Welcome to Ability Store-Chapter 91 - 90: Only Apprentices from Hot Pepper Village
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The next day, Chen Xuan gathered all members of the envoy team together.
"So that’s basically the situation," he announced to the people sitting around him, "I have decided to establish a sect here to meet the conditions for participating in the Immortal Alliance’s competition. Once the two months are up, the envoy can notify all the cultivators in the world through the competition, and by then, there will surely be brave souls heading west to support France against England."
"Lord Divine Envoy... You are absolutely the savior of France!" Baron Milton was deeply moved, "Lady Joan’s recommendation was indeed correct."
"I’m sorry, I wrongly accused you before, thinking that you, as a Divine Envoy, have never conveyed our cries to the Lord." Marina also sincerely bowed her head, "But now I understand, whether the Lord watches over us is not important, at least you truly care about everyone!"
Other members also expressed their gratitude, and words of praise were endless.
Even though the enthusiastic expressions of gratitude from the group seemed a bit exaggerated, Chen Xuan could understand. To them, he didn’t belong to the French royal family, nor was he a member of the Witch Gathering Hall, and his status as a Divine Envoy meant he didn’t need to tie himself to the boat of France.
Entrusted by Joan and Charles VII, he brought the envoy team to the East, met the Eastern ruler and clarified the purpose of his visit, and thus his role as a leader was already completed. Whether the diplomatic alliance would succeed or not was not something he could decide; even if he withdrew now, France could hardly blame him.
Countries that believe in the Lord are not limited to France, and a Divine Envoy with remarkable divine power would be warmly received by royalty and nobility wherever he goes.
So when Chen Xuan said he wanted to give it another try, to other members of the envoy team it was like heavenly music.
After all, establishing a sect with just a few diplomats and witches in a place where communication relies on translation was definitely a pipe dream.
"Building a sect requires a permanent residence; Barbarian House is merely a place to receive foreign guests, not suitable for long-term residence." Chen Xuan directly arranged the task, "Mr. Milton, can you find and rent such a mansion in Chang’an City? It should preferably be secluded, spacious, and have several independent houses within."
"No problem!" Baron Milton immediately promised, "I’ll arrange for everyone to search separately now!"
Chen Xuan wasn’t worried about him being a Frenchman and having trouble moving around, as there were plenty of foreigners in Chang’an City.
"Additionally, the competition requires at least ten members; is the Gathering Hall interested in participating?" He looked at the witch representatives.
Marina volunteered to say, "I can participate in the competition. However, Sarah is skilled in alchemy, and if the competition involves combat, she might not meet your requirements."
"It doesn’t matter, I was just asking for your thoughts, not making a mandatory request."
"I will prepare many potions for you to use, helping you win the competition!" Sarah hurriedly added, as if afraid she wouldn’t be useful.
"Thank you very much." Chen Xuan smiled, "I’ll take care of recruiting other disciples and training work needed for the sect, everyone should start at their respective tasks now!"
"At your command!" Everyone responded in unison.
Once the envoy team set out, Chen Xuan returned to the shop to rest.
Since he decided to recruit "disciples" from Hot Pepper Village, he just had to lay back and wait for news from Liu Shuyue. This was also the core work of a shop manager—to arrange for others to do things while sitting back and enjoying the results himself.
In the following days, good news came frequently.
"Lord Divine Envoy, I found an ideal residence, please look!" Baron Milton pointed to a twenty-acre lakeside estate outside the city and said, "Although it is not located within Chang’an City, it is only three li from the South City Gate, just a few minutes’ drive. The estate is fully equipped with stables and horses, and you can even fish during leisure time."
Well, this is quite the mansion.
Chen Xuan mused as he toured the houses and settings within the estate.
"How much does it cost to rent it?"
"It’s quite cheap, just 5,000 jade coins a month."
"That cheap? Are you sure it’s alright?" Chen Xuan expressed surprise. The Immortal Alliance Governor had given him a sponsorship of 100,000, but after investigating the prices in Chang’an, he realized that 100,000 was not much. A standard inn room charged between 200-300 a day, and now having 5,000 for a lakeside mansion package seemed like a giveaway.
"The former owner of this place was a Persian merchant, who loves France. Upon learning that I was an envoy dispatched by His Majesty, Charlie, he decided to lease it cheaply to our team during the caravan’s return trip, and we can also help take care of the horses and garden." Milton explained honestly.
The envoy team managed to encounter such perks, surely giving the King of France some face?
Even if it is temporary, a round trip for the caravan would take a year, giving them enough time to reside here.
"Did you sign any contract... or agreement with that merchant?"
"Yes." The baron took out a roll of parchment, "It even has his seal on it."
"Great, you can sign a sublease agreement with me then," said Chen Xuan.
This way, he could directly select a house within the estate to set up a branch store, making it easier to enter and exit this world. Anyway, the old villa in Kangaroo City was in a closed state without shipments, and it wouldn’t occupy the number of branch stores.
Not long after, Sarah came to him again.
"Lord Divine Envoy, look... The first batch of pills is ready!"
She opened the heavy box in her hand, revealing more than thirty glass bottles neatly filled with liquid inside.
Chen Xuan picked one up in his hand; the medicine was a faint golden yellow, with shimmering metallic powder inside, and it looked somewhat beautiful.
"What kind of medicine is this?"
"The exhilaration potion can eliminate fatigue; drinking it after a day’s work will immediately rejuvenate you, and it should also have an effect on cultivation," Sarah said happily. "Perhaps it’s the gods’ favor; this is the most successful batch of potions I’ve ever concocted. Even drinking it for three consecutive days is no problem!"
Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow, "Then what if you drink it for four days?"
"That’s dangerous, you might suddenly drop dead," she replied with a sweet smile, "because it only suppresses fatigue and doesn’t actually replace rest."
If this ended up in the hands of capitalists... it might instantly replace coffee and become a new worldwide fad, right?
"Good stuff, I’ll take it." Chen Xuan solemnly closed the box.
The Witch Gathering Hall is truly full of talent.
It seems this diplomatic mission must be achieved no matter what.
If I can master both Pill Medicine Study and Alchemy in the future, my life will be set.
...
"Divine Envoy, I’ve already ordered the sect plaque!" Baron Milton stood a wooden sign in the center of the estate, with golden letters reading: Supremacy Under Heaven. "The craftsman who made it even praised the name, saying it would surely strike awe across the land."
"Good, good, good, thank you for your hard work."
...
"Lord Xuan, when will the cultivation start? I also want to try learning Eastern Magic." Marina, panting heavily, blocked his path. From her sweaty appearance, it seemed she had been running laps around the estate again. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
"Soon, soon," Chen Xuan replied vaguely.
...
"Divine Envoy! I’ve concocted a new batch of potions, this time it’s mystical perfume. Apply it on your body and it will occasionally make your enemies hallucinate, which should help in your duels!"
...
"Divine Envoy!"
"Lord Xuan!"
Bam!
Chen Xuan closed the rolling gate of the branch store, drew the curtains, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Returning to the main store, he plopped down onto the couch.
"Why do you seem so tired?"
Only Lin Qing was in the shop.
She teased while wiping glass cups, "Weren’t all tasks delegated out to others?"
"I didn’t expect them to be so energetic, reporting to me several times every day," Chen Xuan kneaded his shoulder. "And the way they look at me... it’s a bit abnormal."
It’s kind of scary when people are too enthusiastic in their work.
"Because to them, you are France’s only hope of defeating the enemies." Lin Qing washed her hands and walked over, her fingers resting on his shoulders, starting to knead gently.
"Hiss..." Chen Xuan inhaled sharply in both pleasure and pain. "You can do this too?"
"Uh-huh, the enemies of the organization are not just nanomachines; fellow humans have never been absent before major disasters. This skill falls under the category of stealth assassination." Lin Qing said with a mischievous smile.
Chen Xuan suddenly felt a chill down his back.
"Don’t worry... you are my only hope for saving the world as well; I won’t activate the assassination protocol on you," Lin Qing laughed slyly.
No, wait... the chill was real.
It was as if wind was blowing into the store.
But it’s broad daylight, and the weather outside in the residential area is cool and crisp with autumn air, so how could there be a cold breeze?
Chen Xuan signaled Lin Qing to pause, got up and walked to the store’s entrance, only to find the view outside had changed back to a luxurious estate. The weather here was gloomy, the clouds hung low, and the wind rustled the leaves as if it could rain at any moment.
No, he had locked the door of the branch store, so how could it still connect to Chang’an City?
He hadn’t used the revisit invitation function on Marina either?
Just then, a boy’s figure appeared in the courtyard, and no one knew when he had entered. The boy staggered towards the shop door, seemingly carrying another person on his back.
Chen Xuan realized this was a new visitor.
