The night has fallen in the Verdant Sky Pavilion. After failing to find her grandmother on her return, she went straight to her personal chamber to begin planning her first trip as the Divine Convenience Store's Official Distributor.
It took her hours to finish an outline, as ideas continuously flowed into her, as though she had returned to when she was just starting to learn the trade with her grandmother.
She put down her inkbrush and grabbed the can of cold Heavenly Dew Soda, gulping it down.
After refreshing herself, her attention shifted to the jade token resting on the table.
She picked it up and injected her spiritual energy. The translucent interface materialized, mirroring the system Lin Mo had access to, albeit with limitations.
She could see her distributor inventory that was currently empty, active restrictions, and some other menus that were currently irrelevant as she hadn't done any trade yet.
"What a terrifyingly efficient system. Even our pavilion's logistics aren't this streamlined. No, this kind of system compressed in a jade token is unheard of. On top of that, the whole store is running in a similar system…"
Shaking her head with a sigh, Yu Qingyan cleared her head.
The Distributor Interface was tailored specifically for her role. It didn't give her direct control over everything but it allowed her to manage stock, track transactions, and even receive direct notifications regarding her requests.
And lastly… a direct communication to him.
Her lips curled into a knowing smile as she tapped a finger on the interface, turning it off.
"Shopkeeper Lin. You really don't miss a thing."
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in," She called.
The door slid open, revealing an elderly yet graceful woman clad in an emerald robe with a lot of similarities to hers. It was her grandmother, the Verdant Sky Pavilion's Pavilion Master Yu Mingrou.
"I heard you returned from the Divine Convenience Store looking quite dazed and hurried," Yu Mingrou said, stepping in with an amused spark in her eyes. Behind her was her assistant, Jing'er. "And now, I see you lost in thought, staring at a floating jade token. Would you care to explain?"
Yu Qingyan straightened, brushing away her momentary lapse in composure. As she stood up to bow and receive her with proper etiquette, "Grandmother, I've officially been appointed as the first and only Official Distributor of the Divine Convenience Store."
A rare flicker of surprise crossed Yu Mingrou's face. She then gestured for her to sit back down before taking the seat across from her granddaughter. "Oh? So, Shopkeeper Lin did indeed choose you. You did say that he has something prepared for today. From what I heard, that store transformed again."
Yu Qingyan nodded, recounting everything that had happened in the store: the expansion, the Golden Patrons, Viewing Jades, and the Store Bulletin Board. The arrival of envoys and a high-ranking official of the kingdom. The multipurpose hall and the exhibition match. Lastly, the conversation she had with Lin Mo earlier. The emphasis on her as an individual rather than the Pavilion as a whole still made her heart race, but she conveyed the business aspects clearly.
After listening, Yu Mingrou thoughtfully nodded as a small smile peeked from her lips.
"So, he values you, not just as an emissary of our Pavilion, but as an individual. That's quite the distinction." Her sharp gaze met Yu Qingyan's. "And how do you feel about this?"
Yu Qingyan hesitated for a moment before responding, "H-honored. And… eager. I must live up to his expectations. But at the same time, I'm glad he remains the same as ever."
"I expected no less from you." Yu Mingrou chuckled before her voice turned serious. "This role is an immense responsibility, Qingyan. The Verdant Sky Pavilion will support you, but remember—this is your position, not ours. Shopkeeper Lin has made that very clear."
Yu Qingyan nodded firmly. "I understand."
Yu Mingrou studied her for a moment before sighing, her lips curving into a wry smile as she could read her granddaughter's thoughts to a certain extent. "You admire him, don't you?"
Yu Qingyan's back stiffened, her ears heating up. "Grandmother—!"
"I am merely making an observation," Yu Mingrou teased. "The way you speak of him, your eagerness to rise to his expectations. It is rare to see you so invested in someone outside of our Pavilion. Maybe I had a hand in this when I told you to cultivate your relationship with him?"
Yu Qingyan scowled but said nothing.
Yu Mingrou chuckled again. "I will support you in this endeavor, Qingyan. But do not forget. While Lin Mo may have chosen you, you must prove that his choice was the right one. Knock him off his feet."
Yu Qingyan took a deep breath, clenching her fingers around the jade token.
"I will. I'll show him she didn't make the wrong choice."
"Mhm. If you can bring him to our halls, I'll also give you my blessing. It doesn't matter if he's still a fledgling in terms of cultivation. He's the right fit for you."
"Grandmother! That's not it!" Yu Qingyan's voice trailed off, her cheeks flushed with both indignation and lingering excitement as she tried to protest.
Alas, her grandmother and even Jing'er who remained quiet throughout their conversation had an amused expression as if they were watching the first bloom of romance from the usually serious Emissary.
Back at the Divine Convenience Store, with the night already deepening, Lin Mo stood behind the counter, idly watching Xiao Ya operating the cash register for the customers still lined up for checkout.
When she returned with her cultivation unlocked, the mushroom girl's bright eyes became even brighter as her success energized her. So, he let her take the spot again while he spent the time observing the store and brainstorming ideas for the next few days.
From what he heard from Liu Xiaoyu, the manual she picked for Xiao Ya's Golden Lotus Constitution was a profound yet practical one. The [Heavenly Root Blooming Sutra]. It was an excellent choice, tailored to her unique physique, allowing her to cultivate without causing instability in her body.
Lin Mo had taken a glance at its contents himself and found it fascinating. It's different from his [Silent Stream Breathing Technique]. Unlike standard cultivation manuals, which often focused on absorbing spiritual energy aggressively, this sutra focused on her spirit roots, gradually letting them grow and bloom into Heavenly Roots. And with her Golden Lotus Constitution supplementing it, it cut down the slow and steady process of it into something more manageable.
Watching her handle the counter with newfound vigor, Lin Mo was pleased. The Divine Convenience Store was growing, not just in influence but in people.
Xiao Ya, Liu Xiaoyu, Yangyang, and now Yu Qingyan. All of them played a role in its expansion.
As the night stretched on, the clock soon reached the end of the store hours.
The day had been eventful.
Five new Golden Patrons had been added.
The first showcasing of the [Divine Arena & Exhibition Hall] was a wild success.
He scammed the spirit stones out of the Silver Lotus Hall agents.
He got the approval of a high-ranking official of the kingdom.
The Official Distributor role had been filled.
With the introduction of a distributor, demand would increase exponentially. Other factions, sects, noble families, and merchants would undoubtedly begin vying for a share of the store's influence.
Would there be resistance? Of course. Some groups would not take kindly to his growing dominance in the market.
But that didn't concern him. He's more concerned about the ones that could make Taihao and Lihua cautious.
They didn't name them yet but Lin Mo could tell that they're some sort of rival or competition for their Divine Pantheon. And in their first bout, they got kicked out of the First Heaven.
They won't show up on the eighth day, right?
"Well, no point thinking about it. I'll just do what I'm supposed to do. If they come knocking at our, I'll also have them fork out more spirit stones for our store's development." Lin Mo smirked as he walked towards the entrance, watching the bustling street gradually settle into a tranquil silence.