"Cough, cough..."
Jiang Yi took a few steps back, putting some distance between himself and Ning Tian. He didn't take the Gold Soul Coin card.
It was hard to refuse someone when you owed them, and taking their money made you beholden to them.
But he was a man like an eagle soaring through the skies. How could he let himself be tied down to one tree?
He wasn't going to marry into her family. No way.
"Then how about forty thousand a month...?"
Ning Tian pulled out another card and blinked her pretty eyes.
Jiang Yi shook his head. "This isn't about money!"
Ning Tian tilted her head, sounding a little tentative. "Fifty thousand?"
"I'm not that kind of person."
Jiang Yi spoke with a straight face, never once looking away.
"Sixty thousand..."
"Deal!"
Jiang Yi reached out and clasped Ning Tian's hand, snatching the card from her palm in the blink of an eye.
If this was an insult, then let him be insulted to his heart's content. If this was a shackle, then let him be bound tight!
He, Jiang Yi, could take hardship!
Sixty thousand Gold Soul Coins was enough to buy him several Mystic Water Pills!
"Great! From now on, you just need to come once a month for practical training... I'll leave Feng Mei in your hands."
Ning Tian nodded with a smile, her gaze casually falling on Jiang Yi's hand still holding hers. A trace of smug satisfaction flickered in her eyes.
As expected, she was a master at socializing.
She really was quite charming.
"No problem."
Jiang Yi agreed readily.
After all, he wasn't selling a kidney. There was no shame in working for money, and this was much easier than competing in matches. He'd earn more, too.
As for the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect... he could just pull up his pants and run when the time came.
Shrek Outer Court, office.
"I understand the situation now. I'll report it to the academic affairs office and try to get you a place as a core disciple."
Mu Jin nodded at Jiang Yi.
This child's Martial Soul was already beyond her understanding, so she had to report it to the academy. Of course, that would benefit Jiang Yi, too.
"Thank you, Teacher!"
Jiang Yi thanked her.
He'd done it on purpose, too. Otherwise, Tian Meng could easily have concealed the color of his Soul Ring.
He had no connections or background. Shrek was the easiest place for him to make a name for himself, so there was no point in keeping things under wraps.
No matter what anyone said, Mu En had been pretty decent in Douluo II.
As long as he didn't reveal Tian Meng's true strength, he'd be fine. Even in the original story, Mu En had guessed Ice Empress's identity, and nothing much had come of it.
Before Mu En died, Jiang Yi would get whatever he could out of Shrek. He'd wait and see what happened once Yan Shaozhe took over. If things didn't work out, he'd run.
That was why he'd come to Shrek.
"Mm. Go back and wait for news."
Mu Jin smiled and waved him off.
With Jiang Yi and Ning Tian on her side, she was sure to beat that bitch in the freshman assessment this time.
After leaving Mu Jin's office, Jiang Yi didn't return to the dormitory. Instead, he headed straight for Shrek City.
Second floor of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.
"Twenty thousand? Didn't you say they were ten thousand each?"
Jiang Yi looked at the three Mystic Water Pills before him, his face darkening.
The price had doubled? Why not just rob him?
He'd seen Xu Sanshi casually pull out two in the original story. He hadn't expected to underestimate these rich bastards.
The rich really were damned!
"Mystic Water Pills are nearly impossible to find on the market! We've already given you a discount..."
The white-dressed maid explained softly.
Mystic Water Pills hardly ever circulated on the open market. Even the Treasure Gathering Pavilion relied on its own channels to keep any in stock.
"Fine! But you'll have to throw that in, too!"
Jiang Yi glanced at the cabinet beside him and pointed at the dull black crystal inside.
"Th-this Millennium Whale Rubber is worth six thousand Gold Soul Coins. I'm afraid..."
The white-dressed maid looked troubled. The amount was too large for her to decide on her own.
"Give it to him!"
An elderly voice suddenly came from the staircase. A white-haired old woman descended at an unhurried pace. She glanced at Jiang Yi's school uniform, then waved her hand.
"Yes!"
The white-dressed maid bowed respectfully, then began packing Jiang Yi's purchases.
"Hmm?"
Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow and was about to thank her, but the white-haired old woman had no intention of speaking with him. She turned and left.
Even so, Jiang Yi bowed slightly in the direction she'd gone.
"Thank you, senior!"
When you were out in the world, a sweet tongue always came in handy.
After paying, Jiang Yi was once again left with empty sleeves. But he didn't regret it. Money only mattered once it had been turned into strength.
The night grew late. Jiang Yi hurried back to the academy just before curfew.
Dormitory 110.
Jiang Yi opened the door and walked in.
Someone was already there. A golden-haired girl sat at the head of his bed, needle and thread in hand, sewing a piece of men's underwear.
The dim yellow light fell across her profile, tracing a gentle, tender outline.
"You're back?"
Hearing him, Jiang Nannan raised her head, set down the garment, and came over.
"Big Sis Nannan!"
Jiang Yi called out, his voice carrying a hint of affection.
"Xiao Yi, why did you ask me to come over so late at night? Is something the matter?"
Jiang Nannan looked at Jiang Yi curiously.
She'd just finished class today when Tang Ya told her Jiang Yi was looking for her. And how did Tang Ya even know Xiao Yi?
"Big Sis Nannan, I have a gift for you."
Jiang Yi took a jade box from his robes and held it out to her.
"Is this... a Mystic Water Pill?"
Jiang Nannan took the box and opened it. She stared at the round pill inside, thinking for a long while before recognizing it.
She'd never taken one, but there were pharmacology classes in the Martial Soul Department, too. She knew about some of the famous pills.
"I don't want it!"
She immediately pushed the box back.
She didn't know where Jiang Yi had gotten it, but Mystic Water Pills were far too precious. And Jiang Yi's innate soul power was only level six. He needed it more than she did.
"Take it. I have more."
Jiang Yi pushed the box back into her hands without giving her a choice, his tone stubborn.
He was never stingy with a big sister who sincerely cared about him. It was one of the few bonds in Douluo that he truly valued.
"You really have more?"
Jiang Nannan looked at him.
"I really do!"
Jiang Yi pulled another jade box from his robes and waved it around, but didn't open it.
Jiang Nannan only glanced at it before taking one Mystic Water Pill and pushing the other box back to him.
"I only need one."
No matter what Jiang Yi said, she refused to take any more.
She knew him. There was at most one pill in that box; otherwise, he would've opened it to show her already.
A person could take no more than two Mystic Water Pills. One was enough for her.
"All right, I'm already over level thirty. This Mystic Water Pill won't do much for me. Don't waste it."
Jiang Nannan smiled at Jiang Yi and gently rubbed his head, coaxing him patiently.
"It's enough that you thought of your big sister. Hurry up and refine it. I'll protect you."
"All right!"
Jiang Yi nodded helplessly.
He didn't take the Mystic Water Pill right away. Instead, he went downstairs and brought up several buckets of hot water, pouring them into the tub.
Jiang Nannan sat to one side, watching Jiang Yi bustle about. She toyed with the warm, smooth Mystic Water Pill in her hand, her heart full of contentment.
Her little brother had grown up.
She didn't care where the Mystic Water Pill had come from. All she knew was that Jiang Yi had always kept his big sister in mind.
That was enough!
"Hmm?"
Jiang Nannan's beautiful eyes suddenly widened.
She thought she saw Jiang Yi toss a dark, lumpy object into the tub. That thing... looked kind of familiar.
"Whale Rubber?"
She blinked. The words suddenly sprang to mind, and two rosy clouds rose on her cheeks.
She thought she understood why Jiang Yi had asked her to come over so late at night.
But—
Xiao Yi, I'm your big sister!
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