No One Knows How to Rip Off Customers Better Than Me!

The sound of water stopped, followed by the rustle of clothes being changed behind the curtain. Wang Dong emerged after getting dressed, her fair face still flushed from the hot water. She spoke somewhat awkwardly, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Lin Yuan shrugged. "All right, now that Little Dong'er is done washing up, it's my turn. There's something to drink on the table. Help yourself."

Wang Dong sat down beside the table, picked up the Soul Condensing Dew Lin Yuan had prepared, and took a sip. Surprised by its sweetness and refreshing quality, she could not help asking, "This water of yours... isn't ordinary, is it?"

Lin Yuan merely smiled without answering. "As long as it tastes good." With that, he slipped behind the curtain and enjoyed the nourishment of the Water of Life. The warm spring water loosened every pore in his body, sweeping away all the exhaustion from training.

Holding the Soul Condensing Dew, Wang Dong took small sips while unconsciously looking around the room. Lin Yuan had arranged this dormitory far too comfortably: a soft bed, fragrant spirit herbs, and that miraculous bucket of Water of Life from earlier. It all made her feel somewhat uneasy, yet a little envious as well.

"You live alone, so why make everything so elaborate?" she could not help asking.

"Because I like being comfortable." Lin Yuan's smiling voice came from behind the curtain. "Life is short. Living more comfortably puts you in a better mood."

Wang Dong gave a dismissive snort. Her words were full of contempt, but her fingers unconsciously brushed over the soft fur mattress.

A moment later, Lin Yuan emerged wearing a loose bathrobe, his silver hair still dripping wet. With a casual wave, a wisp of wind dried his hair, and he retied his hairband.

"Lin Yuan, there's something I want to ask you." Wang Dong hesitated before speaking. "Why are you so strong? Soul Power Level thirty-nine at eleven years old—that's just ridiculous."

Lin Yuan sat across from Wang Dong, his gaze calm. "Talent, hard work, and opportunity. None can be lacking. Besides, my cultivation method is somewhat different from yours."

"Different?" Wang Dong raised a curious brow.

"I place greater importance on my foundation and my body's overall strength," Lin Yuan explained. "Soul Power Level is only superficial. What truly determines victory or defeat is how much your body can endure, how much your spiritual power can control, and how long your will can persist. Besides, if I don't work hard, I could die."

Wang Dong's hand holding the Soul Condensing Dew abruptly froze. Her pink-blue eyes widened instantly, full of disbelief. "Die? You're joking, right?" In her understanding, geniuses who could enter Shrek Academy either came from powerful families or possessed extraordinary talent. How could there be any risk of dying?

"Simply put, I was born carrying a very heavy burden. If I don't become stronger soon, that burden will crush me." Lin Yuan's voice remained calm.

Wang Dong was so shocked by Lin Yuan's words that she could not speak. Looking at the young man before her, who was always smiling as though nothing mattered, she realized for the first time that Lin Yuan's strength might conceal a heavy price unknown to others.

"Come on, let's get something to eat. My treat." After changing clothes, Lin Yuan walked shoulder to shoulder with Wang Dong toward the dormitory exit.

Along the way, Wang Dong kept thinking about Lin Yuan's words: "If I don't work hard, I could die." She was both shocked and confused, and eventually could not help asking, "Lin Yuan, was what you said earlier true?"

Lin Yuan paused, turning his head to glance at Wang Dong. A trace of complicated emotion flashed through his violet eyes before he resumed his relaxed expression. "Don't be nervous. It was just a figure of speech. Everyone has their own reason for needing to become stronger. Mine is a little special, that's all."

Wang Dong was half-convinced, half-doubtful. But seeing that Lin Yuan did not wish to say more, she wisely did not press him. Still, her curiosity and concern for him only grew stronger.

Before long, the two of them left Shrek Academy. At that moment, both sides of the avenue outside the eastern gate were crowded with vendors selling all kinds of wares. There was a dazzling variety of goods, though food vendors were the most numerous, their cries of advertisement unceasing. Clearly, they had gathered here to do business with Shrek Academy's students.

The moment they arrived, Lin Yuan spotted Huo Yu Hao selling grilled fish. Perhaps because he had only just arrived, he did not have much business. Seeing this, Lin Yuan led Wang Dong toward Huo Yu Hao's stall. It had to be said that Huo Yu Hao's grilled fish skills were truly outstanding. Before long, a rich fragrance drifted through the air.

"Yu Hao, give me seven or eight grilled fish," Lin Yuan called out.

"Lin Yuan? Wang Dong? Why are you here?" Huo Yu Hao looked up in surprise.

"Passing by. We followed the smell here." Lin Yuan smiled as he took eight Gold Soul Coins from his Soul Tool Storage Ring.

Huo Yu Hao was just about to say that it was too much money, but Lin Yuan had already stuffed the Gold Soul Coins into his hand. Smiling, he said, "The smell alone is worth one Gold Soul Coin per grilled fish. This is Shrek Academy. As long as they're students, they won't be short of money. So don't run your business at a loss."

Huo Yu Hao truly did not understand business. Originally, on Teacher Xiaoya's suggestion, he had priced his grilled fish at five Copper Soul Coins each. Yet with Lin Yuan's move, the price had been raised directly to one Gold Soul Coin each, leaving him at a loss for what to do.

Lin Yuan saw his hesitation and patiently explained, "Yu Hao, your craftsmanship is absolutely worth this price. Shrek Academy students aren't short on money; they care more about quality and flavor. If you price it too low, people will look down on it instead. Listen to me. Start by selling them for one Silver Soul Coin each. Once your reputation builds up, gradually raise it to one Gold Soul Coin."

Huo Yu Hao looked uncertainly at Wang Dong, wanting to hear her opinion. Although Wang Dong was somewhat unconvinced by Lin Yuan, she still nodded when it came to business and agreed, "I think Lin Yuan is right. Rare things are valuable. Your grilled fish really does taste good. Pricing it too low would only cheapen it."

After hearing their advice, Huo Yu Hao took a deep breath and finally gathered his courage. He set up a wooden sign in front of his stall that read, "One Silver Soul Coin Each."

Lin Yuan struck while the iron was hot, buying ten grilled fish on the spot and inviting several passing new students to sample them for free. Once they tasted them, everyone lavished praise on them, and a long line quickly formed.

"See?" Lin Yuan said to Huo Yu Hao with a smile. "That's the brand effect. What you need to do now is make sure every grilled fish is just as good. No one knows how to rip off customers better than me."

"Rip off customers?" Wang Dong rolled her eyes. "You're clearly teaching him how to make money."

Grinning, Lin Yuan carried the grilled fish, handed one to Wang Dong, and took a huge bite himself. Speaking indistinctly through the food, he said, "More or less. Anyway, don't let honest people get taken advantage of."

They sat beside the stall, eating grilled fish as they watched the line grow longer and longer. Huo Yu Hao was busy enough to work up a sweat, but a long-lost smile hung on his face.

Huo Yu Hao had not expected his grilled fish business to be so successful. Apologetically, he said to the students gathered around the grill, "Seniors, today is my first day doing business, so I can only sell thirty grilled fish. I've already sold eighteen, so there are twelve left. First come, first served. Seniors who didn't get a place in line, please come back tomorrow."

As he spoke, he collected the money from the students at the front of the line and stored it in his Twenty-Four Bridges Bright Moon Night belt. After selling all thirty grilled fish, he had earned nearly nineteen Gold Soul Coins and two Silver Soul Coins. After deducting the costs and tomorrow's purchasing expenses, the money left over would be enough to last him for quite a while.

One grilled fish after another came off the grill. Huo Yu Hao prepared them with great care and did not lower the quality just because there were many customers. Every student who received a grilled fish ate with immense satisfaction. Some even asked to reserve grilled fish for tomorrow. After weighing it over, Huo Yu Hao still decided to go by the line. After all, grilled fish tasted best fresh off the grill. If someone arrived late, the flavor would suffer by the time they ate it.

Just then, several female students in purple school uniforms walked out of Shrek Academy's gate. The moment the girl at the front appeared, she attracted countless gazes.

Based on his memories, Lin Yuan quickly determined that the newcomer was Jiang Nannan. As for the entanglement between Jiang Nannan and Xu San Shi, there were far too many twists and turns. Lin Yuan's conclusion was simple: he did not understand it, but he respected it.

Like an NPC following a predetermined plot, Jiang Nannan arrived at Huo Yu Hao's stall and began haggling over a grilled fish. In the end, however, she left dejectedly after Huo Yu Hao calmly refused.

"You brat, you actually dared not sell it?" A deep, booming voice filled with anger suddenly rang out. Immediately afterward, a streak of golden light shot toward Huo Yu Hao's stall, and a large hand reached for the grilled fish on the grill.

"Tsk, can't even eat grilled fish in peace!" Lin Yuan almost cursed. He did not need to guess who had arrived.

Before Lin Yuan could make a move, Huo Yu Hao, who had already activated Spiritual Detection, snatched up the grilled fish first and retreated several steps. Xu San Shi grabbed at empty air, catching only a few pieces of charcoal.

"You brat, you're courting death?" Xu San Shi shouted angrily. He crushed the charcoal in his hand, sending sparks flying. Then he swept out with his right foot, kicking Huo Yu Hao's grill aside. At the same time, he stepped forward, his large hand reaching straight for Huo Yu Hao's chest.

Just then, Lin Yuan flashed in front of Huo Yu Hao and sent out a palm strike as well.

The palm strike appeared plain and unremarkable, yet it contained Lin Yuan's exquisite use of Space Authority. As the palm wind arrived, space folded slightly. Xu San Shi's thunderous grab inexplicably veered half an inch off course, brushing past Lin Yuan's shoulder and missing entirely.

Xu San Shi froze. Before he could react, Lin Yuan's palm had already struck his chest. With a crisp smack, he was sent staggering backward again and again, fine cracks spreading across the ground beneath his feet. He steadied himself as his blood and qi churned in his chest, his face filled with shock.

Then, two voices rang out almost simultaneously.

"What are you doing?"

"Stop."

The first speaker was Jiang Nannan, her face filled with shock and anger. The second had already charged over like lightning, striking toward Xu San Shi with a palm.