Chapter 60: Poor Girl Yuan En Yehui, Talent Yue Zhengyu, Angel

“Boss, Na’er.”

The receptionist with chestnut-brown short hair was the first to spot Zhao Xuanzhen and the three, and the East Sea Swordsmen instinctively turned their heads; six pairs of eyes met, and the atmosphere suddenly fell silent.

Three years had passed, and all six had grown considerably—taller, their demeanors more composed, bearing the faint air of adults.

Yet none had anticipated that their reunion after three years would come so unexpectedly.

“Long time no see,” Zhao Xuanzhen said.

“Yeah, it’s been a long time,” Tang Wulin sighed. “Principal Yu Zhen has always been deeply grateful that you joined the war under the banner of East Sea Academy—it caused a surge in applicants, and over these past few years, your reputation has outright surpassed Heaven Sea Academy.”

“Before we left, he specifically told me to thank you if I ever met you.”

“No need,” Zhao Xuanzhen smiled. “We shared the same goal back then.”

“Indeed, I hope we’ll have the chance to fight side by side again,” Tang Wulin said politely.

After brief pleasantries, the six split into two groups and slowly passed each other.

The East Sea Swordsmen found a quiet corner to sit. Xu Xiaoyan leaned halfway out, gazing at Gu Yue, serene as a frozen pond, sniffed her delicate nose, and sighed sadly:

“My old classmate… Gu Yue-jie hasn’t said a single word…”

Xie Xie shrugged. “Expected. She rarely spoke to anyone even back at East Sea Academy.”

“Gu Yue and we only studied together for less than a year—we were just temporary companions. But Zhao Xuanzhen and Na’er are clearly the next generation of leaders at the Spirit Tower, and since Gu Yue chose to join the Spirit Tower, they’re the real ones on the same path.”

Tang Wulin took it lightly. Adolescent crushes appear and vanish without warning; the moment Gu Yue smiled brightly beside Zhao Xuanzhen, his fluttering feelings vanished completely.

“With their talents, they might just become the next Spirit Tower Master and two Deputy Masters,” Xie Xie said casually.

“If Gu Yue-jie really becomes a high-up at the Spirit Tower, I’ll cry and hug her legs, begging for a twenty percent discount.”

Xu Xiaoyan’s face twisted in distress. “Spirit Tower soul spirits are so expensive—even slightly higher quality ones cost tens of millions of Federal Credits. I’m about to break through to the third ring, Soul Elder—I need to fuse my second soul spirit…”

Overwhelmed by the pain of spending money, Xu Xiaoyan took a sip of the Silver Dragon Oat Latte, her beautiful eyes sparkling. “Whoa, this is what big-city coffee tastes like? I need another cup!”

On the other side, Zhao Xuanzhen and the others ordered at the café counter. The appearance of the East Sea Swordsmen stirred no reaction. Zhao Xuanzhen’s attitude toward them was simple: they had shared a journey once—that was fate. Now each had their own sky; there was no need to force friendship.

“Boss, what would you like today?” asked the receptionist, Yuan En Yehui.

“Matcha Ice-Latte!” Na’er blurted out. “And twenty Silver Dragon Cheesecroissants!”

“Hazelnut Ice-Latte.”

“Silver Dragon Black Coffee.”

Zhao Xuanzhen and Gu Yue followed. Yuan En Yehui nodded and repeated: “Matcha Ice-Latte, Hazelnut Ice-Latte, Silver Dragon Black Coffee, twenty Silver Dragon Cheesecroissants, ten Silver-Black Sandwiches.”

“When did we order sandwiches?” Zhao Xuanzhen questioned.

“Right, add Milk Pudding,” Yuan En Yehui corrected on the spot.

“Which word just now mentioned Milk Pudding?”

Seeing Yuan En Yehui force a sale, Zhao Xuanzhen stared at her in disbelief—employee extorting the boss? First time in the history of the Douluo Continent.

“My bonus this month is just a bit short…”

Yuan En Yehui’s tone carried the sorrow of a soul crushed by the Demon King of Money. She spoke plainly:

“Starting second year at Shrek, we began crafting Dou Armor. Those thousand-forged metals aren’t cheap. I’m also planning to buy a ten-thousand-year soul spirit from the Spirit Tower…”

As a struggling work-study student, Yuan En Yehui received none of the benefits regular students enjoyed—meals cost money, training grounds cost money, simulated cultivation zones cost money…

Every facility in the academy cost money, and she still had to save up for soul spirits and forging metals.

Yuan En Yehui held an actual job—money didn’t come fast!

She worked three jobs: second-year class monitor and mecha repair committee member, the most beautiful waitress at Silver Dragon Café, and a mecha repair association mission addict.

Even after exhausting every ounce of effort, pushing herself until she moved herself to tears, Yuan En still went from penniless to barely scraping by—her life was one giant character: POOR.

“Don’t worry, Yuan En—I’ll double your bonus this month!” Na’er waved one arm, radiating authority.

“Thank you so much!”

Yuan En Yehui’s heart warmed. Na’er always came to drink coffee with Zhao Xuanzhen; over time, they’d grown familiar. Na’er’s generous tips made her deeply fond of this silver-haired boss-sister (crossed out) boss’s younger sister.

The three found a prime window-side seat. Na’er stretched like a cat. Gu Yue sipped her coffee slowly, savoring the bitterness on her tongue, her dark, ink-like eyes fixed on Zhao Xuanzhen, and whispered:

“Last time we talked, you said you two were in a special class. Is that class still accepting new students?”

Zhao Xuanzhen shook his head. “Shrek Zero Class is about to disband. The Master of the Sea God Pavilion wants us to join the outer campus—exactly this year’s first-year class.”

“I could opt out! Grandmaster Yun Ming made an exception and kept me on Sea God Island—I don’t have to join first-year,” Na’er swayed her coffee cup back and forth, hugging it. “But I refused.”

“Why are you special?” Gu Yue asked, puzzled.

Na’er smirked. “Because I’m strong, of course. In the same rank, I can crush Grandmaster Yun Ming.”

Gu Yue was stunned. Grandmaster Yun Ming was among the pinnacle of human quasi-gods, a force even Emperor Di Tian, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, respected. She knew Na’er’s true strength—how could “crush” possibly apply?

Sensing Gu Yue’s obvious skepticism, Na’er pointed to the side. “Don’t believe me? Ask Zhao Xuanzhen!”

“Huh? Yeah, no problem.”

Zhao Xuanzhen raised his coffee cup to hide his face, half-laughing, half-weeping. Later, he’d learned the truth from Na’er—he didn’t deny her combat ability; Yun Ming letting her win was indeed true.

When Master Wu was suppressed to Great Soul Master, he used his cane to whip the entire East Sea Zero Class like spinning tops. If Yun Ming had truly intended to win, Na’er had zero chance.

In the end, the Golden Tree’s enlightenment wasn’t as valuable as a hundred-thousand-year soul bone. Yun Ming intended to give Na’er a favor, to curry favor and possibly take her as a disciple later.

But Zhao Xuanzhen had already bonded with the Golden Tree’s spirit, freely absorbing thirty percent of the ancient Golden Tree’s energy. Shrek Academy had always viewed the Golden Tree as its own possession—and instantly felt it had been robbed.

The three chatted freely. Zhao Xuanzhen explained the general situation of Shrek Academy to Gu Yue. Gu Yue looked thoughtful, occasionally glancing at the cold, emotionless silver-haired coffee-drinking machine beside them, her gaze deep and shadowed, as if pondering deeply.

“Creak—”

The glass door opened, and a young man stepped into Silver Dragon Café. He wore an elegant white suit, handsome features, and golden hair slicked back with oil. An indescribable aura of light radiated from him.

He strode straight to the counter, his golden eyes fixed unblinkingly on Yuan En Yehui.

Yuan En Yehui frowned. Her instinct told her this man was trouble, but her service duties forced her to suppress her thoughts. “What would you like to drink?”

“I don’t drink coffee. I only want your soul device communication number.”

“I’m sorry, that’s outside my service scope.”

The young man pressed on. “Then what would make you give me your communication number?”

“Personal privacy. Not to be disclosed.”

Hearing this, the young man’s face darkened. His eyes fell on a card box on the counter, clearly labeled: “Dear Customer, Please Rate Your Server!”

A flash of inspiration struck him. He picked up a card and asked tentatively: “Can I give a bad review?”

Yuan En Yehui stiffened. “Good words build good fortune; bad words hurt hearts. Don’t give bad reviews!”

Bad reviews meant salary deductions. Yuan En, already broke, couldn’t afford to lose money for no reason!

The young man beamed triumphantly. “So the café has a bad-review penalty system? Give me your soul device number now, or I’ll give you a bad review.”

“You’re brain—huh?”

Her patience had limits. The moment she was about to scream, she realized this guy looked vaguely familiar—she’d seen him before!

She looked closer. It was him! The Holy Angel, Yue Zhengyu, whom Zhao Xuanzhen had blasted out of the sky three years ago!

Knowing Yue Zhengyu’s identity, Yuan En Yehui instantly understood his motive—he was after her Fallen Angel martial soul. He kept demanding her communication number to provoke her into attacking, giving him a legitimate reason to capture her.

“I only take orders from my boss. If you want my soul device number, talk to my boss.”

She pointed toward Zhao Xuanzhen’s direction, then turned back to wiping the table, ignoring Yue Zhengyu completely.

Yue Zhengyu snorted. Could the heir of the Holy Angel family be stopped by such a trivial matter? Fine—he’d buy the café and become Yuan En Yehui’s boss!

Striding with grandeur, Yue Zhengyu approached their table, cleared his throat, and looked down. “Brother, I’m interested in you… WHAT? IT’S YOU?!”

“Interested in WHO?!”

Gu Yue and Na’er rose simultaneously. Their stunning faces darkened like twin deadly forces of black and white, radiating a terrifying aura that forced Yue Zhengyu to step back three paces. He hurriedly explained:

“Misunderstanding! I meant to buy the café—I didn’t realize you were the boss, Brother Zhao!”

“Next time, finish your sentence,” Gu Yue said coldly.

“Or take this bullet,” Na’er added.

“Got it!”

As the two women sat back down, the pressure eased. Yue Zhengyu wiped beads of sweat from his forehead, dazed—he’d thought he faced two enraged dragons. Had he hesitated half a second longer, the Black-and-White Wraiths would have torn him into dust!

“Brother Zhao, mind if we speak privately?”

Cowed by the terrifying presence of the two Silver Dragon Kings, Yue Zhengyu invited Zhao Xuanzhen aside to discuss the Fallen Angel.

“Follow me.”

Zhao Xuanzhen nodded slightly. Yuan En Yehui was an employee of Silver Dragon Café. No capitalist wanted his workers harassed daily.

The two went to the café’s second-floor lounge. Yue Zhengyu got straight to the point: “Brother Zhao, do you know the true situation of the receptionist at the counter?”

“Fallen Angel—one of the most evil martial souls recorded in Douluo Continent history. Its wielder, without exception, becomes a demonic soul master who brings ruin to the land!”

“Yuan En is a rare special case. She has dual martial souls,” Zhao Xuanzhen said. “The prerequisite for dual martial souls is that both souls are of nearly equal quality.”

In other words, Yuan En’s first martial soul is strong enough to rival the Fallen Angel.”

“She passed Shrek Academy’s entrance exam. She’s a second-year student in the outer campus, and she works under me. Double safeguards. The Holy Angel clan has no reason to worry.”

“Second-year?” Yue Zhengyu scratched his head. “My classmate?”

“Then three years ago, I shouldn’t have dropped out on the first day—I should’ve just checked the classroom…”

Yue Zhengyu sighed deeply. “She’s a Shrek student, and under your employ. I can’t act against her directly.”

“But the Holy Angel clan’s duty is to eradicate all evil forces. As heir, I must prevent demonic soul masters from causing chaos in Shrek City. I’ll keep watching her.”

“Let me be clear: Yuan En is my employee, and thus part of the Spirit Tower. The Holy Angel clan may remain vigilant—but don’t overstep.”

“Naturally. The Spirit Tower monopolizes all soul spirits on the Douluo Continent. I have no desire to provoke you,” Yue Zhengyu said seriously, self-deprecating. “If you raise prices for the Angel Legion’s soul spirits, Grandpa will use his Holy Sword to cut me down.”

The Holy Angel clan was deeply rooted, controlling one of the Federation’s Eight Armies—but they dared not lightly provoke the Spirit Tower. Especially since Zhao Xuanzhen’s talent was known across the land; most believed he’d one day become Deputy Master.

Like most scions of noble families, Yue Zhengyu entered Shrek Academy to hone his abilities and cultivate ties with young geniuses. He only sought to befriend talents like Zhao Xuanzhen.

Seeing Yue Zhengyu’s sense of propriety, Zhao Xuanzhen ceased pressing. Before Yuan En Yehui reached Ninety-Grade Soul Power, her first martial soul—the Titan Monkey—would suppress the Fallen Angel’s corruption. She would never go berserk like other Fallen Angel soul masters.

Moreover, Yuan En Yehui’s ability to open the Gates of Demon Hell is crucial to Zhao Xuanzhen.

With the Divine Realm gone, divine positions can only be forged by oneself; a Golden Dragon King’s divine core ultimately cannot stand against the combined might of the Twelve Divine Kings of the Great Divine Circle—even the Five Divine Kings of Tang San, Huo Yuhao, Ji Dong, Lieyan, and Zhou Weiqing’s Divine Douluo Realm may not prevail.

Thus, Zhao Xuanzhen’s divine position must surpass that of the Golden Dragon King, absorbing all usable energies—such as the Abyssal Plane and Demon Hell. Zhao Xuanzhen’s initial divine position plan includes the conquest of Demon Hell, and Yuan En Yehui is a vital component.

“I’m not saying this to criticize you, Brother Zhao,” Yue Zhengyu muttered. “Given our backgrounds, why keep a time bomb like a Fallen Soul Master around? … Wait, I think I get it.”

A lightbulb suddenly appeared above Yue Zhengyu’s head; he lowered his voice: “You want to tame her! The Fallen Angel Soul Master’s appearance and figure are truly flawless!”

Human nature—it’s understandable!

If I’m not mistaken, there’s a secret room beneath this café, right?!”

Then I support you—Fallen Angels deserve to be disciplined by righteous Soul Masters!”

(End of Chapter)