Chapter 781: Chapter 780: Please leave!

Zhu Qing saw the woman, and her expression changed.

“Wei Qinglian?”

The room was full of people, obviously beyond Wei Qinglian’s expectations. A hint of surprise flashed across her eyes as she surveyed the crowd inside; likewise, the people in the room were also sizing up this unfamiliar woman, making the atmosphere increasingly strange.

Coming from the Chinese Realm, Wei Qinglian still recognized several of the big shots in the restaurant.

Tiqie Xianzuowen, the esteemed Far Moon Commander and Food Demon King of the Japan Realm, often residing in the Forbidden City—she had frequently heard the leaders mentioning this figure.

Then there was Karl, the Sage from IGO, which made Wei Qinglian very puzzled.

In two days, the Chinese Realm’s Talent Hunt was set to open, and Karl, the Sage, had also been invited by the Dragon Head himself to Shanghai to serve as a guest judge for the top ten competition. The fact that Karl was invited had recently caused a global stir, with food media from all nations speculating that this might signal a strong alliance between IGO and the Chinese Realm, a posture set before the North American Government and the Gourmet Society to see!

And as one of the Dragon Head’s confidants, and one of the six Pavilion Masters of the White Jade Tower, Wei Qinglian was all the more privy to the inside story.

The Chinese Realm, indeed, had entered a sort of honeymoon period with the IGO organization.

As to whether they would form an alliance—who knows?

In terms of culinary arts and status, Wei Qinglian had planned to greet Karl, the Sage, and Xianzuowen as a sign of respect. Naturally, she also remembered the urgent mission she had to rush to the Japan Realm before the Talent Hunt and the furious demeanor of the Dragon Head when he summoned her.

But just as she was about to step over the threshold, whoosh.

A figure blocked her way.

“Wei Qinglian!”

With a sharp call, Zhu Qing took on the stance of encountering a formidable opponent, her face tensely staring at the uninvited woman without offering a greeting, “What brings you to Japan?!”

“Heh, Zhu Qing, I knew you’d be here!”

Despite the interruption, Wei Qinglian’s right foot, clad in embroidered cloth shoes, calmly crossed the threshold and landed on the other side of the room.

Her black hair was combed back into a ponytail, her bangs parted to both sides in a classic middle split, revealing her smooth and fair forehead. Along with her plain-colored, loose cotton and linen clothes that had a distinctly Chinese vibe, she exuded an air of understated elegance.

One could only say that her name suited her.

However, in stark contrast to her pampered demeanor were Wei Qinglian’s hands, which were wrapped in white elastic bandages, covering her palms and finger pads, leaving only the tips exposed. At first glance, one might have thought she wore white fingerless gloves, but that wasn’t actually the case.

“You’re not welcome here!” Zhu Qing declared.

“Whether I’m welcome or not isn’t important, Zhu Qing,” Wei Qinglian countered, “If you still consider yourself, the Zhu Family, and the Xia Family as part of the Chinese Realm, then would you follow the Dragon Head’s Decree?”

With her other foot moving forward, she stepped past the threshold to join her right foot, and thus, Wei Qinglian naturally entered the restaurant. Despite Zhu Qing’s sharp call, she appeared inwardly timid and didn’t physically attempt to stop her.

At this moment, Zhu Qing and Wei Qinglian almost stood on the same line, shoulder to shoulder, each casting a glance at the other.

However, from Xia Yu’s perspective, Zhu Qing, the elder who always appeared strong and fearless, had a flickering gaze that seemed to… consider herself inferior?

“Wei Qinglian…”

Xia Yu’s smile faded as he searched his mind for this name.

Nothing!

He couldn’t find any information that matched.

His face shifting, Xia Yu couldn’t help but think, “Judging by her age, this Wei Qinglian should be Aunt Qing’s contemporary. Didn’t Aunt Qing say that in her generation, only she and Lan Chuhai stood out? How could there suddenly appear a formidable opponent…”

But suddenly, when Xia Yu heard Wei Qinglian utter the words “Dragon Head’s Decree,” his heart gave a fierce lurch.

“What is this Decree?”

Zhu Qing was asking the same question. She fixed her gaze on Wei Qinglian, her face showing a rare hint of panic.

Zhu Qing was very clear that compared to Yan Qi, this Wei Qinglian was more suited to take on the roles of the Dragon Head Envoy and messenger.

Why? Wei Qinglian was a Master of White Jade Pavilion, in charge of the punishment in the holy land of Gourmet Arts within the court. She usually kept a low profile, seldom active in the public eye, and those who knew of her were usually quite familiar with her nickname “Female Impermanence.”

There were wrong names, but no wrong nicknames.

Didn’t the epithet “Female Impermanence” precisely indicate Wei Qinglian’s cold and ruthless nature?

“Dragon Head’s Decree, let me recount—”

Wei Qinglian said sternly, “The orphan of the Xia Family is ordered to return to the homeland immediately, to enter the Forbidden City and report!”

Then she paused:

“Don’t delay!”

Mimicking the tone of the Dragon Head, her voice grew deep, as if basking in the imposing authority that seemed to emanate from the unseen depths; at this moment, everyone inside the store changed color.

Wise Man Karl and Tiqie Xianzuowen rose to their feet upon hearing this.

The two exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock.

A decree!

This represented an imperial edict from an emperor.

In this gourmet world, when the lofty Heavenly King handed down such commands, it either signified great fortune or impending doom.

And clearly, judging by the messenger’s demeanor—it spelled disaster!

Zhu Qing’s face shifted from green to white, but she was no ordinary person, with a strong heart that wasn’t fainting at just a verbal edict, responding with a sneer, “Wei Qinglian, just because you say it’s a Dragon Head’s Decree, does it make it so?!”

Irritated by her words, Wei Qinglian’s eyes flashed with anger, “Who in the Chinese Realm would dare to falsely proclaim a decree?”

“Zhu Qing, you should stay out of this matter. If you keep causing such a fuss, the Dragon Head might tolerate you, but the Master of the White Jade Pavilion and its subordinates will not!” Wei Qinglian shouted, “Let that scion of calamity from the Xia Family come out right now and follow me back to the capital immediately!”

Just as Zhu Qing’s demeanor showed signs of softening, the term “scion of calamity” made her explode.

She barked angrily, “Who are you calling a scion of calamity?!”

“He is my sister’s son, my nephew!”

“Heh!” Wei Qinglian lowered her eyes and spoke indifferently, “It’s just a title, Zhu Qing. Your intense reaction—does it not indicate that in your subconscious you also believe this nephew is a creature born of sin, one that never should have existed?”

“You…”

Zhu Qing quivered with anger, unable to speak.

As the atmosphere in the store grew tense, a voice cut in:

“Cough, could the person who keeps being referred to as either the orphan or the scion of calamity of the Xia Family have a few words?”

The voice sounded calm, without a ripple.

Wei Qinglian looked over and spotted a young man wearing an apron, standing two steps away, his bright gaze fixed on her, casually wiping his hands, still damp, on the apron. Her eyes discreetly brightened, ‘Well played, neither cringing nor arrogant!’

“I am Xia Yu…”

What he said next left Wei Qinglian astonished.

“Regarding this decree to return to the country immediately… uh, I am very sorry, but I don’t accept it,” Xia Yu spread his hands, “Moreover, what era is this? We’re not in a feudal society. Are decrees really as useful as aircraft carriers and cannons?”

It wasn’t that Xia Yu disrespected the decree; it was just that, with his worldview, he simply couldn’t fathom accepting such a thing!

Now, even Zhu Qing found it hard to keep her composure.

She tugged at Xia Yu’s arm, leaning in close and anxiously said, “Hey, hey, Yu, do you really know what a Dragon Head’s Decree is in the Chinese Realm?”

“I don’t know, nor do I want to know.”

Zhu Qing was left at a loss for words, “You…”

She was both anxious and angry.

Wei Qinglian watched Xia Yu with amusement, “Truly a wild child lost overseas, oblivious to the depths of the Chinese Realm. And rightly so; in the Japan Realm, there isn’t a supreme chef. If it wasn’t for the Dragon Head’s task, do you think I’d have come here?”

“Are you done?”

Xia Yu pointed towards the door, “We’re in the middle of hosting a banquet, and you weren’t on the guest list. So…”

“Now, please leave!”