Watching Others Make Money Is More Painful Than Losing My Own!

Upon hearing this, Qin Jiuxiao immediately understood the guy's intentions.

However, they had originally planned to go to Shrek Academy anyway, so getting the crystal for free was killing two birds with one stone.

Suddenly, Qin Jiuxiao sensed a presence.

He had intended to drag things out further, but he immediately changed his expression and hooked his arm around Flender's shoulder.

"Uncle Flender, you are absolutely right. We're all family, how could we speak as if we were outsiders?"

"I'll accept this crystal, and whichever academy you say you're going to, we'll follow you."

Flender should have been happy to hear this, but he felt an inexplicable sense of unease in his heart.

This was the same premonition he always had right before he was about to lose money.

Subconsciously, he glanced at the crystal in Qin Jiuxiao's hand. Could it be something valuable?

Impossible, impossible. He had just picked it up from a street stall; it had only cost a few copper soul coins, so what value could it possibly have?

Thinking of this, he felt much more relieved.

The next moment, a figure appeared outside the shop.

"Qin Jiuxiao!!!"

"How is it you!!!"

When that figure saw the people inside the shop, he exclaimed in shock.

His voice carried a hint of imperceptible fear.

Everyone looked over.

They saw Tang San looking ragged and disheveled. His clothes and pants were full of holes, his hair was a mess, his already lean frame had become even thinner, and a sour stench wafted from him.

His eyes were deeply sunken, and his thick, dark circles were very prominent.

It was hard to tell how long it had been since he had a full meal or a good night's sleep.

"I was wondering who it was, turns out it's you, little San."

"It's only been two days, how did you end up looking like a beggar?"

"I don't think there are any beggars in Suotuo City under the Qin Family's governance."

The other girls also stepped back in disgust, putting some distance between themselves and Tang San.

Setting aside the fact that they already had a poor impression of him, Tang San simply didn't smell good right now.

Tang San clenched his fists. Nothing was more humiliating than having an enemy see him in such a pathetic state.

Moreover, he felt as if he had been cursed with bad luck these past few days.

He fell into a river while fishing, encountered a pickpocket while collecting gold soul coins, and even woke up in the territory of a Joyous Ape after taking a nap.

He had been so terrified that he fled for dozens of miles overnight, nearly running his legs off.

Qin Jiuxiao fanned his nose, squeezed over to Xiao Wu's side, and hugged her, taking a deep breath before showing a satisfied expression.

"Xiao Wu is still the most fragrant and softest. I've come back to life."

Xiao Wu's face turned red at his words.

Seeing that the Xiao Wu he missed day and night was showing such a shy expression toward Qin Jiuxiao, Tang San felt as if his heart were being torn apart.

"Xiao Wu, how can you be so intimate with another man!"

"Don't you recognize me? I am your dearest brother San!"

Tang San still held a glimmer of hope, wishing that Xiao Wu was merely being deceived by Qin Jiuxiao and would eventually come back to her senses.

But the day Tang Hao attacked had long since shattered the filter she had for the father-son duo.

"Of course I recognize you, the Tang San who lied to me for so many years!"

"I won't forget it even if I die!"

Xiao Wu gritted her teeth, her tone filled with killing intent.

Tang San felt immense heartache, reaching his hand out toward Xiao Wu as if he could bring her back that way.

But he only saw Xiao Wu step back as well, looking at him with utter disgust.

"Young man, the smell on you has seriously affected my shop's business."

"Based on today's turnover, you need to compensate me..."

Flender held his nose and rapidly clicked his abacus, a profiteer's glint in his eyes.

"Two hundred Gold Soul Coins!"

"Because of you, my shop lost two hundred Gold Soul Coins today. Are you going to pay on the spot or in installments?"

Tang San's eyes widened. He looked down at his foot, which hadn't even stepped into the shop yet, and felt a chill run through his body.

This was simply too bullying. He hadn't even entered the shop yet!

How could he owe two hundred Gold Soul Coins!

How could there be such a profiteer in this world?

Suppressing his anger, he spoke: "Boss, I haven't even stepped into your shop yet."

Flender pushed up his glasses, completely unruffled.

"Young man, although you haven't come in, your scent has!"

"According to the rate of diffusion, if you are within one hundred meters of my shop, it counts as entering my premises."

What kind of twisted logic was this? A hundred-meter automatic target lock?

But soon, his gaze fell upon the crystal in Qin Jiuxiao's hand.

Tang San's pupils constricted.

This was the board crystal used to make the Dragon Whisker Needle, and it was the finest quality hair crystal at that.

As long as he had this, he could craft the Dragon Whisker Needle from the Tang Sect's hidden weapons, which was specifically designed to break through protective qi.

If he used it to deal with Qin Jiuxiao...

Tang San's eyes lit up, but he quickly hid his smile.

"Boss, I want that crystal!"

He pointed at the crystal in Qin Jiuxiao's hand and said to Flender.

Flender turned to look, but before he could speak, Qin Jiuxiao laughed.

"Sorry, little San, I've already bought this crystal."

"You're too late."

Tang San's expression turned ugly in an instant.

His hidden weapon steel needles were all used up, and now, to deal with Qin Jiuxiao, he had to craft even stronger weapons.

He absolutely could not let this board crystal go.

"Qin Jiuxiao, this thing is useless to you, why can't you give it to someone who can use it?"

He truly felt that Qin Jiuxiao was his nemesis.

Every time he met him, nothing ever went his way.

"Can't I buy it to use as a paperweight in my bathroom?"

"I'm in a good mood today, I might even use gold soul coins to prop up a table leg."

Qin Jiuxiao toyed with the crystal, looking at Tang San with a playful expression.

But soon, his eyes darted around as he formed a new plan.

"Little San, don't say I didn't give you a chance."

"Two thousand Gold Soul Coins, and I'll sell it to you."

"Or, if you have any martial arts manuals or the like—I'm interested in such rare books—you can trade those instead."

Qin Jiuxiao wanted to see if he could trick him into revealing his Mysterious Heaven Skill and Tang Sect techniques.

If he could get them, he could let Zhu Zhuqing and the others learn them.

Tang San hesitated. He didn't have that many Gold Soul Coins right now, but he did possess some of the Tang Sect's cultivation methods, and he had written down several copied versions.

He was debating whether to make the trade.

Seeing that Tang San didn't refuse outright but was instead thinking it over, Flender realized what was happening.

"What, this broken crystal is worth two thousand Gold Soul Coins!"

He clutched his chest and took two steps back, feeling as if the tumor in his chest had skipped a beat.

How long would it take him to earn two thousand Gold Soul Coins?

Flender looked up at Qin Jiuxiao, and seeing his half-smiling expression, he knew he had been played by this little fox.

"Damn, watching others make money is even more painful than losing my own."

"Especially when it's earned from me."

Tang San finally agreed.

"Fine. Keep this item here for a while, and I will come to collect it later."

"I have to go report to Shrek Academy first, don't you dare lose it!"

Tang San gritted his teeth.

Hearing the mention of Shrek Academy, Flender stood up immediately.

He looked at Tang San with suspicion; although he was disheveled, his level 29 Soul Power wasn't bad.

He instantly came back to life, his eyes darting as he broke into a grin.

"You all want to go to Shrek Academy? Isn't that a coincidence?"

"I have acquaintances at that academy. I can help you pull some strings and let you skip the first few rounds of testing to reach the final trial."

"You only need to pay 20 Gold Soul Coins each, and I'll handle all the connections for you."

"Hehehe, how about it?"