"Not expensive, just one hundred gold soul coins." Flender's eyes cracked open slightly as he spoke faintly.
With that, he withdrew his gaze, shut his eyes, and continued reclining.
'Dark, really dark,' Yang Yunhai shook his head, turned away, and nodded, "Zhu Zhuqing, let's go."
However, this time Zhu Zhuqing uncharacteristically didn't just nod and hum. Instead, she cast a glance at the Plate Crystal Gold and softly said, "If you really want to buy it, I can help cover the cost first. Just treat it as borrowing from me."
Originally, Yang Yunhai had planned to haggle and drag it out a bit, but after a moment's thought he nodded slightly. "That works. Thanks."
Zhu Zhuqing gave a small nod, walked over to Flender, brushed her fingers over her earring, and pulled out a pouch of gold soul coins to hand over.
"Boss, here—" Before the words even left her lips, Flender's indifferent voice cut in.
"Sorry, but that's not enough."
"?!" Zhu Zhuqing's eyes flickered with doubt. She hefted the pouch, checked its weight, and replied, "Boss, you're mistaken. This is exactly one hundred gold soul coins, not a single one missing."
"But my crystal now costs two hundred gold soul coins." Flender still hadn't opened his eyes, his tone as flat as ever.
"Raising the price on the spot! A conniving merchant!" Those words flashed through Zhu Zhuqing's mind, her willow brows furrowing instantly.
'Hah, trying to scam me! I may not be smooth with girls, but when it comes to business, I know a trick or two. Who isn't a bit of a conniving merchant?' Yang Yunhai's expression didn't change, his voice calm: "Zhu Zhuqing, since this boss doesn't want to sell, then forget it."
Zhu Zhuqing didn't hesitate, immediately took back the pouch, and turned to walk toward Yang Yunhai.
Though they hadn't known each other long, she could tell from his tone that Yang Yunhai was angry.
"Let's go." As Zhu Zhuqing reached him, Yang Yunhai smiled faintly, saying in an oddly casual tone:
"Zhu Zhuqing, I was originally planning to take you to the Shrek Academy south of Suotuo City—the one that only admits so-called 'monsters.' But now that I think about it, forget it."
"Ah, I never really felt it before, but now I realize… when you need money, there's never enough."
"I've heard Shrek Academy is so poor it's laughable. When the time comes, not only will we need to pay registration and tuition, but we'll also have to cover our own living expenses. I've just had a breakthrough, but I don't have much saved up. Even my money for skincare and hair care isn't enough, I doubt I could bear it."
"So I figure, we'd be better off going to Heaven Dou City and joining an advanced soul master academy there. I heard those academies don't even charge for food, and if your talent is high enough, you don't even pay for lodging. I think we should give it a try."
"If it works out, we'd save a fortune."
"We're already so far from home, and we don't know when we'll return. There'll be plenty of times we'll need money, so we have to spend carefully."
'Could it be… this person is from Shrek Academy?' Hearing these strangely pointed words, especially with Shrek Academy being mentioned so directly, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but wonder. She didn't glance at Flender at all, simply gave a cool nod. "That's fine."
Then she followed Yang Yunhai out.
'Damn it, I overplayed it! These two little monsters actually came to Suotuo City for my Shrek Academy!' On the other side, Flender suddenly felt his heart tighten.
He had thought he'd stumbled onto an easy mark to fleece, but instead he'd ended up kicking his own foot.
From their age and cultivation, others might not have noticed, but he could.
As a Soul Saint with the Owl martial soul, his eyesight was one of his greatest strengths. With just a glance at their youthful skin, he could roughly guess their age.
As for cultivation, his martial soul's unique Echo Sense allowed him to feel the faint reverberations of soul power within a target's body through sound. With that, he could judge someone's general level of strength.
It was his specialty.
Unless the opponent's soul power control was so refined it was utterly concealed, he rarely got it wrong.
That ability was what had allowed him to roam the continent in his youth and escape countless dangers.
Fleeing when needed—he was a professional.
But that wasn't the point.
The point was, these two little ones weren't ordinary.
The girl's cultivation was definitely above rank 25, her talent not far off from his disciple Ma Hongjun's. But the boy… that was abnormal. His soul power was already at rank 30.
A genuine monster!
He had to be some genius scion who'd slipped away from a powerful family.
If they were just passing through Suotuo City, then fine—he'd rip them off and let them go.
But if they'd come specifically for Shrek Academy, then no way could he let them leave.
Seriously now, one with storage soul tools hanging from her ears, the other dressed plain as a commoner—what, playing at being pigs to eat tigers? Sneak out and not even bring enough money? They balked at two hundred gold soul coins, who would've guessed?!
Thinking that, he gave a dry cough, put on a pained expression, and said impatiently, "Fine, fine. One hundred gold soul coins it is. Pay and take it."
Zhu Zhuqing, who had already followed Yang Yunhai to the door, stopped in her tracks, glanced up at him, and quickly ran back. She pulled out a pouch from her soul tool and set it beside Flender, then immediately strode over to the Plate Crystal Gold, took it down, and stored it away.
Clack, clack, clack—soon she returned to Yang Yunhai's side, speaking softly, "Keep it with me for now."
"Thanks." Yang Yunhai nodded slightly.
Zhu Zhuqing returned a small nod without replying.
"Let's go." Yang Yunhai turned back, walking toward the street. Glancing up at the dimming sky, he added, "It's almost dark. Let's find an inn to stay the night. I want to rest, then head out tomorrow morning."
Zhu Zhuqing's fists clenched instinctively, but she said nothing as she followed behind.
"You too," Yang Yunhai added. "You can go to Shrek Academy tomorrow. By the way, just so you know— that shopkeeper just now is actually Shrek Academy's headmaster, Flender. And if I'm not wrong, he probably already saw through our cultivation."
Though he couldn't be sure, the original story had mentioned Flender easily seeing through Tang San's strength. So he guessed Flender had likely seen through theirs just now.
'That conniving merchant just now is Shrek Academy's headmaster?!' Zhu Zhuqing froze, then bit down lightly on her lip.
So Yang Yunhai had deliberately taken her there, letting her experience Flender firsthand, so she could see the man's character clearly?
After all, that crystal clearly wasn't worth one hundred gold soul coins.
And Flender's sudden decision to drop the price wasn't because he was worried about the crystal not selling, nor because of some sudden pang of conscience.
It was because he'd recognized their cultivation, realized their talent far exceeded the academy's requirements.
That's why Yang Yunhai had said those pointed things—to hint at Flender.
To suggest that they'd originally intended to apply to Shrek Academy, but given the academy's poor conditions and their lack of money, they'd changed their minds.
So Flender was afraid they'd really walk away, and only then lowered the price?
Zhu Zhuqing's mind spun with thoughts.
(End of Chapter)
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