Thanks to Qi Ze, there was plenty of chicken leg rice meals available today, so Qing Niao spent the whole day riding his bike outside, indulging in his passion for food delivery.

Now back at the Eighth Cafeteria, Qing Niao was still immersed in the joy of delivering food, his mind filled with images of countless satisfied students. So he excitedly said, “I wish there were this many food deliveries to make every day.”

Luo Huai’an was also very happy, but unlike him, she was happy because she had earned more money.

The two, though different in their paths, both found joy in selling big, chicken leg rice meals—very different from Big Fish.

Big Fish, who was sweeping the floor nearby, was speechless.

This Qing Niao was beyond saving, beyond saving.

Luo Huai’an handed the bamboo sap she had prepared to Qing Niao, an outstanding employee. “Try it. It was chilled for a while, so the bamboo sap is quite cold, but the lower temperature will make it taste sweeter.”

Qing Niao happily accepted the bamboo sap.

These days, every morning when he woke up, there were two things he looked forward to most: delivering food and eating food his boss cooked.

The boss’ meals were rich in spiritual energy, which was very beneficial to supernatural beings. After eating the staff meals for a few days, Qing Niao felt that the wounds he got from being struck by heavenly lightning didn’t hurt as much anymore.

“By the way, boss,” Qing Niao hesitated for a long time before finally speaking, “Will these spiritually rich meals have any effect on humans? Won’t we attract unwanted attention?”

Since being arrested by the authorities, he has become increasingly aware of the strict rules of human society. If these meals had any special effects on humans, then this cafeteria probably wouldn’t be able to stay in business.

Luo Huai’an shook her head. “Spiritual energy is like water, and the body is like a jar. Supernatural beasts can hold a lot of spiritual energy, while humans, whose meridians are not open, cannot hold spiritual energy. They will only feel that these things taste better than what they usually eat. 

“However, if they eat them often enough, even if their bodies cannot absorb them properly, they can still absorb some and they will be healthier than others.”

Qing Niao breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed he could continue delivering food. He happily said, “That’s good.”

As the cool bamboo sap entered his mouth, a distinct bitter taste melted in Qing Niao’s mouth.

Qing Niao used to love eating sweet fruits and dislike bitter ones. But after tasting the bitterness on its tongue, his delicate features wrinkled upwards.

This bitter taste in the bamboo sap was very faint and quickly dissipated, leaving a sweet aroma that gradually filled the entire mouth.

Qing Niao nodded repeatedly, “Although it’s a bit bitter, it tastes very good. The mild bitterness actually enhances the sweetness, making it more complex.”

“I think so too. Because of the higher spiritual energy, the bamboo sap produced by Fragrant Mountain bamboo has a fresher taste,” Luo Huai’an said, nodding in agreement. “There is too little bamboo sap to sell. I will just reserve it for me and outstanding employees like you to drink.”

Luo Huai’an was unusually generous this time, but the only people she was generous to were herself and her outstanding employees: Qing Niao and Second Fish.

Big Fish, who was sweeping the floor nearby, was furious but helpless.

He swept the floor indignantly, inwardly cursing the unscrupulous boss for her discriminatory treatment.

… …

In the evening after classes lets out, many students came to the cafeteria, and Big Fish had to get busy.

After he finally finished cleaning, he suddenly discovered that a new person had come to the kitchen.

The newcomer was very handsome, which made Big Fish extremely jealous. He secretly thought to himself, ‘Pretty boy.’

When Luo Huai’an announced that Qi Ze was an employee there for a work-study program, Big Fish was stunned for a moment, then chuckled after realizing what she meant.

This person had no supernatural aura whatsoever; he seemed to be an ordinary mortal.

Big Fish was originally the most powerful in his tribe, always the one to have the final say and was used to being the leader. However, after arriving at the Eighth Cafeteria, his wife focused on cooking, and his children focused on surfing the internet.  They not only ignored him but listened to Luo Huai’an the most. 

This truly made him the bottom of the food chain, and this disparity made him impatiently hope to find someone to be at the bottom as well.

Big Fish felt a pang of sadness as he recalled the past, but the thought of Qi Ze stirred a surge of excitement within him. Qi Ze was merely a mortal with no supernatural powers whatsoever, while he was a B-rank supernatural beast—this was someone he could crush with a single finger.

Although that’s what he thought, he knew he couldn’t do it. After all, if he did, he would be the next one to get hammered to death.

Luo Huai’an placed the bamboo with rice in it inside stove, turned to look at Qi Ze, and said encouragingly, “You first cook it at 400 degrees for five minutes, and then I’ll come over and teach you how to continue.”

Qi Ze stared at the densely packed bamboo in front of him, lost in thought for a long time, feeling as if he had been used.

He shouldn’t have agreed to the work-study program….

After Luo Huai’an left, Big Fish sneaked over with a broom.

He looked at Qi Ze’s profile and chuckled, “Human, why did you come here to work as an employee?”

Qi Ze turned his head to look at him, his words perfectly measured, “I came because I wanted to. Is there something you need?”

Big Fish asked, “How much does the boss pay you?”

Qi Ze quoted a low figure, which made Big Fish—who was earning zero wages himself—feel both disdain and envy. Big Fish thought to himself, how could such a low wage retain employees? Qi Ze must be very dissatisfied with the boss, which was great.

Big Fish cleared his throat and said in a seductive tone, “You must be very dissatisfied with the fact that the boss only pays you this much.”

As Qi Ze sorted the bamboo, he replied, “It’s alright.”

Big Fish stared wide-eyed at Qi Ze’s expression and was extremely surprised to find that he didn’t seem to be lying.

Seeing that he didn’t play according to the expected script, Big Fish was speechless. He had no choice but to get straight to the point and frankly state his purpose, “Let me tell you, I am the second most powerful being here. You will follow me from now on and become my subordinate. In the future, when I overthrow the boss, I will be the boss and you will be the second-in-command.”

“You’re just a weak mortal, while we are powerful supernatural beasts. If you don’t agree, you might not be able to stay here any longer!”

Big Fish was lost in his dreams about the future, feeling quite pleased with himself.

But just then, he suddenly saw a ball of flame emerge from Qi Ze’s hand. That beautiful flame was unlike any fire in the human world; it emitted a dazzling light, and just looking at it, one could feel its high temperature.

When Big Fish, a member of the aquatic species, saw the ball of fire, he immediately felt something was wrong, as if this divine fire was his natural enemy, and his fear of this fire was deeply embedded in his genes.

Because they were so close, Big Fish felt a sharp pain in his hand, as if it had been scalded with boiling water, and he involuntarily took several steps back. Only when he was quite far away could he finally catch his breath.

When Big Fish realized that the fire was set by that mortal, he froze on the spot.

Qi Ze threw the fire onto the bamboo, then called up another ball of fire and turned to look at Big Fish. “What did you mean by what you just said?”

Big Fish: “…”

Big Fish retreated as if he had seen a raging flood, until he was completely out of the kitchen, before stammering, “No need to say anything more, I’ve decided you’re my older brother.”

Qi Ze: “…”

This employee was very strange.

Mythical Beast Cafeteria translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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