Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Lu Wu Said Nothing, Just Kept Waving the Pancake Spatula

A sinister aura spread through the air.

Lu Wu, feeling the blind old man’s "gaze" on her, recalled the information she had gathered earlier.

The villagers were all mortals.

’A mortal’s aura mixed with Ghost Energy... He feels like some kind of hidden boss for a side quest.’

’Could defeating a boss be the way to clear this village stage?’

Lu Wu’s mind raced, so she remained silent for a moment. Meanwhile, Lou Xiaotian was busy stuffing his face.

Compared to Boss Lu’s savory crepe, his own previous attempts were nothing but a pile of crap. He desperately needed this delicacy to cleanse his palate.

The scene fell quiet.

"What are you selling?"

The old man took the initiative to speak, breaking the strange atmosphere.

"Savory crepes. Would you like one, sir?"

"They’re delicious."

As a stall owner, she had to treat all potential customers with enthusiasm.

Shaking off her wild thoughts, Lu Wu performed the classic, pointless gesture—smiling for a blind man.

The gray orbs in the old man’s sockets shifted a few times, the milky cataracts within them enough to send a chill down one’s spine.

Seeing as she and the old man were locked in a staring contest like a game of Statues, Lu Wu wanted to break the ice and pointed to Lou Xiaotian.

"If you don’t believe me, ask him."

As she spoke, she gave Lou Xiaotian a light kick, signaling him to put some effort into it.

"Oh, right!"

Lou Xiaotian snapped out of it, wiped his mouth, an expression of wanting more still on his face.

He made the same mistake as Lu Wu—the old man couldn’t see his passionate performance.

After getting a glare from Lu Wu, Lou Xiaotian gave a sheepish laugh and resumed his duties as Tool Man No. 2.

With Qin No.1 absent, he had to step up and carry the team.

"Grandpa, Boss Lu really isn’t lying! These savory crepes are incredibly delicious."

"Boss Lu only uses the real deal, top-quality ingredients. After this high-grade wheat flour batter is grilled, the aroma of the wheat is so rich."

"And the texture is out of this world."

"The outer crepe is nice and chewy, while the inside is crispy. It makes a CRUNCH sound when you bite into it."

Growing more enthusiastic with every word, Lou Xiaotian walked over to the old man, slung an arm around his shoulders, and continued his sales pitch.

"And don’t even get me started on the sweet and spicy sauce Boss Lu makes! I swear, all other sauces are pathetic in comparison. The aroma alone is enough to make you swoon."

"When you take a bite, the sauce just oozes out. I even licked every last drop off my fingers."

In his excitement, he even slapped the old man on the shoulder, causing the poor man to stagger.

Just from his tone, it was obvious Lou Xiaotian was truly satisfied with the savory crepe’s flavor.

Lu Wu gave a thumbs-up to Lou Xiaotian’s extreme extroversion.

’Some things you just can’t learn,’ she thought. ’Truly, a lost cause.’

"Grandpa, meeting like this must be fate! How about this? This crepe is on me. If you like it, you can come back for more."

"Boss Lu, what are you waiting for? Fire up a crepe!"

"Make five! Four of them are for me."

With the grand wave of a big spender, he slapped some Spirit Stones down on the counter.

Lou Xiaotian completely ignored the old man’s attempt to refuse.

When a rich guy decides to throw money around, he doesn’t care whether you want it or not.

Lu Wu said nothing, simply working the crepe spatula with practiced ease.

After ten minutes of practice, Lu Wu presented her hard-earned creation. Lou Xiaotian placed the finished crepe in the old man’s hands.

"Give it a try."

"Careful, it’s hot."

Lou Xiaotian added thoughtfully.

Although the old man couldn’t see, he could feel the warmth of the crepe in his hands.

The aroma of wheat and egg wafted up to him, making his already rumbling stomach churn with hunger.

His body’s honest reaction brought a complex look to the old man’s face. He sighed, his lips moving for a moment before he said, "Thank you."

"You’re welcome. Go on, eat."

As he brought the crepe closer, the old man could also smell the sesame and scallions, along with the unique aroma of the sweet and spicy sauce—a combination he had never encountered before.

His greedy stomach urged him to take a bite.

Surrounded by the fresh scent of wheat, the old man slowly opened his mouth and took a tentative bite.

CRUNCH!

A crisp sound rang out. The young man hadn’t been exaggerating.

It offered two experiences in one: tender and soft, yet fragrant and crisp.

But what truly moved the old man was the sauce.

The thick, smooth sauce was spread over the crepe, its flavor gradually seeping into the fillings wrapped within.

The sweetness came first, followed by a kick of spice.

The sweetness wasn’t cloying, and the spice wasn’t overpowering.

The rich flavors completely awakened his appetite. Without any further prompting, the old man began to eat in big mouthfuls.

A few crumbs fell.

The old man deftly caught them mid-air and popped them into his mouth, smacking his lips with relish.

This move left the two onlookers completely stunned.

’A true master!’

Seeing the old man’s look of pure enjoyment, Lu Wu shot Lou Xiaotian a glance that said, "Nice work."

The sun rose in the east, casting down a magnificent, rosy glow.

Little Sea Village, which had seemed so dark and dilapidated in the night, was now draped in the beautiful cloak of the morning sun, dispelling the gloomy, cold feeling.

More people began to emerge from their homes.

Villagers living near the eastern entrance were drawn over by the aroma, but they didn’t approach.

Instead, they stood at the village entrance, silently watching the stall.

Their faces conveyed a mixture of curiosity and a deathly stillness that Lu Wu couldn’t comprehend.

A few children clutched their elders’ hands, peeking their heads out from behind the adults to gaze at the scene with innocent, uncomprehending eyes.

The adult villagers’ eyes were dim, filled with a vast sorrow.

Though they were merely a dozen meters away, Lu Wu had the strange feeling that she was in a different world from them.

That sense of separation couldn’t be explained away by a single word like "secluded."

This intense contradiction had become an invisible chain, enveloping the entire village.

A self-imposed prison.

The phrase came to Lu Wu’s mind.

"Sir..."

Lou Xiaotian opened his mouth to ask something, but the old man raised his head.

He was clearly blind, yet he was always so perceptive.

"Don’t ask."

The two words stopped Lou Xiaotian in his tracks.

The expression on the old man’s face now was a complex one that Lu Wu couldn’t decipher.

It seemed to be a mix of astonishment and sudden realization, tinged with a hint of wistful loss.

"This crepe..."

The old man’s voice was very soft. Lu Wu thought he disliked it, but then she saw him suddenly break into a laugh.

"So that’s how it is... so that’s how it is."

It was a bitter, heavy smile.

"Young lady, your crepe is indeed the best I’ve ever had."

"But you shouldn’t come here again."

As if sensing Lu Wu’s unspoken question, the old man stood up straight and looked toward the village, his tone becoming placid.

"They won’t buy your crepes."

With those words, the old man turned and walked toward the village, carrying the remaining half of his crepe.

When they saw the old man returning, the villagers withdrew their gazes and dispersed.

The old man was left sitting motionless at the village entrance, as if he had turned into a statue devoid of joy or sorrow, silently watching over the entire village.

But...

’Was he a guardian, or a jailer?’

As an outsider, Lu Wu couldn’t tell.

"Wait, they’re just leaving? Has everyone eaten breakfast already? Come on, try some!"

Lou Xiaotian shouted, trying to retain his potential customers.

But none of the villagers looked back.

Lou Xiaotian, who had hoped to use the old man to kick off Boss Lu’s stall with a bang, had miscalculated.

"How can they do this?!"

Lou Xiaotian felt wronged. He had been taken for a ride, getting nothing in return.

A cold wind brushed against her cheeks, bringing a faint sting. Lu Wu felt the warmth of the fire and rubbed her face.

’It really is cold today.’

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