The golden glow Taihao left behind lingered for a few moments, casting a soft, warm light over the now-quiet store.
The storefront was now closed shut but he could see the scenery outside. He hadn't had a chance to step outside yet but just by looking at the moon, the fact that he was now in another world gradually sank in his head.
Lin Mo let out a deep sigh as the weight of the day settled over him once again.
It had been one hell of a first day – a near-death experience, an unexpected job thrust into him to become a divine shopkeeper, a robbery that ended up with the robbers turning into ashes, and the arrival of a Verdant Sky Pavilion emissary who had taken a liking to their instant noodles.
Not far from him, he could see Liu Xiaoyu was still twirling and hopping in place, testing her newfound reflexes granted by Taihao. She snatched a dust cloth off the counter mid-spin, catching it effortlessly and holding it up triumphantly.
"Did you see that, Boss?" She said, grinning from ear to ear. "I'm like lightning! I've never felt so light before! If I use my movement technique, I will be even faster! Watch me take down rude customers. I'll show why I got picked as the assistant.
'You get picked, huh? Aren't you grumbling about being sent here by your parents who thought you'd be entering Taihao's Divine Abode?' Lin Mo inwardly shook his head as he recalled how she was the first one to hide during the commotion earlier.
"Great. Maybe you can start by dealing with that pile of rubbish over there. Keep making the place clean."
Her excitement dimmed instantly, replaced by a pout. "You're no fun."
She shuffled off toward the mess, muttering under her breath about her ungrateful boss.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. At least she's enthusiastic. That was one less thing for him to worry about.
Since he had no way to test out the effectiveness of his celestial providence yet, he put that thought in the corner of his head for now.
He glanced at the system panel, now idly flickering with its usual serene glow. The numbers had changed slightly, reflecting the day's transactions and progress.
[Divine System Interface: Operational]
[Inventory: Stocked]
[Daily Tasks: Pending]
[Personal Balance: 0 Spirit Stones]
[Tier Progression: Novice (54/100)]
The reminder of his progress, or the lack thereof, made him groan.
"I'll bet the next tier upgrade is just another way to make my life harder. But what about the 'Daily Tasks' and 'Personal Balance'? And most importantly, our meals and accommodation."
Lin Mo stared at the system panel, its glowing interface mockingly silent in response to his grumblings. If this store was supposed to be a divine endeavor, couldn't it at least provide him with some basic amenities?
"Liu Xiaoyu," he called, rubbing his temples. "Does your Heaven's Reflex come with a side of knowledge about how this store works? Because I'm still clueless about half of these features."
Liu Xiaoyu glanced up from where she was begrudgingly organizing the snack shelves.
"Why are you asking me? This is your store, Boss. I'm just the underpaid assistant who gets paid in store credit."
"Correction," Lin Mo said dryly, "You're the only assistant. And apparently, you're also my only employee benefit since Taihao conveniently forgot to explain how I'm supposed to feed myself. Also, are you not going home yet?"
"Huh? This is now my place too, Boss. And you're responsible for my meals and accommodation!"
"Look, why don't we eat these instant noodles," Liu Xiaoyu said brightly, holding up a packet of Spicy Taihao Noodles like it was a golden artifact. "For just one or two spirit stones, we, too can experience the culinary delight of—"
"Two spirit stones?! Can't you see this?!" Lin Mo cut her off, pointing at the system panel showing his current Personal Balance: 0 Spirit Stones.
Liu Xiaoyu smirked, tossing the noodles back onto the shelf. "Oops. Sorry, I have no idea my boss is poorer than me. Then maybe you should've negotiated better with Taihao. He seems like the type who enjoys haggling."
Lin Mo groaned, sinking back into his chair. "I'm starting to think this 'opportunity of a lifetime' is just celestial shorthand for an unpaid intern."
The system chimed softly, drawing his attention back to the panel. A new notification appeared.
[Daily Tasks – A Shopkeeper's Routine]
[Complete at least three tasks before the next day:
Restock inventory.
Enhance customer satisfaction.
Prepare for tomorrow's opening.]
Lin Mo tilted his head at the screen. "Restock? Doesn't this store magically refill itself? I haven't seen a single delivery truck pull up."
Liu Xiaoyu peeked over his shoulder, squinting at the glowing panel. "Maybe it means organizing the shelves? You know, like what I've been doing all day while you sat there complaining?"
"Okay. Enhance customer satisfaction," Lin Mo read aloud, ignoring her jab. "How am I supposed to do that? Offer free samples?"
"You could start by not glaring at everyone who walks in. Put on a smile, Boss. Like this," Liu Xiaoyu suggested helpfully as she stretched her lips from side to side, showing a surprisingly sweet smile.
Lin Mo shot her a withering look before ignoring her again, "And the last one... 'prepare for tomorrow's opening.' What does that even mean? Sweep the floor? Light incense? Sacrifice a goat to appease Taihao?"
"I vote for sweeping the floor," Liu Xiaoyu said, grabbing a broom with her enhanced reflexes and spinning it like a martial artist. "At least we'll look like we know what we're doing."
Before Lin Mo could respond, the panel flickered again, displaying a new message.
[Host Inquiry Detected: Meals and Accommodation]
[Store Benefits Activated: Shopkeeper's Suite Now Available]
A section of the wall behind the counter shimmered, revealing a previously hidden doorway. The golden inscription above it read: Shopkeeper's Quarters.
"Well," Lin Mo said, blinking at the sudden development. "That's... something."
Liu Xiaoyu dropped her broom and immediately darted toward the doorway, her curiosity overriding any sense of decorum. "Let's check it out! Maybe there's a soft bed! Or better, spirit food for cultivation!"
"Or it's a glorified broom closet," Lin Mo muttered, following reluctantly.
To his surprise, the quarters were anything but modest. The room was small but impeccably designed, with glowing lanterns casting a warm, inviting light over the polished wood floors.
Two comfortable-looking beds were tucked at two separate corners. A small kitchenette was stocked with basic supplies – including, to the young woman's delight, a cabinet full of free instant noodles.
Liu Xiaoyu opened a drawer on another side of the room, pulling out a set of a standard convenience store uniform that he was so used to seeing on Earth whenever he stopped by one, "Boss, look! Are these shopkeeper uniforms? Looks fancier than whatever you're wearing. I like the stripes!"
Lin Mo ignored her, focusing instead on a small desk in the corner, where a stack of neatly bound books awaited. The top one bore the title: 'Shopkeeping 101: A Divine Primer.'
"Finally," he muttered, picking it up. "Something useful."
Liu Xiaoyu flopped onto the bed, bouncing slightly. "This place isn't half bad. Can I move in too?"
"Can't you see there are two beds? That's yours. I'll take that one on the other side," Lin Mo said firmly, flipping through the book's pages.
Liu Xiaoyu happily chirped as she started testing the springiness of the mattress.
As Lin Mo settled into the chair at the desk, he allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction. The day had been chaotic, absurd, and more than a little terrifying, but he had survived. And now, he had a room, a guidebook, and most importantly, a stash of noodles.
That doesn't sound as good, no?
"Alright," he muttered to himself, cracking open the book. "Let's see what I've gotten myself into."