Soto City: Intercepting Hair Crystals

"Dong'er, you did well."

After crawling out from under the bed, Dugu Yan leaned in close to Wang Dong'er, a satisfied smile on her face.

"As long as you're satisfied, Senior Sister. Now, you should be able to keep that matter buried deep inside, right?"

The corners of her mouth lifted into a bitter smile as Wang Dong'er spoke, her voice devoid of energy.

"The impact of that incident was simply too great for me. Sigh, Dong'er, I truly want to forget, but I can't help it—it's already etched in my heart."

"If you want me to keep this secret, then show me with your attitude."

Pressing a light kiss to her forehead, Dugu Yan turned and left.

Because of Wang Dong'er, Xiao Wu, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling all abandoned the idea of departing during the day. Tang San, feeling helpless and unwilling to be separated from Xiao Wu, had no choice but to stay behind and wait with them.

It wasn't until noon, when Wang Dong'er's spirit had mostly recovered, that the group boarded the carriage and continued toward Soto City.

To Wang Dong'er's surprise, the weather today was exceptionally refreshing, and the atmosphere inside the carriage was much the same.

Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan ignored each other completely, staying quietly on Wang Dong'er's left and right.

Ye Lingling brewed a calming herbal decoction, and the three of them, without fighting or scrambling, considerately took turns feeding it to her.

Wang Dong'er couldn't help but fantasize about how wonderful it would be if things could always stay like this; this was the treatment a transmigrator truly deserved.

As for Tang San, no one paid him any mind. He drove the carriage while grumbling under his breath, and out of spite, he even intentionally steered them onto rugged mountain paths.

Tang San didn't even know why he was jealous of a girl, especially since this girl used to be his good friend.

Having lived two lifetimes, his heart shouldn't be so narrow. He knew his mindset was wrong, but he couldn't control it, so he could only express his dissatisfaction toward Wang Dong'er through the most childish methods.

However, the jolting of the carriage did nothing to dampen the warmth between Wang Dong'er and the three women.

After two hours on the road, the group finally arrived at their destination.

Although Soto City was merely a small city under the jurisdiction of the Bala Kingdom and its area was far from being as vast as the imperial capital, it was one of the most prosperous and bustling commercial hubs in the Heaven Dou Empire.

It was currently the peak tourist season; the main street was filled with carriages like a flowing river and crowds like a woven tapestry, the clamor almost reaching the heavens.

Once the carriage was parked in the city, Tang San spoke up.

"Today is the day Shrek Academy holds its admissions. Wang Dong'er, Xiao Wu and I won't be able to accompany you two any further."

"Good news."

The corners of her mouth lifting, Dugu Yan looked at Xiao Wu with a triumphant expression.

Xiao Wu rolled her eyes, ignoring Dugu Yan's provocation.

Looking at Wang Dong'er, her expression was complex, and she hesitated for a long time, not knowing what to say.

"We will be staying in Soto City for a while. When you have time, you can come find me after school, or I can come find you."

Wang Dong'er said.

"Ahem." Dugu Yan gave a dry cough, her jade-like hand silently patting Wang Dong'er on the lower back.

Wang Dong'er chose to ignore it; if she let Dugu Yan push her around like this, wouldn't she have no good days ahead?

"Really? That's great! Then wait for me in the city. I'll come find you as soon as enrollment is finished."

Xiao Wu's mood improved significantly. At the very least, she could still see Wang Dong'er in the short term. As for the future...

"I must work hard at my cultivation and transform into a true human as soon as possible."

Clenching her fists, Xiao Wu made a silent resolution in her heart.

After they parted ways, only the three of them remained in the small group.

After booking rooms at the Rose Hotel, the three of them strolled through the most prosperous commercial street in Soto City.

Only Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling were actually shopping; after all, they were girls.

As for Wang Dong'er, she had no heart for it.

Her gaze swept rapidly across the storefronts on both sides of the street. When she reached an intersection, a unique sign caught her attention.

In the center of the east side of the street stood a modest shop.

It had no name, only three eye-catching symbols from the world of Spirit Masters.

They were a blue dragon, a long sword, and a hammer.

The blue dragon represented the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.

The long sword was the Seven Kill Sword, representing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

And the last hammer...

"A generation of angels, a generation of hammers. Every generation of angels gets hit by a big hammer."

Wang Dong'er suddenly thought of something interesting.

That hammer was none other than her second spirit, the Clear Sky Hammer.

In all of Soto City, no one but Flender would have the audacity to use the emblem of the Upper Three Sects.

Or perhaps, the soul masters in Soto City simply wouldn't recognize the emblem of the Upper Three Sects at all.

"To think there's a shop in Soto City with the Upper Three Sects' emblem?"

Scratching her head, Dugu Yan asked in confusion.

"That's not right. This shop is actually using the emblems of the Upper Three Sects, even the Clear Sky Sect's. They have some nerve."

"Let's go in and take a look. Who knows, there might be something interesting."

With that, Wang Dong'er led the two of them into the small shop.

The shop was small, roughly forty square meters, with simple decor. There were only two shelves for merchandise on either side, and a wooden counter faced the entrance.

A middle-aged man lay on a rocking chair behind the counter.

The man wore a brown leather jacket, and his appearance was... rather peculiar. His long, shoehorn-shaped face was truly difficult to compliment.

His aura was restrained, and he kept his eyes closed in a feigned slumber, as if he were completely unaware that customers had arrived.

This shoehorn face must be Flender. This guy really has a big heart; the academy is holding admissions today, yet as the dean, he doesn't seem to care at all.

Wang Dong'er secretly grumbled to herself.

In the original story, Flender kept saying he wanted to build the academy well and carry forward the legacy of Shrek Academy.

But now...

Although Tang San's character was questionable, his arrival had indeed brought success to many who shouldn't have achieved it, and the Flender before them was one such person.

Wang Dong'er turned her gaze toward the soul guidance devices on the shelves.

Although they emitted faint fluctuations of soul power, those devices were all dilapidated, and the soul power fluctuations had been left on them quite deliberately.

Two shelves, thousands of items, and not a single one was legitimate. He truly lived up to his reputation as a notorious profiteer.

"Boss, you've got customers."

Dugu Yan called out.

Seeing that Flender didn't react, Dugu Yan called out again. After several attempts, Flender was clearly becoming impatient. Without even lifting his eyelids, he turned his body to face away from the three of them and said coldly.

"Take whatever you want, and don't bother me if there's nothing else."

"?" Dugu Yan frowned, and refusing to take the insult, she retorted, "This is the first time I've ever seen someone do business like this. Dong'er, Lingling, let's go. It's no wonder you've reached middle age and achieved nothing."

She pulled at Ye Lingling, but her right hand suddenly felt empty; Wang Dong'er had already arrived at the counter, having selected the items she wanted to purchase.

Flender didn't acknowledge Dugu Yan's sarcasm. He glanced at the items Wang Dong'er had chosen, then took a look at the appearance and attire of the three, sneering inwardly.

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