Chapter 383: Calm and Peaceful

The scorching sun hung high in the sky, and the entire Eternal Slumber City was as sweltering as ever. The demon merchants on the streets wore straw cloaks to shield themselves from the relentless heat.

Inside the Taste of Freshness inn, Hua Erniang leaned lazily against the doorframe, fanning herself absentmindedly while gazing into the distance. Her striking silver hair swayed gently in the breeze.

In the main hall, the young inn servant named A’Wu wiped down a table with a cloth, while beside him, the petite Little Lian, barely as tall as the table, carried a basin of clean water to assist.

Though they were technically working, neither had moved from their spots for a long time. Their eyes remained fixed on Hua Erniang, curious to see how long their innkeeper would sit at the entrance today.

“Brother A’Wu, what’s going on with the innkeeper? She’s been sitting at the entrance like that for five days straight. Is she waiting for someone?” Little Lian asked softly.

A’Wu paused in his cleaning and replied, “She’s probably waiting for Mr. Gu…”

“But didn’t Doubao already deliver a message saying that Mr. Gu has left Eternal Slumber City?” Little Lian asked, puzzled.

“Then what is she still waiting for?”

A’Wu shook his head. “Maybe she just wants to properly thank Mr. Gu. But before she got the chance, he had already left… We’re only alive today because of Mr. Gu, but we never got the chance to thank him in person.”

Little Lian nodded. “Yeah, I wanted to thank him on behalf of my parents too.”

“For your parents?” A’Wu looked at her curiously.

Little Lian hummed in agreement and continued, “That day, after I fainted from crying, I had a dream about my parents. They told me to live well, that Mr. Gu had helped them, and now they were going to the heavens to become immortals.”

“They said I should live happily because they’ll always be watching over me from above.”

Hearing this, A’Wu felt a lump in his throat but smiled. “Yeah… We have to live happily…”

“By the way, are you hungry? I can make something to eat.”

Little Lian shook her head. “I’m not hungry. Maybe ask the innkeeper—she hasn’t eaten in two days. She may be strong, but skipping meals isn’t good.”

“Innkeeper, do you want something to eat? Brother A’Wu is going to cook.”

At the entrance, Hua Erniang absentmindedly responded while watching the bustling street of demon cultivators.

“Lamb soup.”

“Lamb soup?” Little Lian turned to the boy and asked, “Brother A’Wu, can you make lamb soup?”

A’Wu spread his hands helplessly. “I’ve never even eaten lamb soup before… Innkeeper, how about egg custard instead?”

“Ah…” Hua Erniang stretched lazily, rolled up her sleeves, and said, “You two sit tight. I’ll make the lamb soup myself.”

Seeing this, A’Wu hurried to follow, but Hua Erniang stopped him. “Just stay here. I want to try making it myself.”

A’Wu froze for a moment before nodding and taking a seat.

Little Lian also set down her copper basin, swung her little feet as she sat on a long wooden bench, and smiled. “The innkeeper is so pretty—her cooking must be amazing. Lamb souo sounds really delicious.”

“Uh…” A’Wu furrowed his brows. “I just hope the innkeeper manages to make something edible…”

Little Lian: (・◇・)?

“Hey, it’s broad daylight—why isn’t anyone outside shouting to attract customers? No wonder such a big inn has no business!” An elderly voice came from the entrance.

Turning to look, they saw an old man with black hair stepping inside.

A’Wu quickly went up to greet him with a smile. “Sir, please have a seat! Are you here for a meal or looking for a room?”

The black-haired old man glanced at A’Wu and chuckled. “Just something to eat. Whatever’s good, bring it over.”

“Ah, sure, sure!”

“But you’ll have to wait a bit. Our innkeeper just went to cook, and once she’s done, I’ll get right to making your meal!” As he spoke, A’Wu had already brought over a cup of tea and placed it in front of the old man.

The black-haired old man took a sip and smiled. “No rush, no rush. Since your innkeeper is cooking, I might as well try whatever she makes.”

“Uh…” A’Wu was momentarily stunned. Facing the first customer since the inn had reopened, he suddenly didn’t know what to say.

If the innkeeper’s cooking were served to guests… would the inn still have any business left?

With no other choice, A’Wu had to be upfront: “Old sir, our innkeeper’s cooking is, well… quite unpalatable… How about I whip up a couple of dishes for you instead?”

Hearing this, the black-haired old man burst into laughter. “Oh, now I really want to try your innkeeper’s cooking after hearing that.”

“Ah… well, alright then.” Seeing that persuasion was futile, A’Wu, as just a humble inn worker, could do nothing more. He could only silently pray that the innkeeper would serve something decent this time.

As they waited for the food, the Void Emperor glanced at the two young workers and asked with a smile, “Why is business so bad here? Not a single guest in broad daylight?”

A’Wu gave an awkward chuckle. “Sir, you don’t know—our inn used to do quite well.”

“But ever since that whole ordeal at the Hunting Arena, guests have been too afraid to come.”

“Oh?” The Void Emperor dragged out his response, puzzled. “Wasn’t the Hunting Arena razed to the ground by the Void Emperor?”

“Even the Judgment Office was wiped out—why are people still afraid?”

“Grandpa, think about it. So many people just died here. Who would dare come…”

Little Lian lowered her voice and added, “Besides, there’s a rumor going around that the Void Emperor is protecting our inn. So, most people are too scared to come, worried that if they accidentally offend us, the Void Emperor might just kill them.”

Hearing this, the Void Emperor smiled wryly. “Am I really that bloodthirsty?”

“Oh, no, not you, Grandpa—I meant the Void Emperor, the ruler of Eternal Slumber City,” Little Lian clarified with a wave of her hand.

Finding the little girl amusing, the Void Emperor picked her up and set her on the seat beside him, then asked with a grin, “Do you even know what the Void Emperor looks like?”

“Nope.” Little Lian shook her head and continued, “But people say he’s ten thousand zhang tall, so high you can’t even see his face. His eyes are as blinding as the sun, and if he slaps his palm down, he can turn Eternal Slumber City into ashes.”

What kind of nonsense is this…

The Void Emperor chuckled, just about to tease the little girl further, when suddenly, the curtain at the back of the inn was thrown open.

Hua Erniang strode out carrying a large plate of something completely blackened. As soon as she spotted the Void Emperor, she hurriedly set the tray down and respectfully cupped her hands. “Void Emperor, what brings you here?”

Void Emperor?!

The two inn workers were completely dumbfounded.

The kind-looking old man before them was actually the infamous Void Emperor?!

Little Lian immediately leapt off her seat and ran to A’Wu’s side, grabbing onto his sleeve with a fearful expression.

Seeing this, the Void Emperor waved a hand dismissively. “Relax, no need to be so nervous. Mr. Gu and I are friends—just treat me like a normal guest.”

As he spoke, he pointed at the tray Hua Erniang had brought out and chuckled. “Innkeeper Hua, what’s this? A plate of charcoal and a bowl of oil? Trying out a new dish?”

At his words, Hua Erniang’s cheeks flushed red. “Void Emperor… that’s a plate of roasted flatbreads, and the bowl is lamb soup…”

“Hm?” The Void Emperor paused, then picked up one of the pitch-black flatbreads. After sniffing it, he commented, “The shape is quite well done… but the heat control was a bit off.”

“In other words… it’s inedible.”

Hua Erniang quickly reached for the tray to dispose of the food, but the Void Emperor stopped her with a laugh. “Wait, don’t waste it—I’ll call Doubao to eat it. He’s never had it before, so I’ll just tell him this is what it’s supposed to taste like.”