A Restaurant Named "A Restaurant"
At this moment, Zhongli, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, Xuan Ziwen, and Juzi were seated around a table.
As for Jing Hongchen, he didn't even stay to eat. He rushed directly to the Sun and Moon Empire.
Dinner was trivial compared to reuniting the residents of Liyue!
If this had happened in the Douluo Three empires, he wouldn't have cared and might even have laughed it off as a joke.
But this involved the residents of Liyue…
Although the man who left wasn't originally from Liyue, his wife and children had settled there. Upon his return, wasn't he also a resident of Liyue?
The expressions on Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen's faces were quite strange, especially after hearing their grandfather's words!
What did he mean by "a man in his forties is still in his prime"?
Having a five-year-old child call him "brother"?
Would they have to call the child "aunt"?
As for Xuan Ziwen, his mind was entirely focused on soul tool research. Witnessing such power today gave him some new insights.
No wonder the Sun and Moon Empire, with its advanced soul tool technology, placed such importance on the Martial God!
Current soul tool technology was still far from being able to compare to a god!
Juzi glanced at Zhongli, deep in thought.
Due to the war, she had lost both her parents and become an orphan.
If only the Martial God had appeared earlier to end all this war, how wonderful that would have been!
But alas, there was no going back.
With Jing Hongchen gone, the four of them were afraid of saying the wrong thing and didn't dare to initiate conversation with Zhongli. For a moment, the atmosphere was awkward.
Everyone was staring at each other, unsure of how to break the ice.
Just then, the appearance of three figures shattered the awkward silence.
"Huh, Zhongli, what are you doing here?"
Paimon floated in the air, flying over to Zhongli.
Behind her were the Ice and Snow Emperors, flanking her like "bodyguards."
After leaving Huo's Barbecue, Paimon and the others had continued their stroll and eventually spotted Zhongli.
Zhongli's position was simply too conspicuous. Anyone passing by could see him with just a glance inside the restaurant.
"Greetings, Martial God!"
The Ice Empress and Snow Empress greeted Zhongli before glancing at Meng Hongchen and the others.
Since they were dining with Zhongli, they must have something special about them.
Zhongli waved his hand and said, "Snow Empress, Ice Empress, join us for a bite."
As for Paimon, she had already found a seat. There was no need for formalities between her and Zhongli.
They were close, after all!
Hearing this, Snow Empress and Ice Empress didn't refuse. In their current state, they didn't need to eat.
Tasting food was more of a formality for them.
The two women sat down beside Paimon and Zhongli, everything looking perfectly natural.
This, however, left Meng Hongchen and the others somewhat puzzled.
These three…
Paimon had a platinum soul ring hovering above her, making her identity obvious.
As for Snow Empress and Ice Empress, there was no mention of them in the "intel," so their identities were unclear.
But since they had arrived with Paimon and seemed close to her, their status must be extraordinary.
The group's eyes darted around, their thoughts swirling.
"Zhongli, who are these two young men and two young ladies?"
"Are they treating you to a meal?"
Paimon looked at Meng Hongchen and the others, puzzled.
Hearing this, Meng Hongchen and the others were stunned. Wasn't Zhongli the one treating?
What did this little one mean?
Of course, it wouldn't hurt if they paid. It was just a few gold soul coins. Being able to treat the Martial God to a meal was an honor in itself.
But they didn't know that it was precisely because Paimon knew Zhongli so well that she asked such a question!
"These are guests who have traveled all the way from the Sun and Moon Empire. I'm treating them to a simple meal."
Zhongli replied calmly.
"Uh, do you even have gold soul coins on you to pay for the meal?"
Paimon instinctively asked, her eyes wide.
As for the guests from the Sun and Moon Empire, she didn't find anything unusual about that.
Hearing this, Meng Hongchen and the others were momentarily confused.
What was going on?
Zhongli was also taken aback, glancing at Paimon.
Well, come to think of it…
In order to develop Liyue, he had generously invested all his gold soul coins into the city. Even though the Liyue Seven Stars had said it wasn't necessary, he still went ahead with it.
He truly didn't have any gold soul coins on him!
As the God of Wealth, he never concerned himself with whether he had money or not…
"Alright, you really don't have any gold soul coins!"
Paimon slapped her forehead, looking somewhat exasperated.
With a wave of her hand, she pulled out dozens of gold soul coins from some hidden space and placed them on the table.
"Hmph, good thing Paimon has a little stash!"
Paimon put her hands on her hips, looking quite proud.
Everyone else: "…"
It was hard to imagine that the ruler of Liyue wouldn't have gold soul coins… and had to rely on his "soul" to pay for a meal!
Meng Hongchen and the others exchanged glances, wanting to laugh but not daring to, feeling quite stifled.
"Huh, they all want to laugh. Miss Snow Empress, Miss Ice Empress, why do you two look so confused?"
Paimon looked at Snow Empress and Ice Empress, puzzled.
Snow Empress and Ice Empress twitched at the corners of their eyes, helplessly shrugging.
As soul beasts, how could they possibly have gold soul coins?
Besides, one of them was a soul tool, and the other was a soul spirit. They couldn't possibly possess gold soul coins!
The fact that Paimon, as a soul tool, had a stash of gold coins was the strange part, wasn't it?
Even the Martial God didn't have gold soul coins…
Hearing this, Meng Hongchen and the others shivered, glancing at Zhongli's face. Seeing that Zhongli didn't seem to mind, they finally relaxed.
Who would have thought this little one would be so blunt, exposing their behavior so directly!
Thinking about it, this was normal. She didn't even spare the Martial God, let alone "ordinary" people like them.
"Paimon, how could we possibly have gold soul coins?"
Snow Empress said with a resigned expression.
Hearing this, Meng Hongchen, Xiao Hongchen, and the others were filled with questions. Why didn't this elegant, gentle, and beautiful older sister have gold soul coins?
"Why can't you have them?"
Paimon scratched her head, genuinely puzzled.
Clearly, she didn't consider Snow Empress and Ice Empress her possessions, which was why she was so confused.
In Paimon's eyes, she and Zhongli were equals, and so were she, Snow Empress, and Ice Empress.
Since they were equals and close friends, naturally, no one belonged to anyone else.
Paimon herself had no source of income, yet she had a stash of gold coins saved up for emergencies.
Snow Empress and Ice Empress had lived for so many years. How had they survived without gold soul coins?
Snow Empress, Ice Empress: "…"
Should they have them?
Zhongli stroked his chin, deep in thought, and said, "Paimon, you've formed a contract with Snow Empress and Ice Empress. Among the three of you, you're the primary party. You're essentially their employer and should pay them a monthly salary."