Ultimate Hidden Shop (Please Vote, Sob Sob Sob)

Ye Tianyi knew how much pressure Ye Xian'er was under and what she carried on her shoulders. Perhaps the old Ye Tianyi had been a piece of trash, but he had to do something.

Sister Hong crossed her legs, revealing a glimpse of enticing scenery. Looking at Ye Tianyi, she said, "Come in and have some fun. We can talk while we play."

Ye Tianyi smiled awkwardly. "Forget it. Next time. My pockets are empty."

His pockets really were empty. Ye Xian'er gave him money once a week, but the original owner of this body had already squandered it all before the day he transmigrated. Ye Xian'er had already treated him well enough. Even under such circumstances, she could still give him ten thousand yuan in weekly spending money. Ten thousand yuan as pocket money—apart from the wealthy, only truly rich families in a relatively small empire like the Heavenly Water Empire could afford that.

Ye Xian'er had truly been good enough to him, but Ye Tianyi had been too much of a scumbag. Even with ten thousand yuan in monthly spending money, he still constantly asked her for more. She did not want to give it to him, but she always felt that, as his older sister, she ought to take care of him. As for whether he would only grow worse, of course she had considered it. But she had no choice. She had tried being strict before—refusing to give him money—but then he stole and robbed, and there was also a whole pack of lecherous friends outside, writing IOUs...

She had no choice but to continue like this. She thought that people would grow up eventually, and that he would understand someday. Yes, deep down, she had always held hope for Ye Tianyi. She had grown up with him and knew what kind of person he was. She also knew he was not truly bad. Indeed, he was not that awful—at the very least, he would not kill people. She believed there was kindness in Ye Tianyi's heart, and that there would always be a chance to bring him back.

"Young Master Ye can have empty pockets too? The young ladies in my club like you the most. You're the only customer they've ever met who still gives tips," Sister Hong said with a smile.

Ye Tianyi scratched his head and said nothing.

What a fucking idiot. His own sister was working herself to the bone, yet he went out to have fun and even gave tips. If that did not make him an idiot, what did?

But things were different now. Ye Tianyi wanted to share Ye Xian'er's burden.

"Sister Hong, your information network is the best. I heard that one of the Blood Legion's squads is recruiting members for a mission. They say everyone who completes it can receive a reward of five hundred thousand."

Ye Tianyi asked.

Sister Hong was around thirty years old and quite beautiful. Although she ran this kind of business, Ye Tianyi knew her intelligence network was extremely well-connected. She also knew many people of influence and status in Heavenly Water Holy City. True people did not show their depths—anyway, she was far from being as simple as she appeared. At the very least, her information and connections were the most impressive resources Ye Tianyi could reach in his current impoverished state.

"There is such a thing. They're expected to leave the day after tomorrow. What, Young Master Ye, you want to...?"

Ye Tianyi smiled. "Yes, I want to join them, but I can't get in touch with those people. Didn't Sister Hong say last time that you knew the Blood Legion's captain? So I'd like to trouble you for a favor."

Sister Hong frowned, then uncrossed her legs and looked at Ye Tianyi.

"Young Master Ye, it's not impossible, but the minimum requirement for the Blood Legion Seventh Squad is a warrior at Enlightened Aperture Realm Stage Five, so..."

"Don't worry, Sister Hong. I definitely meet the requirements. Please put in a word for me. They can set the location, and interviews or whatever else are all fine."

Sister Hong looked at Ye Tianyi in surprise. Was he not the famous good-for-nothing? At his age, he was only at the Qi Foundation Realm. How could he meet the requirements?

"Fine, I'll help you ask. But don't lie to me, Sister Hong. The minimum is Enlightened Aperture Realm Stage Five."

Ye Tianyi nodded. "Thank you, Sister Hong."

He was currently at Qi Foundation Realm Fifth Order, but once the task reward was issued, he would be exactly at Enlightened Aperture Realm Stage Five. Nineteen years old and Enlightened Aperture Realm Stage Five—nothing extraordinary, but acceptable enough.

"Mm, I'll give you an answer tomorrow. But as for the service fee..."

Sister Hong smiled and rubbed her hands together.

"I'll give it to you tomorrow."

"Alright! Then may your business boom and everything go your way, Young Master Ye."

"May Sister Hong's business get even better!" Ye Tianyi grinned.

"Ah, my business isn't doing so well anymore."

"That can't be right. I remember this place has the highest-quality girls in Heavenly Water Holy City. Otherwise, I wouldn't come here so often to have fun. How could business be bad?"

Ye Tianyi asked in confusion.

Sister Hong sighed and beckoned with her hand. "Give me a cigarette."

Ye Tianyi handed her one, then lit one for himself as well.

"Young Master Ye, why are you smoking these four-yuan-a-pack cigarettes now?" Sister Hong asked with a smile.

"Ah, I'm poor."

He only had five yuan left. He had bought these on the way to the academy that morning.

"True enough. Your sister hasn't had it easy either. Be more understanding toward her. From now on, when you come here, I'll let you have three free visits a month."

Ye Tianyi smiled but said nothing.

Then Sister Hong took a deep drag and said, "News came yesterday. Supposedly, someone in the Heavenly Water Empire ate some kind of Demon Beast meat and later fell ill. An Enlightened Aperture Realm warrior couldn't hold on for even half a month before dying from the sickness. And the virus is contagious too. They say only five people have been infected so far. Tell me, if that news gets out, will anyone still dare come out to have fun? Forget now—even during the New Year, probably no one will come."

Ye Tianyi frowned. "An Enlightened Aperture Realm warrior can die from illness?"

One had to know that an Enlightened Aperture Realm warrior was no longer an ordinary person. It was normal for ordinary people to die of illness, but for a martial artist to die from sickness sounded far too absurd.

"That's why it's not an ordinary virus. It came from Demon Beasts. Naturally, something spread by Demon Beasts isn't ordinary. It's perfectly normal for it to kill even Enlightened Aperture Realm warriors. Otherwise, I wouldn't be afraid. With something like this happening, once the news spreads, people won't even dare leave their homes. How could I still have any business? You should be careful these days too. Even Enlightened Aperture Realm warriors can die—this time, it's rather terrifying."

Sister Hong said.

"Thank you for the reminder, Sister Hong. I'll head back first."

After Ye Tianyi returned home, Ye Xian'er was nowhere to be seen. Normally, during the day, she went to the Demon Beast Domain to kill Demon Beasts and sell their Demon Crystals, or gather rare crystals and medicinal materials. Of course, these were extremely dangerous things to do, because the Demon Beast Domain was full of Demon Beasts. Powerful Demon Beasts aside, once one was injured there, the scent of blood would draw Demon Beasts in. No matter where one went, danger lurked everywhere! Ye Xian'er was actually fortunate to possess some strength. Otherwise, she could not have thought of any way at all to repay the debts.

With good luck in the Demon Beast Domain, selling a rare medicinal material or the Demon Crystal of a powerful Demon Beast for hundreds of thousands or even millions was no problem, though the odds of encountering such things were very small.

Ye Tianyi sat on the sofa, watching the time and waiting for the task reward to be issued.

"Ding... The task reward has been issued."

"Ding... Because you exceeded the task requirements, your realm has increased by ten levels."

"Ding... Because you exceeded the task requirements, your Heaven-Defying Cultivation Talent has been upgraded to God-Level Cultivation Talent."

"Ding... Because you exceeded the task requirements, the System First Shop has been upgraded and opened as the Level Zero Ultimate Hidden Shop."

(Please vote! The Update Request Tower broke two thousand today, so I owe six chapters. I'll make them up after signing the contract. Today is Valentine's Day. Although we can't go out and have fun, any handsome guys and pretty girls who vote and confess online are sure to succeed! If you want to confess, vote first. Trust me, really!)

Seriously, I wandered around outside all morning, and not a single printing shop was open. In the end, with no other choice, I had my dad find a printing place back in our hometown to help me mail the contract.