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Li Rong casually waved his hand. The blood-red marks on Jiraiya and the others' foreheads dissolved like mist under sunlight. With a light point of his finger, the unconscious figures lying on the ground stirred and slowly regained awareness.
"Anbu," Orochimaru called out without even turning his head, his tone calm and indifferent, "take them away. Don't let them obstruct this place."
Dark figures flashed. The Anbu appeared soundlessly, efficiently dragging the still-dazed ninja out of the courtyard. No extra movements, no wasted words. In just a few breaths, the scene was completely cleared, as if nothing had ever happened.
Only then did Li Rong chuckle softly.
"When doing business outside, one must always maintain a certain image," he said lazily. "If outsiders found out that I, the shop owner, spend my days lying around, who would still dare to trade with me?"
"Then why are you being so honest now?" Tsunade snorted. She had no intention of being polite and even less patience to play verbal games. "This old woman doesn't have the mental energy for that."
Li Rong didn't mind her bluntness. He wasn't particularly fond of roundabout conversations either.
"Then I'll be direct," he said, turning his gaze to Orochimaru. "I admire your talent."
"Are you interested in becoming a full-time employee of my shop?"
Orochimaru's pupils narrowed slightly. His gaze swept over the twenty young people standing behind Li Rong—faces still tinged with envy and unwillingness—then shifted to the four women beside him, whose expressions remained calm and natural.
An amused smile slowly surfaced.
"Full-time employee?" Orochimaru repeated. "Then I assume… there are temporary ones as well?"
"Yes," Li Rong nodded. "The twenty behind me are all temporary employees."
Orochimaru didn't rush to agree. His caution hadn't dulled with age.
"What's the difference?"
"Temporary employees are similar to your ninja missions," Li Rong explained. "You complete tasks, you get paid. Simple."
"As for full-time employees—" His eyes suddenly sharpened. "During the contract period, you can represent the shop to a certain extent."
"Authority, access, benefits—everything is on a completely different level."
"So," Li Rong asked again, "are you interested?"
"I am," Orochimaru admitted honestly, licking his lips unconsciously. "But how do you intend to sign this contract with me, Boss Li?"
"I want you to walk the path of an Alchemist."
Li Rong briefly explained the basics of alchemy before continuing, "The path of alchemy emphasizes the spiritualization of plants and trees, the refinement of flesh and blood."
"Your obsession with the mysteries of the human body happens to be a perfect prerequisite."
The flickering firelight reflected in Orochimaru's snake-like pupils as he leaned forward slightly.
"Interesting," he murmured. "Can an Alchemist touch upon the mysteries of life?"
"Much deeper," Li Rong replied with a meaningful smile, "than anything you are currently researching."
With a wave of his hand, two contracts appeared in midair, each radiating a different light.
"The first option." Li Rong pointed to the green-glowing scroll on the left. Its contents unfolded like flowing water.
"The shop provides alchemy formulas and medicinal ingredients at cost price. All refined elixirs are exclusively supplied to the shop. Naturally, the purchase price will satisfy you."
Golden characters surfaced one by one:
Private work income: If you use your own materials and formulas, all income belongs to you.Shop formulas or materials: Profits split fifty–fifty.Mission priority: Shop orders take absolute priority.Contract duration: Fifty years.
"After fifty years," Li Rong said calmly, "dust returns to dust, earth to earth. Your freedom is returned. We are even."
Orochimaru raised a brow. "That does sound… reasonable. And the second option?"
Li Rong pointed to the second scroll.
Pitch-black.
The contract unfurled, revealing blood-red text that seemed to pulse faintly.
Ownership of all elixirs: Permanently belongs to the shop.Personal freedom: Soul permanently belongs to the shop.Breach of contract: Soul annihilation.
Silence fell.
This wasn't just harsh—it was absolute.
Orochimaru hesitated. The second option promised unrestricted access to knowledge, yet demanded everything in return.
"Boss," Qian Renxue suddenly stepped forward. "I can also become an Alchemist. I'm willing to be a permanent employee."
Ning Rongrong and the others instantly followed, voicing their willingness one after another.
"You're not suitable," Li Rong rejected them without hesitation.
"You lack the obsession, the conviction, the willingness to keep going even when everything collapses."
"Orochimaru is different. His dream is knowledge itself. For that, he can abandon everything and still move forward."
"The path of alchemy is vast. Without endless curiosity and near-mad persistence, one cannot reach its peak."
Ignoring the disappointed expressions behind him, Li Rong looked back at Orochimaru.
"So—what's your choice?"
Orochimaru closed his eyes briefly, then opened them with a faint smile.
"Boss Li," he said softly, fingers brushing the edge of the contract, "if what you truly want is someone who can reach the pinnacle of alchemy…"
"Why offer me two choices at all?"
Li Rong shrugged. "Business is business. Mutual consent matters. I have no interest in forcing anyone."
Orochimaru chuckled. "Then let me ask you something else."
"How were you chosen by the Sacrificial Dao Lord?"
Li Rong paused, then laughed.
"You're interesting. Besides asking me for techniques, you're the first to ask me that."
"No one else dares?"
"They assume it's my greatest secret," Li Rong said, pointing at Ye Leng Leng and the others. "They think I have some special relationship with the Dao Lord."
"And the truth?" Orochimaru asked, intrigued.
"There is none," Li Rong replied casually. "I was chosen simply because I was lucky."
The courtyard fell into stunned silence.
"Why must there be a special reason?" Li Rong laughed. "Can't great beings act on a whim?"
"The Dao Lord chose envoys on a whim. I just happened to be among them."
"Before that," he added softly, "I was far inferior to you. Inferior even to ordinary Konoha ninja… perhaps even to commoners."
"Then why do you do all this?" Ye Leng Leng pressed. "Why spread cultivation, build Training Grounds, trade fairly, even bring people across Worlds?"
Li Rong's voice softened.
"I was a mortal who received a second life. I'm grateful."
"If, because of me, more people can change their fate… then I won't have failed that opportunity."
He looked at Orochimaru.
"You have potential. I want to see how far you can go."
Orochimaru smiled.
"I choose the second option."
"You'll lose your freedom," Li Rong warned. "Like Jiraiya and Minato, you'll act under orders."
Orochimaru laughed quietly.
"You said you don't force people."
"And I believe—" his eyes gleamed, "—that if one day I truly exhaust all the knowledge of your shop, you'll let me go."
Li Rong blinked, genuinely surprised. "What makes you so confident?"
"Because we're the same," Orochimaru said without hesitation. "We both want a World that keeps moving forward."
Li Rong burst into laughter and pointed at him.
"Then I promise you this—if one day you truly learn everything the Sacrificial Shop has to offer…"
"I'll personally recommend you to the Sacrificial Dao Lord."
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