After settling Gu Yu Xiao into her residence, Liu Yunan waited outside for her. Once she unpacked all the miscellaneous items from her storage bag and arranged them neatly, she eagerly followed Liu Yunan down the mountain for dinner.
Tonight's meal had been prepared by none other than Jiang Youfu, a master of the culinary arts. Gu Yu Xiao had already tasted his cooking several times while at the escort agency, and each time, for a while afterward, she found other foods bland in comparison. Now, she was thrilled that she would get to enjoy his cooking every day!
At the dinner table, Gu Yu Xiao formally greeted everyone according to the sect's hierarchy before they began eating. Everyone present was of a higher rank than her, with Lin Xiao being the highest. She respectfully addressed Lin Xiao as "Master Ancestor."
Qin Jianghe had told her that, technically, Lin Xiao was the master of all the sect members, so Gu Yu Xiao had no hesitation in calling him "Master Ancestor." It was a title she carried with ease, but it left Lin Xiao feeling a bit awkward.
The meal was a joyous occasion for all, as Jiang Youfu had meticulously prepared it, having learned of Gu Yu Xiao's arrival in advance.
The next morning, Gu Yu Xiao joined everyone in the cultivation room for training. Later, Liu Yunan took her on a tour of the entire sect, including the newly constructed medicinal garden.
While they were exploring the sect, Lin Xiao was in the main hall, working on plans for expanding the sect's facilities. The cultivation room had become a bit cramped with the growing number of members. The issue had been particularly noticeable during the New Year's gathering. While everyone didn't mind being packed together, finding it a bit cozy even, Lin Xiao knew that with Gu Yu Xiao's arrival, the situation needed addressing.
Since the incident at the Nature Platform, Lin Xiao realized that the buildings could be expanded through the system's merging function. Expanding the cultivation room would not be difficult—he just needed to gather more materials and a few spirit-gathering formations.
The next morning, the sect members went to the cultivation room and found it had been greatly expanded. It was now so spacious that they could somersault across the floor without bumping into anyone.
Lin Xiao hadn't touched the other buildings, such as the artifact refining hall or the formation hall, since only a few people were currently using them. The main hall remained unchanged as well, as it was more than adequate for the current number of members. Lin Xiao had some other plans for it, but for now, there was no rush.
Once Gu Yu Xiao finished her tour of the sect, her days of carefree leisure were over. She was busy overseeing the preparations for the inn and tavern, handling everything from supply purchases to staff recruitment. Since she was the future shopkeeper, Qin Jianghe had instructed that she personally handle all aspects of the businesses. This was specifically mentioned in his letter.
Thus, Gu Yu Xiao's busy life as a shopkeeper began in earnest. She followed Liu Yunan to purchase everything needed for the tavern and inn, ensuring she personally oversaw each step. After all, as Qin Jianghe had said, she needed to be familiar with every detail.
Meanwhile, the Lingxian Sect began recruiting staff for the new businesses in the village. Besides the head chef the village chief had helped arrange, they needed to hire a number of waiters, though Lin Xiao referred to them as "servers," and everyone else in the sect followed suit.
Lin Xiao explained his requirements for the servers to Gu Yu Xiao and personally trained her for an hour on his expectations. Gu Yu Xiao quickly grasped everything he taught, demonstrating a sharp learning ability. She also quickly understood Lin Xiao's operational strategies and the use of all the new facilities in the inn and tavern. Her learning speed impressed Lin Xiao, making his teaching role much easier. He couldn't help but praise Qin Jianghe for finding such a capable shopkeeper.
With the foundational tasks handed over to Gu Yu Xiao, she took over the recruitment of villagers and supervised the final touches on the store's interiors. As soon as she was in full control, she began observing the daily foot traffic in Shuishui Village. Based on her observations, she calculated how many staff members they would need to efficiently run the businesses.
Once she had determined the initial number of staff required, the recruitment process for the two establishments began in earnest. The village was buzzing with excitement. Everyone was eager to apply for a position in the sect's businesses. The thought of working for a sect-owned establishment was thrilling, as many villagers believed it would give them a connection to the sect and, potentially, the immortals themselves.
Even some of the wealthier families who had settled in the village were tempted to apply. They saw it as an opportunity to form a relationship with the sect. However, they hesitated—was it worth lowering their status to work as a servant? And if they sent a servant from their household, what if the servant ended up obtaining an opportunity for cultivation?
But the villagers of Shuishui Village didn't share those concerns. Status meant little to them compared to the benefits of being associated with the sect. They eagerly rushed to apply.
The recruitment also attracted people from nearby villages. While Shuishui Village had the advantage of proximity to the sect, outsiders hoped that maybe the immortals would favor them and offer them a chance.
With so many people interested, Shuishui Village became lively again. Fortunately, the sect's patrol team, led by Iron Head, diligently maintained order, and no incidents occurred.
Gu Yu Xiao worked with incredible efficiency, handling the dual tasks of renovation and staff training with ease. Within three days, the recruitment process was completed. Most of the servers hired were from Shuishui Village, with a few from neighboring areas. None of the wealthier families ended up applying, as they couldn't bring themselves to lower their status or risk sending a servant.
The tavern and inn's renovations were completed in just five days, and with all the loose ends tied up, Gu Yu Xiao spent the remaining time training the new staff. She had carefully selected villagers who were obedient, diligent, and not too slow on the uptake.
With everything prepared, the grand opening of the Lingxian Tavern and Lingxian Inn in Shuishui Village took place fifteen days later.