The rest of the workers were fearfully hurdled together as they stared at Zhong Quan and the restaurant manager with dread in their eyes. Only the two elderly-looking gentlemen in white robes seemed calm and unperturbed within the whole group of people.
A lot of the workers present were filled with confusion at how things took a drastic turn within a few minutes of the return of Zhong Quan.
It was just a few minutes ago that he came into the restaurant in a cheery mood and even loudly announced that he would give the employees raises because he made a great harvest. It was then that the restaurant manager hurriedly came down to greet him and also inform him of the Golden bamboo pavilion envoy that would be coming by to dine.
Everything seemed to be proceeding normal other than the short frown Zhong Quan had when he heard who was coming but it went back to normal seconds later even asking for more food to be prepared no matter the cost.
However, things took a sudden turn when the manager offhandedly mentioned that someone had come in saying they knew him and how he had told them to come over for a meal if they were ever around.
Zhong Quan at first thought nothing of it when he heard that since many people would lie using his name to try and gain entry into the restaurant. He never did anything to those caught lying with his name so it was a pretty common thing. He even took it as a badge of honor that people would go to that extent despite the risk just to eat a meal at his restaurant.
Out of curiosity, he asked what the person looked like. The manager went ahead and described the person along with those he came with. The more Zhong Quan heard the description the more his eyes widened.
Toward the end, Zhong Quan rushed to the manager with eagerness in his tone asking where that person went, to which the manager said he didn't know since he kicked them out in preparation for hosting the envoy from the Golden bamboo pavilion. He even added how it must have been a ruse from that person since he was being accompanied by two children he regularly sees scamming on the streets.
It was then that he got a vicious palm strike to his chest that tore up his robes along with the deep shred marks.
The manager would have suffered an even more ferocious attack had the two elderly men not stepped in to calm down Zhong Quan.
"Master Zhong what have I done wrong?" the manager asked still in confusion and trepidation from the sudden attack.
"Tang Xue I kept you by my side despite your horrible temperament and personality due to our longtime friendship and the debt I owe to your father for always looking out for me when I was young. However, this is how you repay me!!!!?" Zhong Quan roared threatening to attack however he held himself back at the last moment.
"Do you think just because the restaurant is a subsidiary of the Golden bamboo pavilion that means we can act wantonly as we please?
The earth beneath our feet is littered with the blood and bones of those who were foolish enough to think just a little bit of background would give them the license to act however they pleased.
It isn't from some sense of altruism that I insist on never turning away a guest despite how they look, dress, stature, or the level of their cultivation base.
You never know who you may end up provoking or what fortuitous encounter you may end up missing by narrow-mindedly judging by what you see.
But you never listen. Do you think the Golden bamboo pavilion knows or cares who you are that they would be willing to step out for you in case you got in trouble? Even the restaurant is nothing but a useless afterthought to them that they entertain much less the people that work in it.
That's not even considering the larger scheme of things. The Golden bamboo pavilion can't even be considered a hegemon amongst rank 2 organizations much less when they are pitted against all the organizations around the continent.
There are thousands of other organizations more powerful than them. That's why I insist on always being cordial. But you are either too arrogant or too stupid to pay my words any heed," Zhong Quan said as his look turned colder and calmer. However the calmer he looked the more terrified the manager became.
He still had no idea who he had provoked. Wasn't it just a youth with two kids he sees scamming people by the streets? What background could they have?
"The nobody you thought you were turning away was infact someone from the Order and a particularly powerful someone at that with who I managed to form a connection. But now I guess it's all gone especially if you behaved like you normally do. He must assume this place is like that too by now since it's the people that make a place," Zhong Quan said with a tired sigh as he turned to leave.
"Tang Xue we will part our ways here. On account of our ties, I'll let this matter end here but I don't want to see you here when I get back. You can go open a high-end restaurant someplace else and you can even pick those who want to go with you, half of the ingredients in stock and this month's earnings.
Think of it as my parting gift to you old friend," Zhong Quan's voice echoed as he shut the door behind him.
"Master Zhong…." The manager weakly said as he struggled to get up. He had a lost look in his eyes still confused at what just happened. The rest of the staff all shared the same look.
"Tang Xue you've truly angered him this time," one of the elderly men said as he patted the manager's shoulder.
"What do I do?" the manager lifelessly asked.
"I think you should do as the master says and start over someplace else. If you insist on staying then…," the other elderly man softly said.
He didn't finish his statement but they all knew there was a high likelihood that the manager would end up with a horrible fate if he ended up staying.
Zhong Quan rarely got mad but whenever he was triggered he would turn into a completely different person. It was, for this reason, the other subsidiary organizations of the Golden bamboo pavilion never went too far in their competitions especially when it came to him.
"Everyone get back to your posts, we still have a dinner to host," the elderly man said as he and his compatriot left for the kitchen leaving the listless Tang Xue behind.
