Chapter 1: Chapter One: Yue Buqun Visits (Request Collection, Request Recommendations)

June 3, 2027

Tianlu City, Furong Street, No. 93

"Phew, finally open!"

In front of a small shop no larger than a hundred square meters, Su Mu stared at the freshly renovated storefront and couldn't help but smile.

He had arrived in this world three years ago, and since then, he had been bound to a food system.

After three years of devilish chef training, he successfully completed the system's program a month ago and proudly became a food shop owner.

The only thing Su Mu found slightly unsatisfactory was the menu and pricing of the food shop.

"System, can you add more dishes—and lower the prices?"

Looking at the menu posted inside the shop, Su Mu felt a slight headache.

A cup of water sold for one tael of gold, a braised egg for five taels, and a plate of egg fried rice for ten taels.

Even as the shop's owner, Su Mu thought the prices were fucking insane!

"Ding, current food shop level does not meet requirements!"

A simple phrase in his mind made Su Mu give up.

Fine—he knew the system's personality all too well after three years.

It seemed he'd just have to accept this.

Sitting inside the shop, Su Mu glanced out at the street outside.

"Sigh, I wonder when a customer will finally come?"

He sighed and shook his head.

Just as he spoke, a passerby, noticing the newly opened food shop, stepped inside.

But upon entering, he was stunned by the menu on the wall.

"What? A cup of water costs one tael of gold? This is robbery!"

The man who entered, now furious, pointed at the menu and started yelling.

He'd just wanted to see if there was anything tasty, but seeing a cup of water priced at one tael and egg fried rice at ten taels, he couldn't hold back.

"Ahem, sir, our food is truly a rare delicacy!"

Seeing the man's expression, Su Mu had already prepared himself.

These days, any normal person who saw these prices would think them unreasonable—no, not just unreasonable, they were utterly insane!

But what could he do? The prices weren't set by him!

Sigh, System, you're screwing me over!

"Heh, delicious!"

The man looked at Su Mu as if he were Bai Chi.

Are you the idiot, or am I the idiot?

Ten taels of gold for a plate of egg fried rice—will eating it let me ascend to immortality?

He let out a cold laugh, turned on his heel, and left without wanting to hear another word from Su Mu.

At the entrance, the man's loud outburst caused several youths who had been about to enter to stop in their tracks.

As they left, they gave Su Mu a look as if he were a madman.

Being stared at like this, Su Mu felt a pang of despair.

As a transmigrator, to sink this low—how tragic!

Just as Su Mu was lamenting, in the Jianghu World:

Huashan Sect, behind the cliff

Yue Buqun, the sect leader of Huashan Sect, was practicing his cultivation technique on the cliff when suddenly, a white mist spread across the cliffside.

Yue Buqun, mid-practice, immediately changed expression, stomped his foot, and leapt several zhang backward.

But to Yue Buqun's surprise, when he stepped out of the mist, he did not see the familiar rear mountain of Huashan Sect—he saw a food shop!

"This… where is this?"

Looking around at the formless chaos, with only a small shop standing in the void a few meters ahead, Yue Buqun was shocked—but he forced down his terror and walked step by step toward the shop.

The few meters took only a moment; Yue Buqun stepped inside the shop.

"Hm? Where is this? Could this be a fairyland?"

Stepping into the shop and seeing this strange scene, Yue Buqun felt a slight difficulty breathing.

Having crossed the void and chaos, he did not believe a shop standing atop such chaos could be an ordinary tavern.

As Yue Buqun examined the shop, Su Mu on the other side said nothing.

Although Yue Buqun wore unusual attire—a full ancient-style outfit—

Su Mu believed that once he saw the prices, he too would sweep his sleeve and leave.

But just as Su Mu thought this, Yue Buqun, after carefully studying the menu, did not leave immediately.

"Owner, I would like one braised egg and a cup of clear water!"

A clear voice rang in Su Mu's ears; for a moment, he thought he'd misheard.

"You're serious?"

Looking at Yue Buqun before him—a man in his forties, dressing like some young kid in ancient Hanfu, playing it cool—

But you can't be mentally unwell!

At these prices, you dare to buy? Don't you fear going home and being forced to kneel on a washboard?

"Uh… I'm just short on cash right now!"

At Su Mu's questioning, Yue Buqun's face flushed red, as if deeply embarrassed.

This sight left Su Mu stunned.

Good heavens, you're showing off to me!

You dare spend over ten thousand on a braised egg and a cup of water, yet tell me you're short on cash!

Tsk, the perverse tastes of the rich!

He mentally placed Yue Buqun in the category of the wealthy, then shook his head and went to prepare Yue Buqun's braised egg and plain water.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Yue Buqun sat down in a seat, feeling quite uneasy.

Just now, while he was looking at the menu, a great deal of information had appeared in his mind.

Among it was not only the menu's content, but also the asset information exchanged by the Divine Realm.

Unfortunately, the mighty Huashan Sect, for all its great reputation, was actually quite poor.

Yue Buqun also wanted to curry favor with Su Mu, this immortal, but alas, that egg fried rice was truly far too expensive.

With no other choice, he could only order a braised egg and plain water.

Not long after, Su Mu walked over carrying a cup of water and a small plate.

"Guest, your order is complete!"

"Thank you, shopkeeper!"

Seeing the dishes served, Yue Buqun decisively handed over the six taels of gold he had exchanged.

The moment six thin gold leaves were produced, Su Mu was slightly taken aback.

He cast a meaningful glance at Yue Buqun, then put the gold leaves away.

Turning around, he was already silently lamenting in his heart.

Damn it, bringing such gold leaves just to go out for a meal!

Is this the joy of being rich?