Furious and Flustered

Seeing Jia Lie'ao suddenly arrive at Ruyi Zhai, Xiao Cheng could not help but pause in surprise.

He truly had not expected Jia Lie'ao to come to his shop, nor did he know what this fellow was plotting.

"Presumably, you are Shop Owner Xiao of Ruyi Zhai?"

Jia Lie'ao looked at Xiao Cheng with a smiling expression, appearing exceedingly friendly.

But in Xiao Cheng's eyes, Jia Lie'ao's friendly appearance was entirely an act. Still, one did not strike a smiling face, so he replied with a smile as well.

"Yes, I am Xiao Cheng, the shopkeeper of Ruyi Zhai. May I ask what brings the esteemed young master of the Jia Lie Family to my humble little shop?"

Though his tone was mild, the meaning behind his words was self-evident.

Jia Lie'ao seemed not to have heard him and merely smiled.

"Since Shop Owner Xiao knows that I am the young master of the Jia Lie Family, I will be direct. I hope Shop Owner Xiao can cooperate with the Jia Lie Family. You certainly will not be treated poorly."

Jia Lie'ao spoke calmly, but there was still an air of arrogance in his voice.

This made Xiao Cheng very displeased. Cooperate with the Jia Lie Family? In his dreams.

"I am terribly sorry, but I have already entered into cooperation with the Xiao Clan. Oh, and it seems the Mittel Auction House also wishes to work with me. We simply have not discussed it yet."

That subtle warning made Jia Lie'ao's smile vanish, replaced by a dark expression.

He had never expected Xiao Cheng to be so ungrateful, and even to use the Mittel Auction House to pressure him.

The Jia Lie Family could not contend with a colossus like the Mittel Auction House, but Jia Lie'ao found it hard to swallow this insult.

"Shop Owner Xiao, I hope you think carefully. If you refuse to cooperate with the Jia Lie Family, be careful your shop does not catch fire in the middle of the night. Heh heh."

Jia Lie'ao let out a few sinister chuckles.

But Xiao Cheng merely waved his hand indifferently.

"Whatever. If anything happens to my shop, I will seek compensation from the Jia Lie Family, Young Master Jia Lie'ao."

Xiao Cheng spoke in a teasing tone, not forgetting to look at Jia Lie'ao mockingly.

"Very well. Just wait and see."

With that, Jia Lie'ao turned and left.

"Take care. Be careful not to get assassinated when you go out in the middle of the night."

Jia Lie'ao, who had just stepped outside, heard those words and was so angry he was nearly smoking.

He turned back and cast a cold glance at Ruyi Zhai's signboard, thinking, You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Don't blame the Jia Lie Family for showing no mercy.

Jia Lie'ao left in a furious huff.

Just as Jia Lie'ao was leaving Ruyi Zhai, Xiao Ning, who happened to be coming to Ruyi Zhai to buy pastries, saw him and could not help frowning.

"Isn't that Jia Lie'ao? Why is he in the Xiao Family Market?"

Although Xiao Ning could be somewhat overbearing by nature, he knew that the Xiao Clan and the Jia Lie Family had never gotten along, and minor conflicts often broke out between them.

Though he could not figure out why Jia Lie'ao had come to the Xiao Family Market, he still made a mental note to tell his grandfather when he returned to the Xiao Clan. After all, his grandfather was the First Elder of the Xiao Family, and his status spoke for itself.

Entering Ruyi Zhai, Xiao Ning said with a broad smile, "Shop Owner Xiao, you really are good to me. Those Honeyed Shortbread benefited me greatly. Thanks."

Xiao Ning immediately clasped his fists and thanked Xiao Cheng, leaving him a little bewildered.

What was going on?

But out of courtesy, he still replied with a smile.

"It was nothing. It was only natural."

Inside, however, he complained, I just made up some nonsense to fool him, and he actually gained benefits from it. He's pretty lucky.

"Shopkeeper, give me ten Peach Pastries, ten Peanut Candies, and five jin of Honeyed Shortbread this time. I'm going into seclusion for four or five days to break through to the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi."

Xiao Ning waved his hand grandly as he spoke.

Xiao Cheng happily wrapped up the pastries for him, accepted the money, and handed the packages to Xiao Ning.

After receiving the pastries and thanking Xiao Cheng, Xiao Ning turned to leave. When he reached the door, however, he suddenly turned back and said, "Shop Owner Xiao, from now on, you are my brother. Whoever dares bully you, I won't let him off."

Watching Xiao Ning's chuunibyou aura erupt, Xiao Cheng did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Did he need Xiao Ning's protection? What a joke. Once the system made its move, who would dare act up? A Lightning Combo would take care of them, guaranteed to give them a new hairstyle.

"Ah, chuunibyou youths really do have a lot of fun. Not bad."

Then he grew happy again. This rich kid Xiao Ning had bought so many pastries this time; his Experience Points should have increased a little, right?

"Open the Personal Panel and take a look."

Host: Xiao Cheng
Identity: Shopkeeper of Ruyi Zhai, Xiao Family Market
Shopkeeper Level: Level One Shopkeeper (14/300)

Realm: Ninth Stage of Dou Qi
Martial Skill: None
Items: None
Evaluation: You are merely a rookie who has just started out. You could be taken out by an expert at any time. Develop carefully, for the happiness of you, me, and everyone else.

Main Quest: Please sell one hundred jin of Honeyed Shortbread (9/100)

Quest Reward: One recipe for God-tier Mung Bean Cakes
Quest Failure: Wear the Baby Three-Piece Set for seven days
Quest Time: Seven days

Side Quest: Please sell one hundred portions of Peanut Candy (45/100)

Quest Reward: One random pastry recipe
Quest Failure: The host must dress as a woman for seven days and may not take it off
Quest Time: Seven days

The experience bar for his Shopkeeper Level had only increased by fourteen Experience Points. He could only accept that cruel reality.

"Although the experience did not increase much, the Peanut Candy quest is nearly halfway done again. I believe I'll have new pastries soon."

Although he currently had three kinds of pastries to keep up appearances, customers would eventually find them somewhat monotonous.

Even if the pastries could increase Dou Qi, he could not make people eat the same kind of pastry every day.

After returning to the Xiao Clan, Xiao Ning first went to his room and put away the pastries he had bought. He then carefully opened them to inspect them before nodding with a satisfied smile.

After putting the pastries away, he went to find his grandfather, the First Elder of the Xiao Family.

At this moment, the First Elder was drinking tea and resting in his residence. When he saw his grandson Xiao Ning arrive, he smiled kindly.

"Ning'er, why have you come?"

"Grandfather, I have something very important to tell you."

Xiao Ning spoke to his grandfather with a serious expression.

"Oh, something important?"

The First Elder gave a soft sound of surprise, sat up straight, and quietly listened to what Xiao Ning had to say.

"It's like this. When I went to Ruyi Zhai to buy pastries just now, I saw Jia Lie'ao leaving the Xiao Family Market. I don't know what he came for, but I found it suspicious, so I hurried over to tell you."

Listening to Xiao Ning, the First Elder unconsciously furrowed his brows. Stroking his beard, he pondered for a moment, then suddenly seemed to think of something and said, "Could it be that the Jia Lie Family has already discovered the effects of Ruyi Zhai's pastries?"

Xiao Ning was stunned for a moment, then nodded in sudden realization, feeling that his grandfather's guess made perfect sense.

"If I am not mistaken, Jia Lie'ao must have gone to Ruyi Zhai to discuss cooperation with Shop Owner Xiao, or perhaps to buy him off."

The First Elder's expression became even uglier, but then he seemed to recall something and smiled again.

Seeing his grandfather look gloomy one moment and beam with smiles the next, Xiao Ning was puzzled. What did Grandfather mean?

"I nearly forgot. Ruyi Zhai has already entered into cooperation with our Xiao Clan. As long as we develop steadily and build up our strength, no matter how much trouble the Jia Lie Family stirs up, it will be useless against the Xiao Clan."

"But Shop Owner Xiao..."

Before Xiao Ning could finish voicing his concern, the First Elder interrupted him.

"Rest assured, Ning'er. Shop Owner Xiao is not the sort of person who breaks his word. The Jia Lie Family's little strength is likely not even worth his notice."

Xiao Ning nodded, half understanding and half confused.

After giving Xiao Ning a few instructions, the First Elder sent him off to cultivate.

After Xiao Ning left, the First Elder glanced toward the Jia Lie Family, gave a disdainful smile, and rose to find Xiao Zhan.