"Who would've thought? It can even increase the number of years of cultivation in a Soul Ring. This Mission Card Shop is truly incredible!"
"Yeah, yeah! I never would've imagined it!"
"..."
Li Haiyun, however, seemed much more composed. He asked with gentle concern, "Hunting Soul Beasts can be dangerous, Rongrong. When you do your quest, remember to keep yourself safe!"
"Mm-hmm, I will!" Ning Rongrong nodded.
After their initial conversation with Boss Li,
Ning Rongrong felt that the handsome, refined shopkeeper was a decent person—not the kind of frivolous, greasy Soul Master she'd expected.
He was nothing like Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and the others at Shrek Academy, who spent all day thinking about lewd things!
"Come to think of it, holding hands with Boss Li and completing the quest isn't such a bad deal!"
Ning Rongrong thought to herself, and made up her mind at once.
So,
Ning Rongrong took two steps forward, moving closer to Li Haiyun.
As he watched the beauty approach and caught the fragrance wafting from her, Li Haiyun guessed she was about to complete that secret quest.
Sure enough,
Ning Rongrong's face reddened as she gazed at Li Haiyun with tender affection. "Boss Li, there's something I'd like to tell you!"
"What is it?"
Li Haiyun asked gently.
The passersby nearby watched the shopkeeper and customer standing close together. The atmosphere felt a little off; it looked like something was about to happen between them!
"Hold out your hand, and then I'll tell you!"
Ning Rongrong said softly, her cheeks red.
"Sure!" Li Haiyun didn't hesitate. He opened his broad hand and held it out.
Looking at the man's clean, broad palm, Ning Rongrong thought it was quite handsome, especially his ten long, fair fingers.
Without the slightest hesitation,
Ning Rongrong reached out with her beautiful hand and entwined her delicate, pale fingers with his, like scallion shoots. She lifted her lovely eyes and met Li Haiyun's gaze, deep as a sea of stars.
The man's hand was broad and strong, a whole size larger than her own. It was slightly warm and made her feel very safe.
Ning Rongrong's heart skipped a beat, and her blood began to race.
Though Li Haiyun knew Ning Rongrong was only doing this because the Mission Card had instructed her to, and he had already prepared himself,
when Ning Rongrong entwined her fingers with his, Li Haiyun felt as if he were melting like ice cream. He froze.
Her hand was beautiful and soft, like a bundle of cotton with a comforting warmth. It made his heart flutter.
Li Haiyun was sure that if he leaned in and breathed in, he would catch her lovely natural scent.
"Boss Li, what I wanted to say is... look into my eyes, and don't say a word...!"
Ning Rongrong parted her cherry lips and spoke gently.
Li Haiyun understood. He cooperated, holding her hand with their fingers interlaced and gazing into Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes.
The passersby nearby watched the sudden scene unfold before them and erupted like ants from a kicked nest.
"Holy crap! In broad daylight, under the clear blue sky—what are you doing, feeding us dog food?"
"Yeah, that came out of nowhere! How'd they suddenly start holding hands, fingers interlaced, and gazing into each other's eyes?"
"I skipped breakfast, but watching them hug and hold hands has filled me right up!"
"..."
Most of the passersby were shocked by Li Haiyun and Ning Rongrong's intimate interaction, assuming they were showing off their romance.
But a few quick-witted passersby immediately realized there was more to it.
"What do you mean, feeding us dog food? I think a dog kicked your head in—you've got the look of someone who can't think straight! This is clearly what the quest that little girl received requires her to do!"
"What? You're saying this is required by the Mission Card's quest?"
"Obviously! Knowing how these Mission Cards work, it definitely told the pretty young lady to quietly clasp hands with Boss Li and gaze lovingly into each other's eyes!"
"Damn, that makes a lot of sense. I was wondering why a girl who didn't even know the shopkeeper would suddenly do something like this. I thought she must be desperate... No, I mean, it would've been so out of character!"
"So that's what's going on! Now I finally understand. Thank you, kind, clever stranger. I might've gone my whole life without knowing the truth!"
"..."
Listening to the passersby chatting nearby,
Ning Rongrong had felt her heart twinge at first. She wasn't showing off her romance; she was seriously completing her quest!
Being misunderstood made her cheeks burn even redder.
But later,
some clever people spotted the truth and pointed out that she was only doing it because the quest required it.
Ning Rongrong's tight, embarrassed heart eased, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
That's right, it's what the Mission Card requires!
Everyone, don't get the wrong idea!
Time flew by.
Very quickly,
ninety-six breaths, ninety-seven breaths... ninety-nine breaths...!
Chapter 7: Making a Best Friend
One hundred breaths!
Both Li Haiyun and Ning Rongrong heard a notification in their minds that the quest had ended.
"All right, Boss Li, you can let go now. Thank you!"
Ning Rongrong said gently, lowering her head slightly as she withdrew her small hands.
"No need to thank me. It was my pleasure."
Li Haiyun nodded, every inch the gentleman.
Then,
the Purple Grade quest card in Ning Rongrong's arms flew out on its own and floated in midair.
Under everyone's gaze,
the Purple Grade quest card gave off a cloud of hazy purple mist.
A moment later, the purple mist dispersed.
In its place were five delicate glass bottles.
Each bottle was about as big as a thumb, filled with a thick yellow liquid.
This was Ning Rongrong's reward: Soul Grandmaster-level Experience Water, with each bottle granting one level.
This time, Li Haiyun had triggered a double reward and received ten bottles of Soul Grandmaster-level Experience Water!
The Black-Grade Mission Card from earlier had triggered a hundredfold reward for Li Haiyun, earning him a Colorful Gold-level Martial Soul advancement card. When used, it could give a Martial Soul a top-tier enhancement!
Ning Rongrong reached out and grabbed the five bottles of Soul Grandmaster-level Experience Water.
"So this is Experience Water that can increase a Soul Master's level?"
Ning Rongrong murmured, examining it curiously.
Li Haiyun heard her and nodded, confirming, "That's right. Each bottle of Experience Water you drink will increase your cultivation by one level!"
The passersby nearby were astonished. They had never imagined there could be Experience Water that increased Soul Power Level. It was unbelievable.
Many of them stared at the Experience Water, their eyes burning with desire. They wanted it for themselves.
After hearing Boss Li confirm it, Ning Rongrong was deeply shaken.
Then, as her excitement subsided, her face flushed. "Boss Li, the hand-holding and gazing into each other's eyes just now were required by the Mission Card... and only I could see the quest... If I offended you, please don't take it to heart!"
Ning Rongrong was only twelve years old—in fact, she was just shy of turning twelve.
Still a young girl, she was bound to feel nervous and uneasy when it came to matters of the heart and close contact with the opposite sex.
Li Haiyun smiled. "It's all right. I don't mind. Actually, I'd already guessed what was going on. I'm just glad you completed the quest."
"Mm." Ning Rongrong nodded, her face red, and uttered a soft sound of agreement.
"By the way, aren't you going to try the Experience Water? What if the reward is fake? If it turns out to be fake, there are plenty of people here to witness it. You can demand justice for yourself!"
Li Haiyun said jokingly.
Hearing that, Ning Rongrong's expression grew serious. "Boss Li, what are you talking about? Even my Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda was advanced and enhanced into the Eight Treasures Glazed Pagoda. There's no way this Experience Water is fake!"
The passersby beside them nodded, thinking Ning Rongrong made a very good point.
She's got good judgment, Li Haiyun thought to himself, approving.
As he was thinking,
Ning Rongrong spoke again. "Still, to prove that the reward Boss Li gave me is real, I've decided to drink the Experience Water right here. Everyone should trust this shop and buy lots of things!"
Hearing that Ning Rongrong wanted to advertise for him, Li Haiyun thanked her. "Thank you."
The passersby around them also grew excited. One by one, they clapped and cheered.
Some still had doubts and weren't entirely convinced by the Mission Card Shop.
Naturally, the passersby welcomed and supported the chance to see proof.
"Watch closely."
Ning Rongrong announced.
Then,
she picked up a bottle of Experience Water, opened it, put it to her cherry-red lips, and gulped it down.
There wasn't much Experience Water, so she finished it in one go.
At the same time, Ning Rongrong's body tensed, and her cultivation aura surged.
She gained a level!
"I leveled up!"
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up. Almost without thinking, she picked up another bottle of Experience Water, opened it, brought it to her cherry-red lips just as before, and drank it.
Her cultivation aura surged again, and she gained another level.
Ning Rongrong was now level twenty-eight!
"I leveled up again! One more!"
Ning Rongrong murmured, her lovely eyes shining brightly, then drank two more bottles of Experience Water in succession.
Her aura climbed to its peak.
After carefully sensing it, several knowledgeable Soul Masters among the passersby cried out, "That little sister's cultivation aura really has increased! Judging by those fluctuations, she must've gained four levels in a row!"
"That's right, that's right! Oh my god, she gained four levels of Soul Power in an instant! That's terrifying!"
Another passerby Soul Master exclaimed.
At that, the passersby around them stared at the one remaining bottle of Soul Grandmaster-level Experience Water in Ning Rongrong's hand, their eyes gleaming with a wolfish hunger.
Seeing their greedy looks, Li Haiyun hurriedly warned them, "I advise anyone thinking of trying something foolish to back off right now. Rongrong comes from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. You can't afford to provoke her. Besides, this Experience Water only works on Soul Masters between levels twenty-one and twenty-nine. Don't do anything stupid. Before the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect even gets involved, I'll be the one to cripple you!"
Li Haiyun's voice was cold. Combined with the terrifying aura of invincibility within the shop, it made everyone's hearts tighten and their greedy thoughts fade.
"Thank you, Boss Li. You're truly the best boss in the whole world!"