Chapter 128

Noon, the sun was high in the sky.

The news that a new chef had arrived at Wanmin Restaurant and that Xiangling had returned had already spread among the regular patrons.

In the bustling midday crowd at Wanmin Restaurant, Noelle carefully carried a table through the crowded customers.

Gently placing the table in a cooler spot at the back of the restaurant, Noelle bowed slightly to the guests behind her and said, "Sorry for the inconvenience, as we're fully booked inside, we have to seat you here."

"No problem."

With a wave of his sleeve, Zhongli took a seat and looked towards the distant blue sky and towering mountains, smiling lightly. "This place will do nicely."

"Do you have any recommendations for us? Please introduce the menu."

"Of course, please wait a moment."

Turning to get two menus, Noelle handed them to the new customers.

"Today's recommended set menus were prepared by Xiangling and Master Hiroshi together. You may choose whichever set appeals to you the most."

"No need."

Flipping through the menu briefly, Zhongli returned it to a stunned Noelle, saying calmly, "We'll take both sets."

"Hahaha, that's just like Mr. Zhongli!"

The blonde man with a peculiar mask laughed heartily and put down his menu.

Turning and handing his menu to Noelle, Tartaglia smiled and said, "We'll go with Mr. Zhongli's choice."

"Miss, by the way," Tartaglia asked a bit awkwardly while holding a pair of chopsticks, "do you only provide chopsticks here?"

"To enjoy the true taste of Liyue, one must learn to use chopsticks," Zhongli replied, raising the freshly poured teacup Noelle had brought and taking a sip. "Good tea."

"I'm glad you like it, Mr. Zhongli."

Carrying a tray of Qingce Village tea, Hiroshi gently placed it on the table, then looked at Zhongli with a smile in his golden eyes. "It's been a while, Mr. Zhongli."

"Oh~"

Putting down the teacup, Zhongli looked at Hiroshi and smiled lightly. "You know."

"Yes."

Nodding, Hiroshi smiled. "I've also made some progress in my cultivation lately. Since you didn't deliberately hide it, I was able to sense your presence."

"Knowing you were here, I even brought out my specially prepared tea leaves."

"Indeed, they are excellent tea leaves."

Smiling, Hiroshi said, "Please try my cooking first, Mr. Zhongli. I went through a dual examination by Master Mao and Xiangling before being accepted as a temporary chef here."

"I'll also give you some tea leaves afterward, but I'd appreciate it if we could talk after lunch."

Picking up his chopsticks, Zhongli took a piece of the dish, smelled it briefly, and put it into his mouth.

"Hmm, not bad!"

After swallowing the food, Zhongli looked at Hiroshi and said with a smile, "Your cooking has already become unique. This harmony of the five elements is quite excellent."

Putting down his chopsticks, Zhongli raised his teacup again, took a sip, and gazed towards Liyue's land, saying, "It seems you came well-prepared, Hiroshi."

"In that case, we shall talk later. However, you may not necessarily get the answers you seek."

"That will be enough."

Leaving behind a bag of tea leaves, Hiroshi smiled at Tartaglia, who was frozen with chopsticks in his mouth, then turned and walked back to the kitchen.

"Who are you?"

Hearing Hiroshi leaving, Tartaglia came back to his senses, clutching his chopsticks tightly. He looked at Hiroshi, who was about to enter the kitchen, and excitedly said, "This is the first time I've had a dish where the elements are so harmoniously balanced. You must be a powerful person to create such food!"

"Fight me once! One of my greatest pursuits is battling powerful opponents!"

"I am but a cook now."

Shaking his head, Hiroshi turned to Tartaglia, who had stood up excitedly, and smiled. "I hope you enjoy the food I made."

Watching Hiroshi enter the kitchen, Tartaglia regretfully sat back down, sighing. "What a pity, a mighty warrior."

"I wonder what experiences led a warrior with such understanding of the elements to give up his weapon..."

Raising his teacup and taking a gulp, Tartaglia's face stiffened momentarily, then gradually softened.

"So bitter! But this aftertaste is amazing."

"It's just like a warrior's life: the bitterness of physical training and honing skills, followed by the sweet fragrance of defeating a powerful enemy."

"Good, really good! I love this feeling!"

He grabbed the tea pouch on the table and smiled at Zhongli.

"Mr. Zhongli, could you share some of this tea with me?"

Picking up his chopsticks and taking another bite, Zhongli replied calmly, "No."

Watching Tartaglia's persistence, Noelle quietly headed to the kitchen.

"Master Hiroshi, why did that guest say you no longer have a weapon?"

Holding a plate of Wanmin Restaurant's signature boiled fish, Noelle curiously asked Hiroshi, who was cooking.

"Because I no longer have the will to fight."

Stirring the dish in the pan, Hiroshi smiled and explained, "That blonde guest is a pure martial artist, or perhaps a battle maniac."

"His desire for battle has reached the point where he can sense the will to fight in others. That's why, after sensing my aura, he said that."

"But is it true that Master has no will to fight?"

Plating the cooked dish, Hiroshi smiled as he rubbed Noelle's head. "You can take a guess, Noelle."

With a big smile on her face, Noelle looked up at Hiroshi and said seriously, "I believe Master is the strongest!"

"Well, you guessed right."

"Now, take the food to the guests. Don't keep them waiting."

"Understood, Master Hiroshi."

Sneaking closer, Xiangling looked at Noelle walking out and smiled at Hiroshi. "Noelle seems to have changed a little."

"Oh, has she?"

Smiling, Hiroshi nudged Xiangling back. "Let's get to work. A lot of customers are waiting for us."

"I know, I know!"

"It seems like Hiroshi is more enthusiastic than I am."

"Hahaha!"

"After all, my dream used to be to become a chef who brings delicious food to everyone."

"Now that I'm fulfilling that dream, I couldn't be happier."

Time passed slowly along with the delicious food. One regular customer after another came in with high expectations and left satisfied.

A dark-skinned girl dressed incongruously for Liyue was excitedly telling Xiangling about her experience trying the dishes.

Waving her hand energetically towards Xiangling, Xinyan looked at Hiroshi in the kitchen and laughed heartily. "I'm Xinyan, Liyue Harbor's only rock musician. If you're ever interested in rock music, be sure to come see my performance!"

"Xiangling, I'm off!"

"The new dishes today were totally rockin'. The fusion of ice and fire made my inspiration go crazy!"

"I need to head back and create a new song right away!"

As Xinyan left, Wanmin Restaurant finally quieted down.

Washing his hands, Hiroshi turned and walked towards the back of the building, where Zhongli had been waiting for some time.

Sitting across from Zhongli, Hiroshi looked in the same direction Zhongli was gazing.

In the distance, at the shipyard, a new ship was slowly being launched, heading for distant waters.

"A ship built for trade will stop when it encounters a harbor, and that's why Liyue is where all wealth accumulates."

"As an outsider, Hiroshi, what do you see Liyue as?"