Youth must be seized early, for one cannot remain young forever. Chapter 118: The Daily Grind

Under the collaborative efforts of Bai Qingzhou and Meng Li, the renovation of the shop proceeded in full swing. With Bai Qingzhou’s experience in running a business and Meng Li’s expertise in artifact refinement, the brand-new garment shop was fully prepared within just a few days.

First, the wooden partition in the middle of the shop was torn down. The various shelves from the former herb shop on the left were sold off, and the remaining herbs were cleared out at a discount to fellow herbalists. Once opened up, the shop formed one large storefront. The wall panels were replaced with Red Sandalwood, which contained traces of spiritual energy, giving the interior a softer and more refined appearance.

In the center of the shop stood a large counter. Behind it, several finished magical robes were displayed on the wall, while wooden racks were installed along the side walls for hanging garments. Scattered in the middle were various materials for robes and a few wooden mannequins. As everything was brand new, the entire shop looked exceptionally exquisite.

A new plaque was hung above the entrance, bearing the name "Fine Garment Shop."

"Junior Sister Meng, from now on, you shall handle the crafting of the robes, and I will take care of the sales," Bai Qingzhou said, surveying the new shop with a broad smile.

Hearing this, Meng Li seemed to recall something; she lowered her head to hide a smile before whispering, "That goes without saying..."

"If you ever run short on materials, just tell me, and I’ll go out and procure them," Bai Qingzhou said, patting his chest.

"All right," Meng Li replied, her eyes curving into crescents.

...

Bai Qingzhou sat before the counter and carefully tallied the spiritual stones remaining in his storage pouch. He discovered that his savings had dwindled to just over three hundred stones.

"Sigh, money truly flows like water..."

Not counting the Yellow-grade high-tier "White Sand Sword" he had purchased back at the Water Camp Market, the expenses for relocating and setting up the new shop here at the Fire Camp alone had already exceeded one hundred spiritual stones.

During the preparation phase, an artifact shop required far more equipment than a meat shop, including furnaces and various raw materials. Moreover, to ensure Meng Li could focus on her crafting with peace of mind, Bai Qingzhou had insisted on purchasing high-quality supplies.

Bai Qingzhou put away his storage pouch and looked out the door. Meng Li was currently in the backyard refining artifacts, while he sat at the counter, waiting for customers. However, as it was the first day of business and they lacked name recognition, he waited for an entire hour without a single person coming in to inquire about prices.

This made his heart flutter with uncertainty. Could it be that no one would come?

"Artifact shops are not uncommon in the market, unlike the meat shop, which was the only one of its kind and could maintain a monopoly..." Bai Qingzhou mused to himself.

Just as he was lost in thought, a female cultivator timidly asked from the doorway, "Is this a newly opened garment shop?"

Bai Qingzhou’s face lit up. He hurried out from behind the counter and asked politely, "Fellow Daoist, please, come in! Our shop has just opened. Is there anything you are looking for?"

The female cultivator looked at Bai Qingzhou’s face and paused, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. She murmured, "I... I’m just looking around."

Bai Qingzhou immediately recognized that she was a mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivator with an introverted personality. He took the initiative, saying, "Would you like me to introduce some of our items to you?"

"Yes, I would like to buy a better quality robe..." the female cultivator said softly, keeping her head bowed.

"Follow me, fellow Daoist!" Bai Qingzhou led the way to the right wall. After a careful look, he pointed to a light blue robe and said, "What do you think of this one? This light blue color suits your temperament perfectly. It is also enchanted with two arrays: one for automatic cleaning and another for wind resistance, which is quite convenient for daily life. Why don't you take a look?"

Hearing this, the female cultivator looked up and her eyes brightened. She stepped forward to touch the fabric, and after a moment, asked softly, "And how much does this robe cost?"

Bai Qingzhou glanced at her cautiously and smiled slowly. "This robe is of top-tier quality among Yellow-grade low-tier artifacts, so it is priced at eleven spiritual stones."

The female cultivator looked hesitant. "Although it looks quite good, it feels a bit expensive..."

"No matter," Bai Qingzhou said with a smile, continuing, "Since we just opened today, we have a special discount. If you purchase it now, it will only be nine spiritual stones."

"Is that true?" Her face lit up with delight.

"Naturally!"

The female cultivator thought for a moment, looking at the robe hanging on the wall; it was truly to her liking. After some deliberation, she said, "Very well, I will take it..."

"Excellent!" Bai Qingzhou agreed readily, smiling, "I shall wrap it up for you."

"Thank you..."

Bai Qingzhou took down the light blue robe, walked back to the counter, packed it carefully in a special cloth bag, and handed it to her.

"We welcome you to visit again, fellow Daoist!" Bai Qingzhou said happily as he accepted the spiritual stones.

"Thank you, sorry for the trouble," the female cultivator said, bowing respectfully before turning to leave.

Watching her retreat and looking down at the stones in his hand, Bai Qingzhou felt a surge of joy. By this calculation, selling a single robe earned him a profit of five stones—equal to two days of revenue from the meat shop.

With the first customer out of the way, Bai Qingzhou felt more at ease and waited quietly for others. However, unlike meat, artifacts were not daily necessities. After that first sale, he found himself idle once more, with no other customers entering.

A while later, Meng Li emerged from the backyard.

"Senior Brother!" Meng Li greeted him with a smile. "How is it? Any business?"

Bai Qingzhou nodded, grinning. "Yes! I just sold a robe and made six spiritual stones!"

Meng Li’s face beamed with joy. "That is wonderful!"

"Indeed..." Bai Qingzhou looked at Meng Li, whose hands were covered in soot and whose clothes were dusted with ash. His heart ached slightly, and he asked, "Junior Sister, have you finished refining the robe?"

"Yes!" Meng Li said chirpily, "That’s why I came out to take a break."

"Don't overwork yourself, Junior Sister. Remember to rest!" Bai Qingzhou said with concern.

Feeling the warmth in his gaze, Meng Li lowered her head, her heart brimming with sweetness, as if it had been coated in honey. "Don't worry, Senior Brother, I will take care."

"That's good!"

The two sat together, chatting idly as they waited for customers. The setting sun flowed through the doorway, casting its glow upon them, filling the room with a sense of warmth. Meng Li stole a glance at Bai Qingzhou’s refined jawline, and a tender feeling blossomed in her heart, spreading rapidly.

"If only it could always be like this..."