Upside Down Grocery Shop - Chapter 19

Su Ran looked over at Li Xiaotong. “You keep mumbling like that, and I might just throw you out.”

Li Xiaotong pouted, “You really can read minds, huh? Let me tell you, prying into people’s secrets without permission is against the law.”

“Any evidence? Against the law, my foot,” Su Ran ignored her. “Lin Xiu, just tell me, what brings you here?”

“I’m looking to buy something,” Lin Xiu replied. “Duanlong Platform.”

Su Ran chuckled. “Looks like I’ve got a big spender today. The Duanlong Platform’s a fine item. Not cheap at all.”

“Feel free to set the price, Boss Su. My Shu Shan may not be rich, but we can cover it.” Lin Xiu spoke humbly, but he was brimming with confidence — even a bit proud.

“High and mighty, huh? Alright then.” Su Ran pointed to Li Xiaotong. “She was just telling me she wants to become an immortal and get her hands on a flying sword. You take her as your disciple, and I’ll sell you the Duanlong Stone.”

Li Xiaotong froze. Why am I getting dragged into this? I just want to go home; forget about any stupid immortal cultivation!

Lin Xiu hadn’t expected Su Ran to make that offer, so he hesitated. “That… Accepting disciples is a serious matter in my sect. I don’t have that authority.”

Su Ran laughed. “I just love you holier-than-thou types. Didn’t you say ‘name your price’ just a minute ago? Fifty, now. Pay up.”

Lin Xiu blushed — Su Ran wasn’t holding back. He’d already inspected the medallion and made small talk, and now he had the audacity to tease him like this! Oh well, what choice did he have? He wasn’t about to cause trouble on Su Ran’s turf.

Seeing Lin Xiu go red, Li Xiaotong was laughing beside him. Su Ran held out his hand. “What’re you laughing at? You’re not off the hook either. Fifty bucks. Cash only!”

“Scammer!”

“Scammer who just saved your life.” Su Ran pocketed a hundred bucks with a smug grin. Nice — now he could splurge on barbecue skewers tonight.

Lin Xiu finally asked, “Boss Su, what about my Duanlong Stone?”

“Not for sale.”

“That’s hardly fair.”

“Fair?” Su Ran snickered. “You don’t have the black umbrella; that alone is enough reason for me to refuse.”

“Well,” Lin Xiu admitted defeat. He had indeed given the umbrella to Li Xiaotong, which technically broke the rules, so Su Ran was well within his rights not to sell him the item.

Su Ran checked the time. “It’s two fifteen. If you can say something interesting enough in the next half hour, maybe I’ll reconsider. Deal?”

Lin Xiu chuckled, “Boss Su, looking for a good story, huh?”

“So, are you telling or not?”

“For now, I can’t say.”

“Fine, I won’t press you.”

Li Xiaotong still had no clue what these two were going on about. She glanced outside in the dark, wondering what was going on with Qian Qian after her whole possessed act.

“Don’t worry,” Lin Xiu, sitting beside her, looked out at the street as he spoke. “She was only under someone’s control. By morning, she should be back to normal. Actually… I wanted to ask for your help with something.”

Su Ran pretended to play a game while he listened quietly.

“Control?” Li Xiaotong asked. “Was it that flying sword?”

“Yes,” Lin Xiu admitted plainly. “That’s a flying sword from my Shu Shan. A little… mishap happened, and it escaped. I was sent here to retrieve it.”

“So, you’re really a Sword Immortal?” Li Xiaotong still found it hard to believe.

“I’m no Sword Immortal. At most, I’m just a Feng Shui consultant,” Lin Xiu said gently, his tone approachable, making Li Xiaotong feel a bit of warmth toward him. “Usually, I just do fortune-telling and Feng Shui readings to get by.”

“You can tell fortunes too?!” Li Xiaotong brightened and held out her hand. “Then, tell me, how’s my fate?”

Lin Xiu gave it a casual glance. “Big wealth, endless opportunities.”

All the goodwill Li Xiaotong had toward him disappeared in an instant. This was just a con artist! “You gave me that umbrella earlier and directed me here to this so-called Upside Down Grocery Shop. What even is this place?” She glanced over at Su Ran, knowing that this shameless crook would definitely not answer, so she asked Lin Xiu, “Why does it feel so mysterious?”

“Erm…” Lin Xiu looked at Su Ran. “It’s Boss Su’s shop, so it’s not my place to say.”

“Hmph, isn’t it just a convenience store? What’s so special about it?” Li Xiaotong muttered. “I just hope Qian Qian’s alright…”

Lin Xiu couldn’t help but feel a little moved seeing Li Xiaotong’s pretty profile. “She was just trying to kill you, and you’re still worried about her?”

“You said that she was being controlled, so I don’t blame her. Besides, you don’t know her. Qian Qian’s usually really nice to me.”

Lin Xiu, still looking at her, suddenly coughed and had to take a deep breath to calm himself down.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Lin Xiu just shook his head, not responding.

Su Ran laughed from his seat, “Ah, the age-old tale — heroes can’t resist a beautiful face. Be careful; a single misstep could haunt you forever.”

Lin Xiu smiled bitterly, “Boss Su, could you give me a break?”

Su Ran, now done with his game, asked, “Li Xiaotong, if Lin Xiu hadn’t shown up and directed you here, where would you have gone?”

Li Xiaotong was still puzzled. “To Upside Down Grocery Shop, of course.”

Su Ran stood up. “My Upside Down Grocery Shop is one of a kind — no branches. Let me rephrase that: where exactly was the Upside Down Grocery Shop that Qian Qian told you about?”

Li Xiaotong hesitated, then gave him the location.

“There’s actually another Upside Down Grocery Shop? This is getting interesting.” Su Ran picked up a black umbrella. “Lin Xiu, want to go check it out?”

Lin Xiu smiled, “I’d love to,” and took the umbrella as they headed out.

“I’m coming too!” Li Xiaotong shouted. Leaving her alone here? They’d scare her to death!

“Remember to bring an umbrella.”

“It’s not even raining. What’s the point of an umbrella?” Li Xiaotong muttered, thinking Su Ran must be crazy.

Lin Xiu handed her an umbrella. “Take it. Not everyone gets one.”

Confused, Li Xiaotong took it anyway.

The three of them walked down the street, each with a black umbrella. The scene looked straight out of a horror movie. Sandwiched between Su Ran and Lin Xiu, Li Xiaotong felt like a lettuce leaf in a burger.

Su Ran glanced at her. “Not scared anymore, huh?”

Li Xiaotong paused, then smiled.

To be honest, when she’d first seen Qian Qian like that, she’d been terrified. Even when she arrived at Upside Down Grocery Shop, she hadn’t felt any safer. But with Su Ran and Lin Xiu’s company afterward, the fear had gradually faded.

She was only eighteen; facing something like that for the first time would’ve probably left a scar if no one had been there to guide her.

Li Xiaotong chuckled. “Then give me back my fifty bucks. That was my breakfast money for a whole week.”

“Nope. Once it’s in my pocket, not even God himself could take it. That’s the rule.”

“You! Hmph!”

When they arrived at the address Li Xiaotong had mentioned, lo and behold, there was indeed an Upside Down Grocery Shop there. Not only did it have the same name, but from the outside, it looked exactly like Su Ran’s shop.

Su Ran chuckled. This was interesting.