"Mutton skewers?" Vice Cult Master Liu frowned. They had come to show the Dao Seeking Sect what was what, not to actually work.
"Hey, a customer walks up and you won't even do business?" Shangguan Yu found it odd. Were shops in the Dao Seeking Sect really so peculiar that they opened their doors only to refuse customers?
Second Elder stood behind Shangguan Yu, eyeing Vice Cult Master Liu and the others suspiciously. "You folks look unfamiliar. I haven't seen you around the Dao Seeking Sect before. Could you be..."
Vice Cult Master Liu recognized Second Elder Ba Yan in an instant. This was a true figure of authority in the Dao Seeking Sect's upper echelons, a cultivator at the peak Body Integration stage! If someone like him grew suspicious, their cover could easily be blown.
He immediately put on a warm smile and gestured for the other six to get up and receive the customer. "The shopkeeper had an errand to run and stepped out, so we were called in at the last minute to help out. Honored guest, you wanted twenty mutton skewers, correct? Please give us a moment, they'll be ready right away!"
As a demonic cult, keeping a cruel sneer on one's lips was a mandatory skill, but switching effortlessly to a genial smile was just as essential.
Vice Cult Master Liu rolled up his sleeves, tied on the black-and-white apron hanging on the wall, and took twenty-five mutton skewers from the basin. "Since you're our first customer today, I'll give you five extra on the house."
A few flies flew over, drawn by the smell of meat, but Vice Cult Master Liu shooed them away.
Second Elder was still a bit dubious. "Your shop doesn't look very clean..."
Vice Cult Master Liu hurried to say, "Old Gao, bring out the formation!"
Vice Cult Master Gao produced a formation array from his storage ring and laid it out on the floor. Instantly, every fly fled from the barbecue shop.
None of the people running shops in the Dao Seeking Sect were mortals, so using storage rings and formations wouldn't arouse suspicion.
Vice Cult Master Liu explained with a smile, "Spotless cleanliness guaranteed! This is an insect-repelling formation we brought from outside."
Vice Cult Master Liu had always been meticulous in his work.
With one hand, he turned and flipped the mutton skewers over the grill, while the fingers of his other hand rubbed together, letting seasoning rain down onto the meat. Searing over the charcoal fire, the aroma of the mutton burst forth, mouthwateringly fragrant.
Vice Cult Master Liu's proficiency was not in the least inferior to Lu Yang's.
The seven of them had gone out of their way to seek out the best barbecue master in the area and studied under him relentlessly for three whole days. Wasn't it all for this very moment?
"Do you like it spicy?"
Shangguan Yu pondered for a moment. She couldn't handle much heat, but without any spice, it felt like something was missing. "Mildly spicy, please."
"Right away!" Vice Cult Master Liu called out in a hawker's cadence while grilling the skewers.
"Come take a look, come have a taste! Fresh tender lamb straight from the grasslands, freshly butchered, lean meat and tendon together! Fragrant meat, springy tendon, an unforgettable aftertaste!"
This was the exact chant the mortal barbecue master had shouted while teaching them, having told them that the louder they called out, the more customers they would attract.
Perhaps having heard the mortal master shout it so many times, Vice Cult Master Liu was moved by the atmosphere and belted it out naturally.
Sure enough, it worked. Dao Seeking Sect disciples began gathering around in steady streams.
"Here you go, your skewers are ready." Vice Cult Master Liu handed the mutton skewers to Shangguan Yu.
"How much?"
How could Vice Cult Master Liu possibly know the price? He glanced at the price board hanging on the wall and nearly jumped out of his skin.
Prices in the Dao Seeking Sect were this outrageous?
What Vice Cult Master Liu didn't know was that prices in the Dao Seeking Sect were usually reasonable; they had only been temporarily inflated for the exchange event.
Shangguan Yu parted her delicate lips and took a bite. The aroma of meat flooded her palate, brimming with rich juices. Once it was in her mouth, she could hardly tell whether it was mouthwatering saliva or savory juices.
"Delicious! Absolutely delicious! Give me fifty more! And two grilled pig trotters!"
The greatest benefit cultivators enjoyed when eating was that no matter how much they consumed, they never felt bloated. As long as they wanted to eat, they could indulge to their heart's content.
Of course, that particular perk had never had the chance to shine during the feasts the Immortal Fairy prepared.
Seeing Shangguan Yu savoring the food, the surrounding crowd began salivating. One after another, they followed suit, clamoring for skewers.
Vice Cult Master Gao called out from inside, "There's room inside! Plenty of space! Don't crowd the entrance, everyone—you can come in and order!"
The five elders and guest elders also sprang into action, bustling about to attend to the patrons.
Over on the Martial Arts Square, the first match of the Golden Core group had concluded. With some time before the second match began, many disciples chose to grab a bite while watching, including members of both the Dao Seeking Sect and the Five Elements Sect.
They soon noticed an unusual barbecue shop doing roaring business.
"Let's go check it out."
As more and more disciples flocked over for skewers, a swell of pride rose unbidden in Vice Cult Master Liu's chest.
*Back then, I said it: what did it matter if Lu Yang and the other two made a splash running a barbecue stall in Yanjiang Commandery? That was only because I hadn't made a move. If I had stepped up, what would Lu Yang even have amounted to?*
"Old Gao, there are too many orders, I can't keep up! Set up a second grill!"
"On it!"
To everyone's surprise, Vice Cult Master Gao's grilling skills were not a whit behind Vice Cult Master Liu's!
...
Up on the spectator stands, Lu Yang delivered skewers to Eldest Senior Sister, only to be met with a bewildered stare from Qiu Jin'an.
Why had Sect Master Lu fallen so low as to hawk barbecue skewers?
How long had it been? What on earth had happened in that span of time?
Qiu Jin'an simply couldn't fathom it.
"How are the preparations coming along?" Yun Zhi asked.
"Only seven guests remain in the shop. According to the plan, disciples will go in to order food. There shouldn't be any complications."
"Understood. Go on back."
...
On his way back, Lu Yang glanced at the Martial Arts Square. The second match had already begun, and representing the Dao Seeking Sect was Senior Sister Yi Jing, another person who had previously been challenged across cultivation realms by the Immortal Fairy.
Lu Yang noticed that the senior brothers and sisters watching below were all clutching bundles of grilled skewers. He was somewhat surprised—even Bai Ming, who had just lost his match, was holding a large handful and eating with gusto.
*What's going on?*
By the time Lu Yang returned to the barbecue shop, Meng Jingzhou and Man Gu were already there, bustling back and forth as assistants to the two vice cult masters.
The disciples secretly arranged to buy skewers couldn't even get into the line. Seeing Lu Yang, they spread their hands helplessly.
Second Elder was standing by the road eating skewers, his mouth glistening with oil. Spotting Lu Yang, he called out, "Where did you find these people? Their grilling is absolutely top-notch!"
Beside him, Shangguan Yu chimed in that she would definitely have to visit the Dao Seeking Sect more often.
Lu Yang: "..."
"Excuse me, make way, make way," Lu Yang called out, trying to squeeze inside to see what was happening.
A person he bumped into frowned. "What's the rush? Don't you know how to queue?"
"I work here!"
The person's mouth twitched upon recognizing Lu Yang, and he quickly made room.
He suddenly remembered his master's warning: demonic cultists would infiltrate the exchange event, and Lu Yang planned to catch them all in one fell swoop.
Could the people inside this barbecue shop be the demonic cultists?
He stared at the two vice cult masters busy grilling for a good long while, then decided he must have suspected the wrong people.
The elders of the Dao Seeking Sect had already informed everyone beforehand: if Lu Yang appeared somewhere he shouldn't be, don't panic, and simply pretend not to recognize him.
Seeing Lu Yang return, Vice Cult Master Liu was overjoyed. "Little Lu, you're back! Perfect, just perfect—go maintain order and make sure everyone stays in line!"
Lu Yang: "..."
*Do you people still remember what you came here to do?*
Lu Yang's original intention had been to find a few customers to keep them tied down, but he never dreamed they would actually turn the barbecue shop into a booming business.
Noticing Man Gu bustling about with a heartfelt smile, and Meng Jingzhou wearing an expression reminiscent of their days in Yanjiang Commandery, Lu Yang felt a wave of speechlessness rise up, not even knowing where to begin complaining.
The Immortal Fairy nodded approvingly. "As expected of my believers, their self-reliance is quite commendable! Though their grilling technique could still use some improvement.
"Lu Yang, let me take control of the body. I'll show you all what immortal-tier skewers look like—take notes, everyone!"
The Immortal Fairy was thoroughly intrigued. Forgetting all about principles like 'the Dao cannot be taught lightly,' she clamored to show off her skills.
Hearing that, Lu Yang was so terrified he rushed to stop her.
"Please, don't add to the chaos!"
Chapter 172