Dimensional Storekeeper

Chapter 180: Why Not Just Beat Them More?

Kurome walked forward, and paused a few steps away from Hao, then gave a nod.

‘Greetings, Master.’

‘I returned ahead of schedule. There is something I must report with urgency.’

Hao raised an eyebrow and gave a subtle chin flick toward the corner – one of those wordless mouth-gestures only asians instinctively understood. The kind that meant “over there.”

‘Is it about those two?’ Hao asked.

The older one’s knocked out now. Guess the chair is more comfortable than it looks.

Kurome glanced in the direction Hao motioned.

‘Yes, Master.’

Kurome stepped closer and settled in front of Hao. She began her report.

She recounted everything plainly, from when she first spotted the wounded pair to the moment she struck – three dead, two captured.

Hao exhaled slowly and scratched the side of his head.

“So that’s what happened, huh… Those rogue cultivators were the ones who hurt those two kids, right?”

‘All indications suggest so, Master. Their actions spoke for themselves.’ Kurome answered without hesitation.

He wasn’t shocked Kurome had killed three of them. She was a spiritual beast, after all. Creatures like her lived by instinct, and taking down those who meant harm was probably as normal to her as swatting flies.

If anything, she’d held back.

What really caught him off guard… was the method.

His eye twitched slightly.

A pistol? Kurome actually used a Desert Eagle to catch them?

So that’s why she had asked him to draw one before!

Hao stared at the baton hanging from Kurome’s belt. That inconspicuous thing had somehow unlocked a path to modern firearms in a cultivation world.

Seriously… how badly had he underestimated the potential that little stick held?

That thing wasn’t just a weapon. It was straight-up SSS-Tier!

Nah, fuck that. Even SSS wasn’t enough.

It was SSSR+ Limited Edition, the kind of item you only pulled during a one-time event banner… and only if you sacrificed your entire wallet, dignity, and maybe your soul.

The kind of gear that only whales with ten credit cards and no self-control ever got to flex.

If he’d introduced her to the RPG instead, would she have just blasted a crater through the street, returning with two arms plus a leg?

‘Actually, that might be kind of fun.’ Hao thought, already imagining future chaos.

Not the dismembered body parts – he wasn’t that deranged – but the idea of Kurome casually whipping out modern Earth weapons in this world was kind of hilarious. And terrifying. And also, a little exciting.

Now he wasn’t sure if he should be proud, concerned, or both.

‘…Alright.’ Hao said at last, rubbing his nose and leaning forward.

‘Let me see the ones you captured, Kurome.’

Kurome nodded.

She raised one paw and tapped the floor lightly.

A ripple of inky blackness spread from her pawprint. It spread outward in a neat circle, humming faintly as it condensed in the center.

A dense sphere of darkness bloomed up from the floor like a rising bubble, pulsing once.

Then it popped silently, vanishing with a shimmer.

Left behind were two unconscious men.

One was broad-shouldered with a jagged scar over his chin – clearly the leader.

The other, younger and wiry, was the one Kurome remembered being called “Flinter.”

Both were bound by black cords of shadow wrapped tight around their limbs, twitching slightly every few seconds to tighten the hold if they moved.

Hao glanced at them, then looked at Kurome.

“Can you wake them up?”

Kurome bopped her head, moved forward, and gave each of them a polite little tap on the head with her paw.

Nothing.

‘I don’t have any abilities for that, Master.’

‘Though… I could use the Desert Eagle.”

“…”

Hao blinked.

What?! Is she getting addicted to that pistol?!

Was that her solution to every problem now? Wake someone up? Desert Eagle.

Before Hao could spiral further, Kurome added. ‘Little Sneak might have something, Master.’

“Yeah…” Hao nodded, only to remember a second later – that little rat wasn’t even here.

Kurome had already sent him back to their base. Apparently, Little Sneak was one of the “core members” of their clan.

Hao sighed, then blinked again – this time catching Mo Xixi, who was behind the counter and very clearly staring at him.

Her expression was cold as ever… but she seemed oddly fixated. A tiny furrow between her brows. Her foot tapping slightly.

She looked… jealous?

‘Eh?’ Hao thought.

He gave her a casual smile and said. “Oi, Little Xixi.”

Her eyes lit up.

Then immediately dimmed back down like a candle under a wok lid. She cleared her throat and walked as if nothing happened.

Obviously, she was happy.

“What is it, boss?”

“You got anything that can wake these two up?”

Mo Xixi tilted her head, then offered innocently. “Why not just beat them up more, boss? Won’t they wake up from that?”

Hao almost choked on air.

He stared at her.

Was this how all his employees thought?

What’s next? Cure poisoning by stabbing it out?

He coughed, waving off the mental image. “Ahem… Any other methods, Little Xixi?”

Mo Xixi crouched beside the two, then calmly reached out – her small hands suddenly gripping each of their heads.

Firmly.

Very firmly.

So firmly that Hao could feel the tension in the air shift.

‘No way, right?!’

He stared, sweating slightly. She looked small, but what if she had some kind of ancient demonic curse technique that made heads act like balloons?

Wouldn’t that mean even a baby could pop them off?

He wasn’t ready for a gore surprise this early in the day.

Mo Xixi mumbled something.

Hao couldn’t catch it at all. It was soft, like she’d just breathed it out to herself.

And then, as if nothing happened, she casually let go of their heads, stood up, and turned around, strolling back toward the counter.

“Little Xi – ?”

Before Hao could finish, the two rogue cultivators suddenly convulsed.

Their bodies jerked upright, screaming.

“AAARRGGHH!!”

“GAAAAHHHH!!!”

As if some invisible force had yanked them by the spine and slammed them into a sitting position.

Their eyes snapped wide open. Bloodshot. Full panic.

They gasped and wheezed like they’d just been crushed under a 200kg barbell during a failed bench press PR.

Voting Poll Active! Cast your vote in character section.

Source: .com, updated by novlove.com

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!