Zhu Zhuqing was moved, but Tang Lan stopped her.
"I'm with you, it't not just for that," Tang Lan corrected. "There's no need to compromise yourself to please me."
Unexpectedly, Zhu Zhuqing smiled. "No, this is what I want to do for you. That's all."
Then she lowered her head.
"Sss—"
The Tang Sect was divided into three areas: the Inner Sect, the Outer Sect, and the academy.
The canteens were also separate.
The Inner Sect's canteen was called "Tai'an," and it was managed by a food-type Soul King with five rings.
Word had spread that Tang Lan might be dining there today.
The food... was like a New Year's feast, all meat dishes and not a single vegetable.
Tang Lan, with Zhu Zhuqing in tow, was somewhat surprised upon arriving.
"The Inner Sect's meals are quite good, huh?"
Zhu Zhuqing's lips curled into a slight smile as she said,
"The head chef, Gou Qi, had been stuck at level 49 for years. After reading your book, he broke through. He signed up on the first day he came to the Tang Sect Academy."
"He refused to become an Outer Sect disciple, just to be the head chef of the Inner Sect canteen."
Understood.
A book fan.
And people like Gou Qi are everywhere on the continent.
A glimpse into the whole,
shows just how prosperous the Tang Sect's reputation is nowadays.
But compared to this... Tang Lan looked at Zhu Zhuqing, who was smiling, a sense of accomplishment filling his heart.
This ice mountain, in the end, was still melted by him.
"Wow! The dishes today are so rich!"
Shui Yuer's exclamation rang out.
Zhu Zhuqing immediately dropped her smile, reverting to her usual aloof demeanor.
—In front of outsiders, she remained cold and distant.
This made Tang Lan even more satisfied.
An ice-cold goddess outside, a charming and coquettish wife at home.
Such a contrast was even more stimulating.
"Sect Master?" Shui Binger noticed Tang Lan and greeted him warmly, "Greetings, Sect Master! Are you also here for breakfast?"
"Good morning, Sect Master!"
"Ah! Greetings, Sect Master!"
He turned around.
He saw Shui Binger, Shui Yuer, and Meng Yiran, the three girls, standing side-by-side, looking well-behaved.
Their eyes all shone with a different kind of light.
But Tang Lan just nodded.
"Eat your meals, don't mind me."
He walked upstairs with Zhu Zhuqing.
The first floor was for the Inner Sect disciples to eat.
Those varied dishes were just for Tang Lan to look at.
The Hall Master was on the second floor.
The elders were on the third floor.
And the Sect Master and Deputy Sect Master were on the top floor.
There were private boxes and open dining tables.
Take your pick.
It had to be said that it had been built to this extent in just one month.
Besides costing a lot of money, the construction team was also extraordinary.
They sat down on the open-air balcony.
A middle-aged man with a bit of a belly waddled over, a smile plastered on his face.
He bowed and presented a menu with both hands.
"Sect Master, this subordinate is Gou Qi, the head chef of the Tailai Canteen. Please, Sect Master, order."
Tang Lan took the menu and glanced at it casually.
Wow!
He knew how to cook quite a bit.
He casually handed the menu to Zhu Zhuqing, sizing up the Gou Qi in front of him.
Those who could enter the Tang Sect had all gone through several rounds of screening.
His character shouldn't be too bad.
Gou Qi's fat face was beaming with a harmless smile, his eyes filled with respect and adoration.
He looked like a fan meeting their idol.
But Tang Lan seemed to ignore him, staring blankly at the scenery outside.
Not until Zhu Zhuqing finished ordering food.
Gou Qi could only leave, disappointed.
"I thought you'd be suspicious of him." Zhu Zhuqing suddenly said, "After all, there's something off about Gou Qi."
A Soul King with five rings, not seeking fame or fortune, coming to the Inner Sect as a chef?
It was rather strange.
Tang Lan shrugged, unconcerned.
"Whether he's here to retire or is a spy for some organization doesn't matter."
If there were issues with this first batch of people, they could only be sent by the Spirit Hall or the Heaven Dou Empire.
Right now, Tang Lan was in a "honeymoon period" with them. It was very safe.
Besides, these spies wouldn't be here for anything more than the usual things.
But neither the cultivation methods nor even the Tang Sect were Tang Lan's foundation.
The hidden weapons and firearms formulas were just something he did on the side.
Because Tang Lan's true core was to "collect faith"! If there was ever a day of leaks...
Tang Lan would definitely publish a book, directly revealing the cultivation methods and recipes to the world.
It would definitely be very lively then.
Watching Tang Lan being so calm, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes sparkled.
Her man was truly handsome!
Leaving Gou Qi's background aside for now...
But his cooking skills were truly impeccable!
"Zhuqing," Tang Lan said, "We'll come here to eat all three meals from now on."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded in agreement.
"I've prepared an evening gown for you. Do you want to try it on now?"
Tang Lan was taken aback.
An evening gown?
Why had she suddenly prepared that for him?
Zhu Zhuqing had anticipated this. She explained,
"Before the competition, there will be a banquet. Emperor Xue Ye, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo will all be in attendance."
"There will also be a grand auction afterward."
"Finally, the Academy Exchange Tournament will begin."
"His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, has sent people to handle the arrangements, so we don't need to worry about the banquet or the auction."
"But as the Tang Sect, the hosts, and you, as the Sect Master, should dress formally."
Tang Lan was amused.
An Academy Exchange Tournament, and they were turning it into a high-class social event? And they put the exchange tournament at the end. Were they just watching the show? Excellent!
Then tonight, he would give them a real show! "Alright, I'll go try on the evening wear."
After two awakenings.
Tang Lan's physique was already impeccable, a perfect clothes hanger.
The well-tailored evening wear highlighted his upright posture, and the lines of his legs were perfectly accentuated.
It looked like obsidian in the night sky, shining and profound.
Yet, he was also like a prince, elegant and noble.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes were practically glued to him—Was this really her man?
He's so handsome!
Forget Dai Mubai, it's a good thing he ran away.
Otherwise, how would I have met such a perfect man!
Just when the ice queen was about to transform into a wild cat...
The door was knocked.
"Sect Master, it's me, Zhao Wuji."
"There are some matters that require your decision."
Zhu Zhuqing instantly regained her clarity, licking her lips with a hint of regret.
She swayed her waist as she went to open the door.
The charm emanating from her nearly drove Tang Lan wild!
I really want to…
He took a few deep breaths.
Then, Zhao Wuji walked in, looking somewhat apprehensive.
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing here, he realized something was amiss.
And seeing Tang Lan looking so handsome…
He knew he'd come at the wrong time.
Since I'm here, I might as well...
I had to bite the bullet and say, "Sect Master, as the host of the evening's auction, the Tang Sect needs to present a top-tier item."
"Originally, the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy was planning to offer a treasure, said to be a palm-sized Soul Tool weighing ten thousand jin."
"If we prepare something inferior, we'll lose face."
"So, what do you think...?"
Zhao Wuji really didn't know what to do.
"How will the auction proceeds be allocated?" Tang Lan asked.
"They'll all go to the winning academy, for use as teaching funds," Zhao Wuji replied.
Oh, wow?
Isn't that just the Tang Sect's own money?
He could be a little more generous.
Tang Lan pondered.
He did have a lot of good things.
But not much that could be put up for auction.
The simplest thing would be a Storage Soul Tool.
But while that was rare, it wasn't impressive enough.
Tonight's attendees were again the Heaven Dou Empire's most elite.
Too ordinary.
After some thought, Tang Lan suddenly smiled. He had a good idea to exploit.
"Old Zhao, you do this... then this... and then this."
...
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