Chapter 427: Closed‑Door Disciple

"And… he's also the closed‑door disciple of a retired state banquet master."

Cheng Shuili only learned about that heavy title not long ago; at the time Xinxue was holding a rice bowl, and the more she tasted, the more she sensed something was off.

Now Black Feather no longer has only Wan Yi as a chef; several first‑rank chefs have also been recruited.

But… the dishes they make always lack that little something compared to Wan Yi's.

Ordinary people might not even notice, but Xinxue and a few others, who eat Wan Yi's meals with Cheng Shuili every day, could be said to have their mouths literally pampered.

So under a round of "severe interrogation," Wan Yi finally confessed.

He sounded quite aggrieved when explaining, saying, "Lao Da, I didn't mean to hide it from you…"

She lowered her head then, twirling the edge of her apron with her fingers, and said, "I just feel that saying this now seems useless; we can't really make state banquet dishes for everyone, can we? That would require a ton of ingredients and seasonings…"

If Cheng Shuili had the title of closed‑door disciple of a state banquet master, she'd want to carve it on her forehead so everyone could see.

Wan Yi, on the contrary, kept it hidden.

Back to the present, when Cheng Shuili said that, the restaurant instantly filled with a chorus of stunned gasps.

Closed‑door disciple of a state banquet master?!

In the previous world, that title alone was enough to inspire awe!

No wonder… no wonder this table's dishes are so meticulously crafted, with superb flavor, every bite echoing the pinnacle techniques of the old era.

Such a meal has a far greater effect than Cheng Shuili imagined.

The cooperation is a given, and this meal also attracted a few Gu Lang food bugs; after hearing that Black Feather's members can eat these things every single time, their eyes lit up instantly, and even Qing Qing's a kiss, the leader of the Four Lone Wolves, couldn't avoid the custom.

"Can eat every single time?" Qing Qing's a kiss leaned forward slightly, those beautiful eyes sparkling under the light, "Like the level of today?"

Cheng Shuili met her gaze and nodded calmly: "Yes."

She then added leisurely, "The ingredients change daily, but with Wan Yi's skill on display, even ordinary ingredients can produce extraordinary flavors. Just like today's table, the ingredients aren't particularly rare."

She said it offhand, yet it showed even more confidence.

Chuan Tang Feng couldn't help but speak up: "Does the special invited combat force package include meals and lodging?"

He asked bluntly, his face expressionless, but the yearning in his eyes was almost spilling over.

Gu Gu Gu Maopao sat nearby, nodding wildly, eyes glued to Cheng Shuili.

Cheng Shuili smiled wryly, about to answer, when Bai Hu jumped in: "No! Wuya Lao Da, shouldn't our alliance get some food subsidy? No, no, it doesn't have to be as good as inside Black Feather. If we could get a meal like this once a week… no, once a month, I'd be satisfied! Our Little Qing Long is willing to contribute more supplies!"

Other faction leaders, though not as exaggerated as Bai Hu, also cast eager glances.

Aside from Zhan Lang Hun Bu Mie and Qing Ping Le, they are respectable people who would never bow to a trivial meal.

The two kept a calm complexion and resolute gaze, as if the intoxicating aroma of the dishes had never existed.

But upon close observation, one could see War Wolf's Adam's apple twitch imperceptibly when Cheng Shuili mentioned "every single time."

And Qing Ping Le's hands, overlapped on her knees, had fingertips unconsciously twirl lightly for a moment.

However, years of high‑position composure gave them the steadiness to suppress that instinctual yearning beneath their calm exterior.

Cheng Shuili's lips curled slightly as she scanned the crowd: "This is Black Feather's daily supply, a guarantee for our core members; it's not open to outsiders for now."

Her voice was crisp, with a hint of playful inflection, yet carried a strong sense of propriety.

It was like gently capping a candy jar—indicating the candy is sweet while also marking it as our own jar.

It satisfies everyone's cravings, yet refuses to give even a morsel away.

Gu Gu Gu Maopao immediately tugged at Qing Qing's a kiss's sleeve and whispered, "Sister Kiss, sister Kiss! Quickly ask Black Feather if they're still recruiting!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but certainly not small.

Everyone present had top‑tier attributes; upon hearing that, their gazes instantly shifted.

For a moment, aside from Cheng Shuili and Qing Qing's a kiss, all eyes were on Gu Gu Gu Maopao.

Cheng Shuili didn't know what had transpired between them, but Gu Gu Gu Maopao, at most sixteen or seventeen, was too young and timid, thus having an almost instinctive reliance on Qing Qing's a kiss.

Gu Gu Gu Maopao's voice rang especially clear in the suddenly silent restaurant.

She seemed to notice it herself, pulling her neck back, yet those round eyes still stared brightly at Qing Qing's a kiss, full of pure longing.

A longing for gourmet food, or rather, for a wonderful life like this "every single time."

Under so many gazes, Qing Qing's a kiss showed no hint of embarrassment.

She didn't rush to reply to Gu Gu Gu Maopao; instead she lifted her eyes toward Cheng Shuili on the main seat, a half‑smile curling her lips, and said in a clear voice, "Wuya Lao Da, look, this little one's will seems a bit wavering."

Cheng Shuili met her gaze, her smile unchanged, even gentler: "A wavering will sometimes shows she possesses the instinct and courage to seek a better life; that's a precious quality."

Qing Qing's a kiss was slightly startled, clearly not expecting Cheng Shuili's response.

Her eyes flickered, then she let out a light laugh, "Seems Wuya Lao Da not only attracts hearts but also knows how to speak well."

Cheng Shuili's smile remained, as if she hadn't caught the faint probing, and turned her gaze to Gu Gu Gu Maopao, speaking sincerely:

"Black Feather's gate is always open to capable, faithful partners who recognize us. However…"

She shifted tone, her voice bearing a senior‑like warmth, "Gu Gu is still young; perhaps she should observe and think more. If she ever craves something, come anytime."

Qing Qing's a kiss's eyes flashed, she said nothing more, just raised a hand and soothingly patted Gu Gu Gu Maopao's head.

Gu Gu Gu Maopao kept a pout, and only when she heard "come anytime" did her eyes brighten again.

But such matters can't be discussed in front of these leaders; even a subtle tug made the atmosphere a bit stiff.

Just as no one spoke, Chuan Tang Feng laughed and asked, "Wuya Lao Da, Gu Gu Gu is also a member of our special invited combat force; if she can eat anytime, shouldn't I as well?"

Before Cheng Shuili could speak, Qing Qing's a kiss rolled her eyes, placed a hand on Chuan Tang Feng's mouth with moderate pressure, a hint of disdain, "All you think about is eating. They're talking about a kid; how dare you crowd into the kids' group?"

Her movement was smooth and natural, with a familiar tease, instantly breaking the subtle stalemate.

Chuan Tang Feng, silenced, wasn't angry, just let out a muffled chuckle, shrugged, and said vaguely, "People need food above all… Besides, I'm also doing this to strengthen alliance ties, moving around more…"

Qing Qing's a kiss released her hand, glared at him irritably, "Your scheming can be heard even eight hundred li away."

The atmosphere revived, and Bai Hu seized the chance, rubbing his chin and laughing, "Sounds good! As special invited combat force, we need more interaction with our alliance's core members to cooperate better, right? As for the meeting spot, Black Feather's cafeteria seems perfect!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Cheng Shuili also smiled and shook her head, not taking the bait, but she didn't lock the door; she lifted the teacup and Qing Qing took a sip, her posture calm.

After the jokes, the purpose of the meal—still alliance cooperation—naturally returned the conversation to business.

The subsequent negotiations proceeded unbelievably smoothly.

With the banquet disciple's cooking and temptations comparable to a feast at every turn, finalizing many detailed clauses became unusually easy.

The alliance charter was preliminarily drafted, the cooperation intent essentially reached, awaiting further refinement and formal signing.

When the gathering ended, the setting sun had already gilded the outline of the Black Feather base's buildings with a warm golden rim.

After seeing off the last person, Cheng Shuili finally had free time.

She glanced at the now‑empty conference room; the leftover dishes and cold meat had been silently cleared, and a faint lingering scent seemed to hover in the air.

Cheng Shuili did not leave immediately.

She stood alone on the terrace, watching the lights of Black Feather base gradually ignite outside the window, like stars falling to the mortal world, outlining the contour and vitality of this newborn power.

The evening breeze slipped through the slightly open window, carrying the cool scent of night grasses and trees, dispersing the last trace of banquet fireworks clinging to her.

It was enough.

She could rest today.

Cheng Shuili stretched lazily, greeted Wan Yi, and returned to the vehicle.

The sky on the highway differed completely from the safety zone; before eight o'clock, the sky here would not grow dim, because Su Rui was still at work.

Cheng Shuili knocked on the driver's door; just as it opened, before she could speak to Su Rui, she saw Su Rui's body tense sharply, as if she had forcefully stepped on something.

A harsh metallic scraping sound instantly tore the highway's silence!

Caught off guard, Cheng Shuili's body surged forward by inertia; fortunately she reacted swiftly, bracing the doorframe with one hand to steady herself.

Outside, the blurred scenery on both sides of the road suddenly halted its flow.

The vehicle came to a complete stop with a teeth‑aching screech.

"What's happening?" Cheng Shuili furrowed her brows and immediately looked at Su Rui.

Su Rui did not answer at once.

Her hands still gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles whitening from the pressure.

She stared dead‑ahead at the empty road illuminated by the headlights, her gaze revealing a solemnity Cheng Shuili had never seen before, even… a hint of doubt.

Cheng Shuili's heart also sank.

"Ahead," Su Rui's voice was a bit hoarse; she raised her hand and pointed about fifty meters forward, "just now, something."

Cheng Shuili looked in the direction she indicated.

The asphalt reflected a cold light under the car lights, showing nothing.

"What… what?" Cheng Shuili lowered her voice, while tilting her body slightly toward the window, watching the surroundings warily.

She held her breath and listened carefully.

In the night wind on the highway, only the faint crackle of cooling metal after the engine died and a distant, indistinct low hum—whether wind or some creature—could be heard.

Sweat beads dotted Su Rui's forehead as she whispered even lower, "It looked like a person… but its movements were very strange. I saw it clearly just now; it suddenly rushed out from the roadside, lunged straight at our car's front, and then vanished."

Cheng Shuili's sharp eyes scanned the road ahead and the sparse shadows of dead trees on both sides; the highway's edges had air walls—did it burst out from there? Then lunge at the car front, and disappear?

The story sounded like a dream, yet Su Rui was always reliable, and seeing her frightened expression, Cheng Shuili also felt it must be real.

She asked, "Disappear? Was it because it moved too fast, appearing to vanish, or did it truly vanish?"

Su Rui instantly grasped the crux of the question, seized Cheng Shuili's wrist, and her voice rose sharply, "It was directly…"

Having spoken those three words, she realized the oddness of the phrasing, but after thinking of the place, she calmed down, resumed her usual tone, "It just scattered right before my eyes."

"Like smoke, or sand blown apart by wind. The moment it pounced, I could even see its face… no features, just a vague gray‑white."

Cheng Shuili grew more confused as she listened, not rushing to a conclusion, but furrowing her brows, recalling everything that had just happened.

If Su Rui saw this "ghostly silhouette" at the instant of braking, Cheng Shuili should have already opened the door then; meaning, if the thing truly existed, she should have seen it too.

Of course, it's also possible Cheng Shuili was sideways opening the door, her attention not fully on the road ahead.

When she recovered from the sudden stop and steadied herself to look at Su Rui, Su Rui had already finished saying there was something.

She happened not to have witnessed it herself.

Both explanations make sense; Cheng Shuili could not work out a reason.

She furrowed her brows, patted Su Rui's shoulder soothingly, and said, "If it's some monster, we'll kill it, don't be afraid."

The driver's cabin was quiet; after a while, Su Rui murmured, "Afraid?"

She seemed scorched by the word, turned sharply, and said, "Lao Da! Do you remember those seemingly normal videos on the internet that, when you're watching intently, suddenly jump out a ghost face?"

Cheng Shuili nodded; she had also been online in a past life, so she understood.

Seeing her calm reaction, Su Rui grew a bit urgent, "Don't you think the two things are similar? Both appear when you're focused, both are terrifying when they suddenly show up."

Cheng Shuili understood, yet still felt puzzled.

Su Rui meant someone used some prop or another method to scare Su Rui with this tactic?

No, the one being scared wasn't Su Rui, but the driver of this vehicle.

This thing was heading straight for Cheng Shuili.