"I'll buy it all! Everything in your shop - I, Nathan, will take it all!!!"
Facing the youthful Ningguang, Nathan made this unexpected declaration.
"But... sir, why are you so insistent on buying this woman's goods?"
"Let me ask you instead - why are you so determined to stop me? I'm the customer, aren't I?"
Nathan coldly countered the middle-aged woman's persistent interference.
"I'm only looking out for you, sir. We can't let visitors new to Liyue... get a bad impression because of this woman."
Though her words seemed righteous, Nathan scoffed at them. Ningguang's reaction, however, was interesting.
From the beginning, she had allowed the two neighboring shop owners to disparage her. If this were the Tianquan Ningguang that Nathan knew well, who held all of Liyue in her grasp, these two would have already paid the price for their actions, let alone still be here making noise.
"Let me be frank - if an ugly person like you were the shop owner, I wouldn't buy a single thing. Do you understand my meaning?"
Tired of the middle-aged woman sticking to him like glue, Nathan tore through the veneer of politeness. Perhaps even she hadn't expected someone to speak such harsh words - the middle-aged woman was stunned.
Even the usually composed Ningguang's expression subtly changed upon hearing Nathan's words.
"You... how can you be so rude???"
She pointed at him in outrage, unable to believe that the seemingly refined Nathan would speak so offensively.
He had essentially called her an ugly hag to her face. For any woman, appearance was of utmost importance. Had she been armed at that moment, she might have attacked him.
"Courtesy is reserved for friendly people. Some don't deserve such treatment!"
Nathan shrugged, mercilessly retorting to this annoying middle-aged woman. After all, he was the customer. What business was it of hers what he chose to buy?
"You... you shameless..."
The middle-aged woman's face flushed, nearly fainting from anger.
"Young man... some things shouldn't be said..."
The other shop owner, seeing his ally defeated, tried to come to her defense.
"And what will you lecture me about? Playing the elder card?"
Nathan showed no more respect to this elderly man than he had to the woman.
Any observer could see that these two shops, flanking Ningguang's store on both sides, were clearly positioned to target her from all angles.
"You young people these days, so unreasonable..."
The old man deliberately raised his voice, seemingly trying to draw attention from passersby.
But before he could finish, Nathan's piercing glare, infused with the sword intent of the Yunlai Swordsmanship, shattered his attempt at moral manipulation.
How could an ordinary person withstand such frightening sword intent? He was immediately scared into silence.
"Phew... finally, some peace and quiet!!!"
Having dealt with both nuisances in one breath, Nathan felt the atmosphere grow considerably calmer.
Now he could finally have a proper conversation with Ningguang.
When his gaze returned to her, she wore a teasing smile.
"It seems our customer is no ordinary traveler."
At this time, Ningguang wasn't yet one of the Qixing, nor a Vision bearer. Though ordinary in combat ability, she still noticed his extraordinary nature from his final display of presence.
"I'm just a regular traveling merchant, shop owner."
Nathan shook his head - this clearly wasn't the place for serious talk.
"By the way... based on what you said earlier, were you complimenting my beauty?"
Hearing Nathan's response, Ningguang didn't pursue the matter. Instead, she brushed aside her bangs in a gesture full of charm, showing glimpses of her future self.
"Isn't the phrase 'the beauty across the water' made for someone like you?"
Maintaining his expression while delivering the compliment, Nathan admitted to himself that he was thoroughly swayed by beauty.
Initially, if it weren't for the beautiful female characters, he wouldn't have noticed Genshin Impact as a game.
"Your praise makes me quite embarrassed!"
Though her words expressed bashfulness, Ningguang's expression showed she was quite pleased.
This indirectly proved that no woman was indifferent to her own beauty, even an extraordinary person like Ningguang.
"No need to be so formal with 'customer' - just call me by my name, Nathan."
"Very well, Nathan. You may call me... Ningguang!"
After their self-introductions, Nathan nodded. Though he had known Ningguang's name all along, this was indeed their first meeting in this simulation.
"So, Nathan, were you serious about what you said earlier?"
"You mean about buying everything in your shop?"
"Yes, even though you don't even know what I'm selling!"
After their conversation, Ningguang's doubt was reasonable.
After all, who would buy everything without even seeing the merchandise?
Unless Nathan was simply enchanted by Ningguang's beauty,
spending money just to make her smile.
But from Ningguang's observation, even during their earlier exchange,
Nathan's eyes remained clear - hardly the look of someone blinded by beauty.
"Well, Ningguang, you can introduce them now - what are you selling?"
Nathan just smiled at her doubt.
What she sold didn't matter - Ningguang herself was what was important.
"Since you insist on buying, look here... I sell a food called Qiankun Mora Meat!"
Lifting the cover from the counter, a delicious aroma wafted out.
Neatly arranged were foods made of two layers of flatbread pressed together.
Between the layers were small chunks of meat.
Nathan almost laughed - this so-called Qiankun Mora Meat was just the rou jia mo (meat in bread) from his memories.
As expected of the future business tycoon - even ordinary meat in bread needed an upscale name.
"Nathan... now that you've seen the goods, do you still want to buy everything?"
A hint of amusement flickered in Ningguang's eyes. By rough count, she had no fewer than a hundred Qiankun Mora Meats before her.
"Buy, buy, buy... Ningguang, don't let my foolish appearance fool you. When it comes to business, I'm quite formidable..."
A/n - only 40 more powerstones guys for extra 5 chapters