Yoru, anwhile, had taken the pillow hostage.
No one dared move.
On the third floor, Hao sat alone in his own room, back against the headboard, arms folded.
A floating screen hovered before him.
────────────────
Side Task 3:
Hire your second store crew. You weren’t planning to overwork Mo Xixi, right?
Progress: 0/1 → 1/1
Requirent: The employee must be at least Saint Realm or higher. The system will automatically detect individuals within the vicinity who et the requirents.
Reward: Unlock Employee’s AirBuds. It will be delivered to the storage area after business hours.
Status: Completed!
Claim your reward now?
────────────────
Reward claid!
Hao clicked the option.
"...Every ti I read this line, I feel personally attacked."
’You weren’t planning to overwork Mo Xixi, right?’
"Excuse ? Overwork? Little Xixi only has a six-hour shift, alright? That’s part-ti. Chill."
He huffed once, then rubbed the corner of his forehead.
Not that deep, system. Calm down.
His attention drifted to the reward na.
Employee’s AirBuds... huh.
"Finally got this one. Wireless Qi-chan transmission?"
He leaned his head back.
"...It better co preloaded with fire music or I’m sending it back."
Hao waved his hand.
Side tasks? Cleared.
Second main task? Done and dusted.
That left just one thing.
The final main task.
Hao grinned.
And after that?
Real entertainnt was coming to the store.
Billiards.
Oh, it’s over for them.
He cracked his knuckles, ntally blasting the entrance music.
"Should I pull up like The Magician and absolutely cook every custor that touches a cue?"
He snorted.
"I’m about to smoke and mog the whole lineup. No rcy. No warm-up. Just pure pool dominance."
The store wasn’t ready.
They thought they ca for snacks.
They were about to get humbled.
Was Hao forgetting that his custors were literally cultivators who probably had no idea what billiards even was?
Half of them would most likely call the cue stick a "spear" and ask which ridian it was supposed to strike.
But maybe Hao just didn’t care.
He was still going to speedrun their pride and 100-0 them without breaking a sweat.
Bro’s boutta to open the store like it’s a world championship, and his opponent’s still figuring out how to hold the stick.
Hao hadn’t even slept.
Forgot entirely.
Didn’t cultivate either.
Final boss of free ti, fully unlocked.
He was on pure delusion mode now - imagining shot angles, victory speeches...
Peak smug. Zero rest.
And absolutely no one asked.
Morning ca.
Hao stretched, and glanced at the clock.
"...Huh. Morning already?"
He totally forgot about the ti.
But whatever. It was worth it.
That’s what he told himself.
Coping: engaged.
As he walked downstairs, he instantly saw Yan Zhi.
"..."
Topless.
Drenched in sweat from head to toe, like soone just poured a bucket over him.
The guy was wearing one of those robes Hao bought from outside - the lower half only.
Upper half? Gone.
Just abs, collarbones, and cri.
Did he take it off just to aura farm? To flex those muscles on purpose??
Bro, there weren’t even any jade beauties in the room.
No maidens. No crowd.
Put the biceps away, king. You’re farming nothing but air.
Hao wasn’t jealous. Not at all.
But he did swear - he’ll have those too.
Soon.
Soon... alright? No rush.
Cultivation was a long road.
Hao waved lazily. "Yo. Woke up early, Zhi?"
’Yo?’ Yan Zhi scratched the back of his head, a bit sheepish.
"Ah... didn’t sleep, Brother Hao. I think I could’ve, but... I felt I shouldn’t. So I just trained."
Hao blinked.
He thought of his own night - of fake pool tournants, imaginary victory poses, and fake applause.
anwhile, this guy went full Bruce Lee mode.
Hao felt... very slightly ashad.
Just a tiny pang. Microscopic.
Moving on.
He clapped his hands. "Co, I’ll show you your personal bath."
Hao led Yan Zhi to the bathroom that had been set aside just for him.
A proper, designated spot. Employee perks, baby.
To be honest, Yan Zhi didn’t sll that bad.
But there was still a whiff of "been-on-the-run-for-days" energy about him.
Respectfully, broski needed a rinse.
It took Yan Zhi a good few minutes to figure out how to use the bathroom.
Everything inside was just so... advanced.
There were buttons, a silver pipe that hissed mist, and many more...
But once he figured it out?
Ohhh.
The shower hit like a spiritual awakening.
Warm water cascading down his back, washing off days of dust and regret - felt like he was being reborn.
After training nonstop, it was the perfect combo.
Mind clear. Body clean. Muscles glistening.
He stepped out of the bathroom feeling ten tis more alive.
Monts later, Hao brought him to the storage area.
There were neatly stacked carton boxes in the side.
Hao squatted beside one of them, popped it open, and pulled sothing out.
A uniform.
Neatly folded. Dark material. Sleek design.
The tag on the chest had his na engraved on it: Yan Zhi.
For a second, Yan Zhi looked like he was about to hug Hao.
Grateful, emotional, eyes misty.
Hao dodged. Casually.
And instead, offered a hand. "We dap here, bro."
"Dap?" Yan Zhi blinked.
"Is that... a greeting technique, Brother Hao?"
"Yeah." Hao replied.
"It’s Called Universal Homie Seal."
It took three failed attempts - one was a fist slap, one turned into a handshake, the third nearly ended in a pinky touch.
But on the fourth try.
PAK!
A crisp, clean dap echoed through the storage area.
Perfection.
Hao nodded, satisfied. "Now we’re locked in."
Of course, he didn’t forget the final piece.
He reached into the box and pulled out a small item - the Employee’s Badge.
Simple. Polished. Nothing fancy on the surface.
But as Hao explained what it could actually do - how it was a sacred treasure, how it wasn’t even a one-ti use item - Yan Zhi just... stood there.
Shook.
Silent.
You could practically see his soul buffering.
He accepted the badge with both hands, holding like it was the final project that finally compiled at 3 a.m. after six hours of errors.
Then, box in arms, he smiled brightly at Hao. "I’ll... I’ll go try it on, Brother Hao!"
Hao waved him off, watching the guy hurry back to his room, practically skipping.
He was gleeing.
And honestly? Hao was happy for him.
Reviews
All reviews (0)