Twisting the Knife!

As dusk fell, Shi Yu stepped into the restaurant, welcomed by wave after wave of intoxicating aromas.

Though the light outside was fading, the inside of the restaurant was spacious, bright, neat, and elegant. She looked up to see two rows of spirit stone lanterns hanging from the ceiling, emitting a soft glow.

Exquisite Red Spirit Wood tables and chairs filled the main hall, where mellow, fragrant wine and all kinds of delicacies were served. Diners sat together in groups, chatting and laughing in a lively atmosphere.

A restaurant waiter with a white towel draped over his shoulder greeted her warmly. “Is Miss dining alone, or...?”

Shi Yu gave President Song's name. The waiter had an excellent memory and answered without hesitation, “Ah, in a private room on the fourth floor! Please follow me.”

He led Shi Yu to an exquisitely crafted wooden platform and smiled. “Please step up, customer.”

Padded cushions and plush carpets were laid across the wooden platform. As Shi Yu stepped onto it, the waiter pressed a button beside it. A rushing splash of water sounded alongside the grinding of turning gears, and the wooden platform slowly began to rise until it came to a stop at the fourth floor.

Shi Yu found this elevator-like device rather interesting and took a second look. Seeing this, the waiter immediately boasted with pride, “This ‘Flying Cart’ was designed specifically for our restaurant by the Refinement Association. What do you think, Miss?”

“Not bad,” Shi Yu praised, giving him face.

“A country bumpkin from a tiny place like Lingtai Prefecture has probably never seen such a good thing before, hahaha!” A contemptuous voice suddenly carried over from nearby.

Shi Yu turned her head to look. On an adjacent Flying Cart, six or seven cultivators were stepping down, looking at her with mockery in their eyes.

They all wore standardized Taoist robes. Judging by the crests on their robes, some belonged to the Alchemist Association while others belonged to different associations, and all were local members from Hengze Prefecture.

The leader was a middle-aged man wearing the robe of the Alchemist Association. He was handsome and had a deep, powerful aura, looking to possess a considerable cultivation.

The one who had spoken just now was a younger companion beside the middle-aged man, belonging to the Refinement Association.

His eyes swept over the crest on Shi Yu's Taoist robe, and he sneered, saying to the middle-aged man, “Brother Wenzhou, it seems Lingtai Prefecture is becoming increasingly useless. They even brought such a little girl this year—they must have completely given up.”

Yin Wenzhou cast a faint glance at Shi Yu, his eyes sweeping past her with a cold, arrogant air, as if he didn't put her in his eyes at all.

The weapon refiner was clearly trying to flatter Yin Wenzhou, eager to step on Shi Yu to make Yin Wenzhou feel superior. Feeling that a few words weren't enough, he smiled mockingly at Shi Yu again. “Little country bumpkin, take the Flying Cart a few more times while you have the chance. Once you go back to Lingtai Prefecture, you won't be seeing such fine things again.”

By now, the commotion had drawn several passersby to stop and watch.

The waiter leading Shi Yu did not dare offend Yin Wenzhou and his companions, standing aside with a forced laugh.

“Heh.” Under the gloating or sympathetic gazes of the crowd, Shi Yu let out a soft laugh, her eyes filled with amused lightness. “A device that even a craftsman from the Mortal Realm could make is something you brag about endlessly. I wonder who really deserves to be called a ‘country bumpkin.’”

“You!” The weapon refiner stared with wide, furious eyes, assuming she was making wild claims. “Absolute nonsense! This is a proud creation of our Refinement Association—how could a mortal craftsman possibly make it!”

With Shi Yu's sharp sight, she had comprehended the inner and outer workings of the Flying Cart the moment she laid eyes on it. She gave him a pitiful glance and spoke in an unhurried voice:

“If I am not mistaken, there are gears installed on the top floor of the restaurant driven by a water wheel. Water is supplied to the water wheel by a dedicated pool, and inside the pool is a control valve that can adjust the direction of the water flow.

“A fine iron chain has one end fixed to the wooden platform while the other end passes through the central opening of the building to connect to the gears.”

By this time, more and more spectators were gathering around to watch.

Inside the private room, President Song and the others who were waiting for Shi Yu had also noticed the noise. When they stepped out and saw the scene, their expressions changed. Thinking Shi Yu was being bullied by Yin Wenzhou and his group, they were about to step forward to defend her, but seeing her calm and composed posture, they hesitated and paused to watch.

Looking at the weapon refiner's darkening face, Shi Yu continued, “Thus, pressing the button activates the mechanism. To go up, water flows from top to bottom, driving the water wheel to rotate in reverse, which turns the gears forward and pulls the fine iron chain to lift the platform. To go down, the valve closes, and water flows from bottom to top against the water wheel...”

Having said that, Shi Yu feigned confusion and asked, “Can such a simple structure—one that doesn't even require artifact-refining spells and could easily be built by any mortal craftsman—truly count as a proud creation of your Refinement Association?”

The onlookers listening to Shi Yu's explanation of the Flying Cart's construction were still a bit dazed, unsure if it was true, but seeing the refiner's increasingly ugly and pale expression, they knew Shi Yu was likely correct. For a moment, hushed discussions broke out, and everyone cast strange looks at Yin Wenzhou's group.

Shi Yu didn't mind giving another push. “Besides... there is still plenty of room for improvement on this Flying Cart. Adjusting the opening degree of the valve could also control its operating speed, making it far more convenient.”

She blinked, speaking with extreme politeness and goodwill, “I wonder if your association has any plans for improvement? If not, an alchemist like me from a small place could draw up a design or two for your reference.”

Talk about adding insult to injury!

The onlookers thought to themselves: This girl looks gentle and soft-spoken, but every word out of her mouth is sharper than a blade.

Meanwhile, standing behind the crowd, President Song and his companions were already grinning from ear to ear.

In previous years, they had been choked and ridiculed by Yin Wenzhou's group more than once, but now they had finally reclaimed some face. Little Yu was truly sharp-tongued—how satisfying!

The weapon refiner had long lost all his momentum, his face stiff and embarrassed, completely unable to think of a retort.

Who could blame him when every single word Shi Yu said was dead accurate?

He cursed silently in his heart: You yellow-haired brat from the Alchemist Association, what do you know about the ins and outs of artifact refining!

Knowing he had lost face, he couldn't help faltering as he looked to Yin Wenzhou at the head of their group. “Brother Wenzhou...”

Displeased, Yin Wenzhou shot him a glare, then threw a cold look at Shi Yu before stepping toward their private room.

The rest hurriedly followed, no longer displaying their former arrogance. Under the scrutiny of the surrounding crowd, they wished they could pull their necks in and hide as they walked.

As the crowd gradually dispersed, Shi Yu spotted President Song and the others and hurried forward. “I am late, delayed by a few matters on the way. Sorry to keep everyone waiting.”

President Song, Master Ji, and the others beamed with smiles. “Not late, not late! Better to arrive at the right moment than just early. Girl Yu, your sharp tongue was a true delight to watch—it felt so satisfying!”

Shi Yu had indeed intended to vent a bit of anger on behalf of President Song and the others, which was why she had so ruthlessly ridiculed the man.

She smiled and said, “Then wouldn't Lord President like to properly reward me?”

President Song waved his hand grandly. “Today, everyone order whatever you want to eat and drink—go all out!”