants was sharper than the rest. He had already sensed something was off about this table the moment Heishan slammed his chopsticks down.

Now, he finally got a clear look at Si Chen's face — the one who had been quietly eating this whole time.

That single glance drained all the color from the attendant's face in an instant. Cold sweat broke out immediately.

He quickly grabbed Young Master Zhao before he could say another word, bowing repeatedly toward Si Chen's table in apology: "I'm so sorry! So sorry! Honored seniors, our Young Master… he's had too much to drink and is talking nonsense. We've disturbed your meal — we'll leave right now, right now!"

Young Master Zhao was completely bewildered, still struggling: "What are you pulling me for? They…"

"Young Master! Please, not another word!" The attendant practically dragged him toward the exit, whispering urgently into his ear as they went.

The arrogance on Young Master Zhao's face vanished as if doused with ice water, extinguished in an instant. Then his complexion turned even paler than his attendant's.

He swallowed hard, and when he turned back toward Heishan and Si Chen's table, he had forced out a smile that looked worse than crying. He clasped his hands toward Heishan, and also toward Si Chen's back, bowing repeatedly:

"This… this junior was blind and ignorant! I've offended the honored seniors! I'm truly sorry! We'll leave at once! At once!"

With that, he practically scrambled out of the restaurant on all fours, dragging his attendants along as he fled.

The abrupt reversal left the other diners in the hall exchanging bewildered glances, none the wiser.

But Wang Yan was a sharp man — how could he not understand by now?

His heart was thunderstruck. Young Master Zhao came from no ordinary background, yet he'd been frightened into that state?

Just who were these people? He had been so consumed by his alchemy dreams that he paid little attention to things like the Qingxuan Rankings.

He looked at Si Chen, his heart churning with waves of emotion — gratitude, and something else he couldn't quite name.

But Si Chen paid no mind to the little interruption. He set down his chopsticks and looked at Wang Yan, who was still in a slight daze:

"We'll be staying in Danding City for a few days."

Wang Yan blinked, then smiled warmly: "That's wonderful! Young Master, whenever you'd like something to eat, come by the shop anytime — I'll make sure everything is arranged perfectly!"

Si Chen gave a nod. "That 'cooking as alchemy' idea you mentioned earlier — I'd very much like to see it with my own eyes."

"If you're ready… I'll cover the cost of the spirit herbs."

Wang Yan's head snapped up. He could barely believe his own ears.

Even Heishan and Chifeng paused their chewing, glancing over at Si Chen with some surprise.

Wait — buddy, are you seriously going to sponsor this waiter kid who talks nothing but nonsense?

Wang Yan's nose began to sting.

Those things he had spoken aloud as if they were pipe dreams — things even he sometimes thought were nothing but foolish fantasies — this mysterious young master before him was actually going to give them a real chance to become reality?

If this wasn't a kindred spirit, then what was?!