Chapter 327: Chapter 326: Three Visits to the Barbecue Shop_1

“So, this is the barbecue shop in Yanjiang County that is rumored to be invigorating?”

“Absolutely! Let’s hurry and line up. We thought we came early enough, but it seems we still have to join the queue!”

“This place was closed for three months and now it’s reopened, doing better business than before. I came here during the Spring Festival and the food is superb!”

“So the entire staff went off for training and now they’re back with major progress?”

“Seems so.”

“I wonder if we’ll get to eat today. I’ve heard some people waited in line for days without getting their chance.”

…

“What a bustling business!” Shi Huagu felt the business’s success more profoundly as he stood before the barbecue shop. He hadn’t truly appreciated it when he saw from upstairs.

They have many businesses in the Nine Nether sect, but none have such an exaggerated customer flow

The queue starts from the entrance and extends all the way to the next shop, effectively blocking its entrance.

The neighboring shop doesn’t mind, because the people waiting in line might drop in to have a meal when they get tired of waiting, which has actually improved their business.

Huo Huashen sent him a message: “I heard that this shop used to provide delivery service. But with the in-store business being so overwhelming, they’ve cancelled that service.”

“Initially, Zhou Shan and I wanted to try the food but we can’t get in the queue. We can only inquire about it from nearby customers who have had the food.”

Shi Huagu snorted arrogantly, about to barge into the restaurant: “Have we forgotten our status? Do we need to queue?”

Two at the Divinity Transformation Stage and one at the Unification Stage. We are qualified enough to build a second-rate sect ourselves. Even a top-tier sect would treat us respectfully if we visited them.

This is just a barbecue shop, not the headquarters of Heaven’s Court.

“Line cutter over here!”

“Hey, you three! Do you have any decency?”

“Such lack of manners!”

The people lined up behind saw the trio walking in, loudly cursing them. Shi Huagu and the three paid no heed. Suddenly, a pretty girl stood in front of them.

“You, stop right there. Don’t you know you need to line up?” Qin Yanyan stood at the entrance, anger blazing in her eyes. Everyone else is obeying the rules, why not you?

Qin Yanyan didn’t recognize the three of them. Back then, Huo Huashen had kept a low profile, and only Lu Yang had detected his presence.

Just as Shi Huagu was about to fly off the handle, he heard Huo Huashen swiftly communicating, “Master, this is Qin Yanyan, the reincarnation of Master Qin.”

“What?” Shi Huagu was taken aback. Even though Qin Haoran, who had been the master of the Nine Nether Sect for nine hundred years, had fallen, he still held prestige within the Sect.

Shi Huagu had a degree of respect for the former master. Considering Qin Haoran’s scheming abilities and Cultivation level, he exceeded Shi Huagu in both regards.

“It seems that the Heaven’s Court already knows we’re here and has intentionally sent Master Qin’s reincarnation to obstruct us!”

“Are they implying that we’re on their turf now and we must abide by the rules of Heaven’s Court?”

“And by stationing the reincarnation of Master Qin here to maintain order, they mean to convey that no matter how highly we regard ourselves, we’re just flyweights before them?”

Shi Huagu, with his distinctly clever nature, quickly gleaned the implications.

He dare not offend Heaven’s Court. They originated from ancient times, have extensive resources, and at the very least, have a Transcendance Tribulation Stage power. They might even have several and are not someone he, an Unification Stage practitioner, could afford to offend.

“Line up, it is!”

The three high-ranking members of the Nine Nether Sect waited at the end of the queue until late at night. Only four or five people were left before them when Qin Yanyan peeked out from the entrance, “Sorry, we’re closing for the day.”

Shi Huagu’s face turned livid but he refrained from causing a fuss.

“Humph, let’s return tomorrow!”

…

The next morning, before the barbecue shop had opened, Shi Huagu, along with two of his subordinates, were already at the entrance.

He refused to believe that he would have to queue during the day.

The doors of the barbecue shop swung open, Guard Captain Wei was seated inside, chatting and laughing with Lu Yang.

“Congratulations, Guard Captain Wei. Or should I say Chief Guard Captain Wei now!” Lu Yang laughed. After the County Magistrate was disposed of, the Chief Guard Captain was promoted to the County Magistrate. Guard Captain Wei then ascended to the position of the Chief Guard Captain, which saved him over a decade of waiting. It was a meteoric rise.

Chief Guard Captain Wei was all smiles, “Oh, please. I may be the Chief Guard Captain, but it’s a demanding job. The monthly pay is probably not even close to a single day’s earnings of your barbecue shop.”

Lu Yang chuckled without replying since it was indeed the case and he wasn’t comfortable to admit.

Chief Guard Captain Wei did not dwell on this topic and continued to reminisce, “My promotion to Chief Guard Captain has a lot to do with arresting people at your shop. I remember, Mr. Little Lu, you had a few friends dining at your shop. They started a group fight and were arrested. They were held for a few days. Later, when the Eternity Sect was annihilated and the member list was released, it turned out that two of the men involved in the brawl were from the Eternity Sect!”

“Little Lu, you have to be more careful with your choice of friends. This is dangerous. They might have marked you and intended to offer you as a sacrifice to the Eternity Sect!”

Lu Yang laughed heartily, assuring him that he would be more cautious in choosing friends in the future.

“Your barbecue shop has been running for more than a half month, but unfortunately, no criminals have walked into their trap here. It would be great if some foolishly approached here. Ideally members of a demonic sect. Then my position as Chief Guard Captain would be secured.”

Upon realizing his gaffe, Chief Guard Captain Wei chuckled, “Look at what I’m saying. It almost sounds like I’m cursing your place to attract the demonic sect.”

It was then that Chief Guard Captain Wei noticed Shi Huagu and his party standing at the entrance to the shop, he curiously asked, “Are they your friends?”

“Where?” Lu Yang turned his head, only to find Shi Huagu and his men had already disappeared.

“There’s no one there?”

“Maybe they were just passing by.”

…

“Well played, Heaven’s Court,” Shi Huagu fumed. “Being chummy with an official who wishes to arrest the members of the demonic sect. Are they trying to show off their power to us?” Shi Huagu had dealt with government officials quite a few times. He knew a Chief Guard Captain would have a token that could summon Cultivation Great Power to help them when meeting an enemy they couldn’t deal with.

“Master, what’s our next move?”

“Keep queuing tonight!”

…

“We’ve been staking out here for more than half a month, but why hasn’t anyone from the Nine Nether Sect showed up?” Meng Jingzhou was puzzled. He felt that someone from the Nine Nether Sect should have arrived by now.

“Niece, you’ve been watching the entrance every day. Have you seen anyone who looks like they might be from the Nine Nether Sect?”

Qin Yanyan innocently shook her head. Although occasionally one or two customers tried to barge in, a few words from her had them obediently going back to line up. Surely members of the Nine Nether Sect wouldn’t be so obedient?

Lu Yang also found it strange. He thinks anyone knowledgeable about ancient history would believe in the existence of Heaven’s Court. He was sure there would be people like that in the Nine Nether Sect.

If they believe in Heaven’s Court, then they must send someone over.

“Let’s wait a bit longer.”

…

At night, Shi Huagu and his companions learned from their mistakes and arrived early. This time they were lucky. There were only about twenty people ahead of them.

After waiting almost half a day, it was finally their turn.

“Three pounds of mutton kebabs!”