Chapter Four Hundred and Eighteenth: Are You Thick-Headed?
“The reason I exchanged the entire Soul Pill for Underworld Currency is because I need Underworld Currency for more than just ordering four Skins. It's not that simple,” Yang Haoran explained with a smile.
“What are you planning? ” Xu Meijing glanced at Yang Haoran, her steps not faltering.
“What do you think about opening a shop here in the Underworld? ” Yang Haoran asked with a smile.
Xu Meijing paused her steps, her brows furrowing slightly as she looked at Yang Haoran once more.
“So that's what you're scheming,” Xu Meijing said flatly.
The reason Yang Haoran used the entire Soul Pill to exchange for Underworld Currency was to accumulate enough wealth to open his own shop in the Underworld.
Although Pure Yin Qi was very popular in the Underworld and could also be used as currency, Underworld Currency was equally indispensable. To open a shop, sufficient Underworld Currency was a must.
Not only did he use a Soul Pill to exchange for Underworld Currency this time, but he would likely need to use even more Soul Pills for exchanges in the future.
As for why he wanted to open a shop in the Underworld, the reason was simple: here, Soul Pills could be exchanged for Underworld Currency, and likewise, Underworld Currency could buy Soul Pills. As long as he successfully enriched himself by opening a shop, he would then have another channel to quickly acquire Soul Pills in the future, becoming a powerful aid in enhancing his strength.
It was precisely because Underworld Currency could bring him so many benefits that he conceived the idea of opening a shop in the Underworld: letting money roll into more money, making himself rich, and thereby allowing his strength to rapidly improve.
“What do you think of this idea? ” Yang Haoran asked Xu Meijing with a smile.
Xu Meijing hesitated for a moment, then gently shook her head, withdrew her gaze from Yang Haoran, and resumed walking.
“Not good. ”
Xu Meijing's answer was blunt. Yang Haoran matched her pace and asked with a smile, “Why not? ”
“As far as I know, opening a shop in the Underworld is not a simple matter. As for exactly how difficult it is, I'm not entirely clear, but I've heard Huo Laoban say it's very difficult. You're a newcomer, with no connections, no financial resources—what qualifications do you have to open a shop in the Underworld? ”
Xu Meijing's words were not pleasant to hear, perhaps even harsh, but they were very practical. And the Huo Laoban she spoke of was naturally the owner of the Yin-Yang Emporium.
Yang Haoran, of course, didn't think Xu Meijing was deliberately satirizing him, because he knew Xu Meijing had no such intention; she was simply trying to remind him. If he couldn't even distinguish such basic truths, he would have lived all these years in vain.
“There are indeed many shops in the Underworld, but compared to the total number of Underworld Officials throughout the Underworld Office, this handful of shops is barely worth mentioning. Do you think you're the only one with such an idea? Do other Underworld Officials not have them? ”
As her words fell, Xu Meijing shook her head again, clearly disapproving of Yang Haoran's idea. Fearing he wouldn't give up, she continued.
“There are too many wolves and too little meat, which naturally increases the difficulty of opening a shop in the Underworld. Without established connections and substantial financial resources, it's simply impossible to successfully open your own shop in the Underworld. ”
“Connections can be forged layer by layer with money, but that requires a tremendous amount of funds. Where would you get that money? ”
“Even if you had enough money to successfully build connections, where would the money to open the shop come from? Don't you need money for inventory? Don't you need money for the high annual rent? ”
“Leaving these issues aside, once the shop successfully opens, will you have time to manage it? If you hire someone to manage it, can they do a good job? It would be fine if the shop was profitable, but if it consistently operates at a loss, where would you find the money to cover the deficit? ”
Xu Meijing fired off a series of questions, each one hitting home.
Yang Haoran remained silent, listening intently, though the expression on his face showed little change, remaining a constant, smiling one.
“Just now, when you exchanged a Soul Pill at the Yin-Yang Emporium, do you know why the clerk was so happy? Because I learned from Huo Laoban that their shop's business has always been poor, constantly operating at a deficit and at risk of closing down at any moment. Do you really think they offered such a high price—eighty-five—for one Soul Pill out of friendship? Do you think they gave us the lowest price for two communication devices out of friendship? It's not like that. They're simply operating on a low-profit, high-volume model, relying on sheer quantity to cover their expenditures. ”
Reaching this point, Xu Meijing's face twisted into a sneer. After a pause, she continued, “It's too difficult to open a shop in the Underworld, and too few people actually profit after successfully doing so. The vast majority of Underworld Officials who go to great lengths to open a shop in the Underworld end up not only failing to profit but also accumulating a mountain of debt. There are simply too many such people. Yet, there are still those who try every possible means to jump into this pit, excessively trusting their own abilities, only to end up losing even their underwear. I certainly don't want to see you become one of them. ”
As her words faded, Xu Meijing looked back at Yang Haoran. Seeing his smiling face, she instantly felt a surge of irritation.
“I've said all this, did any of it sink in? ”
Yang Haoran nodded. “Of course, it sank in. However, I've actually considered everything you've said. ”
Xu Meijing frowned, speaking with great frustration, “You've considered it, yet you still want to jump into it? Are you thick-headed? ”
Yang Haoran thought for a moment before responding to Xu Meijing.
“I still want to give it a try. However, I won't do it blindly. I need some time to lay the groundwork, to let things settle. This might take a while. ”
Hearing Yang Haoran's words, Xu Meijing stomped her foot in anger. The way she was gritting her teeth, it was as if she wanted to strangle Yang Haoran.
“I've said all this, only to find myself playing the lute to a cow. I'm not going to bother with you anymore. Do whatever you want. But when you fall into that pit, don't you dare ask me to pull you out. I don't have the money to fish you out of there. ”
Xu Meijing looked at Yang Haoran with a face full of exasperated disappointment, angrily throwing down a harsh warning before quickening her pace.
Yang Haoran gave a wry smile, offering no further explanation, but instead quickened his own steps to follow her.
Regarding opening a shop in the Underworld, Yang Haoran did not change his decision because of Xu Meijing's words. However, he certainly would not rush into it blindly, because what Xu Meijing had said was quite reasonable.
Not to mention he currently had no money, but even if he did, investing blindly would, without a doubt, lead to the exact outcome Xu Meijing described: he would end up losing even his underwear.
Therefore, he needed to spend some time laying the groundwork, and only when all conditions were met would he begin to act.
As for how long this preparatory period would take, he was unsure for now, but until the groundwork was successfully laid, he absolutely would not haphazardly blunder into things.
After some time, the two arrived back at Yuan's Skinsuit Shop. All along the way, Xu Meijing ignored Yang Haoran, her face set in a silent huff. Yang Haoran tried every trick in the book, but couldn't improve Xu Meijing's mood, leaving him feeling utterly helpless.
Their return to Yuan's Skinsuit Shop was naturally to order four Skins. Now that he had money, he naturally had to see this matter through first.
After entering Yuan's Skinsuit Shop, the same female clerk from before greeted him. He explained his purpose and used his Spirit Power to project the figures and appearances of the four individuals. After the clerk recorded them with special equipment, Yang Haoran paid the deposit, then left Yuan's Skinsuit Shop with Xu Meijing.
After leaving Yuan's Skinsuit Shop, Yang Haoran had originally planned to contact Jiang Dashi, but seeing Xu Meijing in a poor mood, he decided to first take her sightseeing and amuse her to alleviate her gloomy spirits.
Xu Meijing was initially unwilling, but under Yang Haoran's repeated persuasion, she finally agreed to explore with him.
Comments