Divine Convenience Store

Lin Mo's smirk didn't waver as he released Liu Xiaoyu's wrist, crossing his arms with an exaggerated sigh. "Protect you? Xiaoyu, you just punched a divine lightning dragon into sparkles and revealed a physique that's got half the realm drooling. Aren't I the one who needs protection from you?"

Xiaoyu was speechless. But then she stuck her tongue out as her eyes nervously shifted towards the door where the Skystorm Ark's shadow loomed like a celestial guillotine.

"Boss, you don't get it. My family's… intense. Like, 'lock you in an ancestral hall for decades to cultivate' intense. I didn't run away for nothing!"

Lin Mo waved his hand and shrugged, "Alright, I get it. I made a promise to you. I won't let them take you away. Is that enough?"

"N-no! Hide me from them."

"What for? Didn't you tell me back then that your family let you go? Why are you scared now? I bet they're here because of last night."

With that, Xiaoyu could only lower her head. She couldn't refute it, after all.

Xiao Ya chimed in as she tilted her head, "Sister Xiaoyu, is your family mean? Why don't you wanna see them? Don't they miss you?"

Xiaoyu let out a forced giggle as she replied, "They're not mean, Xiao Ya. Just… suffocating? My grandfather has big plans for the Nine Heavens Exquisite Body and I'm not exactly thrilled about being treated like a princess. I got the opportunity to leave and join the store! I like selling snacks and convincing our customers to take our store products, not meditating in some dusty cave."

Lin Mo raised an eyebrow, "I get you. It's boring sitting in a cave for years."

"Stupid Boss, what do you get? You haven't been locked up in seclusion yet!"

"Do I need to experience it first before I can sympathize? I tell you, I've read a lot of novels about cultivators doing closed-door cultivation. Do you know how long that lasts?"

"Huh? Novel? How long?"

"In the blink of an eye." Lin Mo smirked.

Xiaoyu's nostrils flared up, expecting a serious answer while Xiao Ya couldn't help but laugh.

"Boss, that's not funny." She puffed up her cheeks and crossed her arms.

"I'm not trying to make you laugh. Anyway, am I wrong? I told you I only read it. So with a line that says 'fifty years later', the cultivator's seclusion was over in the blink of an eye."

"Yada. Yada. I can't hear you. We're getting sidetracked, Boss. T-there they are!"

As she said that, the figure of the old man in gray robes and a taller, middle-aged man following behind him appeared at the store's entrance.

City Lord Wei Xian was guiding them forward like a host. The crowd parted for them, giving them an exception to cut the line.

Lin Mo didn't think much of that. That's only going to happen once. The next time, like any other customers, they'll have to wait before entering the store.

The Divine Guardian Construct guarding the entrance had its azure orbs locked onto them, its halberd shifting slightly as if assessing their intent.

The old man paused to gaze at it, his expression unchanging, but there was a hint of awe and reverence flashing in his eyes.

"What a divine masterpiece!" He exclaimed. The middle-aged man and the disciples following behind them also gazed at it, but unlike the old man, they all instantly bowed their heads as if they were staring at a statue of their deity.

"Senior, this is the Security Guard of the Divine Convenience Store. The Shopkeeper summoned it." Wei Xian explained.

"He summoned it? Hah! This is bestowed by the divine being!" He snorted as he raised his divine talisman as if he were trying to show the construct to Taihao.

"Indeed. The divine beings must have been the origin of it." Wei Xian could only agree before signaling for them to continue.

Inside, Liu Xiaoyu ducked behind the counter, dragging Xiao Ya with her and asking both Wu Meiyu and the customers lined up on it not to sell her out.

Lin Mo chuckled as he eyed the newcomers.

"You can relax, prodigy. I'm not in the business of selling my employees. Besides, they're customers first, family second. We'll see what they want."

Wu Meiyu, still scanning items for a customer, glanced over with a subtle smirk. "Shopkeeper, you're awfully calm for someone facing a Void Refinement Stage cultivator. Planning to charm them with a [Heavenly Dew Soda]?"

"Your Highness, that's an obvious question. Who can resist our store's products?" Lin Mo shot back and winked.

Yangyang took a step back as she adjusted her glasses, her divine aura retracted. "Shopkeeper, I suggest you handle this with your usual… finesse. The Liu Family is ancient and not easily swayed, but they respect power and propriety."

"Noted, Miss Yangyang." Lin Mo muttered as he straightened up as the door chimed, signaling Liu Tianfeng and Liu Zhongzu's entrance.

The store's abundant spiritual energy pulsed in harmony, creating an almost serene atmosphere despite the tension. Shang Shuiyin, still clutching her basket, froze mid-step, her instincts screaming to stay out of sight. The other customers murmured, their eyes darting between the newcomers and the Shopkeeper standing fearlessly as they sensed a spectacle brewing.

The moment he stepped inside, Liu Tianfeng's gaze swept the store, pausing on the empty front shelf of [Celestial Duel Gear] bundles before letting his spiritual sense spread throughout the entirety of the store.

He paused for a moment and exhaled before his eyes eventually settled on Lin Mo.

"What an amazing spatial array! The interior has been expanded more than three times its original size. And there are more rooms my spiritual senses cannot pierce. Ah… This is definitely a divine abode!"

Liu Tianfeng exclaimed with a reverent undertone. He took another step forward, his gray robes swaying as if stirred by an unseen breeze, and clasped his hands in a formal greeting.

"I am Liu Tianfeng, Patriarch of the Liu Family. This is my son, Liu Zhongzu. We seek the one known as Liu Xiaoyu, our kin, and… an audience with the master of this divine establishment."

Liu Zhongzu mirrored his father's gesture, though his gaze lingered on the shelves stocked with the peculiar items with modern flair that any other new customers fixated on during their first visit to the store. His spiritual senses also tried to probe the store's interior, only to retract like a hand touching a flame. He muttered under his breath, "Father, this place… it has protection way stronger than even our ancestral halls. And this feeling of abundant energy as well as these subtle enhancements applied to our bodies…"

Lin Mo inwardly smirked as he heard that but at the same time, he was wondering when the old man would snap and demand something from him.

Wasn't that how this was supposed to go? A strong expert who'd misunderstand the situation and throw their weight around. Granted, he noticed his reverent attitude from a mile away but shouldn't he still try to overwhelm him with his presence?

But that's not happening. They respectfully introduced themselves to him. There's something wrong with this script.

As he thought of that, Lin Mo noticed the divine talisman grasped by the old man. And everything clicked upon sensing the familiar playful aura of Taihao emanating from it.

'Did he tell them not to act out? He's no fun. Here I thought I could try to act tough in front of an expert.'

Lin Mo shelved that thought as he responded with his usual amicable smile, "Welcome to the Divine Convenience Store, Senior Liu, Master Liu. I'm called Lin Mo, the humble Shopkeeper. I understand that you're here for my prodigious assistant, Liu Xiaoyu. However, may I first introduce you to our humble store?"

Behind the counter, Xiaoyu stifled a squeak, crouching lower as Xiao Ya giggled softly, covering her mouth. Wu Meiyu's lips twitched, but she continued scanning a customer's [Spirit Embodiment Sticker Seal] with practiced grace, her royal poise unshaken.

"Boss Lin Mo is awesome, Sister Xiaoyu."

"Yeah. Yeah. I get it. He's so courageous, he's not even afraid of my grandfather. Hmph. I can do that too." Liu Xiaoyu huffed but she once again peeked, catching Lin Mo guiding them away and into the shelves.

However, one disciple caught her looking. And out of all the disciples that followed her grandfather, it had to be this one.

"Big Sister! I found you!" With a grin, a boy looking like someone of Xiao Ya's age broke off from their line as he ran toward the counter.

Xiaoyu tried to duck again but it was too late.

He walked to the counter's side and crouched down with a huge grin, clearly excited at seeing Xiaoyu again. "Hey, Big Sister. Why are you hiding?"

"Shh, Xiaoping, you little traitor! … I'm not here. I'm not your sister!" Liu Xiaoyu hissed, grabbing the boy's arm and pulling him down behind the counter with them before peeking again, looking at the aisle where Lin Mo was leading her grandfather and father.