Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 574: Yu Qingyan’s Return

Outside the Frozen Spire Conduit Tower at the Northern Arctic Dominion, Yu Qingyan’s figure emerged after being teleported out of the tower. Her face was a little pale but a triumphant smile hung on her lips.

"Welcome back, Qingyan. So, how is it? Difficult, right?" Chu Yueying approached her, handing her a warm towel and a bottle of [Heavenly Dew Soda].

"Indeed. I’ve gotten to Floor 4 after a whole day... I won’t recommend this to everyone. Each challenge takes too long, unlike the ones we’ve encountered in the Jade Hollow Conduit Tower. Not to mention the climate. On a positive note. I have something to write about... to that man." Her words ended with a slightly bashful tone, and her cheeks turned pinkish.

Chu Yueying raised an eyebrow before an impish smile formed on her face. "Writing a love letter disguised as a field report, are we? ’Dear Shopkeeper, the ice is cold, but my heart is warm thinking of your... inventory.’"

Yu Qingyan flushed a deeper shade of red as she almost sent a qi-powered punch at Chu Yueying’s way. "Be quiet, you vixen. Knowing you, you must’ve sent him a message as well to get his attention."

Chu Yueying simply maintained her smile, neither confirming nor denying it, "He’s a busy man. Last I checked, he handed another Distributor Token to that merchant guild hailing from the west. Are you certain you’re not falling out of his favor?"

"Hmm? You will fail to earn the reaction you’re hoping to see from me, Yueying." Yu Qingyan rolled her eyes, pulled the tab on the can, and drank the soda in one gulp.

"If he hands them the Distributor Token, it means they’ve passed all the criteria to become the store’s partner. Make no mistake. I remain ahead." She confidently declared, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, a gesture that was uncharacteristically unrefined for the elegant Emissary, but fitting for a warrior fresh from battle.

"Besides," She produced her Distributor Token, "I already have direct access to his ear. And right now, I have the intelligence that he’ll be interested to hear."

Chu Yueying chuckled, conceding the point with a shrug. "Fair enough. You might as well be called the First Wife of his future empire. But don’t get complacent. That Venom Master is making moves. The First Princess lives with him. And there’s also me. Your competition won’t just sit around and wait for him to make the first move."

Yu Qingyan ignored the ’First Wife’ comment, though the tips of her ears burned. As for the competition Chu Yueying brought up... she believed she didn’t need to worry. If Lin Mo were a man who would easily succumb to temptation, he would’ve fallen for her charms already.

After nodding at the few Arctic Sea Palace Elders who were staring at her from their makeshift camp, she walked towards their tent that her disciples raised.

As she was about to compose the report of what she experienced inside the tower, she paused as a thought came to her, "... Should I return now? That man promised me a tour and company."

Waving her hand, the holographic panel of her Distributor Interface disappeared as she put the Distributor Token away. She then stepped out of the tent and called for Little Spring and Mei Ling.

—

The closing hours soon arrived at the Divine Convenience Store. Lin Mo returned upstairs after seeing off Monk Huiyin and Lia at the Celestial Shuttle Hub and remained there for the rest of the day.

Apart from watching over the traffic downstairs and passively cultivating, he would sometimes entertain the Golden Patrons who would climb to the second floor to relax, check out the premium offerings for them, or rent a Premium Cultivation Room.

At certain intervals, Wu Meiyu or Liu Xiaoyu would look for him to report on minor incidents or just to tease him about his idling in the VIP lounge.

"Boss, are you brooding again? You know, brooding doesn’t generate revenue," Liu Xiaoyu would say, popping her head up from the stairs.

"Do I look like I am brooding? You always come here to tease me, just sit down if you want to bask in my Celestial Providence," And that would be his retort, earning an eye roll before the young woman idled with him.

Wu Meiyu, on the other hand, would bring him jade slips containing information from inside and outside of the store or updates on the resource accumulation from the Harvester’s Guild. And like Liu Xiaoyu, she’d sit down next to him, accompanying him in silence.

But as the digital clock on the system interface ticked closer to closing time, the customers had to be reminded.

"Attention, esteemed patrons! The Divine Convenience Store will be closing in ten minutes! Please finalize your purchases and proceed to the checkout counters!"

Liu Xiaoyu’s voice, amplified by a store-bought sound talisman, echoed across the aisles and the separate facilities like the Divine Arena and the Celestial Hot Spring. The remaining cultivators scrambled, grabbing last-minute snacks and rushing to the counters where Pan Ruo and the hired staff worked with the speed of a thousand hands.

Ten minutes later, Lin Mo stood up and stretched his limbs as he was ready to wait for the day’s evaluation.

He walked down the stairs, ready to flip the sign and lock the doors. But just as he reached the ground floor, the glass doors to the Celestial Shuttle Hub were pushed open.

Then, the familiar figure of the Verdant Sky Pavilion Emissary emerged from it, stopping just a step outside as she took in the sight of the expanded store. After all, the last time she was in the store, it hadn’t reached the Renowned Tier yet that rewarded the expansions of not just the store proper but also the construction of the second floor.

After scanning the store, Yu Qingyan’s eyes bypassed the wondrous goods and the remaining crowd, locking instantly onto Lin Mo.

A radiant smile, one that seemed to thaw the lingering frost on her robes, broke across her face.

"Shopkeeper, it appears I came at the right moment. You’re about to close shop." She called out warmly, which somehow drew the attention of the few stragglers who were frantically trying to check out their items.

"That’s... isn’t that the Emissary of the Verdant Sky Pavilion?"

"The Official Distributor! She’s back!"

"Whoa, she’s beautiful. She truly reached the Core Formation Stage?! And her aura radiating from her was stronger than our Sect Master... Did she form a Golden Core?"

The whispers erupted like a sudden storm.

Yu Qingyan, clad in her signature verdant green robes that now seemed to shimmer with a profound light, ignored them all. Her gaze was fixed solely on the man in the green and white uniform standing by the door.

Lin Mo returned a smile. He genuinely found a bit of relief seeing her figure again.

"Miss Yu, you came. I thought you were still in the tower. Miss Chu told me you’ve been there for a day."

"I was... until a few hours ago." Yu Qingyan laughed softly as she took a few steps forward. She gestured gracefully to the expanded interior starting from the stairs, the glowing signage of the Arcade, and the distant, steaming archway of the Hot Spring. "You’re not jesting. This place has transformed again in the short time I was away. The divine beings work wonders."

Before Lin Mo could reply, a golden blur shot out from somewhere.

"Elder Yu! You’re back!"

Liu Xiaoyu slammed into Yu Qingyan with a hug that would have shattered the ribs of a mortal. However, Yu Qingyan, now a Golden Core cultivator, didn’t even sway. She simply patted the energetic prodigy’s head.

"Xiaoyu... You’ve grown stronger again. As expected of a peerless prodigy." Yu Qingyan noted, sensing the dense, stormy energy coiling beneath the girl’s skin.

"Hehe! Of course. Boss took me to the tower in the Abyssal Forest! We cleared Floor 9!" Xiaoyu bragged, pulling back but keeping hold of Yu Qingyan’s hands. Then, her eyes narrowed playfully. "But you... you didn’t just come back for a restock, did you? You’re here to cash in on his promise of a tour. Tsk tsk... One of these days, Boss will find himself cornered by all of you."

She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, causing Yu Qingyan to flush slightly.

"All of us? Aren’t you included in it, Xiaoyu?"

"Whoa... Don’t say that, Elder Yu. Boss is Boss. I’ll be his assistant no matter what. So, go on. Don’t include me in your fight for his... heart." Liu Xiaoyu’s voice lowered just enough for Lin Mo to fail in catching it.

On the other hand, Yu Qingyan pretended to be composed before saying, "There’s no fight happening. Besides, I... I have a report to deliver. Apart from the promised tour. Yes."

"Hmm? What are you two whispering about?" Lin Mo asked. He might not heard anything but he could read it from their gestures. His mischievous assistant must have started something again.

"Nothing, Boss! Just a little catching up. Attend to Elder Yu. She came here for your promise!" Liu Xiaoyu playfully grinned before dashing away as quickly as she appeared.

Seeing that, Lin Mo could only shake his head as he continued in his step, stopping right in front of Yu Qingyan.