Dusk deepened, and the lanterns along the pedestrian street began to light up one after another.
Amber light spilled across the bluestone road. The blacksmith's shop had already closed, but several food stalls still steamed in the evening air. Grease dripped from the grilled meat onto the coals with a sizzle, and its aroma drifted halfway down the street.
Xiao Wu pulled Ning Rongrong along West Street outside the academy, jogging all the way to the entrance of the Happy Claw Machine.
The shop was lit.
Qin Chuan sat behind the counter, a wrap spread out in front of him. He was eating with grease all over his mouth.
Beside him sat a steaming bowl of beef soup brought back from Old Wang Noodle Shop.
Hearing a sound at the entrance, he looked up—well, well, Scorpion Braid was back, and she had someone with her this time.
Qin Chuan hurriedly wiped his mouth, hid the wrap beneath the counter, and stood up.
"Welcome to the Happy Claw Machine."
"Hey, boss, I brought you a customer." Xiao Wu grinned as she nudged the girl beside her forward.
Ning Rongrong was pushed to the front. She looked up, and her gaze met that of the young man behind the counter.
Qin Chuan recognized the newcomer.
Ning Rongrong. The young miss of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
She was a little shorter than Xiao Wu, but her figure was perfectly proportioned.
Her blue skirt fell just past her knees, revealing calves wrapped in white stockings that glowed softly under the shop's warm lights.
Her ankle boots had low heels. She swayed gently as she walked, her waist so slender it seemed a breeze could snap it.
She had an oval face, with a little more gentleness than Xiao Wu and a little less playfulness. Wisps of hair fell naturally over her forehead, and a silver hair clip was tucked beside her ear.
She looked over the six Claw Machines in the shop, her gaze lingering for a few seconds on the colorful plush toys.
"So cute..." Ning Rongrong bent down to peer through the glass at the stuffed animals. Her eyes were drawn to a white kitten. "This cat is so well-behaved."
Qin Chuan grinned. Another person who couldn't resist the plushies.
"Boss, this is Ning Rongrong, my roommate," Xiao Wu offered.
Ning Rongrong straightened up and nodded at Qin Chuan. "Hello."
"Hello, hello." Qin Chuan was all smiles. After all, every customer meant money for tomorrow's meals. "If this is your first time here, just put your hand on this Crystal Ball to register."
Ning Rongrong glanced at Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu nodded vigorously, her rabbit-ear hair ornaments bobbing along.
Ning Rongrong walked to the counter. After a moment's hesitation, she pressed her right palm against the fist-sized Crystal Ball.
The orb lit up.
A voice poured into her mind.
[Congratulations, system registration successful! Welcome to the God-Tier Claw Machine!] [Basic Information: Ning Rongrong, 18 years old, Soul King Level 59.] [Membership Level: Ordinary Member (Current Experience: 0/10)] ...
Ning Rongrong read through the information one line at a time. Her fingers began to grow warm.
Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings. Thousand-Year Soul Bones. Innate Full Soul Power.
Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, with its top-tier resources from across the continent, had never seen a shop dare offer such things as prizes in a claw machine.
The penalty clause in the Confidentiality Agreement made her back grow faintly cold. Her Soul Power reduced to Level 1—what was that if not being crippled?
Ning Rongrong stole a glance at the boss. He looked like an ordinary person, tall and thin, and she couldn't sense even the slightest trace of Soul Power from him.
Just who was he?
The thought circled through her mind once before Ning Rongrong pushed it aside. Whoever he was, she'd try the machine first.
Ning Rongrong fished a Gold Soul Coin out of the small purse at her waist and pressed it against the Crystal Ball. The coin was sucked inside, and three copper-colored Game Coins rolled out.
She picked up the Game Coins and walked to the machine on the right side of the Ordinary Zone. The white kitten was inside.
Xiao Wu crowded beside her, as excited as if she were watching her own family compete. "Come on, come on!"
Ning Rongrong inserted the first coin.
The machine lit up, and the joystick popped out. She gripped it with both hands and carefully moved it. The mechanical claw above followed, swaying as it lined up with the white kitten.
She pressed the button.
The claw descended, opened, and closed.
It caught the cat by the tail.
It lifted the cat two centimeters, then slipped.
The kitten dropped back into place, unmoved.
"Ah..." Ning Rongrong sighed and furrowed her brows.
The second coin.
This time, she adjusted the position, aiming for the cat's waist.
The claw descended, its three metal prongs closing around the cat's belly. It lifted the cat steadily.
It rose halfway up, swayed twice, then fell.
Ning Rongrong tightened her grip on the joystick, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"This is your last try." Xiao Wu nervously rubbed her hands together beside her.
Ning Rongrong put in her final Game Coin and stared at the white kitten inside the glass for three seconds.
She recalculated the angle.
She nudged the joystick, moving the claw to a spot just a little ahead of the kitten's center.
She pressed the button.
The claw descended. Its three open metal prongs landed perfectly between the kitten's neck and front legs, then closed around its whole body.
It lifted the kitten. Steady.
It moved toward the exit, reaching the spot above it.
The claw released, and the white kitten dropped into the chute.
Bang!
The lights at the bottom flashed, and the machine chimed.
"I got it!" Xiao Wu shrieked, grabbing Ning Rongrong's arm and shaking it excitedly.
Ning Rongrong crouched and pulled the White Kitten Pendant out of the prize chute. It was palm-sized and finely made, with soft white plush.
She had just closed her hand around the kitten.
A voice boomed into her mind.
[Congratulations, player Ning Rongrong, you have won one Little Cat Pendant!] [Bonus Prize 1: Soul Power Level +2! Takes effect immediately!] [Bonus Prize 2: 8,000-year Medusa Head Spirit Bone! Bound automatically!] [Skill Acquired: Medusa's Gaze! (Due to its limited age, it can only be used against non-human life forms.)]
Ning Rongrong froze.
She felt a warm energy flow from her palm into her meridians, traveling up her arm, past her shoulder and neck, and finally converging at the Baihui acupoint atop her head.
Her scalp tingled. A faint vibration came from deep within her bones, as if something were growing and fusing with her.
Her Soul Power Level had increased by two, taking her straight from Level 59 to Level 61.
An 8,000-year Medusa Head Spirit Bone, complete with an active skill.
Ning Rongrong's knees felt weak.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had poured its resources into raising her, allotting her cultivation supplies worth tens of thousands of Gold Soul Coins each year just to bring her to Level 59.
And here, one Gold Soul Coin had bought her three tries and a palm-sized plush cat.
Two levels. Plus an 8,000-year Soul Bone.
This was insane. Completely insane!
Ning Rongrong's hand trembled, her fingertips quivering around the kitten. She tried desperately to keep her expression under control, but she couldn't hold back the curve of her lips.
Seeing her like this, Xiao Wu immediately leaned over and lowered her voice. "You won, right? Come on, let's go outside and talk."
"Mm-hmm." Ning Rongrong tucked the kitten into her purse, then turned and smiled at Qin Chuan.
"Thank you, boss. I'll be back tomorrow."
Qin Chuan popped his head out from beneath the counter, still chewing half a mouthful of wrap. He mumbled, "You're welcome, you're welcome. Come by often."
He watched the two girls leave hand in hand, earning another two Silver Soul Coins in commission.
"Haha, she only won a pendant. You'd think she'd hit the jackpot."
He slipped the silver coins into his pocket and happily went back to his wrap. Tomorrow's meal was taken care of, too.
On the pedestrian street's flagstone path, the lanterns stretched the two girls' shadows long.
Xiao Wu tugged Ning Rongrong into an empty alley. After checking that no boys were passing by, they pressed their heads together.
"What did you get? What did you win?" Xiao Wu asked, stamping her feet impatiently.