Gong Jueyon’s hands trembled. His son had warned him about this store’s outrageous prices, but this was beyond ridiculous.
This store was far worse than bandits!
This should be reported to the officials!
Even the most corrupt merchants wouldn’t dare be this shameless.
But just as he was about to curse this store to the heavens, his throat tightened. His body felt like it was on the verge of collapsing.
Right now, nothing was more important than quenching his thirst.
He hastily grabbed five cans and headed to the counter.
“I’ll buy all of these.”
Gong Jueyon swore that once he regained his strength, he would make this store pay.
Mo Xixi reached into the counter, took only three crystals from what Gong Jueyon placed, and picked up a single can of Cola.
She had already seen how Hao scanned a product before, so she smoothly did the same.
“You can only buy one of each product per day.” Mo Xixi said, pointing to the board on the wall before handing the can back to Gong Jueyon.
She grabbed the four remaining cans and placed them back in the glass-door refrigerators.
Hao stood to the side, watching with satisfaction. Mo Xixi was starting to resemble him more and more. Seeing her enforce the store rules so naturally made him nod approvingly.
Was this how fathers felt when their children did something right?
This was how a proper store staff should act!
Meanwhile, Gong Jueyon stared at the board, baffled.
What dogshit rule is this?
One per day?
Was this some kind of illusion? Had the pill messed with his mind?
He blinked three times. Nothing changed.
No, this was reality!
Was this a sinister tactic by these mortals?
First, they priced the product sky-high, making people desperate to try it. Then, just when someone wanted more, they threw in a limit?
This wasn’t just extortion. This was a calculated scheme!
“…How do I open this?” Gong Jueyon grumbled.
Mo Xixi glanced at him, then pointed at the tab on the can. “Pull that up, then push it back down.”
Gong Jueyon followed the instructions. As the tab popped open with a crisp sound, his eyes widened.
A hidden mechanism?
But he had no time to dwell on it. He was too thirsty.
Without hesitation, he tilted his head back and chugged the entire drink in one go.
Cold!
Sweet!
It burned his throat slightly, but the sensation was oddly refreshing!
His eyes widened even more.
What was this? It was unlike any tea or wine he had ever tasted!
Within seconds, the Cola was gone.
“Ahhh…” He let out a satisfied exhale, his entire body feeling cooled from the inside out.
Then, something changed.
His breath steadied. His muscles tensed.
His body… was recovering!
No, it was more than that!
His senses felt sharper. His movements felt lighter.
He threw a punch in the air.
Fast!
His body was responding at least twice as quick!
Gong Jueyon’s expression darkened. His head snapped toward Hao and Mo Xixi.
“What… did you make me drink?”
He took a step forward, his aura flaring.
“Is this poison?!”
No… this effect… Could it be a forbidden elixir?!
He had been deceived!
A drug that grants temporary power in exchange for permanent damage?!
His face twisted in fury. “You bastards! Did you trick me into consuming something that will cripple me for life?!”
His killing intent surged.
His son was right – this store was dangerous!
This mere mortal’s store had dared to fool him, the Vice Master of Azure Mist Dining Pavilion?!
Gong Jueyon prepared to strike down this audacious storekeeper.
However, Hao just looked at him. Calm. Unbothered. Not a single trace of fear.
Gong Jueyon hesitated. Was this confidence? Or was the brat just an idiot?
No. It didn’t matter.
He wasn’t going to hold back!
With the last of his qi, he executed his Iron Shattering Fist, his strongest technique at the moment. His fist shot forward, carrying all his remaining power toward Hao’s smug face.
Before it could land, Hao simply turned his head to Mo Xixi and nodded.
He could make Gong Jueyon powerless with a single thought. But where was the fun in that?
’I’ll let Little Xixi, handle it.’
Gong Jueyon’s instincts screamed.
Something was wrong!
Mo Xixi’s lips curled into a smile.
’Now this feels like real work, boss!’
Then she vanished.
Before Gong Jueyon could react, Mo Xixi was in front of him.
Pak!
She caught his fist effortlessly mid-air.
All the force behind Gong Jueyon’s attack – gone’
A faint black tattoo glowed on Mo Xixi’s palm.
“Curse of the Thousand Eyes.”
Gong Jueyon’s vision distorted. His surroundings blurred.
Then –
Eyes.
Everywhere.
Blinking. Watching. Staring.
Peering into his soul.
Gong Jueyon couldn’t look away from Mo Xixi’s piercing gaze, no matter how much he struggled. His mind roared at him to run, but his body wouldn’t move.
Something – someone – was watching him.
No, everything was watching him.
The paranoia crept into his bones. His thoughts spiraled into madness.
No –
No, no, no, no, no – !
Black.
His body shuddered, and his legs gave out.
Thud.
He collapsed.
Out cold.
Hao sighed and shook his head.
’Little Xixi is ruthless.’
But he knew she had barely used any strength.
“Little Xixi, throw him out. We don’t need customers like this.”
He scoffed.
“Calling Cola poisonous? What was he even thinking?
Mo Xixi bent down and lifted Gong Jueyon’s large body with both hands.
As the door opened, Mo Xixi set him down in a standing position.
She placed her palm against his stomach and whispered.
“Release.”
Boom!
Gong Jueyon was blasted backward like a cannonball, crashing into a wall with a loud crack!
“Gu – urgh!”
His eyes shot open as pain jolted through his body.
What Mo Xixi had just used was the Curse of Rebounding Impact. She had absorbed the force from Gong Jueyon’s earlier attack and sent it back at him, amplified.
Mo Xixi crossed her arms, looking down at Gong Jueyon with a cold expression.
’Harming my boss?’ She huffed, flicking her hair.
’You’re lucky I went easy on you, old man.’
Gong Shaoyan, who had been fidgeting outside, rushed toward his father.
“Father! Noooo!” He dropped to his knees beside Gong Jueyon, shaking his shoulders.
“Who did this?! Who dares to touch my – ” His voice choked as he looked up, meeting Mo Xixi’s unimpressed stare.