Ch 65: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

Lu Yao carried 200 high-grade spirit stones, 1,000 mid-grade spirit stones, and 1,000 low-grade spirit stones, ready to splurge in the city.

The internet café’s current earnings were just over 2,000 mid-grade spirit stones, primarily from game account registrations and small snack sales.

To open a game account, customers paid 20 mid-grade spirit stones for a unique terminal code. Afterward, each new account linked to the same terminal code required an additional 10 high-grade spirit stones. This applied to video and chat accounts as well. For activities requiring phone verification, each verification cost one high-grade spirit stone.

At this early stage of business, most customers focused on the first game or software they became familiar with, so new account openings were infrequent. Even so, Lu Yao managed to earn a modest profit from registrations.

Lu Yao had assumed the spirit stones she carried would be enough for a shopping spree, but upon spotting a small shop selling talismans along the road, she dragged Wuling inside.

The talisman shop’s signboard and doors were adorned with lotus motifs. The shop was modest, about four or five square meters, with neatly arranged shelves of various talismans.

Lu Yao, unfamiliar with talismans, learned that materials for engraving them included not only paper but also peach wood, jade, copper coins, and iron spikes.

There were talismans for speed, meditation, cleanliness, puppetry, and more. The selection dazzled her, and she became absorbed in browsing.

Wuling reminded her from the side, “Ask the price first.”

Lu Yao turned to the shopkeeper. “How much for a cleanliness talisman?”

The shopkeeper, a young man, glanced at her lazily and replied indifferently, “One hundred mid-grade spirit stones per piece.”

Lu Yao’s expression betrayed her shock. Honestly, a washing machine would suffice—there was no need for such an extravagant solution.

She asked about a few more talismans. Despite his indifferent demeanor, the shopkeeper remained patient, showing no sign of rushing them.

Summarizing the prices: paper talismans were the cheapest, while those made from peach wood or jade were the most expensive. The more offensive the talisman, the higher the cost—puppetry talismans, for example, started at 50 high-grade spirit stones for a basic paper variant.

Converting the costs in her mind, Lu Yao felt her heart ache. Even the cheapest cleanliness talisman required 20 hours of café revenue to afford. Washing machines were undeniably practical.

Convincing herself to be sensible, she snapped a bunch of photos and videos on her phone before dragging Wuling out.

On the street, she spotted a Lingdan Pavilion and couldn’t resist pulling Wuling inside for a look.

The Lingdan Pavilion was spacious, with walls lined with redwood shelves displaying small porcelain bottles of various shapes.

They sold Clear Mind Pills, Beauty-Enhancing Pills, Dreamscape Pills, Life-Prolonging Pills, Emotion-Severing Pills, and more.

Lu Yao called over a clerk. “Do you have any pills that make women slim and graceful after eating them?”

The clerk sized her up and shook his head blankly.

Lu Yao lowered her gaze. “What about pills that suppress appetite temporarily?”

The clerk shook his head again.

Lu Yao’s face fell. “You don’t have anything.”

The clerk: “…”

Lu Yao, disappointed, tugged Wuling’s sleeve and turned to leave. Suddenly, a voice called out from behind, “Honored guest, please wait.”

Turning back, Lu Yao saw a woman in white standing by the redwood railing on the second floor. A lotus flower adorned her hair, her appearance elegant and otherworldly.

She asked, “Could you elaborate on the slimming pill you mentioned earlier?”

Lu Yao responded, “And you are?”

The attendant beside them introduced, “This is Mistress Furong, the owner of Lingdan Pavilion.”

Bai Furong had been refining pills upstairs. With her keen senses, she overheard Lu Yao’s conversation with the attendant and thought someone was causing trouble, so she came down to investigate.

The moment Bai Furong saw Lu Yao’s face, she paused for a moment in mild surprise. “The pill you seek is not something we currently have. However, if you’re not in a rush, you could describe its desired effects, and perhaps I could formulate it.”

This was essentially an offer for a custom order.

Without hesitation, Lu Yao shook her head. “No need to trouble yourself.”

She had already inquired about the prices—ordinary Clear Mind Pills were 10 high-grade spirit stones per bottle, Dreamscape Pills were 100 high-grade spirit stones, and Life-Prolonging Pills or Emotion-Severing Pills cost upwards of 500 high-grade spirit stones. A custom order would undoubtedly be even more exorbitant.

It was Lu Yao’s first time visiting the city. She hadn’t yet purchased the critical books on the demon clans and, after learning about the general price levels, decided to hold off on spending her spirit stones. She didn’t want to risk running short later.

Seeing Lu Yao turn to leave, Bai Furong called out again, “Miss, please wait. I feel we are fated to meet, and I’m also intrigued by the slimming pill you described. Would you leave your name and address? If I manage to create such a pill, I’ll have my attendant deliver a bottle to you.”

Lu Yao politely declined. “There’s no need to trouble you, Mistress. Once Lingdan Pavilion starts selling slimming pills, I’ll return to buy some.”

Lu Yao tugged Wuling’s sleeve and exited the pavilion.

On the street, Wuling suddenly stopped her and carefully examined her face. His brows furrowed tightly. “Your previous attire was so peculiar that I didn’t notice. But now that I take a closer look, you bear some resemblance to… that person.”

Lu Yao tilted her head. “Who?”

Wuling didn’t answer. With a wave of his hand, the soft pink sleeve brushed against Lu Yao’s cheek, and a white veil appeared, concealing her face.

Wuling said, “This will have to do for now. Hurry and finish your errands. We shouldn’t linger in the city.”

Lu Yao didn’t understand why Wuling had suddenly become so cautious, but she disliked troubling others and refrained from further wandering. Instead, she headed straight for the bookstore.

Compared to talismans and pills, books were much more affordable.

Lu Yao selected two large crates full of books, including works on the demon clans, cultivation texts, maps, unofficial histories, and story collections. Anything she thought might be useful was included, and the total cost was only two high-grade spirit stones.

After leaving the bookstore, Lu Yao planned one last stop at Tianxiang Tower to pack some food from the cultivation world to bring back.

After all, having promised the shopping staff she’d buy things for them, she needed to return with some form of gift.

She had heard from the bookstore owner that Tianxiang Tower was one of the liveliest restaurants in Liuxian City, renowned for its dishes, desserts, and fine wines.

The cheapest set meal at Tianxiang Tower started at 20 high-grade spirit stones and included only a few dishes.

Lu Yao studied the menu and, calculating her spirit stones and the number of staff at the store, ordered only four signature dishes for takeout.

Watching Lu Yao carefully budget her spending, Wuling offered to treat her to a meal.

Lu Yao asked, “Weren’t you in a hurry to leave?”

Wuling replied, “Ji Zhuang isn’t in the city today. By the time he hears the news, we’ll be long gone.”

Lu Yao asked, “Who’s Ji Zhuang?”

On the second floor of Tianxiang Tower, in a private room draped with cooling water curtains, Wuling reclined lazily against an ice-silk pillow, sipping sake in small sips. “The Demon Emperor, Ji Zhuang. Haven’t you heard of him?”

Lu Yao shook her head. She picked up a piece of fish fried to a golden crisp, dipped it in the five-spice powder from the dish in front of her, and took a bite, shivering in delight. “This fish is amazing!”

Wuling gazed at her, his pale pink eyes carrying a trace of unfathomable depth. “Immortal Yu Yao also loved this Five-Spice Fish.”

Lu Yao flagged down the attendant outside and ordered another serving of Five-Spice Fish for takeout before turning back. “Who is Immortal Yu Yao?”

Wuling lowered his gaze. “The one Ji Zhuang adored.”

Lu Yao’s eyes widened as she slowly pieced it together. “So that’s how it is.”

In the past few centuries, Liuxian City had gradually come under the Demon Emperor’s control.

Who would want to keep the immortal lady? The answer was obvious.

Liuxian City—its name said it all. The Demon Emperor likely wished to “retain” none other than Immortal Yu Yao herself.

Wuling lifted his eyelids again, glancing at Lu Yao with an unreadable expression.

The food at Tianxiang Tower was indeed delicious, and Lu Yao, despite her restraint, accidentally ate too much. She ended up leaning on Wuling as they left the restaurant.

The moment they stepped across the threshold, Wuling shoved her away disdainfully. “Walk on your own.”

The shove sent Lu Yao stumbling, nearly falling to the ground.

“Get lost! With skills like yours, you could practice for another two hundred years and still be useless. Stay away, don’t come back again!”

A scolding voice rang out nearby. Lu Yao looked up and met a pair of amber eyes.

The speaker was a thin youth, his frame similar to Black Swallow’s, being shoved to the ground. He carried a tattered cloth bag over his shoulder and clutched something in his hand.

As their eyes met, the youth immediately lowered his gaze, concealing the hurt and humiliation in his eyes.

Lu Yao crouched down and picked up a silver bracelet that had rolled to her feet. The design was intricate and peculiar, and she gave it a light toss in her hand to feel its weight.

Suddenly, the bone snake on the bracelet raised its head and spat a venomous dart toward Lu Yao.

She froze, unable to react in time.

Wuling moved swiftly, catching the black dart mere centimeters from Lu Yao’s face.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” The youth dropped to his knees, panicked. “The mechanism on the bracelet is broken and hasn’t been repaired. Sometimes it goes out of control.”

The middle-aged shopkeeper who had just pushed the youth stood in the doorway and sneered, “Everything you make is like this—useless garbage. Don’t embarrass yourself anymore. Take your junk and get lost!”

A small crowd had gathered, watching with varying levels of interest. Some murmured amongst themselves.

“It’s that same demon artificer again. Isn’t this the fifth shop now?”

“A demon insisting on learning artifact crafting? His creations are useless and even harm their owners. He’s doomed!”

The youth kept his head down, hurriedly picking up his scattered belongings, not daring to lift his gaze.

From a distance, a crimson cloud drifted in from outside the city, floating midair.

The bustling street suddenly stilled. Everyone—humans and demons alike—turned toward the crimson cloud, lowered their heads slightly, and placed their right hands over their hearts with respectful expressions. “We greet the Demon Emperor.”

The Demon Emperor?

Lu Yao instinctively looked up.

Wuling took the bone snake bracelet from her hand, tossed it carelessly into the youth’s arms, and pulled her to leave.

A streak of fiery light shot out from the crimson cloud, landing squarely at Wuling’s feet.

The Demon Emperor Ji Zhuang stood atop the cloud, his voice calm yet imposing. “Wuling, it has been centuries since we last met. Since you’ve come to Liuxian City, why have you not come to see me?”

Wuling stepped forward, shielding Lu Yao behind him. “Apologies, I am occupied today. Another time, perhaps.”

Ji Zhuang’s gaze briefly swept over Lu Yao, who was hiding behind Wuling.

Her face was veiled, and Wuling blocked most of her figure. All Ji Zhuang could see was her jet-black hair adorned with a jade lotus.

Suddenly, Ji Zhuang waved his hand dismissively, a trace of annoyance in his expression. “Forget it. Go now.”

Wuling wasted no time, pulling Lu Yao away.

Unable to suppress her curiosity, Lu Yao glanced back as they departed.

Above the clouds stood the Demon Emperor, silver-haired and dressed in red. His tall, elegant figure carried a weight of despondence and melancholy, as if a mountain of jade was on the verge of collapse.

Was it him?

The distance was too great for Lu Yao to see the color of his eyes.

The Demon Emperor returned to the city, and the street folk scattered.

After such a scare, no one had the energy to mock the young demon artificer anymore. They dispersed in silence.

The youth bent down to gather the scattered materials and half-finished artifacts. As he prepared to leave, he noticed a scroll lying at his feet.

It appeared ordinary in design but emitted an unusual aura.

The youth looked around cautiously before picking it up and walking into a secluded alley. Once certain he was alone, he took the scroll from his bag and slowly unrolled it.

To his surprise, it was a teleportation scroll. Though its design mimicked a common scroll, the craftsmanship was quite unique.

He frowned, conflicted.

Could this belong to one of those two people from earlier? Should he return it?

The scroll was for a fixed teleportation point—somewhere near Liuxian City, at Baixian Mountain.

“Hey, are you selling that scroll?” a voice called out from above.

The youth looked up to see someone perched on a wall, eyes fixed on the scroll in his hand.

“You know what this is?” the youth asked, puzzled.

The person nodded. “Isn’t that a teleportation scroll for a net café? That place has some quirky teleportation array. Regular scrolls won’t work—only custom ones from there. I’ve been looking for one. That scroll of yours looks like it’s from that net café. How about twenty mid-grade spirit stones for it?”

Net café?

…

In Liuxian City, where white lotuses grew throughout the palace grounds, the Demon Emperor Ji Zhuang dismissed his attendants. Alone, he crossed a corridor bridge to his chambers.

An attendant reported that Bai Furong, the manager of Lingdan Pavilion, sought an audience.

Bai Furong rarely visited the palace without reason.

Reclining on his chaise with an air of exhaustion, Ji Zhuang said, “Let her in.”

…

At Baixian Mountain.

Lu Yao asked, “Wuling, what color are the Demon Emperor’s eyes?”

Wuling turned to her. “Why do you ask?”

“Just curious,” she replied.

Wuling scrutinized her with suspicion. “Did something occur to you?”

Lu Yao had felt a peculiar sense of familiarity in Liuxian City.

“What could I have remembered? Did you misunderstand something?” she retorted.

“Red,” Wuling said, staring at her intently. “The Demon Emperor’s eyes are red.”

Silver hair and red eyes.

Was it really him?

Wuling, noting that Lu Yao had no further questions, escorted her to the net café entrance. However, he did not follow her inside. Instead, he turned to leave. “I have some matters to attend to. I won’t be coming by for a few days. Prepare what I requested; I’ll pick it up later.”

Lu Yao turned and entered the café.

Like a vigilant sentinel, Cheng Ye immediately notified their colleagues in the internal chat.

The employee group was in an uproar, frantically tagging the boss.

Lu Yao didn’t have time to check her phone. Her attention was drawn to a surprising guest seated in a corner of the main hall.

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️