The Spirit of Gourmet

Chapter 476 Chef Zhao
For the next few hours, Qin Lang and his team kept watch near Wang Lixuan's house, hoping to wait for him to come out and look for new clues.

Unfortunately, Wang Lixuan never came out after entering the house. It wasn't until the moon was high in the sky and night was falling that Qin Lang and his two companions, exhausted and hungry, had to temporarily abandon their plan to follow him.

"Let's go back first, I'm starving." Cao Dongdong rubbed his empty stomach and couldn't help but sigh.

"Okay." Qin Lang nodded, then suddenly remembered something and said, "Let's not go back to the hotel yet."

"Let's go straight to Hai Sheng Yan Restaurant."

"That works too." Knowing that Qin Lang might have other things to investigate, Cao Dongdong and Zhao Qian naturally had no objections.

The three of them took a taxi straight to Hai Sheng Yan Restaurant, and also picked up Tang Yu, who hadn't had dinner yet. When they arrived at the restaurant, Tang Yu had already been waiting at her seat for a while.

"You're here." Tang Yu looked up at Qin Lang and the other two, then casually handed them a menu. "Let's order first."

"Mine is already ordered."

"Okay." Qin Lang took the menu and, without any hesitation, quickly ordered several signature dishes that he hadn't tried yesterday. Then he handed the menu to the waiter beside him, "That's all, please hurry."

After the waiter left, Tang Yu couldn't help but ask, "Did you find anything while you were investigating Zhen Ling today?"

"Yes, and quite a few." Qin Lang handed the metal fragment that Zhao Qian had found to Tang Yu and first recounted his experience with Xu Wei.

“It is indeed the Rare Animal Hunting Team.” Tang Yu glanced at it and recognized the familiar symbol. “With the Rare Animal Hunting Team involved, and three days having passed, that rare spirit is in great danger.”

“That’s what I’m worried about too.” Qin Lang nodded. “Besides that, we’ve made other discoveries.”

He then recounted what he and his companions had discovered in the industrial area.

After listening, Tang Yu's brows gradually furrowed.

"That rare spirit actually went near Wang Lixuan's house?"

As a former member of the public security management team, Tang Yu instantly sensed a different meaning in this seemingly coincidental situation.

“What you heard from Wang Lixuan’s call is also very important,” Tang Yu said softly. “First of all, we can confirm that the problem with Haibawang Restaurant is directly related to Wang Lixuan.”

"Secondly, the mastermind bribed Wang Lixuan with some kind of benefit, but failed to deliver on the promise after Wang Lixuan left Haibawang."

At this point, Tang Yu glanced around.

Although there is no direct evidence yet to prove that this is related to Hai Sheng Yan Restaurant, people are already quite certain.

"Have you ever considered this question?" Tang Yu paused for a moment, "What is the connection between the mastermind behind this and the Treasure Hunting Team?"

Upon hearing this question, Qin Lang couldn't help but widen his eyes.

Hai Sheng Yan Restaurant and... the Treasure Hunting Team?

He hadn't actually connected the two.

However, as Tang Yu sorted through the information, he also discovered areas he had overlooked.

At the first scene where Zhenling appeared, there were fragments of the Zhenling hunting team's tokens, while at the second scene where Zhenling appeared, it was near Wang Lixuan's house!

This suggests that the Hai Sheng Yan Restaurant may be connected to the Rare Animal Hunting Team.

Upon closer reflection, the way Hai Sheng Yan Restaurant dealt with Yu Zhi Wei Restaurant when it was in Yuehu City is exactly the same as the way it is dealing with Hai Ba Wang Restaurant now. Both methods involve cutting off the supply channels of high-quality ingredients first, and then using the supply channels to coerce the opponent and force them to submit.

And this attempt to monopolize high-quality ingredients...

Their goal is exactly the same as that of the treasure hunting team!
"Could it be that the Sea Feast was run by the Rare Treasure Hunting Team?" Cao Dongdong asked in a low voice.

"It shouldn't be that bad." Qin Lang shook his head. "The Treasure Hunting Team wouldn't be so blatant, especially since the Mingjing Prefecture Association is already cracking down on them." "The Treasure Hunting Team can't be behind the Sea Feast."

"But there might really be some connection between the two." Qin Lang frowned, feeling that the more he dug, the deeper the hidden story became.

"Your food is here, please enjoy!"

The waiter served the dishes at just the right moment, interrupting Qin Lang's thoughts.

Looking at the delicious-looking dishes in front of him, Qin Lang's already empty stomach suddenly reacted, and his mind went blank for a moment.

After a whirlwind of activity, Qin Lang leaned back in his chair with satisfaction, patting his slightly swollen belly.

The dishes at Hai Sheng Yan today are as delicious as ever.

Qin Lang could tell that this dish was made by the same person as the one they had tasted yesterday.

This also seemed to give Qin Lang some new ideas.

If we can't find a way to get to Wang Lixuan for the time being...

Can we turn our attention back to Hai Sheng Yan Restaurant and identify the chef behind it?

Thinking of this, Qin Lang waved to the waiter not far away, signaling him to come over, and then spoke with a smile.

"We are very satisfied with the dishes served at Haisheng Banquet today."

"It is our honor to satisfy our guests," the waiter said respectfully, with a perfectly appropriate smile on his face.

"The chef who can cook such dishes must be a very skilled spirit chef, right?" Qin Lang asked casually.

"Of course." The waiter nodded with a smile, his tone tinged with pride. "Chef Zhao was recruited from elsewhere by our boss at great expense, and his skills can withstand the test of our customers."

"Chef Zhao?" Qin Lang looked curious. "Chef Zhao's culinary skills are so superb, he can't be an unknown figure, right? Could you tell me his full name?"

“This…” The waiter’s smile froze. “I’m so sorry, sir, but our restaurant policy prohibits us from revealing information about the head chef.”

"Therefore, I cannot answer this question."

"Alright then." Seeing the other person's determined expression, Qin Lang knew that no matter how much he asked, he wouldn't get any other answers.

Knowing that the head chef's surname is Zhao is still a valuable lesson.

They got up and left the restaurant, the four of them heading back to the hotel along the beach.

Halfway there, Qin Lang's phone suddenly rang.

He picked up his phone and glanced at it, a look of surprise on his face.

"It was Song Yu who called."

"Maybe Song Yu found out some information!" Cao Dongdong, who had been feeling discouraged by the lack of new leads, perked up. "Quick, answer it!"

"Okay." Qin Lang nodded, answered the call, and pressed the speakerphone button.

"Mr. Qin Lang, I questioned quite a few people in the kitchen today and found out some things about Wang Lixuan." Song Yu's respectful voice came from the other end of the phone. "Wang Lixuan has a fellow disciple..."

"Is that junior brother surnamed Zhao?" Qin Lang suddenly interrupted him, asking in a slightly hurried tone.

"Yes, Mr. Qin Lang."

(End of this chapter)