After the old man finished his story, he fell into a fit of helpless sighing.
"Those damn green runts again! I’m going to go out there and wipe them all out!" Ying Feng shouted, his face flushed with righteous indignation. He was a straightforward guy, but more than likely, his anger was fueled by the memory of being clubbed over the head earlier; he was speaking from personal trauma.
Kael, on the other hand, understood the situation perfectly.
This old man wasn't there to hand out a specific quest—at least not yet. He was there to provide the lore. Every good MMORPG needs a background story to give players a sense of immersion.
"The New World Mode still isn't polished enough," Kael thought, shaking his head inwardly. He was in this mode more as a "Beta Tester" than a player, looking for flaws so he could give the System suggestions later. "Ideally, a quest prompt should have popped up the moment he stopped talking."
"Boss, come with me!" Ying Feng turned to Kael after finishing his outburst.
"Huh?" Kael was caught off guard.
You’re the one who got all fired up, why are you dragging me into this?
"Aren't you angry? Those loathsome little green monsters did such horrible things... they deserve to die!" Ying Feng said with absolute conviction.
"I... fine. Let’s head into the mountains." Kael knew there was no point in arguing with Ying Feng when he was in this state.
Back in the real world, not many people had noticed the New World Mode yet. Most customers came to the shop with a singular focus: snacks, training their combat skills in the Arena, restocking pills, or upgrading gear. It didn't help that Kael never bothered to actively promote his new features.
The second person to notice the new mode was someone quite unexpected.
Han Ming walked up to the counter, a bucket of instant noodles in one hand and a bacon sandwich in the other. Now that he knew Kael’s shop wasn't a direct competitor to his family’s restaurant, he had stopped worrying about his business being "stolen." In fact, he was even coming here for breakfast himself.
He didn't even bother bringing his servants this time.
"Your name is Shier, right?" Han Ming asked casually, setting his steaming noodles on the counter as he took a bite of his sandwich.
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"It is," Shier nodded.
"You have such incredible food, yet you don’t run a restaurant. What exactly is this shop's main business?"
Han Ming had tried to investigate Kael’s shop after returning home yesterday, but he had found nothing. The shop was so tucked away in a remote corner of the city that it had virtually zero reputation. He didn't say this out loud, of course, but his curiosity was burning. A shop with this level of gourmet food should, by all rights, be famous.
"We sell many things. Weapons, armor, and pills are all on the shelves to the left. The other side is the Combat Strength Enhancement Training area," Shier explained. She was always happy to introduce the shop to curious customers.
"I’ll pass on the weapons and armor... but what do the pills do?"
Han Ming understood the use of gear, but he wasn't a cultivator, so they were useless to him. Shier proceeded to explain the effects of the various pills and, for good measure, described the special buffs provided by the bacon sandwich and noodles he was currently eating.
"So, the Manager runs a shop specifically for cultivators," Han Ming muttered, looking at his sandwich with a sense of realization.
A flash of excitement crossed his face, followed quickly by a trace of bitterness.
The truth was, Han Ming wasn't a cultivator—not because he lacked the will, but because he lacked the aptitude. His affinity for both Battle Qi and Magic was abysmal; he simply couldn't manifest either energy within his body.
In this world, such people were everywhere, and their status was naturally lower than that of cultivators. Born into the prestigious Drunk Cloud Restaurant family, Han Ming understood this better than anyone. His family needed powerful cultivators as backers to stay safe and prosperous.
His father had tried everything—spending a fortune on rare medicines and masters—but aptitude isn't something that changes easily. As a child, Han Ming had been defiant. As he grew older, he accepted the reality that his fate was sealed at birth. He channeled that frustration into the study of culinary arts, which was why he was so obsessed with high-end food.
Being able to share "magical" food with cultivators at this shop felt like a small way to fulfill two of his dreams at once. Even if he couldn't cultivate, the food still tasted divine, and the physique-strengthening effect of the bacon sandwich worked just as well on a commoner as it did on a hero.
"Without Battle Qi or Magic, a tiny boost to my stats won't change much. I suppose the pills are useless to me," Han Ming said, pulling his gaze away from the medicine shelves. "What about that training room?"
"It’s used to train combat techniques and combat awareness. There are three modes..." Shier patiently broke it down for him.
Han Ming listened while slurping his noodles. Everything sounded like it was for fighters. A commoner didn't really need "combat awareness."
But then... wait.
"Shier, hold on. That 'New World Mode'... what is that?" Han Ming asked. He was looking for a new way to spend his time. Wandering the streets with other pampered rich kids was getting old. He needed a hobby.
"It allows you to experience an entirely new world. I’m not entirely sure of the specifics, you’d have to ask the Manager," Shier replied, sticking to Kael’s vague description.
"A whole new world, huh? Activate it for me." Han Ming felt a surge of longing for such an escape. For him, Spirit Crystals were the least of his worries.
"Certainly. Since you're activating the New World Mode, I highly recommend getting a Membership Card as well..."
And so, under Shier’s expert "up-selling," Han Ming walked toward the training area with a Membership Card in one hand and his cup noodles in the other.
