Qian Yun remembered the embroidered shoes and the silk robe vividly.
Both items were ghost artifacts—highly unusual ones at that—and would serve as the grand finale in the upcoming auction.
"Brother Mo, I heard that while those two ghost artifacts are quite unique, they don't seem to possess any real powers," Qian Yun whispered cautiously to Mo Lin.
"I know," Mo Lin replied calmly. He had no intention of using them as weapons—they were meant to be returned to the spirits with whom he had once made a pact.
Seeing that Mo Lin understood, Qian Yun said no more.
"Brother Mo, what brings you here today?" Wang Bing, standing nearby, asked curiously.
"I heard there's a state banquet chef here," Mo Lin answered unhurriedly.
"That's right..."
"I wanted to sample the craftsmanship of such a chef, so I came."
"Ah, I see."
Wang Bing immediately responded, "Please wait a moment. I'll arrange for the state banquet chef to cook a meal just for you."
Hearing this, Lin Xi, standing off to the side, looked visibly surprised.
To have the state banquet chef personally prepare a meal solely for Mo Lin—such extravagance was unheard of.
Especially considering Mo Lin was not the only guest today. There were others on the second floor as well.
Yet Wang Bing had arranged for the chef to serve only Mo Lin, and that could only mean one thing—Mo Lin was receiving special treatment. It was an acknowledgment of his status. Not just anyone could enjoy such privilege.
Lin Xi understood very well that her access to the second floor was entirely due to Mo Lin's presence.
"Isn't it a bit inappropriate for the chef to serve only me? What if the others start to complain?" Mo Lin said quietly.
"Who would dare complain?" Wang Bing's gaze swept over the surrounding guests.
A few locked eyes with him briefly, then quickly looked away.
"Rest assured, Brother Mo. This is my arrangement, and no one will voice a single objection," Wang Bing declared confidently.
Anyone who did would essentially be challenging him, Wang Bing—and today, no one would be so bold.
Mo Lin said no more.
Soon, the first dish was served.
"Brother Mo, this is salted duck. Please, have a taste," Wang Bing said as he gestured toward the dish.
"Very well."
Mo Lin sampled it—it was indeed delicious. He then turned to Lin Xi. "Don't just sit there. Eat."
"Sure!" Lin Xi nodded eagerly, tasting the salted duck with a look of bliss on her face.
At the same time, she snapped a quick photo and sent it to the Ghost Controller Society's chat group.
Lin Xi:[Image] Salted duck made by a state banquet chef. Absolutely divine.
Feng Mingyu:?
Yun Ling:?
Zhao Fei:A state banquet chef?
Feng Mingyu:What's going on? How did you get to eat food made by a state banquet chef?
Lin Xi:I'm on the second floor. The chef's cooking for us personally. The salted duck is great, though this other dish I'm eating now... I don't even know what it's called. Tastes pretty average though.
Yun Ling:(ΩДΩ)
Feng Mingyu:How did you get to the second floor?
Zhao Fei:Yeah, aren't you not qualified to be up there?
Lin Xi:Well, we're here now, and we're enjoying the chef's cooking.
She basked in the spotlight for a while, thoroughly enjoying the attention.
One by one, the dishes prepared by the state banquet chef were brought to the table.
Lin Xi even recorded a video and posted it in the Ghost Envoy chat group.
Lin Xi:[Video] Just a little taste of what a state banquet chef can do.
Feng Mingyu:Alright, I admit it. I'm jealous.
Yun Ling:Same. I envy you.
Feng Mingyu:Had I known we could sneak onto the second floor, I'd have tagged along. What a missed opportunity.
Zhao Fei:So envious... I'd love to try food from a state banquet chef too.
Lin Xi:Don't envy me too much, darlings. I'm a legend, after all.
She relished her moment of glory, basking in her smug satisfaction.
As she ate, Lin Xi occasionally stole glances at Mo Lin.
She couldn't help but be curious. Who exactly was this man? How did he know people like Qian Yun and Wang Bing?
Both of them were influential figures in Yunchuan.
Mo Lin, meanwhile, took his time savoring the dishes, clearly enjoying himself.
And to be fair, the state banquet chef's skills were truly exceptional.
"What's going on here? A state banquet chef serving just one ghost envoy? What's the meaning of this?"
A loud, disgruntled voice broke the quiet.
Turning toward the commotion, they saw a middle-aged man approaching, visibly annoyed.
"Master Zhuang, it was arranged by Young Master Wang," a server replied respectfully.
"I came here specifically to taste the food of a state banquet chef, and now he's cooking for just one person? I want to see who has the gall to monopolize him."
His voice carried loudly across the room.
Wang Bing frowned—he hadn't expected this man to show up.
Lin Xi glanced nervously toward the source of the voice. The sight of the stormy-faced middle-aged man walking over made her uneasy.
"Master Zhuang, I'm the one who arranged for the chef to serve my friend," Wang Bing said as he stood up calmly.
"Oh? Your friend must think highly of himself."
"Can't you give me a little face?" Wang Bing asked evenly.
"Face? I came here to eat a proper meal from the state banquet chef, not to be sidelined," the man snapped back with clear irritation.
Wang Bing's expression grew frosty.
This man might hold sway in Yunchuan, but Wang Bing wasn't afraid. At worst, things could escalate into open conflict.
"I'm sorry, but today the chef will serve only my friend. If you have an issue with that, I'm more than willing to oblige," Wang Bing said with firm resolve.
"Step aside. Let me see which friend of yours has such clout."
The man pushed forward—and stopped short the moment he saw Mo Lin.
All the anger drained from his face, replaced instantly by a beaming smile.
"Brother Mo! What a coincidence—you're here too!" Zhuang Ruo greeted him enthusiastically.
"A very happy coincidence," Mo Lin replied.
"I was just about to—" Mo Lin began, but Zhuang Ruo cut him off mid-sentence.
"Please, eat, eat! Someone of your stature should be served by the best. The state banquet chef is here for you and no one else!" Zhuang Ruo said with great enthusiasm.
Wang Bing couldn't help rolling his eyes.
Seriously? Could he be any more shameless?
For a man of his age, Zhuang Ruo's sudden about-face was downright embarrassing.
Even he knew how to grovel?
A moment ago, Zhuang Ruo had been full of bluster, and now he was grinning from ear to ear. The transformation was astonishing.
"Brother Mo, please don't take my earlier words to heart. They weren't directed at you," Zhuang Ruo said again.
He had assumed the mystery guest was just another low-level ghost envoy.
He never imagined it would be Mo Lin.
And Mo Lin… had just killed Li San two days ago—a figure of terror.
In fact, from a certain perspective, Mo Lin had even saved Zhuang Ruo's life.
Zhuang Ruo would have to be a fool to pick a fight with someone like him.
"Wang Bing, so Brother Mo is your friend? Why didn't you say so earlier?" Zhuang Ruo's tone toward Wang Bing was now warm and courteous.
"You didn't exactly give me a chance, did you?" Wang Bing replied dryly.
Zhuang Ruo scratched his head awkwardly. "My fault, my fault."