Ch 89: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

Upon seeing the message, Lu Yao didn’t pay it much attention at first.

After all, Jizhuang couldn’t possibly beat Zeyuan. Even if they collided, it wouldn’t cause much of a stir.

A few minutes later, [Interdimentional Internet Cafe Jiao Niang]: “Shopkeeper, the Demon Emperor insists he had feelings for you first and even presented a recording talisman as evidence. The Demon Lord is furious—they’ve started fighting!!!”

A recording talisman?

What was Jizhuang doing with something like that?

Even if Jizhuang had evidence of a past relationship with Yu Yao, what did that have to do with her?

Lu Yao frowned, growing a bit irritable.

She had already explained things to Jizhuang several times, but the man was stubborn to the point of absurdity, refusing to think rationally.

Besides, didn’t Zeyuan lose his memory? Why would he get angry over Jizhuang’s recording talisman?

Could it be that Zeyuan was also somehow involved with Yu Yao?

The message notification chimed again, and Zhong Lianjia was frantically poking Lu Yao.

[Interdimensional Internet Cafe Zhong Lianjia]: “Shopkeeper, they’re fighting!!! Come back quickly!”

Lu Yao exited the chat to check, finding that Zhong Lianjia had already shared several messages in the group a few minutes earlier. The first was a short video, seemingly showing the footage from the recording talisman.

In the video, a man and woman were seated by a lotus pond. The woman, bearing a five or six-point resemblance to Lu Yao, had removed her shoes and socks, letting her toes dip into the water. Her face was bright with a carefree smile.

Next to her, a silver-haired, red-eyed youth crouched by the pond, reaching to pluck a lotus flower.

Lu Yao initially felt nothing about the scene—until she noticed the woman wearing a gold lotus pendant around her neck. Enlarging the screenshot, Lu Yao confirmed it was unmistakably similar to the earring Lu Mingxiao had gifted her.

Even Lu Yao was baffled. Did this celestial maiden Yu Yao really have some connection to her?

At that point, the fight likely hadn’t started yet, as Zhong Lianjia was still sharing idle gossip in the group.

[Interdimensional Internet Cafe Zhong Lianjia]: “This girl really isn’t the Shopkeeper?”

[Childhood Tutoring Center Hu Jiao]: “Who is this?”

[Interdimensional Internet Cafe Zhong Lianjia]: “A customer brought in the recording talisman. Apparently, it’s a precious recording of him and his lover by the lake from over two hundred years ago.”

[Nail Salon Harold]: “So what? What does this customer want to say?”

[Interdimensional Internet Cafe Zhong Lianjia]: “This customer seems to think the Shopkeeper is his lover’s reincarnation…”

[Interdimensional Cinema Zhu Zhu]: “Oh my god!!! Where’s the Shopkeeper?”

[Interdimensional Internet Cafe Zhong Lianjia]: “The Shopkeeper’s still in the pet cafe having a meeting.”

[Blind Box Shop Lilly]: “But the woman doesn’t even look like Lu Yao!”

[Interdimensional Internet Cafe Zhong Lianjia]: “Why do I feel like not only do they look alike, but even their temperament is kind of similar?”

[Childhood Tutoring Center Bai Yi]: “What’s going on? What’s going on? Is the Shopkeeper caught in a cheesy doppelgänger drama?”

[Interdimensional Internet Cafe Zhong Lianjia]: “…There might even be a love triangle. The Demon Lord’s expression looks terrible… He just crushed the Demon Emperor’s recording talisman… and now they’re fighting!”

[Interdimensional Internet Cafe Zhong Lianjia]: “Oh no, the shop’s about to be destroyed again!!!”

Zhong Lianjia finished by posting a photo of Jizhuang and Zeyuan mid-fight.

Good grief. The Bodhi Tree had already been pierced with a gaping hole.

Lu Yao said a few words to Ji Zhixin before getting up to leave for the Internet Cafe.

Outside the pet cafe, Budu was waiting at the door. Upon seeing Lu Yao, he said, “I’ll go with you.”

Lu Yao didn’t refuse.

When they arrived at the Internet Cafe, only a few minutes had passed. The once-damaged Bodhi Tree now suffered greater calamity—the canopy had been snapped in half, and the trunk leaned precariously, propped up by a nearby branch, hanging in midair.

The shadows of trees loomed heavily, and the chirping of birds and buzzing of insects seemed to echo close by. Fortunately, the lobby and second-floor private rooms of the Internet Cafe were protected by a barrier, sparing them from the chaos for now.

The customers, safely contained within the barrier, craned their necks to watch the spectacle outside, thoroughly enjoying the drama.

Pale moonlight filtered through the gaps in the branches, illuminating the forest and spilling into the now roofless Internet Cafe.

In midair, Jizhuang and Zeyuan were still locked in combat.

Lu Yao stood at the doorway, quietly observing for a moment, before threading her way through the rubble to the front counter. She took a loudspeaker from Zhong Lianjia and shouted toward the two fighting above:

“Stop fighting, both of you! If you keep this up, I’ll blacklist you both!”

Neither the Demon Lord nor the Demon Emperor knew what “blacklist” meant, but Zeyuan immediately halted upon hearing Lu Yao’s voice.

Jizhuang, still fuming, thrust his sword forward.

Zeyuan sidestepped, catching the blade between two fingers. From his fingertips, a faint golden lotus branch extended, coiling around the sword tip.

The Demon Emperor’s life-bound artifact, corroded by demonic energy, shattered into powder beneath the hilt.

Without sparing Jizhuang a glance, Zeyuan turned and descended, landing squarely in front of Lu Yao.

“Lu Yao.”

Jizhuang followed moments later, stepping toward her as well. “Yao’er.”

Lu Yao almost laughed in anger, stepping back to avoid their outstretched hands. “This humble shop cannot afford to host such esteemed guests. Please settle the damages and leave immediately.”

Inside the barrier, both the demon and demon cultivators watched the scene with great interest. After all, the shopkeeper had previously imprisoned those who fought and demanded compensation. Now, even when faced with a Demon Lord and Demon Emperor fighting, she showed no fear.

The real question was, would these two give her face?

Many had seen the footage in the recording talisman and were privately speculating—was the shopkeeper really the Demon Emperor’s lover from a past life?

And what was going on with the Demon Lord?

Jizhuang, who had been drunk at Chongdeng Inn last time and beaten by Zeyuan, had sobered up and attempted to visit Lu Yao again, only to be blocked by Wuling. With Wuling now out of town, Jizhuang had brought his people straight to the Internet Cafe.

The more Jizhuang thought about it, the more certain he became that Lu Yao was the same Yu Yao from two hundred years ago. Her appearance, temperament, even her habits couldn’t lie.

Even her anger and evasiveness today were identical to those of the Yu Yao he’d known back then.

Jizhuang gazed at her with heartache. “Yao’er.”

Lu Yao closed her eyes briefly, suppressing her irritation. “Demon Emperor, I believe I’ve told you countless times. I am Lu Yao, not Yu Yao. Do you truly not recognize the person you love?”

A small demon inside the barrier spoke up, “Shopkeeper, we just saw the recording talisman. Two hundred years ago, the person with the Demon Emperor was clearly you. Maybe you’re just her reincarnation and have forgotten.”

Zeyuan sent a streak of demonic energy flying toward the barrier, cracking it like a spiderweb.

His crimson eyes glowed brightly, his voice cold and firm. “Nonsense! She is herself, not someone else!”

Lu Yao glanced at him in surprise. “If you know that, then why did you get so angry and start fighting?”

Zeyuan raised a hand to his chest, his eyes momentarily dazed. His lips moved slightly, but no sound came out. In the end, he simply shook his head, helplessly.

When he saw the recording talisman’s footage, Zeyuan hadn’t even noticed the woman in it. Just the sight of the scene stirred an uncontrollable irritation within him.

From behind the counter, a woman stepped out, her lantern hairpin swaying gently with her movements. The red flame at its center flickered as she approached.

Chi Jiumeng smiled warmly at Lu Yao. “Actually, it’s simple to determine if the shopkeeper is truly Yu Yao. I have a treasure called the Mirror of Past Lives. It reveals the last ten lifetimes of any being, whether demon, human, spirit, or immortal.”

Yu Yao had vanished two hundred years ago. Looking back over ten lifetimes would certainly confirm whether Lu Yao and Yu Yao were the same.

Jizhuang’s eyes lit up with hope as he looked expectantly at Lu Yao.

Zeyuan frowned, stepping in front of Chi Jiumeng. “She’s not that person. You demons mistook her identity—fine. But to pry into her past ten lives just because her body is mortal and defenseless? Chi Jiumeng, why not start by using that Mirror of Past Lives on your pathetic Demon Emperor’s ten lives first?”

Chi Jiumeng showed no fear of Zeyuan and looked him over with great interest before speaking in a faint tone, “It’s been centuries since we last met, Demon Lord. How unexpected to see you showing concern for someone. Could it be that you’re about to grow a love root?”

Zeyuan lowered his gaze, glancing sideways behind him in an attempt to steal a look at Lu Yao. His ears reddened slightly.

“…”

Lu Yao sighed and leaned her head out from behind Zeyuan. “Miss Chi, there’s no need to tease him. I won’t use the Mirror of Past Lives. I’ve said countless times already that I didn’t know the Demon Emperor before. Jizhuang is indeed mistaken. Instead, why not use the mirror on him? Perhaps it could help him find a way to retrieve Yu Yao.

“If the demon clan insists on using their power to oppress and trouble an ordinary human like me, then let’s settle it your way—by seeing who has the stronger fist.”

Chi Jiumeng stared at Lu Yao in surprise, not expecting her to be so bold. Perhaps she was relying on the Demon Lord’s support?

Budu stepped forward, conjuring a blood blade in his hand as wind and snow rose again in the lobby.

The demons who had been happily spectating and gossiping moments earlier were now trembling on the ground, too terrified to move.

Budu swept his crimson gaze over Chi Jiumeng and then turned toward Jizhuang. “You deserve to die.”

Compared to Chi Jiumeng, Budu found this persistent Demon Emperor, who constantly pestered Lu Yao, even more annoying.

Xuanfeng and Mo Bao crouched behind the counter, silently watching the drama unfold.

The two boys who always followed Lu Yao around were a mystery—both stronger than anyone imagined.

Chi Jiumeng didn’t know, but Jizhuang had barely escaped with his life after nearly being beaten to death by this “kid” last time.

Xuanfeng and Mo Bao continued enjoying the show, even taking the time to buy grilled sausages from Jiao Niang.

Jizhuang summoned fresh camellia branches around his sword hilt, which gradually formed into a new blade.

He glared coldly at Budu. Last time, he had underestimated this child and lost his sword. This time, he was determined to teach him a lesson.

The wind and snow howled. Within the hollow trunk of the Bodhi Tree, the atmosphere had turned into the equivalent of the ninth layer of cold hell.

The demons and demon cultivators shivered uncontrollably, while Zhong Lianjia cowered in the back, only surviving thanks to the sharkskin cloak Jiao Niang draped over him.

Only Lu Yao remained unaffected by the cold in the lobby.

Budu narrowed his crimson eyes and didn’t move a step away from Lu Yao. The blood blade in his hand morphed into a long, thin needle that darted straight toward Jizhuang’s eyes.

Jizhuang found himself rooted to the spot, unable to move.

Unbeknownst to him, Lu Yao had already drawn her staff, a black magic array expanding beneath Jizhuang’s feet, enveloping the entire root system of the Bodhi Tree.

Chi Jiumeng noticed the unusual sensation beneath her feet as well. Her legs felt like iron, immovable.

Lu Yao tilted her head slightly, her voice calm and gentle like a stream. “I’ve just thought of a good way to prove I’m not who you think I am—if I kill the Demon Emperor here and now, no one will ever mistake me for Yu Yao again, right?”

The already shivering demons jolted at her words.

For millennia, humans had been weaker than demons and demon cultivators in strength, but when it came to scheming and cunning, no one could compare.

Yu Yao was said to be gentle and kind-hearted, traits that had ensnared the Demon Emperor in love.

After this, the demons were convinced—Lu Yao was definitely not Yu Yao.

What kind of saintly immortal could be as black-hearted and ruthless as the shopkeeper?

Suddenly, a pink stream of light appeared, forming into Wuling’s figure. He blocked the needle just as it neared Jizhuang’s face.

To his surprise, the slender needle weighed like a mountain against his arm. His expression shifted, and he struggled to maintain his stance as he spoke through gritted teeth, “Lu Yao, Jizhuang is at fault for causing trouble for you. I apologize on his behalf. Please, show mercy.”

Lu Yao pressed a hand against Budu’s shoulder. “Wuling, this isn’t something that can be resolved with a simple apology.”

Wuling turned, glaring at Jizhuang as if hating iron for not becoming steel. Then he looked back at Lu Yao. “This was indeed a misunderstanding. I’ve already located Yu Yao’s current whereabouts. Once this matter is settled, I’ll take Jizhuang away. As for the damage to the shop, give me a number, and I’ll compensate you.”

Lu Yao lowered her gaze, as though weighing her decision. After a moment, she gently patted Budu, signaling him to stand down.

Lu Yao had no intention of killing anyone. Moments ago, she had been slightly worried about how to de-escalate the situation without losing face. Wuling’s timely arrival solved the problem perfectly.

Budu’s blood needle morphed back into a blade, and the wind and snow in the lobby vanished without a trace.

The already crumbling barrier, corroded by the storm, shattered into pieces. The demons and demon cultivators who had been flattened to the ground got up, their expressions a mix of embarrassment and helplessness.

It was utterly absurd—there was clearly no spiritual energy detectable on the shopkeeper, yet neither demon nor demon cultivator could do anything to her. Every time, they ended up thoroughly humiliated.

Still, this time, it seemed the demons had lost even more face.

Lu Yao only wanted Wuling to take Jizhuang away as quickly as possible, so she casually quoted a figure for the damages.

Wuling, clearly in no mood to linger, tossed her a storage pouch filled with spirit stones and left without hesitation.

As Wuling mentioned he had located Yu Yao, Jizhuang looked back at Lu Yao one last time before leaving.

Lu Yao casually handed the storage pouch to Budu, then raised her staff and began chanting. She traced a formation in midair.

A radiant magical array covered the entire Internet Cafe, and the scattered debris began to levitate, slowly piecing itself back together under the astonished gazes of the demons and demon cultivators.

However, the broken canopy of the Bodhi Tree remained unaffected by the magic, lying on its side as before.

Lu Yao had long sensed that her magic only functioned properly within the confines of the shop. Once she stepped into the mortal realm of the Floating World Continent, her magic was weakened or, at times, entirely ineffective.

This limitation seemed to mirror Budu’s inability to set foot in the Floating World, leading Lu Yao to suspect it was some form of restriction imposed by the heavens.

With the damages to the shop repaired, Lu Yao didn’t bother with the missing ceiling for now. Although it had been satisfying to speak her mind earlier, she still had to calm the frightened customers.

Chi Jiumeng, noticing that Lu Yao hadn’t restored the Bodhi Tree, flipped her hand, producing an emerald-green smoking pipe.

With a casual wave, the faint red flame in her lantern hairpin floated onto the pipe. Wisps of green smoke rose and condensed, forming a canopy over the Internet Cafe. It looked identical to the Bodhi Tree’s original crown, perfectly shielding the shop from wind and rain.

Chi Jiumeng approached Lu Yao, bowing her head slightly in apology. “I offended you earlier, Shopkeeper. Consider this roof my compensation. Though it’s an illusion, it is no different from the real thing and will serve its purpose.”

Lu Yao looked up for a moment. Zeyuan had mentioned that Chi Jiumeng was a great demon of desolate mountains, renowned for her skill in illusions. Judging by this display, her abilities were indeed impressive.

However, Lu Yao’s tone remained curt. “Innkeeper Chi, esteemed guests like you are too much for my humble shop. Let’s call it even. You may leave now.”

When Lu Yao had last left the Sea of Tears, she had given Chi Jiumeng a discount voucher and a teleportation scroll for the Internet Cafe. Yet Chi Jiumeng had never used them—until now, when she showed up to stir trouble.

Chi Jiumeng had initially had no interest in Lu Yao’s shop, but recently, in Ni City, she’d heard many customers discussing the Internet Cafe on Mount Baixian. Curious, she finally decided to use the voucher and scroll Lu Yao had given her.

When she arrived, Lu Yao wasn’t there, but a chatty spider demon—a regular at the cafe—happened to be seated nearby. The spider demon enthusiastically shared all the fun things about the shop, piquing Chi Jiumeng’s curiosity just as the Demon Emperor and Demon Lord began quarreling.

At first, Chi Jiumeng had only intended to watch the drama. But unable to resist, she added fuel to the fire, never expecting the human shopkeeper to be such a tough nut to crack. In the end, she had clearly offended Lu Yao.

Even so, Chi Jiumeng’s interest in the Internet remained strong after hearing so much from the spider demon. She leaned toward Lu Yao, trying to get closer.

Xuanfeng and Mo Bao stepped out from behind the counter, flanking Chi Jiumeng on either side to block her approach.

Mo Bao sneered, “When Lu Yao was kidnapped by the mermaid at your shabby inn, she didn’t even demand an explanation from you. She was kind enough to give you a discount voucher and teleportation scroll. And yet here you are, bringing your Mirror of Past Lives to try and spy on her. Are all demons this shameless?”

Chi Jiumeng lowered her head and rubbed her nose awkwardly. “…”

Jiao Niang, overhearing, immediately looked remorseful. “I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have taken Lu Yao to the Sea of Tears. She really is a good person.”

Chi Jiumeng shifted her gaze toward the counter, as if recalling something. She turned back to Jiao Niang and said, “Xie Zili came looking for you at Chongdeng Inn.”

Jiao Niang was startled. “Zili came for me? Didn’t he return to the Xie family?”

Chi Jiumeng shook her head. “I don’t know. He was searching for you everywhere in the city. Later, it seems he was taken away by people from the Lingxiao Sword Sect.”

Jiao Niang lowered her eyes. “That’s good, then.”

…

In the Internet Cafe’s lounge, Lu Yao sat on the sofa with a broken recording talisman resting on the table.

When she used her repair magic earlier, even this talisman, which Zeyuan had crushed, was restored.

It was one of Jizhuang’s old possessions, and Lu Yao couldn’t help but feel a bit curious about its contents.

Zeyuan pushed the door open and entered. His expression darkened as soon as he spotted the talisman on the table. “Why is this thing still here?”

Lu Yao replied, “It got restored when I reversed time. You don’t like it? Don’t tell me you knew Yu Yao?”

Zeyuan’s face instantly turned grim. He walked to Lu Yao’s side and picked up the recording talisman.

A shimmering water screen unfolded in midair. In the footage, a young woman named Yu Yao walked down a stone-paved road with her maid carrying a book box beside her, seemingly heading to the academy.

Only their backs were visible, but it was clear someone had followed them with the recording talisman.

The scenes in the talisman weren’t continuous—one moment showed the academy, and the next jumped to an embroidery room, with some angles so awkward it was obvious the person had been hiding while recording.

Lu Yao frowned. “The Demon Emperor was a stalker back then?”

For some reason, Zeyuan felt inexplicably guilty.

Lu Yao tilted her head to look at him. “What’s wrong with you?”

Zeyuan sat down beside her, fidgeting like a trapped beast. After a long pause, he finally murmured, “I don’t know why, but seeing the images in this talisman fills me with an uncontrollable unease and anxiety.”

The scenes felt both familiar and unfamiliar to him, but a stronger emotion lingered—anger.

It was as if his most treasured secrets had been exposed to someone else’s gaze.

Zeyuan glanced sideways at Lu Yao and asked again, “Are you sure we’ve never met before?”

Lu Yao, still focused on the footage, didn’t notice his troubled emotions. “You’ll figure it out eventually.”

The talisman contained nothing but trivial moments between a young couple. Lu Yao, running out of patience, eventually told Zeyuan to turn it off.

Rumors had long circulated that the reincarnated Yu Yao was not interested in the Demon Emperor, leaving Jizhuang perpetually heartbroken. Yet, judging from this recording talisman, Yu Yao hadn’t been entirely indifferent to him.

What happened afterward to cause their dramatic fallout, leading to the collapse of their relationship, remained a mystery.

Now that Wuling had found the current Yu Yao, Jizhuang’s matter could be set aside. However, Lu Yao decided to keep an eye on the lotus pendant associated with Yu Yao.

Standing up, she headed toward the door. “Next time we see Wuling, return this talisman to Jizhuang.”

Zeyuan snapped out of his thoughts. “Where are you going?”

Lu Yao, distracted by the progressless task in her mind, paused and turned back. “What do you call demons ranked above demon generals but below the Demon Lord?”

Zeyuan looked at her warily. “Why do you ask?”

Lu Yao shrugged. “Just curious.”

Zeyuan’s gaze flickered, as if hiding something. “Demon Princes.”

Lu Yao smiled. “Then next time, could you bring one or two Demon Princes to the shop?”

The task tracker required visits from demons ranked above generals but below lords to light up the Demon Prince icon. This wasn’t coercion, right?

Zeyuan, who had been mildly curious, froze at her words. His expression shifted slightly. “I don’t have any Demon Princes.”

After saying that, he abruptly stood and walked out, deliberately brushing against Lu Yao as he passed.

Lu Yao: “…”

Following behind him, Lu Yao stepped out and saw Xuanfeng and Mo Bao lounging behind the counter. She walked over and half-jokingly grumbled.

Xuanfeng blinked rapidly. “…Did you really ask His Lordship to bring Demon Princes to the shop?”

Lu Yao: “What’s wrong with that?”

Mo Bao rolled his eyes and glared at her in exasperation. “His Lordship isn’t married yet—how could he have Demon Princes?”

Demon Princes, after all, referred to the Demon Lord’s offspring, ranked below the Demon Lord but above all other demons.

Lu Yao: “…”

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