"Please, just one customer! Please, please!" Lin Feng clasped his hands together like a beggar praying at the gates of heaven.
His voice echoed through the small, dusty shop, desperate and pitiful.
"I don't even need a rich one! Just someone—anyone! I'll give them a discount! Buy-one-get-one-free! Half-off breath mints, come on!"
He glanced toward the door, hopeful for the faintest sign of movement. Nothing.
Not even the sound of footsteps or a passing breeze.
The day ended just as it always did—quiet and lonely.
The sun sank behind the sprawling city skyline, bathing his little store in orange light, and Lin Feng sighed for what felt like the hundredth time.
No customers. Not one.
"Same as yesterday… and the day before that," he muttered under his breath.
He rested his chin on the counter, staring at the cobweb hanging from the ceiling.
"You'd think someone would at least accidentally walk in by now. This place is the perfect place to make out and do some dirty deeds, for crying out loud…"
Days turned into weeks, weeks into a month.
The bell above his shop door—still crooked and rusty had never once rung for a customer.
Eventually, Lin Feng stopped counting altogether.
"Bottled water for breakfast, bottled water for lunch, bottled water for dinner, bottled water for snacks…" he mumbled as he lay sprawled across the wooden counter, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Wake me up when I finally lose my mind, System."
He lifted a bottle of water and took a slow, lazy sip, his expression as lifeless as the empty store around him.
"Negative, host," the system's cheerful, emotionless voice replied in his head.
"That won't happen. Your brain functions are perfectly stable. That's just wishful thinking. Cheer up! You have all the time in the world to wait for your first customer."
Lin Feng froze mid-sip. His hand trembled slightly as he lowered the bottle.
"Wait," he said slowly. "What do you mean… all the time in the world?"
"Exactly that, host," the system answered, tone bright and overly friendly.
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. "...Define that."
"You are immortal, host. You cannot die, starve, age, or suffer any form of harm within the confines of the store."
The water bottle slipped from his fingers and hit the floor with a dull thunk.
"You mean…" Lin Feng whispered in disbelief.
"I'm stuck here forever? Alone? In this stupid shop? With nothing but bottled water and breath mints?!"
"Affirmative, host."
Lin Feng's expression twisted in horror.
"Are you insane? Who wants to live forever in a store that doesn't even have customers?! I'd rather fight a heavenly tribulation barehanded!"
The system didn't respond immediately, as though it were trying to process his outrage.
Then, in its usual feminine cheer, it replied, "Correction, host. Once you make your first sale, you will receive a random reward. These rewards may include spiritual treasures, cultivation techniques, divine weapons, or even the ability to leave the store temporarily."
Lin Feng blinked, hope flickering faintly in his eyes. "Wait… seriously? I can actually get out of here?"
"Affirmative. Successful transactions will accumulate store energy. Once sufficient energy is gathered, the store's restrictions can be temporarily lifted, allowing you to explore the outside world—and perhaps even pursue the fairies and goddesses of this xianxia realm."
Lin Feng's jaw dropped. "Wait, did you just say fairies and goddesses?"
"Affirmative, host."
A slow grin spread across his face. "System… you really should've led with that part."
"Because you were busy complaining, host," the system replied dryly.
"Alright!" Lin Feng slapped both palms on the counter, his despair instantly replaced by boundless enthusiasm.
"New plan! Forget sleeping, forget water—I'm manifesting my first customer! I don't care if it's a lost old man, a beggar, or some immortal passing by! As long as they buy something, I'm golden!"
He clasped his hands together once more, his tone rising into dramatic fervor.
"Dear heavens, merciful gods, wandering cultivators with bad senses of direction—please, send me one! Just one! I'll even sell one of my legs for a single customer!"
The empty shop answered him with silence.
Lin Feng's hopeful expression slowly deflated. "...Still nothing?"
"Affirmative. Current customer traffic: zero. Projected time to first sale: unknown," the system replied.
"Thanks for the optimism," Lin Feng muttered darkly, lying back down on the counter.
But then—just as his eyes began to close—something unusual happened.
A faint chime echoed in the air. The sound was soft, like the bell of a door being brushed by the wind.
Lin Feng's eyes snapped open. He sat up straight, his heart pounding.
"System," he whispered urgently, "was that—?"
"Affirmative," the system replied, its tone now laced with excitement.
"Host, prepare yourself. The door… has opened."
Lin Feng's pulse quickened as the bell above the door jingled for the first time.
After more than two months of silence, someone had finally entered the shop.
***
The man who entered the shop moved cautiously, his steps creaking against the old wooden floor.
He was a large, round fellow dressed in silk robes embroidered with gold patterns, the kind that would usually command respect among mortals.
But here, in this ancient cultivator city, he looked more like a merchant trying too hard to appear rich.
His name was Zhang Wei, a minor cultivator from Purple Dawn City, and though his family possessed some wealth, his own talent in cultivation was abysmal.
He had a spiritual vein, yes—but the weakest kind: the Five Elements Root Bone.
It was a vein so incompatible and chaotic that even channeling the simplest spiritual energy took him hours.
Most sects wouldn't even look at him twice.
His friends had all surpassed him, his juniors were now elders in sects, and yet he remained stuck at the same stage.
That was why he had come all the way to Soaring Dragon City, one of the largest and most prosperous cities in the entire continent.
Here, people said, fate-changing opportunities were hidden everywhere—ancient relics unearthed in forgotten ruins, mysterious seniors selling miraculous pills in back alleys, divine beasts being born in secluded valleys.
Zhang Wei had wandered the city for days hoping to encounter one such miracle.
But reality, as always, was cruel.
After walking through countless streets and markets, after being scammed twice and insulted once for his weak aura, Zhang Wei was about ready to give up.
His feet ached, his robes were dusty, and even his storage pouch felt lighter from all the wasted spirit stones.
And then, by sheer accident, he stumbled upon this place.
A lonely shop tucked away in the corner of a forgotten street.
The signboard was old and nearly falling apart, its letters faded by time.
The door creaked as if it hadn't been opened for years.
Dust covered every visible surface, and the shelves inside looked all empty—only one jar sat neatly arranged at the forefront, their contents unknown.
Zhang Wei frowned deeply.
"Tch. Another useless dump," he muttered, half tempted to turn back immediately.
"Come in," said a calm voice.
Zhang Wei froze.
The voice was clear and oddly soothing, yet carried no spiritual pressure at all.
Turning his head, he saw a young man seated behind the counter.
The man's appearance was striking—an extremely handsome young man dressed in loose dark robes.
His short black hair set him apart from most cultivators, who typically wore their hair long and flowing.
The contrast made him seem even more distinct, as if he didn't quite belong to this world yet somehow commanded attention within it.
Zhang Wei hesitated, then stepped closer. The man didn't even bother to stand or greet him.
Instead, he simply sat there, chin resting on one hand, staring lazily at nothing in particular.
"So this is the owner?" Zhang Wei thought. "Doesn't even look like a cultivator. Probably another broke merchant trying to act mysterious."
Still, out of politeness, Zhang Wei gave a slight nod. "Shopkeeper, what do you sell here?"
The young man didn't answer. He simply gestured toward a wooden board hanging behind him.
Zhang Wei turned his head—and immediately froze.
The board listed only one product.
Breath Mint — 1 Spirit Stone
Zhang Wei blinked. Once. Twice. He rubbed his eyes, thinking maybe he misread it.
But no—there it was, written in perfectly clear characters.
"One… spirit stone?" he muttered aloud, his voice rising.
His jaw nearly dropped.
"Boss, is there a mistake in your pricing? You could buy a whole bag of grade-three spirit pills for that amount! What kind of scam is this? What is a breath mint even?"
"It's a breath freshener," Lin Feng said flatly, his tone devoid of emotion.
"A… a breath freshener?" Zhang Wei repeated, his disbelief deepening. "You mean, it just makes your breath smell nice? For one spirit stone?!"
"Yes."
That was all Lin Feng said.
Zhang Wei stood there, dumbfounded. His round face twitched slightly.
"Boss, are you joking with me? Do I look like someone who came here to waste money?"
Lin Feng simply leaned back and crossed his arms.
His eyes were calm, indifferent—almost bored. Inside, though, his mind was racing.
System, this guy looks ready to leave. Should I try to convince him?
[Negative, host. Any attempt at persuasion will invalidate the transaction. Maintain composure. Let the customer decide of his own will.]
Lin Feng's lips tightened slightly, but he said nothing more.
He picked up a bottle of water from under the counter and took a casual sip, pretending not to care in the slightest whether Zhang Wei stayed or left.
Zhang Wei, on the other hand, was getting increasingly annoyed.
"A single breath mint for one spirit stone… ridiculous," he muttered again. "Who would even buy such nonsense?"
Yet, even as he said that, he couldn't help but glance once more at the small glass jar sitting on the counter.
Inside it were round, pearl-like candies that shimmered faintly under the light.
A hint of curiosity—just a small spark—flickered in Zhang Wei's mind.
"…" Lin Feng merely shrugged, his expression calm and detached, though deep within, his anticipation simmered.
His first potential sale—his first step toward freedom—was standing right before him, rubbing his chin and squinting at a jar of mints like they were relics of the heavens.
Zhang Wei stood there for a long moment, torn between reason and curiosity.
The shopkeeper's indifferent attitude only made the place feel more mysterious.
The air was faintly perfumed with something clean and refreshing, though he couldn't tell where the scent came from.
Even the dust floating in the sunlight looked oddly serene.
He scratched his head.
"Ahhhh, damn it," he muttered under his breath. "I've been scammed twice already this week—what's one more, huh? At least I'll have a funny story to tell when I get home."
With a defeated sigh, he slapped his palm on the counter. "Boss, give me one breath mint!"
Lin Feng's lips curved just slightly—a rare sign of satisfaction—but his tone remained perfectly professional.
"Of course. But before I hand it to you, please look at our store policy first."
He gestured toward an old wooden plaque hanging just behind him.
The letters, carved deep into the wood, seemed to be written ages ago.
Zhang Wei leaned forward and read aloud:
Store Policy:
Rule 1. We do not exchange or accept any returns.
Whatever the customer buys is bound to him in life and death.
Not even the Grand Dao may alter this rule.
Zhang Wei blinked several times.
"Uh… bound in life and death? For this breath mint?" he said, half-laughing, half-confused. "You must be joking, right? Is this some kind of weird marketing gimmick?"
Lin Feng simply looked at him, expression unchanging. The silence stretched.
Finally, Zhang Wei threw up his hands.
"Fine, fine. I agree! What's the worst that could happen? I get diarrhea from a mint?"
He reached into his storage ring and pulled out a single spirit stone, its faint glow reflecting in his plump fingers.
He hesitated one last time before placing it on the counter.
Lin Feng nodded after picking up the spirit stone and slipping it into his pocket with practiced ease.
"Transaction confirmed," he said evenly, his tone calm and businesslike. Then he gestured toward a corner of the shop.
"Now, take that paper plate over there, place it under the jar, and press the knob down once. You'll receive your breath mint right after."
Zhang Wei nodded and followed the instructions carefully.
Ding!
A soft sound echoed in the quiet shop.
Zhang Wei stared at it in silence for a good ten seconds.
"That's it?" he said finally, his voice a mix of disbelief and outrage.
"One little candy for one whole spirit stone?! Do you realize how many meals I could buy for that?"
Lin Feng gave him a bland look. "The product is as advertised."
"Advertised?! You didn't even explain what it does!"
"Already did. It freshens your breath," Lin Feng replied calmly.
Zhang Wei's eye twitched. "You mean that I really just spent a spirit stone on… clean breath?!"
No reply came. Only that same infuriatingly serene stare.
Zhang Wei groaned and dragged a chair out from one of the nearby tables.
The shop was much larger than Zhang Wei first realized, with ten neatly arranged tables, four chairs each—forty seats in total.
"Fine," he said, plopping himself onto a chair. "Let's see what's so special about this thing."
He placed the plate on the table and examined the mint closely.
It looked ordinary—like a small white pill.
"Hmm… maybe it's some kind of alchemical pill in disguise?" he murmured. "If this is some hidden elixir, I'll be rich. But if not…" He sighed. "At least it'll make my breath smell nice."