Chapter 19: The Masked Thug’s Dirty Deal

Chapter 19: Chapter 19: The Masked Thug’s Dirty Deal

Under the cover of night, as many people eagerly awaited, Lu Wu arrived with her bun stall right on schedule.

The sound of her selling buns cut through the decadent atmosphere of Yanliu Street, drawing many respectable diners to the otherwise disreputable lane.

"Boss Lu, good evening."

"We meet again, Boss Lu! Do you have any new types of buns today?"

A crowd of people greeted Lu Wu, their fervent gazes fixed on her as she went about her preparations.

Lu Wu responded with a smile and hung up today’s sign.

"Spicy Beef and Vermicelli Buns, Soul-Stealing Soup Dumplings... Hey, there really is a new type! I have to get some tonight."

The diners chatted and laughed, and the Flower Ladies, mixed into the line, flirted with some of their regular clients as they waited.

"Miss Furong, would two buns be enough to buy your company for the night?"

A man who fancied himself a suave romantic sidled up to Furong with a wicked grin.

He didn’t look roguishly handsome at all. Instead, he just looked awkward and was a total eyesore. ℴℴ𝘮

Furong, who only ever entertained high-quality clients, rolled her eyes at him. She extended a single finger and gently pushed his shoulder away.

"Piss off. I wouldn’t give you the time of day."

"The only one I’d offer myself to for free is Boss Lu."

As she spoke, Furong shot a coquettish glance at Lu Wu. Her charming and amorous expression made the knees of all the men present go weak.

A Demoness from the Hehuan Sect, rumored to be able to make any man submit with a single glance—her reputation was certainly well-deserved.

However, Lu Wu, being straight, registered a ’bad signal’ and promptly ’rejected the call’.

Furong’s words made the man’s face flush red. He could only give up, but when he turned around, the spot he had been holding in line was gone.

"That’s my spot!" he yelled, about to burst with anger.

"You left, doesn’t that mean you don’t want the spot anymore?"

"Besides, who can prove this was your spot?"

The one who had taken the man’s spot was an old man, who retorted haughtily.

Even moving up a single spot meant getting to eat Boss Lu’s buns that much sooner.

As for the diners behind them, they now had a little more hope, so they ignored the man’s pleas for help.

"You... you people are going too far!"

Not only had he failed to woo the beauty, but he’d also lost his spot in line. Who could he even complain to?

The man was so angry he almost started a fight, but the intimidating presence of the crowd was enough to crush him, so he chickened out.

He should have left with his tail between his legs, but he couldn’t bear to give up on the buns. In the end, he could only hang his head and walk to the back of the line, secretly praying he would still get a chance to buy some today.

"The buns are ready!"

Lu Wu hadn’t noticed the small incident. After she called out, the first customer in line instantly tossed down two Spirit Stones.

"Boss, two soup dumplings, please."

The request was unusual, as most diners ordered two different flavors. ’Perhaps he’s a regular?’

Lu Wu took a look and realized she didn’t recognize him at all.

"Are you sure, sir?"

Lu Wu felt she should give a reminder—all sales were final. She wouldn’t be responsible if he regretted it later.

"Of course, I’m sure."

The man nodded, looking very serious.

Lu Wu said no more and packed up the man’s order.

"Boss, two Spicy Beef and Vermicelli Buns."

The next customer made the same type of request. It was really strange.

She paid a little more attention and noticed that the first two customers didn’t eat their buns right away. Instead, they walked over to a nearby corner.

Lu Wu’s arrival had boosted business on Yanliu Street.

In the eyes of the madams, she had become a living God of Wealth.

To make things more convenient for Lu Wu, many more lanterns had been hung up on Yanliu Street in recent days.

The bright red lanterns illuminated all the darkness.

And so, Lu Wu saw some kind of transaction taking place in that corner.

She saw a person wearing a black mask that only revealed their eyes, just like a bandit from a crime film.

The person’s behavior was bizarre—the secretive type who clearly didn’t want to be seen.

When she saw the third customer also head in that direction, Lu Wu was shocked.

’My customers aren’t being threatened by some dark, evil force, are they?’

But then she remembered her own Combat Power and figured she was powerless to help.

However... Lu Wu soon realized she had misunderstood.

Because when those customers left, they were all smiles, holding storage bags and looking like they had profited handsomely.

It was strange, but since everyone seemed willing, Lu Wu turned her attention back to her work.

Several dozen customers at the front of the line today all made a deal with the "fierce bandit," yet even though many people saw this, no one said a word.

Not one of the diners, who usually wished they could buy out the entire stall for themselves, tried to stop it.

They didn’t even dare to look too closely, appearing very wary.

Fortunately, this situation didn’t last long.

"Good evening, Ms. Lu."

"I’d like a red bean paste bun and a soup dumpling."

After putting down her Spirit Stones, Xiao Hua smiled sweetly at Lu Wu.

Now, you could only see a trace of the dark spots on Xiao Hua’s face if you looked closely. Restored to her original appearance, Xiao Hua looked as sweet as a doll.

Her face beamed with confidence, and her eyes sparkled.

"You got it."

Seeing Xiao Hua’s transformation, Lu Wu was happy for her too.

"Ms. Lu, Awakening Day is in eight days. Will you be able to come see me then?"

Xiao Hua made way for the customer behind her, then moved to Lu Wu’s side, fiddling with the hem of her clothes as she asked softly.

Perhaps out of shyness, her little face was bright red. Just twelve years old, the little girl looked at Lu Wu with her big, glistening eyes, making Lu Wu’s heart melt.

"It depends. If I don’t have to run the stall that day, I’ll go see you."

She didn’t know what the system’s tasks would have in store for her then.

Truthfully, she was also very curious about Awakening Day in the Green Origin Realm. The event lasted for three days, and many sects would come to recruit disciples. It was considered the grand event of the year.

"Okay, then."

Xiao Hua was a little disappointed, but she was sensible and didn’t press the issue.

In no time at all, Lu Wu had already sold ten steamers of buns, but when she looked up, the line was still as long as ever.

Shaking out her arms, Lu Wu got back to work.

"Boss, one beef and vermicelli, and one red bean paste."

A gentle voice sounded. The moment Lu Wu looked up, she felt as if she had seen a celestial maiden.

The woman appeared to be in her twenties. She wore a vermilion, wide-sleeved, flowing gown that exquisitely outlined her delicate figure.

Her delicate features were as gorgeous as a flower, and her every expression was unforgettable.

Struck by such beauty, Lu Wu’s heart began to thump.

"Boss Lu, this is my mother,"

Lou Xiaotian said, poking his head out from behind her.

?

Lu Wu’s head was full of question marks.

’Never mind that this beautiful, celestial woman is already taken, but how could she have given birth to an unreliable son like Lou Xiaotian?’

"Pfft..."

The celestial beauty, seeming to read the look in Lu Wu’s eyes, let out a laugh. Her eyes softened as she spoke gently.

"Thank you for taking care of this good-for-nothing son of mine, Boss Lu."

Being thanked by such a beautiful woman made Lu Wu feel secretly delighted, though she had no idea how she had ever ’taken care of’ Lou Xiaotian.

"Young lady, I’ll have two soup dumplings,"

a large man chimed in, leaning over.

His arm was wrapped around the celestial beauty’s waist, their relationship clear at a glance.

’So, these two are Lou Xiaotian’s parents.’

"Alright."

Lu Wu replied, secretly sizing up Lou Batian from the corner of her eye.