**Chapter 56: Calamity at the General’s Table**
**In front of Liao Zhai Tavern**
Lu Yi Bei silently stared at Ying Ning Ning for a few seconds, then nodded and said, “Then I’ll trouble you, Miss Ying.”
“Alright! Please come in.” Ying Ning Ning flashed a sweet smile at Lu Yi Bei, made a gesture to invite her in, and pushed open the ancient carved wooden door, leading her into the tavern.
As Lu Yi Bei stepped inside Liao Zhai Tavern, she was slightly taken aback by the scene within.
She had thought that, having sworn off “Love and Magic Girls,” the entrance ticket to Liao Zhai Tavern would lead to something like the War God Squad base from the game.
However, what she saw instead resembled the setup of Luxi Chuancaiguan.
Directly opposite the entrance was an L-shaped counter, three feet tall and four to five feet long. The shelves behind the counter and on it were filled with wine jars of various sizes.
Red paper tags on the jars bore the names of the wines, including common varieties like Bamboo City Daqu and Baisha Liquor, alongside unfamiliar names to Lu Yi Bei, such as Thousand-Mile Peach Blossom, Drunken Spring Breeze, and Er Su’s Old Board.
Behind the counter, there was a bamboo lounge chair. According to the layout of Luxi Chuancaiguan, that chair should be the shopkeeper’s throne; when there were no customers, Lu Ming would rest in a similar chair.
On the lounge chair, she could vaguely see a man lying there napping, his face obscured, but Lu Yi Bei guessed that he was the legendary Hu Boss.
On the other side of the tavern, there were a dozen dark wooden tables scattered about. At this moment, business was thriving, nearly every table had patrons, with only two or three empty tables marked with signs saying “Reserved.”
The customers were a mixed bag, all different.
Some looked ordinary, like middle-aged office workers who had casually found a small tavern after work, trying to wash away their day’s fatigue with good wine.
However, Lu Yi Bei did not underestimate them just because they appeared unremarkable.
In a ghostly place like Liao Zhai Tavern, the more ordinary they looked, the more frightening they might be.
Some had brightly colored hair and dressed in eccentric outfits, gathered in groups of three or five, occasionally shouting while playing dice, looking like a gathering of the “Family of Mourning Love.”
Some sat alone, pouring their own drinks, their expressions indicating “I’m not to be trifled with,” radiating an aura that seemed to say “keep away.”
Whether it was an illusion or not, Lu Yi Bei faintly felt that a young man drinking alone seemed to be glancing at her, either intentionally or unintentionally.
Others looked strange and grotesque, clearly resembling some urban legend.
Several beautiful young girls were busy serving tempting dishes and fragrant wines to the customers in the hall, likely acting as waitresses, just like Ying Ning Ning.
What is this? Just because I want to eat my old man’s cooking, this scene occurs to enhance immersion? But I can’t immerse myself at all, can I?
Luxi Chuancaiguan never had waiters; even if it did, not everyone would be ancient-style little girls and beautiful maidens, right?
I wonder if this Hu Boss is hiring child labor. Next time, if I have the chance, I’ll have to come in human form, wear the Mourning Black badge on my chest, and ask that Hu Boss properly.
As Lu Yi Bei continued to follow Ying Ning Ning’s guidance, she walked deeper into the tavern and sat down by a window.
“Guest, Ning Ning will go get you a menu; please wait a moment!”
Ying Ning Ning said to Lu Yi Bei, then removed the wooden sign saying “Reserved” from the table, ran to the counter, and on tiptoes, gently swayed her tail as she took the menu from the counter, hurried back to Lu Yi Bei.
“Hey! Guest, take a look! If you want to eat anything, just tell Ning Ning.”
While handing the menu to Lu Yi Bei, Ying Ning Ning smiled broadly, pulling out a pen and a small notebook from the pocket of her pure white apron, ready to write down her order.
She kept smiling, seemingly her nature, innocent and carefree.
Lu Yi Bei took the menu, furrowing her brows slightly.
The menu was square, a bit yellowed, felt slightly cool to the touch, seemingly made of silk, and her fingertips could feel a hint of leather texture upon rubbing it slightly.
On the menu, besides the word “Menu” written at the top, there was nothing else; it was completely empty.
How am I supposed to order?
Just as this thought flashed through Lu Yi Bei’s mind, she saw delicate handwriting quietly appear on the menu.
As if an invisible hand wielding a brush was writing.
She focused and was suddenly shocked, her pupils slightly widening.
Every dish name that appeared on the menu, such as Huoxiang Tender Fish, Mapo Tofu, Double Pepper Spicy Chicken, were all specialties her father was good at making.
After staring at the menu for a moment, Lu Yi Bei turned to Ying Ning Ning and asked, “May I ask, do I have to order now? Can I wait a little while? I need to think about it some more.”
“Mm-mm!” Ying Ning Ning nodded, “Of course you can! Just take your time, and when you’ve decided what you want, just call me anytime.”
After finishing, she swayed her fluffy tail and took off towards the kitchen in a playful bounce.
After watching Ying Ning Ning leave, Lu Yi Bei pondered over the menu for a moment. Instead of calling Ying Ning Ning back, she silently set the menu down, stood up, and walked over to the adjacent table.
Before entering Liao Zhai Tavern, she had drawn over two hundred times and had a big guarantee, yet she hadn’t gotten the character she wanted; this also indicated that before ordering, she could still enjoy playing “Love and Magic Girls,” so it was for the best to delay ordering for a while.
Just like vacation homework, she wouldn’t lift a pen until the last minute.
This tavern placed no restrictions on customers moving around; Lu Yi Bei noticed several unknown figures casually wandering between tables.
Moreover, she was also curious about what other customers were eating in Liao Zhai Tavern. If she could observe up close, perhaps she could find some clues about cooking “human smoke.”
To be honest, isn’t it reasonable to check what other customers are ordering for reference before placing my own order?
Who knows, she might even snag some free tastings of other people’s dishes!
As Lu Yi Bei thought, she glanced towards the counter and then at the beautiful waitresses, waited for a moment, and seeing no one block her, she continued forward.
**Back at the counter.**
The handsome-faced man, at the moment Lu Yi Bei stood up and walked towards an adjacent table, lifted his eyelids, glanced in her direction, then curled his lips in disinterest before closing his eyes again.
He truly didn’t care.
In Liao Zhai Tavern, although fighting was prohibited, customer harassment was not forbidden.
Similarly, if a customer wanted to k*ll another customer, as long as they didn’t do so in the tavern, even if bl**d splattered right outside the tavern, it would be completely inconsequential.
Thus, Hu Boss could hardly be bothered with Lu Yi Bei; even if she were to leave and be backstabbed or killed, he would not interfere.
“Hey, bro, alone?”
Seeing Lu Yi Bei suddenly sit down, a creature resembling a huge lizard, wearing a red beret and holding a blue and white porcelain soup basin, blinked in confusion; its scarlet tongue flicked out from the corner of its mouth, sweeping across its dark green scales as a hint of doubt rose in its eyes.
“Do we know each other?”
“I don’t know.” Lu Yi Bei waved her hand, “But that’s okay! Not knowing each other before today doesn’t mean we can’t get to know each other!”
“Roar!” The creature growled threateningly.
Completely unable to communicate, Lu Yi Bei didn’t linger and quickly got up, heading to the next table.
“What dish are you eating, bro? How does it taste? If it’s convenient, could I have a little taste? It’s my first time here, I want to take reference.”
“By the way, you’re a monster, right? Does this tavern have any special menu for monsters? Like, a mixed stew of alchemical materials and the core of a distorted monster?”
“I’m a distorted monster…”
“Uh, sorry.”
“Hello! Please…”
“Get lost!”
“Alright!”
Lu Yi Bei’s plan to observe what other customers were eating was not going smoothly. Considering the mix of clientele in Liao Zhai Tavern, she would immediately move on if anyone showed dislike, not daring to persist.
Thus, she wandered around the hall of Liao Zhai Tavern, visiting four or five tables, yet did not find a single patron willing to engage in conversation.
Until she boldly approached a young man whose sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, exuded an aura that intimated, “Stay away,” and sat down across from him.
Noticing Lu Yi Bei sit down, the young man was initially startled, a glimmer of surprise flashing in his eyes, as if he was taken aback by her attempt to strike up a conversation.
“Hello, may I ask…”
“Are you asking what I’m eating?” Lu Yi Bei hadn’t finished her question before the young man helped her finish and provided the answer.
“I’m just having regular braised beef, but the drink is a little special, called Gui Chang, want to try some?”
“Gui Chang?” Lu Yi Bei tilted her head, “Isn’t that the wine used to sacrifice to spirits and ancestors?”
“Oh?” The young man shook the jug in his hand, looking at Lu Yi Bei, “You know this wine?”
Lu Yi Bei nodded, “Li Ergui Zhan, Gui Chang is traditionally said to be offered to scholars, Xishan fields. In Zhou, ordered by ancestral force, tigers bow and submit, ten thousand years to the emperor. From ‘The Book of Songs, Daya, Jiang Han.’”
Although she was just an amateur student majoring in Chinese language and literature, she had read ancient texts like “The Book of Songs.”
“Since you know, you should definitely have a taste!” The young man smiled lightly, “This is not a modern imitation but brewed strictly according to ancient methods.”
As he spoke, he picked up an empty cup from the table, poured half a cup of wine, and pushed it towards Lu Yi Bei, making a gesture for her to partake.
“Please!”
Lu Yi Bei looked at the amber liquid exuding a rich fragrance in the cup before her, then secretly gauged the young man’s expression. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously picked up the cup, brought it to her lips, took a small sip, and held it in her mouth without swallowing.
The other patrons ignored her completely, even seeming a bit annoyed, while this young man not only didn’t chase her away butenthusiastically invited her to drink. She felt a tad wary.
Of course, it was possible that the young man merely looked unapproachable but was actually warm and hospitable—but still, caution was warranted.
Even though Lu Yi Bei held the wine in her mouth and didn’t swallow, she could distinctly sense the enchanting qualities of this Gui Chang.
It was smooth and gentle upon entry, a blend of black millet and various herbs, the flavors swirling around her lips and teeth. Several faint spiritual energy fluctuations collided within the wine, mildly numbing her lips and teeth.
It felt as if a fierce war was erupting in her mouth.
Just as Lu Yi Bei was experiencing the distinctive taste of gui chang, the young man, after finishing a cup of wine, suddenly asked her, “You’re from Huacheng, right?”
“I’ve been there before; there’s an old friend of mine there named Bai Kai; do you know him?”
Upon hearing the name Water Brother from the young man, Lu Yi Bei paused for a moment, instinctively swallowing the wine in her mouth and opening her lips slightly.
“Of course. I’ve heard of him; he’s an operative of the Huacheng Siye Society!”
She was unsure why the young man suddenly mentioned Water Brother and his relationship with him; momentarily, she didn’t divulge her connection to Water Brother.
What if he were an enemy of Water Brother? If I said Water Brother was my godfather, wouldn’t that be a d*ath sentence?
As Lu Yi Bei thought, she added, “He’s also the Night King of Huacheng, most people around Huacheng have heard of his name.”
As soon as her words fell, she felt the stimulating sensation of the Gui Chang flowing down her throat into her stomach.
Several weak spiritual energy fluctuations clashed downwards, finally “exploding” in her stomach, transforming into a warm sensation that spread throughout her body.
Just that slight sip made Lu Yi Bei feel a tinge of drunkenness, and her pale face blushed slightly.
At that moment, she was very grateful that she had only taken a sip and not gulped the entire cup down; otherwise, she would probably have been completely drunk.
d*mn it, this guy wouldn’t be trying to get me drunk, would he?
What kind of creature tries to get an underage girl, or at least someone who looks like an underage girl, drunk? The answer doesn’t need elaboration, right? Lu Yi Bei thought.
“Is that so? I didn’t expect him to be so famous now.” Hearing Lu Yi Bei’s words, the young man chuckled wryly, “Night King? I thought the nights of Huacheng were managed by Calamity!”
Upon hearing the word “Calamity,” Lu Yi Bei’s heart tightened slightly. Seeing that the young man seemed not to have recognized her as Calamity, she steadied herself and replied expressionlessly, “Calamity? That guy is completely useless! From the rumors I’ve heard, I think Bai Kai is still a bit stronger.”
“Is that so?” The young man suddenly looked up, staring directly into Lu Yi Bei’s eyes, smiling meaningfully, “Not long ago, I lost something in Huacheng and originally wanted to ask Calamity to help find it.”
“What did you lose?” Lu Yi Bei prompted, “If there’s an opportunity, I might be able to help you find it.”
“Thanks, but no need to trouble yourself; it’s just a trivial item.” The young man replied nonchalantly while pouring himself more wine.
Lu Yi Bei observed him in silence for two seconds before asking, “By the way, from your words, it seems you have a good relationship with Bai Kai? Are you also an operative of the Siye Society?”
“Mm, more or less,” the young man replied candidly. “As for Bai Kai, we aren’t that close; it’s just that over ten years ago, his spirit patterns had a big issue, and I helped him out a little.”
“Oh.” Lu Yi Bei nodded, not pursuing further questions.
Seeing this, the young man beckoned her, “Don’t just drink; this wine is strong. Eat some dishes, or you’ll get drunk easily.”
The appearance of Liao Zhai Tavern near the Jingyi Apartment Complex wasn’t summoned by Jumeng; she wasn’t too familiar with the terrain in that alleyway either. Eventually, she transformed into a magpie and circled around according to the spirit energy fluctuations, then descended in front of Liao Zhai Tavern.
As soon as she entered, before she could greet those beautiful waitresses to take her order, she scanned the hall and was stunned upon seeing Lu Yi Bei.
Huh? Lu Yi Bei? What’s she doing here? Could it be that this entrance is what she summoned?
Jumeng was pondering this when she suddenly noticed the young man sitting across from Lu Yi Bei, and her muscles tensed up, feeling a sense of impending danger.
Oh no! Isn’t that the guy sharing a table with Calamity and the General, eating and drinking together?
What kind of absurd scene is this?
