Chapter 64: Assassination Attempt and Timely Intervention

The blade was already descending toward Wan Jing’s chest when something slammed into the attacker.

He was sent flying backward, crashing into the alley wall with enough force to crack bone.

A figure materialized between Wan Jing and his remaining attackers, a man in simple gray robes, his stance casual but radiating unmistakable danger. The pressure of fourth layer Qi Condensation spread through the narrow alley.

"Qi Condensation!" one of the masked attackers gasped, genuine terror entering his voice.

The other tried to run immediately.

The gray robed cultivator moved. His speed made their attempt laughable. A single palm strike caught the fleeing attacker in the spine, sending him tumbling forward lifeless. The third attacker managed to raise his hands defensively before a precise strike crushed his throat.

The entire fight lasted perhaps less than five seconds.

Wan Jing remained on the ground, still trying to process what had just happened. Moments ago, he had been certain he was going to die. Now, the three attackers lay motionless around him, their bodies already growing cold.

The gray robed cultivator turned, his expression neutral.

"Are you injured?"

Wan Jing shook his head numbly. "I... no. Just somewhat bruised."

"Get up now. Eventually, the city guard will come this way. It’s better that you’re not here when that happens."

The cultivator extended his hand. Wan Jing grasped it and was pulled effortlessly to his feet. His legs were still trembling, body yet to recover from the terror of what had just happened.

"Thank you," Wan Jing managed. "You saved my life. I don’t know how to repay—"

"No repayment necessary." The cultivator brushed dust from Wan Jing’s shoulder with surprising gentleness. "Though I admit, I nearly didn’t intervene."

Wan Jing blinked. "What?"

"I was passing by when I overheard and noticed the ambush." The man gestured toward the rooftops. "Jade City sees conflicts like this every night. If I involved myself in every fight I came across, I’d eventually end up making enemies I had no reason to make."

"Then why..."

"Your uniform." The cultivator pointed to Wan Jing’s jade green vest, embroidered with the Heaven’s Table insignia. "I recognized it immediately. You work at that restaurant on Azure Merchant Street."

Wan Jing nodded slowly still confused. "Yes, I’m a chef there."

Something shifted in the cultivator’s expression, not quite a smile, but his eyes softened slightly.

"Then I couldn’t just walk past. It seemed wrong to ignore it."

"You’ve dined there?"

"Twice." The cultivator’s voice carried genuine warmth now. "Independent cultivators like myself, well how to put it... Let’s say we’re accustomed to certain treatment. The expensive restaurants look down on us. The cheap ones serve garbage that barely qualifies as food. We’re caught in between, neither wealthy enough for respect nor desperate enough to tolerate mediocrity."

He paused. "But Heaven’s Table was different. From the moment I walked through those doors, the staff treated me like an honored guest. Not with a condescending fake courtesy but with genuine respect."

Wan Jing felt a rush of pride despite his shaken state. "That’s our young master’s philosophy. He insists—"

"You know what happened during my second visit," the cultivator interrupted. "I ordered the Braised Phoenix Tail and total came out be six hundred low grade spiritual stones. It was expensive for someone like me at time because most of my money went for resources but I’d been saving for it." He looked a little embarrassed. "When it arrived, I realized I’d miscalculated. I only had five hundred stones with me."

Wan Jing remembered that incident. It had happened three weeks ago.

"I expected to be humiliated," the cultivator continued. "Accused of trying to cheat, thrown out, possibly reported to the city guard. I was prepared to apologize profusely and offer collateral."

"But that’s not what happened, right?" Wang Jing smiled.

"No." The man’s voice carried something that might have been wonder. "The waitress simply smiled and said, ’No concern, honored guest. You can pay the difference next time when you visit. Or if you prefer, we can substitute it for a less expensive dish.’"

He shook his head slowly.

"She said it so naturally. There was no judgment in her voice, and she didn’t seem bothered at all. She was simply trying to help."

Wan Jing nodded. "Young Master Yu trains us specifically on that. He says cultivation is already difficult enough, and things like these only add unnecessary stress. If someone can’t afford a dish, we help them find alternatives. If they’re short on payment, we trust them to return when they can. He believes..."

"What!? He actually believes!?"

The cultivator was genuinely stunned. Who in their right mind would believe a rogue cultivator like himself. Most people wouldn’t even trust an independent cultivator without a good reason.

"Yes. He believes that treating people with dignity costs nothing and returns everything." Wan Jing’s voice grew stronger. "Most establishments see customers as sources of profit. Young Master Yu sees them as fellow cultivators struggling on the same difficult path. He wants Heaven’s Table to be a place where people can relax, enjoy quality food, and feel valued regardless of their cultivation level or wealth."

The gray robed cultivator was quiet for a long moment.

"Your Young Master sounds... unusual."

"He is." Wan Jing smiled forgetting about what just happened to him. "He pays us far more than market rate, insists on quality ingredients even when cheaper alternatives exist, and refuses to compromise his principles for profit. Master Chen, our head chef says he’s never worked for someone who cared so genuinely about both the food and the people eating it."

"I believe you now." The cultivator glanced toward the end of the alley, then looked back at Wan Jing.

He then nodded toward the street.

"Come. I’ll escort you home. Those attackers might have companions nearby."

As they walked, Wan Jing’s curiosity overcame his caution.

"Why were they after me? I’m nobody important, just a cook."

"That’s precisely why." The cultivator’s voice turned grim. "Body Tempering realm attackers, masked and coordinated? Someone hired them. And if they’re targeting you, one of the Heaven’s Table employeesl..."

He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to.

It’s clear someone wanted to hurt the restaurant. And they decided attacking the staff was the easiest method.

Wan Jing’s hands clenched into fists. "I need to warn the others. Master Chen, Young Master Yu—"

"Do it tomorrow, in daylight, with people around." The cultivator’s tone was firm. "For tonight, just go home to your family and lock the doors. Tomorrow, tell your employers what happened and let them decide what to do."

They reached Wan Jing’s modest house. Warm light glowed through the windows, and he could hear his daughter’s laughter inside.

"Thank you again," Wan Jing said, bowing deeply. "For saving my life, and for trusting our restaurant enough to act."

"Thank Heaven’s Table for earning that trust." The cultivator returned the bow. "Tell your young master that he’s building something special. After being treated with such kindness, I can’t just turn my back on you."

He then vanished into the darkness before Wan Jing could respond, his movements were quick and within moments, he was gone.

Wan Jing stood outside his home for a long moment.

Then he pushed open the door and stepped inside.

"Daddyyyy!"

A little girl came running toward him, her face bright with happiness. She threw her arms around his legs and hugged him tightly.

Wan Jing froze for a moment before a smile appeared on his face. He bent down and gently picked her up.

"I’m home."