Dragon Boat Secret Realm, Part 2

Since the plan to open a branch shop had already been in the works, the accelerated timeline due to the secret realm didn’t throw Su Qing into too much disarray.

The shop was to be located in Tianque City, the nearest and largest intersection of immortal and mortal realms at the foot of Sword Mountain.

Tianque City had two main markets: the East Market and the West Market. @Infinite Good Reads, Only at Jinjiang Literature City

The East Market, though open to mortals, primarily served cultivators. Transactions involved rare items, naturally driving prices sky-high.

To match the lavish spending atmosphere, the streets were built with vermilion towers, emerald pavilions, and ornate beams, exuding opulence. Even small shops selling pills or talismans had exquisitely designed storefronts, radiating wealth and charm.

The West Market, conversely, catered to mortals. It saw massive daily foot traffic but dealt in smaller transactions tied to everyday needs—grain, oil, meat, vegetables, fabrics, leather, bookstores, perfumeries, cosmetics, and food stalls abounded. Though less organized than the East Market, it had a lively, chaotic charm.

Of course, the East Market wasn’t entirely closed to mortal business, nor was the West Market devoid of low-tier cultivators. While their primary customers differed, the two markets weren’t strictly separated like oil and water.

This posed a dilemma for Su Qing.

Her top priority for the shop’s location was high foot traffic. The Tianque City deed office had selected two prime spots, both on major thoroughfares with prominent storefronts and similar floor space. The catch? One was in the East Market, the other in the West.

Both shops met her requirements. The main difference was cost: the East Market shop had higher rent, while the West’s was cheaper. In the East Market’s upscale environment, Su Qing was confident she could raise drink prices to offset the rent, at least breaking even.

Thus, rent wasn’t her primary concern. The real question was whether she wanted to target cultivators or mortals.

Sitting and overthinking wouldn’t help, so Su Qing decided to visit both shops with the deed office’s agent to get professional insights.

The secret realm loomed like a whip at her back. Knowing she couldn’t delay, she carved out a day to visit Tianque City.

Her contact was a middle-aged woman surnamed Qian, known as Madam Qian. Dressed sharply, she was efficient, thorough, and considerate. After a few exchanges, Su Qing grew to trust her.

Madam Qian was slightly surprised by Su Qing. The prime locations she’d chosen came with hefty rents, and she’d pictured Su Qing as a wealthy, ambitious young lady—not this plainly dressed girl.

But years of working in the trade had honed Madam Qian’s ability to mask emotions. Showing no surprise, she warmly offered Su Qing a carriage for convenience, noting that flying swords were banned in the city. Since Su Qing would pay a commission afterward, she accepted without hesitation.

The carriage wasn’t cramped, with a small table holding simple tea and snacks—nothing fancy, but clean and practical for refreshment.

Madam Qian’s attentiveness gave Su Qing a new realization: she was now a significant client.

Who’d have thought, two and a half years ago, she’d arrived in Tianque City with nothing valuable to her name? Now, she was supporting others’ businesses.

Su Qing chuckled at the thought.

Thanking Madam Qian for her care, she sipped tea and asked, “How many spirit tea businesses are there in the city?”

“Plenty,” Madam Qian replied, not holding back. Eager to secure the deal, she’d already researched thoroughly, ready for Su Qing’s questions.

“The East Market has eight main teahouses, varying in size, spread across six districts. Three do particularly well: Drunk Tea Studio, Idly Cloud Elegant Abode, and Spring Breeze Teahouse.”

Su Qing asked, “Are these three close to the shop you showed me?”

“One’s on the main road within a hundred meters; the other two are nearby, in the next district,” Madam Qian explained. “I didn’t choose it for proximity. You asked for the best location, and that spot’s prime for a teahouse.”

Su Qing raised a brow. “So, if I pick that shop, I’m setting myself up for tough competition?”

Madam Qian smiled. “You demanded the best spot at such a young age, with such ambition. Are you scared?”

Su Qing wasn’t swayed by flattery; she needed facts. “I’m just one person. Hard to fight on multiple fronts.”

Madam Qian elaborated, “Drunk Tea Studio, Idly Cloud Elegant Abode, and Spring Breeze Teahouse may seem separate, but they’re backed by the same Chen family. Drunk Tea Studio excels with tea and wine, Idly Cloud has skilled storytellers, and Spring Breeze thrives on its large space and high foot traffic, perfect for gossip. Their models are similar, so if you bring something new, you could stand out.”

She paused, aware of Su Qing’s background. Honey Spirit Tea was the top tea business in the Sword Sect, and Su Qing hadn’t hidden it. Word had naturally spread to the city.

Su Qing had wondered why no one in Tianque City had copied Honey Spirit Tea’s model in two years. Madam Qian’s explanation clarified: the city’s teahouses were already profitable, needing no overhaul, and being Chen family ventures, they wouldn’t compete internally.

What ripples would Su Qing, an outsider, stir in Tianque City?

“Thank you for the insights,” Su Qing said. “Here’s to your kind words.”

The carriage reached the East Market shop.

Located at the street’s head, it was modest in size but had a storefront ideal for a tea shop.

Su Qing walked around outside, then inspected inside. Madam Qian, confident in her choice, trailed her, offering occasional comments. @Infinite Good Reads, Only at Jinjiang Literature City

As expected, Su Qing found no faults.

If anything, the staff area was cramped, lacking rest space—a fixable issue during renovations.

The rent was 60,000 spirit seeds monthly.

Su Qing calculated how many cups of tea she’d need to sell daily to break even and sat at the entrance for over an hour, gauging foot traffic. The customer flow was ample, meeting her goals easily.

Madam Qian stood by patiently, only speaking when Su Qing was done. “Shall we see the other shop?”

Su Qing stood. “Let’s go.”

The East Market shop was nearly perfect, but she needed to compare it with the West Market one to decide.

The carriage wound its way to the West Market shop. Su Qing toured it as before. Its location was arguably better, with a larger interior. She was quite satisfied.

The rent here was 40,000 spirit seeds monthly.

After the visits, Su Qing didn’t decide immediately, telling Madam Qian she’d think it over. But Madam Qian had worked hard, providing stellar service and excellent picks, boosting Su Qing’s efficiency.

On top of the commission, Su Qing gave her 1,000 spirit seeds as a tip. “You worked hard today, and I’m pleased with both shops. I run a teahouse but can’t offer you a cup to cool off—my apologies. When my new shop opens, you must visit.”

Throughout, Madam Qian had grown used to Su Qing’s good nature. A cultivator showing such respect to a mortal was rare. Holding the heavy spirit seed pouch, her heart warmed, and she blurted, “The three teahouses are backed by the Chen family, but if you can connect with the Song family, this business won’t be hard.”

Su Qing had heard of the Song family. Her Honey Spirit Tea supplier, the Li family, was backed by them. The Song family primarily dealt in herbs and pills; tea was a minor sideline.

Madam Qian’s words implied the Chen family sourced from the Song family, whose influence surpassed the Chens’. They shared a supplier—or rather, the Chens were likely Song family distributors.

Su Qing bowed slightly. “Thank you for the tip. I’ll consider it carefully.”

…

A month later, construction began on the East Market shop.

Over two years, Su Qing had grown close with her two full-time Honey Spirit Tea employees. Jiang Shuang, a sharp-tongued, efficient 25-year-old woman, and Jia Song, a slight but energetic man five or six years her senior, were both free contract workers with no master. They’d discovered the generous pay and kind employer at Honey Spirit Tea, where student part-timers kept the workload balanced. They stayed on.

The branch shop mattered most to them after Su Qing. She’d enter the secret realm in a year, unable to manage the shop herself, so a branch manager was needed—tying directly to their futures. They were invested.

After two years at Honey Spirit Tea, both felt capable of running a teahouse. Some rivalry emerged, but it was through work, not sabotage, so Su Qing turned a blind eye.

As a boss, she had to balance her staff. Fairness fueled motivation. By not choosing yet, she was quietly assessing them.

She didn’t want to return from the secret realm in three years and have to queue for her own tea.

With Jiang Shuang and Jia Song overseeing renovations, Su Qing was freed to prepare for the secret realm.

First step: gather information.

The Dragon Boat Secret Realm, opening once a century, was new to second-year students. Third-years had experienced it, but none were in the sect to ask.

Thankfully, the sect’s confession wall opened two sections for first- and second-years to share realm info. Posts were screened, not guaranteeing accuracy but offering value.

Some second-years had bought third-year seniors’ study notes, including outlines of the Dragon Boat Secret Realm. Unable to use them, they shared them on the confession wall, earning teary gratitude for their generosity.

Honey Spirit Tea, a hub for student chatter, also yielded info. After weeks of collecting, Su Qing pieced together the realm’s nature.

It was a hybrid of a heavenly blessed land and an inheritance realm.

The blessed land, nurtured by nature, brimmed with spiritual qi, forming a feng shui treasure trove. Opening every century, it held abundant rare high-tier herbs, spirit ores, and beasts—prime resources.

The words “spirit ores” thrilled Su Qing. High-tier ores meant food for her Manqing Sword and major savings.

The inheritance was a legacy cave mansion from a senior expert, not for one person but open to countless seekers, like a library.

This expert, Qiu Tinge, titled Wujing True Person, was a Void Refining seventh-tier artificer. After her death, she left the Dragon Boat inheritance.

Her intent was to benefit all with ambition and fate, aiding their immortal path. But since the realm’s last opening 200 years ago, the Dragon Boat vanished. Most believed it had chosen a master, becoming a personal artifact.

Sword Sect students lamented the loss, envying whoever claimed it—their cultivation path must be smooth.

The Dragon Boat, tied to dragons, was built with a true dragon’s bones as its frame and dragon hide as sails. Said to span a thousand zhang, as vast as an island, it had a hundred tower layers, each holding countless legacies. Despite its size, sea beast souls powered it to travel ten thousand li daily, unstoppable on the seas.

All hearsay—no one had seen it.

Su Qing pondered: if the inheritance was a ship and the blessed land an ocean, there was a basic issue to address.

For instance, she couldn’t swim. @Infinite Good Reads, Only at Jinjiang Literature City

While mulling ways to survive in the sea, Su Qing got a message from Jiang Shuang.

Someone was causing trouble at their shop.

Without a flicker of her brow, Su Qing thought: *Finally. They’re less patient than I expected.*