CFSMS -Chapter 84 She Came Fine, But Couldn’t Go Back

The vine pepper broth had finally made its debut.

The green Sichuan peppercorns had long since released their numbing fragrance in the hot oil, while the peppercorns themselves hid mischievously among the ingredients, waiting to surprise unsuspecting diners.

When the time came, that tingling sensation would spread from the tip of the tongue little by little until it occupied the entire mouth—making people love and hate it at the same time.

The customers continued to wait.

The young man took out his communication device and, avoiding everyone’s gaze, rapidly typed a message.

Meanwhile, in the City Lord’s Mansion, Cang Heguang was still awake.

He was reviewing a stack of files, all concerning a cult known as the Fallen Immortal Society.

The cult was massive, with traces of its activities found throughout every major province.

Several months ago, it had appeared in Hong’an City. By the time Cang Heguang noticed something suspicious, they had already established a casino and firmly rooted themselves in the city.

Countless gamblers had been lured in, taking a single step into an abyss from which there was no return.

Some innocent people had also been exploited and ultimately driven onto desperate paths.

During his investigations, Cang Heguang discovered that the Fallen Immortal Society used a special method to make gamblers lose their rationality, leaving them obsessed with gambling and nothing else.

He had once imprisoned several gamblers in an attempt to isolate them from the influence.

It had accomplished nothing.

The gamblers couldn’t communicate rationally. No matter what anyone said, they would only scream and demand to be returned to the casino.

Cang Heguang didn’t particularly care about those who had willingly thrown their lives away.

But many ordinary citizens of Hong’an City were innocent victims. Among them were people who had already suffered enough hardships in life.

As City Lord, he had to think about them.

Thus, he had sent an undercover agent into the casino, hoping to discover exactly how the cult controlled its gamblers and find a solution.

To avoid exposure, he had instructed the agent not to contact him unless absolutely necessary.

Who could have expected that after only two days inside the casino, the agent would completely lose contact?

Just as Cang Heguang was considering whether he should personally go rescue him, a message finally arrived.

City Lord, the Fallen Immortal Society controls gamblers using an evil technique called Insect Descent. I’ve confirmed that this technique has no cure.

The undercover agent was terrified.

Even now, his heart was still pounding violently.

To successfully infiltrate the casino, he couldn’t reveal any flaws. He had to blend in with the gamblers.

At first, he only made small bets while gathering information.

The moment he discovered these secrets, he should have reported back to the City Lord immediately.

Yet a thought suddenly appeared in his mind.

One more game. Just one more game.

Without realizing it, something had already gone wrong.

Instead of questioning the impulse, he followed it and continued gambling.

After that, his memories became hazy.

All he remembered was endlessly drifting through gambling tables, like a wandering ghost devoid of thought.

He had arrived perfectly fine.

Now, he couldn’t go back.

Gambling.

His entire heart and mind were consumed by gambling.

If nothing unexpected happened, his ending wouldn’t be any better than the others.

Until that fragrance had pulled him out of the chaos.

The young man reported everything to Cang Heguang in detail.

Naturally, he didn’t forget to mention Lu Wu.

Skewers that can break the Insect Descent curse.
The owner is a young girl running a small food stall.

Night Fragrance Skewers. They taste absolutely amazing.

Sitting in his study, Cang Heguang felt an increasing sense of familiarity as he read the description.

He already knew Lu Wu had come to Hong’an City and purchased a large amount of ingredients.

Originally, he thought she was preparing food for the Calamity Dragon.

Instead, she had gone out to set up a stall.

And not just anywhere.

Right outside Heaven and Earth Casino.

Selling skewers in front of a cult’s headquarters.

Even Cang Heguang couldn’t help admiring Lu Wu’s courage.

Then he thought about it and immediately understood.

Lu Wu probably had no idea the casino was problematic.

Based on his understanding of Boss Lu, her choice of stall locations was always completely random.

If she could set up shop inside a secret realm, why couldn’t she do it outside a casino?

What interested him even more, however, was the effect of her food.

The ice jelly in the secret realm.

The skewers outside the casino.

Why did it feel as though everything Boss Lu sold was oddly targeted toward solving specific problems?

A person blessed by great fortune truly lives up to the title.

Deciding not to investigate further, Cang Heguang prepared to personally visit Lu Wu’s stall.

And while he was there, he could buy this month’s food supply for the Calamity Dragon.

Absolutely not because he was curious about what the skewers tasted like.

Definitely not.

With a flash, the dignified City Lord transformed into a somewhat sleazy-looking middle-aged man and disappeared from the study.

At the stall, Lu Wu had just seen off several customers.

【Mission Progress: 13/200】

Looking at the numbers, she still had a long way to go.

“Sigh…”

Lu Wu sighed, rubbed Gou Aotian’s head, then teased Huohuo for a bit.

“Little boss, how much are your skewers?”

A frivolous voice sounded.

Turning around, she found a sleazy-looking middle-aged man standing before her stall.

Looking at the greasy grin plastered across his face, Lu Wu suddenly had the urge to call the police.

No.

The law enforcement team.

This kind of uncle looked exactly like the sort who bullied innocent young girls.

Fortunately, she wasn’t innocent.

While complaining internally, Lu Wu displayed a polite smile that revealed all eight of her teeth.

“Customer, the prices are written right here.”

She pointed at the signboard.

Are you blind? The characters are huge.

The burly man—actually Cang Heguang in disguise—felt that she didn’t seem particularly happy to see him.

Her tone sounded oddly sarcastic.

An illusion.

It had to be an illusion.

The mighty and respected City Lord was loved by everyone.

“Ahem. Can I book the entire stall?” he asked.

He had learned the phrase “book the entire stall” from Lu Wu’s customers.

“You can, but can you finish all the food?”

She had worked hard preparing everything.

Wasting food deserved heavenly punishment.

“Of course.”

Not just him.

There was also the Calamity Dragon.

And the irrational gamblers still locked up in prison.

He wanted to conduct an experiment.

If the skewers truly worked on the gamblers, then perhaps he could save all those unfortunate people in the casino without anyone getting hurt.

The matter was too dangerous, however.

For the moment, he didn’t want Lu Wu involved.

Being targeted by the Fallen Immortal Society was no joke.

What Cang Heguang forgot was that anyone bold enough to set up a food stall directly in front of the cult’s headquarters had already caught the cult’s attention.

“Alright then.”

There weren’t many customers tonight anyway.

Waiting longer probably wouldn’t help.

Business was business no matter how it was done.

There was still six days left for the mission.

No need to rush.

Thinking this, Lu Wu followed his order and lowered the skewers into the broth.

“Boss, your knife skills are impressive. Every slice is perfectly even.”

Seeing Lu Wu completely focused on her work, Cang Heguang tried to start a conversation.

Rubbing his hands together, he casually asked,

“Wind Blade Technique.”

Lu Wu glanced at him and replied offhandedly.

The tone clearly said she had no interest in chatting.

Uncle, stop smiling.

We’re really not that familiar.

“Ahem…”

“Do you want dipping sauce?”

Before he could continue, Lu Wu interrupted him.

“Yes. That one—”

“Spicy, sweet, or savory?”

Another interruption.

“I’ll take all of them. You—”

“That’ll be eight middle-grade spirit stones total. No bargaining.”

Third interruption.

A perfect crowd-control combo.

Silently, Cang Heguang took out the spirit stones and wisely shut his mouth.

He understood.

He truly understood.

Boss Lu…

Why do you have two completely different faces?

You weren’t like this back then.