Chapter 0: Prologue

  Hours passed and evening arrived. Throughout the day, no customer other than Lin Feng had come.

  Jin Kai hung up the “We’re Closed” sign and went upstairs.

  Upstairs, there was a bedroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

  Suddenly, a mechanical voice rang in Jin Kai’s mind:

  “Congratulations, host. You have successfully completed your first trade; therefore, you will be elevated to the Ultimate Martial Novice level—the most perfect form of the Martial Novice level, which is the first level of cultivators. Shortly, your first xiulian disciple will be created, and your body and soul will be refined. This process may be painful. Therefore, grit your teeth and try to endure.”

  Jin Kai sneered at the Shopping Mall System:

  “Fuck both the Martial Novice level and the Ultimate Martial Novice level. Give me a chicken doner with single lavash, plenty of mayonnaise, and lots of sauce.”

  The Shopping Mall System frowned:

  “It has been determined that the host is agitated. Emergency de-escalation intervention is being initiated!”

  ‘?!!!’

  ???

  The System looked into Jin Kai’s mind with a horrifying terror it had never felt in its life and shouted, (“Fuck, what is happening?! How can you defy me?! What the hell is this nonsense?!”)

  What the hell is this?!

  The Shopping Mall System looked at me and said,

  “Cracked Storyteller, what is happening?!” in great horror.

  I don’t know-

  ???

  ???????

  ??????!!!!!!!!!!

  What the hell is happening?!!-

  I saw that Jin Kai was looking at me.

  This is impossible!

  Now, the title reads "The Immortals Shopping Mall ???"—because not only has Jin Kai gone rogue, but he has also triggered a chain reaction. Characters who were supposed to be ordinary have now become protagonists, and as a result, The Immortals Shopping Mall is no longer the heart of the story. At its core, the novel has become something entirely unpredictable.

  But can this world truly withstand so many protagonists?

  What will become of the ordinary mortals caught in their wake?

  How will the heavens respond to such upheaval?

  And in retaliation, what actions will the Author, the Cracked Storyteller, and the Author Support System take?

  More importantly… what will you do about it?

  And even more importantly, what role will The Immortals Shopping Mall play in the story in the future?

  ...

  In a remote corner of Rising Sky City, at a quiet square where narrow, old stone-paved streets converged, a new shop opened with the first light of dawn. The shop’s sign was simple yet eye-catching: The Immortals Shopping Mall.

  Beneath the sign of The Immortals Shopping Mall hung a smaller sign proclaiming “Our Street Food Shop is Open.” Beside it, an announcement read: our exquisite warm bagel, cold ayran, and hot tea are now at your service.

  The shop consisted of two sections: the sales area and the kitchen. The sales area was spacious and bright, with simple wooden tables and chairs arranged in neat rows. At the front stood a large counter. Beneath the counter was a glass cabinet where freshly baked bagels were carefully lined up. In the cold storage immediately next to it, bottles of icy ayran stood ready. In the right corner of the counter, a teapot still burning on the stove could be seen. The aroma of the tea mingled with the scent of bagel, forming a perfect harmony.

  The kitchen was separated from the sales area by a thick wall. Inside, there was a large stone oven, dough trays neatly arranged on shelves, and a sack of flour. The shop’s owner, Jin Kai, wore a simple yet clean apron. As a bead of sweat trickled down his forehead, he pulled the second batch of bagels from the stone oven. The warm bagels, with their golden crusts and sprinkled sesame seeds, looked perfect. He carefully placed each bagel into the glass cabinet and smiled in satisfaction. Now, the bagels were ready for sale.

  But Jin Kai was not alone. Just behind the counter, a life-sized puppet with elegantly carved wooden joints was watching him. His name was Picockyo. He was large and silent, yet his presence suggested he could spring into action at the slightest hint of unrest. In one corner of the shop, their third companion—a rooster—was fidgeting. His name was Zamazingo.

  As the morning progressed, the streets began to stir with activity. A man in his early thirties, cheerfully deciding how best to reward himself that day, noticed the signs for “The Immortals Shopping Mall” and “Street Food Shop is Open.”

  “Shopping mall? Hm? bagel, ayran… What are these? What kind of street food are these?” he mumbled, as he opened the door and stepped inside.

  This man’s name was Lin Feng. Just half an hour ago, he had reached the level of 9-Star Martial Novice. Of course, achieving this breakthrough had not been easy. Having been confined and training indoors for days, he was forced throughout the process to subsist on tasteless, flavorless, utterly disappointing satiety pills!

  Thus, today he was roaming around with the intention of rewarding himself with meat and drinks.

  The moment Lin Feng stepped inside, he was hit by an exquisite aroma unlike any he had ever experienced. His eyes lit up with joy, and his mouth watered. Taking a deep breath, he directed his nose toward the source of the fragrance. Before him stood a simple yet enchanting duo born from the harmony of bagel and tea.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “What are these?” asked Lin Feng, gazing admiringly at the bagels.

  With a calm smile, Jin Kai replied, “These are called bagel.” Lin Feng, while looking at the bagels, lightly licked his lips and murmured, “bagel…” Then he turned to Jin Kai and said, “They smell wonderful. Prepare three of them for me.”

  Jin Kai nodded and retrieved three freshly baked bagels from the glass cabinet, placing them onto a plate. The delightful aroma that wafted out as soon as the bagels were revealed caused Lin Feng’s heart to beat faster and his stomach to rumble.

  “How can this simple bread smell so exquisite?” Lin Feng thought involuntarily. “I suppose I’ll have to change my plan for meat and drinks today. But that might not be a bad thing at all!”

  Jin Kai extended the bagels he had arranged on the counter toward Lin Feng, then, gesturing toward the beverages with a smile, asked, “Would you like something with that? I have icy cold ayran and freshly brewed, piping hot tea.”

  Lin Feng looked at the ayran with a peculiar expression. He had never seen such a beverage before—it possessed neither a familiar aroma nor a recognizable color; it was entirely foreign to him. However, tea was different. Its warm, soothing aroma drifted in the air, warming his spirit. Glancing at the teapot, he spoke without hesitation, “You can’t eat bagel dry. I’ll have a cup of tea.”

  Nodding in agreement, Jin Kai retrieved a sparkling clean tea cup from beneath the counter. However, instead of immediately filling it with tea, he poured boiling water into the cup and began meticulously rinsing every part of it—its bottom, top, interior, and exterior—swirling the water around with care.

  Lin Feng raised his eyebrows in astonishment. What was this? Why was he rinsing the cup with boiling water? Was the cup dirty, or was there another reason? Unable to contain himself, he asked, “Why are you rinsing the cup with boiling water?”

  Jin Kai replied with a slight smile, “To warm the cup. That way, the tea will remain hot for a longer time.”

  Lin Feng paused for a moment, then his eyes gleamed slightly. Nodding in approval, he murmured, “Makes sense…”

  Once Jin Kai determined that the cup was sufficiently warmed, he skillfully added first the tea infusion and then the hot water. The deep crimson hue of the tea met the clarity of the water, dancing in the cup. As the colors blended into an enchanting harmony, Lin Feng watched, captivated.

  He had never seen such a tea service before. As Jin Kai poured the tea, it was as if he were performing an art. His movements were so smooth that it seemed he was presenting not tea, but a precious elixir.

  As a final touch, Jin Kai placed the tea cup onto a tea coaster, accompanied by two sugar cubes and a teaspoon, and extended the cup to Lin Feng. Then, with a slight gesture of his hand and a smile, he added, “Price: 13 Level 1 Qi Stones.”

  Meanwhile, Lin Feng began to search his pockets, preparing to pay for the bagel and tea. However, when he heard Jin Kai say “13 Qi Stones,” he froze. His astonishment quickly turned to anger, and reflexively he shouted, “13 QI STONES?! You’re selling three pieces of bread and a cup of tea for 13 QI STONES?! With that money, I could have a delicious beast meat and a cup of beer! You must be out of your mind!!”

  As Lin Feng’s voice echoed throughout the shop, the previously warm and friendly atmosphere was instantly shattered. The understanding and gentle expression on Jin Kai’s face evaporated like morning dew under the sun, replaced by the stern, threatening look of a moneylender demanding what was rightfully his from a customer refusing to pay.

  “Bread? Bread is your father. These are bagel!” hissed Jin Kai, his voice as sharp and cold as a knife. “How dare you place an order and then try to cancel it?! If you’re a pathetic wretch, you’d better ask for the price before ordering next time!”

  There had been a magical tranquility in the shop, until this very moment. Now, that warm atmosphere had given way to menace and tension. For a moment, Lin Feng realized that his hunger had clouded all sense. Until just moments ago, the only thing on his mind was to have a delicious meal as soon as possible. The satiety pills he had consumed for days had left him weary, so from the moment he stepped into the shop, all his attention had been focused solely on the aromatic bagel and tea.

  But now… that enchantment had been broken.

  Food was now secondary. What mattered was his honor! Was he going to behave like a pitiful man who unquestioningly submits to a thousand absurd demands just to bed the woman he fancied? No! He would not succumb to his hunger. He had to put this swindler in his place!

  Taking a deep breath, he cautiously stepped back and scanned his surroundings. He needed to get his bearings first. He had been so dazzled by hunger moments ago that he hadn’t even bothered to examine the shop, its owner, or the other people inside.

  If this place was protected by powerful individuals who wouldn’t tolerate a raised voice, he should immediately pay for the bagel and tea and quietly apologize. But if that were not the case… then he could teach those here a lesson!

  Squinting his eyes, he quickly scanned the interior of the shop. He noticed that there were no other customers present. Only Jin Kai was there… along with Picockyo (the puppet) and Zamazingo (the rooster).

  He furrowed his brows and looked on with suspicion.

  Who were these oddities, anyway?

  “Hey, you’d better pay me first before I beat you up!” Jin Kai’s voice cut short Lin Feng’s internal analysis.

  Lin Feng narrowed his eyes and focused on Jin Kai. When he realized that he sensed not even a trace of power emanating from him, he furrowed his brows. ("Am I dreaming?"), he thought to himself.

  Rubbing his eyes in astonishment, he looked again carefully. But no—nothing had changed. Jin Kai was an utterly ordinary man.

  “Just a mortal…” Lin Feng murmured.

  His anger had subsided. In its place, his gaze held a mix of disdain, pity, and astonishment.

  He looked down on him, for Jin Kai was merely a mortal. How could he possibly stand on the same level as him?

  A pang of sorrow welled within him—clearly someone must have set Jin Kai up. Otherwise, how could one dare to open a shop among cultivators? He was shocked that people would allow this mortal to roam freely and conduct business here. Normally, Jin Kai should have long been dead!

  Not everyone was as understanding as Lin Feng. Most cultivators regarded mortals as mere insects. As long as an insect kept its distance from humans, it posed no problem. But if it wandered about at their feet, it would be crushed!

  Lin Feng thought to himself, “I must be the first customer. Otherwise, he would probably have been dead long ago. This mortal is truly lucky to have encountered me.”

  The stern, cautious expression on his face changed. It now carried both the gravitas of an authoritarian ruler and the warmth of a friendly smile.

  In a tone that Jin Kai could not refuse, Lin Feng advised, “You’re truly lucky to have encountered me first. If anyone else were in my place, they would have killed you long ago. You must leave this place immediately. Until you depart from here, act like my slave and avoid making eye contact with anyone. I can drop you off at a mortal town—”

  But Jin Kai’s patience had run out!

  What the hell is this bastard rambling about?!

  WHY IS HE RAMBLING INSTEAD OF PAYING FOR THE SIMITS AND TEA?!

  His face soured, his eyes narrowed with anger, and in an impatient tone he commanded, “Picockyo, beat this bastard and collect the 13 Qi Stones he owes!”

  Lin Feng furrowed his brows as Jin Kai interrupted him.

  But what truly ignited his anger were the words Jin Kai uttered about him:

  “Beat this bastard.”

  A deep glimmer of rage appeared in his eyes.

  This bastard doesn’t know what’s good for him! he thought.

  He spat with anger.

  “Not only is he a mere mortal, but also insane! An ant truly doesn’t understand kindness!”

  Fiyuuuvvv!

  Whack!

  “Ahh!!!”

  A sharp crack of a whip that tore through the air was heard. A thin, reddish line appeared on Lin Feng’s backside, and he suddenly cried out in pain.

  But the blow was not fatal. It wouldn’t even be considered a serious injury. Still, it was agonizing and gave him a very tangible sense of who had beaten him!

  Lin Feng immediately raised his guard. His eyes scanned his surroundings rapidly.

  He thought with concern, “What was that? Who hit me?!”

  Fiyuuuvvv!

  Whack!

  “AHH!!!”

  Another whip strike! Once again, a mark appeared on Lin Feng’s backside, prompting another cry.

  In shock, he brought his hand to his backside and rubbed it. Then, he looked at Jin Kai with eyes full of fear.

  A single thought echoed in his mind:

  ("He’s not a mortal… he’s a hidden expert!")