Douluo Dalu: The Path of Abyss

Ye Feng walked to the corner of the shop and picked up a seemingly ordinary plate crystal he had noticed earlier. Xiao Wu, following closely, looked at the crystal in Ye Feng's hands with curiosity and asked, "Ye Feng, why are you looking at this dull crystal? It's not worth much. Purple crystals are the valuable ones. Don't tell me you're planning to buy this?"

Ye Feng smiled faintly and nodded. "Well, I'm curious. But I don't know how much it's worth."

Before Xiao Wu could respond, Flanders, still lounging in his rocking chair, waved his hand dismissively. "Take it. It's not worth anything."

Xiao Wu blinked, momentarily stunned. "No money?" she asked incredulously.

Flanders lazily opened one eye and replied, "I said it's free. It's not worth anything to me."

Xiao Wu, sensing an opportunity, couldn't resist confirming. "Are you sure? It's not exactly worthless. This could sell for at least a dozen gold soul coins elsewhere."

Flanders gave a slight nod without bothering to move. "Yes, yes. Take it and go."

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, and she quickly pulled Ye Feng out of the store. Once outside, she turned to him, her voice laced with excitement. "Why are you just standing there? Let's go before he changes his mind!"

Ye Feng chuckled at her enthusiasm. "Xiao Wu, why the rush?"

Xiao Wu glanced at the crystal in his hands and explained, "This could sell for a good price, and he's giving it away for free. Better not give him time to rethink it!"

Just as they returned to the Rose Hotel, Ye Feng heard a familiar sound in his mind:

Ding! Congratulations! You have disrupted the original storyline by obtaining the natural hidden weapon, Dragon Beard Needle, before Tang San. Reward: 15 attribute points.

Back at their room, Ye Feng quickly locked the door. He turned to Xiao Wu with a serious expression. "Close the door properly," he instructed.

Xiao Wu tilted her head in confusion. "Close the door? Why? What are you planning?" she asked, her cheeks suddenly reddening. "It's daytime! You're not planning to—"

Ye Feng cut her off with a laugh, shaking his head. "You're overthinking things! I just need to focus. Please close the door."

Relieved and still blushing, Xiao Wu complied, shutting the door securely. Ye Feng placed the crystal on the table, his expression serious as he prepared to unleash its hidden potential. He clenched his fist, and with a loud boom, his punch shattered the crystal into countless golden fragments that floated in the air, glinting brilliantly.

"Quick, Xiao Wu! Help me gather them!" Ye Feng called out urgently.

Xiao Wu hurriedly began collecting the golden orbs, her curiosity piqued. "Brother, what are these? They don't look like gold, so why are you so excited?"

Ye Feng smiled knowingly. "These aren't ordinary. They're made of hair gold, hidden within the plate crystal."

"Hair gold? Plate crystal?" Xiao Wu asked, her confusion growing.

Ye Feng explained, "Some crystals develop golden threads within them due to specific environmental factors. These threads are incredibly tough, and when the crystal is broken, they solidify into these golden beads. When soul power is injected into them, they transform back into hair-thin threads. These threads can pierce the defenses of beast martial soul masters and temporarily neutralize their soul power."

To demonstrate, Ye Feng picked up one of the beads, infused it with soul power, and fired it at the bed. The thread shot out and immediately curled the fabric on impact, tearing it apart. Xiao Wu gasped, marveling at the effect.

She climbed onto the bed to retrieve the thread from the torn sheets. However, her position, kneeling on the bed in a short skirt, left Ye Feng momentarily speechless, his gaze inadvertently drawn to her.

"Brother?" Xiao Wu's voice snapped him back to reality as she turned to face him, holding the thread. "What's wrong? You look distracted."

Ye Feng coughed lightly, trying to compose himself. "You must be tired. Let's take a rest for now."

"A rest? Now?" Xiao Wu's face turned red as she glanced at Ye Feng uncertainly.

"Yes." Ye Feng nodded. Emboldened, he leaned closer, his lips inching toward hers. Xiao Wu closed her eyes shyly, no longer resisting their newfound closeness.

The next morning, as the sun rose, Ye Feng, Xiao Wu, and Tang San set off toward Shrek Academy for registration. The journey from Soto City to the academy took several hours on foot. Xiao Wu, tired from the long walk, turned to Ye Feng and said sweetly, "Carry me, Brother."

Without hesitation, Ye Feng crouched down and smiled. "Come on up!"

Blushing, Xiao Wu climbed onto his back. Tang San, walking alongside them, couldn't help but notice the intimate gesture. His gaze lingered on Xiao Wu's flushed face, and he asked, "Xiao Wu, are you feeling warm? Your face is so red."

Startled, Xiao Wu stammered, "N-no! It's nothing." She avoided eye contact, her embarrassment evident.

Tang San nodded, oblivious, and took the lead. "Alright. Let's keep moving."

As they continued, Ye Feng's mischievous side emerged. Xiao Wu felt his hands subtly shift, causing her to blush even more. She leaned close to his ear, whispering, "Brother, behave yourself! Tang San is right here!"

Ye Feng smirked but didn't respond, simply continuing to carry her as they made their way to Shrek Academy.