Playing with Lightning

The room instantly went silent as the arrogant young lady's statement, though a few people who had regularly visited the store waited in anticipation.

Fang Shi looked at the girl in confusion, "Who are you and why do you think I will do as you ask?"

Rui Lan was taken aback that this Qi Gathering realm boy that was the same age as her didn't immediately run to call the owner as she instructed.

"Didn't you hear me?", she reemphasized, "Why aren't you getting the owner?"

"Young miss", Fang Shi replied, "I'm the owner, why would I get myself? Do you perhaps suffer from some head trauma?"

Rui Lan grew angry at the gall of this boy, "Xue Jian, beat this boy up and see if you can draw out the real owner."

A man who was standing behind Rui Lan answered, "As you wish, Miss Rui."

Xue Jian was about to make a move when both the young day and him collapsed as their strength left their body.

Rui Lan and Xue Jian weakly looked over at Fang Shi just to see him finish making hand motions. Fang Shi got up from his seat, and walked over to the pair.

"I don't know what gives you the impression your can do whatever you want in my store", Fang Shi remarked, "So, before I ban you from the premises for seven days, tell me what it is you want."

"Do you know who I am?", Rui Lan screamed, "Release me this ins…"

Fang Shi waved his hand, and the young lady was moved to outside the gate. He looked at the guard next.

"Don't look at me like that, I moved your young miss outside", Fang Shi said when he saw the look on the guard's face, "Now, please explain."

Xue Jian was feeling the opposite of Rui Lan, as a golden core realm cultivator, it would take someone much more powerful to suppress him like this.

"Three slaves from the Rui family disappeared near here, and we are to recover them", Xue Jian stated, "Also, the young miss heard about this store and wish to purchase it."

Fang Shi was surprised when the guard finished his explanation, "After I send you out, I'd advise you to return where you come from. I'm only banning you for a week, but if this happens again, the consequences will be much more severe."

Fang Shi waved his hand again, and went back to his seat as all the customers were discussing the show they just witnessed.

Xue Jian found himself outside, and ran up to Rui Lan, "Miss Rui, I'm afraid whoever is in there in much stronger than me. We need to return to your father…"

Xue Jian had turned towards the store when he was speaking to Rui Lan, but was surprised when the scenery had changed from a large pavilion to thick fog.

He saw that she was about to go crazy, so he performed a technique to cause her to sleep, put her on the carriage they arrived in, and immediately left to return him.

As the carriage left it passed by a group of disciples headed towards the store, a woman who hadn't been seen for some time observed the fleeing carriage.

Fang Shi went back to helping the customers as if nothing happened, but a few moments later, a group of disciples wearing the robes of the Faded Star sect entered. A beautiful woman was at the forefront with a bright smile on her face as she approached the checkout counter.

"Yue'er greets Owner Fang", she said.

Fang Shi looked at the woman for a few moments, "Welcome, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Oh, you don't remember me", the woman said as she pouted, "I was here a year ago, but I offended your great self as was unceremoniously thrown out."

"Oh! Yeah I remember something like that happening", Fang Shi recalled, "Sorry, I never heard your name. So, can I help you with something?"

"This young lady is Mao Qingyue", she responded, "I have heard many wonderful things about your store over the last year, can you recommend something for me?"

"Sorry, I'm busy working", Fang Shi rejected her request, "I see you brought many friends with you this time without charming them, perhaps they can assist you."

"Yue'er will take your advise then", she said while looking contrite, "Sorry for bothering you."

Mao Qingyue slightly bowed and returned to her group without complaint. After discussing things for a few minutes the group split up with everyone heading different directions.

Fang Shi thought that would be the end of things, but several hours later, Mao Qingyue returned and stayed near the counter.

"Owner Fang, has your master already found a companion for you?", she asked him.

"Please don't inquire about such things", Fang Shi answered.

Mao Qingyue giggled, "What sort of things are you interested in?"

Fang Shi stood up, and she looked at him curiously before he exited through the back door. He took the path that only employees could take, and disappeared. This was very rude to Mao Qingyue, but she didn't seem to notice it. As the puppet sat down to take the owner's place, Mao Qingyue also excused herself to go visit the tea shop.

Meanwhile is his villa, Fang Shi was silently fuming, 'System, why can't I kick her out again?'

'Answer: the customer has not broken any rules and only showed interest in the host', it explained, 'Removing a customer without cause will only damage the reputation of the shore.'

'But, but flirting with the owner can lead to an unfair advantage over others', he argued, 'Shouldn't that count for something?'

'Response: If the host had tried to use his position to favor a customer, this unit would have prevented it', the system said, 'The host's actions this time were appropriate, please continue to stay strong.'

Fang Shi grew frustrated, so he ended the conversation and began eating the dinner that had just been delivered. He went over the daily report, and when he finished he kept thinking about his current problem.

"Should I disguise myself like they do in the novels?", he thought out loud, "No, why should I? It's my store, why should I hide away because of a customer?"

Self-assured, Fang Shi entered his personal pod to train. Even though he was a merchant, strength was everything in this world. Ever since breaking through to the Qi Gathering realm, he had used part of the evening to practice methods and techniques. During this night's session, he was interrupted by the chime of an achievement. Since it was almost the time to finish, he went ahead and ended the training session.

Opening the system panel, he went the achievement tab:

[New! Weird Science

Have a customer turn in an incomplete method or technique for any art or discipline

Reward: Research and Development wall scroll. This wall scroll must have funds and resources allocated to it by the owner. It will use those to build a base of knowledge using all (complete and incomplete methods and techniques) gathered information to fix problems with techniques, complete techniques that are still incomplete, and create new techniques. The speed of the process is based off the amount of funds, and the type of resources given to it.]

Fang Shi didn't hesitate to accept the reward, and went to find the wall scroll. When he found it, it was different than his expectations. He expected to see a modern laboratory with a library, but instead it appeared to conform to this world with furnaces and array formations displayed everywhere. Since he had already accepted the reward, he assumed he would see tiny cultivators running around doing research and it donned on him that he hadn't allotted anything yet. Before he went to bed, he opened the panel again, went to the asset tab, opened the R&D icon, and proceeded to assign funds and materials to it.

The next day, Fang Shi was sitting at the counter helping customers when Mao Qingyue appeared again.

"Good Morning, Owner Fang", she greeted him, "Can you move your store to the inner city? It's difficult for Yue'er to walk out here everyday."

With a big smile, Fang Shi replied, "I'm afraid I can't, Miss Mao. I have already established myself here, and even if I were to move it would be for someone I liked and not an old woman like you."

Fang Shi purposely made his voice just loud enough so that everyone could hear, and the response was instant quiet.

Mao Qingyue froze for a moment before her face turned bright red.

"I've seemed to have bothered you this morning, Owner Fang", she said with a fake smile and gritted teeth, "I just remembered I have some things to buy, and I have to go now."

Mao Qingyue slightly bowed before hurrying off to another part of the store. The room continued to stay quiet, though Fang Shi could see quite a few people were doing their best to hold back their laughter.

"Next", Fang Shi said, and the next customer approached to checkout. The rest of the day went back to normal, but surprisingly Mao Qingyue didn't leave despite the morning's situation. Fang Shi was also pleased, his rebuke of her seemed to cause other women who were contemplating to do the same as Mao Qingyue had lost their confidence and backed off.

'I do like women', he thought to himself, 'But so far, all the ones I have met so far have easy to see ulterior motives. And I'm only thirteen, so I've gotten plenty of time to worry about it later.'

As he comforted himself in his mind, he heard someone clear their throats.

Fang Shi came out of his daze, "Excuse me, place the basket down and I'll add up the total."

The customer complied, but there was a change in the air. Not only Fang Shi, but everyone seemed to feel it as clouds gathered over the store.

Fang Shi left his seat as his puppet replacement showed up, and ran out the back door towards the cultivation building.

'System, what is happening?', he asked.

'Answer: a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment realm was using a cultivation pod artifact when they achieved a higher understanding', it reported to him, 'Unable to hold back, he has started to breakthrough.'

'Are their open cultivation rooms right now', Fang Shi asked.

'Answer: Yes', the system said.

'Under my authority, move the cultivator to the empty room and protect him', Fang Shi instructed, 'Use what you need to protect him.'

'Response: Understood, this unit will act now', the system confirmed.

Fang Shi went inside the cultivation building, and made his way to the top floor where the cultivation rooms were.

He approached the room where the unknown cultivator was transferred to, "This is store owner Fang Shi, Can I ask who is sitting inside right now?"

"My apologies, Owner Fang", the voice inside called out, "We met the other day, I'm Sect Master Han Shan from the Dusty Peak sect."

"Sect Master Han, it's an honor", Fang Shi said, "Please feel free to complete your breakthrough here, I guarantee your safety."

"I, I'll take you up on your offer, Owner Fang", Sect master Han relented, "If you please excuse me."

Fang Shi understood so he found a place it sit, and waited. The weather outside was becoming increasingly concerning, yet the store area itself was calm. This didn't calm the customers inside, so Fang Shi had an announcement play explaining the situation and asked them to stay inside. After a few hours, the clouds stopped expanding and several bolts of lightning struck at the cultivation building. People witnessed that as the bolts hit the building, instead of the destruction they expected to occur, nothing happened.

Inside, Fang Shi could feel the realm of the sect master rise until the breakthrough had finished, and a chime rang in his mind. A few hours later, Sect Master Han exited the room to see Fang Shi sitting nearby.

"Congratulations on reaching the Golden Core realm", Fang Shi bowed when he saw the man.

"Owner Fang", Han Shan wanted to stop him from bowing, but was amazed when his new found strength couldn't stop him, "There is no need for this, if anything the situation in Blue Moon city will become more complicated. The reason why only third rate sects and families are allowed in the city is because the spiritual vein cannot support multiple Golden Core realm cultivators. The Mayor is the only Golden Core allowed in the city, and with my advancement we will have to find a new home, or I'll have to step down from my position, hand it to someone else, and find a new place."

"I see", Fang Shi remarked, "Well no matter your decision, I hope that you will continue to visit my store."

"What do you think I should do?", Han Shan inquired.

"Oh, I'm just a Qi Gathering realm cultivator that's running a store", Fang Shi said as he started to leave, "I wouldn't presume to advice someone of your status."

Sect Master Han Shan watched as Fang Shi left, 'That's true, why did I ask him about this?'

In an unknown but richly furnished room, a man and a young lady was hold a discussion.

"Father, it is unacceptable how I was treated", Rui Lan shouted, "You must avenge my honor!"

"I've heard you", the father replied, "Go greet your mother for now so I can consider what should be done."

Seeing that her outburst wouldn't have any more effect on her father, Rui Lan stood up and stomped the ground as she left the office.

The man rubbed his temples with his fingers before saying, "Xue Jian, are you here?"

"Yes, Lord Rui", Xue Jian appeared.

"What do you think about this situation?", Lord Rui asked.

"We cannot face this problem head on like normal", Xue Jian explained, "To be able to move me through space without resistance means that the one watching over that place is as strong as your father. If we wish to compete with this place, we must be more cunning in our approach."

"I understand", Lord Rui said, "Then I approve of your plan. Began it's operation as soon as possible."