The person who walked inside the store was a new face—someone Noa couldn't recognize.
'New customer?' he exclaimed, nearing the entrance to greet him.
The man seemed to be in his late thirties, his dark eyes scanning the store.
He had quite unusual attire for this world. His robes were longer than usual, touching the ground.
"Hello," Noa said. "Are you interested in my products?"
He asked because he noticed how the man's gaze lingered on the shelves.
Mo Wusheng's robes glowed with unrecognizable runes, probably self-inscribed with a sword.
"I am searching for a girl," he announced rudely.
His eyes still darted through the store, not noticing Yun Qiqi sleeping behind the counter. "She is a bearer of the Disaster Seed, and you better not hide her."
Mo Wusheng continued speaking as he pleased, even warning Noa.
"Who?" Noa blinked.
"Are you deaf?" the man growled, stepping toward him. "I told you I am looking for a kid. I saw her walking inside this night, but she hasn't left since."
Noa sighed this time.
"Why does this idiot keep talking?"
He muttered under his breath, just loud enough for the man to hear.
"What?" Mo Wusheng asked in surprise.
"Are you deaf?" Noa attacked this time. "I said why the hell this stupid shitface keeps talking in my store when he isn't going to buy anything?"
"Stupid? Sh-shitface?" the man stuttered.
For his entire 38 years of existence, no one had ever spoken to him this way. And for it to be an ordinary shop owner, who had no cultivation base whatsoever, angered him greatly.
"How dare you?" he yelled again and was about to raise his hand to teach Noa a lesson when his body stiffened.
It froze in mid-motion, losing intent and strength at the same time.
Something denied him this action, and it happened inside his head, making this revelation ten times scarier.
"What did you do?" he questioned, his face turning red with anger.
Noa didn't answer.
'So that's how the famous young masters look like. He is definitely asking to get face-palmed,' he thought.
But there was one more thing Mo Wusheng had to say.
Something Noa wanted to hear and experience for himself.
"You have no idea who I am. You are courting death by defying me. And for whom? A snotty brat who is carrying Disaster Seed with her?" the man yelled, but his voice lost strength with each word.
'Here it is,' Noa thought, amused.
He closed his eyes as if to enjoy the moment.
'I am definitely in a cultivation world. But how did the authors know this? Are all of them dimensional beings like me?'
Waiting for the system to answer his question, Noa sighed in disappointment.
Then he smirked and said,
"You are nothing but a frog under the well. Not only do you not know how vast the sky is, but you don't even fear the heavens."
The moment he said these words, silence descended.
Karma kept Mo Wusheng in check, and the man stood still, his thoughts in complete chaos.
It seemed like he had made a big mistake.
He somehow ran into a being who was concealing his strength, stripping his ability to move and even think straight.
Each passing second was torture for him.
And as he felt that the effect increased the longer he remained inside the store, he became more and more terrified.
He was searching for ways to escape, but Karma denied him every possible action he could make.
Tears streaked down his face, his legs shaking.
"The girl you are searching for is my sister," Noa spoke, his voice calm and steady. "If you or someone from your group tries to take her, none of you will walk away with your names."
It was a warning.
A cold declaration that sent a chill down the man's spine.
Then Noa took one step forward.
Not aggressive. Just enough to scare him.
For one long, stretched second, Mo Wusheng stared back at him, forcing his legs to move until the pressure was lifted, and he stumbled with a groan.
He stiffened, afraid that Noa would do something to him.
Then he turned and dashed out of the building, only catching a glimpse of Yun Qiqi as she remained seated behind the counter, eyes still closed.
'What a dumbass,' Noa thought, tracing his eyes to the man's retreating figure.
"Disaster Seed, huh? That's the curse you mentioned before, right? The one that won't allow her to cultivate?" he asked the system.
[That's right. Not only is it shortening her lifespan, but it is also a ticking bomb that could explode at any moment. It would easily cover and destroy this kingdom,] the system explained.
"Thanks for warning me before, how kind of you," Noa joked.
[Helping you is my pleasure.]
"Does she know about her condition? How much time does she have left to live?"
[She has no idea. It happened when she was just a newborn, and she should live another month or two.]
Noa glanced at Qiqi.
The girl was so exhausted that she slept through the commotion, ignorant of the danger she had only moments ago.
"I can save her," Noa said.
It wasn't a question, as no trace of hesitation could be found in his voice.
[Yes, you can,] the system spoke. [Just unlock special rooms.]
Noa nodded, smiling.
He was determined, his fists clenching.
He then took the girl into his arms and put her into bed, allowing her to sleep more comfortably.
Meanwhile, the door of his store opened again, this time showing familiar faces.
Qing Xuan walked in, her steps swift and calculated.
Though she seemed calmer than usual, as if she felt safe enough to let her guard down.
Xue Hanly followed her behind.
The girl almost hopped around the store, her eyes shining in excitement.
"Good morning!" she greeted, bowing.
Noa saw them and grinned, knowing that he would soon complete the missions.
"I have two new items for sale. Want to take a look?" he asked, already guiding them towards the shelves.