The Spirit of Gourmet

Chapter 511 Reunion with Mengchang
"Captain Lin, just now..."

After hanging up the phone, Qin Lang turned his gaze to Lin Ping, who was standing to the side.

Just now, Lin Ping prompted him in writing to reveal to Meng Chang over the phone that he possessed a rare spirit. Trusting Lin Ping, Qin Lang chose to cooperate.

However, he has not yet figured out Lin Ping's intentions.

"This is a plan that suddenly came to my mind," Lin Ping explained with a smile. "As we just discussed, if we make contact with the treasure hunting team like this, even if everything goes smoothly and we are not exposed, they will only accept us after they relocate their base."

“But if the base is moved, then everything will become more unpredictable, so…” Lin Ping paused slightly, “we must find a way to force the other side to reveal the location of the base to you.”

“I’ve come up with a plan: the security team will cooperate with you to create a very urgent situation when you meet with Meng Chang.”

Lin Ping paused for a moment, then said, "Under these circumstances, Meng Chang must return to the hunting team's base as soon as possible. The only problem is that we need to find a way to get you to come with them when they return to the base."

"So you want me to reveal that I possess a rare spirit?" Qin Lang asked thoughtfully.

“Yes.” Lin Ping nodded. “The main goal of the Treasure Hunting Team is to collect and control all the rare spirits in the world, thereby completely monopolizing rare ingredients.”

“Zhenling is a bargaining chip that the other party cannot refuse.”

“In an emergency, considering Zhenling, the other party will most likely take you with them.” Lin Ping paused slightly. “Once you successfully enter the base, we will have a way to locate your position.”

"In this way, the hunting team's base will be exposed."

“Besides…” Lin Ping changed the subject, “You have a precious spirit, which can also guarantee your safety to a certain extent.”

"After all, the precious spirit is temporarily contained within the star vein, so apart from the Spirit Chef himself, no one else can take it out."

"I understand!" Cao Dongdong slammed his fist down. "That way, the other party won't harm Qin Lang in order to obtain that rare spirit!"

The others also showed expressions of excitement.

That sounds like a good idea indeed.

"We still need to refine the specifics of how to cooperate," Lin Ping paused slightly, "When is the assessment scheduled?"

"Four hours from now, the location is in the East District." Qin Lang glanced at the assessment time and location sent by Meng Chang and quickly replied.

"Four hours..." Lin Ping pondered for a moment.

"In terms of time, there is still enough time."
-
"No. 102 Dongcheng Street..."

Using the address sent by Meng Chang, Qin Lang quickly found a coffee shop. In a window seat, he immediately spotted that familiar figure.

Meng Chang was sitting in the coffee shop.

Unlike before, there were no detours; they appeared directly at the first agreed-upon location, which surprised Qin Lang.

He took a deep breath, pushed open the coffee shop door, and strode up to Mon Sheong.

"You've arrived?" Meng Chang looked up slightly at Qin Lang, a gentle smile on his face, and gestured to the seat opposite him, "Please sit down."

"The jasmine tea coffee at this coffee shop is really good, would you like to try it?"

"A drink, please." Qin Lang nodded and sat down. Remembering his discussion with Lin Ping before coming, he adopted a somewhat eager tone, "Mr. Mengchang, may I ask what my assessment will be this time?"

"Young man, don't be so impatient," Meng Chang said with a smile, taking a sip of his coffee before speaking slowly.

"Are you keen to join a mutual aid organization?"

"Of course!" Qin Lang raised his voice a few decibels and said without hesitation, "What I lack now is a channel to exchange rare ingredients for other rare ingredients."

“I was born into an ordinary family with no background or connections. I’ve rarely had the opportunity to meet a Spirit Chef who has access to rare ingredients.” As he said this, Qin Lang’s eyes filled with longing and anticipation. “If I could obtain other rare ingredients, my dishes would definitely be even more delicious.”

“Yes, who wouldn’t want to have more rare ingredients?” Meng Chang gently put down his coffee cup. “This is a treasure bestowed upon the Imperial Chef by the world.”

"But unfortunately, most of the treasures are controlled by a few people."

"this…"

Qin Lang hesitated, "Mr. Mengchang, you mean..."

"It's the association." Meng Chang lowered his voice slightly.

“Each city’s Spirit Chef Association possesses several rare spirits, which they use to continuously obtain high-quality ingredients.”

"If we look at the entire Dongyun region, what an enormous number of rare spirits that would be!" Meng Chang paused here, "Unfortunately, even with such a huge number of rare spirits, they are unwilling to sell precious ingredients to ordinary people."

Qin Lang couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

In the past, he might have been fooled by Meng Chang, but now, having had more contact with the Spirit Chef Association, he has gained a certain understanding of how the association manages and treats precious spirits.

The value of rare spirits goes far beyond providing premium ingredients. They can also enhance the quality of similar ingredients. This improvement in quality due to the influence of rare spirits is temporary. However, if the improved ingredients are combined with ordinary ingredients, the enhanced quality can be gradually solidified through generations of cultivation.

More than half of the top-quality ingredients currently circulating in the market have been improved in this way, meaning that they all bear the mark of rare and precious ingredients.

The association's goal in managing and cultivating more types and higher quality ingredients has always been to cultivate rare spirits. This approach, which causes almost no harm to rare spirits, is the true win-win and sustainable development.

Throughout his travels, Qin Lang encountered many food enthusiasts who were involved in the cultivation of high-quality ingredients, and this was for the same reason.

The reason why the association has a large number of rare spirits but refuses to sell its rare ingredients is that the association itself does not have many rare ingredients.

Not everyone possesses the Traveler's Book, and only the precious spirits within it can continuously provide ingredients without harming themselves.

Therefore, Meng Chang's statement is a complete fallacy of misrepresentation.

Of course, Qin Lang still had to cooperate with the other party on the surface.

"Really?" He widened his eyes, revealing a somewhat displeased expression. "Then the association is really too selfish."

"Hehe." Having successfully provoked Qin Lang's dissatisfaction with the association, a hint of a smile flashed in Meng Chang's eyes. "That's why we need to establish mutual aid organizations, isn't it?"

"I believe you will soon be one of us."

(End of this chapter)