"Li Yangyi continued, "That reminds me... The technique the chef used, Is it not awfully similar to the one move you used on Wang Jing?" He paused and thought about it. "Yes, a mortal exerting mighty strength overwhelming a cultivator with just a flick of their hand, it's exactly the same!"
Zhang Yong, listening in, connected the dots, and he promptly realized that Li Yangyi was right. "What the hell! Now that you mention it, they do seem similar. Shou, what's the explanation for this?"
"Well," Shou tilted his head, "I am the owner after all. Don't you think I should at least know the techniques I sell?"
Li Yangyi's eyes popped wide open. "Technique—you mean that stuff the chef did was real? I thought it was an illusory world!"
"Of course it is, but the worlds are still based on our reality after all," Shou explained casually.
"What!" He threw his hands up in shock; He thought nothing could shock him anymore, but that certainly was not the case. This mysterious store seemed to have a lot more things hidden than he initially anticipated. Maybe, if he played his cards correctly, he could try usurping it with the help of his father? No, there are still so many mysteries surrounding it. As his thoughts wandered, he suddenly realized another crucial aspect. "...Then, can you teach me?"
Zhang Yong stared at Li Yangyi with a face that said he couldn't believe what he was hearing! What a madman this youngster was! But he had to admit—what a great question! Who knows, the owner seemed like an amicable person, maybe he'd just agree.
"Hmm, I could, but what I use is a little different. I think the chef himself should explain it to you." Shou shrugged his shoulders.
"...Aren't you just trying to earn more money?" Li Yangyi squinted his eyes, and he shuddered as he glanced at the store-board which read '15 spirit stones'.
"Do I look like a greedy bastard to you?"
"Are you not?"
'...It really isn't me,' Shou thought silently and blamed Si. "Well, are you not gonna come anymore then?"
"Ah—ahah... Who said anything about that," Li Yangyi quickly corrected his ways. He was distrustful, but not a fool. The evidence was there—he was wrong. He'd learned today, there was no shame in admitting that; and as a follow-up there was also no shame in admitting that this store was fucking awesome (though he did get trashed the whole night)!
He quickly shook his head and tried to give the most amicable smile he could muster. In his heart, he only thought about Wang Jing and how he did not want to end up like him. Ah, that poor fool.
"Dude, are you all right?" Seeing the boy giving his best to butter him up, when a few hours ago, he simply wanted to kill him really weirded Shou out.
A scream suddenly resounded, the echo bouncing off this small stores' walls. Li Yangyi immediately recognized the voice. He turned his head at light-speed. "Li Yinyi?"
Shou blinked twice in shock. What a fast reaction time! If he used that on the chef, who knew how the fight may have panned out.
Li Yangyi ran towards the source—the golden-glowing cube with a screen hovering above it.
"Is that Li Yinyi?" Since it was the first time for him to see a projection, he naturally was surprised, but what truly gave him a heart-attack were the contents of said projection.
He saw his adorable Li Yinyi stuck in a small cell, like a caged animal. The room was dimly lit, only a small flame illuminating the room. nevertheless, he could tell the place was damp and moldy; not even rats would hide there. Li Yinyi laid on the ground, unmoving, her face hidden behind her long, black hair. In front, there was a small bowl with stir-fried rice almost untouched.
"What the hell's going on here?" Li Yangyi's face turned incredibly dark.
Shou walked to the core. "Hmm," he held his chin. "I think that makes it the second time?"
"Second time of what?"
"Of her dying in this run."
"How can she illicit so many deaths I wonder," Zhang Yong interjected casually.
"What?" Li Yangyi cocked his head and faced Shou, his face blank. "Dying?"
Shou nodded. "Yes. You see the bowl of food there? It's probably poisoned by the witch. I think she's been starting her experiments ever since she captured her."
Li yangyi jumped up. "Then what are we doing here? We should help her!" He rushed at the core and tried grabbing the screen, but his hands simply went through. "Let's go! Why are you waiting? I said let's go!"
"Well, this place doesn't support multiplayer yet."
"Huh, multiplayer? What does that mean and how does it help in this situation?" Li Yangyi's brows shot up and he screamed. He was grasping at his hair, every time he his vision fell on his motionless sister. Every second was crucial here.
"Now, now, Little Yangyi, just relax. Look at the screen." Zhang Yong rested his hand on Li Yangyi's shoulder in hope of placating him. he suddenly felt like a veteran—ah, it felt like it was only a few hours ago since he had the same expression as him.
"Relax? How do I relax in this—" His words were cut off by a louder sound.
Li Yinyi gasped strongly and coughed thrice. She hit her chest with a hard fist and shot up straight like an arrow, revealing her rosy cheeks filled with vitality. She stretched herself with a smile.
Li yangyi: "..." He shot a vindictive glare at Shou. "Don't scare me like that!"
"Hey, don't blame me here, I told you the truth."
"What, you told me she was poisoned, so I thought she died. Puh, that shaved off half my lifespan here."
Zhang Yong remained silent. He, too, knew that Li Yinyi had truly died. It was just that she had been revived again. He already understood that one could not die in the illusory world. Though shocked, many things were possible in a world that wasn't real. He was actually mulling over some other thoughts. 'Didn't Shou just say that all techniques in the world were real? Then is this method of resurrection and the witch's magic also real?' Zhang Yong grabbed his head in confusion. "Haha, no way." In the end, he decided against it. After all, that would simply be too much.
Evidently, the witch had also heard Li Yinyi, as she barged into the room. Though her face was masked, she still appeared irritated. Li Yinyi's eyes glimmered with happiness, much to the lady's ire. The witch opened the cage and walked in.
"Hey, what are we doing next," Li Yinyi asked and swarmed around the witch. When she noticed the witch wasn't paying attention, she went in for the hug. "I knew you were a nice person. You even gave me food!"
"..." This time, not just the witch was silent. Shou, Si, Zhang Yong and Li Yangyi were all stunned mute.
The witch easily wriggled out of Li Yinyi's grip. She reached for a knife, and with one fell swoop, she slit Li Yinyi's throat. She then took out another bowl and calmly collected the blood flowing out.
"!" Li Yangyi's eyes followed the dripping red, and he saw the light dimming in his sisters eyes. He was shocked so greatly, that his brain stopped processing the images in front of him.
Zhang Yong shook the boy's shoulder. "Uhm, Little Yangyi. Don't take this so seriously. It's not real," he tried comforting.
"Three deaths reached, premature cancellation of simulation."
Thankfully, Li Yinyi woke up right after. Her smiling face managed to soothe Li Yangyi greatly.
"Oh God, I thought you had died." He ran up to her and gave her a big hug. He even felt like crying just now. Why the hell did no one warn him about this? Granted, they did say it wasn't real. But how could he have seen that coming?
"Uwah, what's wrong with you today?" Li Yinyi tried shoving that guy away.
"Well, all's well that ends well. Right Si?"
"[nod nod]." She had earned good money too. She could not be happier.
Shou was about to close the store for today, but he saw that Zhang Yong had been absentmindedly staring at the screen ever since Li Yinyi got out.
"What's wrong?" Li Yangyi also realized the mans strange reaction. Soon, everyone's attention was gathered at Zhang Yong.
The man in question slowly lifted his finger. He pointed at the simple screen, and he screamed out, "34% Completion rate!?"