Memorial Tablet

Sima Ye scratched his head and was about to speak when he saw Xu Yinyin, standing beside Yang Ning, clench her fist. The Spirit Stone in her other hand was emitting a "sizzling" sound, with several fine cracks already appearing on its surface.

"No need, no need!" Sima Ye quickly waved his hands. He turned to the cultivators behind him, "Are the checks all done?"

The crowd responded in unison, "They are done!"

Sima Ye then smiled and cupped his hands towards the two, "Senior Sister Xu, Advisor, our inspection is complete. We'll take our leave."

After watching the two nod, Sima Ye quickly led the group of cultivators away from the Myriad Things Come shop. Watching their retreating backs, Yang Ning secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He carefully placed the memorial tablet back into the wooden cabinet and was about to close the door—

"Wait a moment," Xu Yinyin's voice came from behind him.

Yang Ning's body trembled, and a drop of cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He slowly turned around, his face slightly pale, "Wha... what is it?"

Xu Yinyin quickly walked to the memorial tablet and respectfully cupped her hands and bowed towards the spirit tablet of "Father Yang He," bowing three times.

When she stood up, she put on an embarrassed expression, "I'm sorry, Boss. This cabinet is always closed, so I didn't know you had your father's spirit tablet enshrined inside. I haven't paid my respects."

The weight in Yang Ning's heart immediately lifted. He waved his hand, "It's nothing, it's nothing."

Finally, he gently closed the wooden cabinet door, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards the direction of the bamboo forest outside the main door—that's where today's antidote was buried, and he hadn't retrieved it yet.

"Alright, the sun is about to set. It's time to close up. You've been here all day, you should head back," Yang Ning said.

Xu Yinyin turned to look at the setting sun, which was casting rays through the dark clouds. She nodded, "Okay."

Her gaze fell upon the opened product packaging on the ground. There were nearly a hundred items.

"Don't worry, Boss," Xu Yinyin suddenly said, "I'll go find the Senior Sister in charge of distributing the Law Enforcement Hall's monthly salary and have Sima Ye's monthly stipend deducted to compensate you for your losses.

You can estimate the prices and make a list. If his monthly stipend can't cover it in a year, it'll take two years. If it can't cover it in two years, it'll take ten!" She winked playfully, revealing two "wicked" little canine teeth, "Of course, Boss, you could also inflate the prices a bit."

Yang Ning was amused to the point of not knowing whether to laugh or cry at Xu Yinyin's demeanor. These goods, based on their purchase price from the System Mall, were only worth ten Spirit Stones.

Considering the monthly stipend of three Spirit Stones for the top fifty registered disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall, it would only take three months to repay. Yet Xu Yinyin was suggesting Sima Ye repay it over a year, or even ten years.

However, Yang Ning wouldn't refuse Xu Yinyin's kindness. His principle of "not taking an extra cent" was for gentlemen, not for opportunistic and insidious scoundrels like Sima Ye.

He nodded, "No problem. I'll draft the list tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yinyin's mood visibly brightened. She picked up a broom and dustpan and began to clean.

Yang Ning watched the setting sun being obscured by the dark clouds and touched his subtly burning and aching abdomen, his heart sinking. "It's okay, I'll clean it myself. It's your first day helping out, and besides, I see clouds in the sky. It might rain tonight, so you should go back and rest early..."

Xu Yinyin continued sweeping with her head down, "There weren't many customers today, and I read most of the day. I'm not tired at all. Besides, the first day should have a proper end. As an employee, how can I leave the shop in such a mess? And I'm a Core Formation Stage cultivator, a little rain won't do anything to me."

Seeing that he couldn't persuade her, Yang Ning picked up another broom and began to help clean.

"Hey, Boss, what are you doing?"

Xu Yinyin looked at Yang Ning busy sweeping, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

"Two people working is better than one. It'll be faster this way," Yang Ning said, head down, sweeping diligently.

Seeing the sweat on Yang Ning's forehead (actually caused by pain), Xu Yinyin felt a warmth spread through her heart. "Th... thank you."

Yang Ning's broom-wielding speed increased. "It's nothing. Let's hurry up."

"Mhm!" Xu Yinyin nodded vigorously and also sped up her sweeping.

Fifteen minutes later, the two finally finished cleaning. After Xu Yinyin dumped the trash in the bin outside the door, she turned to look at Yang Ning and noticed the beads of sweat on his forehead. "Boss, the work is done, so I'll head back now."

At this moment, Yang Ning also walked out of the shop.

"Boss?"

"Oh..." Yang Ning's voice was intermittent, stuttering, and tinged with a slight tremor. "Perfect timing, I need to go out too."

Xu Yinyin felt another warmth spread through her heart. "Boss, you really don't need to see me off... This is the Sword Sect's territory, after all, and I'm a Core Formation Stage cultivator. I'm not in any danger."

"Ah?" Yang Ning waved his hand. His abdomen felt like it was burning like fire, and his internal organs felt like they were being twisted. "No... no... ah."

Seeing Yang Ning's "flustered" appearance, Xu Yinyin's face couldn't help but flush. "Then... then alright."

With that, Xu Yinyin stepped towards the bamboo path. Yang Ning quickly followed. He wanted to run, but the sharp pain in his abdomen made it difficult for him to exert force, and he could only maintain his fastest walking pace—which happened to be the same as Xu Yinyin's normal walking speed.