Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 299: Jumping the Line? No Way

At first, subordinate Immortal Attendants were sent to make purchases, but eventually, to avoid the possibility of someone showing up to use their status to jump the queue, more and more deities themselves began to appear.

Sometimes, fights would break out over who gets to eat first.

Three meals a day, not a single one missed.

The previous excuse of meals hindering cultivation was nothing but hot air—what does it mean that the food isn’t good? It clearly isn’t good enough.

Once Sun Wukong started his shift, everyone started to truly relish the meals.

Today, the Imperial Kitchen is still bustling as ever.

Because Sun Wukong had been absent for a few days, the deities of the Heavenly Court were left craving his cooking terribly. Once he returned, the queue in front of the Imperial Kitchen was even longer than before.

Seeing this scene, Haotian’s mouth twitched slightly in dissatisfaction, thinking that these lazy bunch, finishing the morning court and then running here to eat—don’t they know to go back to their posts? What an undignified sight!

Haotian very consciously ignored his own similar behavior, and striding past the dragon-like queue as if it wasn’t there, he headed inside.

Just as he passed the last person, a dissatisfied voice already rang out.

"Is there no decency left? Hasn’t it been agreed that cutting in line isn’t allowed?" The deity at the back of the queue expressed his displeasure, protesting almost reflexively.

Since the dishes made by Chef Wukong were so delicious and popular,

they, the deities, had made a rule among themselves that no matter what one’s status or rank, queue jumping was not allowed. However, it was conditional upon the person being physically present in the queue.

If someone maliciously sent another to cut in line ahead of them, they would be collectively driven to the back of the queue.

But when he took a careful look at Haotian’s profile and the clothing on his body, his complexion changed drastically, and he stammered, "Your... Your Majesty!"

Your Majesty?

All the deities who heard this turned their heads in surprise, and indeed, it was him!

Feeling a chill in their mind and spirit, they started to speak one after another.

"We greet Your Majesty!!"

"Rise," said Haotian, already accustomed to such situations, and he gave a slight wave of his hand.

"Thank Your Majesty!"

Haotian’s gaze swept over the crowd, landing on the deity who had just spoken out.

"What is it? You want Us to queue up?"

"N-No, not at all!" The deity broke out in a cold sweat, nodding his head vigorously, and a sheepish smile appeared on his face.

"Please, Your Majesty, as you wish!"

That’s more like it, Haotian nodded almost imperceptibly and then looked at the crowd: "Do any of you have objections?"

"No, not at all!" the deities answered in unison.

Although they were reluctant, after all, this was the Jade Emperor, their ultimate superior, and rules could never apply to him.

"After you’ve finished eating, make sure to return to your posts early!" Haotian adopted an authoritative tone befitting the court.

The deities promptly assented: "Yes!"

Though inside, they felt somewhat uneasy.

In recent days, for the morning, noon, and evening meals, they had all been punctual to the minute, spending the majority of their day queuing, short of the time set aside for regular cultivation.

They wondered whether the Emperor might eventually take issue with it.

Without another word, Haotian continued on his way inside, and Gold Star Taibai followed closely behind.

Gold Star Taibai nodded with a smile to the deities in the queue: "You’re all here as well?"

"Old Immortal, you’re here for a meal too?"

"You’re quite late!"

"Elder Immortal Taibai, you’ll have to wait quite a while, with so many of us here I doubt it’ll be your turn anytime soon."

The deities jovially responded, some even kindly ribbing him a few times.

Gold Star Taibai was kind to everyone, and thus was well-liked within the Heavenly Court.

Making light chat and replying to each greeting, Gold Star Taibai casually made his way past the queue.

Only then did the deities realize what had transpired.

"" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Fuck! This old geezer actually cut in line! Can this even be tolerated?

They didn’t mind when Haotian cut the line, but it was a different story with Gold Star Taibai.

"Elder Immortal Taibai! Look at you, you old geezer, you actually dared to jump the queue!"

"To think I had a decent relationship with you on regular days, only to find out you are such a person!"

The immortals started to denounce and criticize one after another.

Gold Star Taibai scratched his head, and with an apologetic smile said, "My apologies, everyone! This old man is accompanying His Majesty, so I dare not delay!"

Having said this, Gold Star Taibai cheerfully walked inside, leaving a group of stunned immortals standing in place.

"Fuck!" An immortal couldn’t help but exclaim.

This old coot is too crafty; for the sake of a meal, he actually used His Majesty as a cover.

Though disdain was evident on everyone’s face to some extent, they all thought how nice it would be if it were themselves in that position.

At the same time, they all secretly started scheming in their minds.

This move is truly brilliant; next time when coming to eat, I must try my best to bring His Majesty along first.

Haotian pushed open the door and strode in.

"This is the Imperial Kitchen, entry is forbidden." God of Cookery and Kitchen God were preparing dishes and, without turning their heads, spoke with full authority.

Ever since Chef Wukong returned, their spines have been much straighter!

"What? Is there a place in the Heavenly Court that I cannot visit?" Haotian said with his hands behind his back, his voice deep.

Kitchen God and God of Cookery frowned; this voice... why did it sound so familiar?

They turned their heads simultaneously and shivered involuntarily the moment they saw Haotian.

Trembling, they said, "Your, Your Majesty!"

The two deities suddenly felt that the kicks they received from Haotian the other day were beginning to ache again.

"Where’s Chef Wukong?" Haotian asked directly.

Considering that these two were still diligently preparing the dishes, Haotian did not hold their earlier actions against them.

"Chef Wukong?" Kitchen God was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "Chef Wukong is inside cooking."

With such a big group of immortals waiting outside, how could there be any spare time?

Haotian nodded and walked straight ahead, pushing open the kitchen doors to be greeted by the smell of smoke and the delicious aroma of food reaching his nostrils.

He saw Sun Wukong had split into several clones, each managing a stove and cooking with methodical and skilled movements.

Hearing the sound of the door, Sun Wukong’s original body turned his head to look back, a flash of puzzlement in his eyes, and Sun Wukong said, "Your Majesty? What brings you here?"

Although he was talking, his actions of stir-frying did not pause for a moment, thanks to ten years of constant effort and training under Shopkeeper Chen’s guidance.

"I’ve come to eat here, I got a hotpot base and ingredients from your master!" Haotian explained with a smile.

His respect for Chen Nuo raised Wukong’s status in Haotian’s eyes by more than just one level.

Moreover, Sun Wukong’s conduct had surprised him somewhat.

He had originally thought this monkey would have a terribly mischievous nature, but it turned out he was so responsible and diligent.

However, he was a bit disrespectful towards him; as the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court, this monkey had never once performed a full ritual salute upon seeing him.

But for the sake of Shopkeeper Chen’s face and the fact that the monkey never caused trouble, he wouldn’t concern himself with that; after all, even as a late-stage Quasi-Saint, he couldn’t see through Shopkeeper Chen’s cultivation level.

In his heart, he also regarded Shopkeeper Chen as a senior, and this monkey, well, he would grudgingly consider him as on the same level as himself!

"Master?!" Sun Wukong’s eyes instantly lit up, and his hands paused in their motion.

But he quickly regained composure, used his Divine Skills, Thousands of Threads and Strands, and produced another clone, making way as the clone immediately took over.

Approaching Haotian, Sun Wukong scratched his head and asked, "Your Majesty, did you visit my master?"

"No."

Haotian paused for a moment and then said, "I had Taibai buy it on my behalf, but we only got the ingredients, not the pot, so I thought I’d come here to eat."

So that’s how it was, Sun Wukong realized.

"I’ll go fetch it for Your Majesty right now," Sun Wukong said, patting the creases on his sleeve.