488: Arrogant at first, obsequious at second

Gui Fu Shen Gong knew that in the beginning, chef players like Taoist Deadwood would often sneak food, sometimes eating even better than their masters.

Back then, it was said that Chef Dao players would often run a restaurant, seeking investments from top-tier players, and then split the profits thirty-seventy.

Seventy percent went to the chef.

Even that thirty percent profit was questionable; chefs often cooked the books, and managers like True Man Changfeng and True Man Scarlet General couldn't even tell how much was being embezzled.

The chefs lived quite comfortably, leading a very carefree life.

Unfortunately, the good times didn't last.

As Li Changfeng and others increased their investment in Hundred Arts Players, the number of chef players grew, leading to a decline in their status.

Aside from top-tier players like Taoist Deadwood who could continue their carefree lifestyle by cooking high-grade Spiritual Food, middle and lower-level chefs faded into the crowd and were strictly supervised.

Forget about sneaking food; if they used even a bit more Materials, even if it was just the cheapest firewood, management-type players would immediately intervene and investigate.

Precisely because of the players' strict management, Gui Fu Shen Gong hadn't considered the possibility of sneaking food when he went to the Kitchen.

Now, hearing Zhang Youcai say that a chef's benefits all came from sneaking food, he was shocked and found it unbelievable.

Are the managers of the Nine Swords Dao Sect all idiots?

"Junior Brother, you don't understand. Above this Kitchen..."

Zhang Youcai pointed upward: "It's protected by an Elder."

It turned out that a Sect like Nine Swords Dao not only had multiple peaks but also various halls; if subdivided further, there were countless departments and institutions.

Gui Fu Shen Gong understood it as a country named a 'Sect', where Cultivators and Mortals lived together.

Within a country, Cultivators and Mortals naturally formed cliques, and once factions existed, many things became complicated.

The Kitchen belonging to a certain Elder didn't mean the Elder actually had expectations for it, hoping to gain some profit or Cultivate some talent from it.

Rather, it was because the Elder had once worked in the Kitchen and felt nostalgic, thus looking after it.

This kind of nostalgic care was the most terrifying thing in personnel matters, making other Disciples and Elders afraid to make things difficult for the Kitchen, so they could only turn a blind eye to various affairs.

After listening, Gui Fu Shen Gong fell silent for a long time, his expression growing more complex. Eventually, he let out a sigh:

"Damn it, I really didn't expect such a thing..."

Blue Star was, after all, a modern civilization, with modernization affecting every aspect.

The most basic point was that personal favors and administrative affairs were separated as much as possible.

Although it has been impossible to completely avoid 'personnel is politics' since ancient times, and modern society still can't escape nepotism and social favors.

However, the dense network of personal favors and factional relationships in the Xuanhuan World was still hard for players like Gui Fu Shen Gong, who had been influenced by modern society for so long, to process.

For example, it would be like a high-ranking official coming from a small mountain village in reality; as this official rose to the top, they would bring an investment to the village out of nostalgia.

That is the nostalgia of reality.

But what is it like in the Xuanhuan World?

This high-ranking official would not only bring investment but also grant the village tax exemption rights, and even the power to collect taxes locally.

In modern society, such things are absolutely not allowed to happen; they might only occur in ancient feudal dynasties.

But the Xuanhuan World went even further.

Not only could this official protect the small village, but he himself lived for a damn long time, outlasting dozens of generations. This nostalgia never broke, and the small village was protected for hundreds or even thousands of years, transforming from a poor place with no developmental value into a Place of Dragon's Rise that everyone hoped to squeeze into.

Gui Fu Shen Gong thought in silence for a long time, finally understanding this point and realizing what he had actually missed.

What he missed was not just a chef position where he could sneak food, but also the Opportunity to build a relationship with a certain Elder or even directly join that Elder's faction.

At this thought, Gui Fu Shen Gong's expression twisted, revealing a hideously ugly look as if he were about to burst into tears at any moment.

Seeing him like this, Zhang Youcai asked in confusion, "Junior Brother, why are you sad?"

Gui Fu Shen Gong opened his mouth but found he couldn't speak, as if something were blocking his throat.

After a while, he murmured, "I lost my Opportunity."

Zhang Youcai didn't understand, and seeing Gui Fu Shen Gong's state, he didn't dare to ask more, briefly saying a few words before taking his leave.

After much internal conflict, Gui Fu Shen Gong finally made a decision and planned to go to the Kitchen again.

But when he arrived at the Kitchen, he only saw the disdainful expressions of Li the Big Fat and the others.

"Since you've already left, why come back?"

"Weren't you going to see the Elder? Didn't see him?"

"Oh, now you want to come back to the Kitchen? Didn't you think we were too shabby?"

Gui Fu Shen Gong's face flushed with shame; he wanted to turn and run, feeling utterly tormented.

Just then, he suddenly saw the young man who had come earlier. Steam was rising from his entire body as he stumbled toward his residence. The surrounding spiritual energy was constantly surging toward him, looking quite startling.

Gui Fu Shen Gong immediately understood that the kid must have eaten the Kitchen's Spiritual Food and accidentally ate too much at once, causing his Spiritual Power to become turbulent.

At the thought that even the newcomer could enjoy Spiritual Food, Gui Fu Shen Gong felt that his pride was truly worthless.

He simply knelt before Li the Big Fat and cried out:

"Senior Brother, before, your Junior Brother was blind and didn't recognize greatness. I said some nonsense; I really deserve a beating! Senior Brother, please hit me a few times! Consider it a punishment so I can have peace of mind!"

Saying this, Gui Fu Shen Gong rubbed against Li the Big Fat's feet, trying to force Li the Big Fat's hand to hit him.

Li the Big Fat felt speechless. He kicked him away and scolded, "Are you even a man? What's with all this crying? Get lost! Don't come to our Kitchen ever again!"

Gui Fu Shen Gong struggled to get up, but the Kitchen door had already slammed shut. Even the surrounding fence glowed with spiritual light, clearly having defensive measures in place.

He grit his teeth and sat cross-legged on the spot, actually beginning to Cultivate right there.

He wouldn't give up until he joined the Kitchen.

This matter left Li the Big Fat and the others speechless, and it eventually reached Jiang Vengeance's ears.

Jiang Vengeance simply asked calmly, "What Cultivation Technique is he practicing? My Nine Swords Dao Sect hasn't taught him any techniques yet. How can he Cultivate?"

Li the Big Fat and the others were suddenly enlightened. They immediately used the excuse of 'practicing an external Sect technique' to forcibly kick Gui Fu Shen Gong out completely, not even allowing him near the foot of the mountain.

Gui Fu Shen Gong became increasingly depressed, feeling a Heart Demon breeding within him. Looking toward the Kitchen, his shame turned into anger.

After some time, he actually saw Zhang Youcai coming down the mountain dejectedly, clearly injured, with a terrible expression, sighing and groaning from time to time.

Curious, Gui Fu Shen Gong hurried forward to ask him.