Chapter 155 Afternoon Review Session! Sikong Changfeng sells tickets.

The lunch was quite satisfying.

It was so calm that it didn't feel like the Tianqi Imperial City, where "the guide is about to arrive and the crack in the sky is approaching," but rather like an ordinary home-cooked meal in a peach grove courtyard in the Evergreen Realm.

The fish congee was very delicious.

Upon tasting, the first sensation is the smoothness of the rice porridge, followed by the exceptionally fresh and moist flavor of the spirit fish meat. A thin slice of fish meat spreads across the tongue, requiring almost no chewing, before transforming into a warm current that slides into the lungs along with the steam.

Steamed shrimp goes without saying.

The shrimp meat is already firm and bouncy, and Su Changqing steamed it to perfection. Dipping it in a little bit of clear sauce, the freshness seemed to be instantly enhanced, and even the little bit of spiritual essence left in the shrimp shell was steamed out, making people feel relaxed and at ease.

As for the meatball soup, the soup was white, the meatballs were tender, and after biting into them, you could taste a very faint sweetness. I don't know if it was because the meat itself had been kneaded to develop its sinews, or if Su Changqing had casually added something that others couldn't learn.

Su Xiaonuo initially said she wanted to eat "three meatballs".

As soon as she took the first bite of fish porridge, the little girl completely forgot what she had said before. Holding the bowl in her little hands, her eyes sparkling, she buried her head and slurped it down very seriously.

When she eats, her little face is always exceptionally focused.

Take a sip of the porridge first.

Take another small bite of the shrimp.

Then, with her cheeks puffed out, she chewed slowly, and only after swallowing did she look up and give Su Changqing a sweet smile.

"Daddy, it's delicious!"

"Um."

Su Changqing then picked out the tenderest piece of fish for her.

Eat slowly.

Li Hanyi sat to the side, head down, drinking her porridge. The white porcelain spoon touched the rim of the bowl, making a very soft, crisp sound.

She was usually quiet, and now, eating the meal prepared by Su Changqing, she was even quieter.

But those eyes, which had been slightly cold because of Zhao Xuance, the guide, and the sealing of the garden, softened noticeably at this moment.

She looked up at Su Changqing.

Su Changqing was peeling shrimp for Su Xiaonuo with his head down. His movements were very skilled and his expression was very natural. The cracks in the sky, the rumors outside the city, and the three true immortals in the immortal cage were all just trivial matters that he would deal with casually and were not worth bringing into this meal.

At this moment, the ripples in Li Hanyi's heart caused by "someone coming from a higher place" gradually subsided.

Lei Wujie, on the other hand, has a completely different style.

As he drank his porridge, he uttered one sincere sigh after another.

"Absolutely amazing."

"Absolutely amazing."

"Boss, if you put this fish porridge up for auction, let me tell you, those people outside will wear out the threshold of Taiji Hall."

Upon hearing this, Sikong Changfeng, who was holding a bowl and drinking with a satisfied expression, immediately brightened up.

"Don't tell."

"That's actually quite good."

"Before the afternoon recap session, if we add a 'Pre-Sale Meal for the Guides,' set a high price, and limit it to twenty servings—"

Xiao Se, who was sitting a little distance away leisurely drinking soup, closed his eyes after hearing this.

"You guys really don't miss any opportunity."

Sikong Changfeng spoke with great conviction.

"How can this be called seizing the opportunity?"

"That's called going with the flow."

"Besides, it's precisely at times like these that we need to make sure everyone has a good meal. Only when everyone is well-fed can they feel at ease."

Lei Wujie immediately chimed in, "Yes! I'm extremely stable right now!"

Xiao Se glanced at the half-empty bowl of shrimp shells in front of him and said coldly, "That's not being steady, you're just stuffed."

Wushuang sat upright and ate the quietest.

But if you look closely, you'll find that the frequency with which he puts down his chopsticks is actually quite fast.

Especially the steamed spirit shrimp. Although he appeared calm, when Sikong Changfeng was about to take another bite, Wushuang naturally moved the plate half an inch closer to him first.

The movement was minor.

Its advantage lies in its precision.

Sikong Changfeng's chopsticks fell to the ground, and he paused for a moment before turning to look at him.

Wushuang remained calm: "You've already eaten a lot."

Sikong Changfeng: "..."

Lei Wujie burst out laughing on the spot.

"Hahaha, third brother, you've finally met your match!"

Sikong Changfeng's face darkened: "What do you know? I'm just being considerate of you as an elder."

Wushuang nodded calmly: "Then continue to give way."

"..."

Laughter erupted in the courtyard once again.

This kind of laughter is very relaxed.

So relaxed that one momentarily forgets that this place is the Tianqi Imperial City, the kitchen of the Taiji Palace, and that a crack is hanging in the sky, getting closer and closer. Soon after the crack, a guide who can decide whether a realm is worth raising will appear.

But that's precisely why this meal is so precious.

Like the last mouthful of hot porridge before a great battle.

It's like the most stable touch of human warmth before all the storms come crashing down.

……

When we had almost finished eating, the shadow of the sun outside had moved to a point slightly west of center.

It's about time to start the afternoon debriefing session.

Sikong Changfeng was the first to put down his bowl, and even meticulously wiped the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief. When he stood up, he had already switched back to his professional state as the "head manager and on-site host of Changqinglou Tianqi flagship store".

"Mr. Su."

"I'll head over to the afternoon session first."

Su Changqing nodded.

"Um."

"Remember not to scare them away."

Sikong Changfeng was taken aback for a moment, then gave a knowing smile.

"rest assured."

"I understand. Let's keep them hanging for now, then slowly release information."

Xiao Se looked at him, her lips twitching slightly.

You really know a lot.

Lei Wujie quickly gulped down the last mouthful of porridge and wiped his mouth.

"I'm going too!"

Sikong Changqing glanced at him: "What are you going to do?"

"Maintain order!"

Lei Wujie spoke with righteous indignation.

"Look at that line outside. If it gets too crowded, who can stop it?"

"Besides, I'm now a top waiter and security manager at Changqinglou."

Xiao Se said calmly, "The titles you've given yourself are getting longer and longer."

Lei Wujie chuckled.

"It's prestigious."

Wushuang also stood up and neatly gathered the bowls and chopsticks aside.

"I'll go watch the fairy cage."

"Um."

Su Changqing responded.

"If the cage makes any unusual noises, tell me first."

Wushuang nodded.

He knew that Su Changqing hadn't said those words casually.

The cage was originally dismantled using the patrol seal, and its interior was layered with platinum runes and a blue restriction added later by Su Changqing.

Now that the cracks above are becoming more and more obvious, if a higher level of power really begins to probe from afar, this Immortal Cage will most likely be one of the first places to react.

After the others left one by one, only the family of three and Xiao Se remained in the courtyard.

Xiao Se didn't leave immediately, but looked at Su Changqing and whispered:

"If the guide truly does descend upon Tianqi first, where do you intend to meet him?"

Su Changqing ladled out the last bit of soup and pushed it in front of Li Hanyi, as if answering the question casually.

"Anywhere is fine."

"In front of the Taiji Hall, at the entrance to the kitchen, or—"

He paused, then looked up at the sunlight outside the courtyard.

"If his eyesight isn't good, he can easily pick it up even if it falls outside the city."

Xiao Se: "..."

it is good.

This answer is very Su Changqing-esque.

Brief, casual, and completely disregarding the "guide".

But it was precisely this kind of answer that slowly eased the tension in Xiao Se's heart.

He paused for a moment, then said, "As for the court, I'll suppress as much as I can first."

"Um."

Su Changqing nodded.

"By the way, tell those guys not to rush to pledge their loyalty just because someone is coming from the sky."

"Anyone who kneels too quickly, I'll break their legs first."

Xiao Se's lips curved slightly upon hearing this, but he quickly regained his composure.

"clear."

After saying that, he didn't linger and turned to walk out.

He is no longer the desolate man who was once confined to the inn, making sarcastic remarks with a smile.

Standing at the heart of the Northern Court, he naturally had his own responsibilities.

Su Changqing never offered him anything like "I'll walk the road for you."

Instead, it's "I'll stay behind you, and you go forward yourself."

This is enough.

……

After Xiao Se left, the courtyard became much quieter.

Only the wind blowing across the peach wood chopping board, the few white cloths hanging on the rope, and the embers in the stove that had not yet been completely extinguished produced a slight crackling sound.

Su Xiaonuo's little belly was already round and full from eating. She was sitting on a small stool, swinging her legs, holding a warm little teacup and slowly sipping water, while looking up at Su Changqing.

"Father."

"Um?"

"Will that guide be good-looking?"

Su Changqing put the bowl aside and casually said, "Not necessarily."

"If it doesn't look good, would it still be expensive?"

Li Hanyi was washing her hands with warm water when she heard this and paused for a moment.

She turned her head to look at her daughter.

The little girl's eyes were incredibly serious; she was clearly thinking deeply about this "important question."

Su Changqing also thought about it seriously.

"If he's particularly unattractive, then look for other good qualities in him."

"for example?"

"For example, being stubborn, resilient, and knowledgeable."

Su Xiaonuo immediately realized what was going on.

"oh!"

"So even if it's not good-looking, it can still be valuable!"

"right."

"I've learned it!"

Li Hanyi: "..."

She can no longer tell whether Nuonuo's business acumen is innate or something she was forced to develop by the two of them.

Su Changqing seemed quite satisfied and patted his daughter's head.

"good."

"From now on, half of Changqinglou will be yours."

Su Xiaonuo's eyes lit up immediately.

"Really?"

"real."

"Can I sell Big White?"

"..."

The courtyard fell silent.

A rare and obvious smile appeared in Li Hanyi's eyes.

Su Changqing was taken aback by her question, then burst out laughing.

"We can't sell Big White."

Why?

"Big White is one of us."

"Oh……"

Su Xiaonuo thought for a moment and nodded.

"Then we won't sell the big white, we'll sell the bad guys."

"That's fine."

Su Changqing gave an affirmative answer.

The scene of the father and daughter seriously discussing "what can be sold and what cannot be sold" is truly impactful.

Li Hanyi finally couldn't resist and gently tapped Su Xiaonuo's forehead.

"Don't learn these things from your father."

Su Xiaonuo immediately shrank her neck and hugged Su Changqing's arm.

"But Mother, selling bad people is the right thing to do."

Li Hanyi was speechless for a moment.

Because from a certain perspective... that's actually true.

……

Meanwhile, the afternoon debriefing session in front of the Taiji Hall had officially begun.

If the morning's "morning hearing" was more like a live interrogation that forcefully tore open the curtains of the upper realm, then the afternoon's hearing had a distinctly different atmosphere.

There are more people.

The table was even fuller.

Even the back seats and the temporarily added side seats were all occupied.

Some nobles and ministers who hadn't managed to snag front-row tickets that morning no longer cared about their status; even those sitting on the sidelines craned their necks to get a seat.

Some people even brought their smartest nephews or nieces over specifically to whisper instructions:

Listen carefully.

"This isn't just for show; this is something that will save your life in the future."

The busiest person in the room was, of course, Sikong Changfeng.

He carried the account books and made statistics as he entered the venue, while also personally taking charge of the event. He was incredibly busy, yet his spirits were higher than ever before.

no way.

This level of event is unprecedented; you probably can't find another case like it in history.

The usher in at the front of the Taiji Hall.

A caged immortal becomes a lecturer.

The powerful and influential in the audience rushed to get to the front row.

This can no longer be summed up by the phrase "business is good".

This is establishing a new school of thought.

Sikong Changfeng stood at the very front, cleared his throat, and announced loudly:

"Distinguished guests, the afternoon debriefing session is now officially beginning!"

"Today's topic is probably already known to everyone."

"Why did the guide come? After the garden is sealed off, who will still be who? And—"

He paused deliberately, whetting everyone's appetite, before reading out the title on the new sign word by word.

"Guide, who should we arrest first!"

The room fell silent.

Immediately afterwards, a low commotion that could not be suppressed came from the back row.

This title is certainly ruthless.

It is indeed quite captivating.

Sikong Changfeng was very satisfied with everyone's reaction, but he remained solemn on the surface.

"Before we begin, let me announce a few rules for the venue."

"First, the question-and-answer session will still be conducted according to seating order."

"Second, you must not provoke the emotions of the caged immortals without authorization. If you do provoke them and they break their defenses, an additional service fee will be charged."

"Third, if there are any unusual phenomena in the sky, please do not panic. Just sit there calmly."

"fourth--"

As he said this, his expression became unusually serious.

"If guests from a higher place do appear later, please do not panic."

"Mr. Su is still here."

Upon hearing this, the slight unease that had been lingering in the room due to the "Guide" was indeed significantly reduced.

Many people nodded subconsciously.

Correct.

Mr. Su is still alive.

This works better than any attempt at appeasement.

Inside the Immortal Cage, Zhao Xuance, Gu Changxuan, and Yue Zhenchuan all looked rather grim.

They are well aware of their current situation.

Tourist attractions.

Ornament.

Core resources for paid services.

Even though they already knew this, when they heard Sikong Changfeng publicly proclaim that "an extra service fee will be charged for arbitrarily provoking the emotions of the caged immortals," they still felt a tightness in their chests.

Especially Zhao Xuanze.

The dignified celestial official who holds the seal now even has to pay extra for "breaking through defenses".

Who can I complain to about this?

Meanwhile, Sikong Changfeng had already begun to get down to business.

"Today's recap will begin with the guide."

According to Zhao Xuance, the Guides are different from the regular celestial officials of the Patrol Palace.

"You can understand it this way—"

He paused, and then actually used his most proficient business logic to explain.

"If the patrol hall's daily tasks are routine accounting, regular fruit picking, and ordinary harvests, then the guide's tasks are large-scale inventory, thorough investigation, and comprehensive acceptance."

"They're not here to see if a single piece of fruit is sweet or not."

"They came to see if there was any value in keeping this entire garden."

These words were more direct than Zhao Xuance's previous ones, and even easier for people to understand.

A low gasp immediately followed from below.

Someone gripped their teacup tightly.

Some people subconsciously looked up at the sky.

Sikong Changfeng, observing the expressions on the other's face, continued:

"Based on the information currently available, if the guide were to arrive, he would most likely examine the anomalies first, and then the central point."

"I don't need to say who the outlier is."

"We also know very well who the central authority is."

"So next, Apocalypse—"

He placed one hand on the table, his voice low but each word clear.

"That's where they're most likely to land first."

After these words were spoken, even though everyone was mentally prepared, they still felt a sinking feeling in their hearts.

Even the commander of the Imperial Guards standing at the rear had a noticeably tense expression.

But just then—

hum.

A faint, soft, yet exceptionally clear tremor came down from the high heavens.

The sound was strange.

Unlike thunder.

It's not like the wind.

It was as if some invisible thing had been slowly stretched open from a great distance.

Almost everyone in the audience looked up at the same time.

The next moment, many people's expressions changed instantly.

The extremely faint crack deep in the sky, which was almost just a white mark, visibly widened by a line at this moment.

Not big.

It has simply changed from "vaguely visible" to "clearly discernible".

The problem is that it has really changed.

At the edge of the crack, a ring of extremely faint white light seemed to have been pushed out from behind, slowly spreading out.

The light had no temperature and wasn't even dazzling, but just one glance at it would make your heart feel inexplicably heavy.

It was as if someone in the clouds was slowly tearing away a layer of cloth.

Behind the cloth, there are not stars or the moon.

Rather, it is something higher, colder, and even less of a human being.

"It's cracked..."

"The crack is getting bigger!"

"Is the guide coming?"

"How could it be so fast?!"

"Don't panic! Don't panic!"

"Where is Mr. Su? Where is Mr. Su?!"

An uncontrollable commotion instantly erupted in the arena.

Even Sikong Changfeng, who had maintained a professional smile throughout, had his pupils shrink slightly and his heart skipped a beat.

Having served as the third city lord of Snow Moon City for so many years, and having been tricked by Changqing Tower for so long, one would expect his mental fortitude to be extremely strong.

But seeing the crack widen in full view of everyone in the afternoon still sent a chill down my spine.

Because this means—

What Zhao Xuance said is probably absolutely right.

The guide is truly approaching.

And it was even faster than anyone expected.

Inside the immortal cage, Zhao Xuance suddenly looked up, a hint of barely suppressed surprise surfacing in his eyes.

Gu Changxuan's expression also changed.

Yue Zhenchuan stared intently at the sky, his lips taut like a knife's edge.

They knew this feeling better than anyone else present.

That wasn't ordinary spying.

Rather, it is the existence of higher authority and higher status that is truly suppressing attention and coordinates.

If previously we were only "watching" from afar...

So now, we are "getting closer".

The atmosphere in the square suddenly became extremely tense.

Many people even subconsciously wanted to stand up.

But just then, a calm voice came from behind.

"What's all the noise about?"

The sound wasn't loud.

It was like a gentle breeze, lightly brushing across the entire Taiji Hall.

The crowd, which had just been stirring, suddenly fell mostly silent.

Almost everyone instinctively turned around.

Behind the side hall, Su Changqing carried Su Xiaonuo and walked over unhurriedly.

Li Hanyi followed beside him, dressed in white as snow.

The two were of different ages, one tall and one short, one quiet and one gentle.

The scene was in stark contrast to the crack in the sky overhead.

But it is precisely because of this contrast that the surging unease in one's heart is instantly suppressed.

Su Xiaonuo was still munching on a small piece of the cookie she hadn't finished earlier when she saw everyone looking up at the sky. She also looked up at the sky with her little face.

"what?"

"How did it get bigger?"

Su Changqing hummed in agreement.

"Someone is pushing the door open from behind."

"Was the person who pushed open the door a bad guy?"

"Most likely."

"oh."

Su Xiaonuo nodded, and then very skillfully came to a conclusion.

"Let's beat up the bad guys first, then sell tickets!"

Upon hearing this, the oppressive atmosphere that had almost frozen over was somehow slightly dispelled.

Many people almost couldn't hold back.

Sikong Changfeng's eyes lit up.

Correct!

Beat up the bad guys first, then sell tickets!

This process is flawless!

Su Changqing walked to the main seat, glanced at the crack in the sky, and remained calm.

Then, he turned his head to look at Sikong Changfeng.

"Continue with the review."

Sikong Changfeng was taken aback: "Still...still going?"

"Otherwise what?"

Su Changqing said calmly.

"The door isn't fully open yet, and the person hasn't come down."

"If the show is stopped because of this little disturbance, who will compensate for the ticket refunds?"

"..."

The entire room fell silent for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, many people felt strangely at ease.

Yes.

Mr. Su is right.

The door wasn't fully open yet, and the person hadn't gotten down.

Why panic now?

Even if we take a step back and assume it actually happens—

We have to see if Mr. Su agrees first.

Sikong Changfeng's initial tension was immediately dispelled by the question, "Who will compensate for the refund?" and he instantly regained his composure.

"right!"

"continue!"

"Mr. Su is right, the door isn't even fully open yet, what's the rush?"

"Sit still! Everyone, sit still!"

"Even if the sky falls, we'll finish listening to the debriefing first!"

That's an outrageous statement.

But after hearing this, everyone actually sat up straight again.

Even some ministers who had almost stood up earlier silently straightened their clothes and picked up their teacups again.

A faint trace of helplessness flashed across Li Hanyi's eyes as she watched this scene.

At times like these, you can bring the atmosphere back to the rhythm of "let's finish listening to the debriefing first".

In the entire world, probably only the outrageous duo of Su Changqing and Sikong Changfeng could have done something like this.

Su Changqing himself had already sat down.

He held Su Xiaonuo in his arms, looked up at the crack that had widened again, and even had a faint smile on his lips.

The smile wasn't deep.

But this made Zhao Xuance's heart sink.

Because he suddenly realized—

What others see is the sky cracking open, the arrival of a guide, and people coming from a higher place.

But what Su Changqing saw was probably truly—

The door is about to open.

Sikong Changfeng also regained his composure after Su Changqing's words, and even gained inspiration from the sudden "celestial landscape anomaly".

He cleared his throat, stood up straighter, and raised his voice.

"Distinguished guests!"

"I'm sure everyone saw what happened just now!"

"very good!"

What does this mean?

"This shows that our review wasn't just theoretical or alarmist; it was a real-time follow-up!"

"Now, please be seated, watch closely, and listen attentively!"

"Today's event might just be the final lesson before the guide arrives!"

These words, once uttered, actually stirred up the previously somewhat uneasy hearts once more.

Yes.

This is not just empty talk.

This is the live version.

The changes in the heavens have already begun; who would be willing to leave?

Whoever leaves loses!

As a result, the venue, which might have dispersed due to panic, became even more packed and deserted.

Even the privileged people who had temporarily joined in at the back were secretly rejoicing—

Luckily, I managed to snag a seat!

Otherwise, hearing others recount such a scene from home is not as valuable as seeing it with your own eyes.

As Su Changqing watched Sikong Changfeng speak more and more fluently, a hint of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

Talent.

He's a real talent.

Even when the sky was about to crack, he still managed to elevate the "recap session" to "the last lesson before the arrival of the guide."

That money-making mindset of his was definitely worth it.

High above, the cold white light behind the crack suddenly rippled once more.

It is clearer than before.

More like—

The person behind the door had indeed placed their hand on the door frame.