Ch 129: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

Lu Yao suddenly had an idea. She instructed the little black dragon to retreat a bit, creating some distance.

From her portable storage, she retrieved a voice-transmission talisman.

In the internet café’s lounge, the gaming team staff noticed a faint glow from the talisman on the table and called out to Shi Yan: “Boss, Cheng Ye’s stone is glowing.”

When the crowd began to grow restless earlier, Cheng Ye and the other staff had gone to calm the guests, leaving the talisman behind on the table.

The gaming team had seen it a few times before and knew it functioned like items in Tales of the Six Realms. However, they had never actually used it.

Shi Yan leaned over, picked up the talisman, and fiddled with it. By chance, he triggered something, and Lu Yao’s voice emerged: “Who’s there?”

Shi Yan recognized her voice. “…It’s me, Shi Yan.”

Lu Yao: “Is it just your team in the store?”

Shi Yan: “Who do you need? I’ll contact them for you.”

Lu Yao: “Find my staff and tell Xiao Ji to bring Alfred’s core body from the Childhood Tutoring Center. Also, have someone check if the doors are functioning properly.”

At this point, the teams in the finals were still inside their illusions. Shi Yan’s group, tasked with maintaining the programs in the lounge, had heard rumors about the trouble on Floating World Continent but didn’t grasp the severity.

Hearing Lu Yao’s request, Shi Yan immediately reported: “The ghost gate and the devil gate in the café seem to be malfunctioning. They’re not working.”

Lu Yao: “I suspected as much. The contestants and audience at the Celestial-Demon Conference are all trapped on Baixian Mountain. Please confirm whether the main entrance is operating normally, and get Xiao Ji to deliver Alfred.”

Baixian Mountain had been isolated by malevolent energy. The teleportation points were offline, leaving the demons, devils, humans, and cultivators stranded. But the stargate might still work.

Shi Yan stood up to head outside, but couldn’t help asking: “What’s happening out there?”

Lu Yao: “Imagine an event raid boss suddenly spawning. The boss’s location is in the physical realm—it’s a bit troublesome. We need to quickly figure out the optimal strategy to take it down.”

Shi Yan thought it sounded dire but still couldn’t picture the scene Lu Yao was describing.

When he reached the entrance and looked up, he froze. The sky was dominated by the phantom of the Evil God, and a massive dragon-like creature was engaged in battle overhead. The voice-transmission talisman almost slipped from his hand.

Shi Yan: “…Where are you?”

Lu Yao: “I’m on the dragon’s back. The little black dragon is Harold.”

Shi Yan: “…”

A surreal moment of breaking the fourth wall. The anime enthusiast Shi Yan felt as though his worldview had been completely reshaped.

Lu Yao, however, was under too much pressure to address Shi Yan’s shock. “Go through the stargate. Don’t bring anything from the café, and don’t drop the talisman. If the stargate still works, send Zhixin here to manage the café for me.”

Shi Yan, influenced by the owner’s calm and matter-of-fact tone, felt a strange sense of involvement. He quickly followed her instructions.

The main entrance was unaffected and operated normally.

Shi Yan relayed Lu Yao’s orders in the group chat on his phone.

Within five minutes, Xiao Ji and Ji Zhixin arrived at the café, accompanied by Budu.

Ji Zhixin used the voice-transmission talisman to contact Lu Yao. Alfred had already been delivered.

Lu Yao patted the little black dragon. “Let’s return to the café and pick up Alfred.”

Alfred, as an artificial intelligence, wasn’t a living being and wouldn’t be affected by the door restrictions.

The massive black dragon, towering like a small mountain, descended rapidly. At a height of ten meters from the ground, it dove, its enormous wings generating fierce winds that knocked nearby onlookers off balance.

The little black dragon shifted into his human form, holding Lu Yao as they gently landed at the café entrance.

The surrounding crowd watched in stunned silence as the massive dragon transformed into a young man with a high ponytail. No wonder he was so powerful.

Lu Yao quickly walked to the entrance, took Alfred from Xiao Ji, and instructed him to immediately procure food from other worlds.

Among the more than six thousand guests trapped on Baixian Mountain, about one-sixth were humans, with demons and devils also requiring a small amount of sustenance.

If this was part of the Evil God’s strategy, the café at least needed to ensure that no guests starved or died of thirst before the Evil God was defeated and sealed.

After Xiao Ji left, Lu Yao beckoned to Ji Zhixin, handing him a Regulation Rod about the size of a folding knife. “This is part of me. Keep it with you. While I’m not in the café, you’ll be in charge. Find Cheng Ye and Xiao Zhong, and have them open the Heavenly Ladder. Later, people will enter for training.”

Having experienced Lu Yao’s absence once before, the staff had improved in managing things independently.

This time, with Lu Yao still present, Ji Zhixin solemnly accepted the Regulation Rod and turned to leave.

Lu Yao then called Budu over. When the little one approached, she crouched down and said earnestly, “They’re all ordinary people. While I’m away, if anyone causes trouble, I’ll leave it to you.”

Budu was worried about the situation outside but couldn’t stop Lu Yao. He pursed his lips and nodded.

At the doorway, Budu couldn’t help but call out, “Mother, be careful.”

“Mm, don’t worry,” Lu Yao replied.

With the café affairs in order, Lu Yao carried Alfred and headed out. At the entrance, she ran into Xiong An’an, who was returning with Xiong Pingping on his back, with Qiuyu beside him.

Xiong An’an, now in his beast form, carried the unconscious Xiong Pingping effortlessly. His beast form had grown several times larger after his cultivation soared.

“Lu Yao, Lu Yao, my sister passed out!” the little bear demon cried.

A ghost official walking by glanced over. “Her soul has left her body. That’s why she hasn’t woken up. The people unconscious at the mountain’s base are all like this.”

Xiong An’an panicked. “Why would this happen?”

The ghost official looked up at the sky. “It’s likely part of the Evil God’s ploy. The malevolent energy shrouding Baixian Mountain traps us. Sooner or later, we’ll end up the same.”

Xiong An’an asked anxiously, “Can my sister wake up?”

The ghost official replied, “If her soul remains separated for seven days, she cannot return. But within seven days, there’s still hope.”

Xiong An’an carried Xiong Pingping back to the café and then dashed out again. “Lu Yao, I want to fight the Evil God. I need to save my sister!”

Qiuyu stood silently nearby, lost in thought, saying nothing.

Lu Yao told them calmly, “Don’t rush. Find a team and train on the Heavenly Ladder first. Wait for my signal before coming out.”

Harold, gazing at the sky, urged, “Lu Yao, hurry. Those people won’t hold out much longer.”

Without waiting for the little bear demon’s response, Lu Yao and Harold returned to the battlefield. “Alfred, analyze the Evil God and collect combat data.”

Alfred, who usually looked like a figurine, opened his eyes, flapped his tiny wings, and flew off.

The teams that had formed earlier were trying to attack the Evil God by flying on swords, using artifacts, or relying on winged spiritual pets. So far, their efforts were no better than scratching an itch.

When they saw the café owner return and release a small dragon resembling Harold, they couldn’t fathom her intent.

The battlefront stretched long, leaving little opportunity for communication.

However, the Evil God noticed Lu Yao’s reappearance and shifted her focus to attacking her.

With Zeyuan and Harold protecting Lu Yao, the others gained a brief reprieve.

After about fifteen minutes, Alfred returned to Lu Yao, carrying a piece of bloody flesh stripped from the Evil God’s phantom.

Lu Yao took it and compressed it into the shape of a key.

Alfred then flew back to the café with the key, where Ji Zhixin caught it at the entrance.

Twenty minutes later, two red and blue bars appeared above the Evil God’s phantom in the sky over Baixian Mountain.

The café staff, holding a megaphone at the entrance, broadcasted: “The optimal team configuration for Stage One of the Evil God raid has been determined. Guests can check their desktop for details.”

The crowd gathered at the internet café entrance, forming teams, turned their heads upon hearing the announcement.

First stage?

Does that mean there’s a second stage?

Wait, is the Evil God actually beatable?

Though they were preparing to form teams, no one present held much hope of defeating the Evil God.

Yet the café seemed far more optimistic, even providing a strategy guide.

But would such a guide really work?

The Evil God was something none of their generation had ever encountered—there weren’t even any credible accounts.

The broadcast continued:

“The Heavenly Ladder dungeon will open in fifteen minutes. Guests with accounts who meet the requirements may log in and wait.”

???

The Heavenly Ladder was supposed to be exclusive to the winners of the Celestial-Demon Conference.

Adjusting the rules due to the Evil God’s appearance was understandable, but it still felt like a bitter pill to swallow, especially after so many days of anticipating the conference results.

The broadcast continued:

“The owner has asked us to inform all players that the café acquired a Mustard Seed Realm two days ago. After the Evil God raid concludes, the café will launch the True Heavenly Ladder as a reward for the Celestial-Demon Conference winners. This adjustment to the rewards is an unavoidable decision, and we hope for your understanding.”

!!!

A Mustard Seed?

The café owner’s luck seemed unbelievable.

With this explanation, the dissatisfaction faded. Instead, guests began envying the conference winners and rushed to the counter to log in, check the strategy guides, or wait to enter the Heavenly Ladder.

Even cultivators, demons, and devils without game accounts crowded around the computers to study the guides and form teams according to the recommendations.

The strategy guide didn’t offer just one team configuration. There were numerous flexible options, but every lineup required a mix of different races.

With the Evil God at large, and experience from forming teams during the Celestial-Demon Conference, the six races trapped on Baixian Mountain finally began to work together.

Inside the lounge, the ongoing arguments remained heated, but outside, people were already organizing themselves to attack the Evil God.

Lu Yao released shadow butterflies and a long-unused miniature livestream dragonfly, capturing the battle from all angles and broadcasting it on the café’s third-floor screens.

The majority of mortal spectators, unable to contribute directly, stayed in their seats, watching the livestream to ease their anxiety.

As they gained a clearer understanding of the situation outside, they calmed down and stopped demanding to leave.

The high-ranking representatives in the lounge finally heard about the developments outside and rushed out. Seeing the six races forming teams and attacking the Evil God in an orderly manner, they realized there was no need for their leadership or decisions.

The café’s strategy guide proved effective, and with the Heavenly Ladder as a training ground, the Evil God’s health bar had been chipped down to roughly the size of a human pinky fingertip after an hour.

By the afternoon, the Celestial-Demon Conference officially ended. As the contestants emerged from the competition rooms, they found the world outside drastically changed. Barely recovered from the tournament’s exhaustion, they immediately gathered their teammates to join the fight against the Evil God.

Experienced players who had tackled game dungeons understood well—final bosses guarding events always had despair-inducing health bars. Even with the entire server working together, it could take days.

…

In the blink of an eye, three days passed. The Evil God’s health bar had been reduced by four-fifths. Jizhuang, who had been protecting Yu Yao, had long since perished from exhaustion.

Seeing victory within reach, everyone encouraged each other to push through one final time.

The Yu Yao within the Evil God’s phantom went berserk, her attack power doubling as she blasted everyone nearby and directed her assaults toward Zeyuan and Lu Yao.

Zeyuan leapt forward, shielding Lu Yao from every blade aimed at her like an unyielding wall.

Despite numerous attacks from the Evil God’s phantom, it couldn’t even graze the hem of Lu Yao’s clothes.

She suddenly raised her hand and removed the pendant from her neck. Her fingers formed a seal, and the golden lotus pendant slowly unfolded, transforming into a golden lotus flower.

Yu Yao’s expression grew distant. “Zeyuan, this is the memory I stole from your dream eight hundred years ago.”

Zeyuan stared at the golden lotus in her hand, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Yu Yao extended her hand. “Eight hundred years ago, I was nothing more than a heartless, emotionless lotus by the Jade Pool. I accidentally entered your dream, developed an obsession, and ended up in this sorry state. If I could do it all over again, I’d wish never to have met you. To end this, I’m returning it to you, exactly as it was.”

Zeyuan gazed at the golden lotus, lost in thought.

Lu Yao frowned and flew over to block Zeyuan. “Something feels off. Don’t act rashly.”

Yu Yao smiled faintly and pinched the golden lotus stem between her fingers, aiming it at Lu Yao’s back.

The little black dragon was immobilized, unable to move or even make a sound.

Zeyuan snapped out of it, catching Lu Yao with one arm while using his other hand to grab the sharp stem of the golden lotus.

The moment the stem touched his fingers, it dissolved into a fine mist, merging into his body like water. Memories surged through him like a tidal wave.

“…Don’t follow me.”

“…Thank you.”

“Hey, come here for a moment.”

“Lu Mingxiao, Lu Yao.”

“Lu Mingxiao, I like you.”

“You like me? Hm? You don’t like me?”

“Lu Mingxiao, I want to see the snow on Qianmen Mountain.”

“…I like you the most.”

“…Lu Mingxiao, I’m sorry.”

“…Among the Six Realms, I like you the most.”

“…I’m fond of you.”

Cold sweat trickled down as Zeyuan raised a hand to support his forehead.

He remembered everything.

Originally, as long as he followed the plan, completing the tasks in each world, his wish would be granted.

Everything had been going smoothly…

Until he accidentally forgot her—and spoke aloud the words that should never have been uttered.

“Zeyuan, Zeyuan. Zeyuan!”

He returned to his senses, seeing Lu Yao’s worried face.

Lowering his gaze, he suppressed the turmoil within and gently touched her face. “Do you have an arrow?”

Lu Yao frowned. “What did you remember?”

Zeyuan didn’t deny it and replied steadily, “It’s just an Evil God. I’ll restrain it shortly. When I do, you shoot that arrow at its heart.”

“An arrow for slaying gods?”

“Yes. It won’t kill the Evil God but will weaken it. Then the Celestials can seal it, and this will be over.”

After speaking, he leaned forward slightly, pressing his forehead lightly against hers, his crimson eyes glimmering. “Among the Six Realms, I despise you most.”

Lu Yao: “…”

Before she could react, Zeyuan turned swiftly. His ink-black hair transformed into silver in an instant, like moonlight, and his armor became a black robe of god-slaying power.

Without any visible movement, five pitch-black chains shot out from the clouds, locking the Evil God phantom’s limbs and neck.

The little black dragon’s restraint was lifted as well.

Lu Yao called for Qiuyu.

The small demon dragon, who had yet to join the battle, flew to her side and glanced back at the Evil God phantom.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Yao asked.

Qiuyu’s eyes were filled with inner turmoil. “It’s calling to me, telling me to return.”

Ever since the Evil God awakened, a voice had echoed in Qiuyu’s mind, urging her to return to its side. It felt as though they had always been together through millennia and that she was simply returning to her rightful master.

Lu Yao’s gaze remained calm. “Do you want to go back?”

Qiuyu turned to her in surprise, her face full of conflict. “What…do you hope I’ll do?”

Lu Yao shook her head. “What I want doesn’t matter. What matters is what you think. Qiuyu, do you have your own thoughts? To break your shell, you chose to fall into demonhood and wandered the human world for a thousand years. Little demon dragon, do you truly wish to bow beneath the Evil God’s feet?”

Qiuyu shook her head hard, the hesitation in her eyes fading as resolve replaced it. “Lu Yao, call my name.”

“Qiuyu.” Lu Yao held the golden Qiuyu bow in one hand and drew the God-Slaying Arrow from her portable storage with the other. She nocked the arrow, aimed it at the Evil God phantom not far away, and commanded, “All groups, provide cover. Celestial team, prepare to seal.”

The arrow shot off the bowstring with the force of thunder, shattering the Evil God phantom and striking Yu Yao directly.

Sixteen golden chains burst forth from the arrow’s tip, and the prepared Celestial team swiftly grasped the chains.

At the same time, sixteen Divine Suppression Trees descended, pinning the Evil God at the center.

Once the sealing formation was complete, the Evil God would be contained.

Yu Yao gazed distantly at the café owner, the madness in her eyes chilling to behold. “My heart is his heart. You’ve killed him with your own hands. Ha ha ha ha!”

Yu Yao’s head snapped up.

Zeyuan struck Yu Yao’s primordial spirit with a backhand blow.

Stripped of her godhood, Yu Yao was no different from a regular Immortal. Unable to withstand the blow of a god-slaying attack, her body and soul were annihilated, leaving only the remnants of the Evil God’s phantom sealed within the formation.

Zeyuan knelt halfway in the clouds, blood gushing from his mouth. “Don’t blame yourself. She became a god because of me. It was my mistake, and I only corrected it. A single God-Slaying Arrow cannot kill me. Lu Yao, next time… when we meet again, don’t say… you like me. I truly… despise you.”

Lu Yao’s mind went blank. She dropped the Qiuyu bow and flew forward, trying to catch Zeyuan.

She was just a moment too late. Before her eyes, he dissolved into ashes.

…

After three long days, the six realms trapped on Baixian Mountain united and sealed the Evil God together.

The Demon Sovereign Zeyuan fell in battle.

[Evil God successfully sealed. Congratulations to the café owner for completing the ultimate task. You may now proceed to the next world!]

Riding on the little black dragon, Lu Yao showed no reaction.

A piece of paper fluttered from the void like a butterfly, spinning as it drifted toward Lu Yao.

Just as it was about to land in her hand, another identical piece of paper appeared out of nowhere and fell into her grasp first.

The burning heat in her palm jolted Lu Yao awake. She lowered her gaze.

The paper bore only four words: Lu Yao, save me!!!

Lu Yao’s reaction was delayed.

At that moment, the second piece of paper fell, landing squarely on top of the first. Its clue also contained four words.

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️