Unparalleled Duo
Chapter 47 - 47 33 First Grade

47: Chapter 33 “First Grade 47: Chapter 33 “First Grade When Sun Yixie and Huang Donglai ascended to the second floor, more than ten pairs of eyes in the grand hall on the ground floor were already fixating on them, memorizing their features.

Those people, without exception, were all from the Martial Arts community.

Among them were invitees to the Youth Hero Conference like Sun and Huang, wandering martial arts veterans who had come to Luoyang to watch the excitement, as well as local big shots…

and their reason for looking this way was because they all knew that the upper floors of Bogui Building were no easy place to access.

Those in the know were aware that Bogui Building had three floors.

The ground floor was the busiest area on ordinary days; anyone with money could sit down to dine, but the prices were honestly not cheap.

The second floor, known as the Wisdom Immortal Pavilion, had several elegant private rooms and a large kitchen separate from the one on the first floor; most of the time, the second floor had no guests, because dining there had a rule—you had to pass the “First grade,” “One glance,” and “One word” tests to qualify for the food upstairs.

If you did not go up, it was fine, but if you did and failed these tests, sorry; not only would you not be welcomed on the second floor anymore, but also you wouldn’t be allowed back on the first floor in the future.

You would be on Bogui Building’s “blacklist.” Dare come again, and you would be directly thrown out as soon as you reached the main entrance.

If you ask why?

It’s simple—because you overestimated yourself.

And the owner of Bogui Building despised those who overestimated themselves the most.

Of course, if you want to dispute with the owner, you can.

The owner resides on the third floor in a place he named Si Hui Inn; he lives there, and if you wish to “complain,” you can go up and talk to him directly.

After all, over the years, not a few people have entered vertically to complain and left horizontally, expressing “extreme satisfaction.”

Even prominent figures of Luoyang City, when they come, must adhere to the owner’s established rules without exception; meaning, no matter how wealthy you are, if you cannot pass those three tests, you do not deserve to sit on the second floor and must humbly stay on the first floor.

Over time, those who went up to “invite humiliation upon themselves” practically ceased to exist.

And those esteemed guests who could dine on the second floor were undoubtedly very capable individuals, like…

Shen Youran, who could freely dine at the Wisdom Immortal Pavilion; however, most people of his caliber were too busy and didn’t have the leisure to come here daily, and even if they did, they might not have the extra funds available…

after all, the meals on the second floor were even pricier than those on the first.

Yet tonight, Sun Yixie and Huang Donglai, these two seemingly seventeen- or eighteen-year-old new faces in the martial arts world, just walked up like that.

Without a doubt…

the people in the grand hall on the first floor witnessing this scene were already waiting to see them make fools of themselves.

“These two youngsters definitely didn’t understand the rules here, or perhaps they’re fearless due to ignorance, likely they’ll be driven out soon.”—this was the unanimous thought in the minds of the vast majority…

no, it should be said, all of those who noticed them.

This guess was actually not incorrect, but then…

life is unpredictable.

…

“Gentlemen, please wait here a moment; I shall notify my superior.” The greeter, having led Sun and Huang to the second floor, left them in an area resembling an anteroom, then quickly turned and departed.

The place, although furnished with seats and a small table for teacups, offered them no tea, nor were there any plates of fruit or snacks provided.

“What the hell?” Watching the greeter exit, Sun Yixie felt irked right away, “What’s up with this place?

The old man comes to have a meal, and still needs to see a ‘Sir’?

What, do I have to take an exam before eating?”

His casual remark turned out to be almost entirely correct.

“I don’t know either.” Huang Donglai chimed in, “But I took a look around on the first floor just now, and the food seems superb here.

Maybe we’ve entered a very high-end place, hence all the rules?”

“Hmm…” Sun Yixie pondered, “Now that you say it…

it does sound possible, but can a business establish rules that hinder customers from consuming?”

“It’s hard to tell.” Huang Donglai, after all, hailed from a Martial Arts family and, though inexperienced in wandering the martial world, had heard of some extraordinary happenings, “I’ve actually heard of places that set thresholds for customers.

In the Capital, there’s one called ‘Top Scholar Pavilion.’ The best feast there can’t be bought with money; you can only exchange it for poetry or rhymed couplets.

Of course…

the poems and couplets must be exceptional; a literary illiterate like you wouldn’t cut it.”

“Go away!” Sun Yixie scoffed, “How dare you, I’ve attended private school!”

As they were chatting, the sound of footsteps approached.

Shortly after, a slim figure approached from the direction the greeter had exited.

The man, about forty years old, not very tall, with a beard, a reddish nose, and dressed like a scholar, was waving a paper fan with light steps.

He spoke with a Shaoxing accent, “Gentlemen, my humble self is Xue Tui, styled Qingshi, people generously call me ‘Little Dezu’.

May I inquire your names…”

Perhaps because Huang Donglai’s earlier comment had sparked him, or maybe because he felt the scholarly greeting had some imposing style, Sun Yixie, on a whim, responded, “Nice to meet you, I am Sun Yixie, styled ‘Yifeng’, known as the ‘King of the Seas’.”

Huang Donglai, listening on the side, almost burst out laughing but then thought it was quite amusing and responded in jest, “Then I am Huang Donglai, styled ‘Gongren’, known as ‘Xudong Old Immortal’.”

Upon hearing the two literary novices introduce themselves, Xue Tui was genuinely taken aback.