'Four-Eyed Owl, Flender—headmaster of Shrek Academy, the number one cheapskate in all of Douluo Continent…'
Yunchuan narrowed his eyes slightly, recalling what little he remembered about the shifty shopkeeper in front of him. Somewhere in his mental archive, a faint recollection surfaced—a segment involving this dusty-looking antique shop.
'Didn't Tang San pick up a treasure in this very shop? Something like a Dragon Beard Needle? Looked like a cloudy piece of crystal at first, but if you cracked it open, there was a hidden artifact inside.'
As he stirred through the increasingly dusty pages of his fragmented memory from reading the original story years ago, Yunchuan ignored the "sleeping" Flender entirely. Instead, he began to stroll leisurely around the dim little shop, eyes sharp, gaze assessing.
The moment he swept across the items on display, Yunchuan's cultivated instincts flared.
'Tch. Classic swindler.'
The shelves were covered in what at first glance looked like unregistered soul tools—barely pulsing with weak waves of soul power. But to Yunchuan, who'd been raised and meticulously trained in Spirit Hall, they were nothing but clever fakes.
Most likely, Flender had embedded bits of soul beast claws, bones, or hair inside the antique casings to mimic the residual breath of real soul devices and fool passersby through aura confusion.
A rookie soul master with basic senses might think they'd stumbled across a jackpot.
In truth?
One hundred percent garbage.
If someone bought these "treasures" thinking they found a bargain, they'd be throwing money into a pit—and possibly blowing up their belongings trying to use a defective storage tool.
'An actual con artist in broad daylight.'
He swept his eyes over the shop again—and sighed inwardly.
'Literally nothing here is worth a copper coin...'
Except—
He paused.
There.
Near the front of the shop, hanging unassumingly near the doorway, was a palm-sized crystal. At first glance, it was utterly ordinary—clear outer casing with deposits of murky yellow sediment inside.
But the moment Yunchuan's gaze landed on it—his heart jumped.
His brow tingled faintly.
The rune nestled deep in his spiritual sea began to tremble.
A blurred message echoed through his mind for the first time in a while:
'Useful… absorb…'
Yunchuan's expression didn't shift—but excitement surged in his chest like a crashing tide.
The rune—normally aloof and silent—had actually spoken.
It never responded to anything beyond physical training or risky breakpoints in combat—a mentor that only guided when it mattered.
But now?
It reacted on its own.
To this crystal.
'This has to be important.'
'Whatever this is, I need it.'
Without hesitation, Yunchuan pointed to the crystal and said, "I'll take that one. Name your price."
A lazy, gravelly voice responded even before he finished.
"One hundred gold soul coins."
From his recliner, Flender still hadn't opened his eyes.
Yunchuan didn't even flinch.
That price was a daylight robbery—flagrant even by Spirit Hall standards—but he didn't care. He had plenty of money. He reached into his spatial soul tool to take out a bag of coins.
Only—
"…I'll buy it."
A graceful, assertive voice cut through the air delicately.
Startled, Yunchuan paused mid-motion and turned toward the door.
A young girl had stepped inside.
And clearly—she was the one who had spoken.
"You? Where did you come from? I asked about it first."
Yunchuan frowned. His tone was slightly sharp—not angry, but annoyed.
Looking at this girl's refined facial features and bold temper, he had a faint idea forming in his mind. Her clothes, mannerism, and natural aura all hinted at nobility—and a very... specific lineage.
"Hmph, did you pay for it yet?" the girl snapped back, arms folding. "If the transaction hasn't been completed, then it's still fair game."
Her voice was soft and lilting, less commanding and more airy. There's a kind of natural sweetness in it—delicate, autumn-leaf lightness that made irritation soften almost involuntarily.
Indeed, though he'd felt a flicker of temper at first…
It somehow dissipated the moment she spoke.
'Dammit, it's always the cute ones…'
Yunchuan couldn't help the inward laugh.
Pretty privilege. That's what it was.
The girl in front of him wore a long aqua-green dress, her chestnut-brown hair flowing gently behind her in two thin braids tucked to the side. Under her parted fringe was a pink-tinged, fair little face—oval-shaped like a peach blossom, delicate and utterly winsome.
Those sapphire-blue eyes, framed by long lashes, looked fresh and clear enough to reflect whole springs.
Her entire presence radiated youthful refinement and aristocratic grace.
He knew exactly who she was now.
This could only be—
Ning Rongrong.
The headstrong, mischievous, and deeply proud heiress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Oddly enough, he hadn't recalled her being introduced this early in the original novel—but perhaps his appearance had triggered a butterfly effect. He remembered only vaguely having skipped chapters back then.
Still, it was interesting.
His face stiffened again slightly, and he said flatly, "Things still have a proper order, you know. I saw it first. Barging in just to cut off the deal—it's a little rude, don't you think?"
"What's rude about it?" she countered smoothly, lips tilting into a challenging smile. "Isn't it common business logic—highest offer wins?"
From behind them, Flender—"sleeping" no more—pushed himself up from his chair with exaggerated amusement.
"Hehehe… The lady's right," he said, shamelessness written all over his face. "I'll tell you what—this one goes to whoever's willing to bid higher. Call it an auction, since you both seem so interested."
Yunchuan and Ning Rongrong both frowned immediately.
'This damned scammer…'
Neither lacked money.
But even so, getting blatantly gouged set their teeth on edge.
"I'll pass," said Ning Rongrong, folding her arms and shaking her head.
In truth, she had no particular attachment to this item. Her interest had been triggered by a subtle reaction from her Martial Soul as she passed by the shop—enough to spark curiosity and make her investigate.
The crystal's hidden contents had stirred a familiar resonance in her soul sense—so she impulsively acted on a hunch to grab it first, hoping it was a treasure.
But the second she'd walked in and seen someone else already interested...
She hesitated.
Initially, her plan had been to apologize politely and leave it.
But then this boy frowned at her arrogantly, speaking in a tone that rubbed her prestige the wrong way—and before she knew it, her pride as a young noble—pampered, protected, and always deferred to—came flaring up.
That was why she'd snapped.
Still, now that things had escalated to a bidding war, the fun was over.
She didn't want to be seen throwing money for no good reason—especially over something someone else clearly valued more.
She was headstrong, yes—but not without sense.
Normally, Ning Rongrong's behavior was poised and elegant when in public. Being the sole heir of the esteemed Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan meant she represented more than just herself.
She was the face of a noble house with a spotless reputation.
So showing her temper was something she reserved carefully—and this entire scene?
It wasn't supposed to get this far.
(End of Chapter)