Chapter 19 - Li Qu's 'Small Plan'

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The incense stick made of Jade Agarwood was still burning ever so slowly as the small ashes after the Jade Agarwood was burnt were scattered by the wind onto the nearby wooden floorboard, disintegrating into small white dots that looked like stars in the sky.

Mike spotted the incense stick and he suddenly felt his power churning as it slowly cooled down.

"M-my power is slowly consolidating by itself! What the fu- Duck! How?!"

Although Mike was excited, he still kept in mind to be respectful around Li Qu. Mike was already given his last chance, he did not want to greet his Uncle Tom as a dead body.

'How did my power start consolidating by itself? I didn't do anything special recently to my body. The only weird thing is that incense stick on the cashier counter! Could it be…"

Mike speculated by himself on the reason why his power was slowly consolidating and had a growing suspicion of the incense stick. He could not hold his curiosity as he asked Li Qu.

"Young Master Li! Is that incense stick…"

"Yes. Stop making a fuss and just drink your Gold Spirit Tea quietly."

Li Qu did not even need to hear what Mike wanted to ask and instantly replied to Mike as if he could see through his first customer's thoughts.

Mike's mouth gaped open and remained like that for a good minute or two as he tried to process the endless amount of shock that he had received throughout the day.

'D*mn, I have been receiving grievances after grievances, shock after shock in just a span of a day! I can't even get mad at him now after this benefit. I need to tell Uncle Tom about this teahouse! Our Protector's Unit members would experience a crazy improvement in their strengths!'

Mike was extremely excited at his new discovery and could not wait to tell everyone he knew about the effects of this mystical pot of Gold Spirit Tea.

Baahhh!

Mike smacked his lips in satisfaction from drinking another cup of Gold Spirit Tea, he held the teapot in hand to mentally weigh how much of the Gold Spirit Tea was left and was depressed.

He had drunk so much of the Gold Spirit Tea without even noticing it!

"Do you think my tea is worth your 5 measly Bio-Cores now?"

Even though Li Qu did not care about the 5 Bio-Cores, Mike cared about it a lot.

"Yes, Young Master Li! Honestly, even if it's worth 20, no, 40! Even if it's worth 40 I would still gladly buy it! In fact, c-can I order another pot?"

Mike expressed his contentment and asked cheekily if he could order another pot of Gold Spirit Tea from Li Qu.

"I'm tired, if you are done with your tea then hurry up and get lost."

Li Qu rejected Mike's request as he wanted Mike to quickly go back and report to his organization about his Celestial Teahouse.

In any case, Li Qu had made a small plan of his own already, so even if he could accept Mike's orders, he would not want to as that would delay his plans.

Mike appeared sad as he was rejected by Li Qu, but he soon regained his spirit as he thought about returning back here, and asked another important question that Li Qu had been waiting for him to ask.

"Ok… But can I bring my colleagues and friends here next time to drink your tea? And what are your opening hours, Young Master Li?"

The reason why Li Qu wanted to go along with his Celestial Teahouse System to promote the teahouse was because he felt that things were not that simple.

What series of rare coincidences would have to have happened with supposingly 'random' events in a row to cause him to reincarnate to this world?

Li Qu believed that someone was pulling some strings by using the System to guide him, but he was confident enough to face whatever entity that would maybe one day confront him.

It was by no coincidence why the System fell into his lap so easily, he just needed to find the cause of it himself.

Which was why he tried to play along with the System for the time being, to see where it would lead him. He was already supposed to die anyway, so what disadvantages would he have?

Li Qu certainly would not care even if they manipulate his body after his death to cause world destruction.

It was only because he found something interesting, that was why he treated it with a carefree attitude. One should fear a man that has nothing to lose.

"You can come back tomorrow midday, I will be going somewhere first, remember to close the door after you leave, you do not need to lock it."

Li Qu had realized that there was a Defense Formation surrounding the Celestial Teahouse, he did not have to worry about random Tom, Dick, Harry barging in and stealing his belongings.

If they really did try… Then the very same day next year would be their first death anniversary.

Weeeenngg!

Li Qu waved his hand and a portal appeared from the space crack as he stepped into it.

Mike's jaw dropped as he looked at Li Qu's flashy exit and thought,

'So this was how he did it! Holy f*ck, I think even Uncle Tom can't even touch a single hair on him… This power of causing cracks in space is only possessed by an Ascended!'

Although an Ascended could really cause cracks in space as relayed by Mike's superiors to Mike, what he did not know was that even an Ascended could not create portals like that out of nowhere.

Mike sighed at his own stupidity and realized that he had a near-death experience by messing with someone he should not have messed with. He gave himself a slap on the face as he had truly regretted his actions on offending an 'Ascended' powerhouse like Li Qu.

Or so he thought…

Weeeenngg!

A portal with a slight purple hue appeared in a deserted alleyway that was located in one of Mei Country's states called the State of Dryington. A young man with ethereal looks slowly stepped out of it.

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