Chapter 53: Oh No, Does This Shopkeeper Harbor Ill Intentions?

After flying for a long while, the East Street finally unfolded before his eyes. It was far more bustling than other areas, lined with countless shops and filled with a surging crowd and uproarious noise.

Yun Yi's gaze eventually locked onto a shop named "Liangxin Sundry Store". A dense crowd had already gathered there, forming a long, winding queue in a scene of extraordinary liveliness.

A cacophony of discussions, laughter, and chatter intertwined, painting a vivid picture of everyday life.

Gazing at the bustling crowd outside the Liangxin store, a surge of covert delight welled up in Yun Yi's heart.

"With so many people, this is truly a rare and golden opportunity that allows me to slip into the shop unnoticed and investigate."

Regarding this sundry store named Liangxin, Yun Yi's mind was filled with the unknown and curiosity. He had no idea what kind of rare treasures might be hidden within, nor did he know what manner of formidable figure the proprietor—who dared to establish a demon stronghold right inside a human city—truly was.

Therefore, he decided to seize this chance to observe carefully.

However, a trace of trepidation inevitably lingered in his heart.

After all, for the proprietor to be so bold as to set up a demon stronghold on human territory, their cultivation level must be extraordinary—very likely a powerful demon at the Demon Pill stage.

Yun Yi knew all too well that with his minuscule stature and shallow cultivation, once discovered, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Yet, driven by a yearning for the unknown and the desire to seize the initiative, he resolutely made up his mind.

Having settled on a plan, Yun Yi quickly adjusted his posture and glided lightly over the heads of the crowd. Like an imperceptible streak of black lightning, he silently melted into the clamor and bustle.

Though his form was tiny, he appeared exceptionally agile in the air, his wings beating rapidly and powerfully with a faint buzzing sound.

However, amidst the roaring voices and lively commotion both inside and outside the shop, that negligible sound was quickly swallowed by the various noises, leaving everyone oblivious.

In this manner, Yun Yi successfully entered the Liangxin Sundry Store. He began to cautiously weave between the orderly shelves and the bustling customers, searching for an optimal vantage point that would allow him to conceal himself while clearly observing the entire hall.

He nimbly leapt from one shelf to another, resembling an elf bounding among leaves, trying his best not to make the slightest sound so as not to startle the customers busy selecting goods.

When he finally found a satisfactory spot to begin his observation, he discovered that the shop assistants all appeared to be humans. Each of them wore simple linen garments, bustling busily between the shelves and customers while warmly greeting every arriving guest.

A hint of doubt could not help but arise in Yun Yi's heart: "They are all humans? Could it be that only the legendary proprietor is a demon?"

Carrying such doubts, he anxiously began searching for the figure of the proprietor.

He figured that as the master of this place, the proprietor certainly wouldn't wear linen clothes like ordinary assistants, nor would he need to personally greet guests; most likely, he was leisurely sipping tea or tallying accounts in some secluded corner.

Thus, his gaze began to scan everywhere inside the shop, finally locking onto a middle-aged man who looked somewhat like a fox.

This middle-aged man wore luxurious brocaded robes, possessed refined features, and his eyes revealed a shrewd and wise glint as he sat squarely beside a carved wooden table, leisurely clicking the abacus in his hands.

"Is he the proprietor?" Yun Yi guessed inwardly. Just as he was preparing to observe more closely, that fox-like middle-aged man seemed to suddenly sense something, his sharp gaze sweeping toward the direction where Yun Yi was hiding.

At that very instant, Yun Yi felt a wave of chill wash over him, scaring him into hastily vibrating his wings in an attempt to flee this dangerous place.

However, his body felt as though it had been pinned down by an invisible force, completely unable to move.

Yun Yi cursed inwardly, knowing that he might truly have courted trouble this time.

Yet, just as he expected the fox-like middle-aged man to cast some kind of demonic arts upon him, the other party suddenly withdrew that knife-sharp gaze.

The very moment the gaze was retracted, the invisible force that had firmly pinned Yun Yi vanished instantly, granting him his freedom once more.

Just as Yun Yi prepared to seize the chance to escape this perilous location, the fox-like middle-aged man abruptly turned around and walked toward a closed wooden door nearby.

He gently knocked on the doorframe and said in a low voice, "Mr. Qin, please step outside for a moment."

Yun Yi suddenly felt an urge to see what kind of person this "Mr. Qin" mentioned by the proprietor was, and his initial intention to flee vanished.

At that moment, an elderly man well past fifty with a slightly hunched figure slowly walked out from behind the door.

He wore a slightly worn grey robe, a square cloth cap on his head, and held a thick ledger in his hand, evidently acting as an accountant.

This Mr. Qin had a benevolent visage, and his eyes revealed the calmness and wisdom of someone who had weathered the world's vicissitudes, seemingly capable of piercing through human hearts.

He walked up to the proprietor—the fox-like middle-aged man—bowed slightly, and asked in a low and respectful voice, "Master, what are your orders?"

The proprietor smiled faintly, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward to form a mysterious arc, as if concealing countless unexpressed words.

He spoke softly, "I have some personal matters to attend to in my chambers. Step out and help me look after the shop for a while."

His words carried an unquestionable majesty and trust.

Hearing this, Mr. Qin nodded slightly, a trace of respect for the proprietor flashing in his eyes, before stepping toward the counter to take over the proprietor's duties.

Meanwhile, the proprietor turned around and walked with light steps toward the door nearby.

However, just as he was about to cross the threshold, he deliberately paused and cast a burning gaze toward the gap in the shelves where Yun Yi was concealed.

Yun Yi's heart tightened violently. Meeting the proprietor's gaze, which seemed capable of piercing human hearts, he felt as if he had been tightly locked in place by an invisible force.

Yun Yi guessed inwardly: "Is he calling me over? Or... is he testing me?"

This sensation was exceptionally oppressive, making it nearly impossible for him to breathe.

Yet, this was different from the heart-palpitating aura the proprietor had previously emitted, and a wave of inexplicable thoughts welled up in Yun Yi's mind.

On second thought, since the proprietor had not struck at him directly earlier, it perhaps meant he still had a glimmer of survival.

At this thought, Yun Yi's heart stirred. He recalled the jade pendant previously bestowed upon him by the mysterious senior. That pendant emitted a faint, warm glow and seemed to harbor some sort of mysterious power.

Yun Yi rapidly calculated his countermeasure, ripples stirring like a gentle breeze across a lake: "If the proprietor truly attacks me, I will immediately take out the jade pendant and tell him I came here following the instructions of that mysterious senior. Perhaps this jade pendant, imbued with ancient power, can serve as my protective talisman and shield me from harm."

Having made up his mind, Yun Yi took a deep breath, decided to make a desperate gamble, and summoned the courage to follow the proprietor through that mysterious door.

Yet the moment Yun Yi crossed the threshold, a soft creaking sound echoed from behind him. The previously wide-open door quietly closed, as if severing him entirely from the outside world.