453. Flying Kick

The shop was dimly lit.

There was no counter in sight, only a rocking chair gently swaying in the shadows.

All the goods were simply hung on the walls—long swords, shields, and various other items.

Though they appeared worn and cheap, each emanated a faint spirit power.

Zhu Zhuqing paused briefly to survey her surroundings, a slight smile curling at the corners of her lips.

Without hesitation, she headed straight toward her target—a head-sized crystal.

Transparent and seemingly worthless, it was clouded with impurities, making it appear even cheaper.

It hung near the entrance.

“Is this even a real shop? They can’t even afford proper lighting?”

Xiao Wu stepped into the shop, wrinkling her nose at the smell of dust.

Even the small shops back in Nuoding City were better maintained than this.

Tang San, however, remained calm.

Compared to the chaotic and smelly state his home used to be, this shop seemed downright tidy.

“Haha!”

Xiao Wu’s sudden laughter broke the silence, confusing Tang San.

“Xiao Wu, what’s so funny?”

“Nothing, nothing,” Xiao Wu replied hurriedly, shaking her head while covering her mouth to stifle her laughter.

Tang San frowned in confusion and followed Xiao Wu’s gaze.

The moment he saw it, his eyelid twitched, and he understood.

No wonder Xiao Wu couldn’t hold back her laughter—the shopkeeper was absurdly ugly, in a rather unique way.

The man, appearing to be in his fifties, had a burly physique.

But his face was comically disproportionate: an exaggerated protruding chin, wide cheekbones, a flat, shovel-like face, and a prominent hooked nose.

He wore a pair of rigid black square glasses, but no matter how you looked at him, he exuded an air of slyness.

Even with customers in the shop, the owner kept his eyes shut, lazily rocking back and forth on his creaky chair.

Zhu Zhuqing ignored Xiao Wu and Tang San entirely.

She took down the crystal and selected a passable-looking dagger from the wall.

Walking up to the shopkeeper, she asked,
“How much for the crystal and this dagger?”

Flender opened one eye halfway, lazily raised two fingers, and replied in a raspy, magnetic voice,
“Not much. Just 200 gold spirit coins.”

“Can it be cheaper?”

Zhu Zhuqing’s expression remained calm.

“Pay up if you’re buying; if not, get out,” Flender replied nonchalantly, dropping his hand and closing his eyes again.

“...”

Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together, but instead of getting angry, her smile deepened. As expected, he’s a shrewd businessman.

“Two hundred gold spirit coins?!”

Hearing the price, Xiao Wu couldn’t help but place her hands on her hips and yell at Flender,
“Hey! Are these things really worth that much?”

Flender didn’t even bother acknowledging her.

Xiao Wu gritted her teeth in frustration, fuming silently.

Tang San chuckled awkwardly, trying to diffuse the situation.

“Xiao Wu, maybe these items are actually spirit tools.”

“Pfft, yeah right,” Xiao Wu scoffed. “These broken, shabby things look like they were dug up from a grave.”

“Heh.”

Tang San could only smile along, sensing that the peculiar shopkeeper was no ordinary person.

Ignoring the commotion, Zhu Zhuqing composed herself, her smile fading as she asked again,
“How much for the dagger alone?”

“One hundred fifty gold spirit coins,” Flender replied without opening his eyes.

“Can it be cheaper?”

“Pay up if you’re buying; if not, get out,” Flender repeated in the same indifferent tone.

This time, Zhu Zhuqing didn’t haggle further. Instead, she responded decisively,
“Alright, I’ll take it!”

Her voice was firm and unwavering, leaving no room for negotiation.



"Sorry, the price is now 300 gold spirit coins," Flender said smugly.

Zhu Zhuqing hesitated for a moment, then calmly retrieved a coin pouch.

Pouring out some coins, she turned and walked back to the wall, returning the items she held.

As she did so, she casually tossed the coin pouch behind her, sending it flying toward Flender.

Thud!

Flender caught the pouch without even opening his eyes.

A sly smile crept onto his unattractive face.

Out of curiosity, Tang San glanced at Zhu Zhuqing.

His usually calm expression suddenly flickered with shock before he quickly composed himself, though his heart began to race.

That’s
 a crystal hairpiece? No, not just any crystal hairpiece, but a premium-quality plank crystal!

Excitement gleamed in Tang San’s eyes. His bruised face flushed slightly red, betraying just how thrilled he was.

However, the exquisite crystal was now cradled in Zhu Zhuqing’s arms.

Tang San forced himself to remain calm, knowing he couldn’t act too eager.

But he had overheard the conversation: Zhu Zhuqing didn’t want the crystal.

Joy surged through Tang San’s heart. This is perfect—it’s practically fate!

Yet his joy was short-lived.

As Zhu Zhuqing walked away, Tang San’s expression turned to one of shock and confusion.

“Wait a minute!” he suddenly shouted, rushing after her.

Xiao Wu was startled by his abrupt action and scolded,
“Hey! Tang San, what are you doing?!”

Meanwhile, Flender weighed the coin pouch in his hand. His smug expression quickly disappeared, replaced with a frown.

His eyes snapped open, and to his dismay, only Xiao Wu remained in the shop.

On the wall by the door, the dagger Zhu Zhuqing had chosen still hung there.

But the crystal? It was gone.

Flender let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head.

“To think I, a seasoned merchant, would get outplayed by a little girl
”

“This is just a useless chunk of crystal! What’s the big deal?” Xiao Wu muttered to herself.

But when she met Flender’s gaze, she froze. Her body stiffened as the dimly lit room and Flender’s goblin-like face sent shivers down her spine.

“Ahaha...” Xiao Wu forced a strained laugh and backed away.

“Well
 I forgot my money. I’ll just go grab it real quick!”

Without waiting for a response, Xiao Wu bolted out of the shop like a startled rabbit.

“Interesting kids,” Flender mused, watching them leave.

A glint of sly amusement sparkled in his eyes.

“We’ll meet again, won’t we?” he muttered.

With Shrek Academy about to begin its semester, Flender’s gut told him these brats would show up.


---

Outside the Shop

On the street, Zhu Zhuqing abruptly stopped.

It wasn’t Tang San’s shout that made her pause, but the faint resonance from a six-wing pendant hidden in the shadows of the gutter.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?

Her expression briefly showed confusion, but she didn’t dwell on it.

With a gentle smile, she whispered in her heart,
“Zhuqing obeys.”

After responding silently, Zhu Zhuqing placed the pendant back where it belonged and was about to leave when an urgent voice called out behind her.

“Wait! Wait!”

Zhu Zhuqing turned to see a flustered Tang San rushing toward her.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

“Is there a problem?” she asked coldly.

“Yes, there is!” Tang San forced down his excitement and asked politely,
“Miss, could I trouble you to part with the crystal you just took
”

“No,” Zhu Zhuqing interrupted without hesitation.

Tang San’s face filled with frustration, and he quickly added,
“But you were buying the dagger, not the crystal!”

Zhu Zhuqing’s eyes sharpened. She was about to reply when a figure suddenly leaped toward Tang San from behind, accompanied by a fierce shout.

“Tang San! How dare you leave Xiao Wu behind?!”

It was Xiao Wu, launching a flying kick at Tang San.

Zhu Zhuqing smoothly sidestepped, watching the scene unfold.

Tang San turned just in time to see Xiao Wu’s shoe sole growing larger in his vision.

Panicked, he tried to explain,
“Xiao Wu! I was just—ah!”

Thud!

Under Zhu Zhuqing’s calm gaze, Tang San let out a miserable cry as Xiao Wu’s flying kick struck him square in the face.

He flew through the air, landing heavily on the street.