If she built a good relationship with the owner of this mysterious Jar Shop, surely purchasing jars would be easier in the future?
She had to visit this shop!
Right after this meal.
"So, you're saying Wanmin Restaurant's new instant noodles also came from this Jar Shop?"
Beidou suddenly chuckled, putting the pieces together.
If what Xiangling said was true, then the recipe for this new food trend must have originated from the same source.
"Mhm."
Xiangling nodded vigorously. "The recipe came from a jar. I was just in the kitchen making a new batch of noodles. Oh, and not just noodles! There's also a new type of drink called Coffee. It's great for energy. I just finished brewing some for you, Beidou!"
Speaking of coffee, Xiangling's face lit up with a bright smile. "Beidou, this coffee will be super useful for you and the crew. It keeps you awake! If you get tired during a long voyage, just take a sip and you'll be energized."
"Oh? Coffee?" Beidou raised an eyebrow. "I look forward to trying it."
"Is this shop really that amazing? Maybe I should open a jar later, too."
Sitting next to them, Qianyan looked conflicted. "But if I spend money on jars, I won't have enough to deposit into the Liyue Bank to earn interest."
She had heard everything Xiangling said. The allure of the jars was undeniable. She wanted to become stronger, or maybe just luckier.
But she hadn't brought enough cash. She had come prepared to spend a couple hundred thousand Mora on shopping—clothes, rouge, snacks—but jars cost 100,000 each. Her budget would vanish instantly.
"Hmm, if you really want to open one, I can sponsor you a bit," Huixing, the navigator, offered with a laugh. "Go ahead and open one. I'll pass this time."
"I couldn't possibly..."
"What's there to be shy about? If you pull something shareable, we'll use it together. If not, it's all yours."
"Well... alright then. Thanks!"
Beidou continued to quiz Xiangling about the shop. From the mechanics of opening jars to the Northland Bank's involvement, she absorbed every detail.
...
Time slipped away quietly. More than an hour passed.
Beidou and her crew were finally full.
"Xiangling, take us to the Jar Shop."
Beidou stood up, ready to move. "I don't know exactly where it is, so lead the way."
"Okay!"
Xiangling glanced around. Her dad had returned at some point and was busy at the counter. She nodded to him and then led Beidou's group out the door, heading straight for the Jar Shop.
Meanwhile, at the entrance of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
A crowd had gathered, forming quite the spectacle. Some people had even brought chairs and were cracking sunflower seeds like they were at a theater.
"What's going on here?"
A passerby leaned in curiously. It was strange to see a crowd at a funeral parlor in the middle of the afternoon. Usually, people avoided this place.
"We're waiting to see a soul leave a body!" someone laughed.
"You didn't hear? Wangsheng launched a new service today: Out-of-Body Experience. For a fee, ordinary people can experience their soul leaving their physical form. We're all here to watch the show."
"Seriously?" The newcomer was shocked. "Soul projection? Isn't that Adepti magic? Only immortals can do that, right?"
"Yeah, usually. But Director Hu Tao used a magic stick earlier to knock a guy's soul right out of his body! It was wild. Everyone's waiting for her to do it again."
"But... nothing's happening."
"That's because Director Hu hasn't come out yet. See those guys sitting on the bench? They paid for the service, but they've been waiting for ages."
"Eh, we're not in a rush. Nothing better to do anyway."
The crowd chattered, filling in the curious onlookers.
"Hey, Old Meng," one of the customers complained, looking at the ferryman stationed at the door. "I signed the form, I paid the deposit... where is Director Hu? It's been twenty minutes."
If he hadn't seen the earlier demonstration with his own eyes, he would have thought this was a scam.
"I'm terribly sorry," Old Meng smiled apologetically. "I really don't know why the Director hasn't come down."
"I sent someone upstairs to check, but her room is sealed with a formation. We can't get in. She might be... sleeping? Why don't you head home for now? Take your money back. Come back this evening or tomorrow?"
Old Meng was helpless. Hu Tao had explicitly told him to notify her if anyone signed up. He had yelled until his throat was sore, but there was no response from upstairs.
Even the ferrylady had tried, but the Director's door was locked tight with a ward. Without Hu Tao's permission, no one could enter.
He strongly suspected she was asleep. But usually, she wasn't this heavy of a sleeper.
"Fine," the customer sighed. "I'll come back after dinner. Keep the money; I trust Wangsheng's reputation."
He got up and left.
"Huh? He's leaving?"
"I wanted to see the soul magic! What a letdown."
"I bet you guys were lying to me. Wasted my whole afternoon."
"Hey! Believe what you want. No one forced you to stay."
"Maybe using that Adepti art has a backlash? Soul projection can't be easy. Maybe Director Hu passed out from exhaustion?"
"That makes sense. Otherwise, she wouldn't just disappear."
The crowd, disappointed that the show was canceled, began to disperse. The theory about "magical backlash" gained traction—it made sense that a mortal using such power would pay a price.
"Director Hu really puts her life on the line for the business," someone sighed. "I should go ask my wife for some money to support Wangsheng. Just to show respect."
"Support? Yeah right. I know you just want to see if it works."
"Shh! Give me some face!"
The crowd thinned out, leaving the entrance empty once again.
Old Meng listened to their theories with a twitching eye.
Backlash? Exhaustion?
If he hadn't experienced it himself, he might have believed them. But he knew the truth. His Director was just using a magic stick from the Jar Shop. Bonk, and you're out. There was no backlash.
Even he could do it if he had the stick!
"Uncle Meng, still no response," the ferrylady walked out, looking worried. "I don't know what she's doing in there. Even if she's sleeping, she shouldn't be this dead to the world."
She had yelled until she was hoarse.
"It's fine. She's probably just in a deep sleep," Old Meng waved his hand. "She'll wake up by evening."
"Still strange though," he muttered. "She went to bed early yesterday..."
Meanwhile, on the third floor of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
In Hu Tao's bedroom.
Hu Tao slowly opened her eyes and let out a massive yawn.
"Mmm."
She glanced at the clock. It was already afternoon.
"I slept for that long?" She scratched her messy hair, confused.
She sat up, stretching. But as she moved, she felt a strange... heaviness.
"Hm?"
Hu Tao frowned. She looked down instinctively.
Her sleepy brain instantly rebooted.
Her eyes widened to the size of saucers. Her face went from pale to apple-red in a split second.
"Wh-wh-what happened?!"
She stammered, scrambling out of bed and rushing to the full-length mirror.
She stared at her reflection in horror and confusion.
Why... why were they like that?
Why are they bigger than Ganyu's?!
No wonder she felt different when she woke up. Her center of gravity had shifted!
She looked at the mirror, then looked down at her chest again. Her face burned with shame.
Then, her eyes landed on the empty bottle of Golden Milk sitting on her desk.
"This is a milk drink. It tastes great and has significant benefits."
Felix's words from the shop echoed in her mind.
Hu Tao froze.
This morning, she had drunk it thinking it would just be a health boost or maybe make her stronger.
She didn't expect this kind of benefit!
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