The server, seeing their hesitation, explained. Due to the recent influx of tourists, most of the food was transported from outside, hence the higher prices.
Li Shiyao felt it was highway robbery, but there was nothing she could do. In the current situation, other establishments were likely no different.
A plate of braised meatballs, a plate of stir-fried cilantro with meat, two plates of vegetables, a soup, and two bowls of rice totaled five hundred and sixty yuan.
After ordering, Li Shiyao looked at Yu Daochen. "Master Yu, is there anything else you'd like to order?"
Yu Daochen's expression had been grim since the ordering began. "That's all."
Li Shiyao was about to ask more, but Yu Daochen shook his head. "Let's eat first."
Li Shiyao didn't know what was wrong with Yu Daochen, but her intuition told her not to ask further.
About ten minutes later, most of the dishes were served.
The two ate quickly.
Yu Daochen, while eating, kept a wary eye on the guests at the other table.
After finishing their meal, they didn't delay and drove directly towards Nanyang Village.
On the road, Yu Daochen glanced at the rearview mirror. A Range Rover was following them.
Yu Daochen said to Li Shiyao beside him. "Slow down."
Li Shiyao didn't know what Yu Daochen intended, but she complied and reduced their speed.
As their speed decreased, Li Shiyao noticed the Range Rover behind them also slowed down.
She turned to look at Yu Daochen and saw his face was grim.
"Stop the car," Yu Daochen suddenly said.
Li Shiyao was stunned for a moment before reacting, slamming on the brakes. The car came to a steady halt.
Simultaneously, the Range Rover behind them also stopped.
Yu Daochen opened his car door and stepped out. "Stay in the car."
With that, he closed the door and walked towards the back of their car.
From the Range Rover, four men emerged.
The two parties faced each other. Yu Daochen could feel the killing intent from the other side. His hand instinctively went to the Kanglong Jian at his waist, and his eyes narrowed, emitting a similar killing intent.
If the opponents were ordinary people, he wouldn't fear ten of them. But if they were cultivators, and he didn't know their strength, carelessness would be the most fatal weakness.
A stalemate ensued, with both sides wanting to probe the other's strength.
Yu Daochen glanced at Li Shiyao in the car. If this continued, it would be disadvantageous for him. He took a token from his pocket and threw it over.
The leader of the opposing group caught the token and his expression changed slightly upon seeing it.
Three words were engraved on the token: Earth Ranking One.
The man threw the token back and smiled. "So it's Boss Yu from Jiangdu. Please forgive our offense."
With that, he got back into his car.
Yu Daochen's expression remained impassive as he turned and walked back to his car.
Since the battle with Huang Yong, Yu Daochen had become quite famous in the martial world.
Because he had stayed in Jiangdu for a long time and rarely ventured out, most people had never seen Yu Daochen's true appearance. They only knew him as Boss Yu, Master Yu of Jiangdu.
The car soon arrived at Nanyang Village. The road leading into the village was blocked by an iron gate.
A man walked over and knocked on the car window, signaling for it to be opened.
Li Shiyao opened the window, glanced at the man, and handed him her identification.
The man took the ID, looked at it, nodded to the guards ahead, and opened the iron gate.
After entering the village, Li Shiyao parked the car in an open area.
The villagers here had been evacuated by the local authorities, and the village was now largely deserted.
The two put on their backpacks and thick clothes, then walked into the village.
It was snowing heavily in Nanyang Village, and the wind was fierce. The ground was already covered with over five centimeters of snow.
In such situations, the Supernatural Affairs Bureau usually set up guesthouses for people from the martial world. This allowed them to monitor the movements of these individuals, intervene to suppress them if necessary, and minimize economic losses.
After circling for a while, the two stopped in front of a guesthouse.
Yu Daochen looked at the three large characters, "Supernatural Affairs Bureau," affixed to the nameplate. He exhaled a breath of warm air and said, "This is it."
Li Shiyao had learned some information as she followed Yu Daochen into the village.
This place was a melting pot of all sorts of people, where even death was commonplace. No matter what happened, as long as it didn't concern them, it was best to mind their own business and leave.
Yu Daochen looked at Li Shiyao, and she nodded.
Yu Daochen pushed the door open, and the cold wind blew in.
The interior was furnished like a restaurant, but it was already full of people.
Seeing the door open, everyone looked over.
Yu Daochen closed the door behind him, brushed the snow off his shoulders, his expression grim.
Li Shiyao, remembering Yu Daochen's instruction to speak less and observe more, brushed the snow off her shoulders and stood beside Yu Daochen, remaining silent.
"Sister, can I have a dollar?" A little boy ran over, holding a black jar. He took out a coin and offered it to Li Shiyao.
The boy's face was round and chubby, and he looked particularly cute in his little red padded jacket.
Li Shiyao, being in her thirties and unmarried, had a special fondness for children. Especially such an adorable little boy, she reached out to take the coin.
Just as Li Shiyao was about to take the coin, Yu Daochen stopped her.