The sound of the store’s door opening pulled both girls out of their thoughts.
Yue Xueyan and Hua Feixue both looked up.
They expected to see Lin Yijun or Xiao Lianfeng.
But the person who stepped inside was neither of them.
A man in a long black robe entered, the hem brushing silently against the floor.
Silver trim lined the robe’s edges, faintly reflecting the light.
His hair was snow white, loosely tied back with a dark cord.
It fell straight down his back, past his waist.
A cracked black porcelain fox-shaped mask with faint gold lines running along the fractures, covered his face.
Smooth. Empty. Void.
Only one eye hole revealed a red eye that stared straight into your soul.
At his sides hung a pair of twin wide chakrams, connected by a long metal chain.
They gave the impression they could slice air itself.
Even without releasing his full pressure, his presence was like a blade drawn halfway.
Yue Xueyan tensed.
Hua Feixue’s pupils shrank.
Their instincts screamed at them. This man was dangerous.
Too dangerous.
The man was suppressing his aura… right?
Or was he leaking just enough to warn them?
Neither of them could tell.
But one thing was clear.
If he wanted to, they would be dead before they could blink.
A floating screen popped up in front of Hao behind the counter.
[Host, a potential store guardian has entered the store.]
Name: Tian Lu Age: 240 Cultivation: 6th Stage of the Heavenly Emperor Realm
His eyebrows shot up.
’Only one stage below the Sect Master of Drifting Sword Sect?’
’Who is this guy?’
A grin slowly stretched across his face.
’This might be it.’
’The last side task…’
Hao didn’t hesitate and quickly asked the system to run a background check on Tian Lu.
Spending a few crystals was nothing now.
He had plenty stocked up in his wallet.
A rich boy? Not quite.
But definitely not broke anymore.
[Tian Lu – Background]
Once known throughout the northern territories as the “Crimson Guillotine”, Tian Lu was a wandering executioner for hire.
He was never tied to any sect, righteous or demonic. As long as the coin was sufficient and the reason clear, he carried out his work with precision and silence.
His name was both feared and respected. He was the blade in the dark when cultivators wanted problems erased without blood on their own hands.
However, ten years ago, he disappeared.
It was said he had accepted a job too large even for him – executing the possessed heir of the Ghostwind Sect. He completed it, but left with half his body broken and a qi core on the verge of collapse.
Most thought he died. But he lived.
Retreated into Sovereign City, hiding among beggars and nameless wanderers, slowly rebuilding his body and cultivation through sheer will.
He never returned to the business.
Hao squinted at the screen.
First Little Xixi, now this man?
Was his store secretly attracting people who should be in wanted posters?
He shook the thought away.
Still, Tian Lu fit the criteria perfectly.
No known affiliation. Probably not a good person. But definitely a perfect candidate.
Hao looked straight at Tian Lu.
“Welcome.”
Tian Lu gave a slight nod and walked straight to the counter.
He looked like he was about to speak, but Hao spoke first.
“Are you interested in being a store guardian by any chance? We pay well.”
Tian Lu paused.
Inside the mask, he wondered if the man before him had gone mad.
Was he not afraid?
His aura alone made the two disciples of Snow Petal Sect in the corner stiffen in fear.
And yet this storekeeper, a mortal, didn’t even flinch?
He should’ve fainted by now.
’Pay well?’
Now that caught Tian Lu’s attention.
But what kind?
“Work?”
Tian Lu’s voice was deep. Flat.
“Work?”
Hao tilted his head.
’Is there something wrong with his ears?’
Still, Hao explained.
“As I said. Store guardian.”
“You just have to protect the area I assign you.”
“For instance. Stand outside. Look scary.”
“Make trouble disappear.”
“That’s it. Nothing weird.”
“Except the customers. Some of them are weird.”
“But other than that, pretty simple.”
Tian Lu understood now.
But a question rose in his mind.
How was this mortal going to pay him?
Was he even well off?
He reassessed everything inside the store.
The shelves were strange. The layout was foreign.
Everything was clean and neat, but had the weight of something expensive.
Not flashy. Just… refined.
He guessed one to three crystals a day, maybe.
Not much compared to what he used to earn.
But not bad either, considering the job.
Easy work. Little risk.
He was not in desperate need of money.
But who would turn it down, if it came without a blade to the neck?
Just then, Hao made a casual gesture.
’System, call the All-Encompassing Primordial Contract.’
A small, silent portal opened at the base of the counter, exactly where Hao’s hand could reach.
A scroll slowly floated out.
It hovered into Hao’s hand.
Neither Hua Feixue nor Yue Xueyan noticed a thing.
But Tian Lu did.
His eyes narrowed behind the mask.
He couldn’t see what exactly was it.
But he could feel it.
It made his scalp prickle.
It set every nerve in his body on edge.
He had once walked out of a demonic sect massacre without blinking.
But this scroll?
It made him touch his weapon.
It was only for a second.
But he did.
Hao casually unrolled the scroll and handed it over.
“This is the contract for the job. Read it at least.”
“It’ll answer everything you want to know.”
Tian Lu didn’t reply.
He simply took the scroll.
His hand moved slow.
Cautious. Controlled.
It felt normal now.
But a few seconds ago, it had felt like a god’s gaze.
He opened it.
Ready for anything.
Something about it pulled at him. Curiosity, maybe. Or instinct.
Even if it turned out to be a trap in disguise, he had to see it for himself.
Tian Lu unrolled the scroll.
Inside was a simple contract.