Applying for a job

"Yulong! Yulooong!!" The sound of Qianfan's voice woke Yulong from his well-needed slumber. Yulong stood up, dragging his feet across the floor before opening it, revealing Qianfan. Yulong's eyes darted to the clock.

"It's almost 11 pm. What do you want?" Yulong said. Evidence of Qianfan just playing the game was visible in how toned his muscles were already becoming.

"I'm a..." Qianfan said, "...Forger!"

Yulong closed the door on him and went back to sleep.

...

Wu Liang sighed.

'I may be thousands of miles away from the house, but I know my father will track me. Maybe I should stay up here to eat some food, cultivate, and keep moving.' Wu Liang looked at the towering mountain in front of him. It was so tall he couldn't even see the top, due to how close he was to the base.

Bending his knees, Wu Liang leaped up a great length, moving up 5 floors in one go. This mountain, however, was too steep for him to walk up, so he resorted to digging his hands into the rock and climbing.

'Thank god I got the best robe I could before I left! Otherwise, I'd be dirty!' A large sack bag lay across Wu Liang's back as he climbed. 'However, my bag isn't so high quality...'

'Damn it! Don't go crazy! You went on this journey seeking answers! And to get revenge on Ao Bing...'

...

Yulong logged on, appearing in his inn room. Yulong looked around before leaping out of his bed.

'Today, I'll make some money!'

This was Yulong's resolution. However, finding a job would prove to be a bit hard.

Yulong exited the inn and looked around. He could go fight monsters, but there were none for miles. As far as he knew there were no hunting expeditions or special quests going on, and he would prefer spirit stones over Yin and Yang-

A certain poster got his eye. It was posted on the wall of his inn.

𝘼 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣'𝙨 𝙏𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩! 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙜𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧!

It was a simple but straight-to-the-point message. It did seem quite odd that a nice restaurant that was even well known in the upper worlds would set up a post like this, but Yulong didn't really care as it was none of his business.

'Heaven's Table, the best restaurant in the first Five Worlds...' However, Yulong couldn't shake this nagging feeling. As if something was wrong...

Looking closer, there were more words.

"So it's a sign-up sheet?" Yulong said to himself. 'But I don't have a pencil... I guess I'll just simply go to Heaven's Table.'

<You gained a quest! Apply for a job at Heaven's table!>

<Rewards:

Spirit Stones x10

Qi Manifestation>

Yulong looked at this notification and nodded in satisfaction at the rewards. Spirit Stones as a bonus for applying, and the «Qi Manifestation» skill, which would be useful in his upcoming plans.

Taking another good look around, he truly realized just how rich this city was- there were no beggars, meaning he would have to try extra hard to get a spot in this job.

The reincarnate turned and with the help of a map, walked down the desolate streets towards the richer area as he went deeper into the city.

*

*

*

"So this is Heaven's Table restaurant?" Yulong craned his neck and looked up at the elegant restaurant in front of him. Quartz stairs led into huge brass doors that were imbued with Qi, probably able to withstand an attack from a Fifth Level True Martial powerhouse.

Nobles and people from different rich backgrounds and families were entering this restaurant, making Yulong feel uneasy. This is why he failed to notice the look from Xia Bi as she entered the restaurant with her father.

'I know this will be temporary, but why do I feel underprepared?' Yulong thought. 'Maybe I should wait before applying. It looks like rush hour after all, if what the information that poster said was correct.'

Yulong turned around before realizing he couldn't sit on the steps. Beggars weren't allowed in this city.

"Wow!"

"A fight!"

"In this city?"

Yulong's eyes darted towards where people were pointing.

Soon, a crowd started to gather, but not before Yulong could identify what was happening.

'No way! He's teleporting! At that speed? He must have a Heaven and above rank treasure!' Yulong thought, as a man with a straw hat was simply avoiding all the hits and fists coming for him.

"Maybe I should just go in the back way..." Yulong said as people were starting to look at him oddly. He rounded the building and knocked on the back door, which was even more sturdy than the front door.

A man opened the door in reasonable chef attire. Being a chef, he had obviously developed a love for food, shown in his... respectfully big gut.

"Kid, what do you want? It's rush hour, I've got no time to play!"

Yulong frowned internally as this man viewed him as a child. "Then I will make this quick. I request an interview with your boss."

"What kind of interview?" The man said, bewildered.

"An interview... For this job."

*

*

*

"So I hear you want to apply to become a chef... At my restaurant?" A handsome young man with dark blue hair and in an expensive robe said. His sleeves were rolled back as he cleanly cut through a huge salmon.

"Yes," Yulong said. He still didn't understand why the boss was cutting fish in his own room, but that didn't matter.

A powerful aura was coming from him. Yulong assumed that this young man was very well at the limit of the First World and would need to ascend this world.

"I like you. You talk like a man. However, do you know my dream, Ao Bing?"

"Uh... No?"

The man chuckled, smiling as he seamlessly finished cutting the salmon. It was satisfying, that Yulong could say.

"I want to become the greatest chef in all the Fifteen Worlds. I want my restaurant to stand at the peak of the Fifteen Worlds." The man smirked again, although this time, Yulong felt like it was threatening. "How do I know, Ao Bing, that once you become a chef, you won't hinder me from my dream...?"

"I won't. This is temporary, anyway." Yulong said, sipping the nice tea he had been given.

"Hm... Is that so? Well, congratulations. You got the job!"

Yulong nearly choked on his tea. That easily? A place like this should surely have high standards. Something was amiss, Yulong was sure of it.

"Here is a jade slip you can use to teleport to work. You start tomorrow. Your pay will be 300 Spirit Stones a week." The man said, handing Yulong a red jade slip. "Ah, and I almost forgot. My name is Hao Peng." The man held out his hand to shake Yulong's. Yulong accepted.

However, as he got up to leave, Hao Peng said something. "Remember, Ao Bing. Don't betray my trust. And don't bring shame to my restaurant."

With a shiver, Yulong exited.

Hao Peng sighed and summoned in a pearly white orb the size of his palm. "Yes, Xia Gang. We have a new one, and he seems strong. Perfect for the test."