Tutoring Commission

"Hm?"

Duan Mu blinked in surprise, looking at Uzuki sitting in front of his shop.

"You actually came back!"

Uzuki stood up with a displeased look upon seeing Duan Mu, complaining, "What kind of job did you take? You were out all day."

"It's so late, why are you here instead of resting at home?" Duan Mu walked forward, took out his keys, and continued as he unlocked the door, "Don't tell me you couldn't sleep because you missed strawberry milk?"

"Tch, as if I'm that fond of strawberry milk."

Duan Mu didn't reply. He entered the shop, lit the candles on the counter, and then took out a box of strawberry milk from under the counter, placing it on the bar.

Uzuki's large eyes immediately lit up, making Duan Mu chuckle.

"What are you laughing at? I'm just collecting my payment!!" Uzuki retorted, her face flushing.

"Yes, yes, yes…" Duan Mu made a gesture to welcome her in. "Drink up. Even if you want to sneak up on me, at least do it while you're drinking."

"Your skin is thicker than the White Path Gate."

Uzuki spat, then frowned. "Did you offend someone? This morning, when I passed by your shop, I saw a group of people lurking suspiciously around your entrance, constantly peering inside."

"I thought they were here to commission you, so I went up and told them you were out working. If it was a job, I could relay the message for them."

"But those people looked at each other and stammered without speaking, yet they didn't leave. They lingered for quite a while before walking away. Their furtive behavior seemed suspicious, and I was afraid they might come back after I left, so…"

Duan Mu interrupted with a hint of exasperation, "So you sat in front of my shop all day?"

"Mhm…"

"Next time you see something like that, just ignore it. Maybe they just wanted to commission me for something private."

Duan Mu paused, then changed his tone to a serious one. "Also, even if they had bad intentions, you shouldn't interfere. If they were truly bad people, your actions could easily provoke them, and you'd be the one in danger. However… thanks."

"Hmph, that last part actually sounded like something a human would say."

Uzuki shot Duan Mu a glare. "Friends help you out, and a simple 'thank you' is enough. You're nagging like an old man; I almost want to throw this milk in your face. And don't forget, I'm almost twice your age. I haven't even lectured you about your lack of vigilance, and you're lecturing me instead."

"Yes, yes, it's my fault." Duan Mu readily admitted his mistake.

After chatting for a while, Uzuki got up to leave.

As he watched Uzuki go, Duan Mu's brow furrowed.

A group of suspicious people?

Normally, Duan Mu wouldn't have paid it any mind, but the events of that evening made him overthink things a bit.

Of course, it was only a little bit.

Because two seconds later, Duan Mu pushed it out of his mind.

With his current strength, for Seireitei to deal with him would be as easy as crushing an ant. So, dwelling on it was useless. Instead of thinking about such nonsensical things, he might as well think about what to eat tomorrow morning.

Picking a bottle of wine from the liquor cabinet, Duan Mu headed upstairs to his bedroom.

The next morning.

After finishing breakfast, Duan Mu hung the 'Open for Business' sign outside his shop and then slumped onto the counter.

He had worked all day yesterday and naturally hadn't received any new jobs. Although the Yorozuya's reputation had spread, clients didn't come knocking every day.

Normally, when there were no commissions, Duan Mu would go to the nearby mountains to train. However, he had consumed a large amount of experience points yesterday and needed time to integrate the vast knowledge.

So, Duan Mu didn't go out to train. Instead, he stayed in the shop for the first time in a while, waiting for customers.

"I wonder if any jobs will come in today."

Duan Mu leaned on the counter, feeling bored. He had to admit that in Rukongai, without work or training, there were practically no entertainment options.

"If only I could casually visit the Human World. I could get more manga, novels, and game consoles for the shop. It would be a way to pass the time when I'm bored. At the very least, buying a few decks of playing cards would be better than doing nothing here."

The idle time felt incredibly long. Duan Mu sat at the counter all morning, and apart from Uzuki stopping by for a brief visit, no customers came.

At noon, Duan Mu casually cooked a bowl of noodles, brought a chair outside, and sat by the entrance, using the midday sun as a side dish to enjoy a bowl of bland clear soup noodles.

"I want to go to a tavern… eat meat heartily, drink heartily… I really want to eat meat…"

Imagining the aroma of the tavern, Duan Mu downed the soup in his bowl, then took his bowl and chair back inside.

As soon as he put the chair down, a commotion erupted from outside the shop.

"Huh? Are they open today?"

"I don't get you guys. What's so great about this rundown shop? We could be practicing Kido on the mountain instead. Don't forget, the assessments will start once we're back at the Academy."

"Well, we're just wandering anyway. Coming here won't waste much time."

"Besides, didn't you say yesterday that the shop owner was really arrogant? He actually dared to post discount flyers on his door."

"..."

Amidst the clamor, several men and women of various ages walked in.

Seeing customers arrive, Duan Mu put on his signature smile. "Welcome, sirs and madams. Is there anything I can help you with?"

The five people saw Duan Mu, their gazes carrying a hint of scrutiny.

They didn't ask questions like "Are you the boss here?" After all, they were all from West Rukongai. Even if they hadn't interacted with him directly, they had seen Duan Mu's figure traversing various parts of West Rukongai. Furthermore, the owner of the tavern in Runlin'an had introduced him to them not long ago.

"Manager, is the discount flyer you posted outside real?"

"Of course."

Duan Mu's smile deepened. As soon as the group entered the shop, he had already detected the faint Spiritual Pressure emanating from them.

Even though they weren't wearing the Soul Reaper Academy uniforms, judging by their recent conversation, they were likely Soul Reaper Academy students on vacation. This was the first time his Yorozuya had such customers.

He had to keep them!

Duan Mu's thoughts raced, but his expression remained unchanged. Smiling, he said, "All commissions accepted by this establishment offer specific discounts for women: 10% off for women, 20% off for female Soul Reapers, 30% off for female officers, 40% off for female vice-captains, and a flat 50% off for female captains!"

"Judging by your appearance, you seem to be students from the Soul Reaper Academy. The women among you can receive the same discount as ordinary members of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, which is a 20% discount."

A young man immediately asked, "What about the men?"

"I'm sorry, our discounts are exclusively for women."

"You guy..."

The young man looked at Duan Mu with a wary expression. He suddenly felt that the manager's gentle smile held a deep ill intent. "Do you have some perverse idea? Otherwise, since you're all Soul Reapers, why do women get such a significant discount?"

Duan Mu's smile didn't waver. He replied in a gentle tone, "Customers, please mind your words. I would sue even God for slander!"

"Tch." The young man was dismissive.

The man in his thirties standing beside him chuckled, "Since this is a Yorozuya, do you take on missions to exterminate 'Hollows'?"

"I do," Duan Mu replied without hesitation. Before they could react, he continued, "But as far as I know, as academy students, you should have only encountered simulated Hollows, not real ones, right?"

Saying this, Duan Mu looked up at the man who had spoken. "Customer, fake commissions come with a price."

These words caused the man in his thirties to gasp for breath. He subconsciously wanted to retort, but when he met Duan Mu's eyes beneath his gentle smile, his heart inexplicably trembled.

"I... I'm sorry... I was just asking casually."

Upon hearing this, his companions couldn't help but cast surprised glances at him, not understanding his reaction.

The man in his thirties, or rather Okubo, blushed under his companions' stares, feeling a bit embarrassed. "We haven't actually encountered real Hollows, and we can't commission you. But you're just an ordinary person; you don't have the ability to complete such a commission, do you!"

"Whether it can be completed is not for you, the customer, to consider, but for this establishment to consider."

After speaking, Duan Mu no longer paid attention to the man and instead focused his gaze on the women. "Ladies, if there's anything you need help with, or any troubles you have, please feel free to tell me. I will do my utmost to help you solve them."

"Uh..."

The three women exchanged glances. They hadn't come here for any commission. They were simply bored at home during the holiday and, coupled with the discount flyer they saw yesterday, they were curious and decided to check it out.

Their original intention was just to tease this interesting shop owner, but seeing Duan Mu's serious demeanor made them feel too embarrassed to reveal their true intentions.

Moreover, thinking about it, since he was running a business, it was entirely his prerogative to write whatever he pleased on the discount flyer.

"Speaking of which," the more mature woman was the first to react, asking curiously, "How did you know we were Soul Reaper Academy students?"

Duan Mu casually replied, "A feeling."

The mature woman looked at Duan Mu with suspicion, clearly not believing him, but she didn't press further.

"Ah, right!"

The youngest girl among the three's eyes lit up. "The year-end assessment is right after the holiday. Since this is a Yorozuya, can you teach us techniques like Zanjutsu and Kido?"

As soon as she said this, the remaining four couldn't help but mentally praise the young girl.

Right!

Although they couldn't issue a commission to exterminate 'Hollows,' it didn't mean they didn't have other 'ordinary people' commissions that were absolutely impossible for them to complete.

An ordinary resident of Rukongai might not even know what Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Kido, or Shunpo represent, let alone teach them.

This commission would not only deflate the other party's arrogance but also allow them to leave without making a commission, avoiding any awkwardness.

"Sorry..."

Katori stuck out her tongue. She didn't intend to embarrass Duan Mu. It was purely because of Duan Mu's statement, "If you have any troubles, please feel free to tell me," that she had blurted out her own trouble, only realizing afterward that her words might have been inappropriate.

"Manager, it's okay if you can't take it. I was being a bit unreasonable..."

"I can!"

Duan Mu's eyes lit up. "The four basic techniques, Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Kido, and Shunpo, will be charged by the hour."

"Ah???"

"You can really do it?"

"No way, Manager, stop joking with us."

"..."

"Follow me."

Duan Mu beckoned to the five people and turned towards the back door of the shop.

The five exchanged glances and, looking puzzled, followed Duan Mu.

Pushing open the back door, the group arrived at the small courtyard behind the house. The courtyard was spacious, containing only a few wooden targets, and in the corner stood a weapon rack displaying several sharpened wooden swords.

As the group watched with confusion, Duan Mu raised his arm and aimed at a target in the center of the courtyard.

He formed a sword with two fingers and pointed forward.

"Hado #4: Byakurai!"

Bzzzzzz~~

A flash of lightning appeared, condensing before Duan Mu's fingers and shooting forward!

All of this happened in an instant. Before the five could react, the target in the center of the courtyard exploded with a loud bang. Even more unbelievable was that… the bolt of lightning seemed to have a mind of its own. After destroying the target, it suddenly transformed into spiritual particles and scattered just as it was about to hit the surrounding wall, not damaging it in the slightest.

The five stared at the scene before them, dumbfounded. After a long moment, they finally reacted, rubbing their eyes vigorously.

"It's real?"

"Byakurai… and it's a Kido without incantation…"

"Shopkeeper, are you a Soul Reaper?"

"..."

Meanwhile, Duan Mu allocated 10 of his remaining 40 experience points to 'Zanjutsu', raising it to the same level as Shunpo and Hakuda.

Zanjutsu: Low-level (0/1000)

With this, his four abilities – Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Kido, and Shunpo – all reached the low-level, which was more than enough to teach a few graduating students.

"As I said before, tutoring outside of school is charged by the hour, at 1000 Ring per hour. If you study with me for more than three hours a day for a week, I can guarantee you'll see some progress after a week!"

The knowledge granted by the system was extremely comprehensive, with many techniques that even teachers at the Soul Reaper Academy might not possess. To put it plainly… the knowledge the system bestowed upon Duan Mu at his current level was the absolute limit for the 'low-level' tier.

Duan Mu had always relied on this knowledge for his own training. Having mastered this knowledge, his theoretical understanding surpassed that of most teachers at the Soul Reaper Academy, making him more suitable for teaching.

"1000 Ring an hour?" The group's faces showed signs of interest.

The price of 1000 Ring per hour was a bit steep for them, but not unbearable. During their time at the academy, not only was room and board provided free of charge, but they also received a certain amount of living expenses during holidays.

Of course, this treatment only lasted for six years.

After six years, whether they successfully passed the entrance examination for the Thirteen Court Guard Squads or were assigned to the Human World for 'soul burial' work as 'unaffiliated personnel', they would receive a substantial salary.

In addition to these career paths, there were also departments like the 'Kido Corps' and 'Onmitsukidō' to choose from.

Therefore, for them, as long as they graduated successfully, they would have a stable income.

Studying three hours a day would cost 3000 Ring, and a week would be 21,000 Ring.

And if the shopkeeper wasn't lying, significant progress could be made in just one week, making 21,000 Ring incredibly cheap. It might not even be enough to eat at an izakaya in Runlin An for a week.

Of course, they also wouldn't casually splurge on meals at izakayas every day.

But if this money could ensure their graduation, it would definitely be worth it!

Unlike Katori, the more mature woman among the three women asked with a hint of doubt, "Can we really make significant progress within a week? What's the minimum standard? What happens if there's no progress?"

"If, after a week under my guidance, you show no progress whatsoever, I will refund half of my fee. Of course, to prevent anyone from taking advantage, once a refund is issued, I will no longer accept your commissions."

"As for the minimum standard, it will be based on the assessment you mentioned. If you fail the assessment, you will receive a full refund, and I will continue to guide you until you pass."

"Um…"

The girl who hadn't spoken among the three women asked timidly, "That… the 20% discount… is it still valid?"

"Of course!" Duan Mu nodded. "No matter how many years pass, no matter how many commissions there are, as long as I accept a commission, the discount offer posted outside will always be valid."

['Katori' Affection +1, Gained 10 Experience Points]

['Izumi Tetsu' Affection +1, Gained 10 Experience Points]

['Konai' Affection +2, Gained 20 Experience Points.]

Duan Mu observed, noting that Katori was the youngest of the three. Izumi Tetsu was the mature woman, and Konai, who gained the extra affection points, was the black-haired girl who blushed when she spoke.

"What about us?" the two men asked simultaneously.

"I'm sorry, the discount service is only for female customers," Duan Mu said with a smile.

"...This is blatant discrimination." The young man looked displeased, but finally gritted his teeth, "1000 Ring it is, then. But if I don't pass the assessment after a week, I'm definitely coming back for a refund!!"

Although the unequal discount for men and women made the two gentlemen present quite dissatisfied, all five of them ultimately chose to pay.

"I will be guiding all five of you simultaneously. You can choose your weak points, or areas you wish to improve further. I will focus on teaching one skill you select, and while I focus on that, the others can learn along as well."

"However, there's one thing I need to clarify beforehand."

Duan Mu paused. "Unlike Zanjutsu, Shunpo, and Hakuda, if you require focused instruction in Kido, I will need to see your current mastery of Kido first. Simply put, you will release the Kido you know using 'full incantation' in front of me, and I will provide guidance based on the Kido you release."

"And I will not teach you what you haven't learned," Duan Mu added silently in his mind, "Because I don't know it either..."

This was precisely Duan Mu's objective in keeping these individuals, even at the risk of exposing his own abilities.

If he wanted to learn more Kido, these current students were undoubtedly the best choice.

The only troublesome aspect was the experience points.

But…

Duan Mu looked at the three girls, his smile so gentle it seemed to ooze water.

"Wool comes from the sheep's back."

As long as he befriended these three girls, gaining experience shouldn't be difficult, especially with 'Konai', who blushed every time she spoke; her favorability should be easy to increase.

After White Thunder broke through to intermediate, his knowledge of spiritual particle manipulation was already extremely rich. As long as he used '50' experience points to activate the corresponding Kido, he could barely get through the initial guidance at the beginner level and then slowly upgrade it to low-level after gaining experience.