I opened a shop on the Astral Train-Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Yuri and Zhongli were deep in conversation when suddenly, a phone rang.

"Ding-ling-ling~ Ding-ling-ling~"

Yuri pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen. "Black Tower" was displayed on the caller ID.

Answering the call, he was immediately met with Black Tower's voice.

"Send me your location. I'm coming to buy something."

And with that, she hung up.

Yuri stared at his screen, raising an eyebrow. "She really does whatever she wants, huh?" But then again, she was a genius. Geniuses operated on their own terms, after all.

With a sigh, Yuri sent his location and returned to his conversation with Zhongli.

Zhongli set his teacup down. "If you're expecting a client, I can return tomorrow."

Yuri waved him off. "No rush. Besides, where were we?"

Zhongli thought for a moment. "We were discussing the concept of rule by man."

"Ah, right." Yuri nodded. "So, what's your take on it?"

Zhongli studied him. "What do you think of human rule?"

Yuri leaned back, recalling the world he had lived in during his past life.

"Human rule has its benefits—it allows people to develop freely, without constraints. But at the same time, it also leads to humans losing themselves, forgetting their original intentions. You've seen those kinds of people, haven't you?"

Zhongli nodded. "Yes. There was once a nation in Teyvat that sought unrestrained progress. But in the end, their ambitions brought disaster upon the land."

Yuri continued. "Exactly. Absolute freedom sounds ideal, but in reality, it invites unchecked greed and chaos. In my homeland, two catastrophic wars nearly wiped out civilization, each claiming tens of millions of lives."

Zhongli listened intently as Yuri went on.

"It wasn't until humanity developed a weapon that could destroy everything, a weapon that guaranteed mutual destruction, that the world found some semblance of stability. And even then, that 'stability' only applied to countries that possessed such weapons. Those without? They were at the mercy of those who did."

Yuri sipped his tea. "Teyvat's gods... They serve a similar role, don't they? Each nation relies on its Archon for protection."

Zhongli's expression shifted. He had his answer.

He had been wrong.

If he relinquished his position as Liyue's god, perhaps nothing would happen for the next hundred years. After all, the current generation of Liyue's Qixing had been personally chosen by him and the Adepti.

But what about the next generation? And the one after that? Who could guarantee that future rulers of Liyue wouldn't fall into corruption?

Yuri set his cup down. "As the saying goes—don't place your fate in someone else's hands."

Zhongli nodded in agreement. "I see. Thank you for your insight."

Yuri smirked. "No problem. It gets boring in here. It's nice to have a good conversation partner."

Just then, the shop's doors swung open.

Yuri turned his head to see Herta striding in, a pink-haired girl following behind her.

"Shopping! Shopping! Shopping! Shopping!"

Herta marched straight to the counter, perched herself on a high stool, placed Stellar Jades onto the exchange scale, and began browsing products on the touchscreen.

Meanwhile, the pink-haired girl was left standing awkwardly behind her.

Himeko, who had been sitting nearby, immediately recognized her.

"Asta."

The girl turned and smiled. "Long time no see, Himeko."

Himeko smiled back. "Are you here to shop too?"

Asta nodded. "Ms. Herta said I could buy anything here, so I figured I'd take a look."

"She wasn't lying," Himeko said with a chuckle.

Yuri approached them. "Himeko, you brought a new customer?"

Asta turned to him. "Hello, my name is Asta ."

Yuri greeted her with a polite smile. "Yuri. I own this place."

Himeko gestured toward him. "Asta, if you don't know what to buy, ask Yuri. He's got everything."

After a moment of thought, Asta asked, "Do you sell battleships?"

Yuri let out a short laugh. "Of course. Come take a look."

He led Asta to the counter, seating her beside Herta. Then, he typed "battleship" into the touchscreen search bar.

Instantly, the screen flooded with options.

The page scroll indicator showed 99+ pages available.

"Take your pick."

Asta's eyes widened with excitement as she scrolled through the list.

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Immortal spirit boats. Doomsday warships. Fairy-tale flying castles. Sci-fi Star Destroyers.

As a battleship collector, she was practically vibrating with excitement. She wanted everything.

Yuri, seeing her deep in thought, turned to Herta. "So? What are you buying this time? How's the Qilin Blood research going?"

Herta barely glanced at him. "Still in progress. The composition is ridiculously complex. We haven't cracked all of it yet."

She smirked. "But, we did extract a diluted version. The effects are great—enhances bodily functions, extends human lifespan by around 100 years."

Yuri nodded. "Makes sense. It's Qilin blood. That stuff is pure vitality."

Herta kept scrolling through the shop. "I don't know what I want yet. I'm just browsing."

Yuri crossed his arms. "Take your time. You know how this works. I'll help Asta."

Herta waved him off dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't bother me while I'm shopping."

Zhongli, who had been listening in silence, suddenly spoke up. "Miss Herta. Earlier, you mentioned a potion that extends human lifespan."

Herta turned her gaze toward him, eyes lighting up with interest.

"Oh? You're interesting. Let me take a look at you."

She hopped off her stool, circling around Zhongli like a researcher inspecting a specimen.

"An immortal species, huh? And not just any immortal—thousands of years old. Alive." Her smirk deepened. "Fascinating."

"You want the potion?" she asked.

Zhongli nodded. "Yes. What's the price?"

Herta's smirk grew devious.

"No charge. Talking about money ruins the fun. Let's do research instead."

Yuri raised an eyebrow. "Oi. You sound like a shady salesman."

Herta rolled her eyes. "Tsk. I'm asking, not forcing."

Seeing Zhongli's contemplative look, she made a compromise.

"Fine. Give me some of your hair, blood, and skin tissue, and I'll give you 10 bottles of the potion. Deal?"

Zhongli considered it for a moment—then nodded. "Agreed."

His golden eyes flashed as he spoke.

"The contract is made. Anyone who breaks their word shall be buried in stone."

Zhongli and Herta completed their transaction with satisfaction, and Herta carefully collected Zhongli's fur and blood, content with his haul.

In return, Zhongli obtained a byproduct of the Black Tower's research on Qilin's blood—an extraordinary potion capable of extending an ordinary person's lifespan by nearly a hundred years.

After the exchange, Herta leaned back on his stool, returning to his shopping. Zhongli carefully stored the ten bottles of potion, bid farewell to Yuri, Walter, and Himeko, and then stepped through a portal back to Teyvat.

Before leaving, Yuri handed Zhongli a personal portal, a gesture reserved for "big customers." This way, he could conveniently return whenever he needed, and given Liyue's wealth of Stellar Jade, it was a practical arrangement for both sides.

Through the portal, Zhongli arrived back in Teyvat.

The moment his feet touched the ground, his form dissolved into golden light, soaring through the sky toward Liyue Harbor.

Liyue Harbor was bustling as usual, but suddenly, the skies darkened.

"What's going on? Why is it suddenly so dim?"

"I don't know. Quick, let's get home and bring in the laundry—it looks like it's going to rain."

"Wait... doesn't this feel familiar?" One of the citizens hesitated, staring at the sky.

"Now that you mention it... Isn't this exactly how it looks every year when the Rite of Descension begins?"

"Hiss...!!!"

A golden dragon descended from the heavens.

Zhongli, in his true form, enveloped ten bottles of the diluted Qilin Blood potion in divine energy.

"This is a medicine that prolongs life," his voice resounded across the city. "It is a gift for those who have made great contributions to Liyue."

With a flick of his claws, ten golden streaks shot out in different directions, each one finding its destined recipient in various key locations across Liyue—Qunyu Pavilion, Yujing Terrace, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Bubu Pharmacy, the Qianyan Army's base, and more.

In the Qunyu Pavilion, Ningguang held the potion in her delicate hands, her expression a rare mixture of surprise and joy.

She hadn't expected such an invaluable gift from the Emperor himself.

Baishi, standing by her side, couldn't hide her admiration. "Congratulations, Lady Ningguang, on receiving such a precious elixir."

There was no jealousy in her tone. To her, Lady Ningguang deserved this more than anyone—after all, she had worked tirelessly to govern Liyue and ensure its prosperity.

At Bubu Pharmacy, Baizhu slumped in his chair, his arms limp at his sides. In one hand, he still clutched an empty potion bottle. His vision was blurred with tears.

For years, his illness had tormented him. Now, it was gone. Just like that.

"It's over..." His voice cracked as he wiped his eyes. "I don't have to suffer anymore."

Qiqi, watching him with her usual detached curiosity, gently tugged on his sleeve.

"Mr. Bai... don't... cry... Qiqi... will stay... with you..."

Baizhu snapped out of his daze, his lips curling into a rare, genuine smile. He reached out and softly patted Qiqi's hat.

"I'm fine, Qiqi. The Emperor granted me a miracle." He took a deep breath, regaining his composure. "Come, we have work to do. There are still many patients waiting for us. We must not let His kindness go to waste."

Qiqi nodded slowly, then trotted off to retrieve the medicine box. Baizhu slung it over his back, took her tiny hand in his, and together they stepped out onto the streets of Liyue, ready to fulfill their duty once more.

Meanwhile, in Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao lay sprawled on Zhongli's personal rocking chair, swaying lazily back and forth.

"Ugh, I'm so bored!" she whined, flailing her arms dramatically.

Just then, a golden light flickered in front of her. A potion bottle floated toward her and gently landed in her hands.

Hu Tao blinked, staring at it.

"Hah! Even I got one?!"

She twirled the bottle in her hands with a mischievous grin before carefully tucking it away.

Just as she was about to celebrate further, the front doors creaked open.

"Master, I am back."

Hu Tao's eyes widened. "Zhongli!"

She practically flew off the rocking chair and rushed over, circling around him like an excited child. Her gaze scanned him up and down, checking for any injuries.

"Where have you been these past two days? I wanted to ask you about an ancient burial ritual!" she huffed, hands on her hips.

Zhongli walked past her, settling into his rocking chair with practiced ease. "I was visiting a friend."

"Ohhh, mysterious!" Hu Tao chuckled, then suddenly remembered the potion in her possession. She eagerly pulled it out and waved it in front of him.

"Look, look! The Emperor gave me this super magical elixir! Pretty cool, huh?"

Zhongli raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "I didn't expect the Hall Master to receive one as well. Congratulations."

Pleased with his response, Hu Tao smirked and patted him on the shoulder. "You sure know how to talk, don'tcha?"

She paused, then glanced at the potion thoughtfully.

"Hey... Why don't we split it? The Emperor said one bottle extends your life by a hundred years, right? So if we each drink half, we get fifty years each!"

Before Zhongli could respond, she shoved the bottle into his hands and dashed inside. Moments later, she returned with two cups and excitedly poured the potion into them, ensuring not a single drop was wasted.

She grinned, lifting her glass. "Come on, Zhongli! Let's toast!"

Zhongli smiled as he raised his cup. "Alright. Together."

As they drank, Zhongli discreetly used his divine power to shift the potion entirely into Hu Tao's cup. He swallowed only air, watching with amusement as she downed the liquid.

Hu Tao smacked her lips and burped. "Hiccup! Why do I feel like I drank way more than I should have? This cup wasn't that big..."

She peered suspiciously into the empty glass.

Zhongli chuckled. "Perhaps it's the nature of a miraculous elixir."

Hu Tao thought for a moment. "Maybe... Hah, whatever! So, feeling any different?"

"Master, you are still young. Naturally, you wouldn't notice a change. But I feel a warmth spreading through me."

Hu Tao beamed. "See? Told ya it was a good idea!"

Then she clapped her hands together. "Oh! Come with me to Wuwang Hill tonight! There's a ritual I wanna discuss with you."

Zhongli leaned back, opening his fan. "Alright. Just come get me when it's time."

Satisfied, Hu Tao cheered and skipped off to prepare for the evening.

Zhongli watched her go, an inexplicable warmth filling his heart.

"She truly has grown up." he thought to himself with a quiet smile.