Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 90

Things remain the same, but people change—this is the only thought that comes to Ye Zhou’s mind when he sees Lin You.

Lin You has grown old—not in appearance, but in demeanor. The confusion of his youth has vanished from his face, but so has his sharpness. He now resembles an old man nearing the end of his life, becoming mellow.

Even weak.

He bows three times and kowtows nine times to Ye Zhou, more sincere and respectful than he ever is in his youth. Perhaps, having witnessed the impotence of human power, he has come to place more trust in the power of immortals.

“Save the world?” Ye Zhou says calmly, holding a cup of tea. After traversing three planes, the weight of such words no longer affects him. He gazes at Lin You, who is crying while speaking, and says with an indifferent tone, “Things that have rotted to the core are beyond saving.”

Lin You stops crying and looks up, his eyes empty, as if he has returned to his youth.

Ye Zhou continues, “If something is poisoned, you scrape the bone to cure the poison. But when something is already rotten, what’s the point of saving it?”

Lin You, in his confusion, asks, “Is The Lord Immortal talking about… changing the dynasty?”

This thought has never crossed Lin You’s mind. He has always believed that no matter who is on the throne, a minister must remain loyal to the monarch and the country. He wants to save the people, but he doesn’t want to be branded a traitor, leaving behind a name of infamy in history books.

He wants to be a loyal and pure minister, but now The Lord Immortal says… there is no need to save it.

Looking at Lin You’s blank expression, Ye Zhou feels a tinge of reluctance, but he carries on, “Changing dynasties is natural. Mortals chant ‘long live the emperor,’ but who can live to be ten thousand years old? It’s merely a wish during prosperous times. What’s the difference between a person and a country? People are born, grow old, get sick, and die, and the same goes for countries.”

Lin You kneels on the ground, his legs crumpling beneath him, as if he has lost all strength. His eyes are dull, fixed on the floor.

Ye Zhou adds, “You should also think about what a country is. Is it the tens of millions of people? The royal family in the palace? Or the nobles who have been passed down for generations? You want to save the world, but who exactly do you want to save?”

These words ring out like the tolling of a bell in Lin You’s ears, shaking him to his core. It’s as if a strong wind has blown away the fog in his mind, like a sharp blade peeling away his self-deceiving shell.

Lin You kneels, exhausted. Half of his body feels cold, the other half burns with heat. The pull of opposing forces leaves him in torment.

“Look,” Ye Zhou says, “in the end, you don’t want to save the world either. You want to preserve secular power, and the people are just an afterthought. If you can’t see this, then no one can save you.”

As a child of the aristocracy, Lin You is still bound by the marks of class. If he truly wants to save the world, he must first break free from his identity as an aristocrat. If he is to wield a knife, it has to be aimed not just at those outside his class, but also at those within it.

Ye Zhou says softly, “I cannot help you.”

“Yes… it’s Lin… self-righteous, blinded by one leaf…” Lin You raises his head, tears filling his eyes, but his gaze is resolute, the sharpness of his youth seeming to return to his eyes.

Now, Ye Zhou is willing to speak to him again.

“The immortal is speaking with him,” Cao’er Niang says as she hands a cup of tea to the man. He doesn’t dare enter the supermarket, but after seeing Lin You go in, he stands at the door, unsure of what to do. It is Cao’er Niang who, seeing that he appears restrained and clear-eyed—nothing like a bad person—invites him inside.

However, she has Wu Yan watch over the man, ready to draw his gun if anything goes wrong, not giving the man any chance to fight back.

The man, stunned, takes the tea offered by Cao’er Niang. The paper cup feels weightless in his hand, but it caves in slightly without breaking, and the tea inside does not spill.

Since arriving, the man has been alternating between shock and fear.

Is this an immortal’s cave or a monster’s lair?

Is this seemingly kind old woman really human?

He hears Lin You call her Aunt Li, so he hesitantly asks, “Excuse me, Fairy, where is this place?”

When Cao’er Niang hears the word “Fairy,” she smiles warmly, finding the young man particularly pleasant. “This is The Lord Immortal’s Dwelling,” she replies.

The man sits on the sofa, feeling uncomfortable. The chair is soft but supports him in a way that doesn’t let him sink into it. The tea in his hand gives off a pleasant fragrance.

Out of respect, he speaks more carefully, “Are my master and The Lord Immortal… old acquaintances?”

Cao’er Niang thinks about it for a moment before answering, “Indeed, they are old acquaintances, though Master Lin was still young back then.” She sighs softly, adding, “It’s been twenty years.”

She herself finds it strange. It has only been a few months since her last visit, and in that time, the world has changed. Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye. This feels like the beginning of a new era.

Cao’er Niang gazes at the man for a moment before asking, “What’s your name, warrior?”

The man replies, “My surname is Zhao—Zhao Kuo.”

He doesn’t dare mention his official position; in The Lord Immortal’s cave, mortal titles seem insignificant.

Zhao Kuo glances around the “dwelling.” Everything here feels dreamlike. Shelves filled with unfamiliar objects line the walls, and the light above is brighter than the sunlight outside.

Yet the people here… don’t seem like immortals or their children. They are no different from ordinary mortals.

Zhao Kuo is filled with questions but doesn’t dare ask. He sits still, his mind a whirlwind of confusion, unable to grasp a single thread of understanding.

Suddenly, Cao’er Niang speaks again, “Sir, there’s no need to look around. We are indeed mortals. We were saved by The Lord Immortal and followed them to the three thousand small worlds.”

Zhao Kuo’s eyes widen in shock. “Three thousand worlds…”

Cao’er Niang nods. “Are you hungry? Would you like to eat something?”

Zhao Kuo quickly waves his hand, his appetite completely gone. “No, no, I’m not hungry.”

Cao’er Niang winks at Cao’er, signaling her to keep watch over the man, then turns and waits at the break room door.

Cao’er’s hair has grown to her chest. Though her face has remained the same, her temperament has changed. Now free from the daily grind, her skin has grown fairer. Though she is still far from a beauty, her aura is extraordinary.

Cao’er doesn’t pay attention to Zhao Kuo. She has learned to speak little, reserving her words for her sister.

Just then, Sarah, returning from the seasoning area with a bag of dried chilies, walks toward them. Seeing Zhao Kuo, she raises an eyebrow. “Someone came so soon?”

Wu Yan replies, “It’s Master Lin.”

Sarah pauses for a moment, her mind trying to place who Master Lin is. The last four hundred years have made her forget many things.

But she nods as though she knows exactly who he is. “Ah, it’s him.”

Zhao Kuo nearly falls off the sofa upon seeing Sarah. He tries not to show his shock, but his heart races. Blonde hair and red eyes are common among the Hu people, but Sarah’s unusual red pupils are something even the most knowledgeable individuals have never seen.

“Don’t panic, brave man,” Cao’er whispers to him. “She is a monster enlightened by The Lord Immortal. She means no harm.”

“M-Monster?” Zhao Kuo trembles inside but forces a smile. “No wonder… she doesn’t resemble mortals.”

Cao’er gives him a sympathetic look.

When she first saw Sarah, she even held a knife to her throat.

Now that she thinks about it, she can’t believe she had the guts. Considering all the people Sarah has killed since, she can only thank her sister again and again for sparing her.

Inside the lounge, Ye Zhou lounges on the sofa, eyes closed, speaking to Lin You.

“Does the Lord Immortal still remember Zhao’er and the others?” Lin You mentions old acquaintances. “After returning to the south, they didn’t reopen the escort agency. They bought land and now live comfortably.”

Ye Zhou nods slightly, but without emotion. “Is that so? That’s good.”

Lin You continues, “This time, I’ve come to suppress the Huang bandits. They’ve chosen a new leader named Yang Zhi, who claims to have met an immortal and bears a divine mandate. He’s raised a banner, declaring a change of heavens…”

Yang Zhi? Ye Zhou thinks for a moment, finally recalling, “That guy?”

Hearing Ye Zhou’s tone, Lin You knows Yang Zhi did meet him. He cautiously asks, “What does the Lord Immortal think—does he have the aura of an emperor?”

Ye Zhou never actually sees Yang Zhi. He only remembers the name—Yang Zhi once came to buy horses. Yes… the man also gave him quite a bit in return, helping him through a rough patch.

But to Ye Zhou, he’s just a name. So he replies, “He was in danger that day. I only had someone help him. I never saw him in person.”

Lin You lowers his eyes. “He now commands great influence in the north. He’s established his own court and seeks to rule the land.”

Ye Zhou chuckles. He hasn’t expected that the bandit who once bought horses from him would now aspire to kingship and come this far.

“I’ve come today to destroy this northern court,” says Lin You, still thinking he’s in the right.

He’s loyal to the state. To serve it, he must punish evil. But if dynastic change is natural as the immortal says, then what is the point of suppressing bandits? Would a new emperor really be worse than the current one?

Ye Zhou says, “If that’s the case, go then.”

Lin You asks, “Does the immortal believe Lin should suppress the bandits?”

Still with eyes closed, Ye Zhou says, “Better to go and see with your own eyes. See how the people under his rule are living. The distinction between good and evil is simple—if the people live well, it is good. If they suffer, it is evil. Everything else is just distraction.”

Lin You straightens his robes and kneels again, head touching the floor. “Thank you for your guidance, immortal.”

Lin You is not a man of grand ambition. He worries too much, can’t rebel, can’t defy his class. He’s like a small boat drifting in chaotic waters—eager to save others, but without the heart of iron to do so.

The kind should not command troops. The righteous should not manage money. The emotional should not lead. The virtuous should not govern.

Good traits in the wrong place lead to ruin.

How can a hesitant man save anyone?

Ye Zhou hasn’t noticed it before. But now he sees—Lin You is not fit to steer the ship.

He doesn’t let Lin You stay to rest. He asks Aunt Cao to escort him out and, for old times’ sake, has her pack some instant food for him.

As Lin You is about to leave, he asks, “Did Heaven send the Lord Immortal down to change the dynasty?”

Ye Zhou shakes his head. “No. The change of dynasties is natural. My descent is also natural. All is natural.”

Lin You bows three more times before finally leaving.