ARLQLCC chapter 27

The young man in front clearly had a smiling face, but the words he spoke made Chef Lin break out in a cold sweat.

The spiritual energy vortex he had just gathered immediately scattered. Chef Lin hurriedly forced out a friendly smile, but that smile did not match his fiercely sinister eyes, making his entire face look distorted.

“Y-Young Sect Master, you’re also here… hahaha…”

As he said this, he cursed inwardly at how unlucky this was. Who could have known that Yun Xicheng, a proper Young Sect Master, would not act like one and instead come to set up a stall with some pretty boy?!

He had originally gone to trouble others, but now trouble had come to him instead.

However, although Yun Xicheng was the Sect Master’s son, the Sect Master was still in seclusion and had not appeared for a hundred years. The Lianshuo Peak was managed by the Second Elder, so whether or not stalls were allowed was just a matter of a single word from the Second Elder.

Even the Young Sect Master couldn’t say anything about this.

Thinking of this, Chef Lin’s eyes rolled as he came up with an idea.

“Young Sect Master, you’ve misunderstood. Lianshuo Peak is managed by the Second Elder, but that old man is busy with sect affairs and has no time to handle these things, so he handed it over to me to take care of. I’m also helping the sect do work and contribute!”

Yun Xicheng let out a cold snort. “Handed it over to you? The Yunxian Sect rules state that managing a peak requires a Peak Lord Token. You’re just saying with your mouth that it was handed over to you.”

He extended his hand and said coldly, “The Peak Lord Token. If you can produce it, I’ll believe your claim.”

“……”

The smile on Chef Lin’s mouth stiffened.

He didn’t have any Peak Lord Token at all; he had just made it up to fool people.

The dining hall earned spirit stones at an almost obscene profit. He kept half for himself, and the other half was all offered up to the Second Elder. After getting the money comfortably, the Second Elder turned a blind eye to his usual domineering attitude toward outer disciples. On Lianshuo Peak, aside from the Second Elder, he basically had the final say.

Wasn’t that basically “delegated management”?

But he couldn’t say that out loud. So Chef Lin forced out another smile and said kindly, “Young Sect Master, the Second Elder is busy running around for the sect every day, very exhausted, how could he have time to give me a Peak Lord Token? He only told me verbally. I’m just acting on orders, please be flexible.”

“Oh?” Yun Xicheng tilted his head. “Verbal instruction means there isn’t one?”

A surge of overwhelming spiritual energy suddenly erupted, distorting the air for a moment. Chef Lin was caught off guard by the sudden attack and staggered backward several steps, almost falling to the ground.

This instantly ignited his anger. Looking at Yun Xicheng’s young face, malice surged in his heart.

So what if he’s the Young Sect Master? Setting up stalls here violates Lianshuo Peak rules. He had the Second Elder backing him—unless the Sect Master came out of seclusion, who on Lianshuo Peak could move him besides the Great Elder?

A mere Golden Core Young Sect Master, not yet in power and without authority, what could he do against the Second Elder?

Chef Lin stopped pretending. He tore off his friendly mask, and the aura of a Nascent Soul early-stage cultivator burst out. Most disciples were only at the Golden Core realm; the pressure from a higher realm was not lethal, but it still made their faces pale as they were forced back several steps.

“Young Sect Master, I address you respectfully, but even your status doesn’t allow you to lead others in breaking Lianshuo Peak rules!”

Yun Xicheng also did not expect a low-ranking cook to actually dare to make a move, and while resisting the pressure, he was secretly alarmed.

Without the Second Elder behind him, Chef Lin wouldn’t even dare to lift a finger against him.

But in the end, he was just a relative of the Second Elder—why would he think the Second Elder would protect him in this matter?

Perhaps the connection between him and the Second Elder was even deeper than they had thought.

With Chef Lin’s sudden outburst, the atmosphere became extremely tense.

Just as some disciples who couldn’t stand it were about to step in and stop it, a gentle barrier suddenly appeared, shielding the disciples from Chef Lin’s pressure.

Everyone looked up together and saw a young man in a green robe standing upright, expression calm. His slender hands slowly lowered after finishing the spell, without the slightest trace of being suppressed.

Yun Che was also inside the barrier, witnessing Su Ji casting the spell, and was so shocked his mouth hung open.

He was only at the mid–Golden Core stage. In cultivation, every realm was like a towering mountain. Chef Lin had been stuck at early Nascent Soul for years without progress, but the gap between realms was like a chasm. Even Yun Che had turned pale just now while resisting it.

He originally thought Su Ji was only at Foundation Establishment, merely hiding his cultivation with a treasure.

But now, with just a casual barrier, he completely neutralized a Nascent Soul’s pressure.

And he was protecting so many people at once, yet still showed no sign of strain.

Su Ji was definitely not at Foundation Establishment! His true cultivation was even above Nascent Soul!

Realizing this, Yun Che was completely stunned. Su Ji looked not much older than them, yet had already left them a whole major realm behind.

Such a genius not only had no sect, but was actually working in a small cafeteria selling food!

Are all geniuses this willful?!

……

What Yun Che could see, anyone with eyes could see.

The green spiritual barrier was gentle and full of vitality. Many lower-level disciples looked at Su Ji with grateful gazes.

Whispers also increased.

“Forming such a large barrier with one hand and still resisting Nascent Soul pressure so easily—Chef Su must at least be at Nascent Soul Great Perfection!”

“Too outrageous. I thought Chef Su was working as a cook because his talent wasn’t high, but turns out he could kill me with one finger.”

“That fat guy’s face turned green, hahaha!”

Chef Lin was indeed shocked. When he came, he had specifically checked their cultivation levels. Aside from Yun Xicheng being at Golden Core perfection, the others were at most mid–Golden Core.

And he couldn’t see through Su Ji’s cultivation, but he didn’t take it seriously.

In the cultivation world, anyone who became a cook was either stuck at entry level or had cultivated for years without progress and had no choice.

Su Ji working as a cook at this age probably meant his cultivation wasn’t good, just hiding it with a treasure to avoid embarrassment.

So Chef Lin acted without restraint. With his Nascent Soul early-stage cultivation, suppressing these Golden Core disciples should have been effortless.

Who would have thought the one he looked down on the most was actually the most terrifying?

If it wasn’t a treasure concealing it, then his cultivation was so high it was beyond Chef Lin’s ability to detect.

Looking at Su Ji’s handsome face hidden in the shadows, Chef Lin swallowed unconsciously.

That was clearly a face that made people want to approach him, but at this moment, just looking at him made Chef Lin feel an inexplicable fear.

But things had come to this point; he couldn’t show weakness. He said loudly, “You’re violating Lianshuo Peak rules and still want to fight me?”

Su Ji lifted his eyelids slightly. His clear eyes showed no fluctuation, seeing through the fear hidden beneath the other’s arrogance.

Destroying teleportation arrays, purchasing low-grade spirit plants and passing them off as higher quality ones, charging disciples exorbitant meal fees, even acting like bandits and causing chaos—all lies and corruption.

Just how capable was the Second Elder behind this Chef Lin to allow such arrogance?

Just as Su Ji was about to speak, exclamations and louder discussion suddenly came from outside the crowd.

Chef Lin was startled as well, thinking the other side had reinforcements. The crowd parted, revealing the newcomer.

Chef Lin immediately smiled and hurried over respectfully. “Second Elder, you’ve come. It’s nothing serious—why did this even alarm you?”

As he spoke, he glanced at the trembling outer disciple behind the Second Elder and praised him inwardly. That kid was smart—he knew to report it quickly, otherwise things would have been hard to handle today.

The Second Elder, whom Chef Lin treated so respectfully, looked like an immortal cultivator with an elegant aura, holding a whisk in his hand. But a closer look revealed a sharp, mean-looking face, eyes flashing with calculation as he scanned the people behind the cart.

After a few sweeps, his gaze locked onto Su Ji.

That stare was like a snake in a swamp—slimy and venomous, as if it would bite his throat the next second.

Su Ji felt very uncomfortable under his gaze.

After a moment, the Second Elder withdrew his gaze and asked slowly, “What’s going on? Why all the noise?”

Chef Lin immediately responded, “Second Elder, it’s like this. The dining hall had already prepared food tonight, waiting for disciples to come eat, but no one showed up for a long time. This has never happened before, so I found it strange and came out to check.

Who would have thought I’d catch them setting up a stall here? I only reminded them that Lianshuo Peak rules don’t allow stalls, but they refused to accept it and even wanted to fight me! Thankfully you came, otherwise I alone as a cook would never be their match!”

With just a few words, he twisted the facts. The disciples who witnessed everything shot him angry looks, but no one dared speak under the Second Elder’s authority.

The Second Elder looked at the cart, then at Chef Lin’s flattering face, and understood immediately.

Lianshuo Peak had never explicitly stated that stalls were forbidden, but if the dining hall was indeed losing spirit stones because of them, adding a rule on the spot was not impossible.

After only a moment’s thought, he nodded and confirmed Chef Lin’s claim. “Lianshuo Peak already has a dining hall for disciples. Stalls are indeed not allowed.”

The disciples were in uproar.

Although Lianshuo Peak had never had stalls before, precisely because of that there was no rule against them. It was obvious the Second Elder was siding with Chef Lin to suppress Chef Su!

Yun Xicheng said coldly, “Second Elder, I’ve been in the Yunxian Sect for so long and have never heard of such a rule. Could it be something you just added?”

The Second Elder turned his head and smiled dismissively. “Xicheng, why are you getting involved in this? Rules are rules. The dining hall also needs to buy ingredients with spirit stones. If everyone sets up stalls and attracts all the disciples away, how would the dining hall operate? Who would compensate the sect’s losses?”

This was clearly sophistry.

Yun Xicheng was furious. “You…!”

The Second Elder smiled. “You’re still too young to consider things so thoroughly. Leave this matter alone. Those who break the rules must be punished. Come with me.”

Behind the cart, Yue He clenched her sleeves, nervously looking at Su Ji.

She never imagined that just setting up a stall would escalate into this, even alarming the Second Elder.

Seeing the Law Enforcement Hall disciples behind the Second Elder stepping forward to arrest them, her body trembled slightly, nearly crying from anxiety.

What should they do! If Chef Su is really taken by the Second Elder, he will likely be in grave danger!

In front of the cart, the Law Enforcement Hall disciples had already bypassed Yun Che and the others, heading straight toward Su Ji. Su Ji’s face turned cold as he protected the kitten in his arms and condensed a spiritual sword in his hand.

Yun Xicheng tried to rush forward but was frozen in place by the Second Elder.

He shouted angrily, “What are you doing?!”

The Second Elder revealed a cold smile. “Just taking this young man to the Law Enforcement Hall. Even if he is not from the Yunxian Sect, breaking the rules still requires punishment.”

With that, he waved his hand.

“Take him away.”

Author’s Note:

We’ll soon get to where Yezi-ge reunites with his trusted subordinate (rubbing hands excitedly)

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