Hidden Dragons in the Shop

Ying Wuji ignored Xia Yuan's curious thoughts, his focus entirely on Luo Chuan. An inexplicable anxiety lingered in his heart.

"Boss, is there any of that jade nectar available today?" Ying Wuji asked, his voice carrying a rare nervousness.

Luo Chuan nodded calmly. "Yes, the goods arrived just today."

Hearing this, Ying Wuji visibly relaxed. A look of excitement lit up his face. He had prepared enough spirit crystals this time and could finally replenish his vitality!

"What is this jade nectar you're talking about?"

Xia Yuan, who had unknowingly moved closer, suddenly spoke up with a puzzled expression.

As he looked around the store, Xia Yuan realized it raised far too many questions. For one, how could an ordinary shopkeeper command such respect from someone like Ying Wuji?

With Xia Yuan's knowledge of Ying Wuji, this man usually treated everyone with cold indifference. Yet here he was, treating the shopkeeper like a figure of great importance.

And then there were the other customers. The students who had entered earlier were now picking items off the shelves—buckets of strange goods, black potions in glass bottles, and small, neatly packed bags. Everything looked utterly unfamiliar to him.

"What are you asking about this for?" Ying Wuji asked with suspicion, his guard suddenly up.

Xia Yuan gave a helpless smile. "I'm just asking. Can't I be curious?"

Before their conversation could continue, a soft voice spoke from behind. "Is there a new customer in the store?"

Xia Yuan turned, and his breath caught as he saw a woman descending the staircase. Her presence was striking, radiating both grace and power. But what stunned him most was the aura she carried.

"Royalty... A royal beast!" Xia Yuan exclaimed in shock, unable to suppress his reaction.

The rest of the room turned to look at him with faint amusement, their expressions indifferent.

Xia Yuan felt a wave of embarrassment. His exclamation seemed out of place, especially when he realized that no one else was surprised. Clearly, they were already well aware of the woman's identity.

The students greeted her casually, their tones warm. "Good day, Miss Ziyan."

She smiled at them, her demeanor gentle.

Xia Yuan, on the other hand, was reeling. What kind of place was this? A humble shop in the Nine Stars Empire, yet it housed beings like this? Could it be connected to the ancient ruins rumored to open soon?

And then another thought struck him. Could this woman be the true master of the shop, while the young man at the counter was merely the face of the operation?

"Ying Wuji," Xia Yuan whispered urgently. "What's the deal with this place?"

"What do you mean?" Ying Wuji responded, looking genuinely confused.

"The royal beast!" Xia Yuan hissed. "A member of a beast royal family, working in a shop! You've been here before, so tell me what's really going on!"

Ying Wuji shrugged indifferently. "We'll talk later. First, I need to buy that nectar."

Xia Yuan was left speechless as Ying Wuji walked off toward one of the shelves. Reluctantly, he followed, determined to uncover the mystery of this so-called nectar.

On the shelf, a small jade bottle was displayed. The sign that previously said "sold out" had been removed, and a faint mist clung to the bottle's surface.

Ying Wuji's face lit up with excitement as he carefully picked up the bottle, holding it as if it were a priceless treasure.

Xia Yuan's expression twisted in confusion. "This is it?"

He stared at the bottle, unimpressed. With a name like "nectar," he had expected something extraordinary—a legendary artifact or a peerless treasure. But this? It was just a simple cold jade bottle.

What a disappointment.