The Soldier King Becomes a Useless Little Girl-Chapter 400 - 397: Rival

Master Ji entered the Pingan Refining Hall, and a young apprentice hurried forward to greet him.

"Apprentice, here is a procurement list. Get me one portion of each of the ingredients listed, all of the best quality."

Master Ji and the Alchemy Hall had a long-standing partnership; the apprentice naturally recognized him.

The procurement list mostly included common ingredients, about twelve or thirteen types, with only one or two rare ones that Master Ji specifically prepared for a significant guest’s Spiritual Banquet tonight, also exclusive to the Purple Cloud Alchemy Hall.

The apprentice returned quickly.

"Master Ji, we have ten types of ingredients from the list, but two types have been sold out. Restocking them would take about three days."

The apprentice indicated the Dust Extinguishing Flower and the Fire Toad Ginseng on the list.

These two were the primary spiritual materials needed by Master Ji for tonight’s Spiritual Banquet.

"Three days later? That won’t do. A few days ago, I personally ordered from you and was assured that you would have them today. Young man, please check again, there might be some mistake. I need them for tonight. The guest has already paid the deposit. If I fail to deliver the Spiritual Cuisine, or if I have to switch ingredients, it could ruin the reputation of Taoyao Pavilion."

Master Ji showed a troubled expression.

The significant guest had booked ten tables, and his background was noteworthy. If the Spiritual Banquet were to fail, Taoyao Pavilion could face more than just compensations.

"Master Ji, I’m really sorry. There were some stocks of Dust Extinguishing Flower and Fire Toad Ginseng, but just half an hour ago, Master Chen from De Yue Building bought all the remaining stock. Vice Hall Master Zhao did not know about your reservation, so he sold it. We can only refund your deposit; we ask for your understanding."

The apprentice looked troubled.

"Oh, isn’t this Brother Ji? Your expression looks quite troubled; have you been unwell recently?"

Not far away, a middle-aged man in a yellow robe approached. The man had a pale, beardless face, a rotund figure, and his face, crowded with nose and mouth, was crammed with features. His chubby fingers were adorned with uniform Gold gem rings, clearly a nouveau riche.

Xin Lin saw from afar and felt a greasy sensation approaching.

This man was indeed Master Chen from De Yue Building, also a Three-star Spirit Chef.

De Yue Building and Taoyao Pavilion were both Spiritual Food Restaurants, but De Yue Building never engaged in festive trades and always looked down on places like Taoyao Pavilion that thrived in such an environment.

"Zhao Chen, I had reserved the Dust Extinguishing Grass and the Fire Toad Ginseng; tell me how much you paid for them, I’ll offer twenty percent more to buy them back."

Upon seeing the other party, Master Ji’s tone was not pleasant at all.

Xin Lin, observing the aura between the two men, knew they were archenemies who did not get along.

"Just because you say it’s yours, it’s yours? What a joke. I paid money for them. You can buy them too, but twenty percent extra won’t cut it, make it ten times the price."

Master Chen sneered coldly, his words full of malice.

The major client at Taoyao Pavilion had originally made a booking for spiritual cuisine at De Yue Building, but somehow, the Oiran of Taoyao Pavilion employed some method and lured the person away.

Having lost the deal and already not seeing eye to eye with Master Ji on regular days, upon hearing Master Ji had made a reservation here, Master Chen acted swiftly and bought the ingredients instead.

"Zhao Chen, this is too much. Those ingredients were originally mine."

Master Ji, enraged, his white beard trembling, glared fiercely.