Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 525: Back to the Store
Upon returning to the store, Lin Mo immediately went to Wu Meiyu, relieving the First Princess of the burden he had left behind. Although she didn’t look like she was truly burdened, his return certainly brightened up her mood.
She asked about their trip and what they encountered there, and Lin Mo didn’t hesitate to share. It’d be public knowledge anyway. So, he recounted the eerie silence of the tunnels, the fleshy heart pumping corruption into the bodies of the controlled cultivators, and the chilling, telepathic voice of the Dreilling. He described how he had managed to sever the metaphysical threads binding them to that abomination.
"Indeed. Mind control is such a terrifying ability..." Wu Meiyu murmured, her expression darkening as she poured him a cup of tea. They were seated in the lounge area of the second floor, the store’s ambient noise filtering out the graveness of their conversation. "In the royal court, poison kills the body, but a rumor or a spell that twists the mind can kill a dynasty. If this Dreilling can enslave cultivators of the Nascent Soul Stage or higher... the threat may be higher than those from the Argent Covenant Realm."
"Mhm. Those were true soldiers, heading for a war. They have a military discipline unlike the Dreilling whose ability might be difficult to counter unless everyone got themselves a resilient mind," Lin Mo took the tea and raised it to his lips. "I confirmed that my resistance holds up, and Xiaoyu’s physique gives her a fighting chance. Unfortunately, I doubt our strength will be sufficient to deal with whoever is waiting in the core area."
He took a sip, letting the [Spirit-Calming Tea] wash away the lingering phantom itch of the Dreilling’s psychic pressure. "However, the rescue was a success. We brought back the hostages. Chieftain Borok and the others are indebted to us. The Bulletin Board is likely already ablaze with the news."
"It is," Wu Meiyu confirmed, tapping her Viewing Jade. A holographic screen flickered to life on the rectangular jade tablet. "User [StormAxeBorok] has posted a thread: ’The Shopkeeper Walks Through Nightmares. Kin Returned. Debt Eternal.’ It has thousands of replies. The reputation of the store has never been higher. You’re living up to your title of the Convenience Saint."
Wu Meiyu teasingly smirked, making Lin Mo’s wry smile surface again.
He waved his hand dismissively but he truly felt the surge of more faith energy in the spark of divinity in his chest.
He had this gut feeling that the moment it grew to a certain point, it might influence his cultivation. Like speeding up in the already smooth-sailing river thanks to his Celestial Providence. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
"Savior is a heavy title. I prefer ’provider of solutions’." Lin Mo quipped, "Speaking of solutions, how is the store? Did the Arcade survive its first full day?"
Wu Meiyu’s serious demeanor cracked, replaced by a look of amused exasperation.
"Survive? Haven’t you seen how crowded it still is when you return? Similar to the hot spring, it has thrived and will continue thriving, Shopkeeper."
"However, it has also turned the western corner of the store into a war zone of noise and lights. We had to restock the [Heavenly Dew Soda] vending machine there three times. Pan Ruo... she has been instrumental. I assigned her to lead Xiao Ya and Xiaoping, along with the other staff, on restocking duty."
She gestured downstairs. Pan Ruo was there. She had just returned from the inventory room and was already moving with a fluid, almost dance-like efficiency as she directed the store staff wearing the green and white uniforms.
"She has also analyzed the Arcade and Celestial Hot Spring traffic," Meiyu explained softly. "She realized that players who lose a match are 40% more likely to buy a dip in a relaxing bath immediately after. She has already guided some of them there."
Lin Mo stared at the reincarnated immortal stocking shelves. "She monetized rage-quitting. Incredible."
"Rage quitting?" Wu Meiyu tilted her head. "She calls it ’Emotional Regulation through a Relaxing Experience. I believe my position might be in danger of being taken by her. Her intellect is sharp enough to manage her own store."
"You worry too much, Your Highness. She is a reincarnated immortal. Her aptitude for grasping complex systems is innate. But you? You learned it. You are the one who grasped the modern ideas brought by this peculiar shop into this realm. No one is replacing you. Besides, I need someone to manage the manager, don’t I?"
Wu Meiyu blinked, the insecurity in her eyes melting into a warm, reassured glow. "Manage the manager... You have a way with words, Shopkeeper. Very well. Regardless of what she’ll become in the future, Pan Ruo is going to remain an asset, not a liability."
"Mhm. Our reincarnated immortal may even show us things, we mortals cannot grasp yet. I mean, Taihao is quite stingy when it comes to enlightenment."
"Pfft. Shopkeeper, are you not afraid of being struck down by a divine bolt? If I can interpret why the divine beings do things in that way... it must be because our mortal mind may not be able to comprehend anything and risk becoming crazed instead. The Divine Lecture is an example of how they trickle down their wisdom. If they poured the entire ocean of their Dao into a teacup, the cup would shatter. They gave us drops so we could learn to drink."
"That is a poetic way to put it, Your Highness. Perhaps I should hire you as our PR manager next. You have a talent for spinning the inexplicable into the profound," Lin Mo chuckled, draining his cup. The tea was excellent, soothing the residual ache in his spiritual channels from the earlier exertion.
"I am merely interpreting the will of the... divine. It’s undeserving of praise." Wu Meiyu replied with a graceful shrug but her eyes danced with amusement, wondering what PR means. "Besides, if the divine beings were truly stingy, they would not have given you a store that sells miracles for pocket change. They want us to grow, Shopkeeper. But growth requires struggle. If they handed us immortality on a silver platter, we would not know how to wield it."
"Fair enough. Struggle it is," Lin Mo stood up, smoothing out his uniform. "Speaking of struggle, it’s about time we close up. The patrons are lingering a bit too long in the arcade. I think I hear someone screaming about a ’misplay’."
They descended the stairs.
The store was indeed still buzzing, though the crowd had thinned significantly as the hour grew late. The arcade corner, however, was a riot of noise. A young rogue cultivator was on his knees before Cabinet #5, weeping dramatically while his opponent, a smug-looking merchant, collected a stream of tickets.
"You sacrificed your [Stormfang Wolf] to summon a Celestial Idol?! Why?! Why is your deck too mixed up?!" The loser lamented.
"Oh. I like the idols. But I also like my beasts. You must remember. They are ’Starter Decks’, not fixed. This game is more complex than you think!" The merchant replied with a hint of fervor in his eyes. He had clearly done his fair share of homework to study the rules of the Celestial Duel Platform.
Although the casual mode was supposed to be the original concept, which was a mix of trading card game and autobattler, most patrons now favored the Awakened Celestial Duelist mode. After all, they could fight alongside their summons with it.
That’s why it’s rare to find a connoisseur like that merchant.
"Mhm. That’s making me recall my previous world again," Lin Mo shook his head. A lot has happened but he’s still an Earthling through and through.
"Your world must have been colorful, Shopkeeper."
"Indeed. But no one can fly on their swords there. Nor gather spiritual energy to cultivate. Everyone is a mortal with an average lifespan of less than 100. I got lucky and died early and Taihao picked me up. Now, I manage this store and spread the convenience to stop the foreign invasion. How funny."
"Hmm? How is it funny? I say it’s admirable how quickly you adapted. When I first met you, I thought you were some kind of insolent man who won’t bow even to the strongest of experts."
"Do I look fearless?"
"Not anymore, no." Wu Meiyu giggled as they continued down the stairs and walked closer to the arcade area.
With most of the patrons already leaving due to the closing time, there were still some who looked like they’d want to stay and play more.
"Alright, everyone! Store is closing!" Liu Xiaoyu’s voice cut through the din, amplified by her spiritual energy. "Wrap it up! The machines need to sleep! And so do you! If you don’t leave in five minutes, the Guardian Construct will tuck you in, and he’s got very heavy hands!"
The threat, combined with the dimming of the main lights, scattered the remaining patrons. They filed out, grumbling good-naturedly or excitedly discussing their next visit.
As the doors locked and the silence of the night settled over the store, the staff gathered for the nightly debrief before the day’s evaluation arrived.
