Chapter 1271: Saved by the specials
In a trice, Cai Shan’s eyes had completely concealed whatever overarching emotions had swirled within them concerning the jade slip, replaced instead by the motherly, tender warmth Yang Qing had seen earlier when she first introduced herself.
But even with her gaze back to normal, a hint of wariness mixed with curiosity lingered in subtle flickers—though by the time she reached Yang Qing’s table, it had been entirely smothered.
"Fellow Daoist Yang Qing, on behalf of the Velvet Orchid Teahouse, I would like to thank you for the enormous generosity you’ve shown us by donating this slip," she said, gesturing to the jade resting in her right hand. "It more than meets the standard required," she added at once, confirming Sun Biya’s earlier evaluation.
"In addition, should you ever need any assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. You are now considered an eternal friend of the establishment. Whatever you need, we would be more than happy to render our aid," she said with a touch of solemnness, even though her expression remained as warm as before.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Cai Shan, Fellow Daoist Sun Biya," Yang Qing said, cupping his fists to the two of them. "And I would also like to thank you both for the hospitality, the collection, and the generosity you afford your customers," he added, casting a meaningful gaze toward the painting behind them.
"What’s in that slip, though valuable..." he continued, his eyes gesturing to the slip in Cai Shan’s hand, "that painting is much more precious in comparison. So thank you too," he added with a smile.
Cai Shan smiled back as she cupped her fists in gratitude, her gesture mirrored by Sun Biya. After a few more words of thanks, she gently exhorted Sun Biya to treat Yang Qing with the utmost courtesy, while also encouraging Yang Qing to treat the teahouse as his second home. With that, she excused herself, leaving the duo once again in each other’s company.
After Cai Shan departed, Sun Biya resumed her introductions with the diligence of a dutiful staff member. One of her tasks was handing Yang Qing a token shaped like an orchid (no surprise there—after all, they were in Orchid City, in a restaurant called the Velvet Orchid, so of course the token would be shaped like one). The orchid token was a command token used to operate the formation arrays around the table. And as if vindicating his earlier assumption, one of the arrays installed was indeed an illusory array.
Some of the other arrays mixed in there weren’t a surprise to Yang Qing either—like voice isolation arrays, and others meant to detect and protect from scrying. Alongside them were thermoregulation arrays, which were a must-have for restaurants, as they helped keep dishes hot or cold depending on the nature of the meal. Yang Qing was rather pleased to see this array, as it meant the teahouse indeed served food, which had been a great concern for him, though he hadn’t shown it.
There was also the fragrance locking array, yet another feature he’d seen in other restaurants. It served to lock in the flavors of the dishes and drinks—partly to enhance the enjoyment of the diners, and partly as a courtesy to other guests, since the array restricted the smell to the table. Anyone outside of it wouldn’t be able to catch the scent.