Robbery

After arriving on Douluo Continent, he could barely scrape by even in the orphanage, since its funds didn't allow him to indulge his cravings.

Now, he no longer had to worry about money and could let himself go. Lin Ye stopped at a stall. "Boss, give me a grilled sausage."

Glancing at the two women beside him, he added, "Make it three."

The stall owner's skill was practiced, his movements brisk.

Soon enough, Lin Ye and the two girls each held a grilled sausage.

Lin Ye took a bite, then broke into a satisfied smile, polishing off the sausage in just a few mouthfuls.

Seeing the two women hadn't eaten, he said, "You two should try it too. It's really good."

Hearing this, Bing Di tentatively took a bite, and then her eyes lit up. She too finished it in just a few bites.

Bing Di licked her lips, still unsatisfied, and said to the stall owner, "Give me another—no, give me ten more."

The stall owner's grin stretched from ear to ear, not just from the profit but from the joy of having his craft recognized.

Lin Ye chuckled to himself, thinking, This one really hasn't seen the world.

Seeing Bing Di's strong reaction, Xue Di also tried a cautious bite. Then, it was as if this ice beauty had discovered a new continent—her beautiful eyes sparkled, and for the first time, a smile graced her cold, clear features.

While waiting, Bing Di spotted a nearby stall selling sugar-coated haws. The haws were big and red, each one plump and looking delicious. She trotted over and ordered ten sticks.

"Miss, here are your sugar-coated haws."

Bing Di took the haws and turned to walk back, completely unaware of anything amiss.

"Hey, miss, you haven't paid yet."

The stall owner quickly called out to her, thinking the young girl had simply forgotten.

Bing Di turned back, puzzled. "Pay? Do I need to pay?"

This question nearly short-circuited the stall owner's brain. Wasn't paying for goods a basic principle of the world? What kind of question was that, and how could she ask it so matter-of-factly?

Before he could reply, Bing Di asked again, "And what is 'pay' anyway?"

At this, the stall owner's expression turned strange. What the hell? This person didn't even know what money was? Was she messing with him?

Not just the stall owner, but even passersby who overheard the question cast ambiguous glances their way.

"Uh... this is a small business, miss. Please don't make fun of me. That'll be twenty copper soul coins."

For a moment, Bing Di was at a loss. She genuinely had no idea what money or copper soul coins were.

"Boss, she's just joking, don't mind her. Here's the money." Lin Ye walked over, holding ten grilled sausages, and kindly settled the bill for the clueless Bing Di.

Lin Ye handed over a gold soul coin, and the stall owner's face immediately softened into a pleasant expression.

Once they were a bit farther away, Bing Di asked quietly, "So money is just those scraps of metal? You have to give people money to eat?"

Lin Ye rolled his eyes, feeling speechless. "What else? Why would they let you eat for free?"

For some reason, Bing Di's actions just now reminded him of the scene from The Return of the Condor Heroes where Xiao Longnu of the Ancient Tomb Sect bought steamed buns.

Xiao Longnu had always lived in the ancient tomb, cut off from the world, so it made sense she didn't understand currency in society.

The same applied to Bing Di—after all, she had always lived in the Extreme North Land and had never learned about human society.

Not to mention Bing Di, even Xiao Wu came to the human world without doing any homework. When she arrived at Notting Academy, she also didn't know she had to pay for food. Ridiculous.

Bing Di still didn't quite get it. What use did these humans have for those scraps of metal? But not understanding was fine—as long as she could trade those scraps for good food.

A thought that should never have existed in a soul beast's mind took root in Bing Di's head: making money.

Lin Ye was very wealthy, practically dripping with riches.

But Bing Di didn't want to ask Lin Ye for it. She looked around, and her gaze eventually settled on a portly middle-aged man.

That fatty was wearing fine fabrics, with a thick gold chain around his neck—clearly someone of great wealth, definitely not short on cash.

You're the one. Bing Di locked onto her target. With a flash, she blocked the fat man's path. "Human, hand over your money to This Emperor."

The fat man was dumbfounded. Was he being robbed? And why did this little girl talk so strangely? Calling herself "This Emperor"? And calling him "human"?

What did that mean? Was she not human? Was she insulting him or herself?

Lin Ye's mouth twitched. Sure enough, soul beast behavior—resorting to robbery at the drop of a hat.

Bing Di, oh Bing Di, stooping to robbery for a few gold soul coins—isn't that dragging your own status through the mud?

"Sorry, my sister was just joking..." Lin Ye hurried over to explain.

The man didn't press the issue, but after looking at the three of them like they were lunatics, he walked away as if avoiding a plague.

"Hey, why did you stop This Emperor?" Bing Di was very annoyed, having failed to get her little money.

Lin Ye sighed in exasperation. "I say, Bing Di, you're a regional overlord, aren't you? Is it really worth robbing for that little bit of cash? How embarrassing."

At this, Bing Di put her hands on her hips and argued, "I earned it with my own skill—how is that embarrassing?"

Lin Ye: "..."

Alright, alright. Being a soul beast had stunted Bing Di's cultural education. Lin Ye decided that when the chance came, he'd give this woman some ideological indoctrination.

Seeing Bing Di's defiant little expression, Lin Ye secretly laughed. "Fine, fine. If you need money, just come to me. No need to rob anyone."

"You said it yourself." Bing Di's eyes lit up, thinking this time she could really fleece him.

Lin Ye wasn't bothered—this just showed Bing Di had no grasp of a Gold Soul Coin's purchasing power.

With his current assets, if it was just about eating and having fun, Lin Ye declared he couldn't spend it all, no way he could spend it all.

With Lin Ye as her meal ticket, Bing Di went all out, sampling every delicacy at every stall.

After wandering for nearly an hour, Bing Di showed no sign of stopping, determined to taste every last dish before calling it quits.

Xue Di ate some too, but nowhere near Bing Di's level.

As dusk fell, Lin Ye had no choice but to call Bing Di to a halt. "That's enough for now. There's plenty of human world cuisine—you'll have your fill later, no need to rush it all today."

Looking at Bing Di's flat lower abdomen, Lin Ye couldn't help but marvel inwardly. She had just eaten at least ten people's worth of food, yet there wasn't a trace of a reaction. Truly, he couldn't judge Bing Di by ordinary standards.

Afterward, the three found an inn to stay at. With a full year until the Spirit Awakening, Lin Ye had plenty of time—no need to rush.

In his room, Lin Ye lay on the soft, large bed and couldn't help but feel moved. Just yesterday, he had been lost about life, uncertain of the future.

Today, he could already look forward to a bright life ahead. Happiness had come too suddenly.