"Apologies, but could you please inform your boss? I have business matters to report to him."
Xingqiu wasn't angry at all; instead, he clasped his fists politely. After all, everyone had their own duties, if anyone could just rush in as he did, how could any business operate properly?
Hearing this, the shopkeeper let out a sigh of relief and said, "Please wait a moment."
"No need. Come up, Xingqiu."
Before the shopkeeper could announce him, Su Han had already come down the stairs. He pointed at Xingqiu and said to the shopkeeper, "Later, I'll give you a list of names. If anyone on it comes to see me, you can let them through without announcement."
"Yes, boss."
The shopkeeper nodded lightly and returned to his duties.
Watching the man leave, Xingqiu gave Su Han a thumbs-up and said admiringly, "Where did you find such a capable worker? His martial skills aren't bad! Though his body seems to have an old injury, his hand, perhaps. Otherwise, his strength would be even greater."
"This man wasn't someone I hired. I don't have such connections. He was sent over by Lady Ningguang."
"Lady Ningguang? Ah, that explains it."
The moment he heard the man was from the Jade Chamber, Xingqiu immediately understood. From the moment he entered, he had felt a professional efficiency that the old shop had never had, before, the workers were always flustered and disorganized, but here, everything ran smoothly and in perfect order. Clearly, these people had been professionally trained.
When they reached the upper floor, Xingqiu's eyes were immediately drawn to the woman sitting gracefully by the window. She wore a refined tricolor cheongsam, and the black-gold finger sleeves on her arms exuded noble elegance.
There was only one woman in all of Liyue who dressed like that, the leader of the Liyue Qixing, Tianquan Ningguang.
Seeing Su Han's friend arrive, Ningguang stood and smiled. "So it's the second young master of the Feiyun Commerce Guild. No wonder Su Han personally came to greet you, it turns out you're an old friend."
"Lady Ningguang, I didn't expect you to be here as well!"
"It's just a small matter. You two go ahead and talk, I'll wait in the next room for Keqing."
Ningguang naturally wasn't interested in the business dealings between Su Han and Xingqiu. After exchanging a few polite words, she gracefully left the room.
As for why she didn't return home, Su Han guessed she was probably waiting for news from the Rock Tea House.
Once Ningguang had left, Su Han turned to Xingqiu. "So, how did things go on your trip?"
With no one else around, Xingqiu became visibly excited. "It was an incredible success, Su! Your business idea is insanely profitable! Guess how much Mora I made in Chenyu Vale?"
Su Han poured him a cup of tea and smiled. "How much?"
"A full seven hundred thousand Mora!"
Just thinking of that number still made Xingqiu tremble. After leaving a few days ago, he had traveled day and night, taking only two days to reach Chenyu Vale. He had expected the comic's initial response to be lukewarm, but to his shock, not only did children love it, even adults were obsessed!
"You have no idea! At first, I priced each comic at five thousand Mora, I thought that was high enough. But they were snatched up instantly! In the end, I raised the price to twenty thousand Mora, and they still sold out! That's ten times the price!
"After deducting costs, I made a pure profit of seven hundred thousand Mora! When I returned home, my father and older brother were speechless. They couldn't believe it! The only regret is that I didn't bring more copies, otherwise, I could've made even more!"
This business trip had earned Xingqiu not only money but also great respect. His family praised him highly, and even the servants looked at him with admiration. The sense of accomplishment was beyond words.
Su Han looked at the confident youth and smiled. "As long as you made money, that's what matters. That journey wasn't easy, and your father's not getting any younger."
"Exactly! That's why I'm planning to restock and head back to Chenyu Vale again soon. By the way, Su, how many volumes are left for the final part of Wind and Cloud? I'll buy them all at once! I just want to see the ending!"
Money didn't matter to Xingqiu, he had plenty. But not seeing the conclusion of Wind and Cloud was pure torture.
The latest comic had left countless unanswered mysteries.
Nie Feng falling into demonic corruption.
How would Absolute God be defeated?
And once defeated, how could Nie Feng return to normal?
These questions consumed him. For days, Xingqiu had been thinking of nothing else. The moment he heard Su Han's new shop was opening, he didn't even rest before rushing over with gifts.
"You really are obsessed with martial arts stories, aren't you? Let me take a look."
Seeing how desperate Xingqiu was, Su Han didn't have the heart to refuse. He opened the system panel.
[System]: Ten Thousand Worlds Comic System (Permission Level 1, upgrade after selling 50,000 copies. Current sales: 17,182.)
[Comic]: Wind and Cloud (TV Drama Adaptation Comic Edition)
[Permission]: Level 5 (Allows creation of the final chapter)
[Limit]: None
[Reward]: Sell 15,000 copies to unlock one draw. Current draws available: 1 (3 used so far; the 5th draw is free!)
[Prize Pool]: Random rewards from the Wind and Cloud world, techniques, treasures, divine weapons, elixirs, or mystical artifacts.
[Bonus]: If the host obtains a technique, it can be upgraded with points (1 point per comic sold).
[Note]: Sell 20,000 copies to unlock a brand-new comic. Currently 2,818 copies short.
After the recent boom in sales, he was close to reaching 20,000 copies.
Soon, a new comic could be created.
Xingqiu waited anxiously. "So? How many left? If it's under 5,000, don't worry, I'll buy them all!"
Seeing how eager he was, Su Han couldn't help but laugh. "You don't have to wait, it's ready now."
"Huh? Really?!"
"Here."
Su Han handed him the freshly printed final volume. The cover featured the demonic Nie Feng, with the Lingyun Grotto, Dragon Veins, and Fire Qilin in the background. Clearly, the final arc revolved around the Nine Provinces' Dragon Vein.
Holding the comic, Xingqiu's hands trembled. The Wind and Cloud finale, he finally had it! The excitement made his heart race.
While Xingqiu was lost in the story, there came a knock on the door. Su Han turned to see Ningguang standing there.
"How's your talk going?" she asked.
"Quite well."
"Good. Keqing's already returned, she's in the next room. Would you like to take a look?"
"That fast? Impressive. I'll head over now. Xingqiu, keep reading, I'll be back soon."
Su Han raised a brow. Master Keqing's efficiency really is something, she finished everything in less than an hour.
Completely absorbed in his martial arts fantasy, Xingqiu didn't even hear him leave.
In the next room, Keqing placed a yellow talisman on the table before Su Han.
"This is what you meant, right?"
The talisman was golden-yellow, covered in mysterious red sigils. Just looking at it gave Su Han a sense of awe, an obscure yet immense power flickered within.
Majestic, upright, unyielding, it carried the oppressive might of a mountain.
Only the Geo Archon himself could have forged something so divine.
Su Han nodded. "Yes, this is indeed the Forbidden Talisman of No Taboo."
Hearing his confirmation, both Keqing and Ningguang let out a breath of relief. The first major problem had finally been resolved.
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