Chapter 5

Chapter 5

After my shop blew up in popularity, trouble followed close behind.

First, there was the shortage of raw materials.

The Spirit Milk Cows on Danxia Peak were originally reserved for alchemy. I had been going there to milk them every day, but within two days, I was blocked by the guarding disciples. The Black Pearl Vine on the back mountain had also been surreptitiously plucked bald twice, and even the Sweet Orange Trees were nearly hauled away whole by disciples from the outer peaks.

Then, there was the lack of manpower.

Wei Jinghong could handle the register. Ying Jinxue could occasionally step in with her cold face to keep order when I didn’t feel like arguing. Feng Linxing was very skillful, slicing fruit quickly and beautifully. But with the skyrocketing flow of customers, this handful of people simply wasn’t enough.

I finally realized it.

A sole proprietorship has a ceiling.

So, I started building a supply chain.

Step one: Negotiate a partnership with Danxia Peak.

I took the records of the last ten days’ revenue to see the Peak Master. I got straight to the point: “I want to buy out a portion of the Spirit Milk Cow production.”

The Peak Master almost thought I had gone mad.

I spread out the ledgers.

“This is the net profit from fifteen days of trial operation. This is the potential customer growth rate. This is the repeat purchase rate for the milk tea. Peak Master, if Danxia Peak provides me with a stable supply of spirit milk, I will give the peak a twenty percent cut of the monthly profits. In addition, Danxia Peak disciples will get a twenty percent discount on all basic drinks.”

Stroking his beard, the Peak Master stared at the ledger for a long time.

“You’re just an inner sect disciple. How do you know how to calculate all this?”

Without missing a beat, I replied, “Perhaps I’m just naturally gifted.”

He eventually agreed.

Step two: I went to Yuelu Peak to collect sweet dew.

When the senior sisters of Yuelu Peak heard I wanted to make long-term purchases, they immediately asked, “Is this stable? You won’t buy today and cancel tomorrow, will you?”

I pulled out a contract.

“We’ll sign for three months first. Payment will be based on volume, with bonuses for exceeding targets. If there’s a Sect Grand Competition, an assessment month, or a trial month, I’ll place additional orders three days in advance.”

The way they looked at me changed instantly.

They stopped looking at me like a junior sister and started looking at me like the God of Wealth.

Step three: I upgraded “Moonview Milk Tea” from a small stall into a proper little shop.

The wooden shed was renovated, the counter was widened, and the menu expanded to eight varieties. I added snacks and blind-box charms, and even created membership cards. Top up fifty Spirit Stones and get five free; top up a hundred and get a limited-edition cup sleeve.

As Wei Jinghong helped me write the promotion signs, she couldn’t help but sigh. “Senior Sister, are you really not planning to cultivate the Path of Heartless Emotion? When it comes to making money, your heart is colder than the Sword Venerable’s.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“I wasn’t complimenting you.”

“It’s fine. I’ll compliment myself.”

Ying Jinxue sat nearby drinking a Bold Orange, adding indifferently, “If she had been born in my previous life, she could have drained her enemies’ entire family fortunes dry.”

I waved my hand modestly. “It’s mainly because your Sect’s market is a blue ocean.”

Feng Linxing didn’t understand what a “blue ocean” was, but she had already learned how to make Mango Sago. As she lowered her head to slice mangoes, she suddenly asked me softly, “Senior Sister, if someone only treats you as a substitute for someone else, should you leave?”

I wiped a cup without looking up.

“If he’s using you as a stand-in and you don’t leave, what are you waiting for? The New Year?”

She was silent for a moment, then actually smiled.

“I understand.”

That evening, Wen Changsheng came again.

He stood at the entrance. Even though there was no one in front of him, he didn’t come in. He just stared at the back of Feng Linxing as she lowered her head to prepare a drink. There was hesitation and confusion in his gaze, as if he had originally intended to say or do something, but suddenly didn’t know if he should continue.

I didn’t care to manage the original male lead’s psychological state and asked directly, “Are you buying or not?”

Only then did he snap back to his senses and walk to the counter.

“The same as last time.”

“You didn’t buy anything last time.”

“Then give me a cup of that Secret Menu item you mentioned.”

I looked up at him.

“The time hasn’t come yet.”

“When will the time be right?”

“When you learn not to use one person as a benchmark for another.”

Wen Changsheng froze.

I handed over the Oolong Milk Foam I had just prepared. “Drink this today. It helps clear internal heat.”

He took the cup and, after a long silence, whispered a thank you.

In that moment, I knew.

The original plot’s melodramatic, blood-soaked path of tragic love had already begun to veer off course.