Chapter 1: Not Only Freeloading, But Charging the Bill to the Flame-Chase Merchant Chamber?

"Friendships forged in profit harbor hearts of profit; who among the refined still cherishes a kindred spirit? The storyteller on stage and the friend in the audience—once bound by fate, that connection is worth ten thousand taels of gold."

"It is shameful to admit, but legends are rare on this Xianzhou; after all, with lives stretching into eternity, what room remains for tales to take root?"

"In our last telling, we spoke of how the Xianzhou of that time faced locust plagues from without and the Ambrosial Arbor of the Plague Author within; the Reignbow Arbiter gathered the generals to restore a clear universe to the Xianzhou. Legend has it that upon departing for war, the Reignbow once declared..."

"Since those calamities settled and the 'Luofu' came to anchor, the 'Chambers of Commerce' have remained the economic lifeline of the Xianzhou. Chambers great and small dot the Xianzhou; some bear official backing, while others are purely folk organizations."

"In this telling, we speak of Miss Tingyun, the chief representative of the interstellar merchant group 'Flame-Chase.' She is smooth as a polished jade, gifted in communication, and born a natural for business."

"However, it is said that recently, a mysterious guest advisor has appeared within the interstellar merchant group 'Flame-Chase.'"

Luofu.

The hub of the Starskiff Haven.

The most prosperous Xuanye Boulevard.

Situated here is the most famous teahouse, the Shop of Night's Repose.

On the stage.

Mr. Xi Yan, the storyteller, fanned himself slowly and began to speak: "It is said that the interstellar merchant group 'Flame-Chase' has welcomed a mysterious guest advisor, invited personally by Miss Tingyun. Rumor describes him as handsome in appearance, elegant in manner, and possessing knowledge far surpassing that of ordinary men."

"Mysterious? A mysterious guest advisor has joined the Flame-Chase Merchant Group? How is it I know nothing of this?"

"Is this true or false? The interstellar merchant group 'Flame-Chase' boasts the greatest reputation on the Luofu; until now, they have employed only appraisers, never a guest advisor. What virtue or ability does this person possess to earn such a title?"

"This must be a lie. I just came from the Flame-Chase Merchant Group and saw no guest advisor. Where did you hear such news? I have never heard of it."

"A guest advisor personally invited by Miss Tingyun must hold a status far from simple, but does he truly possess knowledge exceeding that of ordinary men? Mere common sense beyond that of a merchant cannot qualify one to become a guest advisor of 'Flame-Chase.'"

"With a matter so significant, 'Flame-Chase' seems to have issued no notification; should they not have posted a public notice? It makes no sense that we remain unaware."

"This must be fake."

Hearing the storyteller's words, the audience members glanced at one another in turn, voicing their shock.

Since when did the 'Flame-Chase' Merchant Chamber have a position for a guest advisor?

Moreover, this person was invited by Miss Tingyun, the chief representative of 'Flame-Chase' herself; what virtue or ability does he possess?

One after another, they whispered in debate, many wearing faces of utter disbelief.

That 'Flame-Chase,' the largest interstellar merchant group on the Luofu, had never been heard to maintain a guest advisor position; its most famous figure was solely the chief representative, Miss Tingyun.

Now they were actually hearing that a guest advisor had arrived within the 'Flame-Chase' Merchant Group?

"This matter is naturally true; when have I ever spoken falsehoods?"

Mr. Xi Yan of the Shop of Night's Repose fanned himself slowly and continued: "The person capable of being invited by Miss Tingyun to become a guest advisor must possess common sense far from simple. Do not think only you are curious; even I am eager to see the appearance of this guest advisor."

Just as the storyteller spoke slowly.

Not far away, Lin Mo, handsome in appearance and dressed in splendid attire, held a cup of tea, inhaling its scent. A fragrant aroma rushed to his nose, compelling him to close his eyes.

He took a gentle sip, feeling a sweet liquid surge upon his tongue, like honey.

A cool breath flowed from his throat down to his chest, like a wisp of spring breeze.

The taste was exceptional!

As expected of the most famous tea at the Shop of Night's Repose, its fragrance lingered between his teeth, while rich energy circulated within his body, nourishing him even as it granted him the ultimate gustatory delight.

It was in no way inferior to the Chenyu Tea crafted in the Chenyu Vale.

"Young Master, what do you think? Would you like more?"

Beside him, a pretty young maid stood vivaciously by Lin Mo's side, her face alight with excitement as she introduced: "This tea is the treasured masterpiece of our Shop of Night's Repose, left behind by the former owner. Our shop rose to fame because of this tea; many great figures have drunk it."

"For this cup of tea can grant you longevity, moistening your body with the power of life. Made from spiritual grasses and spiritual springs of a certain immortal mountain, every leaf brims with dense spiritual energy. One cup allows one to feel the vitality of life and the nourishment of immortal qi."

As the Shop of Night's Repose's largest client, his patronage directly affected her performance commission; she had to serve this guest impeccably.

The tea held in this guest's hands was named Life Tea, the treasured masterpiece of the Shop of Night's Repose!

One cup cost five hundred thousand credit points!

And this young man had already drunk six cups!

That amounted to a full three million credit points!

On the Luofu, five million credit points was a sum an ordinary person could never earn in a lifetime.

The average wage on the Luofu was merely three thousand to ten thousand.

Anything above five thousand counted as a high salary!

Yet this young man, simply by drinking this tea, had consumed a full three million credit points.

Speaking such a thing aloud made it hard for anyone to believe.

Nearby, some of the storyteller's audience, whether standing or sitting, watched this scene with envious eyes, whispering among themselves.

"Which family's young master is this, to be able to drink the Shop of Night's Repose's treasured masterpiece tea, and not just one cup?"

"It is said that only legendary great figures have ever drunk this treasured masterpiece; apart from them, no one else has ever tasted it, nor could anyone afford it."

"What normal person would spend several years' wages on a single cup of tea? Have they gone mad?"

"We have never heard of any noble young master coming here to indulge; could he be a visitor from another world?"

As they debated, their gazes remained filled with envy.

That tea, even on their Xianzhou Luofu, was something almost no one had ever drunk; it belonged to the treasured masterpiece of the Shop of Night's Repose.

They had only heard of it, never seen it, let alone witnessed another drinking it.

Now sitting here, they could smell that tea fragrance which invigorated their entire beings, and for a moment, their hearts swelled with intense envy.

"Indeed."

Hearing the little maid's words, Lin Mo nodded gently and smiled: "Among the teas I have drunk, this counts as a superior grade."

"Bring one final cup."

Hearing Lin Mo's words, the little maid's face flushed with excitement, turning exceedingly red, and she immediately poured another cup for Lin Mo.

One cup cost five hundred thousand credit points; this was the seventh cup.

Three million five hundred thousand credit points—just thinking about it made the little maid tremble with excitement.

Lin Mo, meanwhile, lifted the teacup once more, sipping gently with closed eyes as he savored the flavor, a look of satisfaction in his gaze.

Satisfied, having drunk seven cups in succession, Lin Mo felt nothing but comfort.

"Young Master, here is the bill."

Seeing that Lin Mo had declared this his final cup, the little maid eagerly presented the invoice: "You have consumed seven cups of Life Tea and six platters of Tiao-fried Yellow Stamen Tea Cakes, totaling four million and thirty thousand credit points. We can round it down to an even four million. Will you be paying by card or transfer?"

Gazing at that astronomical figure, the little maid's face flushed with excitement; this Young Master's spending alone equaled nearly a full year of profits for the Buyehou Shop!

"Credit points?"

Hearing the little maid's words, Lin Mo, still holding his tea, fell deep into thought: "I have no credit points."

He had only arrived on the Xianzhou two days ago; where would he possibly get credit points?

The little maid of the Buyehou Shop: "???"