Author Archives: Thingyan

In contrast to ordinary pandas, panda demons had distinct traits. Lu Yao had read online that pandas aged five or six were considered adults, yet Xiong An’an still retained the appearance of a fluffy, soft cub, his cries delicate and sweet.

Clinging tightly to Lu Yao’s leg, Xiong An’an whimpered and cooed. His enthusiasm seemed suspiciously excessive.

Lu Yao crouched down, ruffled his fur a few times, then scooped him up. Turning to the young girl who had followed him, she asked, “Who are you?”

The girl, brought back to her senses, was about to respond when the lead sparrow demon fluttered over, holding a small note in its beak.

Xiong An’an immediately began to whimper louder upon spotting the note, while the girl’s expression grew nervous.

The note was written on a light pink sticky pad from the shop, with a faint adhesive strip across the top. Xiong An’an reached out his paw to snatch it, but Lu Yao pinned him under her arm with one hand. The sparrow demon dutifully unfolded the note for her.

After quickly reading it, Lu Yao looked up at the girl. “A secret recipe for Shandong whole grain pancakes?”

The girl’s face turned beet red, her dark eyes darting nervously before she lowered her head under Lu Yao’s calm gaze. In a quiet voice, she confessed, “I asked An’an to help me find the recipe online.”

The girl introduced herself as Xiong Pingping, Xiong An’an’s older sister. Like him, she was also a half-demon.

Their family had originally lived in Bilin Village, outside Changkui City. Their father was a hunter, and their mother was a demon.

When Xiong Pingping was born, she appeared as a human baby and never practiced demon arts, so to this day, she couldn’t assume her demon form. Her father had no idea his daughter was part demon.

However, when Xiong An’an was born, he emerged as a furless bear cub, terrifying the midwife and the Xiong family.

Their mother used demon magic to erase the memories of the midwife and the Xiong family before fleeing into the night with Xiong An’an. Only Xiong Pingping retained the memory of that night and kept a spatial storage bag her mother had left her, containing a communication jade and a charm to conceal demon energy.

After her mother and brother left, Xiong Pingping continued living in the human village. She secretly used the communication jade to contact her mother, who told her Xiong An’an couldn’t return until he learned to take human form.

Years later, when the great bear demon was killed by demon hunters, Xiong An’an wandered the mountains alone and eventually disappeared. In reality, Xiong Pingping had secretly taken him in.

By that time, their father had remarried and had a son with his new wife. Xiong Pingping’s life at home became increasingly difficult. Unable to bring Xiong An’an back to the house, she raised him in the mountains, but he was a true troublemaker and constantly begged to come down.

Xiong Pingping tried every method to keep him in the mountains, out of sight of the villagers. However, within half a year, Xiong An’an was discovered. The villagers planned to capture him and sell him to the Beast Taming Sect.

At the same time, Xiong Pingping’s family was arranging a marriage for her. Unwilling to wed, she left a note behind, secretly took Xiong An’an, and fled Bilin Village, eventually settling in Baixian Town.

In town, she managed to acquire a charm to conceal Xiong An’an’s demon aura and kept him at their rented home while she made a living selling small snacks.

A few days ago, the siblings had an argument, and Xiong An’an snuck out at night, climbing up Baixian Mountain.

Xiong Pingping searched for two days before finding him. Once she confirmed he was safe, her attention shifted to the strange shop that had taken him in.

She spent half a day in the café’s main hall, observing how others used the internet. One customer enjoyed watching food livestreams, so Xiong Pingping stood behind him, watching intently. As someone who also sold food, she found the scenes fascinating.

When the customer left before his session ended, Xiong Pingping seized the chance to sit down and explore. She watched a livestream of a vendor selling pancakes and fried dough sticks from a tiny cart, drawing long lines of customers. The vendor’s success left her envious.

Rather than immediately bringing Xiong An’an home, she returned to their lodging and attempted to make whole grain pancakes herself.

However, Xiong Pingping didn’t know how to make pork floss, how to create the crispy crust, or how to replicate the flavor of the sauce. The pancakes she made based on guesswork tasted mediocre at best.

Thus, today’s situation arose. Xiong An’an, who had painstakingly gathered a pancake recipe, secretly handed it to Xiong Pingping, only to be caught red-handed.

After explaining everything, Xiong Pingping felt deeply embarrassed, her face flushing as red as a peach.

She had learned that using the internet required five mid-grade spirit stones, and opening an account cost as much as twenty high-grade ones. Despite her frugality over the years, Xiong Pingping’s savings weren’t enough for even one internet session.

Lu Yao looked at the recipe in her hand, then back at Xiong Pingping. For a moment, she was at a loss for words. She never expected to complete her system task in such a roundabout way.

Could this be exploiting a loophole in the system?

Xiong Pingping noticed Lu Yao’s silence and grew increasingly nervous. The internet café’s owner was a human, yet her ability to attract and manage so many demons and devils was a testament to her extraordinary capabilities.

Lu Yao returned the recipe note to Xiong Pingping. “It’s a small matter; don’t worry about it. Since you’re the little bear’s sister, you may take him home today.”

Lu Yao had initially kept Xiong An’an in the café to fulfill her task. Now that the half demon symbol was unexpectedly activated without much effort, it no longer mattered whether he stayed.

Hearing Xiong Pingping recount her family’s story, Lu Yao felt it would be unkind to separate the siblings, who now only had each other.

However, Xiong Pingping’s expression changed, and she bowed deeply. “Store owner, I have a request.”

Lu Yao didn’t respond.

Xiong Pingping continued, “An’an has been telling me every day how much the humans and demons in your café like him, and he enjoys staying here. Compared to being with me, he seems happier at your café. I would like to ask you to allow him to remain on the mountain. I’m willing to pay his room and board monthly, and I can also help you with a matter.”

Lu Yao raised an eyebrow. “What can you help me with?”

Xiong Pingping smiled faintly. “Does the store owner need elderly human women over the age of sixty to visit your café?”

Lu Yao looked bewildered. “How did you learn about this?”

Xiong Pingping explained, “I possess no special skills, but my senses are sharper than most. I’ve been doing business in the nearby Baixian Town, and I recently noticed that young disciples from the Hengze Sect have been going around recruiting elderly women to follow them up the mountain, only to be chased away and scolded. At first, I didn’t understand why. But a few days ago, when I was searching for An’an, I saw one of these disciples heading up the mountain and pieced things together.”

Lu Yao felt a headache coming on. She knew Jiang Yan was a bit naïve but didn’t expect him to be this tactless.

She had indeed asked him to bring human guests to the café and even requested he refine some low-grade pills to help stabilize cultivation. The pills had already been delivered a few days ago, but Jiang Yan had mentioned needing more time to find the right guests. His troubled expression that day now made sense—his task wasn’t going well.

Lu Yao grew curious about Xiong Pingping’s proposal. “If he can’t do it, what makes you think you can?”

Xiong Pingping bowed deeply. “Give me three days, and I will make it happen.”

Lu Yao said, “My café has rules. Guests must come of their own free will, without feeling coerced or pressured.”

Xiong Pingping nodded firmly. “Rest assured, store owner. I will ensure the guests willingly come up the mountain.”

Lu Yao said, “If you truly manage this, An’an can stay and work at the café. You won’t need to pay for his room and board, and I’ll even give you a complete recipe for pancakes.”

Overjoyed, Xiong Pingping bowed in gratitude and left the mountain without looking back.

Xiong An’an watched his sister’s retreating figure, feeling a bit forlorn.

Lu Yao set him down on the ground. “If you want to go back with your sister, I won’t stop you.”

Xiong An’an turned back, clinging tightly to Lu Yao’s leg with his little paws, immediately resorting to his signature act of coyness and cuteness.

Xiong Pingping wasn’t wrong—Xiong An’an truly loved the internet café. Especially after discovering how much the humans there adored him, his affection for the place deepened.

It was far more lively than hiding alone in the mountains and much happier than staying cooped up in a tiny rented room.

Lately, he had even begun contemplating a question he’d never considered before: would his sister’s life be easier without him?

Xiong An’an didn’t want to leave, and Lu Yao didn’t force him to.

Returning to the shop, Lu Yao placed the promised bottle of pills into the sparrow demons’ cage. The little sparrows stopped idling and, without delay, finished off the pills in one gulp before flying out to train.

Three days later, Xiong An’an kept glancing toward the entrance from morning till afternoon, wondering if Xiong Pingping had arrived yet. But she was nowhere to be seen, making him restless.

Although they usually communicated via the transmission jade, Xiong Pingping had been unusually busy these past few days. She only replied late at night, exchanging just a few words before disappearing again. Xiong An’an had no idea how she was doing.

It wasn’t until the afternoon that Xiong Pingping finally appeared, leading an elderly woman with snow-white hair through the teleportation array at the café’s entrance. Xiong An’an immediately ran over, cooing with joy.

Startled by the sight of a bear cub, the elderly woman froze in fear. Hearing the commotion outside, Lu Yao quickly came out and scooped up Xiong An’an.

Supporting the elderly woman, Xiong Pingping carefully navigated through the area, ensuring they avoided any demon clans with animalistic features, before leading her to the counter and setting up a computer.

Xiong Pingping paid for an account herself, reluctantly handing over 20 high-grade spirit stones to open a video platform account. She guided the elderly woman to a seat, logged in, and the two began watching videos together.

They didn’t watch dramas or entertainment—they focused exclusively on food videos.

The elderly woman spread out a piece of animal hide in front of her and held a small piece of charcoal in hand. After watching a segment, she would pause to write down notes on the hide and sometimes rewind the video to watch certain parts again.

Curious, Lu Yao walked over to take a look. As expected, the notes were recipes.

Recalling her first encounter with Xiong Pingping, Lu Yao quickly understood and couldn’t help but admire the young half-demon’s resourcefulness.

Most of the café’s visitors from the Floating World Continent came to play games, watch dramas, or follow their favorite celebrities. Yet Xiong Pingping had keenly identified another side of the internet—learning.

She and the elderly woman treated the internet café as a culinary “training class,” voraciously absorbing recipes and cooking techniques shared online.

Initially, Xiong Pingping had been heartbroken over the cost of spirit stones and somewhat distracted. But soon, she was utterly captivated by the fascinating world of online food content. Even dishes she couldn’t replicate left her amazed simply by watching.

Many of the recipes she discovered online were techniques she had never encountered before. Armed with this knowledge, how could she ever worry about not making a living?

Time flew by while surfing the web. Before they knew it, several hours had passed like a fleeting moment.

Outside, the sky grew darker, and some customers began ordering food. Before long, the café was filled with the enticing aroma of various dishes.

Xiong Pingping and the elderly woman turned their heads, their attention drawn to a nearby customer’s meal tray, which featured several snacks they had just seen online.

The two exchanged glances, unable to suppress the sound of their stomachs rumbling.

Noticing their reaction, Lu Yao sent a message to the snack shop and ordered two portions of jianbing guozi.

The snack shop occasionally offered jianbing guozi for breakfast, but given the wide variety of snacks it served, no single item appeared daily. As the only eatery in Dreamland, the snack shop’s menu rotated to keep customers pleasantly surprised.

However, all snacks that had been sold remained available in the shop’s inventory, including the machines and materials required to make them. Lu Yao had informed the staff earlier to prepare jianbing guozi for a few days.

When the food arrived, Lu Yao added a sausage to each paper bag before delivering them personally. “For our new guests, who’ve stayed for over two hours, here’s a small gift from our shop.”

Xiong Pingping and the elderly woman were stunned by the gesture, the aroma making any attempt at refusal impossible.

Opening the bags, Xiong Pingping immediately recognized the long-awaited jianbing guozi. Without hesitation, she took a big bite. Soft, crispy, salty, fragrant—it was a hundred times better than she had imagined.

The elderly woman, after a taste, looked up in amazement. “This is even better than what you make.”

Xiong Pingping nodded. “Exactly. That’s why we have to come to the mountain to learn true skills.”

The elderly woman chuckled. “I’m too old for all that. But that fragrant pan-seared beef pie caught my eye. I know the ingredients, and the method doesn’t seem hard. I’ll give it a try when we get back. Pingping, are you still selling your jianbing?”

Xiong Pingping replied firmly, “Granny, I’m sticking with my jianbing. I won’t compete with your beef pies.”

The elderly woman didn’t argue further and focused on her meal.

Lu Yao mouthed silently to Xiong Pingping, “What’s going on?”

Xiong Pingping whispered, “I’ll explain later.”

After finishing their meal, Xiong Pingping and the elderly woman left, this time using a teleportation scroll. Concerned for their safety, Lu Yao summoned Harold to discreetly follow them and ensure they returned safely to their home in Baixian Town.

Before bed that evening, Lu Yao checked the mission compendium. The icon for the human race was now illuminated.

With the human and half-demon race icons lit, the devil race task could wait for now. For Lu Yao, the tasks for the celestial and underworld realms seemed nearly impossible to complete.

Turning her attention to the cultivation world, she read the mission requirement:

[Requirement to illuminate the compendium: the strongest individual in the cultivation world.]

Lu Yao: “…”

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

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

Ji Zhixin and Ji Qingyan took the elevator to the underground parking lot. Ji Qingyan, recalling that Lu Yao had taken a cab back, said, “The boss probably isn’t back yet, right?”

Ji Zhixin replied, “She’s definitely there by now.”

Ji Qingyan was surprised. “That fast? It’s only been twenty minutes.”

They had taken over forty minutes to drive to the Shen Corporation from the shopping street, and that was with light afternoon traffic. During rush hour, any slight congestion would easily stretch the trip to over an hour.

Ji Zhixin opened the car door. “The boss has a fixed-point teleportation device. She doesn’t need to take a car back.”

Ji Qingyan was startled. “What? Where is it?”

Ji Zhixin answered, “At the snack shop.”

Whenever the boss went out and there was an emergency at the shop, she always managed to return in an instant. Paying close attention revealed that Lu Yao always emerged from the snack shop when she came back.

However, even noticing this didn’t change much. Uncle Ming had mentioned that the snack shop was a place no ordinary person could set foot in.

The shop was entirely off-limits to everyone except the boss, not even Budu could enter.

Ji Qingyan was astonished. “It’s the snack shop?”

In her impression, the snack shop was extremely low-key, especially compared to the other shops on the street, each with its own distinct flair. It seemed almost unremarkable.

Ji Zhixin said, “Just know about it and don’t ask too much. The snack shop and Qingshan Noodle House aren’t places ordinary people can go.”

As a member of a branch family of the Ji clan, Ji Qingyan was far removed from the divine realm and had never truly believed in such things. However, meeting Lu Yao had instilled in her a newfound sense of reverence.

The divine might be distant, but the shopping street was undeniably real.

When they left, Ji Qingyan had driven, but on the return trip, Ji Zhixin took the driver’s seat.

Ji Qingyan sat in the passenger seat. The meeting had gone smoothly—President Shen had been particularly cautious and respectful toward the boss, and the game company’s director showed great interest in their proposal. With nearly all their objectives met, she felt relaxed as she pulled out her phone to check the employee group chat.

As it was near the end of the workday, the chat was bustling with hundreds of unread messages.

Ji Qingyan skimmed through them, then looked up in surprise and said to Ji Zhixin, “Brother, do you know why the boss rushed back earlier?”

Ji Zhixin guessed, “It was Uncle Feichen who called. Probably something to do with the internet cafe—another fight among the customers?”

Ji Qingyan shook her head, her tone growing excited. “The boss picked up a baby panda demon this morning and left it in the lounge. After it woke up, it didn’t make any noise or run away. Instead, it got caught red-handed by Uncle Feichen stealing snacks from the storeroom. The panda’s now being publicly ‘exposed’ in the group chat—it’s so fluffy and adorable!”

Ji Zhixin raised an eyebrow, took his hand off the car key, and pulled out his phone.

[Lu Yao: Exposing a snack-thieving baby panda demon.]

[Lu Yao: Picture of the baby panda demon cowering obediently in a corner.JPG]

[Lu Yao: The plain old storeroom before the panda came.JPG]

[Lu Yao: The upgraded storeroom post-panda renovation.JPG]

[Childhood Tutoring Center Bai Yi: What’s going on? What’s going on? What’s going on?]

[Hot Springs Inn Bai Lu: Shocking! A baby panda is at our shop?]

[Lu Yao: I found a panda demon this morning. I’m starting to suspect it deliberately got itself picked up…]

[Interdimensional Cinema Zhu Zhu: It’s so cute!!!]

[Lu Yao: Don’t be fooled by how innocent and clumsy it looks now. While I was out, it was running rampant in the shop. It almost knocked Feichen into an internal injury. Thankfully, a customer caught it, or it would have escaped.]

The photo of the panda demon cowering in the corner showed its short, stubby limbs and fluffy body, with its innocent beady eyes. However, its muzzle was ringed with telltale traces of colorful snack powder, clear evidence of its theft.

[Blind Box Shop Ji Feiming: Is Feichen okay?]

[Interdimensional Internet Cafe Ji Feichen]: …I’m fine.

[Blind Box Shop Ji Feiming]: What does the boss plan to do with this bear demon?

[Lu Yao]: The storeroom’s stock is half gone, and the little bear even has a spatial pouch. Everything it didn’t eat is packed in there, ready to be taken away. The situation isn’t severe, but the nature of it is ‘egregious.’ Like Xuanfeng and Mo Bao before it, the bear will work in the shop to pay off its debt for a while.

[Childhood Tutoring Center Bai Yi]: Does this mean we now have a panda coworker? Ahhh, it’s so cute!

[Hot Springs Inn Bai Lu]: Boss, can I meet this coworker?

[Little Pet Cafe Zhou Su]: Me too, me too!!! Can it eat pastries? I’ll make it some cakes. What about seafood?

[Little Pet Cafe Lei Lei]: Love is fleeting, isn’t it.JPG.

[Little Pet Cafe Piao Piao]: Sad leopard expression.JPG.

[Hot Springs Inn Heici]: Tail wagging over beef bits.JPG.

[Nail Salon Merulu]: A plump belly shot of Puxiu.JPG.

[Nail Salon Edward]: Mumu’s tiny bat form.JPG.

[Blind Box Shop Lilly]: Xue Ge caught mid-bath.JPG.

[Blind Box Shop Xue Ge]: @Blind Box Shop Lilly DELETE THAT!!!!!!!

…

[Little Pet Cafe Zhou Su]: I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Everyone who wants pastries, raise your hand—I’ll make them all! You’re all too adorable!

[Little Pet Cafe Zhou Su]: A heart bound and tugged from both ends.JPG.

…

Ji Qingyan scrolled quickly through the group chat and urged Ji Zhixin, “Brother, hurry up, hurry up! Let’s go pet the panda!”

Ji Zhixin, having just finished reading himself, set his phone aside. “That’s the new coworker at the internet cafe. You should be more respectful.”

Ji Qingyan wasn’t convinced. “Brother, don’t you want to pet it too?”

Ji Zhixin avoided her gaze and started the car. “Let’s go.”

…

At the Interdimensional Internet Cafe.

The little panda demon was still huddled in the corner of the lounge, staring blankly at its paws.

He had always known his cultivation was weak, but he never imagined he couldn’t even best a human. Worse yet, he had been forced to sign a one-month employment contract.

The panda demon was utterly dejected.

Earlier that afternoon, his failed escape attempt had caused quite a commotion. Among the guests, a demon recognized him.

This panda demon, named Xiong An’an, was indeed a half-demon. He used to live in the bamboo forest outside Liuxian City with his mother.

Two years ago, demon hunters ascended the mountain and killed the great bear demon.

Left without support, Xiong An’an was frequently bullied by other demons in the forest and eventually disappeared.

No one expected him to still be alive, let alone to have wandered to Baixian Mountain.

The demon who recognized him informed Lu Yao that Xiong An’an had been brought to the bamboo forest as a cub just a few months old. He lived there for three years before disappearing for two. At most, he was six years old now.

For a demon, this age was akin to infancy—he didn’t understand much of anything.

As a half-demon, he was also without a place to belong or someone to guide him. His cultivation was weak, and his temper was likely difficult to manage.

While his age and status met the requirements for Lu Yao’s task, she quickly realized that he was too young to be of any use. For now, he would stay in the shop as a mascot.

With over a month left to complete the task, she decided to figure out another solution later.

When Ji Zhixin and Ji Qingyan returned to the shopping street, they went straight to the internet cafe, planning to report on the follow-up to the meeting and to sneak in a chance to pet their new panda coworker.

Xiong An’an, still sulking in the corner, thought the matter had been dropped since Lu Yao wasn’t paying him any attention.

But suddenly, a man and a woman entered the room, their eyes gleaming as they approached. They crouched down to inspect him for a moment before reaching out to touch him.

Their techniques were even more brazen than Lu Yao’s.

And that was just the beginning. Several more groups of people came and went, taking turns rubbing, petting his belly, his ears, and even his tail.

The human women were especially shameless, often leaning in to kiss him. It made him so embarrassed he wanted to dig a hole to hide in.

Some men also tried to kiss him, but Xiong An’an’s rejection was clear—he slapped them with his small paws without mercy.

That evening, Jiao Niang came to the shop and was startled to see a panda sprawled on the sofa in the break room, head drooping like a lifeless rag doll.

Upon closer inspection, she realized it was a bear demon.

Not just any bear demon—he was a half-demon, like her Zili.

Jiao Niang couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity for Xiong An’an and approached to ask about him.

The little panda sat up, angrily complaining about how overly intrusive Lu Yao and those humans were.

Later, when Jiao Niang saw the group chat messages, she realized the panda had stolen snacks from the storeroom and was being held by Lu Yao to work off his debt. The coworkers weren’t harassing Xiong An’an—they were simply charmed by how cute he was.

Jiao Niang didn’t understand why the humans at the internet cafe were so enamored with a half-demon, but recalling the panda’s defeated look as he was rubbed like a rag doll, she still spoke to Lu Yao about it.

Lu Yao nodded thoughtfully after hearing her concerns. “I’ll talk to them later and remind them to restrain themselves when interacting with him.”

As Jiao Niang left the break room, she didn’t shut the door completely. The lively sounds outside piqued Xiong An’an’s curiosity. He peered through the crack, saw Lu Yao chatting with Jiao Niang, and, thinking no one would notice, tiptoed out.

Lu Yao spotted him immediately. She crouched down and scooped him up into her arms, burying her face into his soft, fluffy belly. “With the cleansing spell and fragrance charm, you’re so soft and smell so good.”

Xiong An’an cast a pleading look at Jiao Niang: Help!

Jiao Niang: “…”

Zhong Lianjia, standing behind the counter, looked over eagerly. “Boss, can I hold him?”

Lu Yao handed him over. “Jiao Niang said he doesn’t like being kissed by men. Control yourself.”

Zhong Lianjia: “Understood.”

Xiong An’an: “…Um… um—”

Help me!!!

Jiao Niang covered her face.

Human affection doesn’t last long. Perhaps in three to five days, this will all blow over.

Little panda, just endure it for now.

Lu Yao, watching the panda nestled in Zhong Lianjia’s arms, felt a renewed sense of appreciation for the little guy. Now that her initial frustration had subsided, she found him irresistibly adorable.

Suddenly, Lu Yao felt a chill run down her spine, like a prickling sensation.

She turned around.

Zeyuan stood by a rift of demonic energy, his crimson eyes brooding, though his gaze wasn’t on her.

Following his line of sight, Lu Yao realized he was staring at Xiong An’an. She looked puzzled.

Could it be that Zeyuan also liked pandas?

The last time he came, she had asked him about the “demon prince,” and he’d left in a huff, returning to the Demon realm without visiting for days.

Thinking it was rare for him to show up, Lu Yao took the panda back from Zhong Lianjia and approached Zeyuan. “Do you want to hold him?”

Zeyuan: “?”

Lu Yao: “I thought you might like him.”

Zeyuan frowned, glancing down at the little panda in her arms, visibly conflicted.

Xiong An’an, a little frightened of Zeyuan, fidgeted with his paws nervously. His round, innocent eyes blinked up at the unresponsive young man in front of him.

To ease the awkwardness, the panda tilted his head and cautiously raised a paw, giving a tiny wave. “Um?”

Unable to watch any longer, Xuanfeng snatched Xiong An’an away, murmuring, “Boss, the Sovereign has something he wants to say to you.”

Lu Yao raised her eyebrows and looked at Zeyuan curiously. “What is it?”

Zeyuan’s ears turned red, and his hands, hanging at his sides, clenched and unclenched before he finally said, “Let’s talk outside.”

He grabbed Lu Yao’s hand and stepped into the demonic energy rift.

Xuanfeng held the panda in one hand, with Mo Bao perched on his head. His gaze wandered toward Zhu Ying and Danxi, who were engrossed in their game.

Having spent half a month working off their debts at the cafe, Xuanfeng and Mo Bao had some familiarity with the game. Watching the players now, it was clear the demons had significantly improved.

Mo Bao smacked Xuanfeng’s head. “The Sovereign just took Lu Yao to the Demon realm!”

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

Ji Qingyan informed Lu Yao that the entire building above the parking garage was owned by the Shen Corporation.

The Shen family’s influence in Yaoguang City was evident.

After parking the car, they took the elevator up.

Situated in the city center, the commercial building itself was a rare and highly valuable location, and its grand, opulent interior reflected its prestige.

When they stepped off the elevator, the lobby was quiet in the afternoon, with only two receptionists diligently at work.

Lu Yao walked up to the desk. “Hello, we have an appointment with Mr. Shen Pingjin to discuss a collaboration.”

The receptionist looked up, first noticing Lu Yao, but then her gaze was drawn to the two people behind her.

Out of professional habit, Ji Zhixin and Ji Qingyan had prepared for their outing by researching Shen Corporation and its history, as well as changing into formal attire to project professionalism and confidence for the negotiations.

Both were tall and lean, dressed sharply in suits, and their imposing presence made Lu Yao, standing in the middle, appear like a fresh graduate.

Although Lu Yao had also dressed formally and applied light makeup, the two people behind her exuded such an overwhelming aura with their serious expressions that they overshadowed her entirely.

The receptionist blinked, momentarily stunned, before regaining her composure. “May I ask if you have an appointment?”

Lu Yao nodded and was about to respond when an elevator in the distance opened, and a man in a tailored suit stepped out.

His gaze swept the lobby and landed on Lu Yao. He immediately strode over. “Miss Lu.”

It was none other than Shen Pingjin.

Lu Yao greeted him. “Mr. Shen, we were just about to head upstairs.”

Shen Pingjin, exceedingly polite, exchanged a few pleasantries before explaining that he had come down specifically to escort them. The four of them then turned and entered the elevator together.

As the elevator doors closed, the receptionist, still in a daze, slowly came back to her senses.

What just happened?

The president himself came down to greet them—what’s the deal with that student-looking girl?

..

In the elevator, Shen Pingjin pressed the button for the 29th floor.

Inside the conference room on the 29th floor, three people were already seated: two young men around Shen Pingjin’s age and a woman in a white business suit.

The man in the ash-gray striped suit idly tapped the conference table. “This is rare. He actually remembered our little neglected game.”

The woman in the white suit smiled. “He even said he’s bringing in a collaboration and rushed to call people over. But where’s the supposed partner?”

The young man in the black hoodie set down his phone. “He even personally went downstairs to greet them. Seems like this partner must have some clout.”

The woman in white scoffed. “Who cares what clout they have? I’m not interested in collaborating. Honestly, that little neglected game of ours should have shut down long ago. Who still has time for it?”

The man in the black hoodie dramatically wailed, “Do you have to be so harsh on our precious baby? It’s bad enough we ignored it for years, but now you want to ‘kill’ it?”

These three were Shen Pingjin’s college friends. Coming from similar privileged backgrounds, they had founded their gaming company together during their university days.

After graduation, Shen Pingjin, the man in the ash-gray suit, and the woman in white had returned to their respective families to inherit their businesses, leaving the black-hoodie-clad friend to manage the game company.

For him, the game was a dream born in their student years, a relic of their youth. He couldn’t bring himself to let it shut down completely.

The conference room fell quiet for a moment until the man in the ash-gray suit suddenly spoke. “I wonder which company had the keen eye to unearth our baby from the depths of obscurity?”

The woman in white replied, “I heard they’re not looking to collaborate on our baby but are instead commissioning Shi Yan’s team to develop a new game.”

Shi Yan—the name of the young man in the black hoodie—sighed when he heard the conversation. “It’s hard enough to keep our ‘baby’ running. Where would we find the time to make a new game?”

The man in the ash-gray striped suit commented, “Maybe the other party’s intentions aren’t focused on the game.”

Shi Yan asked, “Then what are they focused on?”

The man shook his head. “I haven’t met the collaborators. How would I know? Since Old Shen set this up, he must have an idea.”

Shi Yan sighed. “Honestly, I didn’t expect you all to show up.”

For most of them, this collaboration wasn’t a priority. They were simply busy with their respective lives and hadn’t seen each other in a while. Since they all happened to be in Yaoguang City, it was a good excuse to meet an old friend.

As for the collaboration itself, all of them were seasoned negotiators. Any minor disagreement could serve as a graceful exit.

At that moment, the meeting room door opened. Shen Pingjin stood at the entrance, inviting Lu Yao and her group in.

The three already seated adjusted their previously casual postures and turned their attention to the newcomers.

When they saw the young woman leading the group, the trio exchanged a glance, silently assuming she was some romantic interest of Old Shen’s.

But then their gaze fell on the two people accompanying her. Both the woman in white and the man in the striped suit raised their eyebrows slightly.

After everyone was seated, Shen Pingjin briefly introduced both parties.

Lu Yao gestured for Ji Zhixin to take out the proposal. She gave a concise presentation of her ideas.

Shi Yan interrupted, “Why did your company choose ‘Time Traveler’?”

Time Traveler was the game Shen Pingjin, Shi Yan, and their two other friends had created during their university days.

It was an incredibly intricate travel adventure game combining elements of journeys, food, outfits, and gacha mechanics, packed with numerous features.

Different choices during the journey would lead to unique scenery and ultimately different endings.

Many of the game’s scenic spots had been based on real locations, with the realism and detail of the scenes being highly praised by players.

Having played the game herself, Lu Yao had been most impressed by its lifelike settings and the authentic yet unexpectedly mundane travel experiences it offered.

She had even speculated that the game’s creators must have visited these locations in real life.

The meticulous attention to detail deeply resonated with her.

Shi Yan hadn’t expected Lu Yao to have actually played their game, let alone speak so enthusiastically about its finer points.

…

Lu Yao’s preparation paid off. The meeting went smoothly, with the previously disinterested woman in white and the man in the striped suit remaining largely silent.

Shi Yan, meanwhile, became deeply engrossed in a heated discussion with Lu Yao and Ji Qingyan.

…

Lu Yao concluded, “The game’s setting will be based on the Floating World Continent, where the world is divided into six realms: humans, cultivators, demons, devils, spirits, and the underworld. The character classes will include humans, ghosts, celestials, spirits, demons, and devils.

The game will focus on multiplayer online battles, requiring at least six battle maps, as well as a community system.

For players who prefer less competitive gameplay, there will be life-simulation features like gacha and outfit customization. We’ve also gathered extensive resources for map and scene design…”

Shi Yan interrupted, “Aren’t there too many elements?”

Trying to incorporate everything runs the risk of losing focus and ending up with nothing substantial.

Lu Yao, her imagination running wild with possibilities, realized she was overextending and took a moment to calm down. “Apologies.”

Shen Pingjin had remained quiet throughout the discussion between Lu Yao and Shi Yan.

While Shi Yan was unaware that the park could turn illusions into reality, Shen Pingjin fully understood that these game scenes weren’t just for ordinary players—they were for enriching the gameplay in the park.

If Lu Yao’s ideas were implemented, the park’s NPCs and players would face brutal conflicts, making the park’s games even more terrifying in the future.

A sense of helplessness washed over Shen Pingjin.

He knew an earth-shattering secret, yet there was nothing he could do about it. Instead, he might even be unwittingly aiding Lu Yao in her plans.

As the meeting drew to a close, Lu Yao’s phone suddenly rang.

After taking the call, she seemed to encounter an urgent matter and left alone.

She left the follow-up discussions to Ji Zhixin and Ji Qingyan to handle.

The meeting ended, and the guests departed.

Shi Yan nudged the man in the ash-gray striped suit next to him. “Weren’t you the one saying we shouldn’t collaborate? Why didn’t you say a word just now?”

The man in the ash-gray suit glanced at him. “I saw you chatting more enthusiastically than anyone else!”

Shi Yan scratched his head and smiled innocently. “That proposal was actually pretty interesting, and they really did their homework. There was a ton of material—it’s clear they put in a lot of effort.”

The woman in the white suit was silent for a moment before turning to Shen Pingjin, seated across from her. “What’s Lu Yao’s background? Why does she have people from the Ji family with her?”

Those two weren’t just nobodies. One of them was the famous Ji Dashao from Ji family.

There had been rumors last year that his leg had healed, but no matter how much the gossip spread, Ji Zhixin never made a public appearance. Later, some said the rumors were false.

The woman in white hadn’t expected to run into the eldest Ji in Yaoguang City.

As for Ji Qingyan, she had also seen her at a banquet once, accompanying Ji Feirong.

Shen Pingjin, looking profound, simply replied, “A fateful connection.”

The man in the ash-gray suit, the woman in white, and Shi Yan all looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “Huh?”

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

Flying out of the Internet Cafe, the sparrow demons led Lu Yao toward the sunny side of the mountain.

Baixian Mountain had one side facing the sun and the other shrouded in shadow.

The shadowed side, dense with tall grass and ancient trees, was often home to demons and small spirits. Yet the path downhill led to the sunny side, where Hengze Sect was located at the mountain’s base.

Hengze Sect was a small sect. In recent years, the senior disciple had taken many juniors out for training trips, leaving behind only a few young disciples with shallow foundations and the ailing Jiang Yan to guard the sect.

Even so, small demons and spirits rarely dared provoke Hengze Sect. Cultivators were known to show no mercy when slaying demons, and weaker beings usually avoided crossing paths with them.

However, Baixian Mountain was a quiet and ideal refuge. Its damp, shadowed side made it a favorite hiding spot for small spirits and demons. Hengze Sect never disturbed the creatures of the forest, maintaining a delicate balance of peace between the two.

That said, the sparrow demons were mischievous by nature and often bullied Jiang Yan and the young apprentices when they came to gather herbs.

…

Stepping out of the shaded forest, pale golden sunlight poured down, dispersing the morning mist.

Lu Yao’s shoes became damp with dew as she paused, stamping her feet and wondering if the sparrow demons were just trying to fool her.

The sparrow demons, however, seemed anxious. They landed on her shoulders, tugging at her hair with their beaks, urging her to continue.

The lead sparrow boldly perched on her head, pecking at her impatiently. “Coo, coo-gah!”

Lu Yao: “…”

She let herself be pushed along for a while, nearing the foot of the mountain, before stopping to demand an explanation.

“Eeeeng—”

A delicate, slightly sharp cry came from the bushes beside the path.

This path wasn’t man-made but rather a rugged trail worn down by frequent use.

The grass along its edges was tall and blade-like, tipped with dewdrops that gleamed in the morning light.

Lu Yao stepped onto a rock, peering into the dense thicket, but the undergrowth was too deep to see anything clearly.

Approaching summer, Lu Yao wasn’t afraid of much—except snakes.

She had no tolerance for the scaly, slithering creatures. Even the sight of one gave her chills.

If it were a demon, it wouldn’t be hiding in the grass. Just as she was about to leave, the cry came again.

“Eeeng eeeng—”

The sound was strangely familiar, stopping Lu Yao in her tracks. She felt like she’d heard it somewhere before.

“Eeeeng—”

The sparrow demons became visibly excited, tugging at her sleeves, trying to pull her toward the bushes.

Lu Yao stayed put, extending her hand to the lead sparrow. “Come here and explain.”

The sparrow landed in her palm, tilting its head and pretending to be cute.

Lu Yao frowned. “I’m not buying it. Speak properly.”

…

“Miss Lu?” A slightly surprised voice called out from ahead. “Heading down the mountain?”

Lu Yao looked up and saw Jiang Yan in his daoist robes.

Today, he wasn’t carrying a medicine basket or accompanied by the young apprentice. Instead, he leaned on a wooden staff, clearly not heading up the mountain to gather herbs.

The sparrow demons immediately flew off from Lu Yao’s palm, perching on grass blades far away, feigning an air of unfamiliarity with her.

Ignoring them, Lu Yao turned to Jiang Yan and said, “I just heard something from the bushes over there. Not sure if it’s a demon or a small animal of the forest.”

Jiang Yan leaned forward, glancing at the bushes with a slight frown. “Let me take a look.”

Although frail and with low-level spells, Jiang Yan had been gathering herbs with his master since the age of four or five, later joined by his senior sister.

After his master, senior brother, and sister left the mountain for their travels, Jiang Yan began venturing alone to collect herbs.

He usually didn’t bother with the mountain’s demons or spirits, not out of fear but because he preferred to avoid unnecessary entanglements.

Jiang Yan used his staff to push aside the grass and cautiously stepped forward, his robes brushing against the vegetation.

The grass rustled as if something alive was moving within.

But despite combing through the area several times, Jiang Yan couldn’t catch the creature.

The sparrow demons perched on the grass blades, watching the scene unfold with amusement.

Under the soft morning light, Lu Yao noticed sweat glistening on Jiang Yan’s forehead. She was about to call him back and suggest giving up. After so much commotion, any alert creature should have fled by now.

Thud!

Suddenly, a black-and-white furry ball tumbled out of the grass from an angle and crashed directly into Lu Yao’s leg.

Lu Yao crouched down, clutching her shin in pain. She gritted her teeth.

Was that a rock? It felt like her leg bone had been cracked.

The creature seemed dazed from the collision as well. It curled into a ball, covering its head and staying perfectly still.

After a moment, it began to let out pitiful cries.

Lu Yao froze, finally recognizing the sound. She’d heard it before in a viral panda video—it was the soft, plaintive sound of those round, black-and-white creatures.

Judging by its size, this was likely a panda cub.

The sparrow demons flew over, perching on Lu Yao’s shoulders and head, chirping excitedly as if to say, “This is it! This is the one!”

Lu Yao called Jiang Yan back.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Jiang Yan approached and was surprised to see the ball of fluff huddled by Lu Yao’s feet. “I’ve never seen this iron-eating demon before.”

Lu Yao asked, “It’s a demon?”

Jiang Yan nodded. “It hasn’t taken on a humanoid form yet, but it has demonic energy. It’s undoubtedly a demon. Strange, though—I’ve never seen it around Baixian Mountain before.”

The sparrow demons impatiently pecked at Lu Yao’s head.

Lu Yao discreetly used her ability to hear their thoughts. The sparrow demons insisted it was a half-demon.

Blinking, Lu Yao whispered, “Are you sure?”

The lead sparrow puffed out its chest in assurance.

Lu Yao turned to Jiang Yan again. “How can you tell it’s new here?”

Jiang Yan scratched his head. “The mountain’s spirits and creatures are no different from the birds in the trees or fish in the streams—just living beings. I’ve climbed this mountain countless times over the years. I can recognize the regular ones easily.”

Since the Internet Cafe appeared, unfamiliar demons had begun frequenting Baixian Mountain, but they stayed on the shadowed side, and the barrier concealed their presence. Jiang Yan left them be.

Even if he wanted to intervene, his strength was limited.

Lu Yao nudged the furry ball with her hand. Like a stubborn puppy, it clung tightly to her leg and let out pitiful cries when pushed.

Jiang Yan asked, “What do you plan to do with it, Shopkeeper?”

What else could she do?

Lu Yao retrieved a spatial pouch from her storage and stuffed the wailing cub into it. The thing was too heavy for her to carry otherwise.

Jiang Yan gawked. “Are you taking it to the Internet Cafe?”

Lu Yao nodded. “This spot is too close to the foot of the mountain. If it accidentally wanders down, it could cause trouble. It’s better to bring it to the mountain’s summit. With so many demon customers at the cafe, it might even pick up some cultivation tips.”

Jiang Yan had always found Lu Yao’s demeanor and her treatment of demons and devils unlike that of ordinary people. Yet she truly had no cultivation herself.

The two of them headed back up the mountain together, with the sparrow demons scattering and flying off. Judging by their direction, they were likely heading to LiuXian City for work. On their way, they must have stumbled upon the panda demon and hurried back to inform Lu Yao.

With the matter settled, the sparrow demons left contentedly, planning to return in the evening to collect their reward.

Jiang Yan was currently the only human cultivator customer at the Internet Cafe. He didn’t visit frequently, usually stopping by once every three to five days.

He knew mingling with demons and devils was unwise. After each visit, he would regret his lack of discipline, but a few days later, he couldn’t resist returning to the mountain.

Sighing, Jiang Yan chastised himself for his weak resolve.

…

When they arrived at the Internet Cafe, Jiang Yan noticed a new shelf beside the snack counter, though it was still empty. The net manager on duty was someone he didn’t recognize.

Curious, he asked, “What happened to the previous net manager?”

Ji Feichen, on his first day at work, was already a bit nervous. Hearing Jiang Yan’s question, he didn’t think much of it and answered truthfully, “He’s on leave for a few days and will be back soon.”

Jiang Yan then asked, “What’s that row of new shelves for?”

Ji Feichen, upright and honest by nature, earnestly explained the Internet Cafe’s upcoming online shopping service.

Jiang Yan pulled a coin pouch from his belt and looked up. “Online shopping?”

…

Meanwhile, Lu Yao returned straight to the lounge, taking out the spatial pouch and releasing the little panda cub.

It had cried like it was being slaughtered when stuffed into the bag, but now it lay completely still. For a moment, Lu Yao thought it might have suffocated. She poked and prodded it, but it didn’t respond.

Only when she noticed the rise and fall of its tiny belly did she realize it had fallen asleep.

The little thing was deceptively large.

Lu Yao wasn’t entirely certain about the sparrow demons’ judgment and decided to wait for Jiao Niang in the afternoon to confirm.

Seeing it sleeping soundly and covered in dirt, she took out a cleaning talisman and stuck it on the cub.

A warm breeze swirled, brushing away the grass and dust from its fur, revealing a clean, refreshed panda cub.

Lu Yao fetched a blanket, wrapped the cub snugly, and stepped out of the lounge.

As the door closed, the panda cub, which had been sleeping deeply, slowly opened its bright, beady eyes.

The black circles around its eyes made them appear sharp and alert, a stark contrast to the timid, clumsy act it had put on earlier.

It waited warily for a while, ensuring the human wasn’t coming back immediately. Then it kicked off the blanket, clumsily climbed off the sofa, and began sniffing around.

The lounge had recently been expanded, adding a storage room behind the employee area for supplies.

Boxes of instant noodles in various flavors were stacked high, along with stashes of gelatin sausages, jelly, marshmallows, chocolates, drinks, and assorted snacks that covered half a wall.

The panda cub waddled into the storage room, its little eyes blinking with delight. Sitting down, it casually grabbed a pack of snacks and tore it open with its claws. The sweet aroma of candy wafted out.

It sniffed the contents, cautiously bit into one, and—!!!

So sweet! So tasty!!!

The cub devoured the entire pack of candy in seconds, even chewing on the wrapper, only to spit it out when it found it unpleasant. It then clambered onto a box, rummaging noisily until a pile of candy spilled onto the floor.

Outside the lounge, Lu Yao was still unaware of the panda cub’s antics. She was talking to Ji Feichen. “There’s a panda cub in the lounge right now—it’s asleep. I’ll be out this afternoon, so keep an eye on it for me.”

Ji Feichen, already uneasy about the shopkeeper, now felt a mix of confusion and resignation. He tried to follow along. “…A panda cub?”

Lu Yao nodded. “I just brought it back. The sparrow demons say it’s a half-demon. Jiao Niang will confirm later.”

Oh, so it’s a bear demon. That’s fine.

Ji Feichen quietly exhaled in relief.

Both Ji Feichen and Ji Feiming were alike in their upright and principled nature. Neither was one for subtlety or tricks.

Watching Ji Feichen fumble nervously, trying to fit into the Internet Cafe’s unique atmosphere, Lu Yao couldn’t help but recall Ji Feiming’s early days.

On his first day, the divine emissary had shown up in a tailored suit, driving a luxury car to this rundown street in the middle of nowhere. Like an old-fashioned gentleman, he had politely knocked on the shopkeeper’s door.

A year had passed, and now Ji Feiming had found his rhythm. While he remained upright and meticulous in his work, the awkwardness from before was no longer present.

He still occasionally wore formal suits and adorned himself with expensive, finely crafted accessories, looking as though he were cosplaying on this run-down street.

His younger colleagues often teased him as being an “uncle-tier heartthrob.” Though initially baffled, he eventually couldn’t help but chuckle shyly along with them.

Time, in its subtle way, changes all things.

Adaptation is a process. Lu Yao hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided not to comment further. Instead, she asked, “Has anything happened while I was away?”

Ji Feichen thought back. To his surprise, things had gone better than expected. Despite the cafe’s clientele being primarily demons and beast demons, they had all been well-behaved. There was nothing noteworthy to report.

At that moment, Jiang Yan approached the counter. “Shopkeeper,” he said, “I heard the net manager teaches customers how to play games?”

Jiang Yan had arrived late, leaving only a spot near Wen Rong and the others, who were still glued to their seats, fully engrossed in their team games.

The four had become addicted to their squad matches and hadn’t left their computers.

Jiang Yan sat down beside them and, as usual, logged into a video site to watch exercise routines.

But the excitement from the adjacent demons and devils, with their periodic shouting and cheering, was impossible to ignore—even with headphones.

Frustrated, Jiang Yan politely asked them to keep it down. That’s when he overheard their conversation about making money through gaming.

Lu Yao asked, “Are you thinking about power leveling too?”

Jiang Yan had been wanting to buy some of the fitness equipment he’d seen online but wasn’t sure where to get it.

After hearing about online shopping while setting up his computer, and then learning about power leveling, he quickly connected the two ideas.

Following the spider demon’s guidance, he searched the shopping platform and found the equipment he wanted.

The spider demon checked the prices for him, commenting that they weren’t cheap.

That was when Jiang Yan started considering learning to play games.

Lu Yao suggested, “…Why don’t you try applying for an account first?”

But when Jiang Yan heard that creating a game account cost ten premium-grade spirit stones, he immediately froze.

Hengze Sect was poor, and Baixian Town wasn’t much better off.

Despite diligently crafting pills, Jiang Yan mostly produced low-grade ones, which sold for little. He barely made enough spirit stones to scrape by, let alone afford ten premium-grade ones.

Lu Yao, recalling something, offered, “How about this—if you help me with something, I’ll gift you accounts for three games once it’s done.”

Jiang Yan: “!!!”

..

At 2 p.m., Lu Yao, Ji Zhixin, and Ji Qingyan set out to discuss the game collaboration.

On the way, Ji Zhixin updated Lu Yao. He had contacted the artist Mei Xue and the modeler Liu Yixi earlier that morning. Both had responded promptly.

They mentioned that Yu Shu had already informed them, and they were interested in the positions offered by the shopping street. However, they both preferred to meet in person.

Lu Yao thought for a moment. “I’m free tomorrow morning. Let them know.”

With that, the car turned onto a side road and entered the underground parking lot of the Shen Corporation’s office building.

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

Yu Shu caressed the small celadon bottle in her hand and noticed something off about Lu Yao’s expression. “What’s wrong?”

Lu Yao put down her phone and smiled faintly. “I just saw a contact who happens to be a former customer of mine.”

Yu Shu was surprised. “A customer? Are you saying one of these contacts is also your customer?”

Lu Yao nodded. “Yes, it was last year.”

Curious, Lu Yao later searched online but didn’t find much information. However, through the internal network and the amusement park’s database, she accessed the life records of that customer.

Any amusement park player who entered through a Phantom Ring would have their life records archived in the park’s system.

The customer who bought a ring from her last year turned out to own several media-related businesses and was also the CEO of a gaming company.

He had started the company with his classmates during college and developed a game that had been running ever since. While the game wasn’t mainstream, it was highly praised within its niche community, particularly for its art style and design.

Yu Shu’s connections in Yaoguang City were extensive. Among the contacts she shared with Lu Yao were investors, top industry professionals in gaming, and even a renowned artist who had recently left a major company.

Lu Yao looked up the last artist’s portfolio on a popular forum. The style was intricate, whimsical, and strikingly beautiful—both detailed and dazzling.

There was some gossip online about why the artist, known by her alias “Meixue,” had resigned, but Lu Yao only skimmed the rumors before closing the page.

She decided to reach out to Meixue. Lu Yao admired her work, though she wasn’t sure someone of such renown would be interested in her small operation.

As for Bai Lu’s interest in contributing as an artist, Lu Yao kept it in mind.

She didn’t doubt Bai Lu’s talent but recognized that Bai Lu was a recent graduate and lacked experience. It would be ideal to have seasoned professionals in the team to maintain industry standards.

Lu Yao didn’t have much time or room for trial and error. She aimed to mitigate risks during the early preparation stages.

Since Yu Shu was skilled in investments, Lu Yao didn’t hold back, seizing the opportunity to glean advice from her.

The two talked until late into the night. When they parted, Lu Yao handed Yu Shu a Beauty Pill.

“Take this after the effects of the Cleansing Pill wear off. It’s great for brightening the skin and smoothing imperfections—better than any cosmetic treatment, and it has no side effects.”

The Beauty Pill wasn’t available on the internal network and had only been sold to staff members at a discounted price. Those who had taken it raved about its effects.

For instance, Gao Si and Liu Tang from the post-production team had acne before taking the Cleansing Pill. Gao Si was also slightly overweight. After using the Cleansing and Beauty Pills, their acne cleared up, their skin glowed, and Gao Si’s figure even became more proportionate. Their coworkers jokingly called them “baby-faced high schoolers.”

Yu Shu listened with amusement, a smile spreading across her face.

Neither she nor Lu Yao liked unnecessary pleasantries, understanding each other without words.

…

Upstairs, Yu Shu checked on Zheng Ran, who was sound asleep, showing no signs of discomfort in the unfamiliar bed.

She poured herself a glass of hot water and settled into the rattan chair on the balcony.

Three moons hung upside down in the night sky. Holding the water cup, Yu Shu stared outside in a daze for a while before taking the Cleansing Pill from the celadon bottle and consuming it.

…

The next morning, Lu Yao arrived at the Internet Cafe early.

Cheng Ye approached her to discuss his upcoming surgery, scheduled for the day after tomorrow.

Beforehand, he wanted to take some time off to visit his home and prepare.

The weather had gotten hotter, and Cheng Ye had been in a rush when he moved, so he needed to go back for some belongings. After the surgery and recovery, he also planned to find a new place to live.

While the office at the shopping street was decent, he felt awkward staying there since none of his colleagues lived nearby.

Lu Yao approved his leave and immediately arranged for Ji Feichen to cover his shifts for a few days.

Since they hadn’t found a suitable new net manager yet, Lu Yao decided to hold off for now. The current staff was sufficient, and she planned to try hiring someone locally in the Floating World Continent later.

…

Ji Feichen arrived the following day after the short meeting.

A new shelf had been added beside the cafe’s snack counter, specifically for storing deliveries.

The online shopping system was simple: customers exchanged spirit stones with the net manager for cash, which was deposited into their virtual wallet. They could use this to shop on any platform, with all purchases delivered to Ji Feichen’s family villa.

Ji Feichen handled forwarding the packages to the Internet Cafe.

When customers exchanged spirit stones for cash, they had to leave contact information—most used Sound Transmission Jades, which functioned like smartphones, allowing users to connect with each other by exchanging names.

When a package arrived, the Internet Cafe staff contacted the customer via Sound Transmission Jade and provided a pickup code.

With more than a week before the online shopping service officially launched, Ji Feichen had little to do. He still came to the shopping street daily, spending some time at the Internet Cafe before heading to the hot spring inn to keep Budu company.

In the afternoon, Xiao Ji clocked out, and the two of them headed home together.

Lu Yao had initially wanted to get Ji Feichen a delivery truck, but her maximum budget was 100,000 spirit stones. The small utility vehicle she had in mind was promptly rejected.

Ji Qingyan had explained that such a “cheap little truck” wouldn’t even be allowed into their residential community.

Lu Yao: …Another day of having her imagination limited by poverty.

…

Cheng Ye’s surgery and recovery would take at least a week. Normally, that wouldn’t be enough time.

However, Lu Yao had purchased a good stock of healing pills in Ni City. As long as the hospital allowed Cheng Ye to be discharged, he would recover almost immediately upon his return.

By then, the preparations for the game project should also be nearly complete, ready to launch.

After some thought, Lu Yao decided to entrust the Internet Cafe’s operations primarily to Cheng Ye and Zhong Lianjia, as they were the cafe’s core employees.

For the game project, Cheng Ye would serve as the primary lead, while Zhong Lianjia would oversee day-to-day tasks for the Six Realms of Floating Life initiative. Staff from other stores could assist if they had free time.

Once the daily affairs of the Internet Cafe were arranged, Lu Yao messaged Ji Zhixin, asking him to reach out to the contacts Yu Shu had introduced the previous night.

Meanwhile, Lu Yao contacted the former customer who had purchased a Phantom Ring from her, to explore potential collaboration.

…

Yaoguang City, a corporate office building.

Shen Pingjin was in a meeting when a notification popped up on his phone.

He glanced at it briefly, frowned slightly at the sender’s name, and hesitated before opening the message.

After replying, several more messages quickly appeared in the chat window.

Moments later, Shen Pingjin interrupted his subordinate’s report, grabbed his phone, and walked out of the meeting room.

…

Lu Yao.

Since they had exchanged contact information, this was the first time she had reached out.

Her message was concise and direct. After introducing herself, she attached a project proposal and asked if he was interested in taking a look.

Shen Pingjin was slightly surprised by Lu Yao’s purpose in contacting him—it was unexpected.

He still kept an eye on the amusement park forums and knew the speed and pricing at which Lu Yao sold Phantom Rings. She didn’t seem like someone who would approach him for investment.

But after reading the proposal, Shen Pingjin found it even stranger. She wasn’t looking for investors—she was seeking a collaborative team.

Few outside the industry knew that Shen Pingjin owned a game company.

Then again, considering Lu Yao’s other identity, it wasn’t entirely surprising.

Why had she suddenly decided to develop a new game and specifically sought his partnership?

Could it be that the amusement park was dissatisfied with the current game models and wanted to try something fresh?

As a semi-retired amusement park player, Shen Pingjin suddenly felt a sense of caution about Lu Yao’s approach, making it difficult for him to reject her outright.

…

When Lu Yao received Shen Pingjin’s invitation to dinner, she was surprised at how smoothly things were progressing.

However, for this collaboration, Lu Yao’s approach was to plan the game project as a standard development initiative. There was no need to reveal the existence of the shopping street.

If officially launched, this game would just be a normal online game.

Lu Yao planned to visit Shen Pingjin’s company in the afternoon, accompanied by Ji Zhixin and Ji Qingyan.

She sent a message to inform the two about the afternoon itinerary. Then, turning around, she noticed Zhu Ying, Danxi, Wen Rong, and Guanzhong still in the lobby. Judging by their expressions, it seemed they hadn’t just arrived that morning—they must have stayed overnight.

Recently, to accommodate Zhong Lianjia’s work schedule, the group often came to the Internet Cafe in the afternoons, played until midnight, and left. Rarely did they stay up all night, neglecting their cultivation.

At this rate, the Internet Cafe might actually hinder their ascension.

Lu Yao walked up behind them. The usernames on their screens were unfamiliar, likely accounts Zhong Lianjia had given them.

Suddenly, the leopard demon Wen Rong threw his headphones down angrily, his face contorted with frustration. “What the hell! This is impossible to play! Is that ADC a complete idiot? Bot lane is a disaster, they farm like they’re begging for scraps, and they keep spamming for help! The enemy’s already geared up—how the hell are we supposed to win?!”

Lu Yao: “…”

They hadn’t mastered the game yet, but they’d certainly learned the language.

Zhu Ying, buying equipment after returning to base, glanced at Wen Rong’s screen and shook her head. “This isn’t going to work. Bot lane is dragging you down—you can’t carry them.”

Wen Rong exploded, “I’ve been losing all night! Ranked matches are impossible—every team is full of idiots!”

Lu Yao: “…”

From her limited gaming experience, Wen Rong exhibited classic beginner symptoms: I could carry, but if I didn’t, it must be because my teammates are idiots!

Silently observing, Lu Yao noticed that Zhu Ying’s performance was visibly superior to the others. She preferred playing mid-lane alone, with steady farming, good awareness, and seamless coordination during team fights. Her kill rate was high, and her anti-gank awareness was particularly strong.

In contrast, Wen Rong, Guanzhong, and Danxi were far more volatile, completely unlike their calm demeanor during practice sessions.

Each played on their own account, winning one game and losing two, getting so angry they pounded the table, then calming themselves with deep breaths before queuing up again. Watching them, Lu Yao couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity and suggested, “Why don’t you try queuing as a four-stack?”

Four-stack?

They hadn’t considered that.

In recent days, they’d been focusing on basic training. Wen Rong and Guanzhong had tried duo-queue with Zhong Lianjia, but Zhu Ying and Danxi, being newer, hadn’t even heard of duo-queue.

Lu Yao explained, “You all happen to cover four different roles.”

Wen Rong played jungle, Guanzhong took the top lane, and Zhu Ying played mid.

Danxi seemed versatile in the bottom lane but often struggled with poor random teammates.

Playing together would let them share information and coordinate better, making things easier. However, such teams also risked facing coordinated opponents in four or five-stacks.

With Zhong Lianjia already off work, the two demons and two devils, lacking their guiding star, decided to take Lu Yao’s suggestion and try a four-stack.

It was early morning, so it took them a while to find a match.

Lu Yao pointed out, “Judging by their usernames, three of them share the same prefix. They’re likely queuing as a team like you. The last two usernames are connected, so they’re probably a CP.”

Dan Xi asked, “What’s a xi pi?”

Zhu Ying, well-versed in such matters, quickly answered, “It’s not ‘Xi Pi,’ it’s CP. In cultivator terms, it’s similar to Dao companions. It can also refer to people who aren’t Dao companions yet but have mutual feelings for each other.”

In the scripts of both demons and devils, there is no character for “CP,” so the system doesn’t translate it, displaying the original text instead.

When foreign text appears, a small speaker icon pops up in the bottom right corner.

Zhu Ying, having encountered this before while browsing forums, knew that clicking the speaker icon would play a mechanical pronunciation of the text.

As an avid drama fan, Zhu Ying had seen this term many times and had already absorbed and understood it.

Wen Rong, however, was irritated. “Why do people even need Dao companions to play games? Do they have to show off like that?”

Danxi commented, “If they’re duo-queuing, they’ll likely go bot lane. Just gank them a few times, and that’ll be that.”

Guan Zhong added, “Nothing’s more annoying than clingy lovebirds. The best outcome would be making them cry.”

Lu Yao remarked, “Don’t underestimate them. They’re a coordinated team just like you, sharing information and planning ganks. Be cautious.”

As they spoke, the game map loaded.

In the first five minutes, both sides were looking for opportunities to make plays but hadn’t managed to find one.

Since queuing together, Danxi’s performance in the bot lane had significantly improved.

This time, she was playing ADC, and her support was much better than usual, helping manage the wave, harassing opponents, and demonstrating strong anti-gank awareness.

By midgame, the teams were still evenly matched until a pivotal fight at the river.

With perfect coordination, Wen Rong, Zhu Ying, and Guanzhong managed to kill the opposing mid-laner, jungler, and support while securing the dragon. From there, the advantage tilted in their favor.

Lu Yao quietly listened to their communication and observed the game’s progression. She took out her notebook to jot down notes.

She noticed that demons, devils, and humans truly had different mindsets.

When playing solo, they adhered to Zhong Lianjia’s tactical lessons.

But once they grouped up, they seemed to temporarily disregard conventional strategies and instead instinctively explored the battlefield.

Once they acquired the right information, their eyes, perception, and gameplay became astonishingly precise. Their synergy in voice communication was seamless, and their team fights were fierce yet precise.

After gaining the upper hand at the dragon’s pit, the four-player squad pushed aggressively. In the second team fight, they stormed the high ground and secured a beautiful victory.

The moment the crystal exploded, Wen Rong threw off his headset, slammed the keyboard twice, and shouted, “This is f***ing awesome!!!”

Guanzhong pounded the table with both hands, howling loudly like a primitive beast.

Danxi, embarrassed, scooted closer to Zhu Ying to hide.

Lu Yao winced. “…Calm down. The table is about to collapse.”

Wen Rong finally settled down and glanced at Lu Yao.

Lu Yao felt vaguely offended.

The demon’s amber eyes sparkled with clarity and surprise, as if silently saying, “I didn’t expect the Elder to be useful for once.”

Having discovered their “true way” of playing games, the group enthusiastically queued up for another match.

…

During this time, Jiao Niang and Zhong Lianjia worked the night shift while Lu Yao and Ji Feichen covered the day shift while Cheng Ye was away.

To gather material for her tasks, Lu Yao decided to continue spectating.

Suddenly, a group of sparrow demons returned from outside, chirping excitedly and flitting around Lu Yao. Even their favorite games couldn’t distract them. They landed behind her, trying to push her out the door.

Recalling her conversation with them the previous night, Lu Yao asked, “Did you find it?”

The lead sparrow perched on her palm and tilted its head, trying to nod but instead poked her hand with its sharp beak, leaving a shallow scratch.

Startled, the sparrow quickly folded its wings in guilt. “…”

The sparrow demons had endured many hardships recently, bullied by just about everyone in the shop.

Even when serving as lackeys for the Demon Emperor in Liuxian City, they were still mistreated. Unable to shapeshift yet, they could only endure.

However, they loved gaming too much to leave the Internet Cafe despite the bullying.

All the spirit stones they’d earned as lackeys were saved in the birdcage Lu Yao had prepared for them, waiting for the day they could shapeshift.

When that day came, they imagined themselves sitting in a row at the computer stations, ordering instant noodles, water, and sausages from Lu Yao, finally living their best lives.

Unaware of the sparrow demons’ grand ambitions, Lu Yao was only focused on completing her tasks. She still had no idea where to find a half-demon under a hundred years old.

It was said that half-demons and half-devils were highly taboo in the Floating World Continent. Their mixed bloodlines were considered weaker than purebloods, and they were often seen as complex and fragile.

Neither parent’s clan was usually willing to accept them.

Half-demons and half-devils often had difficult lives and rarely revealed themselves to others.

Lu Yao offered cultivation-enhancing pills as a reward, tasking the sparrow demons with finding a half-demon.

If they succeeded, they were to bring the half-demon to her, and in return, she would give them a bottle of pills once the task marker was lit up.

They had just agreed on this arrangement yesterday, and now they claimed to have found one.

Lu Yao felt skeptical.

The sparrow demons were crafty—what if they were trying to trick her for the pills by bringing just any demon to fool her?

Still, with her task progress stagnant, Lu Yao decided to follow them, albeit with some doubt, to see for herself.

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

Lu Yao initially thought lighting up the demon entry in her task log would be the easiest. She hadn’t expected it to be such a trap.

The task deadline was only two months. Even if Zeyuan got married tomorrow, he couldn’t produce a Demon Prince for her within the timeframe.

The requirements for lighting up the human entry were “a female human guest over sixty,” and for the demon entry, “a half-demon guest under one hundred.” Compared to true demons, it seemed more feasible to make progress on humans and half-demons.

(T/N: it’s getting confusing to use demons and demon cultivators to distinguish between the two. So, I’ll start using demons as devils).

Back when Lu Yao met Xie Zili at the Sea of Tears, she had considered luring both him and his grandmother to her shop to complete two minor tasks at once.

In the end, she found the pair unsuitable and decided against “luring” Xie Zili. Instead, she brought Jiao Niang back.

Although the tasks had seen no progress in the days since, Lu Yao didn’t regret her decision.

The two-month deadline, which seemed long at first glance, actually made the task extremely challenging. She would need to devise more ways to push it forward.

…

After the meeting, Zhong Lianjia began actively promoting coaching services. During work hours, he refrained from playing on his phone or reading novels, focusing instead on rigorously guiding customers.

He even created a study group aimed at quickly improving their skills. The group currently had three members: Zhong Lianjia, Wen Rong the leopard spirit, and Guanzhong.

Zhong Lianjia drew upon his professional esports training days to develop a comprehensive learning plan for the demon and the spirit. It covered everything from basic mechanics like last-hitting, item classification, damage calculations, and skill cooldowns to advanced concepts like map awareness, farming efficiency, and team fights. The material was thorough and highly technical.

The demon and devil in the study group treated the lessons like treasures. Even colleagues in the shopping street network, upon hearing of these “training materials,” started calling Zhong Lianjia “King Zhong” again, one title after another.

Zhong Lianjia found it amusing and awkward but secretly felt a bit smug.

After retiring, Zhong Lianjia had often felt lost and uncertain.

At sixteen, he entered the professional esports scene, rising from the youth academy to become a full-fledged player.

At his peak, he was the MVP of an entire season, the undisputed star of his team. At that time, he’d had a bit of an ego, believing himself to be the king of the gaming world.

But in just a few short years, younger, more talented players emerged like mushrooms after the rain. Meanwhile, Zhong Lianjia, worn down by overuse, began faltering—unable to adapt to the competitive pace or make the right decisions, becoming a weak link on the team.

By the next season, his time on the field dwindled until he couldn’t endure the endless benching and chose to retire.

When he first joined the shopping street’s staff network, he often felt like an outsider.

His colleagues’ credentials were impressive. Even among humans, there was Cheng Ye, a graduate of a prestigious university and a former employee at a well-known domestic company. His role as a network administrator was just one of his many skills—he even helped Lu Yao with programming.

The human staff at the hot spring inn were similarly extraordinary, either with outstanding resumes or multiple talents.

Zhong Lianjia often thought that he had wasted his youth on gaming, leaving behind nothing of value.

This led to a sense of inferiority.

Yet, since starting his coaching efforts with Wen Rong and Guanzhong, the way they looked at him—with admiration and a touch of flattery as they called him “Brother Zhong”—gave him a sense of fulfillment.

…

After joining the group, Guanzhong began visiting the Internet Cafe regularly. Occasionally, Danxi would accompany him.

Danxi, uninterested in gaming, had grown close to Zhu Ying and would sometimes complain about Guanzhong’s obsession with games.

Zhu Ying, sharp as ever, listened carefully and, after hearing similar complaints a few times, approached Lu Yao at the counter.

Lu Yao didn’t hide anything. Zhu Ying’s eyes lit up as she asked, “So you can earn money by being good at games? And that money can be used for online shopping?”

Lu Yao nodded. “But neither of you likes gaming.”

Zhu Ying grabbed Lu Yao’s hand, her eyes shining. “No, I’ll learn! For the sake of new lipstick, I’m in!”

Danxi didn’t quite understand but, after Zhu Ying explained, also expressed her desire to learn gaming.

“For online shopping, I’ll learn no matter how hard it is!”

Soon, the three-person study group gained two more members: another demon and a devil.

Lu Yao even dusted off her long-unused university account and joined the group as an administrator.

…

After Zhu Ying and Danxi left, Jiao Niang approached Lu Yao.

“Shopkeeper, I want to learn to game too.”

Lu Yao was surprised. “Why? Do you have something you want to buy as well?”

Jiao Niang nodded. “There are so many things online that are rare in the Floating World Continent. I can’t cook, but I saw those air fryers and microwaves—they look really convenient. I want to try them.”

Lu Yao said, “Both air fryers and microwaves need electricity. They probably won’t work on the Floating World Continent.”

Jiao Niang’s eyes sparkled. “That’s fine. I actually know a bit about artifact crafting. Aren’t the machines in the shop all powered by electricity? I’ve looked into it over the past few days. It’s not hard to create an energy device using spirit stones as a power source.”

Energy devices, power sources…

Lu Yao sighed. “…It seems you’ve been spending quite a bit of time online.”

Jiao Niang smiled softly. “Smartphones are even more convenient than computers. People online are generous with tips and tricks. I read a little every day when I rest—it’s been very helpful.”

Lu Yao relented. “…Alright, I’ll add you to the group. But remember, there are also plenty of fake accounts and misinformation online. Don’t believe everything.”

Once Jiao Niang joined, the study group expanded to seven members.

Lu Yao rarely spoke in the gaming study group, only checking in each night to see everyone’s progress.

Compared to humans, demons and devils seemed naturally gifted in combat. With Zhong Lianjia’s guidance, their skills improved at an astonishing pace.

After just three days, Zhong Lianjia reported to Lu Yao that he was planning to take on a few free coaching jobs for practice. These would be low-ranked games with no fees, purely for training.

Lu Yao, whose understanding of esports couldn’t compare to Zhong Lianjia’s, had no intention of micromanaging and fully trusted his abilities.

Zhong Lianjia suggested, “It’d be better to create a dedicated account for taking orders. I can handle promotions and set up a payment account.”

Lu Yao prepared a blank bank card specifically for transactions. As for the account for taking orders, she thought for a while before renaming the study group.

…

That afternoon, when Guanzhong and Danxi logged into the group after arriving at the Internet Cafe, they immediately noticed the change.

[Devil Danxi]: Why did the name change?

[Devil Guanzhong]: It looks like a sect from the human world.

By evening, Wen Rong the leopard spirit and Zhu Ying the spider spirit also arrived. Their growing addiction to the Internet Cafe had them coming even late at night, often leaving only at midnight.

[Demon Wen Rong]: What’s ‘The Six Realms of Floating Life’?

[Demon Zhu Ying]: Are we starting a sect like human cultivators?

[Demon Jiao Niang]: ‘Six Realms of Floating Life’—what a nice name.

[Net Manager Zhong Lianjia]: …Do you all really think it’s good?

Zhong Lianjia had protested, but Lu Yao wouldn’t budge.

[Demon Zhu Ying]: ‘Six Realms’ must refer to the six kinds of beings in the Floating World Continent, right? I think it’s great.

[Demon Wen Rong]: If we’re founding a sect, Brother Zhong should be the sect leader. Let’s update his title.

[Net Manager Zhong Lianjia]: …

..

The group buzzed with excitement as they collectively pressured Zhong Lianjia to change his group nickname. By the time Lu Yao logged in, “Net Manager” had already been replaced with “Master,” and her own title had shifted from “Shopkeeper” to “Elder.”

Scrolling through the chat logs, Lu Yao realized what had happened.

Following this, the group assigned seniority based on their order of joining: Wen Rong became the senior disciple, Guanzhong the second disciple, Zhu Ying the third, Danxi the fourth, and the last to join, Jiao Niang, was the youngest disciple.

This was likely the first-ever virtual sect in the Floating World Continent and, perhaps, even across the entire cultivation world. Its existence was nothing short of revolutionary.

Zhong Lianjia mentioned in the group that he had some trial games lined up for them, and the junior disciples were thrilled. They reacted like young sect disciples finally receiving their master’s permission to descend the mountain for their first training mission, causing a lively commotion.

Meanwhile, a black sedan pulled into the shopping street. As promised, Yu Shu had brought her daughter, Zheng Ran.

Lu Yao stepped out of the Internet Cafe just in time to see the mother and daughter walking hand-in-hand toward the hot spring inn.

Zheng Ran was thin, her head shaved due to treatment, and she wore a white hat. At the sight of a stranger, she shyly hid behind Yu Shu.

Yu Shu, spotting Lu Yao, gently pulled Zheng Ran forward and greeted her, “Ranran, don’t be scared. This is Auntie Yao.”

When her mother told her they were going out for a fun day, Zheng Ran had been excited. She thought they might be going to an amusement park or a zoo.

The doctor had said she couldn’t go anywhere too noisy, so she’d adjusted her expectations—maybe a shopping mall or a movie would suffice. But she hadn’t expected her mother to bring her to such a strange and quiet place.

Because of her illness, Zheng Ran had taken a break from school and spent a long time living in the hospital. Her parents often argued just outside her hospital room, thinking she couldn’t hear. But she had heard everything.

Now she was sensitive and wary of strangers. She nervously mumbled “Auntie” and quickly lowered her head, unwilling to say more.

Yu Shu gently patted her head and explained to Lu Yao, “She’s a bit shy.”

Lu Yao replied, “It’s okay. Let’s head inside.”

As a temporary guest at the shop, Zheng Ran’s visit had already been arranged under Yu Shu’s VIP account, and a confidentiality agreement was signed beforehand.

Lu Yao intentionally hung back by a few steps to let the guests enter first.

Before stepping inside, Yu Shu leaned down and whispered to Zheng Ran, “This is the cutest little shop. You’re going to love it.”

Zheng Ran looked puzzled.

But as soon as she crossed the threshold, vibrant and bright colors filled her view. Startled, she instinctively lowered her gaze, only to spot tiny thumb-sized people bustling through a transparent passageway in the corner.

Zheng Ran froze, staring at the scene.

Inside the transparent tunnel, one of the little people noticed her gaze. Looking up, the tiny figure realized it was a young human child and waved cheerfully.

!!!

Zheng Ran rubbed her eyes and looked again. Sure enough, tiny people were running around in what looked like a cylindrical hamster tunnel.

“Mom!” Zheng Ran couldn’t help but tug on Yu Shu’s hand, wanting to show her the little people on the floor. But when she raised her head, she froze again.

It wasn’t just the floor. The windowsills, tables, and even floating bridges in midair were bustling with little people.

They had tiny rooms, dining in Barbie-doll-like restaurants, sharing a giant shrimp dumpling.

On the ceiling was a rotating teacup cafe. The windowsill had a miniature theater built out of toy blocks and an old phone. Some of the little people were even driving around in tiny block cars.

A spark of light appeared in Zheng Ran’s previously dull and lifeless eyes. Perched on a tall stool by the windowsill, she leaned forward, utterly captivated by the adorable miniature world and its busy little inhabitants.

The Nitean little people had a fondness for children, even if they were human children, and displayed extra patience with them.

Yu Shu sat nearby, silently watching her daughter’s joyful expression. She let out a slow, deep breath of relief.

This trip had been the right choice.

Yu Shu booked a guest room and planned to take Ranran to enjoy the hot springs after she had her fill of fun. They would then return to their room for dinner.

Once Ranran fell asleep, Yu Shu intended to meet Lu Yao to collect the Marrow Cleansing Pill.

Xiao Zheng prepared dinner and clocked out for the day. The on-duty human staff member this week was Bai Lu.

After her two colleagues left, Bai Lu approached Lu Yao. “Shopkeeper, I heard from Qingyan that the Internet Cafe is starting a game project and looking for artists?”

Lu Yao replied, “Yes. Do you have someone to recommend?”

Bai Lu shook her head. “No, I’d like to give it a try.”

It wasn’t that she was unhappy with her current job, but as a professional art student, she couldn’t resist the idea of such an opportunity.

Lu Yao said, “I don’t doubt your skills, but I’ve done a bit of research, and making a game is far from simple. Balancing the reception duties at the inn and being an artist for the project would be exhausting.”

Bai Lu responded confidently, “I’m not afraid of that. Look at Qingyan, Cheng Ye, and Brother Zhixin from the Little Pet Cafe—aren’t they all handling multiple roles? Even Xiao Zheng has started assisting Brother Zhixin with tasks, and King Zhong is learning to be a coach. If they can do it, so can I.”

Lu Yao covered her face.

The Internet was full of talk about people slacking off at work, yet her staff seemed to brim with enthusiasm.

Bai Lu persisted, “Shopkeeper—”

Lu Yao waved her hand. “No rush. Let me think it over.”

For now, finding an artist wasn’t the most pressing issue for the project.

At that moment, the sound of a bell rang out—new guests had arrived.

…

A group of little people from the BlackRock Tribe had come to stay. Bai Lu and the tiny staff members busied themselves welcoming them.

Yu Shu came downstairs, and Lu Yao retrieved a small celadon porcelain bottle from her storage space, handing it over.

Yu Shu accepted the bottle but didn’t leave immediately. “I have a few acquaintances in the gaming industry. If you need, I can introduce you.”

The guest rooms were outfitted with soundproofing magic, so guests upstairs shouldn’t have heard the conversation downstairs.

This could only mean that Yu Shu had been lingering on the staircase earlier.

Lu Yao asked, “Why would you help?”

Yu Shu replied with a light smile, “Being in a good mood—is that a good enough reason?”

Lu Yao chuckled. “Then I’ll trouble you, Sister.”

Yu Shu wasn’t just making polite conversation. She went upstairs, retrieved her phone, and returned with several contacts to share.

Lu Yao scrolled through the list of unfamiliar names when her finger suddenly froze.

Amid the unfamiliar contacts, she recognized one familiar name.

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

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: “…”

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

1041’s Team had three main members: 1041, 1043, and 1044.

Lu Yao had worked with them on several occasions, using magical assistance to refine and update holographic technology and even co-creating the core of Alfred.

However, 1041’s Team had never visited the Little Pet Café.

The café’s existence was no longer a secret on the Eden Sea Network forums, but not everyone could visit it.

1041’s Team were all former test subjects, but unlike those from Sanhua City, they were different.

The test subjects in Nightlight City had all been high-IQ children selected and trained as top-tier research talents. Their mental health was relatively stable, possibly due to their innate qualities, and they had never fallen into the “drowning sea” state of mental breakdown.

Although they had tried to reserve a spot at the Little Pet Café in the past, none of them had ever received the phantom call required to visit.

Receiving a sudden message from a waterdrop seal on this day, 1041 initially thought it was a dream. After confirming the information repeatedly, they immediately notified the other two team members.

…

At 4 p.m., Cheng Ye and Zhong Lianjia met at the entrance of the Little Pet Café.

Cheng Ye had been to the café before, as he temporarily lived near the store district and often wandered around after work.

He had visited most of the other shops, including the Little Pet Café and the hot spring inn, which were among his favorite places to relax.

Cheng Ye handed Zhong Lianjia a wristband. “The boss asked me to wait for you here. Wear this so we can go inside.”

It was Zhong Lianjia’s first time at the famous Little Pet Café. While he had often browsed updates about the café in the shopping street circle, nothing prepared him for the real experience.

As they entered, Zhong Lianjia was left speechless.

The café truly seemed to be underwater, with only a thin transparent membrane separating it from the ocean. Above, colorful fish swam leisurely, casting vibrant hues throughout the space.

Cheng Ye walked ahead. “This area is the dining room. If you go through those tunnels, you’ll reach the Octopus Slide, the Sea Urchin Room, and the Whale Room. They’re all fascinating spots. The café is essentially an underwater amusement park. But we’re heading to the Fishing Room on the surface for our meeting. You can explore after.”

Zhong Lianjia followed Cheng Ye up the transparent stairs, step by step, until they reached the surface.

The sea breeze brushed past them, and the golden hues of the setting sun scattered across the water like a sea of gold. Fat, snow-white seals lounged lazily around the pier, occasionally letting out soft cries before flipping over to bask in the breeze.

Cheng Ye pointed at one of the seals, a particularly chubby one with a phone hanging from its neck. “That one’s Piaopiao. It manages the café’s phantom call system with Ji Zhixin. They’re colleagues of ours.”

Zhong Lianjia was too stunned to respond.

When they arrived at the Fishing Room, the three Ji clan members were already there.

Lu Yao sat in the middle and motioned for the two to join them.

1041’s team hadn’t yet arrived. Lu Yao had instructed Lei Lei to notify them an hour later than the café staff because the first half of the meeting was unrelated to 1041’s team.

Lu Yao wanted to confirm details about the planned launch of the café’s in-game purchase and online shopping services in two weeks.

The first topic was the in-game purchase service. In-game spending typically included appearance-based purchases (skins) and item-based purchases, with the spending amounts varying by game type.

In the case of the interdimensional internet café, the currency was not universally compatible. Even if customers spent a fortune in the game, the final transactions would have to draw from Lu Yao’s personal account.

Hearing this for the first time, the staff all stared at Lu Yao with wide-eyed disbelief.

Lu Yao: “Why isn’t anyone saying anything?”

Ji Qingyan: “Boss, don’t tell me all the shop currencies are incompatible with ours.”

Lu Yao nodded gravely. “Exactly. While each shop barely manages to scrape by, I personally have no money left.”

Ji Zhixin: “…”

When Lu Yao opened the fifth shop, Ji Zhixin had been in charge of securing most of the intellectual property, with hundreds of thousands being withdrawn from Lu Yao’s account at a time. He had always assumed this was just initial funding, with the shop’s earnings returning to her later.

It was only now that he realized the money did come back—but not in the way he had imagined.

Cheng Ye: “So… what’s in it for you?”

Lu Yao shrugged. “I’d like to know too.”

Zhong Lianjia, who had felt a bit sleepy earlier, was now wide awake. “And yet you’ve managed to open nine shops. Boss, you must be secretly rich.”

Lu Yao waved him off. “If only! Would I still be stressing about this otherwise?”

Ji Feiming was puzzled. “What gave you the confidence back then to reject my offer of a hundred million?”

Other staff: “???”

What other untold stories does this small street have?

Lu Yao: “That’s the situation. Let’s not stray too far. First, let’s discuss the issue of customers wanting to spend money in the café.”

The internet café aimed to discourage excessive spending while still offering customers a certain level of freedom.

Currently, the number of customers wanting to spend on in-game purchases wasn’t large, but thinking ahead, Lu Yao believed it was necessary to implement limits on spending amounts and frequency.

The Floating World Continent consisted of six realms, and her ongoing mission was to unlock access to customers from all six. In the future, with more customers potentially coming from various realms, any lack of initial restrictions could lead to unmanageable spending habits later on.

As the saying goes, it’s hard to go from extravagance to frugality.

Zhong Lianjia: “Most in-game skins are priced under 200. Limiting customers to three skins per month doesn’t seem excessive.”

Ji Qingyan: “Skins are just one category. Paid items aren’t cheap either. If someone splurges on multiple 648-packs, it’ll be the owner’s wallet taking the hit.”

Even without knowing the full extent of Lu Yao’s expenses, Ji Qingyan instinctively began to sympathize with her wallet.

Judging by the store’s decor and the staff’s generous salaries, it was hard to tell the owner was strapped for cash.

Lu Yao: “In-game purchases are just one aspect. Some customers have already discovered online shopping options. In two weeks, both services will be opened.”

The staff: “…”

They had underestimated her. The boss was clearly operating on a grand scale.

As for the proposal to source goods from other worlds, Lu Yao rejected it outright after someone tentatively brought it up. She didn’t explain the full reasoning, simply stating that it wasn’t feasible.

Those present, being sharp, didn’t pry further.

In her mind, Lu Yao had already outlined a rough plan:

For in-game purchases, each account would have a monthly spending cap of five 648-packs. For the first three purchases, the café would charge a 10% transaction fee. However, starting from the fourth purchase, the fee would jump to 50%.

This small measure would effectively keep spending limited to around three 648-packs per account.

For online shopping, each customer would have a monthly spending limit of 1500, with a 10% handling fee and an additional 5% shipping fee per transaction.

Lu Yao didn’t want to use the shopping street as the delivery address. She originally planned to rent a small warehouse and hire a manager to handle package sorting and transportation.

Ji Feiming suggested another idea: his family’s house was large, and they employed a housekeeper. Packages could be delivered to the Ji family villa, and he could bring them to work afterward.

Lu Yao hesitated. “That would be too much trouble for you.”

Ji Feiming: “I’m just a delivery guy anyway. There’s not much difference between delivering packages and regular deliveries. It’s just bringing something from home to the shop, and with the ring, it’s effortless.”

Ji Zhixin added, “If Uncle Ming finds it inconvenient, I can drive it over.”

Ji Qingyan chimed in, “I recently moved to the same villa area, right next door to Uncle Ming and Brother Zhixin. If they’re not available, I can bring it over. After all, it’s just regular packages—there’s no need to add an extra step to the process.”

Lu Yao lightly tapped the armrest of her chair. “Borrowing your space for the warehouse is fine, but I don’t want housekeepers handling the deliveries. If I recall correctly, you have a celestial messenger in your family. Is he still in Yaoguang City?”

Ji Feiming was surprised and glanced at Lu Yao. “You… would actually use him?”

Lu Yao smiled. “It’s just delivering packages; he might think it’s beneath him.”

Ji Feiming: “No, he’d definitely be willing. I’ll call him right away.”

Lu Yao stopped the overly enthusiastic Ji Feiming. “Hold on, let’s finish this meeting first. I’ll propose a 5% delivery fee for customers, with half of that covering warehouse expenses. If Ji Feichen is willing to join, it’ll be an official position. The job is relatively easy, so the salary might not match other roles. If he’s not interested, I’ll find another warehouse and personnel.”

At this, not only Ji Feiming but also Ji Zhixin and Ji Qingyan assured her repeatedly that Ji Feichen would accept the position.

Work and salary weren’t Ji Feichen’s main concerns—the key factor was that the child was here.

The three of them all had the same question in their minds: Did the boss know this and intentionally call Ji Feichen over?

Ji Feiming immediately called Ji Feichen, who promptly agreed, and the meeting resumed.

Lu Yao: “Now onto something more important—I’ve been considering measures to cut costs, but is there a way to generate more revenue?”

The staff were somewhat aware of the restrictions in the shopping street, even if Lu Yao hadn’t explicitly outlined them.

For example, the strict confidentiality contracts were a clear indicator that the shopping street wasn’t ready to be exposed to the general public.

The storefronts along the street were all clean and tidy, but from the main road, the shopping street still looked dilapidated—like “wearing silk at night,” achieving little in terms of visibility and appeal.

The staff exchanged silent glances and then collectively turned to Lu Yao, waiting for her input.

Lu Yao’s gaze swept across them and landed on Zhong Lianjia. “I hear there are professional boosters in the gaming world? Skilled players can easily take orders to boost rankings for a fee.”

Zhong Lianjia stared blankly at her for a moment. “There are, but I don’t do boosting—it’s too tiring.”

He was enjoying his retirement and had no desire to hustle anymore.

Lu Yao: “I’m not asking you to boost. I’m wondering if it’s possible for the café’s customers to take on boosting orders? It’s the virtual world—no one knows the identity of the booster. As long as the job gets done and payment is made, it’s fair. If customers earn their own money, they can spend it however they like—I won’t interfere.”

Ji Zhixin: “So the boss’s idea is to let customers earn their own money for in-game purchases? That’s actually a pretty good strategy. It might take some time to show results, but in the long run, it’s the best solution.”

Lu Yao: “Exactly. But I’m not familiar with the esports scene, so setting up orders and training customers will have to rely on the Esports King.”

Not only did the boss fix her bright, smiling eyes on Zhong Lianjia, but the rest of the group also turned their admiring gazes toward him.

Zhong Lianjia lowered his head. He’d already joined an internet café operating in the cultivation world—bringing a few demon or demon cultivators into esports stardom didn’t seem that far-fetched.

He raised a hand to rub the back of his neck. “…Fine.”

Lu Yao checked the time. “Feiming, Lianjia, you can leave the meeting for now.”

Ji Feiming gracefully got up and walked out of the fishing room. In the short span of the meeting, his phone had nearly exploded with messages from Ji Feichen.

Zhong Lianjia hesitated for a moment before standing.

…Being addressed as “Esports King” when needed and “Lianjia” otherwise was quite the adjustment.

Shortly after the two left, the three members of Team 1041 arrived punctually at Little Pet Café.

1041 walked in and froze when they saw Jiu Hua. “1042? What are you doing here?”

Little Pet Café was about to close, and Jiu Hua was preparing to finish her shift. She looked up at the voice, a bit puzzled.

1041 couldn’t help but approach her. “Don’t you remember me? I’m 1041.”

Jiu Hua took a step back, her expression dawning with realization.

1043 sauntered over. “The rejected 1042, here of all places?”

Seeing the cheeky 1043 and the tall, silent 1044 behind him, Jiu Hua finally pieced together their identities. She took another step back. “So you’re the guests Lu Yao mentioned.”

Nearby, the water droplet sea seal urged them to hurry, and Jiu Hua, not in the mood for small talk, pointed to the transparent staircase. “The boss is waiting upstairs. Go on.”

1041 glanced back at Jiu Hua several times as they left, but she was busy tidying up and didn’t notice.

It was the trio’s first time visiting Little Pet Café, and the reality exceeded the legends. Set under the deep sea, the shop’s design surpassed their expectations.

Unfortunately, they were here on business and had no time to enjoy the experience.

Climbing the transparent staircase, they emerged onto the surface to see the fishing house floating in the center of the ocean. Another wave of amazement washed over them.

Lu Yao, hearing Lei lei’s voice, came out to greet them. She invited them into the fishing house and began with introductions.

The meeting’s second agenda item was something Lu Yao had briefly mentioned earlier to Ji Zhixin, Ji Qingyan, and Cheng Ye.

Simply put, Lu Yao wanted to create a game—a MOBA game set in the Floating World Continent, featuring characters inspired by the six realms.

She hadn’t invited 1041 and his team to develop the game but rather to facilitate a technical exchange. The team excelled in programming and had mastered the Z-series technology, the precursor to holographic tech.

Cheng Ye and Ji Qingyan were also accomplished programmers. Lu Yao hoped that by bringing the two sides together, new ideas and breakthroughs might spark.

The game project was still in its infancy, with Ji Qingyan or Cheng Ye likely to take the lead. Lu Yao planned to develop it entirely within this world, without relying on her access to otherworldly resources. This would free the game from the constraints of the Dream Fulfillment System, allowing it to launch both locally and in other worlds.

The primary market, however, would be the Floating World Continent.

Lu Yao aimed to emulate popular gaming trends. Ji Zhixin was tasked with contacting game companies about licensing matters, while Ji Qingyan would handle hiring designers, writers, artists, and modelers.

While the tech teams engaged in lively discussions, Lu Yao and Ji Zhixin quietly refined the project plan.

The two tech groups hit it off instantly. Two hours later, they were still deeply engrossed, oblivious to the passage of time.

Suddenly, Lu Yao’s phone lit up with a flurry of messages.

It was Jiao Niang, frantically texting her:
“Boss! The Demon Emperor and the Demon Lord are both here—AND THEY’VE RUN INTO EACH OTHER!”

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️