C13 This Thing Was Called Cola

With a roar, the amethyst demonic wolf unleashed a frenzied howl, its back alight with pulsating purple crystals.

"Qiuying! Watch out!" Wai Qingzhu and Lin Wanshuang shouted in alarm upon witnessing the scene.

In a crucial moment, Lin Wanshuang's whip came to the rescue, ensnaring the limbs of the beast.

Soong Qiuying breathed a sigh of relief, preparing to retreat, when suddenly the sound of air being torn apart rang out from behind her!

Chi!

The gruesome sound of flesh being impaled filled the air as a crystalline purple tail skewered Soong Qiuying's shoulder, eliciting a pained scream from her lips.

Her clothing quickly soaked in a bloom of red.

"Qiuying!"

Wai Qingzhu and Lin Wanshuang's eyes blazed with fury.

With a deft flick of her whip, Lin Wanshuang subdued the amethyst demonic wolf long enough to whisk Soong Qiuying to safety.

Wai Qingzhu inhaled deeply, pulling out a packet of spicy sticks, tearing it open, and shoving them into her mouth.

"Spicy sticks, huh? You'd better not be deceiving me, or you'll regret it!"

Her face flushed crimson, and a wild energy swirled around her, elevating her to the Ninth Grade of Creation.

"Is this for real?" Wai Qingzhu marveled at the surge of spiritual power within her.

"Meet your end!"

She blurred into a shadowy afterimage, appearing at the wolf's side in a flash, her sword descending in a deadly arc.

The amethyst demonic wolf froze, its eyes wide with disbelief.

It couldn't fathom how this human's strength had so drastically increased in mere moments.

A thin line of blood traced across the wolf's neck, its massive head tumbling to the ground.

"Qiuying, drink this!" In a flurry, Wai Qingzhu pressed a cola to Soong Qiuying's lips.

Moments later, as they observed Soong Qiuying's shoulder wounds miraculously healed, the trio was engulfed in astonishment.

Such grievous injuries would normally require months of healing, even with the finest herbal remedies.

Yet, before their very eyes, it had mended itself in mere moments. What was that black potion, anyway?

"Sister Qingzhu, what on earth did you have me drink?" Soong Qiuying asked incredulously, "And that thing you ate earlier, it boosted your spiritual energy by so much!"

Regaining her composure, Wai Qingzhu recounted her experience in Lo Chuan's little shop. "This stuff is called cola..."

...

Three days on.

Like clockwork, Lo Chuan was lounging on the deck chair at his shop's entrance, soaking up the sun.

"Hey, boss, catching some rays?"

That familiar voice rang out, unmistakably Bu Lige's.

Lately, Bu Lige made it a daily ritual to visit Lo Chuan's shop for a bottle of cola and a pack of spicy sticks.

Lo Chuan was always pleased to see a well-off customer like him.

Yet, he couldn't help feeling a tad disgruntled that Bu Lige, despite his frequent visits, hadn't brought in any new patrons.

And Bu Lige's sister, Bu Shiyi, hadn't shown up in days. Lo Chuan insisted it wasn't the allure of a pretty face he missed; he simply wanted to sell more cola and spicy sticks!

But from Bu Lige's perspective, the less crowded Lo Chuan's shop, the better. After all, if it got too busy and stock ran out, where would that leave his supply of spicy sticks and cola?

"Everything's on the shelves, help yourself. Just make sure to leave the spiritual crystal on the counter," Lo Chuan directed, eyes still closed.

"Got it!"

Bu Lige responded, expertly grabbing a pack of spicy sticks and a bottle of cola, then placing the spiritual crystal on the counter.

"Nothing beats a daily bottle of 'fat otaku happy water' for a blissful life!"

Downing a large swig of cola, Bu Lige sighed contentedly.

The term 'fat otaku happy water' was a Lo Chuan original, coined on a whim, and Bu Lige had taken it to heart ever since.