Chapter 2530: The Old Man Had Figured It Out

Looking at this celestial official with an expectant face, whose eyes' light couldn't be concealed, Zhao Lao gritted his teeth and shouted.

"What were you just doing? Why didn't you come earlier?"

"Ah???"

Hearing this, the celestial official was visibly startled, wondering what this meant? Was he blaming himself for being late? Nevertheless, he answered truthfully.

"I…… I just went out for a stroll."

"Why the hell are you wandering around for no reason?"

Hearing this, Zhao Lao couldn't help but curse: you said you'd come, just come directly, why the hell are you wandering around for no reason, aren't you just idle?

Now it's fine, the ingredients are again my responsibility, damn it.

He was furious inside, but before Zhao Lao could speak, a knocking sounded outside the Fire Room, and then a figure flashed in.

"Hehe, I knew you'd be here."

"Hey, Huang, you……"

The person who came this time was Huang Lao; he had no Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon ingredients on him, but he had experience.

From the Immortal Realm all the way to Beyond the Heavens, speaking solely of experience in snatching food, Huang Lao's experience far surpasses that of Zhao Lao and these celestial officials.

Earlier, seeing those few people's shifty eyes, it was obvious they had guilty consciences.

They must be hiding ingredients on them; thinking about how each of these guys harbors ulterior motives, they're likely to come back for seconds.

As it turns out, my guess was correct.

Upon seeing the newly appeared Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon ingredients, Huang Lao couldn't help but grin.

Although Huang Lao laughed, Zhao Lao was unhappy, feeling inexplicably that he had been figured out.

Who is he? He's the Vice Palace Master of the Heavenly Palace; Huang Lao and the others are mere juniors before him, and now these little brats have figured him out?

Indeed, the facts prove it so; not long after, the Fire Room became lively again.

The original crew gathered again, everyone came back for seconds, though they didn't expect to go together.

Amid everyone's expectant gazes, the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon ingredient that Zhao Lao produced was naturally divided again.

Although Zhao Lao still took the lion's share, he was still unhappy.

Damn, we've had two meals tonight, but both times the ingredients were his; what gives?

Still, it was a whirlwind; this time, regarding Zhao Lao's eating speed, everyone was noticeably more calm.

Moreover, after eating two big bowls, he was actually quite satisfied.

One could say they were full of food and drink, so they suggested heading back.

"Let's go, let's go, it's not early anymore."

"Right, we still have to rush tomorrow."

"I'm leaving too."

Just like before, the crowd left one after another, and Zhao Lao didn't show any reaction.

But after leaving the Fire Room, Zhao Lao secretly speculated.

These bastards only ate two bowls; probably not enough, I'd guess they'll have to come back for seconds.

After having two Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon ingredients eaten in a row, not eating one back, Zhao Lao felt stifled.

So, after pretending to leave, not long after, Zhao Lao came back.

Ye Zhangqing, who was about to return to his room, saw Zhao Lao returning again and stared blankly.

"Senior, what's this?"

Facing Ye Zhangqing's question, Zhao Lao wore a wise expression and smiled.

"I predicted that those guys would definitely come back for seconds, so I'm waiting here for them."

His words were full of confidence, but after hearing them, Ye Zhangqing looked strange.

Just now I didn't receive any sound transmission; who's coming back for seconds?

Helplessly explaining it to Zhao Lao over and over, he still wouldn't believe anything, convinced as he was that they would definitely come back for seconds, refusing to leave no matter what.

Helpless, Ye Zhangqing could only bid farewell and leave.

"Senior, you'll wait here? I'm going back to rest."

"Fine, I'll wait here for them, get the ingredients, and you, kid, come handle them tomorrow."

"Okay."

Ye Zhangqing didn't say more, and directly returned to his room, leaving only Zhao Lao alone in the Fire Room waiting.

Afterward, no one came to disturb him anymore.

Ye Zhangqing slept soundly; after waking up and washing up, he leisurely went to the Fire Room to check the situation.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw Zhao Lao with a dark, grim face, black as a pot bottom.

Seeing Zhao Lao still sitting alone in the Fire Room, Ye Zhangqing was suspicious.

"Senior, you didn't leave all night?"

"Yeah."

"And the others……"

When mentioning the others, Zhao Lao instantly flew into a rage, his teeth grinding.

"Damn, who knows where these bastards went; what about the promised seconds?"

Zhao Lao was truly angry; he had figured those guys would definitely come back for seconds, so he came early to wait in the Fire Room.

But after sitting alone all night, he didn't see a single person; those bastards didn't know where they went, and they didn't show up all night.

Seeing Zhao Lao filled with deep resentment, Ye Zhangqing didn't ask further, silently closing his mouth.

I had reminded him yesterday, but he just put on a look of having victory in hand and refused to listen.

All night long, not a single person was seen; in the end, Zhao Lao could only leave, resentful.

But he was thinking that tonight, no matter what, he would have to eat everyone's fill heartily.

He thought he would wait until tonight to come later, wait for them to bring out the ingredients first, then come up and eat.

Zhao Lao was thinking that, and when night fell, Huang Lao, the Heavenly Family Ancestor, Miao Cuiflower, and the five Heavenly Officials arrived; this time Bai Le and Xu Jie also came.

But after everyone had gathered, Zhao Lao was nowhere to be seen, and a Heavenly Official asked strangely.

"Hey, where's the Palace Master? He used to be the most enthusiastic—why isn't he here tonight?"

"Perhaps he's tied up with something."

"Then there's nothing we can do—let's eat ourselves."

Everyone was still puzzled; Zhao Lao, who was usually the most eager to eat, hadn't shown up today—really strange.

Finally, after discussion, one of the Heavenly Officials contributed the extraterrestrial heavenly demon ingredient from his own person.

Tomorrow night, let another person provide the ingredients, and so on.

Anyway, when the time comes we'll all eat together, so it's not a loss.

Otherwise, if nobody brings out ingredients, then nobody will have anything to eat.

As for these matters, Ye Zhangqing naturally doesn't care; who takes the ingredients and how they're divided is up to everyone themselves.

Anyway, Ye Zhangqing truly has no extraterrestrial heavenly demon ingredient left; he used them all up when he hosted the Heavenly Family, Wushen Palace, and the people of Cooking King Immortal City in the Immortal City Beyond the Heavens.

Finally, one of the Heavenly Officials took out his own ingredient, and Ye Zhangqing also began cooking.

I had thought Zhao Lao would come rushing in the meantime, but after Ye Zhangqing finished cooking, there was still no sign of him.

Afterwards, everyone naturally couldn't wait; after quickly dividing it up, they began to feast heartily.

One extraterrestrial heavenly demon ingredient—everyone wolfed it down, and before long it was completely gone.

After finishing, Zhao Lao was still nowhere to be seen, and everyone couldn't help but feel suspicious.

"Tonight is really strange—the Palace Master actually didn't come."

"I've eaten and drunk my fill; I'll be heading back."

"I'm heading back too; we'll continue tomorrow night."

"Then let's go together."