Chapter 9: Legend

Yu Ruoyin hugged her luggage and entered the shop, where Xia Yu had already found a seat in the center of the shop. A newly opened bottle of wine and her cake sat on the table.

She hesitated about whether to speak up, since she felt her chances of getting an answer from Xia Yu were slim.

Unexpectedly, Xia Yu took the initiative and asked her with a smile, “Do you have something you want to ask me?”

Yu Ruoyin nodded eagerly, but Xia Yu’s expression turned cold. “Don’t ask me. I don’t know anything.”

Xia Yu’s personality was truly too strange.

One moment she was grinning playfully, the next she was cold as frost.

Yu Ruoyin sat a bit farther away from Xia Yu, somewhat repelled by close contact with her.

As she sat farther away, Xia Yu suddenly beckoned to her. “You’re sitting so far away. It makes it look like I’m bullying you.”

Wasn’t that the case?

Xia Yu had never treated her kindly, and Yu Ruoyin had no intention of moving.

“Come here.” Impatience filled Xia Yu’s brows.

Yu Ruoyin thought of Jiang Huaining returning soon, but fear still rooted her in place. “Since you dislike me so much, it’s better if we keep our distance.”

“Who said I dislike you?” Xia Yu shook her head with a smile. “I like you quite a bit, after all. You can make Jiang Huaining unhappy.”

She addressed Jiang Huaining by name directly, and the malice in her tone instantly dropped the shop’s atmosphere to freezing.

Yu Ruoyin took two deep breaths before daring to meet Xia Yu’s eyes. “You… you seem to really hate your boss.”

“Of course. I wish she were dead.” Xia Yu sneered and chugged two more mouthfuls of wine. “It’s just a pity that if she dies, I’ll die too.”

Xia Yu’s voice trailed off, and a flicker of daze crossed her expression. “Tell me, will she die?”

Yu Ruoyin had no way to answer Xia Yu and didn’t want to.

The wine-drinking Xia Yu was like a madwoman.

Without an answer, Xia Yu murmured, “She will, I hope. Best if she does.”

Her palm tightened slightly, crushing the wine bottle she gripped. Wine trickled down her arm, soaking her clothes.

Xia Yu’s words didn’t match up front to back. She said if Jiang Huaining died, she would die too, yet she cursed Jiang Huaining.

By her own words, wasn’t cursing Jiang Huaining the same as cursing herself?

Yu Ruoyin couldn’t figure it out, so she simply stopped trying.

She tried to empty her mind, but not only did it fail, her thoughts grew more chaotic.

Seeing her remain still, Xia Yu simply scooted over herself and sat in front of her. “By the way, aren’t you curious about the Four Spirits Shop? Aren’t you curious why Granny Yan is afraid to do business with the Four Spirits Shop?”

Yu Ruoyin was naturally curious, but she thought asking Xia Yu would be pointless.

Xia Yu seemed to have a contrary streak. The more Yu Ruoyin didn’t ask, the more she wanted to say.

But she truly had little patience.

“The Four Spirits Shop…”

Xia Yu had just begun when impatience already showed on her face.

She pointed at Yu Ruoyin’s arms. “Let Granny Yan out.”

Yu Ruoyin hadn’t wanted to listen to her, but Xia Yu’s gaze was frightening, so she still released Granny Yan.

Granny Yan bowed respectfully to Xia Yu and said with a beaming smile, “Has Lady Xia changed her mind and decided to let me go?”

“I’m not that nice.” Xia Yu opened a new bottle of wine and said to Granny Yan, “Tell her what you know about the Four Spirits Shop and us.”

Granny Yan was quite surprised. “I don’t know much about you all.”

“Just say what you know.”

Granny Yan respected Xia Yu greatly and quickly agreed.

The questions Yu Ruoyin hadn’t dared ask were answered simply by staying silent.

Granny Yan was named Yan Xihong, an old ghost.

She had wandered the world for over a millennium, and she knew Xia Yu because she had visited the Four Spirits Shop many times before.

The Four Spirits Shop sat between the yin-yang realms. Whether human, demon, ghost, or spirit, as long as one had the affinity to step into this place, the Four Spirits Shop would do business with them.

The wall at the western corner of Grand Domain Street was the entrance to the Four Spirits Shop known in yin-yang realm legends. In fact, it was an employee passage for the Four Spirits Shop.

Aside from the shop’s people and a portion of approved regular customers, others couldn’t use that passage.

In legends, one didn’t need to deliberately seek the Four Spirits Shop. Sensing a customer’s strong wish, the shop would appear on its own.

The Four Spirits Shop set prices based on the size of the wish. If the customer found the price fair, the deal could proceed. If not, they could leave, but before going, they could buy a cup of ordinary tea. The tea nourished the soul or spirit, offering only benefits and no harm.

Yan Xihong had been drawn into the shop three times, but each time she fled hastily without even voicing her wish.

Because she had killed people in life, and the Netherworld backed the Four Spirits Shop.

By Netherworld rules, those who killed in life faced judgment after death.

She was afraid, so she fled.

Speaking of the Four Spirits Shop’s partnership with the Netherworld, it traced back over four thousand years.

Over four thousand years ago, an Evil Daoist emerged in the yang realm. Powerful and arrogant, he defied heaven for selfish desires, setting up killing arrays that seized people’s fortunes, lives, and souls. Forces from both yin-yang realms united against him but ended in crushing defeat.

It was said the number of daoists, monks, and demon hunters who died that year equaled a century’s total, and some smaller family lineages were outright severed.

Demons and ghosts lost most of what they feared, running rampant. Crooked cults surfaced, and the Netherworld was overwhelmed, unable to control the chaos. Just as the human world teetered on becoming a purgatory, the Four Spirits Shop appeared.

The Four Spirits Shop had five people: one boss and four subordinates.

No one knew where they came from, only that they were immensely powerful—the strongest spirits many had ever seen.

The Four Spirits Shop’s owner led her four subordinates to swiftly suppress the Evil Daoist, exterminate the rampaging ghost kings and zombies, and purge numerous sorcerers.

Afterward, they deliberately established a tavern, claiming it fulfilled wishes. In truth, only a few selected people could enter, and those frequenting it were mostly old demon kings. Those in the know saw the Four Spirits Shop’s true purpose wasn’t business, but stabilizing powerful demon kings for the Netherworld.

The Netherworld had ways to handle humans, ghosts, and spirits, but was weaker against demons.

With changing times, the Four Spirits Shop evolved from tavern to teahouse, then café, and now milk tea shop.

Yu Ruoyin’s curiosity was successfully piqued. She couldn’t help asking, “Can it really fulfill any wish?”

“Of course. Once the deal is made, the shop owner brews a tea tailored to the customer. Drinking that tea makes even the hardest wishes come true. The tea has many effects: letting the living see the dead, removing painful memories, exchanging for a clever mind, even absorbing soul malice…”

A glint suddenly burst in Granny Yan’s dull gray pupils. “It’s said it can even help with revenge, killing a hundred in one night.”

Xia Yu swept a cold glance at Yan Xihong. “Don’t spout nonsense. I’m not interested in being a killer.”

Yan Xihong laughed awkwardly. “Lady Xia, it’s just hearsay. Not every word is true.”

Xia Yu fell silent, so Yan Xihong continued. “The Four Spirits Shop has five people. None cultivate dao or buddha, nor are they refined monsters, demons, or ghosts. They have no yin or yang energy, but each brims with spirit energy. The shop owner rarely appears, and her four subordinates never all show at once. We only know the owner is surnamed Jiang, and her four subordinates are Chun Chen, Xia Yu, Qiu Luo, and Dong Yan. Each appears for just over three months a year, matching their name’s season perfectly. So rumors say their true identities are…”

Yan Xihong paused, glancing deliberately at Xia Yu before saying, “They are the world’s last gods and spirits, ruling the four seasons.”

Xia Yu sneered. “Gods? Where are there any gods left now!”

She drank faster, as if trying to drown herself in alcohol.

Yan Xihong followed her lead. “The rumors are just that, and few take them seriously. Lady Xia, I’ve always been curious—was that Evil Daoist really that powerful back then?”

Xia Yu’s face darkened. “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t.”

Overawed by Xia Yu’s presence, Yan Xihong dared say no more.

Yu Ruoyin hesitated a long time before boldly voicing her question. “Why did that Evil Daoist kill so many people? With ghosts in this world, people turn into ghosts after death. Wasn’t he afraid of all those ghosts coming for him?”

If it were her, she certainly would be afraid.

She feared even one ghost, let alone hordes.

Yan Xihong burst out laughing. “People killed by the Evil Daoist couldn’t become ghosts. Their souls were probably refined away.”

“Shut up.”

Xia Yu slammed the table and exploded in fury, her shout startling both Yu Ruoyin and Yan Xihong.

Yu Ruoyin found Xia Yu’s attitude strange. Jiang Huaining had led them to suppress the Evil Daoist, yet she showed no hatred for that legendarily irredeemable villain. When Yan Xihong spoke of his past atrocities, she grew furious instead.

Xia Yu swept a cold glance at Yan Xihong, then turned to Yu Ruoyin. “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t. What use is knowing so much?”

…

She really was a madwoman.

Yu Ruoyin hadn’t even thought to ask at first—it was Xia Yu who had Yan Xihong tell her.

Yu Ruoyin felt aggrieved and missed Jiang Huaining more than ever.

She stood and backed away, evading Xia Yu’s oppressive gaze, when a faint fragrance suddenly enveloped her.

Her body fell into a warm embrace, accompanied by a voice protecting her. “You insisted on telling A-Yin, yet now you blame her for asking too much. Don’t you think you’ve gone too far, Xia Yu?”

It was Jiang Huaining.

Xia Yu was somewhat surprised to see Jiang Huaining—not why she appeared, but how she knew what she’d just said.

Her scrutinizing gaze slowly fell on Yu Ruoyin’s neck. “Boss, you really are…”

Xia Yu didn’t finish, but Yu Ruoyin didn’t care. Her eyes were fixed on her “savior,” staring at Jiang Huaining unwaveringly.

Noticing her gaze, Jiang Huaining turned her head slightly, a gentle smile in her eyes. “She won’t say, so I will. That Evil Daoist was gathering souls.”

Jiang Huaining’s face was bloodless, her lips pale as paper, the red mole at her eye’s corner dulled.

Yet Jiang Huaining’s smile remained enchanting, soothing a heart on the verge of shattering.

Yu Ruoyin couldn’t help leaning closer into Jiang Huaining’s embrace. “Gathering souls?”

“Yes, gathering souls.” Jiang Huaining slowly turned to face Xia Yu. Her smile faded, coldness filling her eyes, her voice deepening. “Gathering souls for someone isn’t wrong in itself, but doing it by any means is a grave sin.”

Bang!

The wine bottle shattering on the floor startled Yu Ruoyin. She timidly looked toward Xia Yu.

Xia Yu stared in their direction, her ashen face frightening.

Wine bottle fragments and spilled wine littered her feet.

Jiang Huaining withdrew her gaze and said flatly, “The crime is unforgivable.”

Xia Yu’s face turned deathly pale, her hands slowly clenching until her nails dug into her palms.

Her bloodshot eyes blazed with rage, but she didn’t lash out at Jiang Huaining. She merely stared deeply at Yu Ruoyin. “I hope you live a bit longer this time.”

Yu Ruoyin clearly felt Jiang Huaining stiffen. “Auntie Ning, what’s wrong?”

Jiang Huaining’s lips trembled lightly. “N-nothing.”

Pretending not to hear Xia Yu, she slowly told her, “No business tonight. Rest well. Don’t let me see any more wine tomorrow.”

Xia Yu had successfully irked Jiang Huaining but didn’t laugh triumphantly.

She glanced at Jiang Huaining’s slightly pale face, picked up the wine from the table, and headed upstairs. “Boss, living people are truly awful—short-lived and frail.”

The words no longer sounded mocking, more like advice.

Yu Ruoyin felt both of them spoke in riddles.

She wanted to ask, but instinct told her neither would answer.