Ch 66: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

Among the crowd of demons, the green-robed cultivator stood out conspicuously.

Yet, the guest’s eyes remained fixed on the screen, cheeks faintly flushed. Whatever he was watching seemed to hold his full attention, leaving him oblivious to the curious glances and muffled whispers around him.

Lu Yao weaved past the demon patrons and approached from behind.

On the screen was a fitness program featuring two yoga-clad instructors shouting energetic slogans in sync with upbeat background music.

Lu Yao scanned the scene. Not only was Jiang Yan, seated at his desk, blushing furiously, but several demons nearby were sneaking glances at the screen. Their gazes darted away just as quickly, ears tinged a deep red.

“…” Lu Yao stood there silently for a moment, then leaned forward to tap Jiang Yan’s shoulder. “Young Master Jiang.”

Jiang Yan jolted out of his trance. Upon turning to see Lu Yao, his expression turned from flushed red to an embarrassed green, and then pale white. “Miss… Miss Lu, w-what are you doing here?”

Lu Yao replied calmly, “I’m the owner of this shop. Are you here collecting herbs?”

Jiang Yan stammered, his face burning with shame. “Y-yes… I was… I came to gather herbs on the mountain, and… and investigate the increasing demonic energy in this area… but I inadvertently stumbled here.”

The surrounding demons had all averted their eyes, their expressions unreadable, as if entirely uninvolved. Their detached demeanor only served to highlight Jiang Yan’s uprightness.

Lu Yao pressed on, her expression neutral. “What were you just watching?”

The demons scattered even further.

Jiang Yan hesitated before mumbling, “I… I saw a program that said following the exercises could improve one’s constitution… so I thought… I’d give it a try…”

Lu Yao let out a small sigh of relief. “Ah, I see.”

Jiang Yan continued earnestly, “My aptitude is poor. I’ve tried countless methods to temper my body and refine my bones, but with little success. This… this method seemed novel, so I thought to attempt it.”

Lu Yao smiled faintly. “It’s merely a method for mortals to maintain physical health. I’m afraid it might not significantly improve your constitution. But if you simply enjoy watching it, there’s no harm.”

Jiang Yan fell silent, his blush deepening.

As demons began to congregate more frequently, the surrounding mountain began to accumulate demonic energy. Lu Yao hadn’t initially considered this issue.

Cultivators might not take kindly to seeing so many demons gathered in one place, even if they were merely gaming and socializing.

The cultivation world was filled with powerful individuals, be they demons, devils, or cultivators. Any one of them could easily destroy the café if they deemed it a threat.

Until the café’s operations were more stable, Lu Yao decided that measures must be taken to conceal its presence. She planned to set up a magical barrier around the café to mask the demonic energy.

As for Jiang Yan, Lu Yao glanced back at the young cultivator sitting quietly in the corner. Should she take precautions?

When she crafted the dandelion “bombs,” she anticipated attracting some cultivators. To take countermeasures now seemed like putting the cart before the horse.

After some thought, she resolved to focus on setting up the magical barrier first.

If a human cultivator came to the café, she would simply treat them like any other patron.

Lu Yao updated the employee group chat with a summary of her trip to Liuxian City. The results of her shopping spree were mixed—most of the cultivators’ specialty items that her employees had requested couldn’t be bought, but she did bring back some sugared hawthorn sticks for Gao Meng and the treats requested by the waterdrop seals.

Lu Yao enlisted Ji Feiming to help distribute the packed meals from Tianxiang Pavilion to the various shops. Meanwhile, she headed to the Childhood Tutoring Center to fetch Alfred’s main body and bring it to the Internet cafe.

Alfred was the time machine developed by Lu Yao and her colleagues from the Nail Salon and the Little Pet Cafe world specifically for the commercial district.

In addition to his time-reversal abilities, he excelled at learning, analyzing, and synthesizing information.

Lu Yao retrieved the two boxes of books stored in her personal warehouse, extracted portions of their materials to craft keys, and handed them over to Alfred for collection and analysis. At the very least, this would provide a prototype keyboard model suited for use by the demonkind.

While Alfred worked, Lu Yao brought out paper and pen to draft a series of magical formations for the protective enchantment. The spiritual energy surrounding Mount Baixian was not abundant, so the formations did not need to be conspicuous—only capable of minimally concealing the demonic energy gathering above the internet café.

…

In Liuxian City, at the imperial residence.

Bai Furong presented a memory-recording jade talisman to the Demon Emperor. “Your subordinate encountered a young woman at the store earlier today. The situation arose suddenly, and the talisman only captured a partial image.”

With a spell, Bai Furong activated the jade talisman, projecting a shimmering water screen into the air.

Jizhuang lifted his gaze lazily, but the wine cup in his hand crumbled into dust the moment he saw the image.

The water screen displayed Lu Yao pulling Wuling out of the Spirit Pill Pavilion. On the street, Wuling stopped to scrutinize Lu Yao, said something, and then cast a spell to obscure her face with a mask.

The woman resembled her, but Jizhuang knew it wasn’t the same.

Two centuries ago, the celestial maiden Yu Yao ascended after completing her tribulations, only to mysteriously vanish. She had not reincarnated or returned to the mortal realm. This was merely a mortal woman who bore a striking resemblance.

Still, it surprised Jizhuang to see Wuling—who usually avoided dealing with mortals—so protective of her.

“If she visits the Spirit Pill Pavilion again, find out who she is,” Jizhuang ordered. “Today, with Wuling protecting her, your people likely had no chance.”

After Bai Furong departed, Jizhuang resumed drinking, the jade talisman resting by his side.

Tipsy, he picked up the talisman again, absently rubbing its surface. The water screen flickered back into view. Jizhuang watched, indifferent, until a fleeting detail caught his eye. His expression shifted as he grasped the talisman tightly and replayed the image.

This time, he focused on the lotus-shaped earring on the woman’s left ear. His face turned pale.

A breeze slipped through the slightly ajar window, carrying a faint pink glow that materialized into a pink-clad youth before Jizhuang.

Jizhuang pocketed the jade talisman, narrowing his eyes at the newcomer. “Wuling. It’s been centuries, yet you still look so juvenile.”

Wuling approached slowly, placing a jar of peach blossom wine that had aged for 500 years on the table. “Just a fleeting romance, and it’s aged you into this sorry state. If I were a maiden, I’d pass you over too.”

Jizhuang was silent.

Wuling’s bluntness was unmatched, but it came from years of camaraderie. Before Jizhuang met the celestial maiden Yu Yao, the two flower demons had been both rivals and friends, constantly vying against each other.

Three centuries ago, Jizhuang encountered Yu Yao during her tribulations in Liuxian City and fell deeply in love. Wuling couldn’t stand the sight of Jizhuang being consumed by his emotions, and the two had a massive falling out.

Now, reunited after so long, Wuling still found Jizhuang exasperating.

Sitting down, Wuling popped the cork of the wine jar and poured Jizhuang a cup. The faint aroma of peach blossoms wafted through the air.

After a moment of silence, Wuling finally said, “She’s not Yu Yao.”

Don’t go troubling her.

Jizhuang lowered his gaze. “I thought so too at first.”

Wuling’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

Jizhuang shook his head. “Nothing. Just drink.”

…

At Mount Baixian.

Liusheng stepped out of the teleportation array and immediately saw the bold, glowing sign for the “Interdimensional Internet Café.”

So this was the café the city demons were raving about?

Nestled within the hollow of a dead bodhi tree.

What could possibly be so fascinating inside that it captivated so many demons?

Adjusting the tattered bag on his shoulders, Liusheng hesitated at the threshold.

Inside, Lu Yao was finalizing the enchantment arrays for the magical barrier. She selected suitable magic stones and was about to step outside to set up the barrier when she noticed a familiar figure loitering near the entrance, unwilling to come in.

Recognizing the worn bag, she suddenly remembered who this was—the young demon artifact maker.

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