Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 131

It is getting dark.

Cao’er begins to feel anxious.

Through the cracks in the wooden window, she sees the sunset. She knows that if it gets any later, the people here will start to act.

Although she still doesn’t know what exactly has happened in this place or what the old woman intends to do with her, she understands clearly that she is in a dangerous environment.

The dwarves who come with her are still clueless. They don’t even want to leave the warmth of the house.

Perhaps it’s because the old woman is also a dwarf, and since these dwarves are traveling as a family, they have absolute trust in their own people and blind confidence in their military strength.

Cao’er chats with the dwarf children and learns that they come from a village about a month’s walk away. Their village is mainly inhabited by dwarves, who live off farming and woodcarving. Life isn’t exactly good, but it isn’t terrible either—they have clothes to wear and don’t go hungry. Still, the dwarf parents are ambitious. They hope their children can learn to read and write.

But they have no money, and no social status.

In this place, those who can read and write are either big merchants or nobles. For common folk, the most feasible way to gain literacy is to get introduced by relatives or friends and enter noble households as servants.

Favored high-level servants are the ones who get to read and write.

The child Cao’er talks to isn’t very articulate. He doesn’t seem bright—maybe due to malnutrition.

Cao’er has to piece together his jumbled words bit by bit before she manages to get a rough idea of what has happened.

There are relatives of this town’s residents in the child’s village. After receiving a letter from here, the family sells their house and rushes over without hesitation. They don’t doubt their relatives. Before leaving, they even tell the villagers they’re going off to live a better life.

The letter paints this town as a paradise.

All races live in harmony. As long as you do a bit of work, you’ll have enough to eat and wear, a large house to live in, and children can attend school. There is no crime, no suffering. Everything sounds perfect—like a gift from the gods to the world.

Most villagers don’t believe it. Some are reluctant to leave their hometown, while others simply think: if such a good place really exists, why would it be open to dwarves?

But this particular dwarf family staying in the house is determined to send their child to school, so they take a chance.

Even so, they aren’t entirely reckless.

They only sold their house, not the land.  If things turn out badly, they can still return and build a simple wooden shack to keep living.

Cao’er finds this a bit funny. They know to leave themselves a way out, yet fail to see the danger that’s right in front of them.

Still, she doesn’t warn them—at least not yet.

She herself hasn’t escaped danger. She can’t afford to have anyone start shouting or making a fuss right now.

The old woman will be back soon. When she comes to open the door, Cao’er has to make a run for it.

If she can avoid using a gun, she won’t use it—firing it will definitely alert the enemy.

Cao’er touches her chin. She actually knows a lot of idioms now.

No one needs to remind her—she already understands: if the enemy remains unaware, they’ll be in the dark while she stays hidden in the light.

But once they are alerted, the roles will be reversed.

Her gun is the last resort.

Cao’er takes a deep breath and keeps encouraging herself. She can do this.

She has been with the Lord Immortal for so long. Sister Chen, Sister Sarah, and Zou Ming have all taught her things. She has even learned some basic first aid.

She can definitely do this.

It is now completely dark.

The last traces of sunlight have vanished. Only the moonlight comes through the window, casting shimmering light across the floor like cold lake water.

Cao’er’s heart pounds in her chest. She doesn’t want to make a scene here.

If the old woman doesn’t come back, she’ll have no choice but to break the door open and flee.

But once she does, the entire town will know someone has escaped.

Finally, footsteps sound outside.

Cao’er breathes a sigh of relief. She bends slightly and places one hand on the knife strapped to her calf.

She isn’t afraid to kill. She has killed before. Now that she is certain the old woman means her harm, she shows no mercy.

During the time she was fleeing for her life, there were so many people worth pitying. If she wasted time feeling sorry for others, who would pity her?

The lock clicks open. In the same instant, Cao’er sprints toward the door.

She is fast. Maybe she picks it up during her many escapes. She isn’t great at fighting, but running away—she’s the best at that.

Before anyone inside or outside can react, she wedges her foot into the narrow gap of the door, stopping it from being closed again. She is stronger than the old woman. After all, the old woman is a dwarf—short and not very strong—while Cao’er has been eating well and exercising regularly.

Cao’er yanks the door open and sees the old woman’s shocked face.

Not wanting to alert the enemy, Cao’er quickly comes up with a flimsy excuse and shouts anxiously, “I lost something on the road—I have to go back and find it!”

Then she dashes out, just as planned. The old woman can’t stop her.

But once she is out in the street, what she sees is not an empty road—but a dense crowd.

It is as if the entire town has come out.

Different races, different heights.

None of them speak. None make a sound.

They just stand there, calmly—almost gently—watching her.

No… they are watching her, and the people inside the house.

“Miss, don’t run.” The old woman shuts the door again, blocking the dwarves’ view. Then she turns to Cao’er with a smile. “Isn’t it nice here?”

Cao’er still remembers her excuse. One hand is already on her gun. She forces herself to look panicked. “My father’s relics… I really lost them. I have to find them!”

But the old woman smiles, clearly not believing her. With all these people outside, even a fool could sense something’s wrong.

“Miss,” the old woman says, looking Cao’er in the eye, “everyone who enters this town becomes part of our family. Tell me what you lost, and I’ll have someone find it for you. It’s too late now. Go rest.”

Cao’er sees she can’t bluff her way out. Her anxious expression vanishes. She looks at the old woman coldly. “What exactly are you people? What is this place? Why are you kidnapping people?”

She imitates Zou Ming’s stern tone—and it actually makes the old woman a little uneasy.

But that hesitation disappears quickly. A young girl—even armed—isn’t a real threat.

The old woman smiles again. “I already told you, this is a good place. As long as you stay obediently, you’ll get a house like this one. You can welcome newcomers like me, and have fresh bread every day.”

Cao’er is stunned.

They don’t want to harm her—instead, they want her to join them.

Why?

She recalls the casual lie she told when she entered the town with the old woman—about her hometown. The old woman’s eyes had lit up, asking how many people lived there, what they did for a living.

Cao’er hasn’t prepared detailed lies, so she mentions people from the Daliang Dynasty.

After all, they aren’t on the same plane—there is no risk of the old woman finding them.

Even if Cao’er returns to Daliang, the old woman can’t track them down.

Since her answer has a real basis, it sounds especially convincing.

The old woman doesn’t believe a girl from some backwater can invent such a complete backstory.

Cao’er loosens her grip on the gun but doesn’t let go. She asks, “Are you serious?”

“Of course,” the old woman replies. “You can even bring your parents and relatives—so long as…”

Cao’er narrows her eyes. “So long as what?”

The old woman suddenly grabs her wrist and leads her down the steps.

Once they are far enough that the dwarves can’t hear, her expression changes.

The kind face disappears. Her voice flattens.

Staring at Cao’er, she says coldly, “As long as you can bring in people from your hometown. Just two a month is enough. Give them the food I give you at dinnertime. Once they fall asleep, someone will come to your house. You won’t need to do anything. Just stay here and live a life you’ve never dreamed of.”

Cao’er frowns. “What kind of life?”

There isn’t even toilet paper here! No TV, no hot pot. What kind of life could this be?

The old woman sees her confusion and smiles again.

“Here, all races are equal. If you need help, just shout on the street—someone will help you. Every day, you’ll get fresh milk and bread. You can go shopping for food and seeds.”

Cao’er asks, “With what money?”

The old woman replies, “Every time someone is taken from your house, you get a silver coin.”

Cao’er frowns deeper. “One silver coin—is that enough?”

“We’re not like the outside,” the old woman says. “Out there, salt costs two silver coins. Here, it’s just two copper coins. You tell me—do you think one silver coin is enough?”

But Cao’er has no idea how many copper coins make a silver coin. She can’t tell if that’s a good deal.

Judging by the old woman’s tone, it probably is.

Cao’er purses her lips. “How can I trust you?”

The old woman looks at her in surprise, as if impressed someone of Cao’er’s intelligence manages to sense something is wrong with the town.

“If I really wanted to do something to you, you wouldn’t have heard any of this.” The moonlight falls across the old woman’s face, making her look eerie and strange. “Run if you want. But you won’t get far. Whether you like it or not, you don’t have a choice.” She pats the back of Cao’er’s hand. “Alright. You don’t have to go back to my house. Someone will take you to yours. I was gone all afternoon because I was arranging a better house for you. When the time comes, you can invite your relatives. But don’t forget me.”

The old woman narrows her eyes and smiles.

After all, she’s already given her own relatives away.