Ch 136: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

Customers?

Lu Yao could hardly believe it. She had assumed today would be a blank slate, but luck had arrived unexpectedly.

She hurriedly abandoned the unfinished flower materials on the table and jogged to the door.

Standing outside were a young man and woman, seemingly together.

The man greeted her cheerfully upon seeing her. “Boss, is this event really free?”

Lu Yao stepped aside to let them in. “Three days of trial operations, six free slots each day. Once they’re filled, you’ll need to pay to participate.”

Given the current situation, it was likely the free slots wouldn’t even be used up.

Lu Yao had set up this rule partly because she was tempted by the enticing street food in Ghost Street. During mealtimes, the delicious aroma that wafted through the streets was simply irresistible. She wanted to earn some money to indulge in it.

The man’s smile grew wider. “You’re straightforward, Boss. Alright, the two of us will sign up for the free activity.”

Lu Yao took out a registration book and had them complete a simple registration.

During the trial operation, to engage with more customers, each person could only participate in the free experience once.

She explained this to them, and after a moment of hesitation, they wrote down their names in the book.

Later, Lu Yao noticed they had both used pseudonyms, but it didn’t affect her records.

In a way, as long as the names were written down personally, they were valid in her system.

Once the customers completed their registration, the slot counter on the advertisement board at the door automatically updated to “4.”

Before taking them to the workshop, Lu Yao hung a sign on the door indicating they were in the adjacent classroom.

In the first workshop, customers Ah Jiang and Xiao Xing sat together, with the materials and tools for making fireworks spread before them.

Lu Yao stood at the demonstration table. “I assume neither of you has experience in this kind of crafting?”

The average person might have tried baking, origami, or weaving, or played with educational toys like Legos or puzzles.

But making fireworks—something that carried a bit of danger—required a certain level of expertise.

Ah Jiang picked up a glass bottle containing heavy metal raw materials and examined it with curiosity. “Boss, you must have some solid connections to get all this stuff.”

Lu Yao shook her head. “What connections? This little shop of ours is just at the level of a middle school chemistry lab—it’s all about the experience.”

Xiao Xing, a bit shy, spoke softly. “It’s the first shop like this in the North District. He must really favor you.”

Lu Yao mentally noted the implications of her words but kept things light. “No more small talk; let’s get started. Do you know why fireworks burst into so many colors?”

Ah Jiang played with a glass bottle in his hand, his carefree expression briefly flickering with something resembling nostalgia. “Flame tests. By mixing different heavy metals into the raw materials, you get various colored flames when they ignite.”

Xiao Xing added quietly, “Potassium purple, sodium yellow, lithium red, rubidium purple, copper green, barium yellow-green… Never thought I’d actually use this knowledge someday.”

Lu Yao nodded approvingly. “Solid basics. Before we officially begin, one last question: When was the last time you watched fireworks?”

Ah Jiang frowned, as though recalling a distant memory. “Four years ago.”

After arriving on Ghost Street, he had never seen fireworks again.

Xiao Xing furrowed her brows lightly, then gave the same answer.

It was during the New Year’s Eve holiday four years ago. They had been high school students, meeting at the square to watch the fireworks display together.

Since then, they had never gone home.

They had been brought to Ghost Street by Him, given new identities as residents of Ghost Street.

Here, they didn’t have to go to school, cram for exams, or worry about the future.

Because their identities were merely “guests,” every day felt like a task—wandering the streets of Ghost Street aimlessly.

Like ghosts.

Lu Yao: “Since it’s been so long, how about a preview before we start making fireworks?”

Lu Yao had no idea that for Ah Jiang and Xiao Xing, fireworks displays were tied to the most terrifying memories of their lives.

The fear was so overwhelming that merely imagining reliving that nightmare left them stiff and slow to react. By the time they shouted out “No!” in a panic, the workshop’s setting had already changed.

One moment, the brightly lit classroom was vibrant with light; the next, it was enveloped in the shadow of night.

Whoosh!

A firework shot into the sky, trailing a long, bright tail. It exploded with a thunderous boom, burned out, and vanished.

Ah Jiang and Xiao Xing froze. Their deep-seated fear momentarily replaced by confusion.

Weren’t we just in the workshop?

Why are we casually setting off fireworks indoors?

Where’s the ceiling? Won’t it explode?

What kind of shop is this?

No… what kind of person is this shop owner?

The people of Ghost Street had long accepted humanity’s insignificance—no one could ever defeat Him.

Whoosh—
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh—

Fireworks filled the sky, their bursts echoing as they formed a massive, looming creature in the heavens. Sharp, thick claws, wings as vast and heavy as storm clouds, shimmering scales along its chest and belly.

“It’s a dragon!” Ah Jiang couldn’t help but exclaim.

Roar—ROAR ROAR ROAR!

The fiery dragon flapped its wings, letting out an earth-shaking roar akin to the thundering charge of ten thousand horses.

The next moment, the fireworks dissipated, leaving the night sky silent and starless.

Xiao Xing, still looking upward, muttered, “People are like fireworks—brief and fleeting.”

As soon as she finished speaking—Bang! Bang! Bang!—a new wave of fireworks shot skyward, this time forming an even larger, six-winged, three-headed golden dragon.

For five minutes, a cool breeze carried the scent of heavy smoke through the air.

Lu Yao heard Xiao Xing sneeze and promptly turned off the holographic projection device.

The fireworks display they had just seen was a hologram from last year’s Dragon Festival on Alexander Continent.

Most humans there revered dragons from birth. Since dragons adored anything shiny, yet most humans couldn’t afford to offer real treasures, they turned to crafting dazzling fireworks instead. Over time, fireworks became a staple of the Dragon Festival.

Every year, every city held fireworks displays during the festival. Thanks to magic, the patterns were endlessly creative.

Last year, Lu Yao, Harold, and Budu attended the festival and were utterly amazed.

She had found the ephemeral beauty of the fireworks fleeting and regrettable, so she had captured the data and turned it into a permanent holographic display.

As the workshop lights brightened, Ah Jiang and Xiao Xing turned to Lu Yao.

Lu Yao explained at the right moment, “This shop has special equipment that allows guests to immerse themselves in unique experiences.”

“Holograms,” Ah Jiang muttered. “But aren’t we already living in a holographic world created by Him?”

Xiao Xing interrupted, “It’s not the same.”

Ah Jiang lifted his gaze, fixing his eyes on Lu Yao. “You’ve created your own world within the world He made? Who… what are you?”

Lu Yao furrowed her brows, momentarily lost in their line of questioning.

Her understanding of this world was still far too shallow.

Lu Yao was still debating whether to confess or feign ignorance when sudden changes overtook Jiang Lin.

He clutched his head in agony, slipping off his chair and collapsing to the floor, as though his strength had been drained.

Cai Yuxing, terrified and panicked, dropped to her knees and shook him desperately. “Jiang Lin! Jiang Lin! Stop thinking!”

Jiang Lin slowly opened his eyes, his eyeballs protruding uncontrollably, pupils narrowing into vertical slits.

His face twisted grotesquely, like bark soaked in bitter yellow water. Translated on Hololonovels. Biting down hard on his tongue, he fought to stay conscious. “Cai… Yuxing… I’ve been caught. I’m… so… sorry… Run!”

Cai Yuxing sobbed uncontrollably, shaking her head.

Since arriving at Ghost Street four years ago, they had never been apart.

In this world full of traps and monsters, they had anchored each other’s hearts and survived countless desperate situations.

For four years, they had remained constantly vigilant, never relaxing for even a moment. Yet their path remained shrouded in darkness, offering no hope. Deep down, they had always known this day would come.

Cai Yuxing had thought she would be the one to go first.

Jiang Lin’s pupils began to lose focus, his limbs collapsing bonelessly onto the floor.

Lu Yao’s mind raced as she processed the situation. Summoning her Regulation Rod, she moved swiftly.

With the blade of the staff, she gently tapped Jiang Lin’s grotesque, distorted face. Her voice was calm and soft: “Jiang Lin, look at me.”

The massive pupils in his eyes turned slowly, as if trying to comprehend her words.

Lu Yao pressed the blade down harder, puncturing a hole in Jiang Lin’s increasingly smooth and slimy skin. He let out a scream of pain.

Cai Yuxing, who had been sobbing moments earlier, froze in shock.

Lu Yao: “What’s one plus one?”

It took a long time, but the mutated Jiang Lin eventually croaked out, “Two?”

Lu Yao nodded. “Correct. Do you still remember the mnemonic your chemistry teacher taught for flame tests?”

Jiang Lin was silent even longer, several minutes passing before he haltingly recited two fragments of a mnemonic.

Lu Yao: “Good. Now… do you remember what humans look like?”

Jiang Lin instinctively flopped his limp arm. “Humans… humans…”

Lu Yao’s voice remained steady: “Humans have two eyes, two ears, one nose, one mouth. Most importantly, humans have two hands and two legs, not soft, floppy, twisted tentacles… Does that ring a bell?”

Jiang Lin remained silent.

Lu Yao: “Do you remember what we were doing just now? Preparing to make fireworks?”

Jiang Lin’s eyes shifted slightly. After a moment, he gave a slow nod.

Lu Yao sighed inwardly, realizing there was no avoiding the next step. She steeled herself, her tone earnest. “Fireworks are a gift for the great Omniscient God. I sincerely ask for your help in completing them.”

Jiang Lin’s bulging eyes, filled with sorrow, stared at Lu Yao. After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded with great difficulty.

And in that instant, the mutation spreading across Jiang Lin’s body stopped.

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