Buying Off Flender, Encountering Zhu Zhuqing

They arrived at the only "Red Ocean" room.

The moment he opened the door, Tang San was completely dumbfounded.

The entire room was decorated in shades of pink, and the large bed was covered in rose petals.

Even more outrageous, there were strange-looking chairs and props beside it.

"Wh-what kind of room is this?"

Tang San only felt his face burn, completely at a loss.

Xiao Wu also sensed that something was off. Her face flushed red as she lowered her head, not daring to look at Tang San.

Yet an involuntary thought surfaced in her heart:

It would be nice if it were just Third Brother and me...

And Lin Chuan?

He completely ignored those suggestive decorations.

He walked straight to the enormous heart-shaped bed, tested its springiness, then nodded in satisfaction.

"Alright, stop blushing over there."

Lin Chuan lay down directly on the bed, claiming the most comfortable spot.

"This bed is mine."

"Huh?" Xiao Wu froze. "Then where do I sleep?"

Lin Chuan pointed at the large pink sofa nearby. "You sleep there. It's pretty soft."

"What about Third Brother?" Xiao Wu asked anxiously.

Lin Chuan pointed at the thick carpet on the floor.

"Xiao San needs to temper his will in harsh conditions. The carpet is quite suitable for meditating and cultivating."

"Don't you agree, Xiao San?"

Tang San immediately nodded like a pecking chicken, his face solemn.

"Big Brother is right! Such a luxurious environment really can corrupt one's will. I'll cultivate on the carpet."

Xiao Wu looked at the utterly serious Tang San, puffed out her cheeks in anger, and could only helplessly hug a pillow as she went to the sofa.

After resting briefly, the three decided to stroll around Suotuo City.

Lin Chuan stopped at a remotely located curio shop.

The shop owner was a middle-aged man with black-rimmed crystal glasses and a hooked nose.

He lay in a recliner with his eyes closed, resting. He looked exceptionally cunning and miserly.

He was none other than Flender, the dean of Shrek Academy.

Lin Chuan's gaze seemed to casually sweep over the junk in the shop before finally landing on the dusty crystal in the corner—Crystal Hair Gold.

"Boss, how much is this jade pendant?" Lin Chuan pointed at a fairly decent-looking jade pendant, his tone casual.

Flender did not even raise his eyelids as he lazily said, "One hundred Gold Soul Coins. No bargaining."

But Lin Chuan spoke first.

"One hundred Gold Soul Coins? Are you robbing me?" Lin Chuan casually picked up a somewhat presentable crystal from nearby, along with a bracelet.

"This jade pendant, this crystal, and throw in the bracelet. One hundred Gold Soul Coins total."

"Are you selling or not? If not, I'm leaving."

Flender opened one eye and glanced at the jade pendant and bracelet.

Together, they were worth at most a few dozen Gold Soul Coins.

This kid was a sucker!

"Deal!"

Afraid that Lin Chuan might change his mind, Flender immediately sat up straight.

The transaction was complete.

After walking some distance away from the shop, Lin Chuan directly tossed the bonus crystal to Tang San and threw the bracelet to Xiao Wu.

"Take them."

Tang San caught the crystal. After examining it closely, his hands trembled with excitement.

"Big Brother! Th-this is Crystal Hair Gold! It contains Hair Gold, the perfect material for making the top-tier hidden weapon, the Dragon Whisker Needle!"

"One hundred Gold Soul Coins was practically giving it away!"

"You actually bought it as a throw-in? What incredible insight!"

Lin Chuan smiled.

"Since this thing is useful to you, it's yours."

"But when you make those needles, remember to give me some for self-defense."

"Big Brother..." Tang San was overwhelmed with emotion.

Big Brother had casually given such a priceless treasure to him. He could never repay such trust!

Xiao Wu could not help but beam after receiving the bracelet as well.

While Tang San and Xiao Wu went to study the Hair Gold, Lin Chuan did not go far. Instead, he found an excuse and turned back.

"Boss, want to make a deal?" Lin Chuan lowered his voice.

Flender was counting coins.

Seeing that it was that sucker again, he immediately beamed with delight.

"Little brother, haha, welcome!"

"How big a deal are we talking about?"

Lin Chuan took out a card from his chest and waved it before Flender.

"I'd like to sponsor your academy. About five hundred Gold Soul Coins."

Upon hearing five hundred Gold Soul Coins, Flender sprang straight out of his recliner.

His hawk-like eyes instantly turned into the shape of coins, and his breathing quickened.

"Little brother! No, esteemed boss! What do you require?"

"As long as it isn't murder or arson, I, Flender, will brave fire and water for you!"

Shrek was poor!

So poor that it could barely keep the kitchen running!

Five hundred Gold Soul Coins would cover the academy's expenses for quite some time!

Lin Chuan said with a smile, "Very simple. I want to go to Shrek Academy."

"But I'm rather lazy and don't want to be managed as a student."

"I want to buy a position—say, assistant instructor? Just a nominal, idle post."

"This..." Flender hesitated for a second.

Though he loved money, letting a child become a teacher seemed somewhat against the rules.

Lin Chuan held up one finger. "Another five hundred."

"Deal!" Flender tightly clasped Lin Chuan's hand.

Flender asked, "What should I call you, little brother?"

Lin Chuan said, "Lin as in forest, Chuan as in river."

Flender spoke righteously and with great conviction.

"Little Brother Lin Chuan!"

"Forget rules or no rules. Our Shrek is a place that breaks rules!"

"From today onward, you are Shrek Academy's specially appointed honorary assistant instructor!"

"Whoever dares disrespect you is disrespecting me, Flender!"

Lin Chuan nodded in satisfaction.

"Keep this secret for now. Don't let those two children from earlier find out. I want to give them a surprise."

"We'll tell them once we reach the academy."

Flender was settled.

Using the Gold Soul Coins he had originally earned from a lucky find to buy an assistant instructor position was quite fitting.

At the thought of Dai Mubai having to call him "Teacher Lin," Lin Chuan could barely hold back his laughter!

Lin Chuan then found Tang San and told him that he was heading to Suotuo City's largest trading house.

"Big Brother, what are you going there for?" Tang San asked.

"To buy supplies." Lin Chuan sighed, looking disdainful.

"I heard Shrek Academy is dirt poor. It probably doesn't even have a decent bed."

"I need to buy some premium blankets, snacks, and drinks. Otherwise, how am I supposed to live? Don't tell me I'm expected to sleep on straw?"

Tang San thought about it and felt that Big Brother made sense, so he returned to the hotel to refine the Hair Gold.

When Lin Chuan arrived at the entrance of the trading house,

a cold dispute caught his attention.

A cool and aloof young girl with an exceptionally voluptuous figure, dressed in tight black leather, stood frowning at a street vendor before her.

Though she was still young, her development was astonishing. Her frosty, glamorous aura made others afraid to approach.

She was Zhu Zhuqing.

Having just escaped her family's pursuit and fled all the way to Suotuo City, she had remained tense the entire time.

Although she had brought some money, she rarely went out and truly did not understand the prices here very well.