Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 79

After staying on the cliff for a few days, Ye Zhou draws a map of the area and figures out a clear picture of the local power structure.

The highest leader is the lord, who can be considered the emperor of this small piece of land. Within his own territory, he has complete autonomy. Because the land is barren and the lord is very poor, he doesn’t have to pay taxes to the royal family.

—Because the king is a good man.

It’s true, even Ye Zhou finds it hard to believe.

The king is well-known as a benevolent ruler. Essentially, as long as someone is pitiful enough and writes a few pleading letters, the king exempts them from taxes. As a result, the lords have a lot of freedom. They aren’t particularly afraid of the king and often take advantage of his kindness.

Beneath the lord is the butler, who can participate in politics, manage the lord’s property, and remain in position for life—unless the lord decides to replace him.

Next are the personal attendants, usually just one, but if the lord has too many duties, there could be two. Male servants can also get involved in politics, but their influence is minimal, and their role in managing the territory is secondary to that of the butler.

Below them are the stewards, ordinary servants, civilians, and slaves.

While the system seems simple, the hierarchy is clear.

Ye Zhou also gets a better understanding of what Kurt is like. He only asks one question, and Kurt shares everything with him.

Kurt can’t really be called a witch doctor. Though he was a witch boy as a child, he didn’t do much beyond following the witch doctor around and scamming people. As an adult, he sets up his own business, using the same tricks. He’s now 26 years old, and his white hair and beard are self-dyed. This is the only “real talent” he learns from the witch doctor.

However, this talent doesn’t make him any money; it’s only good for scamming people.

Ye Zhou thinks Kurt won’t tell him the truth, because it’s obvious from one look that Kurt is full of schemes. While most people try to gain something from a “god,” Kurt wants to use the identity of a “divine emissary” to go out and swindle others.

But this kind of person is actually easier to manipulate and recruit—just one glass bird is enough.

Since Kurt already understands his intention, Ye Zhou leaves without any hesitation—he wants to return to the supermarket, get some proper rest, and see whether the dimensional box Chen Shu mentioned has unlocked.

“Lord Moon God has returned to the temple,” Kurt tells Ryan. “He’s gone back to check on the divine servants.”

He sighs. “Lord Moon God is so kind that even the servants worry about what dangers they might face when he’s gone.”

Ryan wants to ask, “What dangers can there be in living in the temple?” but holds his tongue, instead praising Kurt’s words. “Lord Moon God is like this, and everyone knows his kindness.”

“When will Lord Moon God come again?” Ryan asks cautiously.

Kurt shakes his head and pretends to be mysterious. “Lord Moon God doesn’t tell me these things, but he will definitely return. As for when… it could be tomorrow, ten days from now, or even ten years later. But even if Lord Moon God doesn’t come back in the next few days, your piety shouldn’t change, right?” Kurt asks.

Ryan immediately swears, “Of course not! Lord Moon God is my father in heaven! How could I lose my piety just because my father is occasionally away?”

Kurt feels reassured.

At least while Lord Moon God is here, Kurt can stay and eat and drink for free.

He’s a conman, always on the move, needing to flee before those he cheats catch on. He’s long wanted to settle somewhere, but survival is his only skill. If he stays in one place and can’t scam people, he won’t be able to find a job or even enough food to survive.

Only under the name of The Moon God can he stay here.

Kurt remembers the look The Moon God gives him.

It’s the night Ryan offers wine, money, and food, and The Moon God calls him over again.

And this time, he finally sees The Moon God’s face clearly.

It isn’t like theirs—though it also has two eyes and a nose, it’s just… different.

But Kurt isn’t surprised. It makes sense that gods and humans look different. If they looked identical, he’d be shocked.

What makes his skin crawl when he thinks about it is Lord Moon God’s eyes. Those dark eyes are filled with divine light. When Lord Moon God looks at him, it feels as though everything about him, even his soul, is exposed and seen through.

His clever tongue can’t spin lies anymore. Whatever Lord Moon God asks, Kurt blurts it out without even thinking.

This is divine power, Kurt thinks with a mix of awe and relief.

However, the Moon God doesn’t take the tribute offered by the lord.

Instead, he says he’ll leave it for now and collect it when he returns.

Kurt hopes that The Moon God will stay here forever, and that he can serve him his entire life. After he dies, he imagines being taken to the temple. This is the best future he can hope for.

The way back isn’t difficult. Ye Zhou has already walked the path once, so the return trip is faster.

The only problems are the basics: eating, sleeping, and—most torturous of all—going to the toilet.

Every time he needs to relieve himself, he has to tell Chen Shu and Zou Ming, then find a secluded spot on his own.

At first, Ye Zhou is embarrassed about it, but now it doesn’t bother him at all. After all, Chen Shu and Zou Ming are in the same situation.

They’re all just mortals and can understand each other’s needs—no one here is a spirit drinking dew and living off air.

When Ye Zhou sees the supermarket in the distance, he finally sighs in relief. His only thought now is to return, take a bath, and sleep in a comfortable bed.

When they were on the cliff, they could only wash in the streams and ponds in the woods, and they didn’t bring many clothes to change into. Ye Zhou doesn’t even dare use shampoo in order to avoid polluting the environment.

However, to be safe, they use a telescope to observe the area around the supermarket before approaching the door.

Once they confirm everything is normal and people are walking around inside, Ye Zhou and his team make their way over.

As soon as they reach the glass door, the employees see them and immediately come to greet them.

“Lord Immortal!” Wu Yan smiles so widely his mouth almost reaches his ears. He looks Ye Zhou up and down with bright eyes. After confirming that Ye Zhou isn’t injured, he sighs in relief and says, “You’re finally back!”

Cao’er Niang even sheds a few tears of joy. She has never been apart from The Lord Immortal since he saved her and took her in.

Before Ye Zhou can say anything, he sees many employees quietly crying.

They don’t dare cry out loud, but their tears speak volumes.

If Ye Zhou isn’t so tired, he might be touched. But instead, he forces a smile and tries to comfort them, “Don’t worry. I’m fine.”

The employees all know that immortals come to the world in mortal bodies, meaning they can get hurt, get sick, and even die. As a result, everyone treats Ye Zhou as though he’s made of glass, as if he’ll break at the slightest incident.

The children, probably having overheard their parents’ concerns, are no longer afraid when they see Ye Zhou. Some of them even rush over, hugging his legs and crying, while others who can’t reach him sit on the ground, crying as well.

After Ye Zhou manages to calm the adults, he turns his attention to the children.

“Lord Immortal, the red-haired monster, the one called Kane…” Wu Yan says as Ye Zhou is comforting the children. “He’s fine now.”

Ye Zhou nods, signaling that he’s listening, and Wu Yan continues, “He wants to stay.”

Ye Zhou is taken aback. If this is before, he might agree to let Kane stay. But now, he has more pressing matters. “I’ll rest today. Ask him to come see me tomorrow. I have something to discuss with him.” He then picks up a little girl and asks, “Do you want some candy?”

The girl, with tears and snot on her face, nods eagerly at the mention of candy. “Candy!”

Ye Zhou smiles. “Let’s go, I’ll get you some. Do you want fruit candy or cotton candy?”

The little girl thinks for a moment before saying shrewdly, “Both.”

Ye Zhou chuckles. “Alright, I’ll get you a bag of both.”

The other children, having heard the conversation, follow behind Ye Zhou, pleading in soft voices, “Lord Immortal, I want some candy too.”

The parents rarely exchange their wages for candy. They used to do so often, but then Sarah tells them that too much candy would ruin the children’s teeth, so they stop. Now, they only allow small amounts as a treat when they can’t bear the children’s pleading anymore.

Ye Zhou doesn’t know about this restriction. When he finds out later, he just laughs it off. After all, the two bags of candy are eventually tucked away by the parents.

After reassuring the children, Ye Zhou heads straight to the bathroom. He spends half an hour taking a bath and trimming his hair.

If you can’t find a barber shop, you have to rely on yourself.

When he emerges with a bath towel around his waist, he sees Zou Ming, who has removed his shirt and is about to head into the bathroom.

“Do you want a haircut? Need help?” Ye Zhou asks, holding up a pair of scissors. “I’m not bragging, but I think I’m pretty good at it. If I didn’t run a supermarket, I’d probably open a barber shop.”

His hairstyle is simple and doesn’t require much skill to trim—just as long as it doesn’t end up looking like a dog’s chew toy.

Zou Ming’s hairstyle is also simple, just a little longer than a buzz cut, though it doesn’t grow much beyond that.

Ye Zhou recalls something his friends once said about him: that he can pull off any style because he’s handsome. Ugly people like them have to make an effort to modify their appearance with hairstyles. If you don’t have a good-looking face, you at least need a good hairstyle. Otherwise, you’re ugly in every way and won’t be able to find a girlfriend.

“Sure,” Zou Ming replies simply. “When do you want to cut it? Before or after washing?”

Ye Zhou grins. “Before washing. Let’s do it in the bathroom, so the hair doesn’t scatter all over the floor and make it hard to clean.”

The two of them enter the bathroom. Ye Zhou, still wrapped in a bath towel, stands at about the same height as Zou Ming, so Zou Ming doesn’t need to sit down. Ye Zhou starts by trimming the hair near Zou Ming’s ears, and when he needs to cut the top of his head, he stands on tiptoe to reach.

Zou Ming’s hair is very black and coarse. Ye Zhou absentmindedly runs his fingers through it and says, “Your hair’s really good. You’ll definitely never go bald.”

After finishing, Ye Zhou “boldly” ruffles Zou Ming’s head.

Zou Ming: “…”

Ye Zhou catches sight of Zou Ming’s stern expression and notices his body stiffening through the mirror. Unable to hold back, he smiles and says, “You know, you’re actually kind of cute.”

The word “cute” doesn’t seem to suit Zou Ming at all.

Then, Ye Zhou watches in amusement as Zou Ming’s ears slowly turn red.

They’re so red that it almost seems like they’re dripping with blood.