Ch 260: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

“Lu Yao, what happened?”

Harold had been summoned by Lu Yao on short notice, so he was unaware of the situation. However, he was quick to sense the malice directed at Lu Yao by those she had just left behind.

The dragon clan, known for their formidable power, typically exhibited bold and unruly personalities. Harold’s upbringing was different from that of his peers, and now, having formed a bond with humans, he appeared outwardly fierce and temperamental but was actually sensitive and observant at heart.

He did not like the way those humans looked at Lu Yao.

Lu Yao patted Harold’s hard scales, feeling a sting in her hand and quickly pulling it back. “Just a small issue, don’t worry.”

Harold turned his massive head, his eyes—larger than Lu Yao’s head—wide open, and his vertical pupils locked on Budu. “Aren’t you a divine child? Is this how you protect her?”

Budu was already filled with self-reproach.

He hadn’t protected his mother properly, especially in front of that person.

If it had been that person, his mother would have let him act without hesitation.

Now, it was him standing by her side, yet he failed to protect her and hadn’t even gained her trust.

The giant dragon head loomed in front of him, creating an intimidating effect, especially while in flight.

Lu Yao reached out to push Harold. “Watch where you’re going, don’t crash into anything.”

Harold stubbornly kept his neck stiff.

Lu Yao said, “Budu is not even one year old yet; don’t be too harsh on him. I want him to grow up as a child should. You can’t put adult responsibilities on a child’s shoulders.”

Harold silently turned back to face forward.

After a moment, the little black dragon’s voice drifted over with the wind: “Next time you open a new shop, I want to come too.”

Lu Yao was right. Even if Budu had the potential to become a deity, he was still less than one year old, and Harold couldn’t expect him to bear the burden of protecting Lu Yao alone.

Suddenly filled with boundless determination, Harold resolved to personally train this young nephew for a while.

Lu Yao had no objections.

Budu lowered his eyelids, biting his lip in quiet frustration.

Mother truly didn’t trust him.

Alfred, who had been sitting obediently beside Lu Yao, saw that their conversation had ended. The little dragon tugged at Lu Yao’s sleeve before bouncing onto Harold’s head, chirping, “Daddy.”

Harold’s scales bristled as he roared, “Get off!”

Strictly speaking, Alfred was a super artificial intelligence created from a blend of magic, science, and divine power.

His skeletal structure was made from Harold’s scales, his brain was an ultra-miniature artificial intellect created by Team 1042, and his heart was an artificial organ powered by crystal energy developed by researchers at the blind box store.

Lu Yao had designed him, using magic and divine power to grant him an independent personality and consciousness, sharing time with him.

Although Alfred’s master was Lu Yao, he had several “parents.”

Most scientists were fond of this well-behaved and interactive creation, but some, like Harold, were not as accepting.

The young dragon, not yet a century old, could not reconcile with the idea of being called “father.”

Yet Alfred’s form was modeled after Harold’s dragon shape, which made Alfred particularly affectionate toward Harold.

Alfred, feeling wronged, returned to Lu Yao’s side with teary eyes. “Master.”

Lu Yao smiled and patted Alfred’s head.

“Good boy.”

The overpass at 66 Sanhua Road and the sidewalks below were packed with onlookers, while a few superpowered individuals with flight abilities hovered mid-air, waiting for the dragon to return.

Lu Yao lay on Harold’s back, sighing, “The shop entrance is blocked.”

Harold flapped his wings, creating a gust that cleared the entire street of people.

When they landed, Harold was the first to revert to human form, effortlessly catching Lu Yao, who was holding Budu.

Alfred flapped his wings energetically, following close behind Harold.

Taking advantage of the now-empty street, the group quickly returned to the store.

The convenience store was empty; everyone was in the tutoring center.

222 and 444 were busy cleaning the mess in the tutoring hall and the teachers’ offices. Hu Jiao was organizing the records room, while Xu Xiaoxiao and Xie Molin surrounded Bai Yi.

Lu Yao noticed the bloodied tissues in the trash bin and quickly walked over. “Who got hurt?”

Lin Xue, who had been sitting in a single chair, stood up with a surprised expression. “You’re back already?”

Ignoring her, Lu Yao approached Bai Yi, noticing the bandage on her wrist and her pale complexion. “Bai Yi, how did you get injured?”

Xu Xiaoxiao’s eyes were red, as if she had just cried, and her voice still trembled. “That 696 attacked Bai Yi out of nowhere and cut her hand.”

696?

Lu Yao didn’t have time to think as she lifted Bai Yi’s wrist to check her wound.

Bai Yi’s face was bloodless, and she looked weak.

Her injury was severe—a gash about fifteen centimeters long on her left wrist, with her ring and pinky fingers almost severed, barely attached by a thin piece of skin.

Blood was splattered on the floor, table, and chairs.

“How did this happen?” Lu Yao’s brow furrowed tightly.

Xu Xiaoxiao explained that after Lu Yao and Budu were taken away, they were kept at the tutoring center and not allowed to leave.

With nothing else to do, everyone watched the Supernatural Research Institute’s livestream.

A few minutes before, when the black dragon appeared and took Lu Yao and Harold away, 696 suddenly grabbed Bai Yi and tried to drag her out of the tutoring center.

After the change in the livestream, the security officers stationed outside the center had quickly left.

Somehow, 696 managed to run out through the now-empty entrance, but Bai Yi got stuck at the door.

Realizing he couldn’t take her with him, 696 had resorted to violence.

According to Bai Yi’s recollection, it felt as if 696 wanted to take some of her blood.

But even after taking a vial of Bai Yi’s blood, he couldn’t leave the tutoring center.

Panicked, he started swinging his knife wildly, slicing Bai Yi, who was closest to him.

Lin Xue recalled the moment when 696 fled, the knife in his hand seemingly wiped clean of Bai Yi’s blood as if by an invisible force.

696 eventually fled alone, unable to take anything with him.

The staff realized that something mysterious was indeed protecting the tutoring center and were unable to take Bai Yi to the hospital in time.

Bai Yi’s two fingers were severed, and even if they rushed her to the hospital now, there was no guarantee she could be fully healed.

Lu Yao called over Harold. “Hold her hand for me while I heal her.”

Harold rudely pushed past Xie Molin and Xu Xiaoxiao to support Bai Yi’s injured hand.

Lu Yao took out her wand from her portable space and drew a light magic circle. Gentle silver light enveloped Bai Yi’s severed fingers and arm wound.

Thirty seconds later, the fingers reattached, and the torn skin healed seamlessly.

Bai Yi flexed her fingers in disbelief. “It’s fully healed, and there’s no pain at all.”

Lu Yao sat beside her. “I’ll go out with you later. If nothing happens when we return to the shopping street, then everything should be fine.”

Bai Yi, who had felt utterly hopeless before, regained her spirits now that her injury was healed. “The shopkeeper, my brother was right—you really are a witch who knows magic and raises dragons.”

Xie Molin and Lin Xue remained silent, occasionally glancing between Harold and Lu Yao.

Lu Yao lightly patted Harold’s back. “Harold has been ay the pet cafe.”

Bai Yi looked at Harold, then at Lu Yao. “Is this… the dragon gentleman who came to pick you up just now?”

Bai Yi, who often chatted with Zhou Su and snuck snacks during her lunch breaks, had indeed seen Harold helping out at the pet shop.

But today, seeing Harold’s true form for the first time left her deeply astonished.

The other staff members, having finished dealing with the mess outside, returned to the break room and caught the end of the conversation. Their eyes all shifted to Harold.

Harold sat down lazily next to Lu Yao, showing no intention of explaining himself.

Lu Yao skimmed through the online news quickly, her brow slightly furrowed. “We’re closing early today. Everyone should head home now; otherwise, you might not be able to leave later.”

Perhaps due to the prevalence of superpowers, the appearance of the dragon only held the public’s awe for a brief period. People’s acceptance was higher than Lu Yao had anticipated, and there were even whispers online about hunting the dragon.

Obtaining such overwhelming power easily can lead people to lose a proper sense of themselves.

Lin Xue spoke up, “What about 696’s situation…”

Lu Yao interrupted, “His original target was me. Bai Yi likely became his focus because she shares certain traits with me. Bai Yi, take a few days off and rest at home. Come back to work after things settle down here.”

Lu Yao didn’t want to explain too much, but it wasn’t hard to deduce.

Before today, the main similarity between Bai Yi and Lu Yao was that neither of them had any apparent superpowers.

But after Lu Yao’s outburst at the Supernatural Research Institute and her summoning of a dragon, she was no longer seen as powerless.

Then, 696 tried to abduct Bai Yi.

It was highly probable that 696 was working with Zhou Yishan’s allies.

For some reason, they needed individuals without superpowers.

But there was one thing Lu Yao still didn’t understand. If their sole aim was to find non-powered individuals, what was the point of today’s grand spectacle?

Blood!

When the abduction failed, 696 tried to take Bai Yi’s blood.

Lu Yao remembered that her own blood had also been drawn at the Superpower Research Institute.

Perhaps they had already succeeded.

However, she had used magic to tamper with the results at the institute, which may have sown doubt in their minds. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have attempted to abduct Bai Yi.

But this would only delay them for a while. She needed to retrieve the blood left at the Supernatural Research Institute.

…

Supernatural Research Institute, basement.

696 stood with his head bowed in the shadows. “Apologies, I couldn’t bring another non-powered individual.”

He had investigated multiple times, confirming that there were no security systems in the shop, only to be thwarted by an inexplicably secure glass door.

X stood at the lab bench, surrounded by unconscious researchers.

He held a vial of bright red blood, his lips curling into a smile, eyes glistening with satisfaction. “No matter. We already have the best material.”

696 said, “Did you not watch the livestream? Lu Yao has been proven to be an absolute superpowered individual, even capable of summoning fantastical creatures. Her blood is useless.”

X shook his head. “She is indeed non-powered. From the first time I saw her at the institute, I knew she was purely non-powered. My eyes can see through any disguise, right to the essence. Her blood is more suitable than any other material.”

Since 696’s arrival, 52 had remained silent.

Now, he finally paused his work and looked up, his gaze reverent. “The machine is ready.”

X approached the control panel and slowly inserted the vial of blood into the slot.

All it would take was pressing the adjacent green activation button, and by dawn, the world would be a different place.

To prevent any complications, X moved to press the button directly.

A blood-streaked, emerald-green stem emerged from the shadows, pointing directly at X’s vital point.

“Don’t move.” The man’s silhouette and face were obscured by darkness, his voice cold.

The familiar voice made X smile. “You truly are the best of the best, but this world will no longer need superpowers. Even you will have no place here.”

Before he finished speaking, X’s hand reached for the activation button.

An Yan’s slender fingers grasped the golden lotus stem, dark red liquid dripping down the green stalk. The sharp, blade-like end of the stem pressed firmly against X’s skin.

An Yan’s entire demeanor was as cold as frost, and his beautiful, translucent red eyes glimmered with threads of dark light.

He said, “Don’t block her path.”

He would clear away any obstacles for her, bearing all the sins himself, for he was not destined to die.

An Yan still harbored guilt about what had happened at the blind box store.

She shouldn’t have witnessed that scene, and he had regretted it ever since.

But this time, she wouldn’t know about it at all.

With steady force, An Yan pushed the lotus stem further into X’s skin.

X’s body began to weaken, and his breathing grew labored.

He stubbornly reached out, attempting to touch the button that seemed so close.

Both 696 and 52 had tried to stop An Yan when they noticed him.

But in the face of overwhelming power, all resistance seemed laughable.

696 and 52 were thrown to the ground by an invisible force. They tried to divert An Yan’s attention to press the button themselves, but An Yan gave them no opportunity. They lay nearby, covered in blood, unable to rise.

An Yan turned his head and looked back at X.

“It’s your turn.”

“Wait.”

A hurried voice echoed from the dim corridor. An Yan’s hand paused, and his expression shifted slightly.

Lu Yao appeared, breathless, her eyes quickly scanning the scene before locking onto An Yan. “Don’t kill him.”

An Yan released his grip and looked at Lu Yao, speaking calmly. “It will be troublesome later, and the mission success rate will drop below fifty percent.”

“It’s okay.” Lu Yao approached An Yan slowly, pushing aside the swirling thoughts in her mind. She looked up at him calmly, “Don’t act; I’ll handle the problems later.”

“It’s too late, hahahaha.” X slumped over the console, his trembling hand pressing the activation button. He couldn’t help but turn to see their reactions.

Lu Yao and An Yan’s faces remained composed, their eyes showing a strange sympathy, not the frustration or regret he had expected.

A mechanical hum filled the underground lab, starting a one-minute countdown.

Lu Yao and An Yan exchanged glances without a word.

“Beep—”

As the final second ticked, a familiar system notification sounded in Lu Yao’s ear.

[The ultimate mission has been activated. Due to the successful execution of X’s plan, humanity has entered an unprecedented survival crisis. The shop owner must use the main products sold at this shop as weapons and achieve the “Save the World” goal within fourteen days. Please do your best to complete the mission!]

Lu Yao finally spared a moment to look at X. “What did you do?”

X replied, “I watched today’s broadcast. You might be the only one who understands me. The existence of superpowers strips away humanity. I only corrected this mistake, bringing the world back to its state sixty years ago.”

Lu Yao roughly understood his thoughts and plans. It was somewhat different from her assumptions but didn’t change the current situation.

No wonder they needed the blood of non-powered individuals.

Lu Yao looked at X. “It might be rude to interrupt your moment of victory, but I have to remind you: superpowers aren’t what make the world unhappy.”

X looked shocked. “Do you want me to act like this crude researcher here and bypass the problem to deal with the problem-maker?

“Do you know how many superpowered individuals exist in the world? Before you appeared, I had never seen a natural non-powered person.

“And you, you must be a gift from the gods.”

Lu Yao sighed, “By tomorrow afternoon at the latest, you’ll understand just how foolish your words are now.”

Lu Yao had no intention of arguing further. Since retrieving the blood was impossible, there was no reason to stay.

She lowered her head and used her phone to contact the tutoring center staff, informing them of a five-day break starting the next day, then turned to leave.

At the doorway, Lu Yao paused and said, “Are you coming with me?”

An Yan hesitated for a moment before slowly stepping towards her.

Lu Yao felt a sense of relief.

They took the same elevator up.

The institute had already been taken over by X’s allies, and both the researchers and test subjects were in a state of deep sleep.

By the time they woke up tomorrow, they would find that the world had changed completely.

For now, Lu Yao had no intention of worrying about it. She got off the elevator on the first floor and walked straight to the exit.

As she reached the doorway, An Yan stopped. “Lu Yao.”

“Hm?” Lu Yao turned back to look at him.

An Yan lowered his gaze, avoiding her direct stare. “I can’t go with you.”

Lu Yao nodded, understanding. After all, they weren’t close enough to go home together, but she was still a bit concerned. “You’re not going back to find him, are you?”

An Yan’s eyes were a bit vacant, as if he didn’t comprehend.

Lu Yao reminded him, “X.”

An Yan said, “He’s already safely passed the turning point. Even if I deal with him now, it won’t change the world’s trajectory, and the mission’s success rate won’t increase. I won’t go after him.”

“In the third world, did you act that way for the same reason?” Lu Yao couldn’t help but ask.

So she did still care about what happened back then. An Yan regretted it even more but had resolved not to lie to her anymore.

“There are many traps in dying worlds,” An Yan nodded. “I cleared all of them for you so that Lu Yao could move forward without hindrance.”

“Why? Do you like me?” Lu Yao asked.

The system was on the verge of breaking: [Hey!!!]

Lu Yao was nonchalant. “I’m just asking casually.”

An Yan averted his gaze, looking anywhere but at the person in front of him.

He hesitated for a long while.

Finally, An Yan looked at Lu Yao seriously, his expression unusually solemn. “I… really… dislike you.”

Lu Yao smiled, “What a coincidence, me too.”

The system couldn’t hold back: [Hahahahahaha…]

…

Thingyan: OK I’m confused. Are they flirting or what?