Lin Mo squinted against the harsh glow of fluorescent lights overhead. A dull ache throbbed at the back of his head, as though he'd spent the night sprawled over his desk at work.
That wouldn't have been surprising. After all, burnout and overtime were constants in his life. What did surprise him, however, was the fact that his surroundings were entirely unfamiliar.
Rows of shelves laden with goods extended as far as his eyes could see.
On one side, he noticed neat rows of instant noodles and other goods normally seen in a convenience store, on another, glass jars of what appeared to be glowing marbles.
Closer inspection revealed labels like 'Essence Restoration Pills' and 'Cultivator's Delight – Spiritual Energy Booster'.
"What the hell?" Lin Mo muttered, utterly confused. He stepped back, nearly tripping over a mop bucket that hadn't been there moments ago.
"Ah, you're awake!" A jovial voice boomed behind him.
Lin Mo turned to find an old man in a gold-threaded robe floating several inches off the ground. His hair was like an untamed storm of silver with his beard flowing past his waist.
His eyes, however, appeared deep and profound with a touch of mischief, as though he carried secrets far too amusing to keep.
"Welcome to your new reality!" The old man proclaimed with arms spread wide as if unveiling a grand palace. "I, Zhenren Taihao, have granted you the opportunity of a lifetime."
The infinite shelves seemingly folded until the area became like an enclosed space reminiscent of a convenience store, just that, the interior design was ancient.
"Huh? Opportunity?" Lin Mo echoed with a flat tone.
He pinched himself, hoping the strange scene would dissolve into the haze of a fever dream.
Unfortunately, it didn't.
"Oh. That's right. You died," Taihao explained matter-of-factly. "Tragic accident, you know? A rogue scooter hit you. Quite the scene when you flew overhead and got hit by the truck speeding behind it. But worry not, for fate has smiled upon you!"
"W-wait. What are you describing? I... died?" Lin Mo's voice faltered. Memories of screeching tires and blinding headlights flickered in his mind. And then, he remembered. He wasn't even crossing the street. He had just climbed down an overpass. How did he get into a traffic accident? And with a scooter at that!
He staggered back, leaning against a counter for support. "And you brought me here after I died? Am I just a soul now?"
"No. You're healed. I transported your body from your world to this realm." Taihao declared, beaming as if Lin Mo had just thanked him for saving a kitten. "Anyhow, You have been chosen by me and my companions to operate this marvelous establishment. It's called the Divine Convenience Store! A hub of divine commerce in the Realm of Nine Heavens."
Lin Mo stared at him, dumbfounded. The old man's words sounded like a mashup of fantasy web novels and corporate pitches.
Realm of Nine Heavens? Divine Convenience Store? Is that why there were rows of convenience store items?
"Look, I think there's been a mistake," Lin Mo said, trying to keep his voice calm. "I'm just an ordinary guy, working my day-to-day job. Whatever fantasy world is this, I have no cultivation. No divine mandate. And definitely have no interest in running... a convenience store in another world."
"Oh hoho. You underestimate yourself, young man!" Taihao chided, wagging a finger in front of him.
"Divine mandate. You have it. Who do you think I am? I'm a deity! But don't fret. You'll grow into the role. I know of it. I've never been wrong. With trillions of souls dying every second, why do you think you're the one chosen?"
"Because I'm lucky?" He answered as he couldn't process everything the old man said just yet.
The old man flicked his fingers with a grin, "Bingo! That luck is your capital. Besides, the terms of your employment are simple. Sell the goods we will provide, ensure customer satisfaction, and in return, you'll receive protection, cultivation resources, and maybe a second chance at life. A divine bargain, no?"
Lin Mo opened his mouth to protest, but Taihao wasn't done.
"You've also been equipped with the Divine System Interface. An invaluable tool I created just for you. It's for managing inventory, monitoring sales, and accessing... incentives." With a wave of his hand, a translucent panel materialized in front of Lin Mo.
[Divine System Interface: Operational]
[Inventory: Stocked
Daily Tasks: Pending
Personal Balance: 0 Spirit Stones
Tier Progression: Novice (0/100)]
"What is this? Gamified retail management? So those things are real, huh?" Lin Mo muttered, squinting at the screen. "Why me?"
Taihao smiled enigmatically. "Didn't I just tell you? You are lucky. Capitalize on it. We, deities, seek change. Although we don't lack believers, we need someone who'll be up to anything. Someone who embodies balance, humility, and a touch of cunning. You'll see in time."
Before Lin Mo could object to saying that he was none of those, Taihao clapped his hands. The room brightened as the air buzzed with energy.
He was then finally accorded the chance to examine the whole place. It was still surreal for him but he wasn't dreaming. That much was true.
Lin Mo's eyes wandered over the now-familiar shelves, his earlier shock giving way to reluctant acceptance.
His surroundings had fully settled into the strange, ancient convenience store motif. It was like a blend of modern organization and an otherworldly glow that seemed to remind him of those period dramas he tended to watch during his off days.
"Alright, so I'm dead and now I'm running a celestial 7-Eleven," Lin Mo muttered, still skeptical of everything that was presented to him. He couldn't recognize the brand of the mundane items but their packaging seemed the same. However, compared to those bottles of pills, they were too out of place.
"Could be worse, I guess. At least it's not some gladiatorial arena or a dungeon crawling with monsters. I, at least, have some starting capital."
As he reached for a shelf lined with glowing talismans labeled "Protection Against Celestial Tribulations – Limited Edition", the door creaked open, letting in a soft breeze scented with flowers.
Then, a young woman stepped inside, her posture cautious yet defiant. Her dark, almond-shaped eyes were sharp and observant, and her hands rested on her hips as though she'd already sized him up and found him lacking.
The first thought that came to his mind was that the young woman was his first customer.
He couldn't be more wrong when she addressed him by name.
"Are you Lin Mo?"
"That's me," Lin Mo warily replied, "And you are?"
"Liu Xiaoyu," She said curtly, her head bowing slightly.
Her eyes shot past his shoulder, landing on the floating old man who was watching their conversation unfold. But before she could call him out, the so-called deity vanished from his spot, leaving them alone.
"That old man said I'd find my boss here. Hmm… Doesn't look like you're cut out for this and what's with your attire? Looks weird."
The young woman bluntly commented, clearly not impressed at what she was seeing.
Lin Mo blinked at her remark, glancing down at his clothing. It was the same business-casual outfit he'd worn on Earth; wrinkled slacks and a button-up shirt now stained with what he hoped was coffee.
Hardly fitting attire for the manager of a 'Divine Convenience Store' in this so-called Realm of Nine Heavens.
Anyway, that was his blood, right? His body was fixed but this so-called god who picked him out of trillions of souls didn't even clean his clothes? So much for being a divine being.
"Cut me some slack," Lin Mo muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't exactly get a choice in wardrobe. Or this job, for that matter."
Liu Xiaoyu folded her arms, one eyebrow arching as her gaze lingered on him. "Well, I didn't sign up for this, either. That old man claimed to be our clan's deity and my parents believed him! He promised them that he'd take me to what he calls a 'unique establishment.' Guess what? My parents thought I was going to his Divine Abode."
"What in nine hells is this? No. What is this place, even? And why are you my boss? I should've been cultivating right now." The young woman continued.
Lin Mo sighed, resisting the urge to rub his temples. "Trust me, if there was a way to get out of this, I'd be the first in line. But here we are. I didn't ask for this job, and frankly, I don't even know what I'm supposed to be doing yet."
Xiaoyu let out a huff, her sharp eyes darting around the store. "Is that so? Same. But since we're stuck here together, we need to set some ground rules. You hear me?"
"Oh, great. Rules. Sure, go ahead," Lin Mo said, gesturing vaguely. "Because obviously, I'm an expert at divine retail management."
"Rule one," Liu Xiaoyu said, ignoring him. "Stay out of my way. If I'm going to be the assistant, I trust you won't bumble around and make things worse."
"Stay out of your way?" Lin Mo retorted. "I'm the boss here! You can't just–"
The doorbell suddenly chimed. Making both of them freeze as their bickering was cut short.
Somehow, the soft jingle felt unnervingly loud in the stillness of the store.
Then, a figure stepped through the door. He was tall and imposing, his black robes shimmering faintly with golden threads that hinted at his cultivation. His long hair flowed like liquid ink, and his sharp, angular face bore an expression of quiet arrogance and… gentleness?
But what truly made Lin Mo's heart sink was the unmistakable aura radiating from him. Powerful, suffocating, and utterly unyielding.
Is this their first customer?