So You Were the One Who Opened It!

That afternoon, three people arrived at the academy gates.

The lean old man in front held his back ramrod straight, a medicine pouch hanging at his waist. Yang Wudi. Beside him stood a thin, white-bearded elder, Bai He. A burly man whose stride stirred the air followed behind them: Niu Gao.

Lin Yuan came out of the dormitory and nodded to the three at the gate.

Yang Wudi, Bai He, and Niu Gao smiled.

"Lin Yuan."

Xiao Wu ran out of the girls' dormitory.

"Lin Yuan, you—"

The words stuck in her throat. Yang Wudi, Bai He, and Niu Gao all changed expression. The three exchanged a glance, and Soul Power surged through them on instinct. The air grew heavy, and dust scattered across the training ground.

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

Lin Yuan stepped forward and pushed the three men several paces away. Before they could react, he had already moved them clear.

Yang Wudi lowered his voice. "Lin Yuan, she's—"

"My friend."

Yang Wudi froze. Bai He and Niu Gao went rigid too. A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form—something found only in legends—stood right before them, her hair in a scorpion braid, looking at them with open curiosity.

Yang Wudi drew a deep breath and looked at Lin Yuan. After a moment's silence, Bai He and Niu Gao slowly withdrew their Soul Power. Yang Wudi shook his head and smiled again, though his expression had grown more complicated.

The dormitory door opened. Hearing the commotion, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong came out.

Xiao Wu tilted her head at them.

"What happened?"

"Nothing." Lin Yuan withdrew his hand. "Three elders who came to help."

Xiao Wu blinked, turned to the men, and gave them a bright smile. "Hello, seniors!"

Yang Wudi coughed. He glanced over the three girls, then suddenly looked at Lin Yuan.

"No wonder you ran ahead on your own."

Beside him, Bai He nodded, stroking his beard with a knowing smile.

"So you came to see some pretty young ladies."

Niu Gao grinned, his voice booming like a bell.

"I was wondering why you suddenly rushed off to Barak when things were going fine in the Star Luo Empire. Turns out you had someone here on your mind."

Xiao Wu's face flared red. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Her hands twisted together as she lowered her head, the tips of her ears scarlet.

Zhu Zhuqing turned her face away. Her ears were red too.

Ning Rongrong didn't mind. If anything, she found it amusing. She stepped forward openly and smiled at the three men.

"Hello, seniors. I'm Ning Rongrong, from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Yang Wudi nodded to her.

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Ning Fengzhi's daughter?"

"Yes." Ning Rongrong nodded with a smile.

Bai He smiled as well and cupped his hands.

"I've long heard of Sect Master Ning."

Ning Rongrong blinked and looked back at Lin Yuan.

"These elders of yours are quite interesting."

Lin Yuan waved a hand.

"All right. Let's talk inside."

Around the corner, in the shadows.

A cloaked figure leaned against the wall. His hood hung low, revealing only half his face. His gaze stayed fixed on the three men at the academy gates.

It had been a long time since he had seen them.

Back then, the Clear Sky Sect had sealed itself away. The four affiliated clans had refused to submit to Spirit Hall and had been hunted down. The Breaking Clan, Speed Clan, and Defense Clan had suffered terrible losses, their survivors scattered far and wide. Their former glory had become bones in the wilderness.

All because of him.

The cloaked man turned and disappeared into the depths of the alley without showing himself.

Night fell.

Inside, a map of Suotuo City lay spread across the table. The oil lamp's flame danced inside its glass shade, stretching the shadows of those gathered around it long and short.

Lin Yuan finished going over the map: Bai He's clansmen would scout locations, Niu Gao's would renovate the shops, and Yang Wudi's would prepare the ingredients. The three men nodded. They knew this work like the backs of their hands.

"We'll open one in Suotuo City first. The other cities can get started at the same time."

At some point, Xiao Wu had slipped inside. Her eyes lit up at his last sentence.

"A milk tea shop?"

Lin Yuan turned to her.

"That's right."

Three days later, in Suotuo City.

A new shop opened at the busiest intersection on East Street. Four words were written on its sign: Guga Milk Tea.

A long line stretched from the entrance to the street corner, then turned around it. Some people stood on tiptoe to see ahead. Others grew impatient, but the milky fragrance drifting out of the shop made them reluctant to leave.

Behind the counter, everyone worked at a fever pitch. Members of the Breaking Clan mixed tea, while several Gugas helped out.

The line outside remained long. A Guga stood on tiptoe at the counter, greeting customers. "How many of you, Guga? What flavor would you like, Guga?" After taking an order, it called toward the back, then turned to the next customer. "Next, next, Guga!"

At the register, Dark Gold Guga carefully sorted the silver coins, stacking them neatly one by one. When someone paid too much, it looked up and pushed the extra coins back. "You gave too much, Guga."

Little Moon and Starry Guga delivered the milk tea. Hugging a cup, Little Moon darted nimbly through the crowd, its little feet pattering at top speed. Starry Guga passed cups from the counter into customers' hands, quick and steady.

Xiao Wu took two cups of milk tea to a corner and sat against the wall. She picked up Xuanwu Guga, settled it on her lap, and placed a cup in its hands. The cup was bigger than its face.

"You've never had this, have you?"

Xuanwu Guga shook its head and answered obediently, "Never had it, Guga."

"Take a sip."

Xuanwu Guga lowered its head and drank. When it looked up and blinked, a little dab of milk foam clung to the tip of its nose.

"Good, isn't it?" Xiao Wu asked with a smile.

Xuanwu Guga nodded hard, its eyes shining. "Good, Guga! Sweet, Guga!"

Xiao Wu took a sip from her own cup. The fragrance of milk mingled with tea, tasting exactly as she remembered.

"I haven't had milk tea in five years."

Xuanwu Guga looked up at her, then down at its cup. With both its short little arms, it lifted the cup toward her.

"You drink too, big sister, Guga."

Xiao Wu laughed, raised her own cup, and gently clinked it against Xuanwu Guga's. It lowered its head to keep drinking, its short legs swinging back and forth over her lap.

Ning Rongrong watched from nearby. She took a cup and tried a sip, then raised her eyebrows and turned to Lin Yuan.

"Guga Milk Tea?"

Lin Yuan stood at the entrance, leaning against the doorframe.

Ning Rongrong's eyes suddenly widened. She reached into the Soul Tool at her waist and pulled out a can of milk tea. Its label was still new, and the words on it were perfectly clear: Guga Milk Tea.

"So you're the one who opened it!" She waved the can in her hand. "Back at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Dad bought loads of these for me. I drank them every day. I never thought the shop was yours."

Zhu Zhuqing took a cup too. After a sip, she looked at Lin Yuan in surprise.

Xiao Wu stood up with Xuanwu Guga in her arms and declared, "I'm having this every day from now on."

"Yesterday, you said you were going to eat carrots every day," Ning Rongrong said.

"They don't conflict," Xiao Wu replied with complete confidence.

From her arms, Xuanwu Guga chimed in, "They don't conflict, Guga!"

The line outside kept growing, and the shop staff were so busy their feet barely touched the ground. Silver coins piled up like a little mountain on the register. Bai He helped behind the counter too, his hands moving in a blur. He collected payments faster than cups could be passed out. As he worked, he smiled with narrowed eyes and murmured to himself.

"Once we've established ourselves in the Heaven Dou Empire market too, I wonder how many more Gold Soul Coins we'll make."

Night settled in.

The five Gugas huddled together inside, their short legs limp after a long day. Guga and Little Moon had fallen asleep sprawled across Dark Gold Guga. Starry Guga draped a little blanket over them. Xuanwu Guga still had half a straw in its mouth as it leaned against Lin Yuan's leg. Its eyelids drooped lower and lower until its head tipped sideways and it fell asleep.

Lin Yuan looked down at it.

Zhu Zhuqing stood in the doorway, watching.

"Get some rest."

Lin Yuan nodded.

The door closed, and the oil lamp glowed.

In the distance, toward Suotuo City, points of light lay scattered across the ground.

Many thanks to A Song of Red Silk Beyond Counting and I Believe Dreams Set Sail for your tips!

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