Hua Feixue fired off questions one after another, barely giving Hao a chance to respond.
Hao opened his mouth, but Hua Feixue was already talking again.
“Wait, wait! Maybe it’s some kind of test! Like, if I eat more, I’ll have another enlightenment?!”
Hao looked at her blankly.
Was this girl serious?
Before Hua Feixue could continue her wild theories, a cold voice cut in.
“Feixue, that’s enough.”
Yue Xueyan gently placed a hand on Hua’s shoulder, stopping her from bouncing around. Her gaze was cold as usual, but there was a softness in her touch, a silent way of telling Hua to calm down.
Hua pouted but obediently took a step back.
Yue Xueyan turned her attention to Hao. “What kind of beast meat is it, owner?”
“…”
That was… an unexpected question.
‘System, what kind of meat is in the noodles?’
[The meat is from a Water Cattle, host. A rare beast that thrives in deep lakes and river valleys. Unlike any cattle beast, it is exclusively fed on pure aquatic spirit grass, which enhances the quality of its meat.]
[Due to its diet and environment, Water Cattle meat is known for its high concentration of spirit energy, making it extremely nutritious and beneficial for cultivation. The dense muscle fibers also allow for a richer taste and texture.]
Hao looked at Yue Xueyan and repeated the explanation.
“It’s from a beast called Water Cattle.”
“Water Cattle?” Hua Feixue muttered, tilting her head.
Yue Xueyan furrowed her brows. She had heard of many cattle-type beasts, but this one didn’t ring a bell.
Seeing their doubtful expressions, Hao repeated the system’s explanation in more detail.
“It lives in deep lakes and feeds only on aquatic spirit grass. That’s why its meat…”
Hua Feixue jaw dropped slightly. Yue Xueyan’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she regained her composure.
“So that explains it…” Yue Xueyan murmured.
‘Does’t this mean the owner… is some hidden expert?!’ Hua Feixue thought.
Yue Xueyan suddenly took a step forward and bowed deeply.
“Thank you for your guidance, Senior.”
Hao froze.
Wait. What?
What just happened?
Yue Xueyan remained bowed. She knew that mere words weren’t enough to express her gratitude.
Not only had her Junior Sister broken through, but she had also advanced to the 2nd Stage of Saint Realm herself, gaining insights into two high-saint rank martial techniques – Thousand Snow Sword Dance and White Petal Severing Slash.
Yue Xueyan’s ability to absorb and refine her understanding during that state was proof of her talent. But she understood that without this opportunity, she wouldn’t have achieved such results so soon.
She had to show respect.
Meanwhile, Hao stood there, utterly baffled.
‘Huh?’
Did she just call him Senior?
What part of him looked like an Senior?!
[Host, she may have misunderstood your identity,]
[Given her personality, she likely believes that you are a hidden expert disguising yourself as a mortal store owner. It is a common trope among cultivators.]
Hao twitched.
What kind of nonsense was this?!
However, out of nowhere, memory surfaced in his mind.
Wait a minute… this was actually reasonable.
Hadn’t he seen this exact scenario in countless web novels? The mysterious senior disguised as a store owner, selling ordinary-looking yet heaven-defying items?
The unsuspecting cultivators treating him as a mortal, only to realize later that they were in the presence of a hidden expert?
Should he play along?
But I’m not even old, and I’m really just a mortal.
As if reading Hao thoughts, the system interjected.
[Host, as the owner of the Dimensional Convenience Store, you must uphold honesty and integrity. Lying to customers goes against the store’s principles.]
‘Alright, alright, I know!’
‘I won’t do it. It just crossed my mind.’
Hua Feixue, who had been watching silently, straightened her back. She copied Yue Xueyan’s action and bowed deeply as well.
However, unlike Yue Xueyan’s calm and dignified bow, Hua’s was… much more dramatic.
“Senior! Thank you for bestowing us with your divine food!”
Hao almost choked.
‘System, what do I even say to them?’
[A nod should be enough, host.]
“Mhm.”
Hao nodded as the system advised, trying to look as unfazed as possible.
Yue Xueyan and Hua Feixue raised their heads.
Hua Feixue spoke up right away, her eyes twinkling like stars.
“Senior, can we purchase more cups of instant noodles? If we eat more, will we experience enlightenment again?!”
Yue Xueyan immediately turned to glare at Hua Feixue, looking upset.
But internally –
‘Good going, Feixue!’
‘That’s my Junior Sister for you.’
Hao crushed their hopes without hesitation.
“No, you cannot purchase the same product more than once a day.”
He raised his hand and pointed at the board again. This time, his finger landed on the very first rule.
Hua Feixue read it out loud.
“Rule No. 1: Daily Limits Are Absolute.”
“…”
Hua Feixue’s lips quivered as she gave Hao wide, pleading eyes.
“Senior, why can’t we buy more than one each?” “Is it because it’s only one crystal? Then… I’ll pay 30 crystals for it, Senior!
“It’s definitely worth more than that, but that’s all I have right now…”
Thirty crystals? That was thirty times the price!
‘System, can’t we just bend the rules a little for today? It’s 30 crystals! That’s a great profit, isn’t it?’
[Host, the price is irrelevant. Whether it is one crystal or a million, the rule remains the same. Each customer may only purchase one of each product per day. This is a strict policy to ensure fairness and prevent potential misuse.]
Hao scoffed.
‘Ah, yes, of course. True wisdom at its finest. Ensuring absolute fairness by denying someone a second cup of instant noodles.’
Looking back at Hua Feixue, Hao flatly replied.
“Even if you pay a hundred crystals for it, or even a million, it doesn’t matter. The answer will always be no.”
“Rules are rules. Just come back tomorrow.”
Hua Feixue’s shoulders drooped, her lips curling into a pitiful pout. She looked like a sad kitten abandoned in the rain.
Yue Xueyan, who had been about to offer a hundred crystals herself, held back. Hao had made his stance clear – no matter what they offered, his answer wouldn’t change.
But instead of feeling disappointed, Yue Xueyan saw things differently.