Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 575: Promise

"Welcome back, Emissary Yu."

Suddenly, a cool, melodic voice cut through the reunion. Wu Meiyu appeared from the inventory room, where she checked the remaining stocks for the day and refilled the ones bought from the Store Beacons.

She stood beside Lin Mo with her posture radiating the authority of not just the royal princess but also the store’s Chief Operations Officer. For her, it was her own way of subtly claiming a territory. Like a reminder of who had been standing by the Shopkeeper’s side in Yu Qingyan’s absence.

"Your efforts in the North have been exemplary," Wu Meiyu continued, her smile polite but her eyes sharp. "The Harvester’s Guild is flooded with high-quality ice-attribute herbs thanks to your caravan. The store’s revenue owes much to your diligence."

"Your Highness," Yu Qingyan greeted with a respectful bow, yet her eyes met Meiyu’s with equal steadiness. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Somehow, Lin Mo could see the space between them crackle with an invisible spark. Not much of a hostility, but of intense, competitive rivalry.

"I am merely doing my duty as a Distributor. And please, call me Qingyan. We are all working for the same cause, are we not?" Yu Qingyan continued.

"Indeed. Qingyan," Meiyu nodded, accepting the truce. "Then you must call me Meiyu. Titles are... inconvenient among colleagues."

Watching that exchange, Lin Mo felt a familiar bead of sweat forming on his brow. The dynamic in the store was becoming increasingly complex. But he understood that he was at the core of their rivalry.

"Ladies, the store is about to be closed. Let’s not stand by the door." He interjected, hoping it would settle the tension brewing between the two.

Luckily for him, Wu Meiyu immediately took a step back.

"Indeed. Shopkeeper, I’ll handle the closing preparations. Do tend to our Official Distributor." She then turned around and walked back to the counter as she started issuing instructions.

Pan Ruo, who had just finished her last transaction, paused in her counting to give Yu Qingyan a deep, searching look. Even though her memories had yet to awaken, the reincarnated immortal seemed to sense the destiny swirling around the Emissary. She gave a small, approving nod before returning to her task.

Yu Qingyan was intrigued but she didn’t say anything. Her attention returned to the enigmatic man before her.

Lin Mo could only wryly smile. It was time to fulfill his promise.

He offered his hand to Yu Qingyan as he intended to guide her upstairs, where they could talk properly without the current closing rush interrupting the conversation.

The Emissary stared at it for a long moment before reluctantly taking his hand. Then, with a gentle tug, Lin Mo had Yu Qingyan follow him as his grip tightened on her hand.

Reflexively, Yu Qingyan’s fingers curled as the rough yet warm sensation of his hand registered in her senses.

As they ascended the spiral staircase, the clatter of spirit stones, the chime of the registers, and the excited chatter of cultivators recounting their day began to fade.

For Yu Qingyan, the transition to the second floor was like stepping into a different world. The atmosphere appeared grander. She could tell that the air was filtered by a higher-grade array and scented with a subtle fragrance that calmed her spirit instantly. The lighting was soft, which emanated from floating orbs that mimicked the gentle glow of twilight.

"This truly feels... exclusive," Yu Qingyan muttered as her eyes swept over the plush velvet couches, the private booths, and the panoramic window that offered a view of the city lights below. A view that shouldn’t exist given the store’s physical location. Another spatial marvel of the system.

"So this is the realm of your Golden Patrons. Now this feels less like your ’ideal convenience store’ but more like a ’royal convenience sanctum’."

"That’s the idea," Lin Mo replied, releasing her hand to gesture towards the lounge. "However, I do not consider being allowed on this floor a special treatment, Miss Yu. It’s the store’s way to offer more convenience to those who have already chosen to trust us with their spirit stones. In short, it’s just like another level of a library where you can find a more valuable book that a normal patron may not be able to afford at the moment."

Yu Qingyan nodded. Normal merchant houses also have their own VIP lounges where they treat those high-paying customers better than their normal patrons.

Still, while similar, Yu Qingyan saw it differently. Unlike a normal merchant house or guild, the store proper was already a lot of convenience to every patron from the start in the form of those simple amenities.

The access to this floor was merely a bonus after reaching a certain threshold. And that threshold wasn’t restricted. Even a mortal patron could reach it given time and money.

"Please, have a seat. I assume you haven’t had the chance to try our coffee machine yet? It’s a new addition."

Yu Qingyan sat down gracefully. She watched with curiosity as Lin Mo walked over to a peculiar black artifact.

"Coffee? I am usually a tea person. Is that the same as that beverage you have down there? I’ve also seen a thread talking about how bitter your premium coffee is."

"It can be bitter, but it can also be sweet. It depends on your preference, Miss Yu." Lin Mo said, pressing a few buttons. The machine whirred to life, grinding divine-grade beans with a satisfying crunch. "For you, I’d suggest a [Celestial Cream Latte]. It’s smoother, richer. A comfort drink after a long day in the snow."

Yu Qingyan simply tilted her head and waited.

A moment later, Lin Mo placed a steaming ceramic cup in front of her. The foam on top was shaped into a perfect, tiny lotus flower. A little flourish that the artifact had added on its own, or perhaps he was getting better at manipulating its settings.

Yu Qingyan picked it up, inhaling the rich aroma. "It smells... complex. Earthy, yet sweet."

She took a sip. Her eyes widened slightly, and a contented sigh escaped her lips.

"Oh... That is... wonderful. The spiritual energy is mild, but it invigorates the mind directly. It’s like a gentle massage for the soul. And the cream... It’s heavenly."

"Glad you like it," Lin Mo smiled, taking a seat opposite her with his own cup of black coffee. "Now, Miss Yu. You mentioned a report. But before that, relax. You’re not the Emissary right now, and I’m not demanding a briefing. How was the North? Really?"

Yu Qingyan lowered her cup, her expression softening into something unguarded.

To her surprise, Lin Mo suddenly stretched a finger to her. Not knowing what he was doing, she instinctively closed her eyes only to feel the sensation of his thumb brushing the top of her lips.

"Ah. I apologize. It’s the foam." He whispered as he showed his thumb with creamy foam he wiped from her.

When Yu Qingyan opened her eyes, she couldn’t help but blush before quickly trying to wipe it with the sleeve of her robes.

"M-many thanks, Shopkeeper." She then cleared her throat before chuckling softly as she continued to answer his question. "The north is cold. Inconveniently so. The Arctic Sea Palace is stubborn. Their elders are set in their ways, viewing anything foreign as a threat to their tradition. But... they are not blind."

She paused for a moment before bringing up a recording jade where she saved the events during their initial push to the tower doors.

"When we opened the path to the tower, when they saw the effectiveness of the talismans and the buffs... their pride cracked. Fear is a motivator, yes, but greed? Ambition? Those are far more reliable."

"Mhm. You did a great job, Miss Yu. You leveraged their desire for the tower’s resources against their fear of the unknown," Lin Mo nodded approvingly. "A classic move. And the tower itself? You said it was difficult. What have you encountered?"

"It is," Her expression turned serious. "The environmental hazard is quite harsh. It was draining your will to move. Not to mention, the challenges that span into multiple stages where the floor’s area would be expanded to the size of a massive city or even larger than that. Then, wave after wave of ice constructs that shatter and reform would bear down on you. It lacks the... simple structure of the Jade Hollow Tower’s challenges. It feels more like a punishment."

She paused as she waved her hand again, producing a white crystal on her palm. "The rewards are generous. This [Ice-Soul Crystal] is but a mere common loot from the chests provided after finishing the floor. I suspect they will be highly sought after by water and ice cultivators. The Arctic Sea Palace is already hoarding them."

Lin Mo picked it up from her hand and inspected it closely. It feels cold to the touch, yet he could tell that it contained pure ice essence.

"This is a common loot, huh? Then, can I assume that you’ve earned far more valuable rewards than this?"

Yu Qingyan’s lips curved up into a delicate smile before another item appeared in her hand. A pair of ice-blue rings.