Such a vulgar plot... is not surprising

"Nan Nan, I heard this Xiao Huo Grilled Fish place tastes pretty good and business is booming. How about we give it a try?"

The voice of Jiang Nannan's roommate pulled her back to reality. Smelling the aroma wafting through the air, a hint of temptation flickered in Jiang Nannan's eyes.

Jiang Nannan's roommates crowded around her as they approached Huo Yuhao's stall. The people waiting in line didn't mind her presence at all; instead, they actively made way for her.

In a world built on the logic of love-struck minds, beauties like Jiang Nannan always enjoyed various privileges. Moreover, these people harbored some unrealistic fantasies—just giving up a spot might earn them the favor of the outer courtyard's number one beauty, which was an incredibly worthwhile deal.

Jiang Nannan smiled gratefully at them, then turned her attention to Huo Yuhao's grilled fish.

"Junior, how much are these grilled fish?"

Her soft voice and exquisitely beautiful face made Huo Yuhao freeze for a moment, a slight blush creeping onto his face. Fortunately, he snapped out of it quickly and replied, "Senior, the grilled fish are five copper soul coins each."

The price was set by Tang Ya. Considering the cost of sourcing ingredients from the academy cafeteria and labor, five copper soul coins was already a very fair price.

For Huo Yuhao, though the profit was small, the business was booming enough to support himself without any issues.

But what Huo Yuhao didn't expect was that this stunningly beautiful senior actually showed a hint of hesitation on her face. Her voice, though still gentle, carried a worldly bargaining tone: "How about a little cheaper? Three copper soul coins?"

Such a beautiful senior actually haggling over two copper soul coins with him—truly unexpected...

A thought flashed through Huo Yuhao's mind, but his expression remained unmoved: "My grilled fish are non-negotiable."

"Sorry for disturbing your business, junior. I'll try them another time if I get the chance."

Jiang Nannan didn't linger. After apologizing, she turned to leave.

But in the next instant, the situation shifted dramatically.

A deep, rumbling voice full of anger suddenly rang out. Immediately after, a figure strode over. Judging by his appearance, he seemed about the same age as Jiang Nannan, tall and powerfully built.

It was none other than Xu Sanshi, who had been persistently pursuing Jiang Nannan.

[Here it comes, here it comes. This scene feels really familiar!]

[What should happen next is Xu Sanshi throwing his weight around, Bei Bei stepping in, a bet being made for a soul fight, and then Huo Yuhao using his Spiritual Detection to help Bei Bei cheat and win a Mysterious Water Pill.]

[Tsk, without that Mysterious Water Pill, Huo Yuhao's future achievements would probably be delayed by a few years. Not to mention anything else, without it, just breaking through to level twenty before the holidays would be a huge challenge for him.]

[The process of unlocking his Second Martial Soul would slow down, and everything else for Huo Yuhao would be delayed significantly. You could say that Mysterious Water Pill was a turning point in Huo Yuhao's early days.]

[As for Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi...]

Ao Yao frowned slightly, trying hard to recall the original story.

[I can't remember if Jiang Nannan had already gone through that incident at this point.]

[Anyway, the gist is that Jiang Nannan's mother was gravely ill, and only the Black Tortoise Divine Pill, refined by the Dark Nether Sect where Xu Sanshi came from, could save her. Coincidentally, Xu Sanshi needed to consummate with a girl for his second Martial Soul awakening ritual, so Jiang Nannan made a deal with him.]

[But Xu Sanshi had no experience, went through the wrong door, failed his Martial Soul Evolution, and left Jiang Nannan with a lifelong trauma.]

[I mean, seriously, can anyone actually come up with such a ridiculous and vulgar plot as going through the wrong door?]

[What? You say it's from San's work? Oh, never mind then. After all, plots even more vulgar than this are countless in his writing. Compared to stuff like obliterating the final boss or raping the female lead, this is nothing.]

Jiang Nannan's face suddenly turned pale.

The words she was about to use to scold Xu Sanshi were unconsciously swallowed back. She couldn't help but take two steps back, and when she looked at Xu Sanshi again, her eyes held not only disgust but also a deep fear.

Ever since entering Shrek Academy, Xu Sanshi had fallen for her at first sight and started pursuing her relentlessly like sticky candy. Jiang Nannan didn't have much ill will toward Xu Sanshi as a person, but she was annoyed and disgusted by his persistent pursuit.

But now, what had she seen in that diary?

To save her mother's life, she made a deal with Xu Sanshi and gave herself to him, only for him to go through the wrong...

Thinking of her mother, who was indeed in poor health, bedridden and even worsening, Jiang Nannan's breath caught in her throat. She couldn't help but believe a bit more in the diary's contents.

If the Dark Nether Sect's pill called the Black Tortoise Divine Pill could really save her mother, and it was the only cure, she might actually choose to make such a deal with Xu Sanshi.

But... going through the wrong door was just too hard to accept.

Even if it hadn't happened to her, just hearing Ao Yao's description made it unbearable for Jiang Nannan.

It was already giving her psychological trauma, okay?

But thinking of her mother lying sick in bed, Jiang Nannan's heart ached.

Even so, it seemed... she had no choice.

Her mother was waiting to be saved...

Wait!

Jiang Nannan suddenly looked up. Her face, pale from the diary's revelations, flushed with an unnatural redness.

Since this diary was so miraculous, could she use it to obtain a reward that would save her mother's life?

If so, she wouldn't have to go through that painful experience...

Seeing Jiang Nannan silent the whole time, Xu Sanshi forced a smile as he walked up to her, trying to put on a gentle demeanor: "Nan Nan, I'm about to go to the Soul Arena with Bei Bei. How about you come cheer me on?"

As he spoke, Xu Sanshi handed her two grilled fish he had snatched from Huo Yuhao's stall with gold soul coins: "Nan Nan, eat these grilled fish first. When I get off the arena..."

Before Xu Sanshi could finish, Jiang Nannan stepped back, widening the distance between them.

Her expression was as if Xu Sanshi were some kind of plague.

Seeing this, Xu Sanshi froze for a moment, a hurt look crossing his face, but he was confused inside.

Jiang Nannan had always rejected his advances, but she had never avoided him like she was dodging a plague before, had she?

Had he done something wrong again?