"You... you're a Title Douluo!"
Instantly, Flender's mouth went dry, his hooked nose twitching as fear flashed across his face.
What the hell!
He'd actually tried to mess with a Title Douluo!
Cold sweat dripped from his forehead, gathering at his chin. Watching the soul rings rising one after another, Flender shuddered.
"Your Excellency, please let me explain! Things aren't what they seem! Take the items—I... I won't even charge you!"
"You've got quite the nerve, Flender." Nine soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—hovered calmly as Dugu Bo spoke with icy undertones.
"Trying to extort the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan? Who gave you the courage? That so-called Golden Iron Triangle spirit fusion skill of yours?"
"You... You're His Excellency Dugu?"
Seeing the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor spirit, Flender immediately recognized the old man's identity.
But wasn't he supposed to be in Heaven Dou Empire? Wait—Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?
Had Dugu Bo joined them? Had the clan gained another Title Douluo?
"Indeed." Dugu Bo's voice remained cold.
"I haven't left Heaven Dou Capital for some time. I had no idea prices outside had risen to such levels."
"Let's hear it. What kind of punishment do you think you deserve for provoking a Title Douluo and the young mistress of Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?"
"The young mistress initially didn't want to make a fuss, but you kept treating us like fat sheep to be fleeced. Heh, I, Dugu Bo, have truly broadened my horizons today."
"So... what do you want?" Flender wiped the sweat from his chin, suppressing his terror.
This wasn't like the original story where Flander had firm convictions and dared to oppose Dugu Bo.
The current Flender was just a shady merchant—and completely in the wrong.
Not only had he offended Dugu Bo, but he'd also crossed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Others might not know, but Flender understood the top sects' foundations all too well.
With Soul Sages and Soul Douluos numbering in the double digits, what was a mere 78th-ranked Flender worth?
And that "young mistress" title Dugu Bo mentioned?
That wasn't just any honorary position—it was equivalent to the Crown Prince's status in Heaven Dou Empire. Barring accidents, she'd be the next leader.
Such terrifying influence wasn't something a minor Soul Sage like him could afford to provoke.
"Mr. Flender, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan isn't unreasonable. You were the one who started this, weren't you?"
"Yes, yes! Whatever compensation you demand, I, Flender, will do my utmost to fulfill it." Flender was pragmatic. From their tone, he'd deduced the young girl was likely the young mistress Dugu Bo had mentioned.
"As the young mistress, I'd like to formally invite Mr. Flender to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. What do you say?"
"This..." Flender's mind short-circuited at the sudden turn. The whiplash nearly made him stumble. Gritting his teeth, he replied, "My deepest apologies. I'm too accustomed to freedom—clan life wouldn't suit me."
The moment he finished speaking, the shop's temperature seemed to drop several degrees.
Though Dugu Bo had withdrawn his spirit and soul rings, an oppressive aura now pressed down on Flender.
Flender clenched his jaw, holding firm.
"Please understand—we have connections to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Among the Golden Iron Triangle, one member is closely tied to them."
"Oh? Are you suggesting the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan fears the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"
Dugu Bo's voice turned glacial. He was now part of Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, after all.
"No! That's not what I meant! I've declined their invitations too. We've established an academy where we teach—we want no part in inter-clan conflicts."
As Flender tried using the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan as leverage, Ning Rongrong chuckled.
"Are you referring to Yu Xiaogang or Liu Erlong when you mention these 'connections'?"
"This..." Flender found himself at a loss.
"Never mind. I'm not one to force others." Seeing his stubbornness, Ning Rongrong abandoned her original plan.
Recruiting Flender had just been a passing thought—nothing crucial.
"Then let's do this. For the three items I wanted earlier, you'll compensate me at 3,000 gold spirit coins each. I won't pay for these anymore. Understood?"
"9,000 gold spirit coins? That's outright rob—"
"Hmm? What was that?"
"N-nothing! You misheard!" Flender hastily produced a large bag of coins and placed it on the table. "Please accept this humble offering."
"Good. Provocation demands consequences. Don't always say 'those who avoid trouble are mediocrities.' Sometimes you might lose even your underpants!"
Ning Rongrong toyed with the recording soul guidance device as she collected all the coins into her bracelet.
"We've received the dishonest merchant's apology compensation. Consider this matter settled."
"But..."
Just as Flender sighed in relief at her words, that single conjunction made his heart lurch again.
"His Excellency Dugu is a Title Douluo. Shouldn't a mere Soul Sage like you also compensate for provoking him?"
Flender: "..."
Wasn't this the same incident? Could it really be split into two?
Who's the real swindler here?!
"Might I ask what you mean...?" Flender pressed on stubbornly, even glancing at Dugu Bo, who stood silently like a door god.
Clearly, the final say lay with the young mistress now smirking at him from the center.
"I've heard Mr. Flender took in a disciple with innate full soul power."
"How about offering him as compensation to His Excellency Dugu?"
"Uh..." Flender stiffened. How did she know? "I haven't accepted any such disciple. I'm just an ordinary shopkeeper."
"Is that so...?" Ning Rongrong's eyelids fluttered slightly.
Had Oscar not joined Shrek Academy yet?
"Ah, never mind then."
She stopped overthinking it. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan wasn't short on support-type soul masters anyway.
Besides, if they needed healing support types, didn't Dugu Yan have that Nine Heart海棠 best friend? Ning Rongrong felt reasonably confident she could persuade them.
"Then let's do this." After a moment's contemplation, she declared:
"Mr. Flender, turn yourself in to the city lord. Admit to consumer fraud and provoking a Title Douluo. Spend two years in prison, and we'll consider the matter closed."
"Don't worry—we'll send people to supervise and ensure Mr. Flender's... compliance."
"If you're released before two years, it won't just be you affected. Your disciples and academy... Well, no need to spell it out. I'd hate to embarrass you further."
Flender: "..."
How vicious!
Forcing him to voluntarily imprison himself for two years while pretending to spare his dignity?
In the end, Flender had no choice but to accept Ning Rongrong's "generous" offer, thus "joyfully" embarking on his two-year prison tour.