(12:12:04) Only Good Vibes: Good news everyone. My 10th disciple is traveling around the outer realms and actually sensed the system passing by him. He is currently tracking where it went and I have asked him to do a noninterference investigation.
(12:12:10)Dao Seeker: Could you ask him to bring back samples of this person's cooking?
(12:12:12)Monarch Of Space: Seconded
(12:12:13)Fate Can Not Hide: Third
(12:12:21) Only Good Vibes: Worry not friends, I have already asked. Even if it is normal mortal food. But expect a delay, his transmission was sent to me three days ago when we first saw the breach. I expect about the same delay in my reply reaching him. Then who knows how long till he will find the planet they went to. Also has anyone heard from One Sword Above All?
(12:12:24)Fate Can Not Hide: I have been sending her updates on TheBeastKing. She is close now, I expect her to find him soon.
(12:12:29)One Sword Above All: Has sent a live stream request to chat, please click this link to accept the request. If more than half of the chat accept the request, the stream will be posted in chat automatically. To disable this feature, please go to your settings.
The following users have joined the live stream; Monarch Of Space, Only Good Vibes, One With A Hammer, Fate Can Not Hide, Thunder Emperor, Lonely Heart, Dao Seeker, Illusion Maker.
The chat changes and an image pops up, after a few seconds to buffer the video plays.
The depths of space can be seen, planets and stars are flying past in a blur. In the center of the screen the silhouette of a person can be seen, but the distance is too great and their speed is too fast to make out any details.
A woman's cold and imposing voice can be heard, “As you can see, I have found our junior brother Beast King. It shouldn’t be long before I catch up, I hope all of you will enjoy the show.”
Bullet comments fly across the screen.
Lonely Heart: If there is one thing little brother Beast King is good at, it is running. I give him two weeks before he is caught.
Thunder Emperor: A week and a half at best.
Only Good Vibes: Maybe a week at most.
A man's voice can be heard from the video, “Senior Sister, please stop chasing me. It was only a little joke!”
“I see, so my cooking is a joke to you?”
“No it’s not! I didn’t mean it like that!”
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Zhi looks through the menu quickly and is surprised that most items cost only 1-2 iron coins. A few of the full meals cost 5 iron coins. Looking at Zhao he hasn’t even looked at the menu yet. It is still loosely hanging in his hands. Taking a glance at Xiulan, she is still looking through the menu. “You know that I said I was treating you to a meal, little Zhao. Please look over the menu, and find something to eat.”
Zhao looks up, and sees that Zhi and Xiulan are both reading the menu. He reluctantly raises it and starts browsing the menu. He is still tense and will glance over to Zhi from his menu sometimes. But a silence descends over the room while they all think over their choices.
Buddha, why does this menu have so many names of food from my world? I know you said that the base foods are the same, but created foods might not exist. There is a lot on this menu that I know. Is it just how the translation works or is it actually the same food?
[You are not the first person from different universes to come here. Many have come over and changed certain things to make it a little like what they remember from their first life. You should expect to find many things the same, yet many things that are also new or different.]
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Okay good to know. I will need to keep a look out and see what has changed from what I know. Hopefully I will find a lot of new and interesting takes on food I know.
[Also Limited Quest is complete, besides bonus objective. Would you like to turn in the quest now?]
No. I have the kid with me, he will lead me to the bonus objective. I will turn it in after it is fully complete.
Making his decision, Zhi sets down his menu and picks up his teacup. Taking a sip, he is surprised by the rich flavor. The tea didn’t seem to be sweetened at all, but still had a slightly sweet taste like honey or sugar was mixed into it.
Noticing Zhao’s glances at him from over the menu, Zhi lets out a sigh then says, “Okay, let's get this out of the way since you can’t seem to calm down.”
Zhao flinches at the words, and raises his menu higher to hide his face. Xiulan lowers her menu to look over at both her companions, wondering what is about to happen. “Lower the menu and look at me Zhao.”
Zhao’s menu lowers and he looks over at Zhi, uncertainty can be seen in his eyes. “Perhaps an introduction would help. Since I already know both of your names, it is only right that you know mine. This humble monk is named Ming Zhi, I come from a village so small it has no proper name.” Zhi’s head bows slightly to them both.
Xiulan nods in return, but Zhao is still tense. Just staring at Zhi. Zhi shakes his head and says to Zhao, “You know, if I had any malicious intentions, I wouldn't be taking you to a place like this to eat dinner. I honestly just wanted to talk a little, enjoy some food. Then have you take me to see your uncle, so I could talk with him.”
Zhao's eyes widened slightly and you could see a trace of fear in them. “Please don’t hurt my uncle, we weren’t trying to offend you. We didn’t know there were any monks in the city!” His eyes look a little moist and his bottom lip is starting to quiver slightly.
“Settle down kid. Did I ever say anything about hurting anyone? I just wanna talk to him like we are talking right now. But I want you to settle down first. Here, copy what I do.”
Zhi takes a deep breath slowly with his mouth and then holds it for 5 seconds. Once Zhi sees that Zhao follows his example, he slowly exhales through his nose. “Great, now I want you to close your eyes and do that 5 more times.”
When Zhao finishes he looks better, but he is still a bit jittery. “Now before we talk, drink some tea and then figure out what you would like for dinner.” Staying quiet, he picks up his tea and takes a small drink. Before raising the menu back up and beginning to actually look it over for the first time.
Zhi looks over at Xiulan and gives a brief smile, before picking up his teacup and taking another drink. Xiulan smiles in return while setting her menu down. She picks up her teacup and takes a drink also. They wait in silence for Zhao to finish. Once Zhao sets down his menu, Zhi asks. “If you are both ready, let's place our orders. Zhao if you would please ring the bell.”
Zhao reaches over, picking up the bell. Xiulan glanced over when he did and noticed the other teacup sitting in front of the empty space. Her eyes go wide as he gives it a good couple of shakes. Her voice is low, but both Zhi and Zhao hear from her “Oh no, not again.” Her head drops as a knock is heard at the door.
The door opens a moment later, and an older man walks in. He is tall with a stern face, upon which a mustache rests. It is dark brown and ridiculously big. But somehow it is exceptionally well groomed. He is dressed much the same as the servers. But instead of a vest he actually has a black jacket on. On the jacket above his left breast is an elaborate piece of jewelry with a beautiful blue gem as the centerpiece.
He walks into the room, looks at Zhao first causing the boy to flinch and look away. Then looks over at Zhi, his piercing gaze only returned with a smile. Closing the door he takes a seat at the empty spot at the table. Xiulan looks irritated as the man calmly picks up the teacup and takes a drink while still staring at Zhi.
He places it down and begins to speak, “So I have an understanding why you have brought the boy with you, but I have yet to learn why my niece is in your company tonight.” The last bit of the sentence is said with a bit of heat in his voice.
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A middle aged man comes up to a modest single story home, relief is on his face as he opens the front door and light greets him from the end of the hallway. “Hai Ya, are you home? I need help, it’s about little Zhao.”
A woman's reply is quickly heard from deeper inside the home, “What is wrong with little Zhao? Bring him here so I can check him over.”
The man hesitates at the door before slowly walking into the house, “I can’t bring him, he has been captured. We need to go help him before it is too late!”
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE WAS CAPTURED? COME IN HERE AND EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT HAPPENED THIS INSTANT!” Then the man stops in the hallway for a moment. “GET IN HERE NOW!” The man is still not moving in the hallway, ahead of him he can hear some things banging together. He still doesn’t move. A silhouette comes into view at the end of the hallway, their features can’t be made out because of the light coming from behind them.
“I SAID, GET IN HERE RIGHT NOW! YOU WILL COME AND EXPLAIN TO ME EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED, IF YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU.” The silhouette disappears back into the room. The man looks back to the front door. Maybe coming here wasn’t such a good idea, he thinks. With a defeated sigh, he walks down the hallway into the room where the light was coming from.