After the Fairy Maidens Fell to Darkness, They Captured Me to Ruthlessly 'Repay' Their Gratitude-Chapter 27 - The Old Nine Gates

…

Yong’an City, Cross Street.

This was the largest food street in Yong’an City. While it was bustling with activity at night, the crowd was much thinner at noon, making it neither too noisy nor too crowded.

For He Ange, this kind of place—with just the right amount of life and energy—was perfect.

Senior Sister Xu Xin was a kind-hearted person who had treated him well. To show his gratitude, He Ange decided to treat her to a meal. After all, having a senior sister who looked out for him as he entered Qin Shiyan’s tutelage was a rare blessing, one he intended to cherish.

The restaurant he chose was called The Old Nine Gates.

The Old Nine Gates was a famous century-old establishment in Yong’an City, renowned for its top-tier culinary skills. Its only downside was that the food was quite expensive, making it a high-end choice for diners.

He Ange didn’t choose this place to flaunt his wealth.

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He chose it because he was familiar with it.

In the past, He Ange had worked here. He had been a temporary manager at the front desk, a waiter serving tea and wine, and had even worked with the eccentric old chef in the kitchen. He had learned a bit of cooking from the old man as well.

As a former employee, He Ange could enjoy certain discounts here.

It was the perfect choice—affordable yet respectable.

As soon as he and Xu Xin stepped through the door, two staff members immediately recognized him.

“Hey, isn’t this our little Shengge?” called out a woman with expertly applied makeup.

“Well, well, Shengge, it’s been years! Who’s the young lady you’ve brought along this time?” teased a man in his twenties.

The first to speak was Xu Hua, a well-known hostess at The Old Nine Gates.

The second was Yan Lei, a handsome young man who had been reassigned to greet customers at the door after He Ange left his job. The restaurant, after all, liked to have attractive staff at the front to make a good impression.

“Brother Lei, Sister Xu, long time no see,” He Ange greeted them warmly, clasping his hands in respect.

During his time working at The Old Nine Gates, these two had taken good care of him. They were old colleagues he still respected.

“This is my senior sister. Please don’t tease me in front of her,” he added with a polite smile.

“Not bad, Shengge. Joining a sect has really changed you,” Yan Lei said, giving Xu Xin a once-over before draping an arm over He Ange’s shoulder. He whispered something with a mischievous grin, then patted He Ange on the back and gave him a thumbs-up.

He Ange could only respond with an awkward smile.

Yan Lei had always been a bit of a rascal, quick to make cheeky remarks. Seeing He Ange bring a girl to dinner, it was only natural for him to jump to conclusions.

But despite his teasing, He Ange didn’t dislike Yan Lei.

Yan Lei’s roguish demeanor didn’t detract from his warm-hearted nature. Back when He Ange was young and inexperienced, it was Yan Lei who had first introduced him to the Blue Courtyard in the black market. What happened that night was a story for another time, but it had opened He Ange’s eyes to the world of the black market.

Now, much of He Ange’s success in the black market—including owning his own shop—could be traced back to Yan Lei’s guidance.

“Go on, go on. I’ll have the manager set up a private room for you. Order whatever you like,” Yan Lei said with a hearty laugh.

The entrance was starting to get busy with incoming customers, so Yan Lei couldn’t linger. He returned to his post to greet more guests.

He Ange didn’t waste any time either, leading Xu Xin deeper into the restaurant. He chose a quiet private room in the back courtyard and invited her to sit.

“Junior Brother, why do they all call you Shengge?” Xu Xin asked curiously.

“Shengge was my name before I started cultivating,” He Ange explained as he poured her a cup of tea.

The journey to the private room had been an eye-opener for Xu Xin. Despite being new to the sect, her junior brother seemed to have a lot of connections in the mortal world.

The Old Nine Gates was a renowned establishment in Yong’an City.

Although Xu Xin didn’t know much about the mortal world, she had overheard other female disciples talking about famous places and had some impression of this restaurant.

Seeing it in person, she found it as grand and luxurious as the rumors suggested.

What surprised her even more was that the staff here seemed to know He Ange personally!

Who would’ve thought that her seemingly modest junior brother was a regular at such a prestigious restaurant?

Her gaze toward He Ange changed slightly. Despite her composed demeanor, Xu Xin came from a humble farming family. She had never dreamed of dining at a place like The Old Nine Gates.

“I used to work here. I thought it’d be nice to treat you to a good meal now that I’ve joined the sect,” He Ange said, noticing her curious expression. “Since I used to work here, I can get a discount.”

Hearing this, Xu Xin nodded in understanding. It all made sense now. If He Ange were a wealthy young master, she might have felt pressured or out of place dining with him.

When she first saw him during the swordsmanship class, she had felt an immediate sense of camaraderie. She thought they were similar—both poor and weak but full of ambition. That shared connection made her feel at ease around him.

Sitting in her chair, Xu Xin swung her legs under the table, resting her chin in her hands as she smiled at He Ange.

Her cheerful expression made He Ange momentarily wonder, Does she... like me?

“Hey, hey, why are you blushing?” Xu Xin teased, noticing his odd behavior. She laughed again, her voice light and carefree.

She really loved to laugh.

Whether it was out of innocence or deliberate teasing, He Ange couldn’t tell.

“It’s because you keep smiling at me,” he replied with a shrug, deciding not to overthink it.

“Haha, it’s just that this is the first time a fellow disciple has treated me to a meal since I joined the sect. Of course I’m happy!” Xu Xin said, her eyes sparkling with joy.

She rocked back and forth in her chair, her excitement so infectious that even the table began to wobble.

Their lighthearted conversation was interrupted by a gruff voice from behind them.

“Who’s the clumsy girl shaking the chair? Stop it!”

“That’s a golden willow chair. Don’t you dare break it,” the voice scolded.

Startled, Xu Xin turned around to see an elderly man carrying a large pot.

The old man was gaunt and stern-looking, his expression as sharp as his words.

As he placed the pot of red broth on the table, its rich aroma filled the room, instantly whetting their appetites.

Xu Xin, who had been too busy training to eat much that morning, felt her stomach growl. The enticing smell of the broth made her mouth water.

She wanted to dig in, but with the old man standing nearby, she didn’t dare move her chopsticks.

Besides, she had never heard of “hotpot” before, let alone eaten it. She had no idea how to start.

Fine. She admitted it—she was out of her depth.

“Forget it. Since this girl is with that brat, I won’t say anything more about the chair,” the old man muttered, glancing at He Ange.

The boy offered an awkward smile and nodded in acknowledgment.

The old man didn’t linger. After wiping his hands with a cloth, he left the room without another word.

“Junior Brother, who was that? Did I upset him?” Xu Xin asked nervously.

She felt bad for shaking the chair without realizing its value. What if they ended up having to pay for it?

He Ange chuckled and shook his head.

“That’s the chef here. He’s also the grandfather of the current manager. Don’t worry, he’s not really mad. He just has a sharp tongue. Back when I was learning to cook from him, he scolded me all the time.”

“You learned to cook?”

“If there’s ever a chance, I’ll cook for you myself. I promise it’ll taste just as good as anything here,” He Ange said confidently.

When it came to cultivation, he might not be the most diligent. But cooking? That was something he truly excelled at, thanks to years of training under the old man.

As they chatted, a mocking voice drifted over from a nearby room.

“Look at these bumpkins. Never seen a golden willow chair before. Must be some backwater rogue cultivators.”

“And that boy? Saying his cooking is better than The Old Nine Gates? Haha! What a joke.”

…

Yong’an City, Cross Street.

The sharp crack of a horsewhip startled the pedestrians, who quickly moved aside to make way for the approaching carriage.

Inside the carriage, Wang Yuan sat on a cushioned bench, his expression dark and menacing.

The swordsmanship class had been a disaster for him.

Not only had he failed to avenge his junior brother Wang Qiong, but he had also been humiliated by He Ange and forced to kneel by An Luo Yi. His reputation was in shambles.

Who was Wang Yuan?

He was the second son of the Wang family, one of the four great families of the capital. In Longchao’s imperial city, he was a figure of influence. In a small place like Yong’an City, he was practically untouchable.

Originally, he had planned to meet some of Yong’an City’s wealthy young masters for lunch, intending to brag about how he had humiliated He Ange during the swordsmanship class. It was supposed to be a power move to establish his dominance.

But now?

His face was scratched, his muscles ached, and he was in no condition to boast. If anything, he’d be the one laughed at.

“Damn it, He Ange! An Luo Yi! You two conniving bastards! Just wait—I’ll make you pay!” Wang Yuan growled, his anger boiling over.

At some point, the carriage came to a stop at an intersection.

Peeking through the curtain, a steward announced, “Young Master, we’ve arrived at The Old Nine Gates. The other gentlemen are already seated in the private room, waiting for you.”