Chapter 340

Chapter 340: Manager Jin’s Promotion

Zhou Luo took three years to break through to Foundation Establishment, and as for Lin Xi, she would likely need even more time.

After all, she was at Zhou Fu, and with both him and Little White there, if there was any unusual movement, they could react immediately.

On the tenth day of Lin Xi’s Foundation Establishment Closed-Door Training, Manager Jin dispatched someone to Deliver the Message that he wanted to see Zhou Luo.

Zhou Luo glanced in the direction where Lin Xi was in Closed-Door Training, then handed a message talisman and a pile of life-saving items to Yao Wu, also urging Little White to guard Zhou Fu well.

After finishing this, he came to Tian Xia Restaurant.

It was the same room as before.

That day, Manager Jin was wearing a white jade robe, dressed extravagantly, and smiling cheerfully at him.

"Pill Master Zhou, please sit down quickly."

He seemed in a very good mood; upon seeing Zhou Luo, he immediately welcomed him to take a seat.

Once seated, he brewed an excellent spirit tea for him and placed it on the wooden table beside him.

"Manager Jin, what brought you here today?" Zhou Luo asked.

He and the other had cooperated for over ten years, and in that time, the number of times they contacted each other could be counted on one hand.

Because of Tian Xia Restaurant’s background and connections, both of them never had to worry about their industries being coveted by others.

So they had handed over their respective businesses to subordinates, rarely interfering themselves.

"I came to bid farewell to Pill Master Zhou," Manager Jin said with a smile.

Because he had brought huge profits for a higher-up figure, he was rewarded and would soon be transferred away from Qinyuan City.

Hearing this, a gleam flashed in Zhou Luo’s eye.

If Manager Jin left, who should he find to cooperate with in the city’s businesses next?

Thus he asked, "Manager Jin, you’re leaving. What about the business?"

"Pill Master Zhou, rest assured; I’ve arranged everything. The top will send someone over," Manager Jin chuckled.

This Foundation Establishment strong person was especially cheerful because of the imminent promotion.

But Zhou Luo appeared somewhat serious.

He said earnestly, "Manager Jin, can you guarantee that our cooperation will continue?"

As soon as these words were out, Manager Jin’s smile froze.

He had only been thinking about leaving this place and hadn’t considered the follow-up at all.

After all, by then, these matters would no longer concern him.

"Pill Master Zhou, this is a mutually beneficial business; the new person in charge definitely won’t cancel the cooperation," he stated.

But Zhou Luo wasn’t very convinced.

Over those more than ten years of cooperation, he could see that Manager Jin truly wanted to achieve something great and then move on to higher places.

Moreover, he was straightforward and sincere, making collaboration smooth.

But who could guarantee that the upcoming person in charge would be the same as him?

"Sorry, Manager Jin, if you leave, our cooperation ends," he stated firmly.

He didn’t want to gamble on this.

Rather than waiting for an unknown successor, he’d rather find a new partner early.

Yao Chi Pavilion’s Hong Xiu had been wanting to collaborate with him, after all.

Tian Xia Restaurant wasn’t his only option.

Hearing these words, Manager Jin panicked.

He hadn’t left yet; if the new appointee saw this mess first, headquarters might outright reject his promotion, causing trouble.

"How about this, Pill Master Zhou? I’ll settle your matters with the supplier before leaving. Plus, I’ll leave a communication jade slip. Should problems arise later, you can still contact me," Manager Jin said.

"Can I trust you?" Zhou Luo looked directly at him, gaze intense.

Manager Jin straightened up, speaking seriously. "Of course."

"Alright," Zhou Luo finally said, offering no further comment.

…

Three months later, Qinyuan Sect’s new Tian Xia Restaurant manager arrived.

She was a young woman dressed in luxurious robes, her style distinctly neutral. Wearing a haughty expression, she strode into Tian Xia Restaurant with her hands clasped behind her back, heading straight for Manager Jin’s office on the ninth floor.

No one dared to stop her.

The token hanging at her waist was Purple Gold.

This signified an exceptionally high status within Tian Xia Restaurant’s headquarters, far surpassing the gold token Manager Jin had once given Zhou Luo.

Bang!

Reaching the door, the woman lifted a foot and kicked the wooden panel open.

Inside, Manager Jin frowned.

Seeing the Purple Gold token at her waist, his expression shifted. He quickly rose and bowed.

"I didn’t know it was an esteemed envoy gracing us. Please punish my failure."

Within Tian Xia Restaurant, apart from the mysterious Master Manager who was rarely seen, all authority rested with the Elder Council.

This Elder Council had seven members, respected Elders of exalted status and formidable power. Each was at least a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Their unified token was Purple Gold.

These tokens were impossible to counterfeit, and no one dared to try.

Discovery meant relentless pursuit by Tian Xia Restaurant.

Remember, Tian Xia Restaurants spanned the entire Huoyun Country. Once placed on their execution list, escape was practically impossible.

Considering the young woman’s appearance and age, Manager Jin ruled her out as an Elder, yet knew she came from no ordinary background.

The woman glanced at him lightly, then casually took Manager Jin’s chair for herself.

Leaning back, hands resting on the armrests, her beautiful face held only cold indifference.

"Jin Jiuzhou, you’ve done well."

Jin Jiuzhou was this Manager Jin’s name.

Hearing her words, Jin Jiuzhou trembled, bowing even lower.

"You flatter me, Esteemed Envoy. This minor functionary merely performed his duties."

The woman gave a cold laugh. "Why linger here instead of proceeding to Jinyun City to take up your post? Are you questioning my ability?"

She lifted her eyes, gaze utterly frigid.

Jin Jiuzhou hastily explained, "No, Esteemed Envoy! I merely wished to ensure a smooth handover…"

"Do I need you? Get out!" the woman snapped sharply.

Jin Jiuzhou scrambled out of the room.

Once outside Tian Xia Restaurant, he let out a long sigh of relief. He glanced up at the ten-story building and sighed once more.

He didn’t leave the Immortal City directly, instead heading towards its core district.

Soon, Jin Jiuzhou arrived at the gate of Zhou Fu and was promptly received by Zhou Luo.

"Pill Master Zhou, this time I truly cannot help you," he said, his expression strained, upon seeing Zhou Luo.

"What happened?" inquired Zhou Luo, leading him to the main building in the inner courtyard.

"A great personage from above has arrived," Jin Jiuzhou answered, his voice laden with helplessness.

Through Jin Jiuzhou’s explanation, Zhou Luo gained clarity on Tian Xia Restaurant’s power structure.

Simply put, it comprised the Elders, the Stewards, and the regional managers.

The first two held fixed, elevated statuses. Only regional managers received a rank based on their assigned city’s prosperity level.

For instance, Qinyuan City’s Tian Xia Restaurant held a Rank B.

Whereas Jinyun City, the central Immortal City of Jin Yun Domain, held Rank A.

Different ranks commanded different privileges.

The newcomer, though not an Elder herself, carried an Elder Council token. Her authority was functionally equivalent to an Elder’s. Not someone Jin Jiuzhou could afford to defy.

"What does she want?" Zhou Luo asked.

"I don’t know. Truly. In short, friend Zhou, you should tread carefully now," Jin Jiuzhou shook his head.