Dimensional Storekeeper
Chapter 179: All Hail the Great Cat God!

Chapter 179: All Hail the Great Cat God!

He clasped his hands together and bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Great Cat God!” Zhi proclaimed earnestly.

Hao and Mo Xixi froze, their faces blank. “…?”

‘Is he talking about Kurome?’ Hao glanced at Mo Xixi, then back at Zhi.

Must be. Kurome must’ve lured them into the store. Clever move, or these two might’ve ended up in a far worse state.

Mo Xixi’s eyes narrowed. ‘Great Cat God?’

Though Zhi accepted Hao and Mo Xixi’s claim of wanting nothing in return, deep inside Zhi vowed to repay these benefactors somehow. He would find a way to return their kindness – but only if it didn’t put Shu’er at risk.

He would gladly risk himself, but never his sister.

Zhi bowed again, this time even lower. His eyes were red but clear, his expression full of sincerity.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you both, truly… from the bottom of my heart. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay this kindness, but I’ll never forget it. Never.”

He wiped his face quickly, trying to salvage what little dignity he had left.

“May I… may I ask your names?

Hao smiled and nodded. “You don’t have to be so formal, kid. Just call me Hao.”

“You may call me – ” Mo Xixi followed and tilted her chin up.

“Lady Mo.”

Zhi blinked.

“…Lady Mo?”

“Yes.” She nodded once, very satisfied.

Hao raised a brow, looked at Mo Xixi from the side, and then sighed softly.

He didn’t say anything… but the amused glint in his eyes said plenty.

‘Here we go again.’

Still, he didn’t ruin her moment. He just let her have it.

‘Sure.’ Hao thought. ‘Lady Mo it is.’

Zhi, oblivious to the subtle exchange, nodded eagerly.

“Thank you, Brother Hao.”

He hesitated a second, unsure what to really call Hao. Judging by his face, Hao didn’t seem much older – maybe a year or two at most.

But something about him felt different. It wasn’t his posture, or his expression, or even the casual way he spoke.

It was deeper.

Like the steady silence of a mountain hidden behind clouds. You wouldn’t notice it at first glance, but once you did, it was impossible to ignore.

And whatever Hao and Mo XIxi had done earlier to heal them – it wasn’t a medicinal pill or some spiritual herb.

Zhi couldn’t even believe that a legendary treasure could’ve saved Shu’er in that state, not with how pale she was… not with how lifeless her breathing had become.

But now –

She was whole again.

It wasn’t normal. It wasn’t anything he could explain. It was something else entirely.

A divine gift.

“Thank you, Lady Mo. I’ll never forget your kindness.”

Mo Xixi gave a small, victorious huff. “Mm. Of course you won’t.”

Hao stretched his arms lazily behind his head and glanced down at Shu’er.

“Now that you’ve got our names, how about a little rest? You two need it.”

“You can stay here. It’s safe.”

Zhi opened his mouth, then closed it again. Honestly, he didn’t want to rely on them more than he already had.

The weight in his chest – it wasn’t guilt, but something close.

But then he looked at Shu’er. He imagined stepping outside again.

He took a breath and buried the hesitation.

“…Alright. I… I’d like that, Brother Hao.”

“Is it okay… can I hold Shu’er?” Zhi asked quietly.

“I just… want to make sure she’s really okay.”

Hao blinked, then tilted his head slightly.

‘System, is it fine for him to touch her?’

[Of course, host. The girl’s condition is stable. All injuries have been fully repaired. There is no risk in physical contact. She is simply resting. The boy may comfort her as he likes.]

Hao gave a nod.

“You can.”

“She’s healed, like I said. It’s perfectly alright to hold her.”

Zhi’s breath caught. He moved forward slowly, as if afraid she might wake up if he touched her too fast. But when his hands reached her shoulders and gently pulled her into his arms, he nearly broke down.

She was warm.

Alive.

Safe.

He closed his eyes and held her tightly, as though anchoring himself to that single point of warmth.

“…Thank you.” he whispered again.

Then, with utmost care, he slowly lifted Shu’er.

Shu’er stirred faintly, her tiny arms curled instinctively around Zhi’s chest like she didn’t want to let go.

Zhi walked to the nearest corner of the store and sat down, legs crossed.

He shifted gently, letting Shu’er rest in his lap, her head nestled under his chin, her body curled sideways across one leg.

His arms circled around her like a shield, as though if he just held her long enough, nothing would ever hurt her again.

She breathed evenly, her small face peaceful.

The mess of blood and dirt they’d brought in, however, had already vanished.

The store floor – just moments ago smeared in red and grime – was now spotless again, not a trace left behind.

Mo Xixi had already returned to the counter.

She didn’t even blink at the sudden change. She was long used to the automatic cleaning function of the store.

Though now and then, she still saw Hao squatting down with a rag and cleaning by hand for some reason.

In Hao’s defense, it wasn’t about cleanliness!

He was just that bored sometimes.

When even wiping a counter felt like an adventure – an epic quest of crumbs and invisible smudges!

After casting one last glance at the siblings, Hao strolled back to his usual seat and tapped open the floating screen that had recently surfaced.

────────────────

[Host, a potential store crew employee has entered the store.]

Name: Yun Zhi

Age: 24

Cultivation: 1st Stage of Viscera Refining Realm

────────────────

‘Hmm… so Zhi meets the minimum requirement to become one of the store crew, huh?’

‘This is body cultivation, and that’s equal to the Saint Realm in qi cultivation, right, system?’

[Indeed, host. Viscera Refining Realm ranks parallel to the Saint Realm.]

Hao hummed lightly, rubbing his chin with one hand. ‘Then it’s not bad at all.’

‘He’s not just some random passerby… it’s at least fate-grade coincidence. And if his character’s decent, he might actually be worth pulling in.’

He smirked.

Just as he was about to ask the system for Zhi’s background –

The store door shifted.

A small, sleek shadow stepped in gracefully.

A black cat.

‘Kurome?’ Hao squinted.

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