Buzz—
A dazzling beam of light descended from above, enveloping Xiao.
"What's that? Why did the golden light suddenly appear?"
Seeing this, Moon Carver was startled.
However, the others present—such as Madame Ping—remained calm, as if this were completely normal.
"That's the unique glow when Boss Han distributes rewards."
Cloud Retainer glanced over with mild disdain.
She couldn't help but wonder— since when had her old friends become so jumpy?
"Ahem—this is our first time here, alright?
Besides, Mountain Shaper reacted the same way just now."
Moon Carver gave an awkward laugh and immediately dragged Mountain Shaper into it.
First time visiting such a mysterious manga shop— being cautious was only reasonable!
"I didn't! Don't slander me!"
Mountain Shaper instantly denied it three times in a row.
Sure, he was surprised— but he would absolutely never admit it.
"I've finished my manga. I'll go get my reward from Boss Han now."
Seeing the suspicious looks from his friends, Mountain Shaper cleverly changed the subject.
"Same here. Let's go together."
Moon Carver and Madame Ping nodded.
"You all go first. I'll come later."
Cloud Retainer shook her head.
She was the slowest reader and needed a bit more time.
The group exchanged looks, nodded, and walked toward the counter.
At that moment, the light around Xiao faded.
He slowly opened his eyes, a hint of confusion in them.
"Boss Han… what is this?"
He felt as if an obscure, profound text had appeared in his mind:
The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao;
The name that can be named is not the eternal name…
Xiao didn't fully understand it.
Yet instinctively, he felt that it contained a mysterious power.
"This is the Dao De Jing, written by Laozi—an incarnation of the Supreme Elder Lord,"
Han Feng explained with a smile.
"Reciting it daily has effects on self-cultivation and spiritual refinement.
It may help with your karmic debt."
"The Dao De Jing… written by the Supreme Elder?!"
Hearing those words, Xiao—just like another visitor before—lit up with surprise.
Clearly, he knew exactly who that was.
But after the excitement, he suddenly thought of something and hurriedly asked,
"Boss Han, then… Can Dao De Jing revive the Geo Archon?"
"Probably not."
Han Feng shook his head.
Xiao really lived up to his reputation as the Geo Archon's most loyal follower— instead of worrying about his own karmic burden, his first thought was still about reviving Morax.
"Still, besides easing karmic debt, the Dao De Jing contains principles of heaven and earth.
Reciting it more will definitely benefit you."
"I see…"
Xiao felt a bit regretful.
Out of all the divine techniques and treasures in Journey to the West, he hadn't obtained anything that could revive the Geo Archon.
"Alright now—being able to ease your karmic debt should already be satisfying.
And don't forget, there's still us!"
Moon Carver stepped forward with a laugh.
He had overheard Boss Han explaining the reward.
Even if he didn't fully understand it, something spoken of in such lofty terms clearly wasn't ordinary.
And if it could ease Xiao's suffering, that alone was already wonderful.
"Exactly. Even if today doesn't work out, we can always come again tomorrow."
Madame Ping smiled and nodded.
"That's true."
Xiao finally snapped out of it.
Being able to obtain something like the Dao De Jing— a divine text capable of alleviating his pain— was already a tremendous blessing.
He truly shouldn't ask for more.
Thinking that, Xiao bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Boss Han."
"No need."
Han Feng waved it off, then looked toward Madame Ping and the others.
"You've all finished reading as well?"
"Yes. We're just waiting for our rewards now."
Madame Ping smiled.
Han Feng nodded and turned to the system panel.
The information refreshed.
[Customer Madame Ping has finished reading Doraemon]
[Reward obtained — Exquisite Doraemon figurine ×1]
[Customer Mountain Shaper has finished reading Cautious Hero]
[Reward obtained — Stockings of a certain goddess from the Divine Realm]
[Customer Moon Carver has finished reading Avengers]
[Reward obtained — Exquisite venison ×1]
"…These rewards are really something."
Han Feng's expression turned strange.
Madame Ping's reward was fine— a perfectly normal one.
But the other two…
Stockings of some goddess from the divine realm?
And venison?
Moon Carver's true form was a divine deer.
Was the system seriously giving venison to an adeptus deer?
Was this a joke?!
"Well, the rewards come from the system.
This has nothing to do with me."
Han Feng shook his head and waved his hand.
Buzz—
Buzz—
Buzz—
Three dazzling beams of light descended, enveloping Madame Ping and the two others.
"I hope they can obtain something that revives the Geo Archon…"
Xiao watched the familiar golden light, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
Moments later—
Madame Ping's light faded first.
In her hands appeared a round, adorable Doraemon figurine.
"This is a Doraemon figurine—just like the ones displayed in the shop,"
Han Feng explained, pointing toward the display shelves.
After all, Childe had adored these things.
He hadn't expected Madame Ping to get one instead.
"I quite like this."
Madame Ping examined the cute blue figure and smiled.
Among the adepti, she was the most easygoing.
Her mindset was exceptionally calm.
Even receiving a simple figurine didn't bother her in the slightest.
She had genuinely enjoyed Doraemon while reading the manga, and having a figure to keep her company wasn't bad at all.
The only pity was that she hadn't drawn something like the Time Machine or the If Phone Booth.
"Alright then—you two are up."
After storing the figurine away, Madame Ping turned her gaze toward her old friends.
"Don't worry! One of us will definitely get it!"
Mountain Shaper grinned confidently.
"Exactly! Four adepti—no way none of us get a proper reward!
Our luck can't be that bad!"
Moon Carver also looked full of confidence.
Han Feng shook his head and sighed softly.
"I just hope you'll still feel that way once you see your rewards…"
—------------------------------
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