While Li Jian was busy trying to convince a Nine-Tailed Fox that sitting on the counter was a health code violation, a new figure appeared at the edge of the West Gate.
Her name was Mei Lin, and she was the 'Shadow Lotus' of the Thousand Shadow Bureau—the most elite intelligence agency of the Great Imperial Empire. Her mission was simple: investigate the 'Anomaly of Cloudstone' and eliminate any threat to the throne.
She had survived poisonings, infiltrated demon dens, and assassinated corrupt generals. A "tea shop" should have been a vacation.
But as she stepped into the alley, she froze.
Is that... a phoenix-crane nesting on a chimney? she thought, her eyes twitching. And why is the air so thick with Qi that I feel like I'm breathing liquid diamonds?
She adjusted her disguise—a simple, shy girl looking for work—and pushed open the door of the 'Heavenly Brew'.
Inside, the scene was pure chaos.
A legendary Ice Goddess was arguing with a Phoenix Warrior over the correct way to fold napkins. An old man, who looked suspiciously like the missing Tea Saint Lu, was aggressively mopping the feet of a Nine-Tailed Fox. And behind the counter sat a young man who looked like he hadn't slept since the beginning of time.
"Um... hello?" Mei Lin said, her voice soft and trembling (the perfect 'innocent girl' act). "I saw the sign... are you hiring a waitress?"
Li Jian looked up. His eyes scanned Mei Lin. To anyone else, she looked harmless. But Li Jian, backed by the 'Ultimate Leisure System', saw a glowing red warning label over her head: [Target: Professional Spy. Threat Level: High. Utility Level: Excellent at multitasking.]
Li Jian didn't care about the threat. He cared about the fact that he had a fox, two goddesses, and a crazy old man to manage.
"Can you carry a tray without starting a war?" Li Jian asked.
Mei Lin blinked. "I... yes, sir."
"Do you have any 'hidden agendas' that involve breaking my furniture?"
Mei Lin's heart skipped a beat. Did he see through me already? Impossible! "No, sir! I just need a job!"
"Great. You're hired," Li Jian said, pointing to the Nine-Tailed Fox. "Table four wants more Oolong. The fox pays in jade pearls. Don't touch the tails unless you want to be turned into a popsicle. Ling Yue, show the new girl where we keep the tea towels."
Mei Lin was stunned. She was in! She had infiltrated the target's inner circle in record time. Now, she just had to observe, gather information, and—
"Here," Ling Yue said, handing her a damp cloth with a gaze cold enough to freeze fire. "The Fox likes its table polished in clockwise circles. If you mess up the Senior's harmony, I will end you."
Mei Lin swallowed hard. "Yes, ma'am."
For the next four hours, the 'Shadow Lotus' of the Empire found herself running between tables, serving tea to mythical beasts and high-level cultivators who were all behaving like polite school-children because of the 'Senior' behind the counter.
She watched Li Jian carefully. He didn't use any profound cultivation techniques. He just... boiled water. But every time he poured, the laws of space and time seemed to bend around his teapot.
This man is terrifying, Mei Lin noted in her mental report. He has enslaved a Core Formation goddess as a maid and treats an Ancient Calamity like a common house pet. His power level is... immeasurable. Strategy: Do not provoke. Stay in the kitchen. The cookies are surprisingly good.
By evening, Li Jian was leaning against the back door, watching the silver tree glow in the dark.
"New girl," he called out.
Mei Lin stiffened. "Yes, Master Jian?"
"You're good at organizing things. Tomorrow, we're having a 'Grand Opening' festival. I want to clear out some of this tea stock so I can pay for the roof."
Mei Lin's eyes widened. "A festival? Sir, if the neighboring sects hear about this, they will all come! It will be a gathering of giants!"
Li Jian shrugged, looking at the Nine-Tailed Fox who was now napping on a pile of cushions. "Let them come. As long as they pay in cash and don't break anything, I don't care if the Emperor himself shows up."
He paused, then added with a tired sigh: "Actually, if the Emperor shows up, tell him we're closed. I'm not dealing with royal drama on a Saturday."
Mei Lin stood there, clutching her tea towel. She had to send a message back to the capital. But as she looked at the peaceful, glowing tree and felt the calm energy of the shop, she hesitated.
Maybe... I'll send the report tomorrow, she thought. I want to try the 'Heavenly Honey' toast first.