Wait a minute, where is my master?

Hearing footsteps, Jin Xu stopped his conversation with the Ancestor of the Immortal Palace.

Looking up toward the door, he saw Housekeeper Zhang stepping over the threshold and walking into the hall.

Outside the threshold, the dim silhouettes of Yixiang Building's proprietress and her entourage could be seen.

"Uncle, the Yixiang Building has delivered our lunch. Would you like to eat now, or shall we wait a bit longer?"

Housekeeper Zhang stepped up to the Taoist, bowed, and asked for instructions.

Hearing this, Jin Xu's gaze swept across the table where two women, upon hearing the news, instantly brightened with excitement; and also across Zhao Dabao, whose face no longer bore a slap mark, and a little fat boy whose cheek was still prominently swollen.

Then he turned his head towards the Immortal Palace Ancestor beside him.

"Senior Chi, why don't we have lunch first? Otherwise, the buns might get cold and not taste as good."

"Jin Taoist can decide as he sees fit."

Senior Chi responded with an expression of going along with the host, yet he silently admired the Taoist's respect for the elderly and love for the young.

"Tianxing Taoist, what virtue and ability you have!"

Upon receiving Jin Xu's instruction, Housekeeper Zhang turned around, led the proprietress and her group inside, and began distributing the "Yixiang Twin Marvels" from the food boxes.

A few dozen breaths later.

A faint aroma of Age Chicken began to waft through the dining room.

In front of the seven seated individuals, two soft, snow-white steaming buns and a bowl of amber-like broth were placed.

Except for the Taoist.

In front of him was a jar.

Jin Xu looked around, puzzled as to why his was different from the others'. Then, puzzled, he threw an inquiring glance at the proprietress standing by his side.

"Benefactor, this is specially brewed by Granny just for you to show her gratitude, so the ingredients are a bit richer," the proprietress leaned over and whispered in the Taoist's ear.

As she spoke, a hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes, as if she was wrestling with something in her mind.

Jin Xu, upon hearing this explanation, gently raised his eyebrows, took a white porcelain spoon, scooped up a spoonful of soup to taste, and after carefully savoring it, he said,

"This soup does taste very good, even richer than what I had last time at the building. Granny is thoughtful."

"It's good that you enjoy it, Benefactor."

Although the proprietress's face was beaming with smiles, her response seemed somewhat distracted.

The Taoist scooped another spoonful of soup into his mouth and casually glanced at the proprietress beside him.

Since she had been setting down the food boxes, he had noticed that she seemed somewhat gaunt, initially thinking she was merely tired from preparing the meals overnight. But now, observing her more closely, he noticed her eye sockets were slightly red as if... she had cried?

"It seems this isn't just about having me taste the food. Well, guessing here is useless; I'll just ask her after finishing the soup," he thought to himself.

This thought briefly flashed through Jin Xu's mind.

Afterward, he focused on dealing with the food in front of him.

Seeing that the Taoist had started eating, the others in the dining room also began to relish the delicacies before them.

————————————

Less than a quarter of an hour later.

The two buns and the bowl/jar of broth before everyone were completely devoured.

"Proprietress, do you have any more? I'd like another serving!"

The first to finish his meal, but evidently still not full, the husky spoke up loudly.

On the side, Zhao Dabao put down his empty soup bowl and exclaimed.

"I never expected to enjoy such delicious food on this trip. Madam, if you have extra, please bring me another portion," he said.

"Yes, the taste is simply too delicious, even better than that crispy five-flavor..."

The chubby boy with the pronounced handprint on his face began to express some sentiment, but upon catching the gaze of his ancestor, Senior Chi, he immediately fell silent and lowered his head.

The orange cat beside him meowed twice in frustration.

"Dear guests, I truly apologize. I've brought just this amount of 'Yixiang Double Delight' today. If you'd like more, I will have someone deliver it tomorrow," said the innkeeper apologetically.

Little White, upon hearing this, a hint of disappointment flashed across her face.

However, the next moment, she pulled out a piece of wild crispy five-flavor pork from her storage magical device.

She forcefully dispelled the disappointment she felt.

Ahem, it was not that she was targeting the Ancestor of the Immortal Palace. The only ready-to-eat item left in her storage was this, and it was also the one they hunted the most in the Mountain and Sea Realm.

Sitting beside Jin Xu, Senior Chi saw that Husky had taken out this item and enthusiastically shared it (the chubby boy refused), only to feel a headache brewing.

Afterwards...the Ancestor of Kunlun Immortal Palace chose to close his eyes, out of sight, out of mind.

On Jin Xu's side,

while the innkeeper was clearing the utensils in front of him, he whispered.

"Madam, you seem preoccupied today. Have you encountered some troubles that are hard to resolve?" he asked.

The innkeeper's hand paused slightly as she reached for a jar, surprised at Jin Taoist's keen observation that she was distracted.

It turned out that the innkeeper had learned yesterday of Granny Meng's limited time left and her first thought was to ask Jin Xu, the omnipotent prince consort of Great Xia, to save Granny Meng.

However, she feared that the Taoist might misunderstand her motives for delivering the 'Yixiang Double Delight'.

Therefore, the innkeeper wrestled with her thoughts for a long time, until just before Jin Xu had his soup, she made up her mind.

"Even if misunderstood, I must try to ask His Grace to save Granny Meng. At worst, I could give up ninety percent of Yixiang Building's net profits as an offering to His Grace," she thought.

The innkeeper placed the soup jar inside a jade food box held by a maiden, and with her hands gently clasped together, she earnestly said,

"Your Grace, I know this may be sudden, but I still wish to ask you..."

Her words were cut off by sudden loud calls from servants outside the dining hall.

"Stop, you cannot just barge in here!"

"How dare you, who are you?!"

Manager Zhang, standing in a corner, heard the commotion and, lifting his robe, stepped out.

However, before he could act, a hunched old crone leaning on an ebony cane appeared at the dining hall's entrance.

Behind her, several loud-mouthed servants were frantically running towards the place from a distance.

Upon seeing this sudden development, Jin Taoist waved his hand to the innkeeper, whose speech had been interrupted, signaling that their conversation could wait.

He had already spread his Spiritual Sense out before anyone else, and he could clearly see the slightly greyish Qi on the old woman's head.

Connecting this to the information previously given by Nalan Yuandao,

Jin Xu was almost certain that this was the person who had been trying to investigate her whereabouts through Jingyu Building.

"Yet this person shows signs of impending death and still comes here so conspicuously. What exactly is she trying to sell in her gourd?" he wondered.

He was about to ask her purpose when he was suddenly caught off guard by the innkeeper's incredulous shout.

"Granny, what are you doing here!?"