Ch 95: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

Lu Yao wasn’t prepared when Zeyuan pulled her into the demonic rift.

The rift wasn’t what she imagined. As the name suggested, it was truly a narrow, dark crevice, barely wide enough for one person to pass through.

Lu Yao hesitated with her steps, unable to see clearly.

Zeyuan, who had initially held her by the wrist, slid his hand down to clasp hers firmly and reassured her in a low voice, “Don’t be afraid. We’ll be out soon.”

Just as he said, the rift wasn’t long. After about twenty steps, a faint light shimmered ahead, gradually forming into the outline of a square door.

Stepping over the threshold, they emerged into an alley in Weak Water Abyss City of the Demon Realm.

The rift’s door was embedded into the wall. A few devils were queued up near the door, seemingly waiting to use it to head to the internet café.

When they saw Zeyuan and Lu Yao emerge, their faces showed surprise. One glance from Zeyuan, however, silenced them instantly. They bowed their heads, averted their gazes, and respectfully lowered themselves in greeting.

Oh, what an incredibly clean street it was today!

Zeyuan, unconcerned about being seen in the Demon Realm, raised his hand, conjuring a black dragon from demonic energy.

He lifted Lu Yao onto the dragon’s back, and they ascended into the inky sky, disappearing from view in the blink of an eye.

The previously meek demons exchanged animated expressions once they confirmed the Demon Sovereign was gone.

“Holy moly! Is the Sovereign really courting the shopkeeper?”

“I thought the Sovereign didn’t have a love root?”

“You know, in those human romance stories, they always write about gentlemen who are as unyielding as jade, immune to women’s charms—until they meet the one. Maybe love roots and feelings are just like that, easily sparked.”

“What about the Demon Emperor?”

“What does this have to do with the Demon Emperor?”

“Isn’t the shopkeeper supposed to be the reincarnation of the Demon Emperor’s beloved?”

“Who says? The shopkeeper may be human and without cultivation, but her methods are far from kind and gentle. How could she possibly be the reincarnation of Celestial Maiden Yu Yao?”

“And even if she is, so what? Whatever the Sovereign desires, he’ll take. That embroidered pillow of a Demon Emperor is no match for him.”

“I heard the Demon Emperor sacrificed his demon core and diminished his cultivation for Yu Yao. That’s why he’s such a wreck now. Do you think the Sovereign might…”

“If the Sovereign dares to extract his demonic soul or sever his wicked desires for the shopkeeper, I’ll march straight to Abyssal Demon Palace, take his throne, and snatch the shopkeeper for myself, hahaha!”

“What would you even do with the shopkeeper? Forget that—why not take the internet café’s managers instead?”

“Exactly! Move the café to the Demon Realm. It’s such a pain having to queue up every time!”

Xuanfeng and Mo Bao, who had hurried to catch up, arrived just in time to hear this group of devils spewing nonsense.

As the Sovereign’s subordinates, Xuanfeng wasted no time delivering a couple of solid punches.

Mo Bao, already worried about Zeyuan turning into a “wreck” like the Demon Emperor, grew even more anxious upon hearing the devils’ words. He urged Xuanfeng, “Hurry up and find him!”

Xuanfeng stopped his punches and asked, “Did you see where the Sovereign went?”

Devils, with their natural uninhibitedness and differing morals from humans, lacked many of the intricate hierarchies humans observed. They only submitted to the strong.

Having failed to defeat Xuanfeng in a fight, the devils became obedient.

“The Sovereign flew off with the shopkeeper on a dragon.”

A dragon?

There was no way they could catch up to that.

High above the Demon Realm, Lu Yao sat on the black dragon’s back with Zeyuan, looking down at the ground below.

The vast expanse of the Demon Realm resembled an endless sea of black ink, reminding her of the island called “Abyss,” where Lu Mingxiao had spent his childhood.

The island of Abyss, with its pitch-black mountains, trees, and even animals, lacked the essence of soul and vitality. Its resemblance to the Demon Realm was striking.

Lu Yao leaned down, peering below, where patches of distorted colors occasionally emerged amidst the ink-like sea. She asked curiously, “Is that green patch a forest or grassland?”

Zeyuan shook his head. “Houses.”

“What about that yellow area next to it?”

“Houses.”

Lu Yao turned to look at the other side, where a white ribbon snaked along uneven terrain. “Is that also houses?”

Zeyuan replied, “That’s Weak Water. The Demon Realm has sixteen abyssal cities. After I ascended the throne, I redrew the plans and reconstructed each city according to the characteristics of its abyss. In the Demon Realm, black is revered. Even the land and cities are in endless darkness. I found it monotonous, so I introduced some variety when rebuilding the cities.”

As he spoke, his eyes curved slightly with a subtle glow of pride, a rare expression of delight.

The Demon Realm was vast. Zeyuan steered the black dragon, starting from Weak Water Abyss and passing through Azure Abyss, Dragon Lair Abyss, Serpent Abyss, Earthen Abyss, Thorn Abyss, Red Sea Abyss, Broken Crane Abyss, and more. They only returned to Abyssal Demon Palace after night had fully descended.

In the female officials’ quarters within the palace, Lu Yao, unable to sleep, donned a robe and stepped to the window to feel the wind. She saw a black dragon soaring over the palace, heading straight for the Ninefold Demonic Hall.

Her face took on a thoughtful expression. The Ninefold Demonic Hall was the Sovereign’s residence—could he have returned?

Alas, she was just a lowly palace official. Even if she knew the Sovereign was within the hall, there was little she could do.

Looking up at the blood-red moon suspended in the sky, Lu Yao felt a sense of frustration and helplessness.

She had spent a hundred years coming from the mortal realm to the Demon Realm and another hundred cleansing her identity. Gaining entry into the palace was no small feat, yet she remained far from the Sovereign’s side.

But, as the Sovereign was said to lack emotional roots and fated connections, destined to remain detached and indifferent, Lu Yao still had plenty of time.

…

At the topmost level of the Ninefold Demonic Hall, Lu Yao and Zeyuan sat together, overlooking the vast expanse.

The blood-red moon hanging in the sky resembled an ominous eye. Below, the city lights of Tianyuan gleamed brightly, no less dazzling than those of Nichen City.

Lu Yao crossed her arms, rubbing them slightly. She hadn’t noticed the cold while riding the dragon, but now, seated, the pervasive chill seeped into her, leaving her shivering.

Zeyuan waved his hand, and a black cloak materialized, wrapping snugly around her. The bitter chill of the Demon Realm was instantly blocked.

Feeling warmth return, Lu Yao glanced at him. “The Demon Realm is more interesting than I imagined. But what exactly did you want to tell me?”

Zeyuan’s cheeks flushed faintly red. Unfortunately, the thick night concealed this detail, and Lu Yao didn’t notice.

Her calm, focused gaze seemed to burn into him, and Zeyuan’s heart jolted as if scalded. A prickling pain spread, and warmth slowly climbed to his ears.

Suddenly, he grabbed her hand tightly. “Lu Yao, I…”

Lu Yao blinked, her eyes slightly widening with realization. His solemnity, the way he had shown her the sixteen abysses—could he possibly…?

Zeyuan’s grip grew tighter, squeezing her hand until it ached. His brows furrowed deeply, the tension in his expression like that of a trapped beast.

The day she had asked about the Demon Prince, his first reaction had been irritation.

After returning to the palace, Zeyuan had delved into ancient texts, pondering her query. Gradually, he became aware of his feelings.

For centuries, he had sought something undefined, venturing to the ends of heaven and earth, yet finding nothing.

Until her.

Seeing her dispelled the endless confusion and restlessness. Her presence brought joy, making everything else seem brighter and more intriguing.

Zeyuan suddenly understood—she was the one he had been waiting for all along.

No further proof was needed; Zeyuan believed this truth with certainty.

Reflecting again on the issue of the Demon Prince, clarity emerged.

Having once roamed the mortal realm, Zeyuan knew humans loved romance but often kept their affections veiled in subtlety. Was Lu Yao the same?

He wasn’t sure.

But he wasn’t one to be coy. Now that he understood, he had to let her know.

Time passed in the cold silence of the night.

Finally, Zeyuan lifted his eyes and spoke earnestly, “I hate you.”

Lu Yao looked even more astonished. “You… remembered everything?”

Zeyuan’s face was filled with disbelief, as if he had been struck by lightning.

He had meant to say, “I am fond of you.”

Lu Yao tilted her head, her brows slightly furrowed, looking puzzled.

It didn’t seem like he had regained his memories.

Could it be that, even without his memories, his instincts were still resisting that forbidden boundary?

Lu Yao lowered her gaze and suddenly felt the urge to laugh.

Zeyuan noticed her lips curling upward, and his heart turned into a chaotic mess. He straightened up and said firmly, “Lu Yao, listen to me.”

“Mm, go ahead.”

“I hate you.”

“Mm, you just said that earlier. I heard it.”

“No, that’s not—”

“Then what else?”

“From the first moment I saw you on Baixian Mountain, I hated you. You’re like a thorn in my side, constantly appearing before me, disrupting my peace, making me irritable, unsettled, and restless… Argh, it’s infuriating! In short, among the six realms, you’re the person I hate the most!”

Zeyuan blurted it all out in a rush, then turned his back, his face flushed red as if bathed in sunlight. The night’s darkness couldn’t conceal it.

He clasped his knees tightly with his hands, his chest rising and falling violently—not out of embarrassment but something far more turbulent.

Lu Yao couldn’t help but feel exasperated. She leaned forward, covering the veins bulging on the back of his hand with her own. Shifting slightly closer, her voice softened, with a hint of amusement: “Well, that’s quite troublesome.”

She slowly lifted her eyes, meeting the wide, crimson eyes of the stunned young man. “Because among the six realms, you’re the one I like the most.”

Zeyuan: “…”

Behind the eaves, eavesdropping, Xuanfeng and Mo Bao: “…”

Something even more terrifying than the sovereign turning powerless had happened.

That night, Xuanfeng and Mo Bao escorted Lu Yao back to the internet café.

After dropping her off, they hurriedly left.

Lu Yao greeted Xiao Zhong and Jiao Niang, then stepped into the break room.

On the sofa, the little bear demon sat surrounded by a mountain of snacks, holding a bag of marshmallows in his arms.

Lu Yao bent down, scooped Xiong An’an out of the snack pile, and placed him on her lap. She buried her face into his soft, fluffy belly. “You’re just too adorable.”

Xiong An’an, utterly defeated: “…”

Late that evening, the painter Mei Xue and modeler Liu Yixi received a notification from the shopping street, signing confidentiality agreements through the internal system.

These two, aside from Shi Yan’s team, were Lu Yao’s chosen specialists.

If they officially joined, they would be part of the shopping street’s team.

The next day, the two drove over, doubting whether they had taken the wrong route, and even confirmed it with Lu Yao once.

Upon confirming they were on the right path, their cars arrived one after the other at the shopping street.

When they got out of their cars and saw each other, their expressions turned awkward.

No matter how you looked at it, this workplace was downright absurd.

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

Thingyan: next chapter pw is HOLOLO