It’s my Party

Fang Shi was both busy and pleased during the New Year's celebration. Blue Moon city had been decorated with red banners, red lanterns, and various red blossoming flowers. The Heaven & Earth pavilion was no different, and Fang Shi ended each night with amazing firework shows while the Hong sisters performed on the center stage. This drew large crowds of visitors who had came to Blue Moon city to visit their families. This helped Fang Shi's wallet recover from having to pay for the store's renovation.

Fang Shi did his best to walk around and speak with all the guests, but he also saw how hard his employees were working. One evening before they retired for the night, he apologized to them.

"I'm still somewhat new to running this business", he said, "The senior gave me puppets in the beginning to help this place run, and I got used to that. All oh you aren't puppets, so to right this wrong, I've got an announcement. Starting after the holiday, you will be given rest days every ten days. You don't need to worry about anything, you won't see a change in salary. Just place a token on the day you want here."

Fang Shi pointed at a wall scroll he had specially designed and hung in the employee dormitory. Unlike his past life, this world didn't divide a year by weeks or months, they separated the year by seasons. He quickly demonstrated how to mark the day that they wish to take before returning to his home that evening.

When Fang Shi left the dormitory, he heard something he hadn't heard for awhile, the achievement notification tone. He opened the system panel once he was inside:

[New! Workin' for a livin']

[New! Workin' for an living'

Despite providing food, room, and board for your employees, everyone needs R&R. As a boss, you finally thought about your employees well being and added days off into their schedule (completed).

Reward: To ensure the safety of your employees, guards will be silently deployed to protect them during their time off.]

Fang Shi accepted the reward quickly because he was worried that someone might try to use his employees to blackmail him.

Fang Shi nearly did the same thing everyday: he strolled through the restaurants, spoke with customers in the tea house, drank and played with guests in the bar, conversed with visitors who were ordering pills and artifacts, and joked with the cultivators waiting for a cultivation pod. Something that caught Fang Shi's eye as he made his rounds was the board games placed in the bar. Chess and Mahjong tables had always been full since he introduced them, but Fang Shi hadn't thought about it since then. After hearing some complaints, he added a floor between the tea house and the bar. He placed it there specifically so that both the tea house and the bar could deliver drinks to the guests. Fang Shi had sold a number of chess and mahjong sets over the years, and most businesses in the city offered tables for their customers as well.

Every evening, Fang Shi would sit on his balcony enjoying a drink as he watched the fireworks with the exception of the last day of the holiday. Instead, the city had its own fireworks show that night which turned into a special occasion. True to the name of the city, the moon was full and a splendid blue color. The moon not on enhanced the fireworks show, but it also cast light on the town's decorations turning the reds into purples. The eight days of the holiday finished as most of the visitors left to return to their homes, and residents who left to visit family started to return.

The day after the new year festival finished, everything returned to normal with the exception of the Hong sisters. They used their tokens to request this day off, but instead of staying in town, they went to the forest. After leaving the front gate, the three women stayed on the road until they were the only ones. The three confirmed there was no one else around to see them before they entered the forest. Once they could no longer see the road, they disrobed and put their clothes away in a storage bag. Several moments later, instead of three women, three red foxes were sitting there with bags around their necks.

One of the foxes barked, and heading into the deeper part of the woods with the other two quickly following. The trio of foxes expertly made their way to the nothern part of the forest where the ground was more even. This was their home, and hills and mounds was where the fox tribe made their burrows.

The lead fox let out several high pitched barks which caused several foxes to suddenly appear.

(Big sister), (Auntie), (Sister Yan), Hong Yan heard before giving the fox that called her aunt an angry glare.

(Who are you calling aunt), she said, (I'm still young and beautiful. Are you looking for a beating?)

The kit flinched as her strong tone, (Big sister Yan, I'm sorry.)

(Don't berate the young ones for telling the truth), another fox interrupted.

The three sisters looked over to see more foxes appearing, and Hong Yan gave the speaker a scornful look.

Just as she was about to rebuke the speaker, another voice cut in, (Yan'er, Shan'er, Li'er, it's good that you returned. We've been waiting for your report, and if you hadn't come soon, we would've come to find you.)

(Matriarch), the three sisters and the other foxes said as they all saluted the speaker.

(Come inside, and let's speak about your discoveries), the older fox said.

The matriarch and several older foxes went inside first followed by the sisters, and then everyone else.

Once everyone was settled down, the matriarch spoke, (So, what did you find out?)

Each sister spoke in turn giving their account of what happened since they were sent on this mission. The older foxes stayed quiet, but the younger foxes in the audience would react as they listened.

After they finished, the matriarch inquired, (So they owner is a young cultivator of low level, but he is watched by a senior with a high realm?)

(Yes), Hong Shan answered, (Even though we work there we aren't sure where the spiritual energy to power everything comes from, how he acquired the spiritual beasts for meat, or where the masters who craft the products are.)

(Yet, he still hired you knowing what you really were?), another older fox asked.

(Yes), Hong Li responded, (The senior who watches the shop must be able to produce a domain, because even Nascent Soul realm cultivators enter the store and haven't tried to take it.)

This caused all the older foxes to quiet down. Even the Bear tribe, who lorded over everyone in the forest, was equal to a Nascent Soul cultivator.

(Has the owner told you anything else?), the matriarch finally asked after some time.

(He has, he said that if we should bring more customers to the store), Hong Yan replied, (Or at the very least, we can act as the go between if we wish to buy or sell.)

The matriarch thought before giving an order, (Prepare some spiritual plants, spiritual beast bones, and some of the storage bags we've found over the years. I will go with these three to investigate this store.)

(Matriarch!), the other older foxes immediately objected, (This is not wise. You'll be unable to hide yourself from this mysterious human, and the chance of being captured is too high.)

Another deep male voice suddenly was heard, (I just heard something very interesting.)

(Shadowfang!), the matriarch was startled before composing herself, (What brings you to our part of the forest? Last I heard, you were being pursued by the bear tribe.)

(Matriarch Xianglian, you don't need to worry about my affairs), Shadowfang dodge her question, (It appears you have three talented women in your tribe. How about it you three? If you follow me, I can provide you with all the resources you'll ever need.)

(It's not very appropriate of you to try and recruit members of my tribe right in front of me), Xianglian calmly spoke.

Despite her calm demeanor, several blue flame orbs appeared near her orbiting her.

(It's just an offer), Shadowfang didn't appear bothered by her threat, (What about this offer? The two of us follow these young ladies back to this store? My pack is in a different part of the forest, and you can keep an eye on me. That sounds good, doesn't it?)

Xianglian gave Shadowfang a skeptical look, but nodded, (This is acceptable, we will be leaving soon. If you're are able to enter the front gate, you're welcome to come long.)

That evening, five people were making their way to Blue Moon city: the Hong sisters, a voluptuous woman in her early thirties, and a man in his late thirties with wild grey hair.

"I had no idea you could transform, Shadowfang", Xianglian said with a veiled face.

"You foxes might be known for your ability to change forms at a younger age than us wolves, but eventually we can do it as well", Shadowfang laughed unbothered by her provocation.

"Do you plan on replying to Shadowfang when we arrive in the city?", Hong Yan bravely asked.

"Are you worried about me, lass?", Shadowfang smiled, "You do bring you a good point though. Call me Ying Ya while we are around the humans."

"Good timing, the gate is there", Xianglian said, "Let's go."

The next day, Fang Shi woke up and looked at the calendar and clock on the wall, the calendar had a day circled with a 15 written in it.

"Happy Birthday to me", he said as he got out of bed and walked to the bathroom. Usually, he wouldn't linger when bathing and just wash up before work started, but today was different. He took longer than normal to enjoy his time by himself before finishing and getting dressed. Fang Shi sat down at the table, and ate his breakfast. Today he had a more luxurious meal prepared than normal, which he ate with relish.

With a morning starting off so well, Fang Shi exited his house and arrived at the main store only to be greeted by the Hong sisters with a man and a woman.

"Good morning, Owner", the three women said when they saw him.

"Thank you", Fang Shi replied as he handed red packets out to them, "Are you entertaining some of your fans?"

"No", Hong Li answered, "These are some relatives who came to visit. They wished to see our workplace, so we brought them today."

Fang Shi smiled, "I hope they enjoy their day."

"Owner Fang", Hong Yan stopped him, "I know we aren't scheduled to perform today, but since they are here, is it ok if we do?"

"Of course", Fang Shi, "Let me speak with the senior after this, and you can go prepare like normal."

Fang Shi turned to the man and woman, "I'm Fang Shi, and this is my store. It was a pleasure to meet you."

"I'm Xianglian", the woman introduced herself.

"Hello, I'm Ying Ya", the man said with a confused look on his face.

"I have to make my rounds, so hopefully we meet again later", Fang Shi slightly bowed before heading upstairs.

As Fang Shi left, The fox matriarch and wolf patriarch looked at the three sisters.

"This is your boss?", Ying Ya felt like he was being tricked.

"Senior Ying might not believe it", Hong Shan said, "But it's true."

"Matriarch, come with us", Hong Yan made a request, "We wish to show you what we do here before we take you around the store."

Xianglian nodded, and the five of them walked to the pond.

Meanwhile upstairs, Fang Shi was chatting with everyone and handing out red packets with everyone he saw or knew. Soon, word got out about his birthday and he saw more and more people as he made his through the different floors. Things really slowed down when he reached the bar as people who knew him would treat him to drinks.

As buying several rounds, Fang Shi finally left the bar before expelling the alcohol from his system and using cleaning talismans to remove the smell. He started to make his way to the production hall when he heard music starting to play at the pond.

Not feeling in a hurry, Fang Shi walked to the guard rail and leaned on it as the Hong sisters started their performance. It didn't take long for other customers to hear them sing, and soon several places where crowded as they watched as well. After completing a set, the sisters thanked everyone so Fang Shi went back to his stroll. Before entering the hall, Fang Shi spotted the man and the woman that came with the three sister but he pressed on with his walk. He knew the identities of these two when they entered the front gate, so he had the aura in the store put just enough pressure on them to make them cautious.

Fang Shi left the production hall and skipped the public bath house to go to the cultivation hall. There he was met with many friendly faces and congratulations as he talked with guests and handed out red packets. Just as he finished all the floors, and was about to return home, he met the Hong sisters guiding the two older spiritual beasts around.

"Owner Fang", Ying Ya called out to him, "This certainly has been an eye opening experience I must say. It wouldn't be strange to say that your store has made a huge difference for this city. When I first came here, I had wondered how some many cultivators could comfortably stay in this city with a 3rd class vein, but this has been answered."

"Your first time here?", Fang Shi replied, "But I'm sure my senior has said he recognized you, it this young lady here that he didn't meet before."

Ying Ya coughed a few times, and Xianglian politely smiled, "It's unfortunate that I haven't had the chance to meet him, but from what these little girls told me, the senior doesn't seem to discriminate between human and spiritual beasts."

"Naturally", Fang Shi responded, "As a merchant, he would never break a connection or fail to put his hand out to help if there's profit involved."

"In that case, would he object to hiring more from our tribe?", Xianglian arched an eyebrow.

"I would have to confer with him first", Fang Shi said, "If they can adapt the way these three have, then it shouldn't be an issue."

"Would it be possible to purchase the artifacts here?", Ying Ya pointed to the pods in the room.

"It's not impossible", Fang Shi gave him a look, "I should tell you that these need spiritual energy to run though. Does your home have a sustainable source of spiritual power?"

"There is no other way to power them?", Ying Ya looked disappointed.

"My senior and I are orthodox cultivators", Fang Shi looked appalled, "I don't believe he would ever try to create artifacts that operated off of unorthodox methods."

Ying Ya looked somewhat irritated, but said nothing more. Spiritual beasts mainly cultivated strong bodies and beast cores using their bloodlines and blood essence, which is why they could live in areas of low spiritual power and still be a threat to humans.

Ying Ya said nothing more, so Fang Shi bade them farewell, "I have some business to see to, I hope to see fellow daoists again in the future."

Finally returning home, Fang Shi opened the system panel as he started purchasing what he required for the upcoming journey.