Chapter 331: Buy a Horse?
For many foodies in Shrek City—especially longtime patrons already used to lining up outside Han Shi or ordering delivery—this was destined to be a grim lunchtime.
Han Shi was closed again.
And this time, it was going to be for twenty whole days.
The food festival had just ended, and this was the golden period when Han Shi's reputation was spreading across the continent. If it were any other restaurant, they'd probably be operating 24/7 right now, trying to ride the wave.
But Qi Han chose to shut down operations during this prime time.
Though the customers were understandably disappointed, no one thought he was stupid.
After all, this wasn't the first—or second—time this mysterious Han Shi owner had done something unpredictable.
Fu Ya and the two delivery girls were tasked with informing customers and gave a well-rehearsed explanation: the shop needed renovations and expansion to accommodate growing crowds. The work would take twenty days, during which time the boss would travel to research new dishes. He aimed to unveil fresh menu items upon his return.
The idea of a larger dining area meant more seats, fewer lines, and more people able to eat inside—great news for most. The promise of new dishes after the break was an even bigger bonus.
Moved by the thoughtfulness of Boss Qi—who would voluntarily give up such a profitable time just to ensure better service and more space for everyone—many customers felt warm and touched.
So, contrary to what Qi Han expected, he didn't even need to tease them with hotpot. The customers easily accepted the idea of a 20-day closure.
Qi Han couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
Shrek City diners… really are such simple, wholesome folks.
…
After the evening shift, the four women were reluctant to part ways, knowing the boss would be gone for nearly three weeks. Still, it was getting dark, and under Qi Han's gentle persuasion, they each took their leave.
Qi Han and Ye Lingqing soon headed upstairs to rest.
The next morning, Qi Han got up early and quickly packed his belongings, tossing everything into the storage space provided by Ru Yi. He then woke Ye Lingqing to go over a few final reminders.
Even though Ye Lingqing was a frugal kid and unlikely to spend much, Qi Han still left him 1,000 gold coins for basic living expenses over the next twenty days.
After confirming there was nothing missing, Qi Han left Han Shi with Pururu in tow, with Ye Lingqing seeing him off at the door.
Pururu, of course, had to come along. The little guy had been eating top-tier food daily, and though he hadn't yet reached the thousand-year spirit beast threshold, his strength was already on par with one. He'd be a great help on this journey.
As for the extreme cold of the Extreme North Snowfield, Pururu could always snuggle inside Qi Han's high-tech thermal suit to stay warm and safe.
. . . . . . .
The Extreme North Snowfield lay at the northernmost tip of the Douluo Continent.
Technically, it was within the borders of the Heaven Dou Empire, but…
The Empire clearly didn't dare claim it as their own.
Not only did they refrain from treating it as part of their territory, but they also heavily guarded its border, both to prevent people from wandering in by accident and to keep the terrifying spirit beasts of the snowfield from spilling out into nearby towns.
Unfortunately, Qi Han wasn't so lucky this time—his old friends at the Feng Clan Convoy didn't currently have any scheduled caravans heading to the Extreme North Snowfield. Some were heading in that general direction, but the best he could do was tag along for half the journey. He'd have to figure out the rest on his own.
Still, half a ride was better than none. After a brief moment of hesitation, Qi Han paid the fee and joined the caravan, planning to worry about the remaining half once he got there.
. . . .
"Boss Qi? Boss Qi?"
A voice snapped Qi Han out of his deep focus on his ingredient compendium. He turned toward the sound and saw a rugged-looking middle-aged man—one of the caravan's escort spirit masters—Liu Youjie.
"What's up, Uncle Liu?" Qi Han replied warmly. This uncle had been friendly and down-to-earth during their journey so far, and Qi Han had developed a good impression of him.
"We're about to arrive at Nanyin City," Liu Youjie informed him.
"Alright, I'll get ready," Qi Han nodded, not the least bit surprised.
They'd been on the road all day yesterday, and now it was already midday on the second day. Right on schedule.
Nanyin City would be the last stop on the caravan's route that matched Qi Han's destination. After this, he'd be on his own, heading straight toward the Extreme North Snowfield.
Liu Youjie lingered a moment longer before asking in a lower voice, "Boss Qi, I heard… you're heading to the Extreme North Snowfield? That place is seriously dangerous, you know."
"I know," Qi Han smiled faintly. "But I have my reasons. I need to go."
Although the spirit beasts in the Extreme North might not be as terrifying as those in the Star Dou Forest, the environment was harsh enough that it was practically a death zone for human spirit masters.
Liu Youjie gave a solemn nod. Seeing that Qi Han was aware of the danger, he said no more.
But his concern sparked a new idea in Qi Han's mind.
Seasoned travelers like Liu Youjie, even if not the strongest, usually had good insight into road conditions and travel strategies. Since he had been stressing over how to reach the snowfield from Nanyin City…
Why not ask?
"Uncle Liu, one more thing—do you have any tips on the best way to get from Nanyin City to the Extreme North?"
The question didn't stump Liu Youjie. After a quick thought, he responded, "Boss Qi, how about you buy a Red Blood Foal to ride there yourself? Traveling alone can be risky, but as long as you follow the main city routes and avoid lingering in the wild, it should be fairly safe."
"Besides, if you don't want the horse afterward and it hasn't been injured, you can always resell it."
That… was actually a good idea. Qi Han's eyes lit up.
He had ridden Red Blood Foals many times before, including on this trip. He'd even ridden Blood Red Unicorns—he was no stranger to mounts.
Buying his own would definitely make things more convenient.
With his current strength—rank 30-something, soon to reach rank 40—he'd be relatively safe as long as he didn't go looking for trouble.
Although… selling a horse every time could be a bit annoying.
"Thanks, Uncle Liu. I'll seriously consider it," Qi Han said gratefully as he watched Liu Youjie walk away.
Just then, Ru Yi's voice rang out in Qi Han's mind.
"You're thinking of getting a horse?" she chirped. "You don't have to sell it, you know. I can section off a spot in the system's miniature world, match the real-world time flow, and store your mount there. I'll even help you feed it. How's that? Pretty considerate, huh?"
…Huh?
Qi Han narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Alright, how much?"
"Aw, come on, don't be like that," Ru Yi said, acting all sweet. "We're buddies, right? I'll give you a friendly rate—just 200 gold coins per day."
"…Deal."
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