In the end, they decided to go to a small tea shop on the edge of the city. Though the food was far better further into the city, they didn't want to risk going to a crowded place like Blood River Tavern when they were tired.
"Two cups of blue herb brew, Miss," Liao Li ordered at the counter. The lady demon standing there raised an eyebrow, giving him a strange look through her mask.
"You like the real spicy stuff, huh?" She muttered. "Two herb brews!"
It was true that blue herb was incredibly spicy to demons--so much so that it was considered painful to consume. Qiu Yunru compared this mentally to humans in his past life forcing down instant ramen so spicy it made them cry. Even though it burned their mouth to shreds, they still did it!
However, blue herb brew wasn't spicy at all to humans. In fact, it was quite mild and sweet, a refreshing and rejuvenating drink. For this reason, whenever Qiu Yunru and Liao Li went into tea shops here, they ordered it and proceeded to make faces as though they were in dire pain.
While sipping their tea, Qiu Yunru sighed out loud in relief. "I'm not sure what to do. Being here in the Demon Realm...it's been sapping my physical energy. Maybe it's the lack of sunlight? It just feels like I'm in my old body again..."
Liao Li nodded, eyeing Qiu Yunru over his cup. "It's the lack of sun, and the sulfuric air. Since we're cultivators, we can survive, but it wears our bodies down. If we can scrape together a bit of money, we should go and buy some First Light herb."
"First Light?" Qiu Yunru swallowed another gulp of tea. "Was that in the DLC teasers?"
"Ah--I heard about it online." Liao Li smiled awkwardly. "It must have been. Maybe there was a leak?"
Qiu Yunru rubbed his chin, suddenly thoughtful. "Maybe there was. Could it be that information was leaked after I transmigrated? When did you transmigrate?"
Liao Li's awkward smile grew into a tired one. "I've been here a while. In this world's time, nine years. In our world's time, a week."
"Oh!" Qiu Yunru frowned. "The DLC teaser came out a few days before I came here, and there was a surprise DLC announcement the day I came...Maybe I was off the forums around that time. Hmmm, that's right. I was studying for a bio exam..." Qiu Yunru held his head, feeling a headache coming on. "Aiya, I'm getting headaches easily too down here. I'll try and get a job at the Three Herb Apothecary this week. With the money, I'll definitely need some First Light."
Liao Li's forehead furrowed in concern. He reached out suddenly and raised his hand, causing Qiu Yunru to jump.
Liao Li had touched his forehead! Wasn't that--a bit of an intimate gesture, without asking first? Qiu Yunru swallowed down his embarrassment, leaning back a little.
Seeing this, Liao Li's eyes fell. "You don't have a fever," He said seriously. "However, if you're feeling unwell, maybe you should rest this week. I'll go out and make some money."
Qiu Yunru shook his head adamantly. "I'm really all right. There's no need for me to lounge around like a frail prince. I just need to get some sleep tonight, and get some herbs with good vitamins. And maybe some fresh air, if we can find it anywhere..."
Suddenly, Qiu Yunru realized he needed to pee.
"I'll be back," He said to Liao Li, nodding. "Outhouse."
They'd been to this teahouse one time before. Despite stereotypes about demons and the Demon Realm, they had found that there was actually a neat outhouse outside the back of the shop. In fact, many restaurant establishments had facilities like these.
Qiu Yunru was endlessly relieved. He already had to breathe in sulfur for air--he didn't want to have to piss and shit on the side of the road for months, too! Hell no!
Feeling his head throbbing, Qiu Yunru went out to the back. For some reason, the back of his neck was prickling. He rubbed it absently, wincing. Sometimes this happened when he got headaches in his last life. They could radiate all the way from his temples to his spine!
After going about his business, he cleaned up and turned around.
Immediately, everything went white.