At Wanmin Restaurant, although Xiangling had already set off for Mondstadt, because the restaurant was short-handed, she didn’t bring along the friend who was always by her side this time, leaving it at Wanmin Restaurant to help out.
Therefore, when Neo followed Hu Tao to Wanmin Restaurant, the first thing he saw was that little yellow fellow that looked like a bear.
It held a plate above its head with both hands, puffed and puffed as it ran to the customers’ tables to serve the food, making “Lululu” sounds with its mouth.
“Yo, good afternoon. Xiangling isn’t at the restaurant today?”
Noticing that Xiangling was nowhere to be seen, Hu Tao waved at the little fellow named Guoba and asked.
“Lulu~ Lululu~!”
Guoba noticed that it was someone he knew, ran over, and gestured at Hu Tao with his hands.
Neo, who was standing beside her, couldn’t understand it at all.
“Oh, oh, so that’s how it is. Then let’s order first.”
Hu Tao nodded knowingly.
Hearing Hu Tao, Guoba immediately turned around, ran over to get the menu, and handed it to her.
After asking Neo what he wanted, Hu Tao quickly placed their order and handed the menu back to Guoba, who ran back to the kitchen to help.
“Hu Tao, you can understand what Guoba is saying?”
Only after Guoba left did Neo ask Hu Tao.
Her reaction just now had been as if she could communicate with Guoba without any barriers.
“Of course I can’t understand him. But Xiangling often runs outside to look for ingredients, so I guessed she was probably doing the same thing this time.”
Hu Tao spread her hands.
Of course she couldn’t understand him.
The dishes the two ordered were quickly brought over by Guoba.
They were all Wanmin Restaurant’s specialties, especially that serving of Wanmin Restaurant’s boiled fish.
“You were kidnapped for ten years, so it’s been a long time since you came back. Eat more. Let’s see if you can still remember Chef Mao’s cooking. If it’s not enough, this hall master will order some more.”
Hu Tao handed the bowl of rice to Neo and urged him.
“Sure, I’ll give it a try.”
Neo took the bowl and then eagerly picked up his chopsticks.
He had the Rules of Survival in the Snow activated the whole time, so he shouldn’t have to worry about the spiciness.
He picked up a piece of boiled fish and tasted it.
“…”
Then, Neo’s face visibly flushed red at a speed that could be seen with the naked eye.
Although the Rules of Survival in the Snow could quickly stop the pain and even balance out the spicy sensation afterward, the moment he first tasted it, that spicy heat still shot straight to Neo’s head.
“Are you all right? Do you want some milk to help settle it? Don’t force yourself.”
Noticing the change in Neo’s expression, Hu Tao picked up a bottle of milk she had ordered along with the food and shook it before placing it beside Neo’s bowl. Enjoying the story? Read on at NovelPing.
“I’m fine… It’s just a little overwhelming…”
Neo shook his head.
The Rules of Survival in the Snow was starting to take effect now, and the sensation on his tongue was gradually getting better.
But it really was still spicy…
“That’s good. Then this hall master won’t hold back either~”
Seeing that Neo had returned to normal, Hu Tao finally picked up her chopsticks and started eating herself.
The boy’s flushed face said more than a thousand words.
Seeing Neo’s face turn red from the spiciness while he continued eating and hissing from the heat, Hu Tao felt that her appetite had improved quite a bit.
However, although she could still handle spicy food better than Neo had been able to in the past, she had asked for something even spicier than usual for today’s challenge, and even she couldn’t take too much of it.
“Hiss… Neo, you really are someone who has been in the military. It’s this spicy and you can still eat this much…”
“It’s over. I got careless this time. I feel like I might not be able to finish it…”
After eating less than half a bowl of rice, Hu Tao was already so affected by the spiciness that saliva was almost flowing from her mouth.
No matter how well someone could handle spicy food, there was still a limit.
This time, she had clearly reached hers.
Compared with her, although Neo’s whole body was flushed red from the spiciness, he could endure it, and there was nothing particularly wrong with his expression.
Unlike her, he had his mouth open with saliva even flowing out.
“Hiss… Not spicy!”
“I can still eat. Hu Tao, don’t worry. This level of spiciness can’t trouble me.”
Neo bared his teeth and drew in a breath of cold air.
After sticking out his tongue, he spoke with great confidence.
Two years ago, at first he hadn’t thought of using Cryo elemental power to “self-harm.” In order to deduct his own HP so that he could raise the level of the Rules of Survival in the Snow, and to avoid directly killing himself, he had chosen to secretly lick industrial chili peppers.
That was how he learned that the Rules of Survival in the Snow also helped with getting rid of spiciness.
Then, under Hu Tao’s astonished gaze, Neo quickly cleared the food on the table while his face was flushed red from the heat.
In the end, he covered his bulging stomach and walked out of Wanmin Restaurant together with Hu Tao.
“Looks like this hall master only brought humiliation upon herself this time. I really didn’t expect you to have become so good at eating spicy food now.”
“Sigh, when we were little, this hall master never lost to you…”
“But now isn’t the time to worry about growing up. Neo, you just came back, so you probably don’t have anywhere to stay yet, right? Why not stay at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor first? There are still some empty rooms there.”, Hu Tao then asked Neo.
Hearing her question, Neo tilted his head and thought for a moment before answering, “Not for now, but I plan to go to Northland Bank first.”
“I remember there should still be some Mora in my account. I don’t know if I can withdraw it. If I can, I’ll look for somewhere to stay afterward.”
He had originally had quite a bit of cash, but it had all been in his suitcase.
It had probably already become a treasure waiting in the deep sea to be accidentally opened by an adventurer someday.
The deposit certificate for Neo’s account at Northland Bank was also in his suitcase, so he really had no idea whether he could withdraw the Mora that had originally been in his account.
“Northland Bank? Speaking of which, the guest was invited there several times a few days ago. Don’t tell me someone’s trying to poach him…”
“Forget it. Since that’s the case, Neo, you go. This hall master should head back to the shop too. If you can’t find somewhere to stay, come find me.”
“And remember to come to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for dinner tonight. This hall master will personally welcome you back and introduce the guest to you. You seem pretty interested in him.”
Hearing “Northland Bank,” Hu Tao first stroked her chin and muttered to herself, then reminded Neo.
“Got it. Thanks, Hu Tao. I’ll head off first. Wait for my good news. I remember I saved quite a lot of money!”
“I just don’t know if they can scan my face…”
Neo nodded and said goodbye to Hu Tao, then walked into the distance while muttering to himself.
Watching Neo leave, Hu Tao couldn’t help muttering.
“Grandpa… Neo’s back…”
“The things you left behind, I can go see them now, right…?”
After saying goodbye to Hu Tao, Neo once again arrived at the bustling Feiyun Slope.
Because of the incident at The Chasm some time ago, Snezhnaya had sent troops to help Liyue investigate.
The two countries had developed friendly relations, and Northland Bank had benefited from this as well, rapidly expanding in Liyue.
Therefore, Neo simply asked a passerby for directions and learned where Northland Bank was.
It was on the second floor of one of the bustling buildings in Feiyun Slope.
And so, Neo made his way to Northland Bank.
He entered the bank lobby, and coincidentally, no one was conducting business inside.
Neo immediately walked up to the bank counter.
“May I ask if Tartaglia is here?”, Neo directly asked the receptionist behind the counter.
“Sir, this is Northland Bank. If you’re looking for someone, please… Wait, who did you say you were looking for?”
The receptionist answered instinctively, but quickly reacted.
“I’m looking for Tartaglia, Childe Tartaglia. He should be in Liyue now, right?”, Neo had no choice but to repeat himself to the receptionist.