You promised steampunk martial arts, but you've got an internal combustion engine in your chest

Chapter 64 Zhiyao

Baili Jing returned to the banquet with an air of superiority, completely oblivious to the stunned expressions of those around him.

Everyone looked at him with a deep sense of awe.

Baili Jing ignored them, grabbed a bowl of water, and started rinsing his mouth frantically.

Although he could burn all those disgusting medicinal dishes to ashes, some of the taste would still linger in his mouth. How could he eat or drink with that stuff still lingering in his mouth?

Baili Jing grabbed another cup of wine and took a sip, feeling the wicked taste in his mouth dissipate. He then chuckled and said, "Brother Huang, before you ask me, shouldn't you tell me the truth first? Why are you all so afraid of her? Even Ding Laosan, that ruthless killer, is like a mouse seeing a cat when he sees her."

Huang Qixiu's face stiffened, looking very troubled. He stroked his beard and stammered, "This—Brother Baili, this is really hard to say. If Miss Zhiyao finds out that I've been gossiping about her outside, the consequences—will be very serious."

Baili Jing scoffed, "What's the big deal? All she knows is how to make some disgusting medicinal dishes. What, did she feed you that stuff herself?"

Upon hearing the words "disgusting medicinal cuisine," Huang Qixiu was clearly triggered by some horrific memory, his face contorting: "So what's called? Making disgusting medicinal cuisine? Brother Baili, do you know how terrifying that stuff is?! It's not something a human could possibly swallow!"

Baili Jing understood. Judging from this, this prefect must have suffered a lot in the past.

He chuckled: "Of course I know. If I didn't know, how could I convince her?"

"You—you know?!"

Huang Qixiu gasped; he had guessed it.

He trembled as he gave a thumbs-up, his voice shaking: "You—you ate all of Zhiyao's medicinal food? And you're still alive, and you didn't vomit? Brother Baili, today I finally understand what a true young hero is!"

"Alright, that's enough of that."

Baili Jing said smugly, "Now you can tell me, why are you all so afraid of her?"

Huang Qixiu smiled bitterly: "Since you've experienced it firsthand, you should be able to guess a bit. Miss Zhiyao has a strange personality, is very petty, and holds grudges. In Shanghai, if anyone offends her or displeases her, she always finds a way to put something in our food."

"The key point is, it wasn't poisoning! If it were poisoning, the law would have dealt with her immediately. What she used were all highly nutritious tonics."

Expensive, supposedly health-boosting medicinal cuisine! Everyone in Shanghai who's dealt with her has fallen victim to her tricks. And after you eat it, you genuinely feel better, yet you can't cause her any trouble; you can only swallow your pride and bear it!

Baili Jing imagined the scene in his mind:

One day, after a hard day's work, you bought a steaming hot meat bun on your way home, ready to enjoy it. But when you took a bite, a dark purple filling burst out, making you feel utterly disgusted.

After vomiting up that indescribable lump, you look up and see a ghostly woman peeking out the window, half her face visible, giving you a sinister, eerie smile.

Thinking of this, he shuddered.

Huang Qixiu sighed and continued, "However, if she only knew how to cook strange dishes, there would always be hot-tempered and unreasonable people in Shanghai who would cause her trouble. But unfortunately—"

She is also the granddaughter of the head of your canal gang.

Baili Jing was taken aback at first, then sneered: "I knew it. She dares to be so arrogant. She must have a powerful backer. She must be someone with status."

"No, Brother Baili, you've misunderstood."

However, Huang Qixiu shook his head, his expression becoming somewhat complicated: "She and Old Madam Jin are not blood-related granddaughters. Miss Zhiyao's identity is ten times more troublesome than that of a blood-related granddaughter."

Baili Jing put down his wine glass, somewhat confused, and frowned: "What do you mean?"

Huang Qixiu lowered his voice and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "When your boss was young, she was a soldier and worked as a military mechanic. It is said that she had a very close comrade-in-arms who saved her life and helped her countless times, which is why she was able to come back alive from the battlefield. Later, your boss's comrade-in-arms also died on the battlefield."

"Zhiyao is the granddaughter of that comrade-in-arms. Your boss can be ruthless to everyone, but he owes a debt to this comrade-in-arms. So, starting with Zhiyao's father's generation, they were all raised by your boss."

"The debts of gratitude and indebtedness involved here are far heavier than those owed to an ordinary blood relative's granddaughter."

Baili Jing suddenly realized.

If it's your own granddaughter who's too naughty, then you don't feel any psychological burden when disciplining her.

But Zhiyao is the descendant of his savior. Every time the chief sees this girl, he can't help but think of that comrade-in-arms from back then. How could he bear to hit or scold her? Naturally, he would treat her like a precious gem.

Over time, Zhiyao was spoiled into this state.

The two continued to gossip and clink glasses.

As they were drinking, suddenly, a hand gently patted Baili Jing's shoulder from behind.

Baili Jing turned around and paused for a moment.

Standing behind him was a woman, but he didn't recognize her.

The woman wore an elegant moon-blue long dress, and her long, black hair was combed so smoothly it was like a mirror, reflecting a face that was as white as snow and exquisitely beautiful.

She lowered her eyes slightly, her hands folded in front of her, her posture was very obedient, but her expression was very serious.

Baili Jing blinked.

Where did this strikingly beautiful and reserved lady from a prominent family come from? She is indeed quite pretty, but what brings her here to see me?

Before Baili Jing could even ask a question, Huang Qixiu stood up abruptly as if he had seen a ghost.

He cupped his hands in a respectful greeting to the woman in the white dress, his tone extremely polite: "Oh dear, Miss Zhiyao, what brings you back again?"

"What?!"

Baili Jing was shocked: "You're Zhiyao?!"

This appearance, this aura... is it the same person as that female ghost from before?!

Zhiyao ignored him, instead lowering her head, a smirk playing on her lips, her eyes rolling back to reveal a sinister, ghostly smile: "Hehehe—Lord Huang, from what you're saying, you've just seen me?"

When she put on that familiar terrifying expression, Baili Jing actually breathed a sigh of relief.

That's right.

Huang Qixiu's face turned pale instantly when he was asked this question.

He waved his hands repeatedly, "Slip of the tongue! Slip of the tongue, Miss Zhiyao! I was just drunk and my eyes were playing tricks on me! I've never seen you before, I haven't seen you at all today!!"

How could he dare admit that he had just witnessed Zhiyao kneeling and kowtowing?

If this old lady's fig leaf is torn off, will I ever be able to eat in peace again?!

Zhiyao nodded in satisfaction, her expression returning to normal.

Then, she turned to Baili Jing and said calmly, "Master, we've had enough to drink. Come with me to Jiangshan Fengyu Tower."

Baili Jing was somewhat confused: "Going to Fengyu Tower now? What's wrong?"

Zhiyao took out a business contract from her sleeve and handed it over: "You're the owner of the restaurant now, it's time to open and do business, aren't you going to take a look?"

Baili Jing didn't take it seriously: "I've only drunk half of this wine, how can I just leave like this? Besides, the restaurant has been operating the way it always has, so why not just continue operating as usual? It's not too late for me to go over and check the accounts and get to know the people after I finish this banquet, is it?"

"The past is the past, the present is the present."

Zhiyao calmly said, "According to the rules of Jiangshan Fengyulou, once the restaurant changes hands, it cannot open for business unless the new owner personally gives the order."

"Zhou Lao Er previously booked the entire Fengyulou Restaurant for three days to put on a grand opera. But since the restaurant has been transferred to you, and you haven't given the word, it's closed today!"

She respectfully reported to the leader, "Right now, the famous opera singers and everyone in the city who wants to see a free performance are all stuck at the restaurant's entrance!"

Baili Jing was shocked: "What! You're only telling me about something this big now!"