Yilu Lok and Jiu Jin follow the waiter. The waiter stops in front of an empty table.
"Dear sir, please have a seat."
Both Yilu Lok and Jiu Jin sit on the seats.
"Dear sirs, what would you like to order?"
"What do you have here?"
Yilu Lok asks.
"Dear sir, for appetisers we have Golden Lotus Buns, Crispy River Carp."
Yilu Lok nods and the waiter continues.
"For the main course we have Chili Phoenix Noodle soup. It is also our specialty , Mountain Bear Stew, and Embrace Rice."
The waiter pauses and says.
"In beverage we have Misty Peak Tea, Fire Lily Wine, and Dragonfly Brew."
Yilu Lok listens to everything carefully.
"You have a lot of dishes. Hmm let me see. I will have a bowl of Chili Phoenix Noodle and Embrace Rice as for beverage give me a bottle of Fire Lily Wine. What about you brother Jin."
"I also have Chili Phoenix Noodle and please give me Misty Peak Tea for beverage."
"Understand sir I will go and quickly come with your orders."
The waiter leaves.
As Yilu Lok and Jiu Jin are waiting for their food they hear a few voices.
"Brother, did you hear that many mutated cracks have begun to appear."
"Yes brother, they say a mutated blue crack has opened in Winding River Town a few weeks ago and only a limited number of people can enter it at a time."
"What? When did cracks start to have limits on the number of people."
"Brother if you think this is weird only late-peak stage or below can enter the rift. If someone stronger goes, they will be suppressed to late-peak stage or they will be directly thrown outside."
"What? then how are we going to close the blue crack if we encounter a perfect-peak stage beast lord."
"This is the thing that is why the crack is still open. But don't worry."
"Why is that?"
"I heard that the Tang clan is going to send someone, also the Qingcheng and Emei sect have also sent some people to close the blue crack."
"Oh.. that's good news with Tang, Qingcheng and Emei sect, the blue crack will surely be closed."
"Let's hope so."
"Now let's forget about the crack. Are you excited for the dragon and phoenix contest next year?"
"Now that you mentioned it, almost all of the current five dragons and three phoenix are going to retire because they will surpass the age of twenty five soon."
"That right next year on the dragons and phoenix new five dragons and three phoenix are going to be selected."
"Who do you think will get the spot?"
"Hmm if you ask me I think the young master of the Tang clan has a chance."
"You are not wrong, the current poison phoenix of the Tang clan is considered one of the strongest among all the dragons and phoenix."
"That's true and don't forget about Young master Namgung he is also a top contender for the position."
"Of course he is the son of the Heavenly Sword and his big sister the sword phoenix is considered strongest among the five dragons and three phoenix."
"They are the Namgung family, the strongest of the five noble families after all."
As they were listening to gossip, Yilu Lok's and Jiu Jin's order arrived.
"Dear sir, here is your order."
The waiter placed two bowls of Chili Phoenix Noodle on the table. It's a rich, fiery broth with thin-sliced chicken and fresh noodles that "burn like a phoenix's fury."
"Dear sirs, please be careful, it is dangerously spicy."
The waiter warns Yilu Lok and Jiu Jin and places a bowl of Embrace Rice. It's a large bowl of fragrant rice topped with slow-braised meat and a rich, dark sauce.
Then he places the bottle of Fire Lily Wine in front of Yilu Lok with a cup and then he pours the wine in Yilu Lok's cup. It is a strong, amber-colored rice wine with a floral aroma and a warming kick.
On the side of Jiu Jin the waiter gives him a cup of Misty Peak Tea. It's a light and refreshing green tea, known for its calming properties.
"Sir please enjoy the meal."
Both Yilu Lok and Jiu Jin use their spoons and put the Chili Phoenix Noodle Soup in their mouth.
The first spoonful of the Chili Phoenix Noodle Soup is a deceptive comfort. They taste the rich, savory broth, the tender chicken, and the familiar flavors of the noodles. It feels like a warm hug on a cold day.
Then, a moment later, the heat begins. It's not a sudden, sharp jolt, but a slow, powerful warmth that starts on their tongue and spreads across their entire palate. It feels like a glowing ember placed in their mouth, its heat radiating outwards.
"Hmm this taste of Chili Phoenix Noodle Soup. No matter how much I eat it I still want to eat more."
Yilu Lok also nods his head as he enjoys his Chili Phoenix Noodle Soup.
The sensation from the Chili Phoenix Noodle Soup intensifies with each bite. The warmth climbs from your mouth, down your throat, and into your stomach, a fiery trail that leaves a tingling numbness in its wake. Your senses are overwhelmed, and for a few moments, the world narrows to just you and the bowl of fire before you. You might find yourself breathing heavily, your hands gripping the sides of the bowl, a strange mix of agony and satisfaction.
Both Yilu Lok and Jiu Jin continue to eat the Chili Phoenix Noodle Soup with great satisfaction.
Soon the last drop is gone, a lingering, blissful heat remains. Their body feels alive, tingling from head to toe. The initial pain gives way to a triumphant warmth that fills you with a powerful, almost invigorating energy. It is the kind of spice that doesn't just burn; it awakens you.
Yilu Lok lifts the cup of Fire Lily Wine.
The Fire Lily Wine is a drink of surprising contrasts. Poured into a small clay cup, it has the rich, luminous hue of amber, catching the light like a trapped sunset. Before Yilu Lom even takes a sip, its aroma reaches him—a delicate, almost deceptive fragrance of sweet lilies and honey, a stark contrast to its name.
Yilu Lok then lifts the cup to his lips and drinks the Fire Lily Wine.
The first taste of the wine is smooth and immediate. It's not a fiery taste like its name might suggest, but a clean, faintly sweet flavor of aged rice wine, with the subtle, floral notes of the lily blooming on your tongue. It's a taste that hints at both the earth and the light.
After Yilu Lok drinks the wine the "kick" arrives. It's not a sudden burn, but a deep, spreading warmth that blossoms from the back of your throat and radiates outward, a comfortable heat that settles in your chest and belly. It feels like a gentle, internal fire that chases away the chill of a long journey. The floral sweetness lingers, leaving behind a mellow, satisfying aftertaste that invites another sip. The wine is both elegant and potent, a perfect balance of fragrance and power.
Yilu Lok's eyes lit up and said.
"This restaurant really lives up to its fame. This is the first time I have eaten something this delicious. Even the carefully cooked food by the chiefs of my house is nothing compared to this."
The waiter's lips curls up and smiles brightly after hearing Yilu Lok's praise and says.
"Good sir this is your first time at The Crimson Lantern right."
Yilu Lok nods. And the waiter continues.
"You might not know but even the poison saint, the previous head of the Tang family, has also visited our restaurant many times. If you are lucky you might even meet him here."
"Oh.."
Yilu Lok gives little to no reaction. Poison saint, the previous head of the Tang family might be a big deal for almost everyone in murim but Yilu Lok is son of Yilu Yan the Heavenly Sun and one of the three rulers of central plains and Yilu Yan dotes on Yilu Lok. For him it doesn't matter if he meet or if he doesn't meet the Poison saint
Looking at the lukewarm expression of Yilu Lok, the waiter tries to change the topic.
"Dear sir, you should also taste the Embrace Rice. It is also one of our famous dishes."
Yilu Lok looks at the bowl of Embrace Rice.The aroma of Dragon's Embrace Rice is the first thing that captivates Yilu Lok . It has a rich, earthy smell of savory meat and steamed rice, with a hint of star anise and other spices that promise a deeply satisfying meal.
Yilu Lok eats the Embrace Rise. It has a subtle, clean sweetness that serves as a perfect canvas for the flavors to come. The rice itself is light and fluffy, each grain perfectly cooked to a soft chewiness. The star of the dish is the braised meat. It's incredibly tender, having been slow-cooked until it practically melts in his mouth.
Finally, the dark sauce binds everything together. It's a thick, almost syrupy sauce with a complex flavor profile: a touch of sweetness from brown sugar, a deep savoriness from soy, and a whisper of umami that makes Yilu Lok want to devour every last drop.
Yilu Lok eats his meal. Jiu Jin pays for the meal and both of them sit up from their seats and walk towards the door to leave the restaurant. Although cost of the meal is little expensive but it is all worth it.
"Please come again"
The waiter bows slightly and sees them off to the door.