Chapter 21: Chapter 21: No Problem, Continue Eating
"Master..."
"Is there really a monster here?"
Noel asked, biting her fingertip.
When it came to the topic of monsters, her expression didn't show the fear typical of children her age. Instead, she seemed quite excited.
"Yes, there is."
Getting an affirmative answer, Noel's eyes shone brightly. "Who is it? Is it that sister's sister, or that sister's mother?"
Deluk looked over and shook his head. "Neither."
Noel was about to continue her questioning when suddenly her little nose twitched, and tears involuntarily flowed down from the corner of her mouth.
"It smells so good..."
"Are you hungry?"
"Yes!"
Noel responded enthusiastically.
To her, no celestial sister could compare to the tangibility of a delicious meal at that moment. Plus, she had overheard the conversation between her master and that sister, although she didn't fully understand it, she sensed the sister's impatience towards her master.
Considering what had happened at the entrance earlier, Noel was actually quite angry.
These people had no idea how amazing her master was!
They were there, babbling nonsense, calling her master a charlatan...
Thinking this, Noel tugged at her master's sleeve.
"Master, maybe we shouldn't eat here. Let's go out."
"What's wrong?"
Noel looked up, snorting.
"They are all fools, looking down on Master. Noel won't dine with them."
Deluk patted her head.
"But we came here to return something. Eating is just incidental."
Hearing this, Noel lowered her head, twiddling her fingers, feeling a bit regretful. "I knew it, I shouldn't have eaten that pastry!"
She couldn't understand. "And wasn't it that sister who gave it to us willingly? Why do we have to return it to her?"
Deluk smiled and led her towards the hall.
"To put it nicely, it's called fate."
"What a rubbish fate!"
The little girl puffed her cheeks, clearly disdainful.
But then she curiously asked, "And what if it's put not so nicely?"
"Not so nicely..."
Deluk pondered for a moment. "Well, let's just say it's out of sheer boredom."
...
...
Arriving at the banquet hall, they saw countless tables, buzzing with people.
Whether they were refined scholars or high officials, everyone was gathered together, toasting and flattering each other.
One said, "I've long admired you," and another replied, "I don't dare accept such praise."
Everyone was smiling, basking in a congenial atmosphere.
This was the Luoyang City Lord's Mansion.
Amidst the scholars and literati, no commoners were to be seen.
Unfortunately, this joyous scene was joined by two food enthusiasts, big and small.
In an inconspicuous corner of the hall, Deluk picked up a piece of candied fruit, made of unknown ingredients, and brought it to his well-behaved disciple's mouth.
"Ah."
Noel bit into it without hesitation, her cute face immediately showing satisfied dimples.
"Thank you, Master!"
She wobbled her head and picked up another tempting-looking pastry.
Probably the only ones in the whole hall who were really in the mood to eat were this master and disciple.
Unbeknownst to them, all of this was being observed by someone.
Wang Shaoze, the young master, waved his hand, and the sycophant beside him hurried over.
"Er Gou, look, isn't that the charlatan who was stopped at the door earlier? How did he sneak in here?"
Er Gou looked in the direction his master was pointing and immediately said, "Yes, that's him!"
Watching the master and disciple who were only focused on eating, Wang Shaoze's mouth curled into a sneer.
"Such hopeless cases. With so many important people here, he doesn't even try to network but is only interested in the food in front of him."
Wang Shaoze clicked his tongue, "Ridiculous, truly ridiculous."
Er Gou quickly agreed, "Young master is right. Such lowly bumpkins, coming from who knows where, have such narrow horizons. How could they seize any opportunity?"
Saying this, he made a gesture, "Shall I go and drive them out?"
Hearing this, Wang Shaoze waved his hand, took a sip from his crescent cup, and laughed, "Why bother?"
"He's just a freeloader. If you go out of your way to target him, it would only lower your own status."
Er Gou nodded in agreement.
"Young master is indeed broad-minded and refined, able to tolerate such insignificant trash."
"Alright, stand aside now."
Wang Shaoze waved his hand. After Er Gou stepped back, he picked up his crescent cup and walked over to the neighboring table.
There, a group of self-proclaimed refined scholars were chatting with each other.
Seeing Wang Shaoze approaching, they all smiled and joked, "Young Master Wang, how have you been? I heard you've recently taken in two new concubines, both quite charming. You must be enjoying your good fortune."
"Master Qi is joking. If you're interested, I can arrange to send them to you tonight. How about that?"
Wang Shaoze responded with a smile and a few courteous words, easily blending into the group.
Meanwhile, he occasionally glanced at the corner where the Taoist and his disciple were eating, feeling a sense of superiority and disdain when he saw them still focused on their food.
Indeed, there is a difference between people.
Just like in the animal kingdom, the king of the mountains and a stray dog from the village cannot be compared.
Deluk, of course, was unaware of all these thoughts in Wang's mind. He was now merely an emotionless tool for feeding.
Noel was responsible for eating, and he for feeding.
Time passed slowly until night fell.
The lively banquet gradually quieted down.
Because everyone seemed to have noticed something amiss.
The banquet was almost over, but why was there still no sign of the bride and groom?
And Chengzhu Ji, the city lord rumored to know celestial magic, and Miss Eme Ji, who was supposed to host the banquet, were nowhere to be seen.
Dissatisfaction was apparent on many faces.
Although Chengzhu Ji might be the lord of a city, those present were not ordinary people either.
Wasn't each one of them a leader in their respective fields?
There were heads of guilds, officials in important government positions, and exceptionally talented scholars.
When had they ever been treated with such neglect?
"What's going on with City Lord Ji? Why has he left us hanging here for so long?"
"Hmph! If you ask me, we might as well go home and forget about him. Chengzhu Ji might think highly of himself, but I'm not buying it!"
"Brother Li is right. Who cares about Ji Mansion anyway?"
"Hey, hey, hey, gentlemen, don't be hasty. I've already sent someone to inquire. We should have an answer soon."
With these explosive remarks, the hall fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone looked displeased.
They thought if Chengzhu Ji couldn't provide a satisfactory explanation, they wouldn't hesitate to leave in a huff.
Suddenly, a loud crunching noise broke the silence, unusually loud at this moment.
Everyone involuntarily turned their heads towards the source of the sound, only to see a little girl puffing her cheeks, holding a thin crisp bigger than her head, crunching away happily.
The little girl, feeling the gazes upon her, instinctively shrank her shoulders, even the sound of her chewing became softer.
At that moment, a gentle voice sounded beside her.
"Don't worry, continue eating."
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