Dimensional Storekeeper

Chapter 208: Tournament Poster Just Changed Lives

From the side, Old Tiger Zhao nodded with the wisdom of someone who had seen too much.

“Even if it’s the last shot, ya still gotta watch your angles. One careless move…”

He tapped the side of his cone thoughtfully. “Bang. Disaster.”

Xiao Lianfeng crossed his arms. “Feels wrong to lose after doing everything right.”

“She didn’t do everything right, though.” Lin Yijun grinned lazily.

Dou Xinshi was gripping the edge of the table, eyes burning.

“It was almost legendary… then she self-destructed.”

Hua Feixue stood up with fire in her eyes.

“Rematch, Senior Sister!” Hua Feixue declared, jabbing a finger toward Yue Xueyan.

“I’ll pay! We’ll play again! This time I’ll win for real!”

Yue Xueyan, ever calm, gave a small nod.

That was exactly what she wanted anyway. A proper win.

She was starting to understand the game more now.

The awkward posture, the unfamiliar angles – they didn’t feel so strange anymore.

Next time, she’d do better.

But just as the two girls locked eyes, already dreaming of their epic rematch –

“You girls can have your rematch tomorrow.” Hao called out casually.

“Billiard is limited to one game per person per day.”

“…”

Hua Feixue slowly dropped to her knees on the floor.

No words. No screams. Just silent, earth-shattering devastation.

As if she had just been told her entire sect had switched to bitter melon soup for all meals.

Her arms fell limp to her sides. Her expression empty.

Tragedy had arrived.

Everyone else quietly backed up a step, giving her some space.

Even Yue Xueyan blinked in quiet surprise.

It hadn’t crossed her mind earlier, but now… it made sense.

Just like how each customer was only allowed one of each product per day, it was the same with the billiard game.

Why didn’t she treasure her first match more?

Why did she let her Junior Sister take the break shot so easily?

The realization stung.

And it wasn’t even about pride – it was about regret.

There was something deeply frustrating about wanting to do something again, right away, only to be told:

You can’t. Try again tomorrow.

It reminded her of when she first visited the store. That day she had wanted another cup of instant noodles.

Just one more.

But the limit was firm.

And now? It was the game.

And after their game ended, something felt… different.

The qi in her body was moving faster.

Faster than even during her time soaking in the Snow Petal Sect’s spirit spring.

The store had never felt this rich in spiritual qi. Its atmosphere had always been calm but never abundant. Almost like standing outside in Sovereign City.

But now?

She wasn’t meditating. She hadn’t even tried to circulate her qi.

Yet her body was drawing it in. Absorbing it with ease. More than it ever did in controlled cultivation sessions.

It was too much to be a coincidence.

Was that one match really the cause?

A single round of a strange game… giving this kind of boost?

She didn’t have evidence.

But honestly, who needed it?

The store was full of oddities. Strange rules. Hidden effects. Senior Hao never even blinked when something inexplicable happened. This felt right at home here.

Her eyes shifted subtly toward Hua Feixue.

Her junior sister was still mourning her loss, loudly and dramatically as always.

But not once had she mentioned feeling anything different.

If she was experiencing the same rush of qi, she’d definitely be talking about it.

Which could only mean one thing:

Only the winner received the effect.

That made the most sense.

Hao returned to the counter just in time.

One by one, the rest of the group from the billiard room began lining up.

Each of them excited.

Each of them already reaching in to pull out crystals.

Meanwhile, still inside the room, Hua Feixue was crouched near the far wall.

Her eyes had caught something.

The poster.

The same one Hao had pasted there earlier.

“8-Ball Pool Tournament… One winner stands tall?”

She leaned in, whispering each line as she read it. Her head tilted more and more with every line.

…

Then she got to the prize section.

Her mouth dropped open.

Her eyes doubled in size.

Her breath hitched.

“Choose TEN products from the store?!”

Her voice cracked into a squeak.

She whipped her head around to the table, then back to the poster, then back to the table.

“Ten?! Ten?! Not one. Not two. Ten?!”

She started pacing, hugging her own face. “That’s- That’s practically robbery in reverse!”

Her head spun with the possibilities.

Ten soft serve ice cream?

Ten bags of potato chips?

Or what if she grabbed ten of the spicy noodles?

Or – no! Five oolong teas and five colas? Could she do that? There was no rule that said they had to be different!

This wasn’t just a contest.

This was destiny.

Just as she was about to yell something ridiculous again, a figure stepped up beside her, holding various products.

Yue Xueyan had returned. She noticed the way her Junior Sister was completely frozen in front of the wall.

She followed Hua Feixue’s line of sight.

Her gaze landed on the poster.

“Is there something on the wall?” she asked plainly.

No response.

Hua Feixue was too deep into imagining her ten-product victory haul.

Yue Xueyan’s eyes began scanning the page, quiet and unreadable.

But her gaze paused at the last section.

Ten products?

From this store?

Yue Xueyan had to admit – that was a terrifyingly good deal.

Even the semi-finalists got two free products.

Which meant… you didn’t even have to win the whole thing to walk away with something sweet.

Literally and figuratively.

She glanced at her junior, who was still vibrating.

“We have to sign up. Now.” Hua Feixue said, grabbing Yue Xueyan’s wrist with absolute conviction.

Before they could even make it out the door, Hua twisted around mid-step and communicated to Lin Yijun and Xiao Lianfeng.

’There’s something on the wall! Go check it!’

’What?’

“…”

Both read it.

Both paused.

Lin Yijun and Xiao Lianfeng wore the exact same look Yue Xueyan and Hua Feixue had earlier – mild confusion, followed by dawning realization, then quiet shock at the reward section.