New Guest

The cycle pushed the teacup in front of the boy.

Chen Miemie, in his manifestation as [Huangyi], smiled warmly. “Since you’re already in the shop, there’s no rush. Take your time to speak.”

He meant to come across as friendly, but from the boy’s perspective, the sight of a glowing being made of light particles smiling like that looked like a predator baring its teeth before devouring its prey.

“Ah! Please don’t kill me!” The boy panicked, trying to flee, but his legs gave way from sheer terror, and he couldn’t stand.

“Rude. I’m the owner of this shop, not some man-eating beast.” Chen Miemie dropped his smile.

The boy realized that the glowing humanoid in front of him didn’t seem intent on attacking, and he collected himself.

“Sorry, shopkeeper. I was just scared, so…”

“Mm. Just tell me what you want directly.”

“I want to become stronger!”

Chen Miemie thought: Finally, a normal person. The rawest desires from the depths of a person’s heart should be shouted outright—'I want to be stronger,' 'I want to be richest,' 'I want power,' 'Avenge me.' That’s the most reasonable way.

But he didn’t say that out loud. “Your request is too vague. Stronger? How strong is strong?”

The boy clenched his fists tightly. “I want to be the strongest in the world!”

“Can’t do it.” Chen Miemie refused outright.

“Ah!” The boy was taken aback. “Isn’t this a shop where anything can be achieved?”

“Boy, this shop helps lost people solve their troubles and fulfills guests’ requests within certain limits. It’s not some boundless wish-granting temple. The world’s strongest? Even I wouldn’t dare claim to be the strongest. How could you just say it and have it come true?”

“Oh, oh, sorry. I didn’t express myself clearly. When I said ‘the world,’ it’s just a habit. I meant the strongest within the small circle I live in.”

“Looking at your age, you’re a student, right?”

“Yes, I’m in fourth grade this year.”

“Can I understand that as wanting to become the strongest student in your school in a short period? Or do you want to surpass your teachers, principal, or city administrators?”

“No, no, no need to be stronger than the teachers. Just let me be the strongest student—that’s enough. I don’t want to be bullied anymore.”

“Have some water.”

“Thanks. I don’t know much about tea, but this smells really good.” The boy was indeed a bit thirsty and finished the cup in one gulp.

“From what you just said, can I understand that your real goal isn’t becoming stronger, but that you’re being bullied at school and want to defend your rights and dignity?”

“That’s pretty much it.”

“Guest, do you mind telling me about your situation?”

“Oh, oh, sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Chunhua. My friends call me Hua Zi.

I’m an orphan. Because I was detected with a [Mystery] talent, I got admitted to school, and I even made a good friend there.

Recently, I offended the son of some powerful family at school. He brought people to beat me up twice. Worse than that, he threatened my friend, saying if he kept hanging out with me, he’d beat him too. My friend didn’t listen. He just got beaten up, and worse than me.

I’m not going to take it. I want to fight back for myself and for my friend!”

Chen Miemie hadn’t expected this kid to throw a “school bullying” theme at him.

Dealing with this, though—he was good at it.

Chen Miemie slapped his chest confidently:

“Hua Zi, when it comes to boosting your strength, that takes time. But just solving your problem? I can handle it in no time.

Here’s the plan: I’ll go to your school with you. You quietly point out the ones who bullied you, and I’ll kill them all.

Don’t worry. You won’t have to step in at all. They’ll die in ‘accidents.’ No one will ever trace it back to you.”

Chunhua was startled. “No, no, I didn’t mean to kill them. Actually, I’m partly to blame for the conflict too.”

Chen Miemie waved a hand dismissively: “I don’t care who’s right or wrong. I’m only here to solve your problem. Fighting violence with violence is the most efficient way.”

Chunhua’s heart sank.

This was probably not a legitimate shop.

He had grown up mature for his age, and he wasn’t so softhearted that he’d plead for the bullies. What he feared was making a deal with a tiger. If he enjoyed this “service” and couldn’t pay the price, he’d be worse off than being bullied by those kids.

He came up with a quick excuse: “I—I want to get my revenge myself.”

Chen Miemie agreed readily: “No problem. I’ll knock them out and leave them to you. You can do the deed.”

“No, I mean I want to defeat them with my own skills.”

“What’s your level? What’s theirs?”

“My [Mystery] is 0.8, and my mystery archetype is [Cycle Reduction]. I’m mostly good at setting traps in fights. There are five of them. Three are in my grade, and the other two are in the graduating class this year.

The main guy I’m up against is Luo Lang, from my class. His family values learning and scholarship—a hundred years ago, an academic came from them, and a family member still serves at the Scholars’ Institute now.

One-on-one, face-to-face, I’m no match for him. But if I set up traps in advance, he suffers too. We’ve clashed a few times, both walking away bruised and swollen. Then he started bringing in backup. One of the graduating students is his older brother.”

“What about your friend?”

“Him? He’s got zero combat ability. His ability is a healing-type support.”

“Why did the fight start?”

“Because Luo Lang likes a girl in our class named Bi Yi. Bi Yi finds him annoying, and she’s interested in me. So Luo Lang holds a grudge against me.”

Chen Miemie suddenly lost interest.

Two teenage boys fighting over a girl—such a clichéd story. He didn’t really want to get involved.

“Let me put it plainly: none of you have graduated yet. What seems earth-shattering to you now might disappear like smoke after the final exams.

Of course, I’m not telling you to just endure it.

At your stage, there’s almost no difference in Mystery level. Boosting your strength doesn’t mean much. Numbers, ruthlessness, equipment and items, or family influence—those are what decide the outcome.

From where you stand, you don’t have any advantage. Either go all out and let me handle it, or endure it and accept reality.

As for asking the teachers for help, I’m sure you’ve already tried that. It doesn’t work much.”

Seeing that Chen Miemie was about to kick him out, Chunhua hesitated for a long time before finally confessing:

“Shopkeeper, honestly, even if I can’t beat those guys, I’m not afraid.

I’ve had to rely on myself since I was a kid. I’m tough-skinned, and my friend can heal me. We’re all students at school—they can’t actually kill me.

The reason I want to get stronger is that I’m actually wary of Bi Yi.”

“Wary of her? What’s your relationship with her?”

“Nothing. Strictly speaking, we came from the same orphanage, that’s all.

That fool Luo Lang can’t see it, but I know in my heart: every time we fight, Bi Yi stirs it up on purpose. She’s deliberate.”