Yao Ziyan, despite her initial embarrassment, quickly regained her composure. After all, she had traveled far and wide across the Azure Continent.
"You misunderstood," she said with a calm smile. "I'm just a friend of the boss, and I only stayed here for the night."
"Haha, we understand, we all understand!" Wei Qingzhu replied teasingly, flashing a knowing grin and winking at Luo Chuan.
Yao Ziyan: …
---
"How did you sleep last night?" Luo Chuan interjected, steering the conversation elsewhere.
Yao Ziyan paused briefly, her mind flickering back to the events of the previous night. A subtle, almost imperceptible ripple passed through her eyes.
"Very well," she replied sincerely. "Thank you for taking me in, Boss."
Luo Chuan nodded, his expression remaining as indifferent as ever.
---
But then he muttered, almost to himself, "The shop feels a bit deserted."
The comment caught everyone off guard.
If things continued at this pace, Luo Chuan thought, he wouldn't finish his system-assigned task even in three months, let alone one.
Surely, after yesterday's events, the old man must have informed the emperor about the shop and its mysterious owner. Yet, despite this, no one from the royal family had come to investigate.
---
The women exchanged puzzled glances.
"Boss, what are you talking about?" Yao Ziyan finally asked, breaking the silence.
"I said, the shop feels a bit deserted," Luo Chuan repeated in a flat tone.
---
It was only then that Wei Qingzhu seemed to realize something.
She recalled how she had only stumbled upon the store by chance while wandering aimlessly through the alleys. The shop, tucked away in such an obscure location, was naturally lacking in foot traffic.
"Boss, don't worry!" Wei Qingzhu suddenly exclaimed, thumping her chest confidently. "We'll spread the word for you once we leave! Everyone will know about your shop in no time!"
"Exactly!" Song Qiuying and Lin Wanshuang chimed in with matching enthusiasm.
Luo Chuan nodded slightly, maintaining his impassive demeanor.
System, I didn't ask them to advertise for me—they volunteered.
The system remained silent, seemingly acquiescing to his approach.
---
"Boss," Wei Qingzhu suddenly said, arching an eyebrow playfully.
Luo Chuan: ?
I know I'm handsome, but do you have to look at me like that?
When Luo Chuan didn't respond, Wei Qingzhu grew visibly anxious.
"Cough, cough," she cleared her throat. "Boss, since we're helping to promote your shop, can we get a little discount on the prices?"
Luo Chuan stared at her blankly, his gaze plainly conveying: Are you kidding me?
---
In the end, Wei Qingzhu's attempt to haggle failed miserably.
Nevertheless, when the three of them left, they each purchased a bottle of cola and a pack of spicy bars, contributing 330 spirit crystals to Luo Chuan's turnover.
As for the Fountain of Life, it remained out of their reach—a treasure they could only dream about.
---
Meanwhile, Yao Ziyan stood silently, lost in thought.
Since awakening from her coma the previous night, she had been speculating about Luo Chuan's true identity.
Could he be a reclusive, peerless expert hidden away in Nine Stars City? Or perhaps a powerful figure drawn here by the ruins?
What unsettled her most was that she couldn't sense even the faintest trace of spiritual energy from him.
For someone like her, who had already reached the Eminence realm, this was nearly inconceivable.
If she couldn't perceive his strength, did that mean Luo Chuan had surpassed her level entirely?
Could he have reached the legendary Celestial Ascendant stage?
Her gaze shifted toward him, now filled with a mix of awe and uncertainty.
-----
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