It didn’t seem like Qin Zhu was lying.
But… why did this fool’s voice shake so much the moment he mentioned the names Gong Shaoyan and Gong Jueyon?
Was there something about those two that even a snake like Qin Zhu was terrified of?
Hao considered it for a second, but then tossed the thought aside.
Overthinking was a disease.
He wasn’t about to let himself die from mental exhaustion before he even reached the Saint Realm.
Besides, whether Qin Zhu was lying or not didn’t matter much to him.
In the end, trash was still trash.
He wasn’t impressed at all by Qin Zhu’s so-called “mastermind” plan – hiring a few street thugs first to “test the waters,” then personally trying to steal when that didn’t work.
Turning slightly, Hao raised a hand and called out calmly. “Yijun, can you deal with this man for me?”
“Hand him over to your sect or the city officials or whatever.”
Lin Yijun opened his mouth, ready to respond.
But before a single word escaped, Xiao Lianfeng had already stepped forward with a sharp nod.
“You can consider it done, Senior!”
Xiao Lianfeng’s expression was bright, almost too eager.
“I’ll personally bring him in!”
Xiao Lianfeng looked downright happy, as if Hao had given him a reward instead of an errand.
Lin Yijun laughed quietly, shaking his head at his sworn brother’s enthusiasm.
As expected of Xiao Lianfeng – he was the type to burn with righteous fire.
Protect the good, punish the wicked.
That was how Xiao Lianfeng had always been.
Even if it was some petty thief or minor rogue cultivator, once they crossed a line, he would never hesitate to drag them in by the hair.
Qin Zhu, meanwhile, stared up in horror at the grinning youth looming over him.
“N-no, wait! I’ll pay you ! I’ll pay all of you!” he howled desperately.
“I’ll give you everything! All my crystals! All my spirit treasures!”
But no one bothered to answer Qin Zhu.
Xiao Lianfeng stepped forward. He shackled Qin Zhu’s wrist in an iron grip, yanking the man up like a sack of rice.
Mo Xixi, who had been silently observing, finally released the Ashen Petrifaction Seal and returned to the counter to continue her work shift.
Qin Zhu staggered as feeling rushed back to his limbs. A surge of wild hope lit up his eyes.
But just as he was about to make a run for it –
A heavy spiritual pressure slammed down inside his body.
Qin Zhu gritted his teeth and tried to fight back, but it was futile. The gap between them was too large.
The one suppressing him was none other than Xiao Lianfeng.
“You should save your strength.” Xiao Lianfeng said lightly, as if he were offering a word of advice to an old friend.
Qin Zhu’s face turned purple from the effort, but he couldn’t even twitch a finger. His dantian was locked down tight.
Then, before he could even think of other ways to resist, Xiao Lianfeng jabbed two fingers into specific points along his arm and chest.
A soft popping sound followed each touch, and with every point pressed, Qin Zhu’s body grew heavier, slower, colder.
His cultivation was completely sealed.
He slumped to the floor like a broken puppet, unable to even channel a wisp of qi.
From the natural ease with which Xiao Lianfeng moved, it was clear he had done this countless times before.
Probably to people even worse than Qin Zhu.
Xiao Lianfeng turned back to Hao with a wide, carefree grin.
“Thank you, Senior!” he said warmly, bowing slightly.
“This will help Sovereign City stay cleaner.”
Hao smiled faintly and gave a small nod. He hadn’t even done anything major, yet somehow he had still helped make the city a little safer.
That didn’t feel bad at all.
Qin Zhu, meanwhile, let out a low, broken whimper on the ground.
The sight didn’t earn him a shred of pity.
The convenience store had its rules. Sovereign City had its rules.
And now, so did Qin Zhu.
Xiao Lianfeng hauled him up by the collar and tossed him over his shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Senior.” he said cheerfully.
“I’ll make sure he finds an honest way to contribute to society from now on. The labor camps always need more hands.”
“…”
Hao blinked. “Labor camps?”
Xiao Lianfeng winked. “Hard work builds character.”
The words hadn’t even formed on Hao’s tongue, but Xiao Lianfeng had already disappeared through the store door, whistling a merry tune.
’Did he just drag Qin Zhu off to work himself to death somewhere?’
Well, whatever it was, it wasn’t his problem anymore.
Still, Hao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
He had only gone outside for a tiny stroll, and already madness showed up at his door.
Maybe… just maybe, he should be like his idol ’Han’ from that one novel he loved back on Earth.
Hide. Cultivate. Eat well.
Sleep better. Ignore the world.
Live like a hermit king.
At least here, inside the store, he had everything:
A steady flow of crystals.
Techniques handpicked by the system – practically the best the universe had to offer.
Endless supplies of delicious food and drinks.
And most importantly…
Nobody trying to stab him in the alley or turn him into a meat puppet.
Honestly, why would he even think about going outside again?
Sure, the world outside was big and exciting, but it could stay exciting without him.
What if he ran into some monster-level enemy next time?
What if it was someone so ridiculously strong that even Kurome or Tian Lu couldn’t handle them?
No thanks.
Maybe, after he became a true powerhouse – someone who could sneeze and destroy mountains without blinking – he’d consider stepping out again.
Maybe.
Probably.
Days passed peacefully within the store.
A steady flow of usual customers – no random thugs or shady cultivators trying to ruin his day. The routine was calming.
At last, after all his hard work, the task he’d been waiting for was done!
Hao’s heart raced uncontrollably.
This would bring a huge change to the store!
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Main Task 1: Accumulate 1000 crystals through product sales.
Progress: 0/1000 → 1007/1000
Reward: Store upgrade unlocked! A new door will be established randomly somewhere on the Azure Sky Continent. Could lead to a city, a cave, or someone’s backyard vegetable patch. The system takes no responsibility. Your luck, your problem.
Status: Completed! Claim your reward now?
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