With the first rays of morning sunlight spilling across Liyue Harbor and breaking the silence of the night, a new day began.
A short-haired boy with dark green hair returned once again to the Pervases Temple, his body bearing fresh wounds.
Last night in Liyue had been peaceful once more.
The harbor waters sparkled, a gentle breeze brushing the docks and carrying a fresh scent.
Dockworkers had already started their busy tasks, their silhouettes flickering in the morning light. Fishing boats slipped out of the port toward the sea to begin a new day's catch.
The streets gradually grew livelier as merchants rolled up their shutters and prepared for business. Street stalls filled with fresh seafood and handicrafts drew the attention of passing pedestrians.
Early risers emerged from their homes to begin their day.
Meanwhile, at the entrance of Luya's [Duel Monsters Specialty Shop], a large crowd had already gathered.
The surrounding shopkeepers looked on with envy and felt the pressure mounting… Their own stores had opened early, yet the crowd stood before someone else's door.
At this moment, Luya was only just waking from his sleep...
Outside the shop, customers chattered excitedly.
"Why isn't it open yet!"
"I can't wait any longer..."
"It's not just us—even Lady Yuheng herself is waiting in line, haha."
"Wow, Master Hu and Mr. Zhongli are here too!"
"Isn't that Xiangling from Wanmin Restaurant?! She left her wok to come duel?"
"Heh, the boss's business just keeps getting better..."
Some passersby who had never entered Luya's shop grew curious.
"What's going on with this place!?"
"Why are so many people crowding around...?"
"This is outrageous..."
"I have to see what kind of shop this is!"
The circle around Luya's shop grew ever larger.
Even Qianyan Army soldier Hongyi abandoned his patrol to join the onlookers...
As the crowd's anticipation swelled, Luya finally ambled over and opened the shop door.
He pressed a finger to the door, the fingerprint scan verified, and with a clatter the door opened automatically!
The moment the door swung open, everyone's faces lit with joy.
"Wow! Finally open!!!"
"I was dying of impatience..."
"Charge~ Barbara!!!"
Seeing the eager mass surging forward, Luya quickly stepped aside.
A flood of customers rushed in.
Hu Tao, Keqing, Zhongli, Xingqiu, and Xiangling waited for the larger crowd to enter before approaching more calmly.
"Boss, I brought you breakfast," Keqing said.
"I guessed you must still be asleep since you hadn't opened yet, so I prepared something for you..."
She handed Luya a box of steamed buns and a cup of soy milk.
Luya accepted them with a smile. "Thank you, Keqing~"
Keqing lowered her gaze, a trace of contentment flickering across her eyes.
"Haha, it's nothing..."
"Eat a little and then take care of business."
Hu Tao felt an inexplicable pang of gloom seeing Keqing bring Luya breakfast… yet couldn't identify the reason.
Sensing Hu Tao's faint displeasure, Zhongli spoke up: "Hall Master, hurry and duel Xiangling. Weren't you two planning a match? Otherwise, there won't be any spots left."
Only then did Hu Tao remember her original plan.
She quickly called to Xiangling, "Come face the Hall Master! Let me show you how unstoppable my deck is!"
Xiangling said, "Bring it on, who's afraid of who~"
"Guoba, let's go!"
Luya ate a few bites of buns and drank half the soy milk, then returned to the counter, ready to start selling card packs!
Suddenly, Hu Tao exclaimed,
"Wha!?"
"Is it just me or... does the shop feel way bigger now?!"
"And... there's a furnace here? What is that?!"
Unlike Hu Tao, Xingqiu's attention was drawn to Luya's Yu-Gi-Oh! manga.
Xingqiu had always loved books...
He often visited the Wanwen Bookhouse to read the latest novels!
He had even written a martial-arts novel, Chronicles of Sinking Autumn and the Sword, based on his own experiences, and hoped to publish it in Liyue Harbor. Unfortunately,
the publishers rejected it for having an outrageous premise and an unexpectedly clichéd plot, claiming no one would like it. Unconvinced, Xingqiu printed a few copies himself, sneaking them into the Wanwen Bookhouse, but indeed no one read them, which left him quite dejected.
Xingqiu loved reading...
So when he saw the books in Luya's shop, he grew instantly excited.
He immediately grabbed a volume and began to read.
On the cover, a boy stood at the center, wearing a Duel Disk on his left arm and holding cards in his right hand!
His hair spiked in red, black, and yellow, giving him the look of a master duelist.
His eyes were focused and determined, radiating the aura of a formidable player. Around his neck hung a mysterious golden pyramid, adding an air of mystery.
Behind him loomed a massive, gold-glowing humanoid figure, majestic like an Egyptian pharaoh.
This golden being gathered golden energy in its hands, exuding a powerful force that struck awe into any onlooker.
For a moment, it felt like facing a god.
At the bottom of the manga's cover, three bold red characters stood out—Yu-Gi-Oh!
Xingqiu gazed at the Yu-Gi-Oh! Volume, sensing it would be a thrilling read!!!
He even forgot to ask Luya about his reserved card packs…
Now Xingqiu only wanted to read!
Zhongli, too, noticed the stack of Yu-Gi-Oh! manga and felt the urge to study it carefully.
He found this Duel Monsters shop ever more intriguing, with new delights every day…
He immediately picked up a book and settled into a seat to read.
Some other customers also noticed the manga and, following Xingqiu and Zhongli's example, began flipping through the pages...
At the counter, facing Hu Tao's question, Luya explained with a smile, That furnace-like thing is a new piece of shop equipment."
"It's called the Card Furnace. It can be used to craft Duel Monsters cards. But... since I don't have the necessary materials, I haven't made any yet."
Luya's words instantly piqued Hu Tao's interest.
"What!?"
"That furnace can actually make cards... what materials does it need!"
"Leave it to the Hall Master to handle~"
...
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