Chapter 232: Only This One (Part 1)
“Aren’t you just relying on the world’s memory…?”
Liu Sheng’s inner thoughts mercilessly exposed her, but her face remained calm, maintaining the mysterious aura of a master.
Although the man didn’t understand what “quantum speed reading” meant, it didn’t prevent him from thinking Liu Sheng was very impressive.
He reined in some of his playful demeanor and asked in a low voice, “So, Miss, are there any projects you’re interested in?”
Liu Sheng recalled the moment the world recorded, the board read:
Xiaoxiang Building
1. Spiritual Relief: Three Lingtual per session
2. Fortune-telling and Dream Interpretation: Three Lingtual per session
3. Matchmaking: Ten Lingtual per session
4. Loyalty Investigation: Price negotiable
5. weird objects Transaction: Price negotiable
6. weird objects Purification: Price negotiable
7. weird objects Analysis: Price negotiable
8. Recruitment Information: Price negotiable
9. Dao Guidance: Price negotiable
Note: Only this one, no other branches.
—
In Liu Sheng’s opinion, the last sentence wasn’t very necessary.
With such a diverse range of businesses, only this “pirated Xiao Xiang House” could probably manage it.
She wondered how this man managed to develop across so many Domains; even Liu Sheng, accustomed to multi-line operations, had to admire him.
However, Liu Sheng was indeed interested in this.
Of course, not the first three items.
“I’m interested in the sixth item. How exactly do we negotiate the price?” Liu Sheng asked calmly.
This was considered an agreement to the man’s words.
“This person is saturated with Guai Qi. Aren’t you afraid he’ll lead us into a pit?”
“We have so many methods; at most, if we fall into a pit, we’ll just use tentacles to climb out.”
“Moreover, the Guai Qi on this person seems more like it’s been contaminated, which confirms he truly often deals with weird objects, and his so-called business is legitimate.”
“What’s more, there are some things I want to ask him.”
The man’s face immediately lit up, his short eyebrows twitching: “It seems the esteemed guest has… hehe, something in hand!”
He very carefully avoided saying the words “weird objects.”
“Miss, please follow me. Our Xiaoxiang Building is this way.”
The man led Liu Sheng back the way they came.
Seeing the authentic Xiao Xiang House appearing before her, and getting closer and closer, Liu Sheng raised an eyebrow.
However, the man took a turn and entered a dark alley next to the Xiao Xiang House.
This alley was very deep and long, tightly packed with many small shops. The gaudy mirages almost collided with each other. At a glance, one could only see a dazzling jumble of colors, making it impossible to distinguish what kind of shops they were or what they sold.
But Liu Sheng could guarantee that some of them were not very reputable shops, a real mixed bag.
There were even men and women dressed in light gauze standing at the entrances soliciting customers, but in terms of looks and attire, they were not as good as the courtesan mirages from famous establishments Liu Sheng saw from her cloud sedan when she first arrived in Chang’an. The social class they catered to was clearly different.
“There’s also a possibility that the mirages are all photoshopped.”
“Maybe the real people aren’t even as good as these sisters!”
Liu Sheng muttered to herself.
As they walked, the man introduced himself to Liu Sheng. He said his name was Tao Da, and he ran the Xiaoxiang Building with his younger sister, Tao Tao.
“So, not all these businesses are handled by you?” Liu Sheng asked.
“Of course not!” Tao Da said, wide-eyed, “There are some things I can’t do!”
Just as Liu Sheng was about to ask which ones he was responsible for, she heard Tao Da pointing to a small shop on the right and saying, “We’re here! This is it!”
He was about to step inside, and seeing that Liu Sheng hadn’t followed, he waved his hand and said, “Miss, come in quickly!”
“Are you sure it’s here?” Liu Sheng looked suspiciously at the entrance. The mirage in front of the door displayed a slender, jade-like hand with skin as smooth as congealed fat and fingers like Qing Cong, its fingernails constantly changing colors and patterns, from fresh little butterflies to dark and eerie styles, everything imaginable.
Based on Liu Sheng’s bold judgment, this was a nail polish shop, specializing in painting nails.
“Of course, I recognize my own shop!” Tao Da said urgently.
“But the shop name written on the door is ‘Phoenix Immortal House’.” Liu Sheng pointed upwards to the plaque.
“Look at the small characters in the upper left corner.”
Only then did Liu Sheng notice a column of small characters in the upper left corner, which read “Xiaoxiang Building.”
Just then, two people walked out of the shop. They were dressed efficiently, had a sharp demeanor, and carried a faint trace of the Guai Qi that Liu Sheng was familiar with.
And their fingernails were very clean.
Liu Sheng nodded and stepped into the shop, Tao Da falling behind her.
The small shop wasn’t large, but it was very clean, looking much like the nail polish shops Liu Sheng had visited with Ling Youlian when she was a child.
They all had a set of tables and chairs. On the table were various tools for applying nail polish that Liu Sheng didn’t understand, and the shelves next to them were filled with bottles and jars.
“Nail polish?” As soon as Liu Sheng stepped into the shop, a woman sitting behind the table yawned and asked Liu Sheng lazily.
The woman looked to be over thirty, tall and sturdy, with a gentle and benevolent face like a Maitreya Buddha.
Although she bore no resemblance to Tao Da, Liu Sheng guessed this was his sister, Tao Tao.
Indeed, Tao Da hurried into the shop, saying to the woman, “No, no, Tao Tao, she’s here for purification.”
Tao Tao’s originally lazy eyes instantly sharpened.
Tao Tao scanned Liu Sheng up and down: “Have a weird object?”
Liu Sheng nodded in response: “Yes.”
“How is it currently stored?”
“In a container.”
“That’s good.” Tao Tao nodded approvingly and turned to Tao Da, saying, “Close the door.”
Tao Da acknowledged, hung a small wooden sign that read “Closed” outside the door, and then shut the shop door.
“Isn’t this just catching a turtle in a jar?”
“Who’s the turtle? You’re the turtle!”
As Liu Sheng thought this, she suddenly saw Tao Tao stand up. Her height was towering, casting Liu Sheng in her shadow.
Looking at her like this, she was even more imposing.
“Ah, I envy that height.”
Liu Sheng had always felt a touch of sadness about her petite stature.
“Work hard! Scientists say you can still grow before thirty.”
“I’ll believe it for now.”
“Esteemed guest, please follow me upstairs.” Tao Tao said, pointing to Liu Sheng’s right.
Only then did Liu Sheng notice a small section of stairs inside the room. It was just too narrow and steep, and hidden behind the shelves filled with bottles and jars, making it very discreet.
But it was also difficult for Tao Tao’s massive body to climb up.
As she moved upwards with huffing and puffing steps, the flimsy staircase let out creaking groans, trembling as if it could collapse at any moment.
Liu Sheng went up to the second floor and saw that the space was not large either, like an attic. The most prominent feature in the middle was a rather familiar-looking workbench, with a large cabinet next to it filled with various messy tools.
Liu Sheng nodded, recognizing the tools as highly professional.
Moreover, this was the first time Liu Sheng had seen such a workbench outside of the Imperial Storage of the Weaving Institute.
“Give it here.” Tao Tao pointed to the workbench.
Liu Sheng placed the weird object container with the little bear weird object on the workbench as instructed, and the Protector formation immediately activated.
Tao Tao said, “It’s good that you know. Some people don’t know to use containers to store weird objects and almost contaminated my place.”
Liu Sheng was curious: “How could someone not know? It’s taught in the academy and schools.”
“Not everyone studies diligently in school.” Tao Da, who had just climbed to the second floor, said, rubbing his sore knees, “For example, us, we only learned a lot because we started this business.”
Liu Sheng quietly noted this information.
“This is a dangerous Rank weird object. The purification fee is probably fifty Lingtual. Are you sure you want to proceed?” Tao Tao analyzed it carefully and turned to ask.
“So expensive.”
But there was no other way, Liu Sheng could only brace herself and agree.
Thank you, darlings, for voting for me! You’ve helped me climb the Ranks with a lot of effort!
And your comments are all so cute!
I’ve been out recently, updating is driving me crazy QAQ