“Did something happen yesterday?”
Lin Yijun blinked, a little confused by the question.
What could the boss be referring to? But then it hit him.
It must be about his fishing trip yesterday!
After all, he had used the Cola and Lime Fizz combo to fish in the lake, and it was a huge success!
He’d caught more fish than he could count, and there were even some onlookers who stared at him with envy, wondering how he managed such a haul.
Lin Yijun felt like he was on top of the world!
Should he tell Hao the truth?
Would he get scolded for wasting such a powerful effect on fishing? Lin Yijun wasn’t sure, but his carefree nature quickly took over.
Why not just go with the flow?
He decided to share it all. The boss probably wouldn’t mind. After all, Hao himself had been pretending to be a regular mortal, right?
He might even be glad to hear about his experience!
Lin Yijun leaned back, grinning. “So, boss, I used the Cola and Lime Fizz drink combo to fish yesterday… and it worked like a charm!”
“Caught a ton of fish. The people watching me were practically green with envy. It was hilarious!”
“…”
The moment he finished speaking, the entire store went silent. Everyone turned to look at Lin Yijun, eyes wide in disbelief.
Xiao Liangfeng, who had always considered himself on being the one who knew Lin Yijun best as his sworn brother, blinked twice.
“Wait, what?” His jaw almost hitting the floor.
“You used Cola and Lime Fizz on fishing?”
Everyone else in the store had the same reaction except for Hao.
It was the same drink that could enhance your training, or cultivation and this guy had used it on something as mundane as fishing?
What a waste!
Is this little brat really in his right mind?
People would sacrifice everything just to get their hands on Cola and Lime Fizz if they knew its power, and here Lin Yijun is, using it to outdo some fishermen?
They stared, utterly dumbfounded. They had often thought Lin Yijun had a strange way of thinking, but now… now they were starting to wonder if he even had all his gears turning.
Hao let out a laugh as he gave Lin Yijun a few friendly taps on the shoulder.
“Way to go, Yijun!”
Everyone in the store turned to look at Hao.
“…”
They went quiet.
Had the boss been corrupted too? Was Lin Yijun’s weirdness contagious?
Even Hua Feixue’s mouth twitched.
“Boss Hao… not you too!”
But Hao didn’t mind their reactions. His eyes sparkled with amusement.
This was the first time.
This was different.
He had read thousands of cultivation novels, yet not once had he seen something like this.
This wasn’t a plot – this was madness! But now, he had witnessed it with his own eyes.
A living, breathing example of nonsense and boldness combined!
Lin Yijun scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed but more proud than anything.
As expected, the boss was on a complete different wavelength. Hao didn’t think like other cultivators.
He wasn’t caged by the rigid ideas of the cultivation world.
He had probably seen through everything and reached enlightenment on another path – one that accepted Lin Yijun’s fishing greatness.
Maybe… he wasn’t misunderstood after all!
“Boss.” Lin Yijun grinned, fists clenched with motivation.
“I’ll do even better next time!”
He didn’t know what he would do next. Fishing wasn’t bad, but maybe there were other things he could do to make better use of the Cola and Lime Fizz.
Perhaps something more… creative?
Everyone rolled their eyes.
They all went back to eating and chatting. Two rounds of breakthroughs slipped by.
Lin Yijun’s group chatted and laughed, the door suddenly creaked open.
Three figures stepped inside, immediately catching the attention of everyone in the room.
In the center stood a man with a slightly long black beard, his face grumpy and stern. His hair was tied up in a topknot, and he wore a plain red robe.
The only thing that really stood out about him was his dark violet eyes.
To his right was a man with messy, slightly longer black hair, secured back with a black band.
His face was as generic as a background NPC, yet there was something about his presence that made him seem… oddly out of place.
He was dressed in a plain gray robe.
On the left of the bearded man was an old face Hao recognized. It was Xie Feiyan from yesterday, still wearing the same clothes.
But the most eye-catching part?
All three of them had farmer hats perched neatly on their heads.
’Wait a second… are they aura… farming?’
Their drip were simple. But somehow, just standing there, they gave off an unexplainable pressure.
+5 aura points just from the hat?
“Welcome.” Hao greeted casually.
Then, out of nowhere, the bearded man in the middle raised a hand and swiped across his face.
A faint ripple appeared.
In an instant, the grumpy-looking man vanished – replaced by a refined, sharp-featured older gentleman.
Long eyebrows, a straight nose, a dignified jawline. His hair didn’t change but now he looked like someone who could sit on a dragon throne!
Everyone in Lin Yijun’s group froze.
This face…
They knew it.
They couldn’t not know it!
Hua Feixue pointed with trembling fingers.
“Is – is that the emperor?!”
Yes.
It was really him.
Yunlan Haorang.
The Storm Behind the Clouds.
The current ruler of the Shrouded Cloud Empire.
What was he doing in this store?
Was this some kind of impersonator?
But who would dare impersonate the emperor? That was a shortcut to losing one’s head!
A dozen thoughts raced through everyone’s mind.
Suspicion. Fear. Confusion.
Even a little awe.
Only Hao remained calm, his expression unchanged – though both eyebrows had risen slightly.
’Oh?’
Right then, the emperor cupped his fists and bowed deeply.
“I greet the esteemed master of the store.”
Xie Feiyan and the other man beside him immediately followed suit, bowing respectfully.