125: Chapter 125 A Small Gathering of Immortal Cultivators

"In these five years, you have not just been content with being a manager."

"In the first year, you discovered that while the alcohol at Wangjiang Tower was good, the variety of dishes was monotonous. Cultivators would come and always have the same few options. You suggested to Manager Liu that she introduce some Mortal cooking techniques to the kitchen, using Spirit Beast meat paired with Mortal seasonings to create new 'Mortal-Immortal Fusion' dishes. Manager Liu tried it with half-belief for a month, and the customer traffic at Wangjiang Tower rose by thirty percent."

"In the second year, you proposed setting up a 'Reserved Private Room' system, allowing long-term clients to book fixed locations and time slots in advance to ensure privacy. Cultivators care most about privacy, and this move directly locked in a group of high-end customers."

"In the third year, you suggested that Manager Liu clear out a small area on the first floor to set up a 'Bounty Bulletin Board,' allowing Cultivators to post or accept small tasks there, such as herb gathering, escorting, or running errands, with Wangjiang Tower taking a ten percent commission."

"This move had the most explosive effect."

"In the first month the bulletin board was set up, Wangjiang Tower became the favorite place for Loose Cultivators within a hundred miles."

"Manager Liu counted the skyrocketing numbers in the ledger, and the way she looked at you was different."

"'Lin Shuangwan,' she put away the ledger, leaned back in her chair, and squinted at you, 'Are you sure you weren't running a business in your past life?'"

"You smiled and didn't answer."

"Your monthly salary rose from one Spirit Stone to two."

"Over the five years, added to what you had previously exchanged from the Yao Beast skin Materials, you had saved up over one hundred and ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

"More importantly, your relationship with Manager Liu changed from superior and subordinate to friends, and from friends to... sisters who could talk about anything."

"She is a Level 7 Qi Refining Cultivator with her own business in Qingyue Market, some backing behind her, shrewd in nature, and sharp-tongued, but not bad at heart."

"And with Spirit Stones, you were not stingy like other Loose Cultivators who saved money to buy Medicinal Pills. Instead, as soon as you finished work, you would head to the Loose Cultivator market in the market town."

"Of course, you didn't expect to be like the protagonist in the novels of your past life, picking up an ancient Divine Artifact in a trash heap. Everything you bought was useless junk: incomplete Jade Slips of travelogues, Yao Beast finger bones that had lost all spirituality, or even Talismans drawn by some unknown Qi Refining Loose Cultivator that were failures. Of course, they were all cheap goods, but you claimed to others that they were very expensive."

"You did this for only one purpose: to hide your true strength."

"The life of a bottom-tier Loose Cultivator in the Cultivation World is extremely precarious. People killing for a dozen Spirit Stones is common. You, a Origin Qi Realm Mortal Martial Artist, receiving a high salary of two Spirit Stones every month—if you saved it all, that would be over a hundred in five years. This huge sum of money is enough to make mid-to-Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators jealous."

"Therefore, you must be a 'sucker who is addicted to cultivation and spends all their wealth on junk.'"

"Facing the probes of others, whether overt or covert, you always smiled bitterly and sighed: 'I am just a Mortal; keeping Spirit Stones is useless. What if one day I happen to find an Immortal treasure that can give me a Spiritual Root?'"

"On the surface, everyone complimented you on your 'firm heart towards the Dao,' but secretly, they regarded you as the biggest joke in the market town. But this was exactly the effect you wanted."

"This evening, just after you finished handing over the restaurant's accounts and were preparing to go out to continue 'treasure hunting' at the market, Manager Liu swayed her waist and blocked you in the backyard."

"'Emperor Shuang Wan, tonight there is a small gathering of Immortal Cultivators in the center of the market. They are all well-known Family descendants and elite Loose Cultivators. I lack a companion, so you come with me.' Manager Liu held a folding fan in her hand and looked at you with a smile."

"'Manager Liu, I am just a Mortal. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to go to that kind of occasion?' You instinctively wanted to refuse."

"'No refusing.' Manager Liu closed her folding fan and tapped the back of your hand, 'You are now the signature manager of our Wangjiang Tower. Those guys are always asking me about you. Tonight is a good opportunity to take you to see the world.'"

"Seeing that you couldn't refuse, you could only nod and agree."

"As she spoke, she took a set of water-blue form-fitting clothes from her Storage Pouch and shoved them into your arms."

"'Take it, wear this.'"

"'This...' You looked up."

"Manager Liu had already circled to your front, put her hands on her hips, and tilted her head to examine your face."

"She looked for a long time, her lips moved, seemingly trying to find an angle to compliment you."

"Then she gave up."

"'Emperor Shuang Wan,' she sighed, her gaze moved down and stopped on your chest, 'Although your face is... average, your figure is truly good.'"

"As she spoke, she stretched her hands forward and made an exaggerated Dragon claw gesture at your chest, her expression a mix of envy and jealousy."

"'So big and so soft, I'm dying of envy. You wear those wide robes every day and wrap yourself up like a barrel; do you know that's a waste of heaven's gifts?'"

"You instinctively covered your chest and took a step back."

"The terrifying memory of the time you soaked in the bath with her, when this woman played with you for a full two quarters of an hour, flashed through your mind."

"Your face heated up slightly."

"'Manager Liu,' you said with a straight face, 'Be serious.'"

"'I am very serious!' Manager Liu looked matter-of-fact, 'Wear this and show off your advantages. Maybe there will be a Cultivator who likes this type who takes a fancy to you? You are a Origin Qi Realm Martial Artist after all; it wouldn't be a loss to find a Qi Refining stage Cultivator as a Dao Companion.'"

"'I don't have that thought.' You said straightforwardly."

"'Fine,' Manager Liu waved her hand, 'If you don't want to, then don't. Anyway, I gave you the clothes, so hurry up and change.'"

"You took the clothes and went into the inner room."

"When you came out after changing, Manager Liu was waiting outside, and her eyes lit up 'whoosh'."

"That water-blue dress wrapped around you, sketching out your slender waist that was too small to be grasped, as well as the breathtaking full curves on your chest. Your long legs were straight, and your back view was especially graceful, like a willow in the wind, yet it contained an indescribable, resilient strength."

"Manager Liu had also changed her outfit, wearing a goose-yellow dress, with a Spirit Jade step-shake hair ornament in her bun. Her usual shrewdness and mercenary nature were mostly hidden, revealing a bit of the transcendent air that a Cultivator should have."

"Her eyes first swept across your face, then her gaze moved down and stopped on the curves outlined by the moon-white dress on your chest."

"'Whoa,' Manager Liu walked around you and clicked her tongue, 'I told you, this material suits you. Although your face is nothing to look at, this waist and this chest—tsk, amazing.'"

"You were expressionless: 'Manager Liu, if you do this again, I'm going back to change.'"

"'Fine, fine, you stubborn person.' Manager Liu rolled her eyes and urged, 'Let's go, it's almost time.'"

"You left Wangjiang Tower and headed towards the 'Juxian Garden' in the center of the market."

"Juxian Garden is an open-air water pavilion built on a Spiritual Vein node, surrounded by spiritual mist and the sound of strings and bamboo. When you arrived, quite a few Cultivators had already gathered in groups of twos and threes, mostly with mid-to-Late Stage Qi Refining cultivation."

"You even saw a few Zhao Family disciples wearing standard cyan Dharma robes in the crowd."

"As soon as Manager Liu appeared, she immediately attracted many gazes. She pulled you through the crowd, familiarly greeting Cultivators from all walks of life."

"'Yo, Manager Liu, is this the Manager Lin you often talk about?' A Loose Cultivator with a goat goatee smiled and sized you up."