Chapter 498: The Boss is Unexpectedly Not Setting Off?

"Unlock Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, unlock the rights to sell Iced Black Tea."

Where once only cola sat inside the freezer beside the wall cabinet, the moment the rights to sell the iced black tea were unlocked, another translucent, crystal-like glazed bottle with intricate carvings quickly appeared alongside it.

It looked considerably more elegant and high-end than the cola.

Furthermore, the entire bottle was nearly twice the size of a cola bottle.

Fang Qi cast a glance at the system panel: Iced Black Tea, shareable with friends, allowed outside the shop, priced at 30 crystals.

"Hmm?" Owner Fang found it somewhat strange; previously, many of the shop's food items were strictly forbidden from being taken outside, yet this iced black tea could not only be shared with friends but could also leave the shop?

The price was also nearly the most expensive among all the food and beverages, a staggering 30 crystals a bottle! Yet the volume was only twice that of the cola.

Fang Qi took a closer look and noticed that the glazed bottle of this iced black tea actually featured its own unique preservation and temperature-control arrays, which was likely the critical factor.

After all, no matter how delicious cola was, if it was taken out and left for too long, the carbonation would dissipate, and its taste would no longer stimulate the taste buds, rendering it little different from an ordinary beverage; carbonation itself was extremely volatile and difficult to preserve, whereas the iced black tea suffered from no such worries.

...

Gu Tingyun was an old man of placid temperament, having reached such an advanced age that he could easily have been Nalan Hongwu's grandfather; he had long outgrown the years of fighting and killing, preferring to gather a few old friends daily to discuss the Dao and savor tea, and though the modern "Dao" now included many new elements, his life remained largely leisurely and tranquil.

The old man had no vice for alcohol, but he loved tea above all else in life, having had the fortune to taste everything from the Thousand-Year Rain Dragon Tea and Spiritual Flower Tea to even a bit of immortal grade preserved from ancient immortal ruins.

Entering the shop today, he unexpectedly discovered that a new item had appeared on the small blackboard... Iced Black Tea?

"Hmm? Owner, what manner of thing is this iced black tea?"

Owner Fang pointed toward the carved glazed bottle in the freezer that was a size larger than the cola: "That large bottle over there is it."

"The owner sells tea here as well?" Wang Xie, who accompanied him, found it rather peculiar.

More importantly, everyone knew what that cabinet was used for—chilling.

Other people's tea required slow, meticulous fires and gradual brewing; brewing and savoring tea was an exceedingly elegant practice, so what was the meaning of tossing it into a freezer?

"Master, shall we purchase a bottle to try?" Wang Xie asked tentatively.

"Mm!" Gu Tingyun nodded. "Bring a bottle of iced black tea!"

Let us see what this iced tea tastes like!

After paying the money, they quickly fetched a bottle from the freezer, uncorked it, and drew three small, red-sandalwood-colored cups from his robes.

The black-robed Daoist Zhou Mo behind them instantly gasped in surprise: "This is Master's Purple Sand Cloud Dragon Cup, a tea set Master has treasured for many years; Junior Brother, you are blessed!"

At the mention of this, Gu Tingyun felt a touch of pride: "I wonder if this iced black tea is worthy of this old man's tea set."

"Gulp! Gulp!" Just then, a strange sound drifted from nearby.

Turning their heads, they saw a massive white deer sitting on the sofa, cradling a bottle of black tea and drinking in great, ravenous gulps.

"Your Highness, this black tea is simply too delicious! It seems to restore spiritual essence as well, how incredible!"

"Xiao Lingdang, all you know is how to eat, you'll grow fat to death!" With that, Jiang Xiaoyuan also went gulp, gulp, drinking it down.

"A waste of heaven's gifts!"

"Like a cow chewing peonies!"

"No! A deer chewing black tea!"

The three men immediately showed expressions of disdain; who drank tea like that?! Drinking tea in such a manner, how could one ever taste the true essence within?!

Wang Xie aligned the small tea cups in a row, lifted the teapot, and poured back and forth with practiced movements, appearing extremely professional.

"Ah, this tea color is like glazed amber, and though the tea fragrance is subtle, its aftertaste is boundless." Gu Tingyun held the iced black tea and took a gentle sniff. "Excellent tea! To think the shop possesses such fine tea!"

"At the very least, it was brewed from thousand-year spiritual stamens, and I know not what level of mastery the brewer possesses; even when chilled, merely catching a scent makes one feel a surge of spiritual essence, refreshing the mind and relieving fatigue. Wonderful, truly wonderful!"

"Perhaps... it truly is as that little deer said, capable of restoring the spiritual essence within the body?" Wang Xie remarked in astonishment.

"Then when one is fatigued from cultivation, as long as they take a small sip, wouldn't it...?" The black-robed Daoist Zhou Mo rejoiced.

"Mm, this tea may truly benefit your cultivation." Gu Tingyun nodded, then took a small sip, seemingly savoring the nuance within.

"Master, how is it?" the two men asked hurriedly.

"Gulp, gulp—!" He drained it in one go.

The two exchanged a glance: "..."

A minute later.

"Bring two more bottles of iced black tea!"

"Gulp... gulp..."

...

"The owner released a new movie today?!" Jiang Xiaoyuan, sharp-eyed, spotted another good thing.

Perhaps for games, most people could not easily switch back and forth in a short time, but movies were different; after all, it only took two or three hours to finish a movie, and if it was truly something one wished to see, playing two or three fewer hours of games was nothing strange.

As for those who wanted to continue studying the elements within the movie, that was a matter for later; Jiang Xiaoyuan did not concern herself with such things.

"Final Fantasy?" Her large eyes blinked and fluttered, staring intently at the blackboard behind Owner Fang. "Why are the names always so strange...?"

"Owner, are you starting a train today?" Su Tianji's message immediately arrived within the Penguin Communication; clearly, she was extremely proactive regarding such matters.

"Oh... no train for this one, watch it yourselves."

Su Tianji:

"Hmm? Why no train?"

"Is it because it's no good? (Smirk)"

"Reveal a little to Big Sister! (Dumbfounded Husky)"

Owner Fang stretched his limbs, evidently not having been awake for long: "This happens to be a special movie this owner went to great lengths to acquire, this owner wants to watch it alone and has no desire to bring you along."

Purely willful.

"The owner wants to watch it alone?!" Jiang Xiaoyuan, being quite clever, quickly went to activate it, only to find it was considerably more expensive than other movies and games, costing 100 crystals.

"Why is it so expensive?!"

The large white deer also looked on longingly from the side: "So expensive... should I buy it?"

One must know she had already drunk a rather expensive black tea today, and had eaten many snacks.

Peering into the small pouch in her arms, she wanted to buy it yet felt it was too expensive, growing so anxious that tears welled in her eyes.

"There, there~ This princess will watch it first; if it turns out to be good, Xiao Lingdang can watch it after, how about that?"

"And if it's no good...?"

"Then I'll make things look good for that smelly owner!" Jiang Xiaoyuan placed her hands on her hips, looking utterly majestic, only to turn around and see that Owner Fang was already absorbed in the movie, ignoring her entirely.

"Hmph! I'm watching too!" With that, she hurriedly went to watch the movie.

Jiuhua City Shop.

"How did the owner reply?" Several people gathered behind Su Tianji to observe.

"So mysterious, who knows what medicine that brat is selling in his gourd?" Su Tianji felt a bout of frustration.

After pondering for a long time, she grew more and more driven to madness, her curiosity scratching at her heart like a cat: "Whatever! I'll watch it first!"

.