Chapter 524: Side Quest Complete
Although Qi Han had already decided to spend all his money before leaving, he had not actually departed yet.
So for now, his top priority was still completing Side Quest 10-2 and Main Quest 9.
Main Quest 9 was relatively simple. The requirement of operating the restaurant for thirty days was getting closer and closer to completion. As for Side Quest 10-2, which required five thousand diners to voluntarily recommend Han Shi, its progress accelerated rapidly thanks to various outside factors.
Ultimately, on the afternoon of Han Shi's twenty-ninth day of business, the quest was completed ahead of schedule.
[Side Quest 10-2: Overwhelming Praise (Completed)
Reward: +2 Spirit Power Levels (Claimable), 2-Star Optional Recipe Fragments ×16 (Claimable).]
When this quest notification suddenly appeared before Qi Han, he was inside the training space practicing Zilong Sheds His Armor.
As time passed day by day, his practice of Zilong Sheds His Armor had already neared completion. At his current pace, he estimated that after another ten days of practice, he would completely master the dish.
Suppressing his excitement, Qi Han patiently finished one more full practice session of Zilong Sheds His Armor before finally grinning happily and claiming his rewards.
Although Side Quest 10-2 had been difficult, thanks to both his own efforts and the Culinary Association's unexpected support, it had finally been completed before Main Quest 9.
And that meant that once Main Quest 9 was completed, he would no longer need to remain on Sun Moon Continent for the sake of the side quest.
He could immediately run away and go home.
Just thinking about it filled him with joy.
After claiming the spirit power reward, warm currents immediately surged through his meridians, steadily strengthening the spirit power gathered within his dantian. The already abundant spirit power of a Spirit King visibly increased once more.
Spirit Power Level: 59.
Qi Han clenched his fist, sensing the increasingly powerful spirit power within his body, and a clear expression of delight appeared on his face.
He was now only one level away from reaching Level 60.
And obtaining that final level would not be difficult, because after tomorrow's business hours ended, he would receive the extremely generous rewards from Main Quest 9.
Next, Qi Han claimed the sixteen 2 Star Optional Recipe Fragments and tossed them into his inventory alongside the eighteen 3 Star Optional Recipe Fragments and the unopened 4 Star recipe Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.
There was no rush to exchange them for recipes yet.
Han Shi had long since passed the stage of desperately lacking recipes. Perhaps at some critical moment in the future, those optional recipe fragments might come in handy.
"Ru Yi, how much time is left before business hours begin?"
"Half an hour."
Qi Han nodded and directly exited the training space.
Having just received the quest rewards, he no longer had the focus to continue practicing Zilong Sheds His Armor, so he decided to come out early instead.
"Meow~"
The moment Qi Han emerged, Pururu lightly jumped down from the partition and burrowed into his arms.
Its eyes carried a strangely human-like confusion, seemingly wondering why Qi Han had come out earlier than usual today.
Seeing this, Qi Han laughed helplessly before gently stroking Pururu's fur.
"These days I've been so busy completing quests that I almost neglected you and Zhui Yun."
"Meow."
It's okay. This kitty is already a mature cat now. I can keep Zhui Yun company for my human!
"Heh, you little rascal…"
…
After spending some time playing with Pururu and Zhui Yun in the backyard, Qi Han finally returned to the restaurant interior.
Meng Yun was already waiting by the entrance, and beside her stretched a line of customers so long that its end could not even be seen.
Although Han Shi's popularity within the Sun Moon Empire still could not compare to Han Shi back in Shrek City, it had already reached a level nearly equal to the restaurant's former peak in Star Luo City.
At every mealtime now, the entrance to the restaurant was packed with a sea of people.
Looking at the diners before him—customers who had supported Han Shi throughout this entire period—Qi Han suddenly felt a trace of guilt in his heart.
After tomorrow's business hours ended, Han Shi would close permanently.
When that happened, these diners would likely never again taste Han Shi's dishes for the rest of their lives.
After all, separated by the boundless ocean between the continents, there was no way they could travel to Douluo Continent just to eat at Han Shi.
There was no helping it.
Qi Han was, in the end, someone from the Douluo Continent. Compared to this place, he still preferred the atmosphere of Shrek City, so eventually he had to return.
After opening the door and letting Meng Yun enter first, Qi Han smiled and spoke.
"Meng Yun, do you still remember when I said that if you worked as my server for twenty days, we'd consider the previous matter settled?"
"I remember…" Meng Yun froze slightly before finally recalling that incident.
After these past ten-plus days, she had already grown accustomed to working as a server at Han Shi. Although the job was extremely busy, she received two staff meals every day, to the point where she genuinely felt she was the one profiting from the arrangement.
Only now did she suddenly remember that she had originally come here to repay a debt of gratitude…
Wait a minute…
If she counted properly…
Wasn't today already the nineteenth day?
Meng Yun coughed lightly.
"Boss, I think extending the arrangement for a while would also be fine. The restaurant is already so busy and short on servers. If I leave, won't you be overwhelmed?"
She really didn't want to leave anymore…
Hearing this, Qi Han's smile became somewhat strange.
"Extending it won't work. Tomorrow will be Han Shi's final day of business. The restaurant will close the day after."
"Ah?" Meng Yun blinked. "Boss, do you have something else to take care of? Then when will you come back? After you return, I can continue working as Han Shi's server too."
"Uh…" Looking at the girl's curious expression, Qi Han coughed awkwardly before ultimately deciding to tell the truth.
"I probably won't reopen here again. And most likely, I won't return to Mingdu City in the future either."
"What?"
Meng Yun gasped softly, her pupils shrinking slightly.
Suddenly, she remembered something.
Before she had started working at Han Shi, she had once been taken away by the Secret Intelligence Division. It was during that incident that she learned the Intelligence Division had set its sights on Qi Han.
However, because of the request made by the mysterious expert who had rescued her, she had never been allowed to tell Qi Han about it.
Could it be that the boss had discovered something, and that was why he wanted to leave Mingdu City as quickly as possible?
Mm… that had to be it.
Thinking this, Meng Yun immediately became completely supportive of Qi Han's decision.
Although she felt extremely reluctant to part with Han Shi and Qi Han, as long as the Secret Intelligence Division existed, leaving Mingdu City was the only way Qi Han could possibly escape safely.
Ideally, he should never return again.
Only then could he guarantee his safety.
"Boss, I understand now." Meng Yun's expression quickly returned to normal as she nodded heavily. "Boss, how about I give you a flying spirit tool? You're already a five-ring Spirit Engineer, so using a flying spirit tool to escape—ah, I mean, travel—would be much more convenient."
After spending so much time with Qi Han, Meng Yun naturally knew that he had absolutely no knowledge of spirit tools and could not even create them himself. Although this was extremely abnormal, she had never revealed even the slightest hint of it to anyone else.
"Huh?"
Meng Yun's reaction was completely different from what Qi Han had expected, leaving him momentarily stunned before he shook his head.
"No need. Before I leave, I'll go buy a batch of spirit tools anyway. Besides, I already have my own way of traveling. You should keep the flying spirit tool for yourself."
Normally, aside from flying-type spirit masters, only spirit masters above seven rings possessed the ability to fly.
Flying spirit tools, however, allowed lower-level spirit masters to gain flight capability ahead of time.
Such a miraculous spirit tool definitely belonged on Qi Han's shopping list before leaving.
As for traveling himself, Zhui Yun was more than sufficient.
"Alright, enough about that." Qi Han shook his head and smiled faintly. "What would you like to eat today?"