[The Ouroboros Pavilion]

Chen Miemie was feeling a bit nostalgic for that Timid Ghost.

For all his bizarre appearance and domineering ways, he had his own fears.

Supernatural things were his little weakness.

Even if he could win a fight against them, they still creeped him out.

In this dim alley, an old, shabby building shamelessly transformed itself into a lavish restaurant right before one's eyes. Any normal person would know something was off.

"Gongshu Key, I'm telling you, I don't have much meat on me. I won't fetch a good price. You should go find someone else to fleece."

"Give it a rest. Who's trying to sell you? Haven't you smelled the aroma of the food?"

"I have, but I don't believe it. It's gotta be an illusion."

"Why?"

"Something that can fool my eyes can easily fool my nose too. Makes perfect sense."

"Fine, suit yourself. I'm going in to eat first."

"Hey, hey, don't walk so fast! Wait for me."

Chen Miemie followed Gongshu Key into a private room.

The building was small—no main hall to speak of. Walking in, you were met with a few doors, each leading to a private dining room.

Two people were already waiting inside.

One was "Mortar Granny," the president of the [Shedding-Skin Clinic].

The other was a guild member, "Bloodstain Narrator" Mu Ying, whom Chen Miemie had met briefly at the villa where the tragedy occurred.

The room wasn't large. In the center stood a square bamboo table, with wooden benches on each of its four sides.

"Chen Miemie, you've arrived. The journey must have been tiring. This place is special—it's not just my shop, but also my home, which is why it's a bit tucked away." Mortar Granny greeted him with a chuckle.

Mortar Granny didn't have a kindly face. She looked better when she wasn't smiling; when she smiled, she resembled an old witch.

"Not at all. I love places full of mystery like this. Impressive stuff." Chen Miemie's words were as insincere as it got.

"This is Mu Ying. You two have met." Mortar Granny made the introduction.

Chen Miemie nodded at Mu Ying: "Yes, we've met. Young Mu is quite impressive—definitely has a bright future ahead."

Mu Ying's face darkened. He was ten years older than Chen Miemie, and here he was being called "Young Mu" and patronizingly praised for his potential.

The four of them took their seats.

Sure enough, the dishes on the table were vibrant in color and rich in aroma, looking quite appetizing.

Even so, Chen Miemie remained cautious. He only tried dishes that others had already taken a bite of.

He wasn't afraid of poison; he was afraid that the dishes were illusions like the building itself, and that after eating, he'd discover he'd been dining on bugs and rats.

Mortar Granny started making small talk: "I must say, it's a bit embarrassing. You've been with the Sealed Library for so long, and this is the first proper meal I've been able to host you. Feel free to drop by more often."

"Don't say that, Granny. I didn't realize you were such a gifted cook. The folks at the [Shedding-Skin Clinic] must be truly blessed to eat your cooking so often."

Chen Miemie's praise was genuine this time. The food truly was excellent—in terms of pure flavor, it ranked first among every restaurant he'd ever eaten at.

Gongshu Key was wolfing down his rice, chopsticks flying: "And this is all thanks to you. Normally, I can't even get a taste even if I beg."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"No matter how great the cooking, it needs good ingredients as a foundation. This is Granny's [Self-Devouring House].

The ingredients for this meal are the restaurant itself: door planks torn off for firewood, wall plaster peeled off for side dishes, support beams sliced up for the main course.

You're eating the restaurant itself. With every bite, the place shrinks a little. If you finished it all, the building would disappear."

Chen Miemie: ...

"So, you're saying, with this one meal, we've eaten Granny's house?"

Just as they were finishing up, Chen Miemie got up and stepped outside. Sure enough, the glamour was gone. It had reverted to its old, ramshackle state.

Mortar Granny was still smiling warmly: "Don't listen to that [Bridge Maiden]'s nonsense. A restaurant exists to fill people's stomachs. After a bit of a cooldown, this [Self-Devouring House] will rebuild itself right here and be open for business again."

She said that, but Chen Miemie knew this meal was hardly "free." He'd just incurred another small favor.

It wasn't about scheming; bonds were born from exchanged favors. Carrying small debts was often the necessary path to deeper relationships.

"Whatever the case, Granny, your cooking is one of a kind. In my opinion, if you went to challenge the [Burger Workshop], President Shepherd over there would probably be shaking in his boots."

"That's right. The [Burger Workshop] spends all day studying gourmet food, and for all their studies, they can never catch up to Granny." That was the first thing Mu Ying had said all meal, and it was supremely forced.

Chen Miemie had stayed in character the whole meal, treating himself like family. His mouth never stopped moving—either eating or talking. When he noticed Mu Ying chiming in, he knew they were getting to the good stuff.

No one was seated at a table like this without a reason.

"Tell me, Granny, you've really never had a cook-off with the folks from the [Burger Workshop]?" Chen Miemie followed the thread.

"How could we not? More than a year ago, the two guilds were on great terms. Some of us would even join their [Big Eater Contest]—we actually took second place once." Mu Ying, as expected, picked it right up.

"So what changed? Why are they now fighting over a single small street? What happened a year ago?" Chen Miemie was genuinely curious by now.

Mu Ying leaned in, eager.

"Back then, Granny and the vice president of the [Burger Workshop] were very close, and that friendship brought both guilds together. But a year ago, that vice president had an accident. She died."

Chen Miemie thought to himself: Finally, we've reached the heart of it.

"Are you talking about the daughter of President Yu? Miss Witch?"

Mu Ying's eyes widened: "How do you know about her?"

Mu Ying wasn't surprised that Chen Miemie could know; he was puzzled as to why he'd take an interest in a witch who'd been dead for a year.

"I have a few connections within the witch community. Heard a little something."

Mu Ying and Gongshu Key both: ...

You're the descendant of a third seat, you go to the city library on average every two days, and word is you can freely walk into the office of the Silent Witch herself. That's your idea of "a few connections"?

"Since you know already, that makes it easier. After the vice president passed away, all contact between the two guilds basically ceased."

The cowlick on Chen Miemie's head snapped to attention immediately.

"Why? Even if they lost a vice president, you'd think they'd keep the relationship going if it benefitted both sides. Unless... they thought you did it?"

"Alright. Let me take it from here." Mortar Granny spoke up.

"Chen Miemie, among guilds in the same city, alliances like the one we share with your [Silver Moon Court] are not typical. For one, it prevents the powerful from gobbling up the weak, and prevents gangs from forming and making a mess of things. For another, mystics are not quick to trust outsiders.

Xiaoyu—that is, the vice president—and I were more than just simple friends. She was very young, and I was, in a sense, her teacher.

You might be wondering why Xiaoyu would choose someone from another guild to be her teacher."

Chen Miemie nodded emphatically. He was just about to ask exactly that.

"Because a witch's path of growth doesn't just involve the Mystic arts—there's also alchemy. Ordinary mystics can't teach Xiaoyu."

"So, Granny, that means you're..."

"That's right. I am a witch."