"It's actually him. I haven't seen that face in ages."
"Me neither. My friend told me Xie Jun borrowed 5,000 Mora from him, claimed he was broke, and then vanished. Who knew he'd resurface here?"
"Resurfacing is one thing, but having money to open jars? Holy crap, one jar is 100,000 Mora! Where did he get that kind of cash?"
"I don't know. Did he borrow it again? But who would lend that much to a jobless vagrant just for gambling?"
"I'm going to tell my friend right now. He needs to come here and demand his money back. He was complaining just yesterday about lending to a deadbeat. I can't believe the audacity!"
"Rich enough for jars, too poor for debts? What a scumbag."
At the entrance of the Jar Shop, several locals recognized Xie Jun. Whispers turned into shouts as the realization set in.
Some hurried off to alert their creditors. Others just stared, baffled by the sheer shamelessness on display.
Even Baizhu shook his head with a faint smile as he stepped past the commotion and into the shop.
"Shopkeeper! Shopkeeper, I want to open jars!"
Ignoring the noise outside, Xie Jun rushed to the counter, his face flushed with excitement. He slammed a heavy pouch onto the wood. "Here is 200,000 Mora!"
"Mm."
Felix looked at the frantic man with a strange expression.
He recognized him. This was the guy who had waited outside the shop all night a few days ago, scraped together 100,000 Mora, and pulled the "Begging Bowl" (Hand of Charity).
Now he was back, flush with cash and looking manic.
Felix glanced at Xie Jun's hand, wondering if he was carrying the item. He took the money and nodded. "Take your pick."
Xie Jun stared at the shelves hungrily.
That "Begging Bowl" had been a miracle. It allowed him to secure a loan from the notorious Northland Bank (via Childe) just by asking.
Now, with two chances, he felt invincible. If he pulled another item like that, he'd be set for life.
He didn't dare use the Begging Bowl on the Shopkeeper, though. That would be suicide. You don't try to scam the god who sold you the scamming tool.
"I want those two!"
Xie Jun pointed.
With a wave of Felix's hand, two jars floated down gently.
Felix then turned his attention to the new arrival.
Baizhu stood near the entrance, his golden eyes scanning the shop with practiced ease. The owner of Bubu Pharmacy was not a simple man.
"Greetings, Shopkeeper," Baizhu said, his voice smooth and polite. "I am Baizhu of Bubu Pharmacy. I heard rumors of a miraculous shop here, so I came to take a look."
"Welcome," Felix nodded.
Crash!
The sound of shattering pottery interrupted them.
Xie Jun had smashed his first jar.
A glowing blue stone fell onto the counter.
[Noctilucous Jade]: A rare mineral that glimmers in the dark. Said to be a gemstone condensed from the flourishing elements of the world.
"Just Noctilucous Jade?"
Xie Jun frowned, deeply dissatisfied. "Even if it's rare, compared to what I wanted, this is trash."
It was valuable, yes, but it wasn't a magic item. He wanted power, not rocks.
Baizhu watched with interest. A local Liyue specialty... so the jars contain mundane items too?
Crash!
Xie Jun smashed the second jar immediately.
A blue, fungal-looking plant dropped out.
[Sea Ganoderma]: A plant species that grows in specific ocean regions and on islands. Though it looks like a fungus, it is actually a substance secreted by soft-bodied organisms.
"What is this thing?"
Xie Jun stared at it blankly.
"Sea Ganoderma," Felix explained calmly. "A specialty of the Inazuma region. Edible. Good for soup. Can be sold to Wanmin Restaurant."
"Does it have other uses?" Xie Jun asked desperately. "How does its value compare to a Flaming Flower Stamen?"
"No comparison," Felix shook his head. "This has no elemental power. The Flaming Flower is an elemental catalyst. Their values are worlds apart."
"Dammit."
Xie Jun's face fell. Two jars, 200,000 Mora, and he got a rock and a sea mushroom. Terrible luck.
Well, at least it wasn't my money, he thought, consoling himself. I can just borrow more tomorrow.
He grabbed his loot and turned to leave. No point lingering.
"Xie Jun! When are you paying back the money?!"
As he stepped out, someone yelled.
"I was opening jars for someone else!" Xie Jun lied instantly, pushing through the crowd and sprinting away before anyone could grab him.
"Holy... absolutely shameless."
"I saw two items! That was 200,000 Mora! He definitely has the money!"
The crowd jeered, but Xie Jun was already gone, disappearing into the labyrinthine streets of Liyue.
"Forget him. Let's see what Dr. Baizhu gets."
The attention shifted back to the green-haired doctor.
Some bold onlookers stepped inside the shop to get a better view.
"Isn't that rude?" one whispered. "You're not buying anything."
"It's fine, I'm just looking."
Inside, Felix looked at Baizhu. "100,000 Mora per jar. Would you like to try a few?"
"I merely came to observe today. I didn't bring any money," Baizhu replied with a smile, shaking his head. "I wished to understand the nature of this shop first."
He was cautious. He wanted to see the mechanics before investing.
"That is a pity," Felix shrugged. "There isn't much to understand. Each customer is limited to ten jars a week. The quota does not roll over."
"I see."
Baizhu nodded thoughtfully, his eyes lingering on the shelves. Weekly limits... scarcity creates demand.
Outside Liyue Harbor.
While Baizhu studied the shop, a tall woman with flowing white hair and an ethereal aura walked down the main road toward the city.
"She's beautiful..."
"She looks like an Adeptus."
"She feels so cold... I wouldn't dare talk to her."
Passersby whispered as Shenhe walked past. She ignored them. She was used to the stares, or rather, she didn't care enough to acknowledge them.
"Master insisted I come down the mountain to 'relax' in Liyue," Shenhe muttered to herself. "But there is nothing to see here."
Cloud Retainer forced her to take these trips, believing social interaction was good for her. Shenhe disagreed.
"Hm? Cryo elemental energy?"
Shenhe paused. She sensed a distinct, powerful fluctuation of Cryo energy drifting from a nearby direction.
Without hesitation, she changed course, moving with the speed and silence of the wind toward the source.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
As she got closer, the sounds of heavy impact grew louder.
She arrived at a waterfall clearing.
Two figures were engaged in intense combat. The air was thick with frost, and the ground around the waterfall had frozen into a thick sheet of ice.
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