Chapter 19: Noodle House

The three survivors, having narrowly escaped the clutches of the man-eating spirit demon, swiftly exited the tomb chamber. They hurriedly approached the formation exit and were promptly extracted from the illusionary world.

Wasting no time, the newfound companions reported the harrowing incident to the officials at the Martial League Hall. Their narrative detailed the chilling events within the tomb chamber, from the venerable cultivator's resting place to the relentless tomb guardian and the untimely demise of Namgoong young master Jin.

Upon receiving this distressing account, Martial League Hall officials launched an immediate investigation into the matter. Simultaneously, the clan headmasters and Grandmaster Gao Dingbang, along with the Martial League Hall Sage, were informed of the shocking news. The head of the Namgoong Clan excused himself promptly to relay the tragic information to Namgoong Jin's grieving parents.

"A venerable cultivator buried within an illusionary world? It's inconceivable!" Tang Dooshik exclaimed incredulously.

"The origin of this illusionary world has been preserved by the Martial League Hall for centuries. There are no records of any tomb within the painting," Grandmaster Gao Dingbang asserted confidently.

"But how do you explain the sudden appearance of that tomb?" Tang Dooshik pressed further.

"It must be the work of those demonic ruffians! They've been scheming all along," declared the Martial League Hall Sage with conviction.

"But how can you be certain?" inquired another clan head.

"That demonic blast, I suspect its true purpose wasn't just to threaten us, but also to manipulate the illusionary portal," the Sage speculated.

"If my memory serves me right, the Holy Church of the Western Empire possesses similar portal manipulation knowledge. That's likely why some of their spies have infiltrated our continent. I believe the demonic blast unleashed by that demonic ruffian didn't just damage our formations; it also inscribed scripts, enabling the summoning of the tomb chamber out of thin air." All the headmasters nodded in agreement as the Sage resolved the sequence of events.

"Could this be the resurgence of the demonic cult?" one of the clan heads questioned.

"It's a possibility. That's why we must conduct a thorough investigation. If the demonic cult has indeed returned, it could lead to another war," the Sage replied solemnly.

Upon returning to the renthouse, Avin noticed Henrich's absence, indicating he was occupied with his own duties. Avin resolved to visit Henrich during his leisure time, as the martial league hall had suspended its activities due to unforeseen circumstances. Viewing it as a chance to assist his friend and also to check on the auction house, Avin aimed to learn the selling price of his Solar Soul Pills.

While Avin immersed himself in the Tang Xing Martial Hall league, Henrich delved into discovering new dishes and ingredients in this unfamiliar world. Despite his reputation as a chef on Earth, many aspects of this new world were foreign to him. As the system tasked him with becoming an Idol Martial Chef, Henrich understood the importance of familiarizing himself with the unique cuisine of this world and its diverse ingredients. He speculated that while some flavors might resemble those from Earth, there could also be entirely new tastes waiting to be discovered. Additionally, he pondered the possibility of encountering cooking techniques and skills unheard of in his previous culinary experience.

During this period, Henrich had the opportunity to explore various stalls and shops, ranging from wet and dry markets to spice stores. He even ventured into some small pubs to sample Tang Xing City's delectable cuisine. Engaging in conversations with locals as he moved from place to place, Henrich learned about the upscale district known as the food district. Here, extravagant restaurants catered to the refined palates and discerning tastes of affluent and influential cultivators, offering exquisite cuisine and impeccable service. 

Henrich, using the alias "Yang Muchen," stepped into Tang Xing City's lively food district, aiming for "Tasty Sprout," known among Martial Artists for its exquisite cuisine. As he approached, a servant blocked his path, a stern expression on his face.

"Sorry, sir, no entry," the servant said curtly. Henrich, taken aback, tried to explain,

"I'm here to apply as a cook." The servant scoffed, eyeing him up and down.

"A cook? You look too shabby for that," he retorted dismissively.

Disheartened, Henrich left, only to be met with similar rejections at other restaurants. Each refusal stung, highlighting the prejudice against him based on his appearance.

Henrich felt a wave of despair wash over him. Never did he imagine that his culinary skills would render him worthless in the eyes of others, solely because of his appearance and need for employment. However, a glimmer of hope emerged when a young girl bumped into him.

"Oh no!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with frustration as she knelt to gather her scattered basket of fish and veggies.

"You! You ruined the ingredients!" she exclaimed furiously.

"You'll have to pay for them!"

"I don't have any money," Henrich replied helplessly.

"Then you'll have to work for it!" the girl declared, grabbing Henrich's hand and leading him to the outskirts of the food district.

Compared to the opulent main district, the outskirts exuded a different charm. Here, humble street food vendors lined the narrow lanes, their stalls bustling with activity. The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with the aroma of sizzling meats and fragrant spices. Although lacking in sophistication, the rustic charm of the area was undeniable, drawing locals and visitors alike with its authentic offerings. As they walked, Henrich couldn't help but notice the stark contrast to the grandeur of the main district.

"Since you can't pay, work here as our servant!" the girl said in dismay as they reached their destination. 

"Today, you're our official servant in our little noodle house!"

Henrich looked around the humble establishment, feeling a sense of relief. "Well, I suppose this will do," he said with a grateful smile.

"Okay, come here! I will introduce you to my father," the young girl said.

Ling Ling and Henrich entered the kitchen, where they found a man in his forties cooking several dishes. The aroma of the food filled the entire room, and Henrich couldn't help but catch a whiff of the diverse scents, which instantly stirred his appetite. "Wow! What a fragrant dish!" he whispered in amazement.

"By the way, I am Ling Ling and this is my Dad, Bowen," Ling Ling continued.

Bowen was surprised to see his daughter with a young man. When he looked at her, he noticed the anger in her expression directed towards the young man.

"Ling'er, who is he?" Bowen asked his daughter.

"Dad, this guy ruined all of our ingredients and he does not have money to be paid for it, so I gave him a job to pay his debt!" Ling Ling exclaimed.

Henrich pursed his lips, admitting his mistake. Bowen sighed, "Ling'er, you bothered him just for this?"

"But Dad!" Ling Ling sulked.

Bowen felt sorry for the young man as his daughter continued to sulk and express her anger towards him.

Henrich tried to appease Bowen, saying, "Um... Don't worry, sir. Actually, I am looking for a job. I tried to apply as a cook in the food district, but apparently, nobody accepted me."

Bowen's eyes widened in surprise at Henrich's attempt to apply at the big restaurants. "Young man, you have the nerve to actually go there! Hahaha, I like you!"

Henrich was surprised by Bowen's reaction. "What do you mean by that, sir?" Bowen smiled and patted Henrich's head. "What's your name, young man?" he asked.

"Hen... er... Muchen, sir! Yang Muchen."

"Yang Muchen? Are you related to the Yang Clan?" Bowen wondered. "Never mind. You see, the reason why restaurants there rejected you is because to be a cook, you need to pass the Martial Cook Licensure Exam. Then, you need to be supervised by a Head level Chef to qualify as a Martial Chef," Bowen explained.

Henrich now realized why restaurants kept rejecting him. "So, I need to undergo some kind of test, huh?" he thought. "Um... I'm badly in need of becoming a cook immediately. Is there anything I can do to take this exam right away?"

"Hmm... I will help you if you help me first here in our noodle house. Since you said you are applying for a cook, I should first test your skills. And if you get my approval, help me to boost my sales, and I will help you with the exams," Bowen said.

At the same time, the system presented a special mission exclusively for Henrich.

[Special Mission!]

[Passed the series of cooking exams prepared by Martial Chef Bowen!]

[0/3]

[Rewards: Martial Chef Apprenticeship, and additional 200 exp.]

[Failure: permanent decrease of overall stat by 10%]

Upon reading the system message, Henrich promptly agreed to the terms and conditions without hesitation.

"Bring it on, Master!" he declared enthusiastically.