Chapter 298
Canghui Academy!
Ma Hongjun nimbly dodged, not annoyed at all, but instead grinned and approached Dai Mubai, his small eyes gleaming.
"Hehe, Boss Dai, since I ordered the food, isn't this meal on you? Among us brothers, you're the one who gets the biggest subsidy. As the Prince of Xingluo, this little bit of money is nothing to you!"
He flattered without restraint, his target being his wallet.
Looking at the expectant gazes of the crowd, especially after the thrilling conflict and the fatigue of today's journey, and thinking of the invisible pressure brought by the unfathomable "demon" Lin Xia traveling with him, Dai Mubai felt a rare surge of pride.
Dai Mubai smiled slightly, and the inherent grace of the Star Luo royal family naturally emanated from him.
"Alright! Treating you all is no problem. It's a rare and precious connection that we can all study together at Shrek Academy. I'm the oldest today, so this meal is a formal welcome dinner for Lord Lin, Miss Zhuqing, and Rongrong!"
He specifically mentioned Lin Xia and the other two, which was both polite and subtly implied a "buy peace with money" mentality.
After all, being able to share a meal with this city lord could, to some extent, help to get closer to him.
Upon hearing this, Ma Hongjun's small eyes instantly gleamed with the light of a hungry wolf, and the smile on his chubby face was practically overflowing.
"Alright! Boss Dai is very generous! Don't worry, I, Fatty, will definitely... uh, not skimp too much on you! Hehe!"
He originally wanted to say "I absolutely won't skimp on anything for you," but he swallowed the words back and changed it to a more "restrained" way of saying it. However, the way he rubbed his hands together and rushed impatiently toward the greasy menu betrayed his true thoughts.
The tavern was still noisy, but the atmosphere at Dai Mubai's table seemed a little strange.
The group sat down around a large round table in the corner where it was relatively quiet.
Dai Mubai, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar sat on one side, while Lin Xia, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong sat opposite them.
As expected, Ma Hongjun lived up to his reputation as a gourmet, and immediately began to devour the food from the menu:
"Boss! A large portion of their signature braised lizard meat, please! Big chunks, please!"
"Give me a dried Himalayan lamb leg! Roast it until it's nice and crispy!"
"Braised Wild Boar Ribs with Potatoes! Add plenty of potatoes to absorb the oil!"
"Stir-fried crisp bamboo shoots! This is a refreshing treat for the ladies!"
"Another big bowl of mixed mushroom soup, please! It'll cut through the grease!"
"Staple food... um... unlimited wheat cakes!"
"As for drinks... let's start with two jugs of your best ale! Oh, and a few glasses of fruit syrup for those who don't drink!"
His voice was loud and clear, filled with a gluttonous enthusiasm, drawing sidelong glances from the mercenaries at the next table. Oscar, listening nearby, swallowed hard and whispered a reminder.
"Fatty, that's enough, that's enough, we've ordered too much, we can't finish it..."
"This is nothing!"
Ma Hongjun waved his hand dismissively.
"Brother Dai is treating. How can we have the strength to deal with tomorrow's soul beasts if we don't eat our fill? Besides, there are so many of us, and City Lord Lin is here too. This is nothing!"
He deliberately brought up Lin Xia, and Dai Mubai could only helplessly let him do as he pleased.
The food was served, its aroma filling the air, yet it couldn't dispel the invisible distance and chill between the eight people sitting around the table.
Dai Mubai silently cut the roasted meat, his eyes occasionally sweeping over Tang San and Xiao Wu across from him, with a hint of scrutiny that was barely perceptible.
Tang San kept his head down, focused on his food, but his back was straight and his muscles were slightly tense, as if he was ready to deal with any threat from any direction, especially from that seemingly leisurely figure at the end of the table.
Xiao Wu stood close to Tang San, her pink eyes still tinged with unease. Every time Lin Xia's gaze inadvertently swept over her, she would subconsciously shrink her shoulders. Oscar and Ma Hongjun tried to liven up the atmosphere. Oscar told interesting stories about Soto City, while Fatty winked and commented on the "cooking time" of each dish. But their banter was like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, only creating a few ripples before being swallowed by a larger silence.
Lin Xia sat at the end of the table, his posture casual, as if the oppressive atmosphere around him had nothing to do with him.
He ate his meal slowly and deliberately, his movements carrying an elegance and aloofness ingrained in his very being.
Zhu Zhuqing sat quietly beside him, like the most loyal shadow. Her cat-like eyes were lowered, focused on a small piece of food in front of her. Her aura was extremely restrained, yet it exuded a chilling aura that kept strangers away.
Ning Rongrong sat next to Lin Xia on the other side. She was no longer picky about the food or dissatisfied with the environment as she used to be. Instead, she tried to imitate Lin Xia's composure, eating in small bites. Her glassy eyes would occasionally steal glances at Lin Xia, filled with gratitude, dependence, and a hint of awe at the world she was just beginning to understand.
She is trying to adapt to this new world, which is far more cruel and real than the world under the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
"Hey Fatty, you've told that joke eight hundred times already."
Dai Mubai finally couldn't hold back any longer, put down his knife and fork, and said in a slightly impatient tone.
"Can't we have something new?"
Ma Hongjun chuckled awkwardly, racking his brains for new jokes, when just then, the light at the restaurant entrance dimmed, and a group of people filed in.
Just in time, the noise in the restaurant instantly dropped several decibels, and almost all the diners' attention was drawn to the eight newcomers.
The middle-aged man at the head of the group was around forty years old. He was quite handsome, and his meticulously combed hair was shiny and reflected a faint light under the restaurant's crystal chandelier.
What is most eye-catching is the moon-white Soul Master robe he is wearing. The material is delicate and exquisite, and it is embroidered with intricate and beautiful patterns with silver threads. As he walks, the silver light flows and shines, making his already tall and upright figure even more extraordinary.
Following behind him were seven young people, six men and one woman, all dressed in moon-white Soul Master robes, but without the dazzling silver embroidery.
Whether middle-aged or young, each person has a striking blue circular embroidered mark on their left shoulder, inside which are two clear blue characters.
Azure light.
Compared to the Shrek members' casual attire, this group looked like they were attending a grand ceremony.
The moon-white Soul Master robes were neat and uniform, of excellent quality, and the deliberate, synchronized steps they took instantly elevated the otherwise ordinary atmosphere of the restaurant by several levels, exuding an overwhelming sense of arrogance and superiority.
They were like meticulously crafted jewels, placed in this rather plain wooden box, their brilliance dazzling.
The restaurant owner practically jogged to greet them, his face beaming with an even more fawning smile than when he had served Flander and Lin Xia earlier. He bowed even lower and spoke with utmost enthusiasm.
"Oh my! It's the gentlemen from Canghui Academy! Welcome, welcome! Please come in, a private room has been prepared for you! We are truly honored to have you here!"
The boss's attitude was self-evident.
In this small town that relies on the Star Dou Great Forest for its livelihood, Soul Masters are the gods of wealth, and a team of Soul Masters like Canghui Academy, with their uniform attire, extraordinary temperament, and obvious distinguished background, are the gods of wealth among gods of wealth.
Their spending power and the potential subsequent business they bring are enough to make the boss go to great lengths to curry favor with them.
The middle-aged teacher from Canghui Academy nodded reservedly, his gaze sweeping across the hall with a somewhat condescending scrutiny, as if inspecting his own territory.
The seven young men behind him stood even straighter, their faces filled with undisguised pride.
They enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention, a natural halo brought about by their academic status.
On Shrek Academy's side, apart from Lin Xia, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong, everyone else subconsciously began to sized up this person.
Dai Mubai glanced at it, a habitual sneer curling at the corner of his lips. (End of Chapter)