Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 90

When Lin You exits the lounge, his mind is a whirl of mixed emotions. But the moment he steps out, he sees Zhao Kuo still sitting on the sofa, clutching a now-cold cup of tea, staring blankly at the shelves.

“Brother Zhao,” Lin You composes himself and smiles as he walks over.

Zhao Kuo quickly stands, asking quietly, “Is… is the immortal here? S-should I go pay my respects?”

Lin You shakes his head slightly. “That’s not necessary. If the Lord Immortal doesn’t ask to see you, then he doesn’t intend to.”

Zhao Kuo feels both relieved and disappointed. He asks softly, “These things on the shelves…”

Only then does Lin You remember. He smiles and says, “Feel free to browse, Brother Zhao. If you have something suitable for trade, you may exchange for anything here. The immortal is kind and won’t mind.”

Zhao Kuo’s eyes go wide. He suddenly stands and turns to Cao’er. “Truly?”

Cao’er nods. “Young Master Lin is right.”

Zhao Kuo strides forward with large steps, immensely curious about the items on the shelves. Fortunately, Cao’er is with him, carefully explaining the function of each product.

“This is an electric fan, used to cool off. It works over there.” Cao’er leads Zhao Kuo to stand in front of the fan.

Zhao Kuo stares at the continuously spinning blades, his face flushed with excitement. “This thing can spin on its own without manpower or wind!”

Cao’er explains, “But it requires electricity. If you take it back with you, you won’t be able to use it.”

Zhao Kuo pauses, then asks, “What is electricity? The power of lightning? How can lightning be used by people?”

Cao’er doesn’t understand either, so she asks him to wait a moment and calls Feng Ling over to explain.

After thinking for a moment, Feng Ling says, “Wind, water, and electricity—all are forces of nature. The first two can be harnessed by humans, so of course electricity can too. It just requires more intermediaries.”

Zhao Kuo asks, “What intermediaries? Can ordinary people use it?”

Feng Ling replies, “Ordinary people can use it, but…”

She then patiently explains the basic principles of electricity to Zhao Kuo.

He listens with a bewildered expression—he doesn’t understand any of it, only thinks it’s incredible.

“Rather than asking about electricity, you should be asking about steam. Compared to electricity, steam is something you’re more likely to be able to utilize.”

Lin You, who is also listening nearby, shows more interest in steam than electricity. With no other choice, Feng Ling begins a small lecture.

The earliest steam engines aren’t overly complex in terms of technology. For this era, it might be difficult, but the challenges are definitely surmountable. Feng Ling even draws schematics and hands them over.

As Lin You accepts them, he hesitates for a long moment and then asks, “May I ask where the Fairy comes from?”

It’s just that Feng Ling really doesn’t seem like a woman from the Daliang dynasty.

Feng Ling thinks for a moment. “A hundred years later, maybe a thousand. I’m not sure myself.”

Lin You and Zhao Kuo both stare at her in disbelief.

Finally, Cao’er can’t hold back and says, “Feng Ling is from one of the Three Thousand Worlds. Where she lives, there are towering buildings, street lamps powered by electricity, and iron carts that need no ox or horse—just press the gas pedal, and they move on their own!”

She says it all in one breath, then clamps her mouth shut.

Feng Ling smiles and says, “Just like what she said.”

Lin You’s lips move, and he stammers, “This is really… really…”

Feng Ling says, “We don’t have an emperor, no nobles, and no aristocratic families.”

Lin You asks, puzzled, “Who governs the country?”

Feng Ling replies, “Of course, it’s the officials, but they’re all selected through examinations and cannot inherit their positions. The country’s top leaders are also voted in by ordinary people. It depends on their political achievements and reputation. They’re elected every five years.”

Lin You and Zhao Kuo are both stunned. They never expect it to be like this.

Feng Ling is surprised. “The emperor is just one person. This person may be wise, but wisdom may only last for a period of time. He himself can’t guarantee it, so how can he guarantee it for his descendants? Isn’t it terrible to entrust the fate of a country to just one person?”

Lin You smiles bitterly. “That’s the truth.”

Zhao Kuo’s beliefs are shattered, and he mutters vaguely, “His Majesty has the mandate of heaven and the protection of heaven, so his descendants should also be wise.”

Feng Ling says, “Then how did the king of the fallen country come to be? Did the empress in the palace cheat on the emperor?”

Lin You and Zhao Kuo’s faces change.

Feng Ling realizes that the topic might be sensitive and decides not to continue. It’s probably best not to discuss such matters further.

Zhao Kuo finally exchanges some small items, mainly because they only have two horses and still need to suppress bandits later, so they can’t take large things.

Feng Ling takes what Zhao Kuo hands over—a jade pendant and a jade ring.

Zhao Kuo feels a little ashamed. “I really didn’t bring much.”

Feng Ling scans the items with a barcode scanner. After seeing the price, she smiles at Zhao Kuo. “It’s enough. You can pick out a few more things.”

Zhao Kuo hurriedly says, “No, no, no, this is enough. I’m not greedy.”

Feng Ling advises, “I don’t know when the Lord Immortal will come next time. It could be decades later, or even a hundred years.”

Zhao Kuo glances at Lin You, who sighs faintly. “It’s been twenty years since I last came here. Aunt Li and the others haven’t changed a bit…”

Zhao Kuo swallows hard, but quickly thinks of his parents, wives, and children back home. If it really doesn’t work out, he’ll ask the Lord Immortal to take him as a disciple. After all, without him, how would his entire family—wives, children, and elderly—survive in these troubled times?

The temptation of immortality is overwhelming, but Zhao Kuo forces himself not to dwell on it.

Zhao Kuo exchanges a snakeskin bag to hold the items he has traded for. He not only takes a telescope but also a flashlight and a children’s walkie-talkie—these three things are the most useful to him. He also picks up some dry food and handicrafts, along with earrings and necklaces. The snakeskin bag is filled to the brim.

Lin You also exchanges a jade hairpin for a telescope but doesn’t take anything else.

Originally, Ye Zhou intends for Lin You to take Wu Yan and the others with him, but after thinking it through, he realizes that Lin You and the others are heading out to suppress bandits. No matter what happens, there will inevitably be conflict between the two sides. Wu Yan and his wife have a baby, so it isn’t suitable for them to travel together.

But waiting for Lin You to return? That isn’t very reliable. No one knows how long it’ll take to suppress the bandits.

In ancient times, wars can last anywhere from a few months to several years, or even more than a decade. As long as both sides have supplies, they can remain in a stalemate for a long time. Unless there’s a vast difference in strength, a quick victory is a fool’s dream.

Ye Zhou can only call Wu Yan and his wife over. “Do you want to stay here, or come with me first, and return after this place stabilizes and there’s no war?”

Wu Yan and his wife exchange glances, undecided.

They have a child with them. Even though the Lord Immortal is willing to provide them with money and food, it would still be difficult for Wu Yan, a strong man, to protect them.

But they have begged to return to the Daliang Dynasty. If they don’t stay, it would feel like betraying the Lord Immortal.

The couple stands in silence before Ye Zhou. Wu Yan speaks hesitantly, “Please make a decision for us, immortal.”

Ye Zhou thinks about it. After all, they’re his employees and have worked for him for so long. He doesn’t want them to take unnecessary risks. “It’s not good for you to stay. Why not stay with me for a while?”

There’s a time difference between the two sides. Maybe when they come back, the Daliang Dynasty will have returned to peace.

Wu Yan and his wife breathe a sigh of relief—they want their child to grow up, but they haven’t planned to risk their lives. Compared to that, having the child remain a baby for a few more months isn’t a big deal.

Seeing their expressions, Ye Zhou knows his decision is the right one.

He just hopes that Lin You won’t die on the way to suppress the bandits and that he can escort Wu Yan. Otherwise, Ye Zhou wouldn’t dare let Wu Yan open a branch here. Without protection from the powerful, giving Wu Yan more guns wouldn’t help.

After leaving the supermarket, Lin You and Zhao Kuo lead the horse. Zhao Kuo places the snakeskin bag on the horse’s back. They don’t speak along the way until they return to the main road. Lin You climbs onto his horse and watches Zhao Kuo holding the snakeskin bag in front of him.

Zhao Kuo finally can’t help asking, “Master Lin, do you think what Fairy said is true or false?”

Lin You smiles. “Of course it’s true. Why would she make up lies to deceive us?”

He still holds the steam engine blueprint Feng Ling has given him. She has told him that creating something from scratch is the hardest part, but once it exists, it’s easy to improve. There will always be smart people who can figure out how it works.

Zhao Kuo still can’t believe it. “If there is no emperor, how can the world remain stable? How would we deal with corrupt officials?”

Lin You says, “Don’t think too much about it. The immortal didn’t tell me all that. You know—it’s a matter of a hundred years in the future. You can’t just force it to apply now. Let’s go quickly. We’ve been delayed for so long. I don’t know if we’ll catch up before dark.”

Lin You squeezes his horse’s belly, raises the whip, and yellow sand flies in every direction. Lin You rides off.

Zhao Kuo looks down at the snakeskin bag on his chest, takes a deep breath, and quickens his pace.

Lin You rides on ahead, turning his head to look back at the direction of the supermarket.

He has waited twenty years to see the Lord Immortal again.

He doesn’t know when they’ll meet again.

Maybe he’ll be very old by then.

But the Lord Immortal will remain eternally young and unchanged.