The girl was very quiet. Although her table manners weren't great, judging from the way she arranged her plate after eating, she must have come from a wealthy family.
"You're hurt."
Yu Xiaowei said with concern.
"That's none of your business."
Perhaps because she was full, the girl's cold voice carried a hint of exhaustion that was hard to hide.
After saying this, she turned to leave.
"Hey, you haven't paid."
"What?"
"I paid for the meal you just ate, so you owe me."
Yu Xiaowei said with slight dissatisfaction.
The girl stood there confused, as if she couldn't believe someone would actually ask a robber for money after being robbed.
After coming to her senses, she replied firmly.
"I don't have any money right now. I'll pay you back later if I have any."
"No way. I'm an adult, and no one has ever owed me money—except the money I owe others."
Yu Xiaowei stood up and walked toward her without hesitation, clenching his fists like Meng Li.
"You're no ordinary person."
The girl's expression turned serious, revealing her martial spirit for the first time. As it possessed her body, her fingers spread like sharp cat claws. At the same time, her eyes turned deep green on the left and clear blue on the right. With a blur of motion, she went straight for Yu Xiaowei's neck.
Bang—
Even though she was incredibly fast, it still wasn't fast enough for Yu Xiaowei. He mercilessly kicked her away.
Her cold expression changed for the first time.
After the kick, she felt her stomach churning, and she couldn't summon any strength in her body.
This seemingly ordinary person actually had immense power.
The girl lay on the ground in pain, listening to approaching footsteps, but she didn't even have the strength to stand, let alone fight back.
She could only watch as Yu Xiaowei approached and roughly pulled the soul guide off her wrist.
A sinister voice reached her ears.
"My name is Yu Xiaowei, core disciple of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan. I'll be waiting for you to repay your debt."
"Give it back..."
The girl struggled to get up, reaching out with a flushed face and said.
Yu Xiaowei squatted down and gently patted her face.
"Alright, once you've saved up enough, come find me at the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan in Heaven Dou City. I didn't spend that much on you. The meal cost one gold soul coin, plus compensation for the mental damage from your attack—rounding up, I'll count it as 10,000 gold soul coins."
"I'll keep this item for you in the meantime."
With that, Yu Xiaowei heartlessly carried the girl and tossed her out the door.
After recovering a bit, the girl stared at Yu Xiaowei's room with a complicated expression, then left the inn with some regret and embarrassment.
...
Ten days later.
Qin Ming led them out of Silves City and continued their journey to the Star Luo Empire.
After the training in the Great Spirit Arena, Yu Tianheng and his companions seemed to have been reborn. However, when it came to Yu Xiaowei, they still kept their distance.
"Classmates, the city ahead is Soto of the Balak Kingdom. Once we arrive, we'll be only two days from the Star Luo Empire..."
Qin Ming, sitting in the carriage, excitedly explained the customs and sights of Soto City.
This was his hometown, and the feeling of returning filled him with joy.
Yu Xiaowei was fiddling with the girl's soul guide, absentmindedly listening to his chatter.
He looked through everything in the soul guide—there wasn't even a bronze soul coin, let alone a gold one. Just some neatly folded clothes. He had no idea how she managed to get here.
But what made Yu Xiaowei blush slightly was that among the clothes were a few tight undergarments. No wonder the girl had been so embarrassed.
After putting away the soul guide...
Yu Xiaowei stared out the window, lost in thought. Soto City was a familiar name. Shrek Academy was located in a small nearby village.
This academy, renowned in the original novel, birthed seven gods and shaped the future of the Douluo Continent.
Thinking of this, Yu Xiaowei's lips curled into a smile. Ning Rongrong, the most important among the Shrek Seven Devils, was already his fiancée. There was no way he'd let her go to Shrek.
Just like that, the Shrek Seven Devils would be dismantled before they even had a chance to form.
After arriving in Soto City...
As usual, Qin Ming took the Royal Battle Team to register at the Great Spirit Arena, while Yu Xiaowei wandered alone.
But this time, he had a goal in mind.
After walking for a while through the busy streets, Yu Xiaowei found the shop.
A small store.
He recognized it at a glance because of a special circular emblem on its sign.
A sword, a hammer, and the lightning-powered Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex symbol he knew so well.
Yu Xiaowei confidently walked in. The store was dim, and the decorations and items for sale looked very old.
As soon as he stepped through the door, a middle-aged man lounging in a recliner let out a low exclamation and suddenly sat up.
Yu Xiaowei immediately felt a massive soul power fluctuation, then the man leapt up, grabbed his hand, and squeezed it hard, exclaiming in shock.
"A monster, truly a monster."
"Little monster, are you willing to come to my academy?"
"Our Shrek Academy has the best faculty in the entire Balak Kingdom. Many Soul Sages and Soul Emperors. One of our most outstanding students is now the youngest elder in Spirit Hall, second only to the Pope in authority."
"Well, little monster, not a bad place, right?"
Yu Xiaowei sneered. How could he not know about Shrek Academy's "glorious" reputation?
They trained a bunch of geniuses among geniuses, yet only 14 graduated in the end.
Those students with outstanding talent would've achieved much more in the top three sects or Spirit Hall.
Tsk, such a waste of resources.
Yu Xiaowei feigned innocence and played along with the four-eyed owl, Flender.
"I'm here to shop, not to find a school. I already have a college. Thanks, uncle."
"It's fine if you have one. Just drop out and come to Shrek."
Flender urged eagerly.
At just twelve years old with a soul power of thirty-eight, his talent far exceeded that of his current top student, Oscar.
Heaven had sent such a genius his way. It would be a great loss if he couldn't recruit him.
However, no matter how he persuaded, Yu Xiaowei just shook his head and refused.
"No, Uncle. Thank you for your kindness. My current teacher treats me like a real sibling. I have no plans to leave school."
"I came to buy something today. Just name the price of these crystals, and I'll buy them all."
After failing to recruit him, Flender huffed, "These crystals are worth ten thousand gold coins. Take it or leave it."
To his surprise, Yu Xiaowei actually pulled out a red crystal card.
"Uncle, swipe the card."
"No card swiping allowed!"
"Hey, I saw the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex emblem on your sign and thought I could swipe my card. Since I can't, I guess I'll just leave. Goodbye, Uncle."
When he heard "Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex," Flender's expression changed, and he quickly stopped Yu Xiaowei.
"Little monster, what's your relation to the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan?"
"Oh, my father's name is Yu Luomian, and my sister's name is Liu Erlong. Why? Do you know my family, Uncle?"
"Erlong..."
Hearing that name, Flender was stunned, and a lively, cheerful girl appeared in his mind. He smiled bitterly.
"You're Erlong's younger brother?"
Yu Xiaowei laughed, "As real as it gets."
After closely observing Yu Xiaowei's appearance, Flender noticed many similarities with Liu Erlong.
Flender's expression shifted repeatedly—bitter, nostalgic, and melancholic.
Yes, who else could have such talent but Erlong's younger brother?
He waved his hand, and all the crystals in the store floated into the air.
Waving to Yu Xiaowei, Flender said with mixed emotion, "Take them all. They're yours."
"Uncle, you don't want the money?"
"Go now, don't disturb my nap."
After taking all the crystals, Yu Xiaowei walked out of the store. Staring at the bright sky, he suddenly felt in an excellent mood.
Tang San, oh Tang San, without the Golden Dragon Beard Needle crystals, how will you enroll at Shrek?