Chapter 8 - Location Confirmed

…

Just as the car that the pair was in took off on the road, the manager took his gaze off of the car. If you observed closely, you would see that the gaze had a tinge of hidden respect.

"Ahh… The world of the rich is really filled with drama, I hope Miss Xia would be fine."

The manager sighed with exhaustion while a new staff that just started work last month and did not know the way of the world yet, asked the manager cautiously about Xia Qiu.

"M-manager, can I ask who was that Miss Xia? I know she's our VIP but why must we act so subservient like dogs to her?!"

The manager nearly slipped when he heard what his staff said to him.

His face was dark.

"You better control your mouth and watch what you say… It's for the best, lest you offend someone you cannot afford to."

The manager warned his staff for his own wellbeing, to which the staff that looked like she's in her 20's sulked and said softly with unwillingness,

"She doesn't even have any powers! Even if she's rich, in the world, 50% of the people become Evolvers when they reach the age of 16 and undergo the Evolver's Ceremony! Even I am already a Phase One Evolver…"

The manager sighed once again and explained to the staff,

"Let me tell you then… Miss Xia's father, Xia Dong, is one of the richest men in Mei Country. In this world full of Evolvers with strange powers and beasts mutating ever since 500 years ago, he still stood firmly at the top even though he had no particular powers. He's just like me, a non-Evolver, which is why he deserves the respect! There must be a reason why he can maintain his position! Don't ask anymore and just work obediently."

The managers eyes were filled with respect, praising Xia Qiu's father to the high heavens.

It was understandable, even with regulations and new laws created just for Evolvers, it was still a constant ticking time bomb for normal people.

Who knew when would one suddenly get caught in a precarious situation where Evolvers could not control their emotions and exploded with powers that could be deemed a terrorist attack back then 500 years ago?

Non-Evolvers that can be up there at the top of the pyramid were too few and far between. That was why the common people can sympathize and support each other. They were just like young cubs in a jungle full of predators, not knowing when they would be eaten.

…

As they were in the car on the way to Old Liu's ex-teahouse, Li Qu was bored and observed Xia Qiu closely.

She had dark brown eyes, typical that of a Hua Country's citizen, long black hair that was tied into a neat ponytail, with a face like that of an internet celebrity. Her figure was slim but had an hourglass shape, giving people the assumption that she exercised regularly.

Xia Qiu was not very tall, measuring to only about 1.6m. Average for oriental descent, she was wearing a sundress with floral patterns from Gooci, a luxury brand, that accentuated her figure even thought it was not skin-tight.

Li Qu subconsciously stroked his beard as he admired the beautiful scenery in front of him, but he gave a little shake of his head and thought,

'She is not bad looking, but compared to the Celestial Maidens at Black Heaven where from just cultivating, their bone structures can be enhanced. She is a little lacking, but that can be fixed'

Li Qu smiled to himself and looked at the scenery outside.

'It really is a unique feeling.'

Skyscrapers from New Yolk as tall as the Origin Giant Puppets that the Immortal Puppet Master Kui Shi had back then could be observed by him when he looked out of the car window.

The sheer size of the puppet broadened Li Qu's horizon when he first saw it when he was just at the beginning of his cultivation journey.

Li Qu reveled in the unique perspective of an Immortal in a foreign yet intriguing world while thinking of a past memory.

"What are you smiling at? Pretending to be an old guy, huh? And you don't even have any beard! What are you even stroking?!"

Xia Qiu peeked at the handsome man beside her just as he was stroking his beard and teased him while bursting out into a small fit of giggles.

'Hais, I really need to change this habit of mine… I'm young now, I shouldn't behave like a deathly old man anymore.'

Thought Li Qu as he gave a small laugh while shaking his head.

…

"We're here! Let's get off!"

Xia Qiu parked her car in a nearby parking lot as both of them exited the car and walked to the corner of Hua Town's 5th street.

The row of shophouses filled with small business owners peddling their goods appeared to have what seemed like renovation work done tens of years ago, the dilapidated buildings were filled with paintwork threatening to tear the very last thread of paint sustaining them from total ruin.

The crowd of people were significantly lesser than that of the main street that Li Qu was at before. It was easy to see why Old Liu could not keep up with the rent as it looked like money was not easy to flow here with the bare number of commuters.

'This place does not look that good, if I'm being honest. Considering the number of people walking around, I would assume the crowd is generally of this size. Hmm... I would love a challenge, but let me see what type of awe-inspiring 'Celestial Teahouse' the system has to offer.'

Li Qu silently observed the surroundings and asked his system.

"System, is this place suitable to setup the teahouse?"

[Host, this place is indeed suitable.]

An interface that only Li Qu could see popped up and stated,

[Would Host like to set up the Celestial Teahouse here? (Yes / No)]

Li Qu pondered and decided to ask first.

"If I click yes and set it up now, what would the process be like?]

[Host, once you confirm the location by tapping [Yes], I would obtain the deed of the teahouse. The host just needs to confirm the location and I will settle the rest.]

"Settle the rest? Alright, if you say so."

'How magical… Although I could wipe their memories. Let me put my trust in what the system can do for now. The only problem is Xia Qiu… How is the system going to settle it?'

Li Qu was thinking of how the system would settle the shock people would have, when the old and rundown teahouse magically appear out of the blue newly renovated, and other scenarios.

Li Qu then tapped on the [Yes] button shown on the interface.

[Location Confirmed! The renovation work will take approximately 24 hours. Renovation will begin midnight.]

[Host, in the meantime you can rest in the teahouse's second floor before it is completely renovated into the Celestial Teahouse.]

"Brother Li, what do you think of this location? A-although it looks a bit rundown, but the rent here is cheap!"

Xia Qiu looked embarrassed as she introduced the teahouse in front of them.

"Hmm… For now, let us go in and take a look."

Said Li Qu, and the pair proceeded to walked in to have a view of the inside of the teahouse before the renovation took place.

...