With a shrill scream, a Black Shadow burst out of the jade bottle.
Liu Feng watched the young man before him, who was eagerly staring at the mouth of the bottle, his expression grave.
Although he had chosen a Vengeful Soul with the weakest attack power, and one of the lowest-level Lesser Ghosts at that, it was still dangerous to ordinary people.
Even Li Xinxin, lying on the ground, struggled to open her eyes and look at Song Yu.
But Song Yu’s actions were beyond their expectations.
The moment Song Yu saw the Black Shadow, he scooped both hands upward like he was pretending to be a rabbit. The cloth bag successfully covered the Black Shadow. Then he brought his hands together and gripped the opening shut.
Liu Feng stared in astonishment at the cloth bag in Song Yu’s hand.
The surface of the cloth bag bulged and shifted constantly, yet Song Yu held the opening with ease, showing no sign of strain. Then he wound the thin string tied to the side of the bag around it three times and secured it.
There was still flour clinging to it, and it looked like nothing more than an ordinary cloth bag. So why couldn’t the Vengeful Soul escape once it was inside?
Given how effortlessly he handled it, could it be a High-Tier Magical Artifact?
But would any respectable person use a High-Tier Magical Artifact to store flour?
Or was this kid pretending to be weak while hiding his true strength?
Liu Feng wasn’t sure what to make of it.
At any rate, on the surface, he didn’t look like an expert at all. Not the slightest trace of an unusual aura showed.
He wasn’t a Ghost Tamer, much less a Demon Tamer, and he didn’t have the distinctive aura of a Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism cultivator, either.
Otherwise, the low-tier Vengeful Ghost fused with Liu Feng’s body would have reacted.
“Captain Liu, wait a moment. I’ll get you some Youtiao.”
Song Yu said, then went into the kitchen.
Liu Feng wanted to follow him in and take a look, but held himself back.
He lowered his head and looked at Li Xinxin, whose breathing grew weaker as she lay on the ground.
The two exchanged looks, each seeing the confusion and surprise in the other’s eyes.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Song Yu placed the cloth bag on the Cutting Board.
He had bet right.
Even if he couldn’t catch it, Liu Feng was there, so no one should get hurt.
But he had also confirmed one thing: the kitchen utensils here really were unusual.
Song Yu looked toward the wooden cabinet beside the wall, about the same size as a refrigerator, and went over to open it.
It had five shelves. On the middle shelf sat a plate with three Youtiao, still warm, just as he had left them there yesterday.
Song Yu returned to the counter, carrying a plate with one Youtiao and two cups of water.
Liu Feng and Li Xinxin both looked at the Youtiao.
It was plump and puffed up, its exterior golden and crisp. Steam drifted from it, carrying a rich aroma.
But… wasn’t it just like ordinary Youtiao?
“Go ahead and try it. I only have three Youtiao left, but there’s plenty of water,” Song Yu said.
After a moment’s hesitation, Liu Feng picked up the steaming Youtiao and took a bite.
“Hm?”
Two seconds later, he exclaimed in astonishment and stared at Song Yu.
“Well?” Song Yu asked calmly, his expression inscrutable.
Liu Feng took several more big bites, and in the blink of an eye, he had eaten the whole Youtiao.
Then he closed his eyes and stood motionless.
After a long while, he finally let out a deep breath.
“Captain…”
Li Xinxin called out in surprise.
Liu Feng licked his lips, as if still savoring it. “Can this Youtiao increase Yin Power?”
He was deeply shocked as he stared at Song Yu.
Song Yu was also taken aback inside. He thought to himself, I don’t even know what effect it has.
But his inscrutable expression seemed to be fixed in place, showing not the slightest hint of a reaction.
He slowly asked, “Now do you think one Youtiao is worth trading for a Vengeful Soul?”
After recovering from his shock, Liu Feng reached a conclusion.
“There are plenty of things that can increase Yin Power. Based on how much this Youtiao increased it, it’s worth the price.”
Li Xinxin was very surprised to hear this, because there was no way the captain would lie.
Liu Feng then said, “Give me two more Youtiao.”
Song Yu said, “Don’t rush. Would you like to become a member? Members get half off everything.”
“All right. Sign me up for a membership. How much does it cost?”
Liu Feng replied at once. Money wasn’t a problem for him. The problem was that things capable of increasing Yin Power were genuinely hard to find.
Song Yu said, “Basic Membership costs 500 yuan a month, intermediate costs 2,000, and advanced costs 10,000.”
“What’s the difference between them?”
Song Yu replied, “They grant you the right to purchase food of the corresponding level.”
Liu Feng asked in surprise, “What Membership Level is required to buy this Youtiao?”
“Basic Membership and above.”
“Sign me up for Basic Membership first. I can upgrade later, right?”
Liu Feng didn’t hesitate. If it only cost 500 yuan, then even setting everything else aside, the right to buy three Youtiao alone made it worthwhile.
“Of course,” Song Yu said.
Song Yu turned on the computer.
He had only ever used the computer that came with the Snack Shop to look up information about this world, watch shows, and play games.
But after that ghost creature broke in two days ago and crashed to its death in the kitchen, the entire shop had changed, including the computer.
He quickly opened the program called “Membership System,” whose icon was a ferocious ghost creature, and helped Liu Feng register.
A few seconds later, a card was produced inside the black box beneath the counter.
Song Yu seemed to have expected this and wasn’t surprised. He took out the membership card and said, “Hold on to this. Registering is simple, but the card is bound to you personally. If you lose it, replacing it will cost an extra month’s fee.”
“Got it. How do I use the membership card?” Liu Feng asked, then examined the card in his hand.
The membership card had a simple design. It was black overall, with a ferocious Evil Ghost head engraved on it, a white border, the number 00001, and white lettering.
Song Yu went to the entrance and carried over a small blackboard that had been standing by the wall.
Liu Feng saw several lines written on it.
The Small Menu Board was rectangular, with three columns of text.
【Food available today】
『Youtiao: 5 points』
【Buying year-round】
『Vengeful Soul = spirit monster = 10 points』
『Evil Ghost = lesser demon = 200 points』
『Vengeful Ghost = Greater Demon = 5,000 points』
『Red-Clothed Vengeful Ghost = Spirit Demon = 10 Bronze Coins』
……
【Rules for members of this shop】
① No fighting inside the shop, regardless of species. You bear the consequences;
② member points can be used for meals and Membership Level upgrades. Low-tier members cannot buy higher-level food;
③ 1 Bronze Coin = 100,000 points. Points cannot be exchanged for Bronze Coins;
④ 1 Gold Coin = 100 Silver Coins = 10,000 Bronze Coins. These currencies cannot be exchanged in reverse;
⑤ This shop reserves the right to final interpretation of all the rules above.
After reading the Small Menu Board, Liu Feng stared at it in silence for a long time.
“So the Youtiao was originally five points each, but you charged me ten?”
Song Yu spread his hands. “Five points is the member price. You were my first customer. If I’d made you sign up before letting you try it, wouldn’t you have thought I was crazy?”
Liu Feng didn’t argue. “I’ll give you another Vengeful Soul. Give me two Youtiao.”
“All right. Just a moment.”
With a sale on the line, Song Yu provided excellent service. He brought a wide-mouthed glass bottle from the kitchen and put the Vengeful Soul inside.
This time, they could see the Vengeful Soul crashing around inside the glass bottle. It looked rather unpleasant, but thankfully it had shrunk. Song Yu examined it and found it was only ugly, not as hideously terrifying as the one he had encountered.
Liu Feng and Li Xinxin were both filled with uncertainty.
If the Flour Bag was a High-Tier Magical Artifact, was this glass bottle one too?
The first had been a Flour Bag. Was this bottle for storing seasonings?
But the Vengeful Soul couldn’t make a sound or escape the bottle. It seemed as though the lid, resting lightly over the mouth, possessed immense magical power and had completely sealed the bottle shut.
“That’s two Youtiao. I’ve deducted ten points. Take a look for yourself.”
Song Yu had Liu Feng place his membership card on a card reader that had appeared on the counter at some point, then pointed to the small screen facing the customers.
Liu Feng nodded and saw his account balance go from 0 to 10, then from 10 back to 0.
He found it strange that such a small Snack Shop would even have a small screen facing customers.
And why had Song Yu gone to all that trouble to add ten points and then deduct them? Couldn’t he have just given him the Youtiao?
But Song Yu himself felt helpless.
Because if he did that, he wouldn’t earn any points.
Half of the points were deducted by the Membership System.
And as for the points he earned… Song Yu still had no idea what they were for.
At any rate, there was no harm in saving them up.
“Li Xinxin, hurry and eat these two Youtiao. You can still be saved.”
Liu Feng held the two Youtiao to Li Xinxin’s lips.
Li Xinxin paused, then didn’t refuse.
Song Yu watched them.
He was curious about what kind of injury the woman had suffered, and whether Youtiao could heal it.