Astral Pet Store

Thanks to his Dummy Trainers, he could sit in his shop and take it easy while waiting for the training sessions to end. Using their “connection,” he could feel that a “dummy” was almost his exact double, who could do everything he was capable of.

When the dummy encountered something worth noticing inside the cultivation plane, Su Ping would know it immediately.

At about 10 pm, all pets entrusted to the shop that day had completed their training. Su Ping only had to wait for the following morning to give the pets back to their owners. The dummies had helped him do the training work several times faster, and without straining him.

Since it was unlikely that he would receive any more customers at this late hour, Su Ping closed the shop and headed home.

Across the door, he heard his mother and his sister happily talking to each other while laughing occasionally. Li Qingru saw him enter and asked with her face still blushing slightly due to her good mood, “You’re late today. Is something up?”

“Got a little busy at the shop,” Su Ping answered casually while finding his slippers.

Su Lingyue curled her lips and looked at the television, while absent-mindedly stroking her Snowball, clearly to avoid seeing him.

Without minding her sister, Su Ping changed into a lighter set of clothing, then he took out his phone and transferred some cash to Li Qingru’s account.

“Hey mom, check your phone.”

Li Qingru did so and found the deposit message she had just received.

“What… Fifty thousand? Where did you find this much money?”

Su Lingyue raised an eyebrow and pricked up her ears, but without looking Su Ping’s way.

“This is the monthly profit I accounted for at the shop last month. There’s more, but we have to wait for several late orders to end.”

Su Ping had more savings in his account but he didn’t give it all, to avoid raising too much suspicion. Besides, he needed some money for himself.

“You’re earning from the shop?” Li Qingru looked surprised.

Ever since she allowed Su Ping to handle the shop, the business kept going on the decline until several important customers had quit altogether due to Su Ping’s terrible demeanor. Li Qingru was ready to see the shop completely close down at this rate. She never thought she’d see any income arrive from Su Ping’s hands, let alone such a big sum.

Fifty thousand was not so much compared to the time she was still running the shop personally. But it was an impressive milestone for Su Ping.

Li Qingru suddenly felt her eyes watering up. She could feel that her son was working hard to support her.

Su Ping knew why his mother looked happy enough to cry, and he didn’t know whether to be happy or not. Still, he wanted to please his mother, that was for sure. “I*sigh* Mom? You can leave the shop to me from now on, so don’t worry about it and have your rest. I’m sure I can get it in good shape so we have enough income to feed the both of you.” Su Lingyue frowned. Did he sayboth of you??

She thought the shop had nothing to do with her since she and Su Ping hated each other. Now that Su Ping offered to bring her along in their financial affairs, she suddenly felt grateful. Just a bit.

She took a deep breath and kept up her “I don’t care” expression.

Humph. I don’t need your money. Worry about yourself first!

It was her character that forced her to act up on the outside. Deep down, however, Su Lingyue was beginning to regard her brother in a new light.

“I knew it… I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me.” Li Qingru tried hard not to tear up to avoid ruining the mood. “Wait up. I’ll get you dinner.”

She almost ran into the kitchen.

Su Ping looked at his mother leaving and also felt his eyes begin to sting.

Su Lingyue glanced at him. “Come on. Don’t let our mom look at that, will you?”

Su Ping didn’t answer. Seeing Su Ping “uncooperative” again, Su Lingyue felt her old grudge returning so she focused on the TV show again.

Su Ping did feel peckish and was expecting a fulfilling meal made by his mother. However, the dishes brought to the table all looked pretty messed up except for one, as if a hungry animal had just rummaged through them.

Su Ping glanced at his sister. What happened to his food was too obvious.

Su Lingyue saw his complaining look; she cleared her throat and went upstairs.

Li Qingru softened things up by saying, “It can’t be helped, your sis had a tiring day. Here, I made a freshly-roasted drumstick for you. Eat up.”

Su Ping nodded and began munching on the chicken leg. Yum!

Li Qingru sat down and looked at him eating with a gentle smile. “Thanks to you, we have enough money to get your sister a Lightning Rat. I’ll go to the market tomorrow.”

“You shouldn’t, mom. It’s high time you let her learn how to pick new pets for herself.”

No matter how hard they tried, a random Lightning Rat wasn’t going to do much good. Su Ping didn’t want his mother to unnecessarily waste strength.

“He’s right. I can get my own rat,” Su Lingyue spoke at the end of the stairs, before she gave Su Ping an unfriendly look.

Learn how to pick pets, huh? You’re one to talk!

Su Ping responded by swallowing more poultry and giving her a satisfied smile.

“Humph!” Su Lingyue stomped away.

After dinner, Su Ping went to wash up and was going to return to his room. On his way, he sensed astral power floating about the neighboring room, which meant Su Lingyue was training.

Putting all matters aside, he would admit that his sister was quite a hard worker. Training and cultivation might appear to be fun in the eyes of the unwary; people who actually spent days and nights getting down to wor quickly find them tiring and dull.

If such things were fun, this world would be full of dedicated cultivators already.

Su Ping entered his room to do his own training on the bed, while splitting his mind to think about plans for the following day.

With his Dummy Trainers to help, he had time to check in with the academy. That was what he intended to do.

Besides, being a teacher meant he could freely promote his shop to the students. Two birds with one stone.

The next morning, he woke up refreshed and without any of his sister’s pranks. He found it to be boring at first, but soon tossed that thought aside because he didn’t want to be a weirdo who enjoyed being spooked.

After having a quick breakfast, he rode to his shop as fast as he could.

He saw seven or eight familiar faces already waiting at the door from a distance. Although he didn’t plan to rush his actions; like usual, he took some time locking up his bike before casually heading to the shop’s entrance.

Some of the waiting customers were already coming his way.

“There you are, Mister Su!” Zhang Baoxing was the first one to speak.

“Good timing, Mister!” “Mister Su, can you train my baby again?”

“Mine too!”

Clearly, those people were all satisfied with the results they had seen the day before.

“Can you all make some way first?” Su Ping complained.

The customers quickly stepped aside to reveal a path for him as if they were soldiers welcoming their general.

Su Ping shook his head and wondered if every morning would be this noisy from then on.

With the help of several passionate students, they lifted the shutter door together.

Su Ping turned around and checked the crowd outside. “Get in line. One at a time.”

“Yes, sir!” Everyone quickly did as told.

Su Ping never thought those people would act so obediently, although he was glad because of it.

He took out his account book and began addressing them one after one. “Name, and which service you’re buying.”

“Zhang Baoxing. Pet training, sir! It’s the same Pyro Canine from yesterday,” Zhang Baoxing announced loud and clear as if attending a military briefing.

Su Ping rubbed his ears. “Pipe down. And your payment, please.” “Of course!” Zhang Baoxing quickly took out his phone to make a transfer, before summoning his pet in the shop.

The handsome creature materialized by stepping on several embers and showed a grand entrance. But as soon as it recognized the familiar elements around it, especially Su Ping’s face, it lost its balance and stumbled to the floor.