The Thirteen Trials of the Deceptive Monk

"I'm really looking forward to it, Wenjun~~"

Lu Wenjun waved goodbye to Kano and walked out of the old school building.

Having completed a routine task, and having touched upon the past of my predecessors, this is enough to mark the end of today's work.

Although I feel like I'm friends with Kano-senpai and the others, it doesn't seem like we've reached the point where we can touch on the past. And if that friendship truly exists, then I shouldn't pry into it.

Unless there are special circumstances, who would leave past memories in a pile of junk?

Once we're strong enough, we can talk to the messenger Hong Qi. After we've become more familiar with each other, perhaps Kano and the others will reveal some information. And by then…

"Maybe I can help out in some way."

The used book recycling task has been successfully completed.

·

There's more to come.

That night, at the Water Mirror Pavilion.

"Why are you having a midnight snack so late at night?" Mingxiao wondered.

Hisamitsu had already picked up his chopsticks: "It's probably just some chef's occupational hazard acting up again. Whatever, let's eat first~~"

Tonight's late-night snack is bitter melon and pork belly stew. Lu Wenjun sat at the table looking at his two roommates. The images of the two extraordinary women from the Thousand-Year Cave kept flashing through his mind, and with each flash, his eyes became more and more kind.

"Wow, what a disgusting look you're giving me. Did you take the wrong medicine last night?" Hisamitsu said, munching on a melon.

Lu Wenjun smiled gently and reached out to pat her and Mingxiao's heads in turn.

"You are such good children."

"???"

"????"

It is not just distance that creates beauty, but also contrast.

After returning from the Thousand-Year Cave, looking at my two roommates again, I suddenly realized how obedient, sensible, and adorable they were—it brought tears to my eyes...

Chapter 24 Spring is in the air and flowers are blooming, everyone looks radiant.

The book-borrowing task at the Thousand-Year Cave was completed, and it was already the afternoon of the second day. Lü Wenjun walked along the forest path, like a carefree child entering school for the first time.

After completing this mission, he borrowed several original copies of Aesop's Fables from the Heavenly Hall, intending to use them to learn some everyday spells or minor spells for spell fusion. Academic spells, however, require gradual accumulation and cannot be rushed. The investigation into the Poison Master is still a long way off. At least for the next couple of days, he doesn't need to worry about too many trivial matters. Without the Jade Record, the Outer God, or the living ghost Brey Anansie, he can enjoy his youth without any worries, just like any other student, and do what a college student should do.

For example, working.

The tavern, which was supposed to open on Tuesday, had postponed its opening to Wednesday. Therefore, he arrived at the tavern after class today, and as usual, he pushed open the wooden door and cheerfully said, "Long time no see, you two!"

"Hello?" The blonde girl smiled at him.

"...Hello?" Lu Wenjun's smile seemed a little stiff.

He didn't see the familiar grumpy lady and exhibitionist gentleman; instead, he saw a blonde girl in a black robe. She stood behind the counter carefully wiping wine glasses, casting a curious yet awkward gaze upon him—a gaze strikingly similar to Lu Wenjun's.

They asked in unison, "Who are you?"

The uninvited guest at the tavern had beautiful blonde hair and wore a crown woven with flowers. She was graceful and wore a thin black robe; her attire and figure undoubtedly suggested a young and beautiful woman. However, she looked extremely young, even childlike, and her demeanor seemed much younger than the prophet Sheen, her large eyes filled with curiosity.

“I’m Cole, please find a seat.” She said cheerfully, “The drinks and snacks will take a little while—we’re not open yet.”

"Thank you, my name is Lü Wenjun..." Lü Wenjun said reservedly.

Cole poured him a glass of lemonade, looking even more curious: "You're a young man! You're a student?"

"Yes, first grade."

“That’s rare. You’re only 18. I thought we wouldn’t have any customers under 100 years old in this shop,” Cole said cheerfully. “I don’t know where you heard about this place—we never advertise—did one of your teachers bring you here? Or were you one of the little ones from the Thousand-Year Cave? Can you handle the food here? I thought most young people couldn’t stand its seasoning. Oh, perhaps you’d like some fruit?”

Her rapid-fire questioning left Lü Wenjun somewhat overwhelmed. Her tone was that of a friendly neighbor, yet her bright and charming smile undoubtedly belonged to a young girl. This profound sense of confusion left Lü Wenjun momentarily unsure of how to respond.

“I’m fairly accepting,” he said. “Actually, you know, I’m a new guy who just started here recently, so I’m a little unsure about the situation. Has this little shop… changed hands before?”

Cole thought for a moment: "I don't recall ever having done that."

That makes sense; those two big shots seem to care quite a bit about their little shop. Considering Mr. Cabone's post yesterday, this person must be a relative or friend of theirs? Another ancient Greek god?

She wore a floral crown, her face was youthful, yet her demeanor suggested a mature woman. Moreover, she was a goddess who appeared in spring…

Lu Wenjun understood completely. He stood up and smiled, "I was rude earlier. May I ask how your mother is?"

“I think she’s doing just fine.” Cole put down his water bottle. “Actually, I was just about to suggest you come later, because she’s been a little too excited lately—”

Boom!

Just then, the tavern's wooden door was flung open with a thud, and a mountain of fresh flowers, tender leaves, and various fruits rushed in. The obviously excessive ingredients and decorations were crammed into a pitiful little wooden basket, and Lü Wenjun could almost hear the basket groaning.

It was finally placed on the table by a pair of hands (the table creaked and cried out), and then a radiant face peeked out from behind the hill.

"You've been gone all winter!" the lively lady said. "It's so nice to see you, child!"

Lu Wenjun's face stiffened: "Excuse me, may I ask who you are...?"

He felt the woman looked somewhat familiar. Yes, he should have seen her not long ago—that wheat-colored blonde hair and those emerald green eyes. However, in Lü Wenjun's memory, her face should have been etched with a listless, decadent look 24/7; she should have huddled in a corner of the tavern like an old woman with an unpleasant expression; and when she spoke, all one would hear was a dejected sigh and a cold sneer.

At this moment, the blonde woman was as radiant as Miss Cole, her eyes full of smiles and her demeanor incredibly kind. She had even ditched her old clothes for a fitted spring outfit. She gave Lü Wenjun a big hug, giggling, "Just kidding again! Who else could I be but Huise?"

Lu Wenjun was utterly shocked: "What?!"

Cabone followed with bags and packages, looking distressed, and said, "I told you, her temper will improve by the first half of the year."

Lu Wenjun was shocked: "This is more than just a change in temper, it's a complete personality change! He's not like a human being at all!!"

Huise hugged Cole even tighter (the latter gave a slightly embarrassed smile) and said cheerfully, "I didn't expect you to come so soon! Cole, let me introduce you, this is Lü Wenjun, our new kitchen helper hired last year."

“Wow, someone’s actually willing to help us here,” Cole said.

“She is Cole, my lovely daughter!” Huther patted the girl’s shoulder. “She’s a poor child! She spends most of the year in that gloomy, terrifying, and despised land of the dead…”

"In fact, the ecological transformation of Wanlingfu has been quite successful. The angels and bodhisattvas and I planted a lot of flowers..." Cole said.

"She lived a miserable life, dominated by her cold, treacherous, and wicked husband!" Huther sighed. "At least you're finally back on earth, child. You can say goodbye to that wretched place for now—why are you secretly working behind my back again?"

Cole was still wiping the cups: "Mother, I can't sit here all day long..."

“No, that won’t do.” Huther snatched the cup. “Just leave this to Cabone. You’re our precious family member. You’ve suffered so much underground, you deserve to enjoy yourself on the surface.”

Cabone pointed to himself, looking bewildered. "Auntie, I think, maybe, I'm family too?"

“Right?” Lü Wenjun said.

"Get to work, wine jugs. After you've washed the glasses, you'll need to brew some more wine!" Huther placed a large amount of fruit on the table. "And you, child, it's time for a spring menu. Make some desserts and drinks with these flowers and fruits, and let's try them out quickly—get busy, we can't let this beautiful time go to waste!"

“Okay, ma’am. No problem, ma’am,” Lü Wenjun said. “I just have a small question: will we really have that many guests?”

“Definitely,” Huise said with a smile, “because all the food and drinks at our shop will be free for a while! What a wonderful spring day; we should be generous to people!!”

Lu Wenjun's vision went black as he heard Caboni exclaim, "Great god Zeus..."

·

“I’d like some buttered mashed potatoes and fried eggplant, a big piece of good roast beef, all the side dishes, and a thick sauce,” Faris said.

“He’s going to get a lot of beatings, sir,” Lu Wenjun said expressionlessly.

"Another large ice-cold beer, please." Faris whistled. "Is there a problem?"

“No, no, sir.” Lü Wenjun remained expressionless. “I’m just a little curious whether you can afford it.”

"That reminds me," Faris said, pretending to rummage through his pockets. "Oh no! I didn't bring any magic coins! What am I going to do?"

Across the table, Velsa reminded him, "Look at the sign behind you."

“Oh, let me read it.” Faris turned his head dramatically. “Free meal! Wow, that’s great! Runner, get back to your dishes.”

"You fucking bro, you two are really fucking brothers." Lu Wenjun gave the middle finger.

"Boss Lü, order some food!" Blue Ghost called out from behind him.

"Alright, coming right up..." Lu Wenjun sighed, "I'm telling you, those of you who can't wait can help yourselves! If this keeps up, we really won't be able to keep up!"

The next day, the tavern was packed. Enthusiastic students occupied every table, and the number of customers was so high that even the outdoor seats were full, with a long line of people waiting to freeload at the door.

This shabby little wooden cabin underwent a dramatic transformation after just one winter break. Huise filled the tavern inside and out with flowers and budding leaves, and even made a handwritten sign with the slogan "Free Meals for Everyone." She was so enthusiastic that she specifically asked Kano to advertise it, and as a result, within two days of opening, the entire school knew about the free dinners. Everyone eagerly came to enjoy this windfall, and incidentally, to prank the school's star student who had died from overwork.

Pershka grinned mischievously: "Sir, it seems our dishes haven't been served yet."

"Little Wenjun, I need to order three more meals to go~~" Kano smiled slyly.

"I'd like to add a serving of stewed beef," Yu Fufeng said.

"Why are even the teachers here?!" Lu Wenjun screamed. "Wait until I finish ordering, wait until I'm done—Mr. Cabone, please help me?!"

Cabone stood behind the counter, holding an empty glass, his expression calm: "Oh, how lively! I suppose they're still asleep..."

"Stop running away from reality, okay? Your drink menu is already sold out!!"

"Hurry up and serve the dishes!" Huther ordered.

Hui Se was bustling about happily in the kitchen, where various pots and pans worked automatically under her command, producing dishes at an almost assembly-line speed.

The good news is that thanks to Hui Se's enthusiasm, Lü Wenjun doesn't have to worry about cooking for the time being. The bad news is that he's been completely reassigned to being a waiter these past few days. There's no time to chat with regular customers, no time to research and taste dishes, and no time to amuse himself with Cabone. Now, all he has to do is take orders! Serve food! Clean up! Carry plates, wipe tables, say hello, goodbye, welcome, and next one!

Old Fa stood at the back door with a large bag of ingredients, a hint of sympathy forced into his skull-like face: "For the first time, I understand why some shops don't want their business to be good."

Cole took the ingredients from her and sighed, "Do you think it would be helpful for me to talk to Mother?"

“You know, no offense intended, I don’t suggest you spoil her fun,” Old Fa told her. “When she’s happy, she just torments the people around her. But if she’s unhappy, everyone will be in trouble.”

It wasn't until after 10 p.m. that Hui Se finally announced that they were closing. The tavern was filled with the smell of grease and alcohol. Lü Wenjun was slumped over a dirty wooden table, his eyes vacant and lifeless.

"This is the craziest Thursday I've ever experienced."

“You’re going to have an even crazier Friday,” Caboney said, “and a really crazy Saturday.”

Lu Wenjun trembled: "I remember my part-time job was on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays..."

Mr. Cabone grabbed him, smiling. "You don't want me to suffer alone, do you?"

"I can not……"

Huise called out from the kitchen, "You two! Come over here and think about the drink menu after you're done cleaning!"

Lu Wenjun let out a desperate howl, while Caboni's groans sounded like a duck.

Miss Cole rushed forward: "Mother, I have some things that need to be moved. Could you two please help me?"

"Of course! Let's help Cole first."

Cole gave the two a look, and they quickly got up and stealthily walked outside the tavern. Cabone made several hand gestures, which Lu Wenjun guessed were probably spells to prevent Whither from eavesdropping.

“Great Zeus,” Cole said, “how are you all?”

“She’s still alive,” Lü Wenjun said, “but I can’t guarantee she’ll be alive after two more crazy weekends. Did she… always… do this every year before?”

Cabone shook his head: "It wasn't like this before. Before, she had just become much more cheerful and started to have some whimsical ideas, but her initiative was far from this high... I have to say she's been a bit unusual this year."

Lu Wenjun was very alert: "Could this be another seasonal trap? Perhaps you already know that someone played a similar trick last winter."

“I don’t think so. Putting aside the fact that I didn’t see it, the giant spider didn’t have any motive,” Caboney told him. “Our family—only our immediate family in heaven—is, for some historical reason, a harmless, absolutely neutral party.”

"Really? I find it hard to imagine."

Cabone shrugged: "Really, we're retired and have no intention of getting involved in worldly affairs, doing small businesses like restaurants or charity work... which means that if anyone tries to take advantage of my aunt, my father will get quite angry, and no one will be there to mediate."

Lu Wenjun nodded: "Okay, you're right, he wouldn't be so reckless as to do something so stupid."

"What are you talking about?" Cole asked curiously.

“Just a little gossip!” Cabone said with a laugh. “But I’m also a little confused. Without any external influence, she shouldn’t have changed so drastically all of a sudden.”

After thinking for a while, Cole asked Lü Wenjun, "When did you start working here?"

"At the beginning of last semester."

“You did a great job…” Cole said thoughtfully. “She likes you a lot, doesn’t she?”

Lu Wenjun stammered, "I think it could be considered so?"

“I get it.” Cole clapped his hands. “You guys did a fantastic job in the second half of last year!”

Cabone gasped, "Oh my God..."

“Listen to me, in the usual second half of the year, she would accumulate a lot of complaints and grumbles. That would lower her mood baseline to around -50, only rising back to around 60 after I came back,” Cole said. “But you guys have kept her baseline at around 20-30 because she was quite happy in the second half of last year, and even after I left, she was in a pretty good mood most of the time! So now Mom has become… a super Whither, almost +150!”