Ch 86: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

Zeyuan was reading the letter in his hands and did not notice Lu Yao.

Lu Yao stepped forward and spoke softly, “Your Excellency, this is an urgent letter from the Abyss of Weak Water.”

The Abyss of Weak Water?

Zeyuan glanced at the black-sealed letter on the lacquered tray, took it, and replied flatly, “You may leave.”

Lu Yao raised her eyes slightly, her gaze moving from the Demon Lord’s pale fingers upward to his calm, handsome face. His long lashes trembled slightly. “Understood,” she murmured.

Zeyuan opened the letter, quickly scanned its contents, and then handed it to Xuanfeng, who was still standing expectantly nearby. “Take Mo Bao and handle this.”

Xuanfeng took the letter, opened it, and skimmed it.

As expected, it mentioned that demons and magical beasts had been gathering near the Abyss of Weak Water recently for reasons yet unclear.

But what other reason could there be?

It was clearly because His Excellency had opened a rift to the Human World there, and everyone wanted to go online.

Having worked at the internet café for a few days, Xuanfeng had registered all the demons who visited. The ones who had experienced the café were surprisingly united in their efforts to keep the rift’s existence a secret while finding ways to play.

Xuanfeng tucked the letter into his robes, turned to leave, but after a few steps, he hesitated and returned cautiously. “Your Excellency, didn’t you feel that the female official earlier was somewhat… unusual?”

Zeyuan looked up, puzzled. “Unusual in what way?”

Mo Bao jumped onto the table from Xuanfeng’s arms. “Didn’t you notice? She looked quite similar to the café’s owner.”

Zeyuan tilted his head slightly. “You mean Lu Yao?”

Xuanfeng quickly added, “Moreover, her name is also Lu Yao. I inquired with the female officials in the Hall of Diligence. It’s the same name but written with different characters.”

Zeyuan pinched the bridge of his nose, stood up, and said, “Enough. I’ll handle the Abyss of Weak Water personally.”

Xuanfeng and Mo Bao immediately followed. “Your Excellency, Mo Bao and I can handle this.”

Zeyuan waved them off, stepped out of the hall, and turned toward the Hall of Diligence.

As Xuanfeng and Mo Bao hurried after him, they muttered complaints to each other, regretting ever mentioning the female official to the Demon Lord.

…

Ni City, Sea of Tears.

Xie Zili returned to the Sea of Tears from the Xie family estate, landing on the shore with his sword.

At high tide, small waves rippled across the calm sea, slowly converging into a line.

A black box sitting on a distant sand dune caught his eye. He approached it slowly.

The box was empty.

A sudden unease surged in Xie Zili’s heart. Ignoring the box, he turned and dove into the sea.

Since his demon power awakened, Xie Zili had gained access to the ancestral memories of the merfolk in his dreams. As soon as he entered the water, his legs transformed into a silver tail.

With powerful strokes of his tail, he swam swiftly toward the crystal palace.

The crystal palace was empty. There was no sign of Jiao Niang anywhere.

Trying to stay calm, Xie Zili checked the kitchen.

Jiao Niang didn’t know how to cook. Even after living among humans for years, she preferred raw fish in the sea and rarely bothered to prepare cooked food.

After Xie Zili arrived, Jiao Niang had built a small kitchen in the palace specifically for him, using it to make porridge or stir-fry simple dishes since he couldn’t adjust to the local fare.

Now, the kitchen held no prepared food. The vegetables she had brought from the shore were scattered carelessly on the ground, their leaves yellowed, indicating they had been left untouched for days.

Xie Zili searched the entire crystal palace and the surrounding waters for any place Jiao Niang might have gone. In the end, he had no choice but to accept that Jiao Niang was gone.

Xie Zili encountered some aquatic creatures nearby and captured a few to ask about Jiao Niang.

A small shrimp said, “Jiao Niang? She went ashore carrying a black box and never returned.”

A little crab added, “It was the day you left.”

An octopus demon asked sadly, “Jiao Niang said you wouldn’t be coming back, so she gave us the palace. Are you planning to live here again?”

Xie Zili stood motionless in the center of the crystal palace, his mind swirling with confusion.

Jiao Niang hadn’t been taken by anyone; she had left on her own.

And she had said he wouldn’t return.

Recalling the past three days at the Xie family estate, a chill ran down his spine.

Jiao Niang’s concerns weren’t baseless—his grandmother and father had indeed been trying to persuade him to stay.

Now he finally understood her worries.

But she had already given up.

Jiao Niang didn’t want him anymore.

Xie Zili had always thought it was Jiao Niang who was holding him back. Only now did he realize that without her, he had nowhere to go.

As a half-demon, he was loathed by humans and unaccepted by the demon clan.

The only person who had ever truly cared for him and worried about him was Jiao Niang—his mother.

..l

Demon Realm, Demon Palace

Zhuxiang noticed Lu Yao returning from outside the hall, her expression slightly dazed, and called her over. “Did His Excellency say anything?”

Lu Yao snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head. “Lady Zhuxiang, have you heard whether His Excellency recently went to the human world?”

Since joining the Hall of Diligence, Lu Yao had proven herself exceptionally capable, skilled at fostering relationships.

The demons were naturally hot-tempered, often resolving hierarchy disputes through fights.

After joining, Lu Yao had suggested a novel reward-and-punishment system to Zhuxiang, which was now being implemented with great success.

Zhuxiang planned to let it run a bit longer before proposing it formally to His Excellency.

Today, she had deliberately sent Lu Yao to deliver the urgent letter, hoping it would give her an opportunity to appear before the Sovereign.

Zhuxiang replied, “A few days ago, Xuanfeng took Mo Bao to the human world and hasn’t returned. His Excellency was worried about Mo Bao, so he went there briefly. Why do you ask?”

Lu Yao smiled faintly and shook her head. “I was just curious about the human world. I’ve never been there.”

Zhuxiang said, “Stay here in the palace long enough, and you’ll have your chance to visit the human world. But honestly, I find it dull. Too many rules, and humans are so fragile. It’s nothing like the comfort of the Demon Realm.”

Lowering her gaze, Lu Yao murmured, “I’ve heard human women are as gentle as water, unlike demons.”

Zhuxiang laughed. “Is that all? Human men and women alike are fragile and sentimental. Some demons, drawn by novelty, go to the human world to experience their so-called love affairs, only to end up burdened with inner demons. Take my advice: don’t be curious about human romance. It’s nothing but fleeting folly.”

Lu Yao’s fingers twisted in her sleeves, her cheeks flushing slightly. “And what about His Excellency?”

Zhuxiang chuckled. “You’ve really been spoiled by the other female officials here, daring to gossip about the Sovereign. But it’s a pity—our Sovereign was born without a heart or emotions. There’s no way he could fall in love with a human woman.”

A sound from outside the hall made Zhuxiang’s expression change. She immediately stood up.

Zeyuan stepped over the threshold, scanning the hall. Not finding the person he expected, he walked straight to Zhuxiang. “Is there a female official named Lu… Lu Yao in the Hall of Diligence?”

Xuanfeng and Mo Bao followed him in, their gazes landing on the young female official standing before Zeyuan. They were momentarily confused.

Wasn’t she already standing right in front of His Excellency?

Zhuxiang, unaware of the context, thought Zeyuan’s inquiry was related to the letter she had sent with Lu Yao earlier. She quickly introduced her. “Your Excellency, this is Lu Yao, a new female official selected for the Hall of Diligence this year.”

Lu Yao twisted her fingers in her sleeves, keeping her gaze lowered as she bowed respectfully. “Female official Lu Yao greets Your Excellency.”

Zeyuan stared at her for a moment before turning to leave. “I’ll handle the urgent matter at the Abyss of Weak Water personally. Afterward, I’ll spend a few more days in the human world. Do not send any messages unless absolutely necessary.”

Once outside the Hall of Diligence, Xuanfeng and Mo Bao hurried after him, eager to see his reaction to Lu Yao.

Zeyuan frowned and glanced over, his expression calm and composed. “She looks nothing like her.”

Xuanfeng and Mo Bao were puzzled—she clearly resembled her a lot.

The Demon Lord wasn’t usually oblivious to appearances. How could he not see it this time?

Without another word, Zeyuan turned and walked out.

After all this fuss, he found himself wanting to see her even more.

Forget it. He was going to the human world.

The Sovereign’s abrupt arrival and departure left the female officials in the Hall of Diligence baffled.

Zhuxiang offered a few perfunctory words of reassurance to Lu Yao before sending her off to continue her duties.

Lu Yao silently returned to the side hall, still mulling over what had happened.

The Demon Lord was indeed as rumored—cold-hearted, indifferent, and uninterested in women.

She raised her hand and gently touched her cheek. But why had he shown no reaction at all?

…

Baixian Mountain, Interdimensional Internet Café

Lu Yao sat in the break room, a laptop on her lap.

A few days ago, most of the shopting street’s employees had taken advantage of the internal discount to purchase the marrow-cleansing pills.

Following Lu Yao’s suggestion, the employees prepared bedding and at least three days’ worth of toiletries in the break room. After taking the pills, they stayed at the café until the effects subsided.

The low-grade marrow-cleansing pills weren’t as potent as the mid-grade one Cheng Ye had taken. Employees who took them experienced abdominal pain and secretions of impurities.

But within a day, these symptoms disappeared.

In the post-production group at the Interdimensional Cinema, Gesi and Liu Tang, who were homebodies with a love for fried food and little exercise, had oily skin and acne.

On the second day after taking the pill, their acne burst, releasing a yellowish-green layer of impurities.

By the third day, their skin began to improve and scab over.

Lu Yao, worried about potential scarring, provided them with beauty-enhancing pills.

The internal trial of the marrow-cleansing pills received universally positive feedback.

Now, Lu Yao was posting a link on the VIP section of the internal network: “Marrow-cleansing pills with detoxifying and health-promoting effects. Single price: 6666.”

Little Pet Cafe, Interdimensional Cinema, and Hot Spring Inn occasionally had customers reserving relaxation services through the internal network, but they were all regulars, and the income was modest at best.

This was the first time Lu Yao had sold a non-service product like the pills and the first attempt at online sales of goods from another world. She was cautious and listed only three pills in the inventory.

The employees, seeing the new link on the VIP section, were immensely grateful for their staff discount.

Their internal purchase price had been 999 per pill.

To outsiders unaware of the value, the price might seem outrageous. But after experiencing the effects, no one doubted it was worth every spirit stone.

The results were tangible—daily fatigue and lethargy vanished, skin became smooth and radiant, sleep quality improved, and work performance was energized. Even moods were notably uplifted.

Even if the effects lasted only three months, the pills were worth trying.

After all, these pills were authentic products from the cultivation world, “hand-delivered” by the owner. That alone justified the price, and their effectiveness made it even more worthwhile.

The best feedback came from the original test subject among the employees at the Childhood Tutoring Center.

Aside from the snack shop, employees from other stores began showing interest in the pills. Seeing enthusiastic feedback in the group chat from colleagues who had tried it, even those previously disinterested couldn’t resist asking Lu Yao for some.

The salesman 444 from the Childhood Tutoring Center reported back to Lu Yao that after taking the pill, old injuries from experiments he had undergone began healing. Even more severe conditions saw significant improvement.

With reduced physical pain, his overall demeanor improved noticeably.

After obtaining Lu Yao’s permission, 444 reached out to former colleagues.

It turned out that the research institute, once unified in studying superpowers, had fractured into various organizations. These groups had expanded their focus from just superpowers to other fields, including efforts to heal those who had suffered during the superpower frenzy.

Unfortunately, due to the intervention of the New God, superpowers had been steadily declining. Researchers accustomed to relying on abilities for their work were struggling to adapt, and progress was slow.

After personally experiencing the effects of the marrow-cleansing pill, 444 was amazed and convinced Lu Yao to sell the pills in Sanhua City.

Lu Yao didn’t commit to large-scale orders but agreed to stock a small quantity at the Childhood Tutoring Center. Whether someone could buy one would depend on their luck.

In the break room, Lu Yao had just listed the link on the shopping street app when it was immediately sold out.

Her phone buzzed with a notification, showing nearly 20,000 credits deposited into her account.

Lu Yao: “???”

There were fewer than twenty active customers in the shopping street, so the speed at which the items sold out was unexpected.

Her phone displayed a private message notification. She opened it to find it was from a guest at the Hot Spring Inn.

[VIP Yu Shu]: Store owner, do you have any more of the pills that were just listed on the shopping street app?

Yu Shu had hesitated when she first saw the link, taking her time to read the product description. However, just as she was finishing, the screen flashed, and the system informed her the item had been delisted.

After reviewing the pill’s effects, Yu Shu felt it was tailor-made for her.

For the past six months, she had been utterly exhausted. She struggled to sleep, and when she worked without rest, she felt disoriented and unfocused.

Since discovering the shopping street, she had been visiting every few days. While it helped initially, the effects had started to plateau.

The product description stated: “Customers must stay in the shopping street for two days during the pill’s usage period.”

Yu Shu had already received her doctor’s permission to take her daughter out for the weekend. Combining the two activities seemed like a perfect plan—if only she had managed to purchase the pill.

After some discussion with Yu Shu and reviewing her remaining inventory, Lu Yao listed three more pills.

This time, Yu Shu acted quickly and purchased one immediately.

In the blink of an eye, the three pills sold out again, adding another nearly 20,000 credits to Lu Yao’s account.

Selling pills not only brought in revenue but also encouraged customers to stay in the shopping street boosting the income of other shops.

Lu Yao felt that her savings were about to grow significantly.

The break room door opened, and Cheng Ye appeared at the doorway, looking a bit conflicted.

Lu Yao set down her laptop and stepped out. “What’s wrong?”

Cheng Ye scratched his head. “Well… they found out.”

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