Helping Zhu Zhuqing Haggle, Xiao Wu: I Can't Live Like This!

The vendor saw that she was from out of town and a young girl with little experience in the world, so he said with a face full of bluster:

"Miss, this is a detailed map!"

"It marks the entrances to every nearby Spirit Beast forest! Ten Gold Soul Coins is already a fair price!"

"Buy it or leave!"

Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip. She truly needed a map urgently to confirm her bearings.

"Ten Gold Soul Coins? For a map as worthless as toilet paper, I'd think five Copper Soul Coins was too expensive."

A lazy voice cut in.

Lin Chuan strolled forward with both hands in his pockets.

He casually picked up the map, glanced at it, and sneered.

"The drawing is crude. It doesn't even show all the streets of Suotuo City, and it hasn't clearly marked the locations of nearby villages."

"This is your so-called detailed map? And you dare ask for ten Gold Soul Coins?"

"Believe it or not, I can call the patrol over right now to check your license."

The vendor's expression changed, and he was about to lash out.

But then he saw Lin Chuan's finely tailored clothes. That composed bearing clearly did not belong to an ordinary person.

He immediately backed down and said with a fawning smile:

"Oh, sir, I was just joking, just joking."

"One silver coin, and it's yours!"

Lin Chuan tossed him a silver coin, then took two maps.

One for himself.

He handed the other map to Zhu Zhuqing.

"Here, take it."

"When you're out in the world, don't flaunt your wealth. Don't let yourself get taken for a fool."

"These days, there are more scammers than Spirit Beasts."

Zhu Zhuqing accepted the map blankly.

She raised her head and carefully studied the boy before her.

Under the sunlight, the boy had an exceptionally handsome profile.

The calm way he haggled, and the way he stood up for a stranger.

He was completely different from the men she had encountered along the way, who harbored ill intentions toward her and looked at her with lecherous eyes.

His gaze was lazy, yet it gave her an inexplicable sense of security.

"Th... thank you."

A faint blush rarely appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's cold face. Somewhat at a loss, she said, "Um, how much was it? I'll pay you back."

"No need. It was only a silver coin. Consider it my treat for tea."

Lin Chuan waved his hand and turned to leave, leaving behind only a dashing back and a single sentence:

"If fate allows, we'll meet again, little kitty."

Zhu Zhuqing clutched the map as she watched Lin Chuan leave.

The taut string in her heart loosened slightly.

"Little kitty...? Did he see through my Martial Soul?"

Zhu Zhuqing touched her slightly burning cheek.

"What a strange person! He looked so lazy, yet he was so perceptive."

"But I didn't seem to dislike him."

By the time they returned to their room at the Rose Hotel, it was already late at night.

When Lin Chuan pushed open the door, he saw an incredibly inspiring sight.

Tang San sat cross-legged on the carpet, his hands moving swiftly.

He was intently embedding strands of Hair Gold into the Dragon Whisker Needles one by one.

Sweat covered his forehead, yet excitement gleamed in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Xiao Wu hugged a pillow and curled up on the sofa, staring resentfully at Tang San's back.

"Third Brother, it's already midnight. Aren't you going to sleep?" Xiao Wu muttered. "Is that stupid needle really so fun?"

Tang San did not even turn around.

"Xiao Wu, you sleep first. The Dragon Whisker Needle is incredibly powerful. With it, we'll have another safeguard on our way to Shrek."

"Besides, Big Brother gave me such precious materials. I can't let down Big Brother's expectations. I have to finish it tonight!"

Xiao Wu sighed and buried her face in the pillow like a deflated ball.

Was this what they meant by being doomed to die alone?

Such a perfect atmosphere, and he was actually playing with needles!

Watching this scene, Lin Chuan could not help shaking his head and secretly laughing to himself.

Xiao San, Xiao San, your emotional intelligence really is in the negatives.

But that's fine. You can work yourself to the bone, and I'll sleep.

"Alright, stop making noise."

Lin Chuan yawned and threw himself directly onto the soft bed, spreading himself out comfortably.

"I'm going to sleep. Xiao San, keep it down. Don't disturb my dreams."

"Yes, Big Brother! Don't worry, Big Brother! I definitely won't make a sound!"

Tang San immediately lowered his voice, and his movements became much more careful.

A few minutes later, Lin Chuan's steady breathing sounded.

Tang San, still on the carpet, continued working tirelessly.

Xiao Wu, on the sofa, looked at Lin Chuan sleeping soundly.

Then she looked at Tang San's back, still turned toward her.

The resentment in her eyes seemed solid enough to take form.

One slept like a pig. She was starting to suspect Lin Chuan was a hundred-thousand-year-old pig Spirit Beast who had transformed into a human!

And the other trained like a block of wood! She couldn't live like this anymore!

The next day.

Following the map's directions, Lin Chuan's group of three finally arrived at the legendary Shrek Academy.

It was a rundown little village.

A flimsy wooden archway, looking as though it might collapse at any moment.

A plaque reading "Shrek Academy" hung above it, and even its paint was peeling.

Tang San and Xiao Wu were both stunned.

"This is the academy Grandmaster said only monsters could enter?"

Xiao Wu's eyes widened as she pointed at the plaque in disbelief.

"This is way too shabby! Even Notting Academy is a hundred times better than this! Brother, did we buy the wrong map?"

Tang San's mouth twitched as well.

He looked toward Lin Chuan, who was yawning beside him.

"Big Brother, this..."

Lin Chuan remained calm, and he even seemed to want to laugh.

With his hands clasped behind his head, he said lazily:

"Just as expected, just as expected."

"Since we're here, let's take a look."

At that moment, a long line had already formed at the registration area by the village entrance.

The person in charge of registration was an old man dressed in plain cloth, holding a long staff. He was Li Yusong, a six-ringed Soul Emperor.

He sat lazily behind the table, looking as if he could fall asleep at any moment.

"Your bone age doesn't qualify. Next."

Li Yusong coldly felt a young man's hand bones and rejected him outright.

At the same time, he casually swept the ten Gold Soul Coins on the table into a drawer.

The young man's father froze, then hurriedly asked:

"Teacher, how could he not qualify?"

"If he doesn't qualify, why won't you return the registration fee?"

Li Yusong did not even raise his eyelids.

"If you're not even a monster, you want to enter the academy?"

"As for the registration fee, once you register, there are no refunds."

"You're cheating people out of money! You're robbers!" the young man's father roared furiously. "Give us back the money! We're not registering!"

"You want a refund?" A cold glint flashed in Li Yusong's eyes as Soul Power surged around him.

"Mubai, someone's causing trouble."

Boom!

A golden light exploded from nearby.

With an arrogant snort, Dai Mubai descended from the sky.

"You want your registration fee back? Fine."

Dai Mubai's evil eyes were full of disdain, and a cruel smile hung on his lips.

"Defeat me, and I'll return your money!"

"These are Shrek's rules."

Lin Chuan had slapped him before, and he was still holding that anger inside!

Roar—!

The White Tiger Martial Soul instantly possessed him, and three Spirit Rings—two yellow and one purple—rose around him.

The powerful, domineering aura of a Soul Elder erupted without restraint.

It pressed down on the ordinary father and son like a mountain.

How could that father and son have ever seen such a spectacle? Their faces turned pale, and their legs went weak.

The two fled in a scrambling panic, not daring to look back.

"Hmph, trash."

Dai Mubai withdrew his Martial Soul and arrogantly adjusted his collar.

His eyes searched the crowd viciously.

When they finally locked onto Lin Chuan at the back of the line, a flash of ruthlessness and resentment instantly crossed his eyes.

Yesterday, you managed to land a sneak attack in Suotuo City. Today, on my turf, let's see how you die!