Everyone said Northeasterners were hospitable, but Yan Shouyi had only interacted with the tomboy Zhao Yiyao before. This was his first time meeting a Northeastern man.
Hu Chai personally cooked, and his demeanor in the kitchen gave off a sense of warmth. Yan Shouyi even felt that his attitude towards Xu Shengnan earlier had been too arrogant.
Xu Shengnan closed the door from the outside, and Yan Shouyi and the others had no way back.
He cupped his hands and walked towards Hu Chai, saying, "Folk Customs Research Association, Yan Shouyi, a pleasure to meet you."
Hu Chai put down the spatula, wiped his greasy hands on his apron, and then smiled as he walked towards Yan Shouyi, shaking his hand warmly.
"I am the Vice-Leader of Wushen Mountain. The Grand Leader, Ji Bing, is my father-in-law, as you all must know."
Yan Shouyi found Hu Chai a bit overly enthusiastic, but enthusiasm wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Hu Chai led everyone to sit down, then instructed, "Please wait a moment, my Northeastern stewed goose will be ready soon!"
With that, Hu Chai turned back to his work.
"Hey, this Vice-Leader of Wushen Mountain seems quite nice!" Long Feicheng discussed with a smile.
Chang Shan also clasped his hands together, "Amitabha, Host Hu is surely a benevolent person."
However, the others did not comment. As seasoned veterans, the kindness of strangers was the most dangerous.
Miaoji and the Dog Daoist did not appreciate Hu Chai's gesture. Hu Chai was merely enthusiastic and smiled a lot, which didn't necessarily indicate a kind heart, nor did it mean he was a friend of the Folk Customs Research Association. To truly judge a person's character, one had to see how they handled situations.
Yan Shouyi and Old Jin were simply cautious.
A moment later, Xu Shengnan pushed open the courtyard gate, carrying two cases of beer. Behind her followed another person, holding a bottle of white liquor.
"Do you prefer draft beer or white liquor?" Hu Chai shouted from the earthen stove.
Yan Shouyi thought for a moment, "I'll just have beer."
The elder ones like the Dog Daoist, Miaoji, and Old Jin preferred white liquor. Yan Shouyi, Long Feicheng, and Chang Shan preferred beer.
Xu Shengnan left after putting down the drinks, it seemed this meeting was more of a private affair.
Five minutes later, Hu Chai brought a large iron basin to the table. The stewed goose in the basin exuded a rich aroma, the broth still bubbling, steaming hot, its warmth already dispelling much of the chill.
Hu Chai wiped his hands, sat down beside Yan Shouyi with a smile, and said, "Ah, guests from afar! I thought there were no good restaurants nearby, so I decided to cook myself. Please don't mind if it's not up to par!"
Old Jin was the first to pick up a piece of meat. After tasting it, he exclaimed how delicious it was, and only then did the others feel at ease to start eating.
One had to admit, Hu Chai's cooking skills were excellent. Everyone even suspected he might have worked in a kitchen before.
Hu Chai opened a few bottles of beer and invited everyone to toast. The group gradually lowered their guard, clinked glasses with Hu Chai, and exchanged pleasantries.
After several rounds of drinks, Hu Chai became a bit tipsy. He patted Yan Shouyi's shoulder and said,
"President Yan's name is like thunder in my ears! If not for the current severe situation, I would have loved to visit Rongcheng to have a drink with you!"
Yan Shouyi replied humbly, "Vice-Leader Hu overpraises me."
"No, no, no! It's not an exaggeration at all!" Hu Chai shouted, his voice raised. "I don't care about titles like 'heir to the Dragon Tiger Secret Texts,' but your massacre in Rongcheng three months ago truly impressed me!"
The pace of eating for everyone slowed slightly; they were all distracted by Hu Chai's words.
Hu Chai admired Yan Shouyi simply because Yan Shouyi had once gone on a killing spree?
Hu Chai continued, "Those scoundrels from the major orthodox sects, relying on their immense power, have been bullying us, the folk sects, for years. President Yan, you truly avenged us that day! I say, the disciples of the orthodox sects deserve to die! The only regret is that you didn't kill enough last time. I remember over two hundred people went there, right? You should have killed them all! Not a single one left!"
Hu Chai's tone sounded like boastful chatter, but his words didn't seem like a joke at all.
Especially when Hu Chai spoke of killing, his eyes gleamed, and his face was full of excitement, as if he wished he had been there himself to help Yan Shouyi kill more people.
Everyone suddenly felt the atmosphere grow a bit heavy.
This Hu Chai was perhaps not as gentle as he appeared on the surface.
Yan Shouyi put down his chopsticks and asked Hu Chai, "How much do you hate the orthodox sects, Vice-Leader Hu?"
"I hate them to the bone, an irreconcilable hatred!"
Hu Chai replied without hesitation, "My father-in-law is the same. If we encounter disciples from orthodox sects, they will not leave alive, not a single one!"
It was well-known in the Xuanmen that Ji Bing hated the orthodox sects, because Ji Bing's daughter died at the hands of a disciple from an orthodox sect. Ji Bing's daughter was also Hu Chai's wife.
Their hatred for the orthodox sects was, in a way, understandable.
"We encountered disciples from the Zhenwu Sect at the highway exit today. The reinforcements from Wushen Mountain arrived and subdued them. May I ask, Vice-Leader Hu, what happened to those people in the end?"
"Of course, they were killed!" Hu Chai laughed heartily. "What use is keeping their dog lives? Waiting for them to slaughter our people from Wushen Mountain again in the future?"
Yan Shouyi fell silent.
His purpose in heading north was to resolve conflicts, not to escalate them.
Hu Chai's attitude towards the orthodox sects made it impossible for Yan Shouyi to genuinely befriend him. Such a bloodthirsty person would eventually turn his blade towards his own people.
Indeed, this meal was no longer so enjoyable.
Yan Shouyi looked at the Dog Daoist and Miaoji. Their attitudes mirrored his own thoughts.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi raised his wine glass and said to Hu Chai, "Vice-Leader Hu, our purpose for this trip is to find someone in Changbai Mountain. Time is of the essence, and we cannot delay too long. I offer this toast to you. After this meal, we must continue on our way."
"Hey, don't rush!"
Hu Chai pushed down Yan Shouyi's wine glass and said mysteriously, "I just learned of President Yan's arrival and in my haste, I prepared a grand gift."
There was a gift too?
Yan Shouyi frowned. He didn't particularly anticipate this gift, and instead felt it might be trouble.
Hu Chai clapped his hands and shouted towards the outside of the courtyard, "Left Protector, bring the people in!"
Xu Shengnan pushed open the courtyard gate, leading a chain. With much dragging and pulling, she dragged in a full seven Taoists dressed in Taoist robes from outside the courtyard!
These Taoists' hands, feet, and necks were all shackled. The shackles also had sharp spikes, piercing their joints, causing them excruciating pain with every step.
As for escaping, it was simply a pipe dream.
Everyone at the table put down their chopsticks and wine glasses, watching the seven Taoists in silence.
Only Hu Chai happily refilled his own wine and said with a smile,
"These seven Taoists were just captured by my subordinates. Judging by their attire, they seem to be from the Maoshan Sect! Maoshan Taoists are not commonly seen, are they? Since President Yan is leaving, I will kill these seven to see you off!"