Chapter 210: Taking A Different Path
“Can’t determine where it fell?” Zhang Qian pondered.
The waiter had no reason to lie about something like this, so he probably really did get separated from the mannequin.
Now he could only hope to encounter that guy later, otherwise without the guidance of the Ghost Map and the mannequin as the guide, the road ahead would really be hard to navigate.
The most regrettable was still the Ghost Map; Zhang Qian always felt that thing wasn’t as simple as it appeared.
It could map Fierce Ghosts in the aisle, and this ability was equally effective in the Music Hall. What about other places on that Ghost Ship Li, or even the Real World outside the Ghost Ship?
Its value was probably immeasurable.
But now wasn’t the time to consider this matter.
Temporarily setting these problems aside, Zhang Qian turned and asked, “So how can one leave the restaurant? You said earlier that one could leave after the banquet ends; it should count as ended now, right?”
The waiter gave an awkward smile upon hearing this and hesitated, “In theory, after the customer finishes the meal and pays, the Ghost Restaurant will automatically send the person out…”
“But your situation, sir, is a bit strange. Because you arrived here by accident, it might be a bit troublesome to leave.”
The rules of the Ghost Restaurant were fixed from the start.
If a Ghost Controller enters the restaurant to eat, everything is fine if they pay and they return safely. If they don’t pay, they get sent to the back kitchen to become a new dish.
Normally, given Zhang Qian’s situation, he should have already been slaughtered by now, but due to the influence of this Ghost Ship, the Ghost Restaurant surprisingly couldn’t connect the two Supernatural Lands, let alone catch Zhang Qian.
This allowed Zhang Qian to luckily escape disaster, but it also trapped him in this awkward situation where he couldn’t advance or retreat.
“Troublesome? Explain in detail.” Zhang Qian urged.
The waiter didn’t dare delay and immediately explained the current situation at an extremely fast speech speed, “You should have noticed, sir, that my current state looks different from before.”
Indeed.
Zhang Qian examined the waiter’s appearance; although still shrunken, it looked much better than that Evil Ghost appearance in the darkness.
Not only did it look somewhat human, but the wounds on its body from gorging itself had also disappeared without a trace, and its mouth full of big yellow teeth had grown back.
It seemed to have transformed from a previous Fierce Ghost into a timid living human.
Two waiters? Or some other reason.
“So why did you undergo such a change? Which side is the real you?” Having the question, Zhang Qian naturally wouldn’t hold it in and followed up along the waiter’s words.
“Both sides are me; this feeling is hard to explain, like suddenly having two forms—one like a Fierce Ghost, one like a living human.”
Because he was worried Zhang Qian would think he was hiding something, the waiter racked his brains to try to explain his situation clearly.
“However, this state can’t be controlled by me; it’s determined by the space I’m in. In that previous dark Dining Area, I was in the Fierce Ghost form, but outside, I turn back into a human.”
“Two forms? Interesting.” Zhang Qian said.
To turn an ordinary person instantly into a real Fierce Ghost, retaining consciousness and even able to change back.
This Ghost Restaurant was even more mysterious than he had imagined.
Zhang Qian shook his head, “Unfortunately, this change isn’t permanent; otherwise, a Fierce Ghost with consciousness, even if not highly terrifying, would be terrifying enough.”
“No, I’m glad I can turn back into a human.”
The waiter looked at his skinny palm; though very weak, it was much better than that twig-like appearance.
Clear fear showed in its eyes as it sighed, “Sometimes I’m not even sure if that version of me counts as me, since when transforming into a Fierce Ghost, my emotions are greatly influenced—greed, brutality, arrogance…”
“It’s laughable, but without the restaurant rules’ restrictions, my first reaction would probably be to attack you, sir.”
Zhang Qian nodded thoughtfully; no wonder the waiter’s attitude changed so much before and after.
With its current timid appearance, it really didn’t seem like someone who would dare exploit loopholes to harm others.
However, perhaps this transformation was also orchestrated by the Ghost Restaurant?
After all, the more dedicated waiters like this, the better the Ghost Restaurant’s performance would be. Whether Ghost Money or materials income, it would be much higher than normal.
But after talking for so long, it seemed unrelated to the method of leaving this space.
Or perhaps the method lay in the change between these states?
“You called the previous black space the Dining Area; so what is this place, and what’s the connection between the two spaces? Is the crucial point for leaving the Ghost Restaurant in this connection?”
Posing a series of questions, Zhang Qian lifted the waiter’s kneeling body and casually pressed it onto a stool.
Seeing the waiter like this, it had no mind for resistance, so there was no need to continue tormenting it.
As for venting on it, Zhang Qian didn’t have much hatred for this guy; even if he did, it had been mostly expended when experimenting with True Qi’s healing ability earlier.
“Hiss—”
The instant its butt touched the stool, the waiter sharply inhaled and tried to bounce off the stool.
Helplessly, Zhang Qian’s hand was like Mount Tai, unmoving; its strength couldn’t stir any waves.
Right, the waiter’s wounds had mostly healed, but Zhang Qian had overlooked the butt area.
After all, the damage was caused by the Ghost Hand, while healing required personal hands-on.
Even without direct contact, rubbing the waiter’s butt with his hand… better not.
However, Zhang Qian’s action wasn’t to torment the waiter; he had simply forgotten.
But the waiter didn’t dare say more and could only endure waves of pain, saying intermittently: “As expected, sir, you are wise, divine, martial, and exceptionally intelligent. To leave the Ghost Restaurant, one must first leave from here.”
“I generally call this place the Resting Area; it has no other entrances or exits, only connecting to the Dining Area, for me to recover my human form and rest when there are no customers.”
“Hmm… so originally I should be able to leave directly now, but due to a loophole in the Ghost Restaurant, I’m stuck in the Resting Area.” Zhang Qian stroked his chin and pondered.
“So as long as I return to the Dining Area, there’s a high probability I can leave. So how to get to the Dining Area?”
“Very simple.”
The pressing hand finally lifted, and the waiter finally got a chance to breathe.
It carefully raised its butt and explained in a strange posture, “As an employee, I can enter the Dining Area anytime I want. Although you’re not an employee yet, sir, as long as you become an employee of the Ghost Restaurant, you can leave.”
