One person: Senior brother Zhang Zhiwei, the Celestial Master begged me to descend the mountain.

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

The large canteen at Longhu Mountain was already bustling with activity.

The ordeal last night didn't leave these superhumans feeling tired; on the contrary, the surge of adrenaline left them all starving.

In a corner of the cafeteria, Zhang Chulan, sporting two enormous dark circles under his eyes, was listlessly stuffing a meat bun bigger than his face into his mouth.

Last night's ordeal was quite something; only someone with his physical condition could pull it off. Anyone else would probably still be lying in bed moaning.

"Sister Bao'er, could you save some pickled vegetables for me..."

Zhang Chulan hummed weakly, looking at Feng Baobao who was working hard opposite him.

In front of Feng Baobao was a mountain of steamed buns, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster's. When she heard Zhang Chulan's words, she simply looked up and blinked her big, innocent eyes twice, then reached out and carefully protected the dish of pickled vegetables in her arms.

"No."

Feng Baobao mumbled two words and continued to eat heartily with her head down.

Xu San and Xu Si sat to the side, looking exhausted, and were sipping soy milk in a half-hearted manner.

Just then.

The previously noisy crowd at the entrance of the cafeteria instantly fell silent.

Immediately afterwards, a series of loud, screeching sounds of tables and chairs being moved rang out.

The originally crowded passageway was instantly transformed into a wide road.

All the Taoist priests, whether they were queuing or eating, stood up in unison and bowed in the direction of the door.

"Good morning, sir!"

Good morning, Master!

Respectful greetings rose and fell, converging into a wave of sound.

Zhang Chulan was startled by the noise and almost dropped the bun in his hand. He quickly turned his head to look.

At the entrance, the old Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei was pushing Tian Jinzhong's wheelchair, walking in with a kind expression.

Beside them followed a young Taoist priest wearing a tattered robe, his hands tucked into his sleeves, walking unsteadily.

As soon as the Taoist priest entered the room, his half-closed, dead-fish eyes immediately widened.

Its nose, like a dog's, sniffed the air twice.

"It smells so good!"

Zhang Taichu swallowed hard, his gaze sweeping over the steaming windows in the cafeteria before finally settling on Zhang Chulan's hand.

To be precise, it landed on the large steamed bun in his hand that he had just taken a bite of, revealing the oozing, oily meat filling.

Zhang Chulan felt a chill run down his back, and the hairs on his body instantly stood on end.

next second.

Swish!

A blur flashed past his eyes.

Immediately afterwards, I felt a lightness in my hand.

The large meat bun that was originally in my hand vanished into thin air.

"Um……"

"Not bad, not bad."

"The minced meat is chopped to a good chewy texture, and the chopped green onions are just right. It's just a little bit salty, but that doesn't detract from its overall excellence."

"this……"

Zhang Chulan looked at his empty hands, then at Zhang Taichu who was eating heartily.

My head is buzzing.

What the hell is this?

A highly respected master?

Snatching a bun that someone else has already bitten into?

"What are you looking at?"

Zhang Taichu stuffed the remaining half of the bun into his mouth in a few bites, and gave Zhang Chulan a glare that he couldn't quite make out:

"Never seen a handsome guy eat before?"

Or perhaps...

He put his oily fingers in his mouth and sucked on them, making a loud sucking sound.

"You want me to give it back to you?"

"That won't do. Once something goes into Master Dao's stomach, it belongs to Master Dao."

Zhang Chulan's lips twitched violently.

Give it back to me?

You've already eaten it, what am I supposed to say?

Even though I, Zhang Chulan, am shameless, I wouldn't stoop so low as to steal food from other people's stomachs!

"No...senpai..."

Zhang Chulan hesitated for a long time before finally managing to utter a sentence:

"That's... the one I bit..."

"cut."

Zhang Taichu rolled his eyes, his face full of disdain:

"There are quite a few things to consider."

"You should be grateful to have anything to eat. I used to gnaw on tree bark and grass roots, why would I care about your saliva?"

After saying that, he ignored Zhang Chulan and turned around to wave at Zhang Zhiwei, who was standing not far away with a helpless expression.

"Old Zhang!"

"Over here, over here!"

"Hurry up and get me a bowl of tofu pudding!"

"Remember, it has to be sweet!"

"Give me double the sugar! If it's too bland, I'll pluck out every single hair on your beard and soak them in water to drink!"

Upon hearing this, all the Taoist priests in the entire canteen were speechless.

They all stared wide-eyed at Zhang Taichu as if they had seen a ghost.

Who is this person?

How dare you speak to the Celestial Master like that?

Should we call him Old Master Zhang?

They even want to pluck the old Celestial Master's beard?

Is this someone who's tired of living and wants to book a VIP passage for reincarnation in advance?

Immediately afterwards, we saw Zhang Zhiwei, the usually dignified and solemn old Celestial Master who led the Zhengyi sect.

A fawning smile even appeared on his face.

"Okay!"

"Junior brother, please wait a moment, I'll be right there."

"Double candy, right? No problem!"

Done.

Under the gaze of hundreds of blank stares.

The old celestial master straightened his robes and scurried over to the tofu pudding window.

"Aunt Liu, a bowl of tofu pudding, please."

"Um... give me more sugar, this spoon isn't enough, give me two more spoonfuls."

Aunt Liu, who was in charge of serving food at the window, dropped her spoon into the bucket with a clatter.

She shakily raised her head and looked at the old Taoist master in front of her, who was smiling like a chrysanthemum.

"Heavens... Celestial Master..."

"You...you are...?"

"Hey, stop shaking!"

Zhang Zhiwei urged anxiously:

"Hurry up, my junior brother is hungry. If we're late, he'll start yelling at us again."

Aunt Liu mechanically picked up the spoon, mechanically scooped out a bowl of tofu pudding, and mechanically poured in half a jar of white sugar.

Until Zhang Zhiwei left with the bowl.

She was still in a daze.

Was what just happened an illusion?

It must be a hallucination!

Zhang Zhiwei carefully made his way through the crowd, carrying a full bowl of tofu pudding that was even overflowing.

The disciples who were originally blocking the way were so frightened that they quickly dodged to the sides, afraid of spilling the bowl of tofu pudding.

"Junior brother, come here."

Zhang Zhiwei walked to the table, gently placed the tofu pudding in front of Zhang Taichu, and thoughtfully handed him a spoon.

"It's fresh out of the pot, still hot."

"I added extra sugar, try it and see if it suits your taste?"

Zhang Taichu didn't even glance at him.

He picked up the spoon, scooped up a big mouthful, and put it in his mouth.

"Hiss—ha—"

The piping hot tofu pudding slid down my throat.

Zhang Taichu squinted comfortably, his feet still dangling under the stool.

"Hmm, it's alright."

"It's barely edible."

"It's still a bit lacking compared to what my master made back then."

Zhang Zhiwei stood to the side with a forced smile:

"That's right, that's right. Master's skills are unparalleled. Who can compare?"

"Junior brother, just eat this for now, I'll try to get you something better for lunch."

Not long after.

Zhang Taichu had already devoured a bowl of tofu pudding in a flash, and then casually stole four meat buns from the steamer next to him.

They ate with such gusto that their mouths were dripping with oil.

Tian Jinzhong, who was standing nearby, was also eating breakfast while being served by Zhang Zhiwei.

Watching Zhang Taichu devour his meal, the elderly man in his wheelchair beamed with joy.

"Eat slowly, eat slowly."

"Nobody's going to take it from you."

Tian Jinzhong said with a smile, his eyes crinkling with happiness.

how many years.

Since the Jia Shen Rebellion, since the passing of my master, and since the separation of my fellow disciples.

Rongku Pavilion and Longhu Mountain have never been so lively before.

This feeling of being protected by your senior brother, even if you get scolded a couple of times.

so good.

"belch--"

Zhang Taichu finally put down his chopsticks.

He let out a loud, unseemly burp.

Then, he extended his little finger and, in front of everyone, began picking his teeth as if no one else was around.

"That feels good."

He patted his slightly bulging belly and leaned lazily back in his chair.

"Alright, Lao Zhang."

Zhang Taichu glanced at Zhang Zhiwei, who was standing to the side like a waiter:

"Don't just stand there like an idiot."

"Hurry up and eat your food, you look disgusting."

Zhang Zhiwei was not annoyed.

Hearing this, he chuckled and pulled over a stool to sit down.

The moment his butt touched the stool.

His previously playful expression vanished completely in an instant.

An indescribable aura emanated from the old man.

The disciples who had been whispering and peeking at each other suddenly felt an overwhelming pressure.

The entire cafeteria fell silent in that instant.

Zhang Zhiwei slowly stood up.

He first straightened his collar, which had been ruffled by the wind.

Then he straightened the Taoist hat on his head.

Slowly raise both hands and fold them in front of you.

Then he turned around and faced Zhang Taichu, who was still picking his teeth.

He bent over, bowed his head, and gave a deep bow.

That bow was extremely deep and solemn.

It was as if he wanted to pour out all the longing, guilt, and gratitude of the past few decades into this one night.

"Junior brother."

Zhang Zhiwei's voice was deep and resonant, echoing in the quiet cafeteria, each word seeming to strike the hearts of everyone present:

"You must have had a hard night."

"Zhang Zhiwei of Longhu Mountain".

"Welcome, junior brother..."

"go home!"