Of course, after receiving her payment, Xi Mufu immediately donated half of it.
—This was an unwritten rule of Xuanmen. Now that she had stepped into this field, she naturally followed it.
Soon, New Year’s Eve arrived.
“If only Shanqun Abbot and the two elders were here,” Xi Mufu said to Ji Jiu while pasting spring couplets.
She had gone to the farm early to invite the professors and their students over. Two male students were skilled cooks and were now busy in the kitchen. Two professors from the north were making dumplings themselves, while the rest were playing cards in the courtyard, creating a lively atmosphere.
Xi Mufu never expected that the first Spring Festival after her grandfather’s passing would be spent with so many companions. Her heart swelled with indescribable joy and contentment.
“Shanqun Abbot just messaged me saying he’s been as busy as a spinning top these days. He plans to come to Jingning Town on the third day of the new year and leave the remaining tasks to his disciples.” At this, Xi Mufu couldn’t help but laugh. “The abbot really knows how to slack off.”
Ji Jiu naturally wouldn’t comment on Shanqun Abbot and changed the subject: “I heard there will be fireworks tonight.”
In fact, there were not only fireworks but also many performances on the main street. Unfortunately, Xi Mufu couldn’t leave the Incense Shop to watch them—though Shanqun Abbot had previously joked about her participating in the Xuanxue Competition, it was truly just a jest, as she could never leave Jingning Town.
However, she had seen those street performances every year before, so they weren’t particularly novel. As for the fireworks, she could enjoy them right from the courtyard.
“I wonder if we’ll have an otherworldly visitor tonight,” Xi Mufu mused, hopping off the stool after finishing the couplets. “If they come during the New Year’s vigil, that would be perfect timing.”
Yet her words proved prophetic.
Just as everyone was enjoying the New Year’s Eve dinner while watching the Spring Festival Gala, Ji Jiu suddenly looked toward the front yard and said, “Someone’s here.”
Xi Mufu froze.
At this hour, anyone coming to the Incense Shop could only be an otherworldly visitor.
—Though they were in the backyard, the front shop remained open precisely to await such guests. But who could have imagined a visitor would arrive on New Year’s Eve?
Xi Mufu had to admire her own predictive mouth. Exchanging a glance with Ji Jiu, they both set down their bowls and hurried toward the front yard.
Two days ago, Lin Xia had entered a dungeon called Xiushui Mountain Village. The villagers appeared normal by day but transformed into vengeful spirits at night. Players had to survive seven days in the village, identify the mastermind behind the curse, and help the villagers resolve their grievances. The horror of this dungeon lay in being hunted every night by the villagers-turned-ghosts—failure to escape meant death.
In just two days, two team members had already been killed by the vengeful spirits.
As a solo player without a guild and lacking sufficient strength, Lin Xia had spent two days and one night in the dungeon. Even if she wasn’t devoured by ghosts, the terror was enough to scare her to death.
Tonight, her luck worsened. She was relentlessly pursued by a male ghost, exhausting all her skills and items without escaping. With cooldowns still active and the ghost closing in, she panicked and dashed into an abandoned wooden hut in the village.
“Where… is this?” Pushing the door open, she found the interior far from dilapidated. Instead, it was well-decorated, resembling a general store.
But the items in the shop looked rather peculiar. The shelves were piled high with Incense Paper Money and Gold Ingots, resembling a store selling funeral supplies.
“Is this… the Incense Shop mentioned on the Player Forum?!”
Xi Mufu and Ji Jiu happened to hear her words as they entered.
Player Forum?
Were the visitors from other worlds players?
For a moment, Xi Mufu’s mind raced with thoughts. Could this world actually be a fourth apocalypse game, and these otherworldly visitors were game players?
However, judging from the behavior of the previous two groups of otherworldly guests, they had always entered in a state of panic and unease, unlike genuine game players who would be leisurely and relaxed. So she quickly dismissed her speculation.
Regardless, this was important information.
Xi Mufu collected her thoughts and stepped forward to greet: “Hello, what would you like to buy?”
Lin Xia’s eyes widened sharply at the appearance of two living people, but not with the shock and fear of encountering evil spirits—rather, it was with delight: “That’s right… the owners are a man and a woman, more beautiful than celebrities… This must be the Incense Shop!”
She had firmly memorized the announcements from the three major guilds—they detailed the layout of the Incense Shop and the appearance of the two owners. She couldn’t possibly mistake it!
She had actually become the third batch of lucky players!
“Wonderful!” Unable to contain her excitement, she looked at Xi Mufu with tear-filled eyes, “Shopkeeper, I’d like to buy some Incense Paper Money, may I?”
The moment her words fell, a notification popped up on her panel—
[Initiating trade with the Incense Shop rewarded 100 points.]
Just then, Xi Mufu replied: “Of course, how much would you like?”
Lin Xia wept with joy.
It really was the Incense Shop—she was saved!
She remembered the announcements stated that Incense Paper Money seemed to attract all NPCs in dungeons. This time, she would definitely make it out alive!
“I’d like to buy quite a bit,” Lin Xia asked nervously, “Five portions, is that alright?”
According to speculation from the three major guilds, one portion of Incense Paper Money should require payment of one skill or item. Currently, she only possessed three items and two skills, and she planned to use them all to buy Incense Paper Money. Even if she didn’t use it all this time, she could save it for future dungeons.
Xi Mufu: “Alright.”
She handed over five portions of Incense Paper Money.
Contrary to Lin Xia’s expectations, the panel notified her that she only needed to pay with one skill or item.
“How… how is this possible?” She could hardly believe her eyes.
However, Xi Mufu knew that one category could only be exchanged for one type of skill or item. The reason she was willing to trade five portions of Incense Paper Money with this otherworldly guest was because the other party appeared quite disheveled and tear-stained, as if in great need of help. Naturally, she couldn’t bear to refuse.
Lin Xia collected herself. She remembered that Vice Guild Leader Pu Yunfeng had let the shopkeeper choose the skill or item, so without hesitation, she introduced in detail the items she possessed.
“Please make your selection,” she said respectfully.
Actually, she felt somewhat guilty because her strength wasn’t particularly high, and her skills and items were rather basic—completely incomparable to Guild Leader Pu Yunfeng.
After listening, Xi Mufu looked at Ji Jiu to seek his opinion.
Ji Jiu: “You decide.”
Xi Mufu thought for a moment and selected the [Space Teleportation Scroll].
This item could teleport between two locations without distance limitations or cooldown time, meaning she could go wherever she wanted at any moment.
With this item, perhaps she could participate in the Xuanmen Competition mentioned by Shanqun Abbot.
Lin Xia immediately clicked to trade. When she received the Incense Paper Money, her eyes reddened once more.
“Thank you!” she expressed her gratitude solemnly, then paused before speaking again, “Boss, may I ask if you *****?”
She wanted to ask if the boss had come to save them—something all players had been hoping for.
Unfortunately, to Xi Mufu’s ears, it sounded like muted silence.
Xi Mufu: ?
Noticing Lin Xia’s tightly closed lips, she realized the other party seemed restricted from speaking by something.
“What did you want to ask me?” Hesitating slightly, she also voiced her own question, “Are you *****?”
She wanted to ask if the other party was a player of the Fourth Cataclysm game, but upon opening her mouth, she found herself unable to make a sound. An invisible force pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
Ji Jiu noticed her unusual state, his expression turning serious as he lightly waved his hand.
That force seemed to silently contend with him. After a few breaths, as if aware it couldn’t suppress him, it quietly receded.
Ji Jiu grasped Xi Mufu’s wrist and asked her, “Are you alright?”