The heavens are divided into nine wilds, and the earth into nine provinces.
Ever since the Barrier Between Heaven and Earth was severed and Nuwa led the gods in their ascension to the Ninth Heaven, the nine provinces of the mortal realm had been governed and inhabited by earth immortals and mortal cultivators.
In the central region of the nine provinces, the people revered the Divine Firmament Sect above all others. Thus, this province was known as Divine Firmament Province. In Yuntai Prefecture, in the northern part of Divine Firmament Province, there stood a small city built against the mountains. It was called Plum Mountain City.
On a remote street in that little city stood an equally little inn.
Heroes and immortal guests came and went, yet none had ever noticed this unremarkable establishment. Peddlers and hawkers carrying shoulder poles passed by and paused here and there, but never once stopped at this place.
At dawn, a black-clad burly man eight feet tall stood at the entrance of the inn. His sharp, hawk-like eyes were fixed on the signboard hanging above the door.
Carved into the sign in tiny engraved characters was the name of the inn—
Ah ah ah oh oh oh uh uh uh let me see which game has the longest name, padding padding padding As If the Emperor Were Here—Inn.
“…………?”
A question mark slowly appeared above the burly man’s head.
***
The reason the inn had such a bizarre name was that the player, Wu Guanyue, had typed it in on a whim because she thought it would be funny…
That’s right—the player.
This was a full-dive game called Immortal Innkeeping Log. The game claimed to use the most advanced brain-computer technology available, providing an extraordinarily immersive physical experience that would make players feel as though they were truly living inside the game. It was currently in closed beta.
Although Wu Guanyue had no idea why a management simulation game needed to be full-dive… she had nothing better to do, so she applied for a beta slot anyway.
Perhaps there simply weren’t many applicants, because she received her full-dive helmet very quickly.
Wu Guanyue was twenty-two years old. She neither attended school nor held a job, because she was paralyzed.
At the age of five, she had been diagnosed with a rare illness. She had been bedridden and unable to move ever since. Fortunately, her family was fairly well-off and could provide for all her needs.
In her spare time, Wu Guanyue liked playing games. After all, even a paralyzed person needed to find some fun in life, right? She had joined the beta for this obscure game mainly because she had recently run out of new games to play.
She hadn’t taken the game’s extravagant claims of “total immersion” and “an extraordinarily realistic experience” seriously at all.
But the moment she logged in and arrived at the character-customization screen, she was stunned by the game’s physical immersion.
This—this was way too real!
It wasn’t merely the responsive sensation of a virtual game. It felt as though she had truly regained the connection between her brain and her limbs!
It was like heaven dropping a pie straight into her lap! For Wu Guanyue, being able to move freely—even if only inside a game—was already an incredible stroke of luck.
There was only one drawback: the game used Honor Mode. All progress was saved in real time and could not be rolled back. Once a character died for good, the game immediately ended.
When Wu Guanyue first saw this notice, she was so shocked that she nearly grabbed the developers by the shoulders and demanded: Why make a management simulation game this punishing?!
The official announcement also stated that, because the game used the most advanced AI technology and every NPC’s reaction was calculated in real time, the beta’s computing power was limited. As a result, each player had one—and only one—chance to play.
One single chance… They didn’t even give players the option to start over?
Sigh… Whatever.
After spending so many years paralyzed in bed, Wu Guanyue had relied on games to pass the time. She could consider herself something of a high-level player. Even if the difficulty was extremely high, she didn’t think she would fail at a management simulation game. She still had that much confidence.
She imported a photograph of herself, generated a character model resembling her real-life appearance, and casually named the inn. Then she officially began the game.
The world before her slowly darkened, then gradually brightened again.
As soon as she opened her eyes, Wu Guanyue saw a blue-dyed cotton bed curtain. Little white flowers bloomed across the thick, coarse fabric like clusters of faded stars.
From the corner of her eye, she took in the small but adequately sized room. There was a table and two benches. The wooden window stood open, revealing the faint light of dawn and distant blue-green mountains. Shades of verdant greenery lay over the tiled roofs of the homes below like dark clouds, spilling even into this little room and filling it with a fresh, rustic, ancient charm.
At the same time, a line of translucent text appeared before her eyes.
[Yesterday, you arrived in the unfamiliar Plum Mountain City and took over the inheritance your grandfather left you.]
Oh, inheriting an estate. A classic backstory.
[Plum Mountain City is surrounded by spiritual energy. Several secret realms left behind by ascended masters can be found in the nearby mountains, so heroes and immortal guests from all across the Nine Provinces and Eighteen Lands pass through the city year-round.]
Mm-hmm. In other words, an inn in a prime location near a top-tier tourist attraction.
[You are filled with anticipation for the new life that is about to begin, but you also feel unfamiliar with it. Wang Er, the shop assistant your grandfather left behind, will help you.]
All right, so he’s the tutorial NPC who teaches the player the basics.
[He should have come to find you at this time, but he has not appeared. Could something have happened?]
Hmm? Is there a plot?
[Main Quest: Speak with Shop Assistant Wang Er (New!)]
[Quest Details: The shop assistant failed to show up at the appointed time. Get out of bed and look for him. While you’re at it, take a look around your inn!]
Following the quest instructions, Wu Guanyue opened the door and walked around the inn.
The inn had two floors. The upper floor contained the guest rooms, while the lower floor was a main hall where diners could drink and eat. Wu Guanyue’s starting room was at the end of the second-floor corridor. Looking down from inside, she could even see the backyard, where there was a well filled with sweet water. The kitchen was in the same area.
The place was small, but it had all the necessary parts. However, the entire guest-room area on the second floor was utterly bare. Not only was there no decoration, but even the most basic furniture—tables, chairs, beds, and the like—was missing. It made one wonder what on earth Grandpa had been doing all these years…
Perhaps the game’s developers knew this was a glaring flaw, because another line of text appeared before Wu Guanyue’s eyes.
[Bleak, run-down, and on the verge of collapse… This is the inn your grandfather left you. Could it be that doing business with a conscience truly offers no future? You cannot help but fall into deep thought.]
[Choose a business path: Legitimate Inn / Black Inn]
[Legitimate Inn: You are a diligent proprietor who relies on exploring the map, updating your recipes, and expanding your guest rooms to earn money. Your inn is a safe harbor where travelers can rest without worry… (Initial Specialty: Culinary Mastery)]
[Black Inn: You are a cold-hearted and ruthless proprietor. Making money fast is your guiding principle. Your inn is dangerous and mysterious, and anyone who comes here must remain on their guard… (Initial Specialty: Pickpocketing Mastery)]
Hmm?
There was actually a choice of business paths?
Then of course she would choose the Black Inn~
After all, if she chose the Black Shop route, she could still make an honest living if things went south. At worst, she would have to collect recipes herself and progress more slowly. But if she chose the White Shop route, there was a chance that the special skills and recipes would be locked away entirely, leaving her with no room to advance or retreat.
Besides… who could see a pickpocketing skill and not choose to have it? Had they just gotten out of rehab?!
Wu Guanyue decisively chose the Black Shop route.
【You have made up your mind. You will never end up as destitute and down-and-out as your grandfather. In this world, hard work alone is not enough to live a good life. You have hidden some of your unique skills, and when the opportunity arises, you do not mind using them…】
【Acquired: Pickpocketing Mastery!】
Excellent.
Now, she just had to go find the shop assistant, Wang Er.
Wu Guanyue followed the stairs down from the second floor. The moment she reached the main hall, she triggered an event.
The inn’s front doors stood wide open, and several people had gathered outside. They were all dressed in black, with fierce expressions on their faces. A short man in a coarse cloth shirt was bowing and scraping before the leader of the group of black-clad men.
Above their heads were the labels [Shop Assistant Wang Er] and [Debt Collector Zheng San].
【Wang Er: “Third Master Zheng, what brings you here today? Please, come right in, come right in! We just got some new Jinwu Bai in stock. I’ll brew you a pot right away!”】
【Zheng San: “Wang Er! Stop running your mouth. I don’t have time for your nonsense. Where’s Old Man Wu’s brat? Hurry up and tell her to come out!”】
【Wang Er: “Third Master Zheng, our boss only arrived last night, so she’s still… Ah? Boss, what are you doing down here?”】
【Zheng San (letting out a cold laugh): “So you’re Old Man Wu’s brat? What’s your name?”】
【Please enter your name】
So that was how it worked. She had reached the naming screen.
Wu Guanyue casually replied, “My name is Coca-Cola.”
Zheng San: “…”
Wang Er: “…”
Ellipses appeared above both NPCs’ heads.
【Zheng San: “…What?”】
Was that not allowed? Was “Cola” a restricted word?
Wu Guanyue obediently changed her answer. “My name is Flying-Through-Heaven-and-Drilling-Into-the-Earth Handsome Cockroach.”
Zheng San: “……”
【Zheng San (eyes bulging with rage): “A debt must be repaid—that’s only right and proper! You little brat, do you really think you can get out of this by pretending to be crazy and playing dumb?!”】
As he spoke, Zheng San reached into his sleeve and pulled out a contract. He gave it a shake, and because the game’s rendering was so realistic, even the rustling of the document sounded completely authentic.
【Zheng San: “Fellow townsfolk, neighbors, and friends! This little girl’s grandfather owes our Yongfeng Money House a full one hundred taels of Tongxuan silver! The borrower’s signature and fingerprint are all clearly stamped on this IOU. There’s not the slightest bit of forgery! And yet this little girl is pretending to be crazy and refusing to acknowledge the debt. What kind of sense does that make?”】
【The thugs: “What kind of sense does that make! What kind of sense does that make!”】
【Zheng San (clearing his throat): “Your grandfather borrowed the money from us using the inn’s land and property deed as collateral. We’re reasonable people, so here’s the deal: either you produce one hundred taels of Tongxuan silver today to repay the debt, or you hand the inn over to us. What do you say?”】
The scene on the long street was incredibly lifelike as well. Day had broken, and some of the shops on either side were open while others had yet to start business. There were not many pedestrians, but everyone was looking in this direction. Among them were even a few cultivators carrying weapons.
At the Four Treasures Hall directly across from the inn, the shop assistant ducked his neck and shrank behind the shop sign that read “Talismans and Ink, Everything You Need.” Several passing cultivators stood with their arms folded, watching from a safe distance.
Another line of translucent narration appeared before Wu Guanyue’s eyes.
【Merchants are afraid of inviting trouble, while cultivators are wary of getting entangled in karma. When faced with this sort of situation, no one wants to step forward and interfere. It seems everything will have to depend on you…】
***
At that very moment, Zheng San cast a sidelong glance at the young woman standing before him.
The girl appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old. She was so young that the fine, translucent fuzz on her face had yet to fade completely. After hearing his words, her eyes widened in unmistakable shock.
A little brat who hasn’t even finished growing yet… Hmph!
There wasn’t a money house in existence that wasn’t ruthless and black-hearted, and Yongfeng Money House was no exception. In fact, they made their fortune by issuing predatory loans at exorbitant interest rates. In the years since they had established themselves, they had already driven countless families to ruin, forcing them to sell off their property and land.
This time was no different.
Yongfeng Money House had set its sights on Old Man Wu’s inn. Taking advantage of his serious illness, they had tricked him into pressing his fingerprint onto a contract mortgaging the property and land. They had expected to take the place without a fuss, but then Old Man Wu died—and a granddaughter suddenly appeared to get in their way.
That was why Zheng San had come today: to seize the inn by force!
Zheng San glared at her with his tiger-like eyes and demanded harshly, “Are you paying the money or handing over the property? Give us your answer right now!”
And the player… the player was also utterly shocked!
Because her main quest had changed!
【Main Quest: Prevent the Inn from Being Mortgaged (New!)】
【Quest Details: The shop assistant is being harassed. It turns out your grandfather incurred a massive debt with Yongfeng Money House, and the debt collectors are forcing you to hand over the property deed. Stop the inn from being mortgaged! (P.S. Losing the inn will result in an immediate Game Over.)】
Wu Guanyue: “???”
Wait, what?!
It was perfectly normal for a simulation management game to begin with a mountain of debt… but hadn’t that NPC just said she had to repay the money immediately? He really had said immediately, hadn’t he?! The game had only started five minutes ago! How was she already facing a Game Over?!
No, calm down, Wu Guanyue. Even Hidetaka Miyazaki wouldn’t pull something like this. An unknown game developer had no reason to deliberately make things this infuriating. That meant there had to be an obvious solution—she just hadn’t noticed it yet.
An obvious solution…
An obvious solution…
Wu Guanyue’s mind raced as she clicked every icon within sight on the game’s control panel—
【Open Inventory】—There were twelve inventory slots in total, currently containing only the starting tools, such as a broom and a mop, along with [Property and Land Deed] ×1. That was the item she had to defend to the death, so she couldn’t simply display it like a lawyer’s badge.
【System Settings】—[Return to Main Menu], [Exit Game], [Unstuck]… She had no idea why she had even bothered opening this screen.
【View Attributes】—View the personal attributes of [Debt Collector Zheng San]!
【Name: Zheng San】
【Occupation: Debt Collector for Yongfeng Money House】
【Level: LV.2 (Qi Gathering)】
【Inventory: [Bulging Money Pouch] ×1, [Wu Guizhen’s IOU] ×1, [Wine Gourd] ×1, [Roasted Chicken Wings] ×3, [Guokui Flatbread] ×2, [Fried Rice Cakes] ×5】
The instant she saw [Bulging Money Pouch], a bolt of wisdom struck Wu Guanyue’s mind!
So that was it—she knew what to do now!
【Using initial skill—Pickpocketing!】
And so Zheng San watched as Old Man Wu’s granddaughter… under the pressure he was exerting, the young woman abruptly raised her head. Her pair of jet-black eyes fixed intently on him—and then vanished from before his eyes!!!
Zheng San’s pupils contracted sharply, and he immediately retreated several steps.
But Wu Guanyue had already moved. She was so fast that Zheng San couldn’t see her clearly. In the next instant, she was standing behind him.
She stood there quietly, turning to look at Zheng San, a bulging money pouch still bouncing lightly in her hand.
【Obtained: [Bulging Money Pouch] ×1】
She suddenly smiled and naturally held the money pouch out to Zheng San. In a bright, clear voice, she asked, “Look, is there enough money in here to pay off the debt?”
Zheng San stared at her, dumbfounded.
Her footwork… was actually that good?
No, wait! Why did this money pouch look so familiar?!
His expression changed. He hurriedly reached into his sleeve… and, sure enough, found nothing.
He looked back at Wu Guanyue. She was still holding out the money pouch, staring at Zheng San with complete seriousness. Her expression was utterly innocent and self-righteous, as if she hadn’t noticed anything wrong at all.
Zheng San: “…………”
Zheng San: “………………”
Above Zheng San’s head, a gigantic crossroads appeared.
