Chapter 129: It Is Truly Wonderful To Have No Money

"I can't help it, haha," Luo Chen said, rubbing his nose. "Back when I first entered Weston Academy as a special admission student, I was truly penniless. To save money, I spent the first few days of the semester scouring every corner of Sluo City. I grew fond of observing the bargaining techniques of veterans, and over time, it became a habit. Eventually, whenever I shopped at my usual spots, I didn't even need to waste my breath; every shopkeeper would sell things to me at just a sliver above cost."

Zhuo Yuqing thought to herself that anyone who had been haggled by him once would be terrified. The shopkeeper from a moment ago, who had been beaten into a complete retreat, was the perfect example; being haggled like that twice more would probably lead to a mental breakdown. It was better to be sensible.

Luo Chen eventually led Zhuo Yuqing to an accessory market in the city. He wasn't particularly interested in trinkets, but he knew enough about them. Competition in this market was fierce, and shops often held promotions to attract customers; if one knew where to look, it was quite cost-effective.

Zhuo Yuqing seemed to love these little trinkets and browsed with high spirits. Finally, she found a unique bracelet in one of the shops. It was purple, matching the color of her hair and eyes, and looked remarkably pure.

Merchants have sharp eyes. The shopkeeper immediately saw how much she liked it and began fawning over her. "Miss, you have such exquisite taste! This bracelet is made of fine amethyst. Look at the material and the craftsmanship—it's flawless. It’s a perfect match for you!"

Business requires a certain finesse. Being flattered so heavily would make anyone happy, and in that moment of joy, purses tend to open.

The shopkeeper continued, "Our shop is running a promotion today. This bracelet is twenty percent off, only one gold and two silver coins. Plus, it's buy-one-get-one-free, and I'll throw in a wolf-tooth black crystal pendant!"

"One gold and two silver coins?" Zhuo Yuqing asked for Luo Chen's opinion. "Captain, what do you think?"

Luo Chen knew that prices in this market weren't usually inflated, and amethyst did hold some value. He nodded and said, "It’s not expensive, but it’s not practical." Luo Chen’s shopping philosophy was different from hers; he only bought things that were edible or functional. He was determined not to spend so much money on something purely decorative.

But Zhuo Yuqing didn't see it that way. She felt that as long as she liked it and it was worth the price, that was enough. She paid promptly, "Alright, shopkeeper, I'll take it!"

The shopkeeper was overjoyed. "Excellent, Miss. Please wait a moment while I get a beautiful box for you."

Zhuo Yuqing replied, "No need for a box; I want to wear it right away!"

The shopkeeper was even happier. "Very well, very well!"

"Wait," Luo Chen interjected. "Jewelry over one gold coin is considered a fifth-tier item. The packaging box should be worth seven or eight copper coins. Shopkeeper, let's do this: we'll take a loss, and you can just deduct the value of the box—five copper coins—from the price for my friend."

The shopkeeper thought to himself, *Damn, I’ve run into a pro.* Resigned, he said, "Fine, I'll knock off another five copper coins. I hope you two will visit again!"

Zhuo Yuqing couldn't wait to put on the amethyst bracelet, but when she looked at the wolf-tooth black crystal pendant, she frowned. "It's black? I don't like it!"

Luo Chen spoke up again, "Shopkeeper..."

The shopkeeper’s heart skipped a beat. *Oh my god, is this young master going to ask for a refund on the pendant too? That would mean even less profit.*

"It's alright, Captain, no need to return it," Zhuo Yuqing said, glancing at Luo Chen's black hair. "I'll give it to you."

Luo Chen was stunned. "Whoa, give it to me? How can I accept that?"

Zhuo Yuqing smiled. "It's fine. Consider it a gift for showing me the ropes. Don't refuse; this is the first time I've ever given someone a gift!"

Luo Chen thought for a moment and said, "Well, alright then, I'll accept it!"

The shopkeeper looked on with disdain. *It seems this kid is just a gigolo. Not only does he not pay for the beauty, but he even lets her give him gifts. How shameless, truly shameless!*

Afterward, Zhuo Yuqing continued her shopping spree across the city, buying several sets of clothes, skincare products, and various trinkets. Although none were expensive, the total quickly climbed to nearly a gold coin, which made even Luo Chen feel a pang of sympathy for her wallet.

When the two finally returned to the vicinity of the academy gate, Luo Chen stopped. "Student Zhuo Yuqing, you should go in first. It might look bad if others see us together. You know my reputation is a bit... stained, heh."

"Captain, it doesn't matter. Let's go. Even if others don't believe you, I do. You have such a kind heart and taught me so much—you must be a good person!" Zhuo Yuqing had no reason to doubt him, as she was a witness to his character.

"Oh, I see..."

Seeing Luo Chen still hesitating, Zhuo Yuqing grabbed his sleeve and pulled him toward the academy. They attracted a great deal of attention, as both were quite famous at Blue Emperor Academy.

Seeing the two return so late, carrying bags and packages, the onlookers felt a mix of jealousy and grief. It seemed Zhuo Yuqing’s rumors were true; she really had fallen for Luo Chen. If they weren't involved, would they be out on a date in the city on a weekend?

*Alas, such a beautiful flower stuck in a pile of cow dung!*

Ignoring the stares, they walked until they reached the boundary between the male and female dormitories. Zhuo Yuqing bid him farewell. "See you next week, Captain."

"Next week? Are we continuing to team up next week?"

"Of course! You can't just abandon me. What if I accidentally wander into a place full of fierce beasts?" Zhuo Yuqing thought to herself, *I am not doing the dirty work of butchering beast corpses or collecting beast dung. It’s better to stick with you; I just handle the killing, and you handle the troublesome cleanup.*

Keeping her true thoughts hidden, she maintained a pitiful expression. Luo Chen couldn't bear it, and truthfully, teaming up with her was more profitable. He nodded, "Alright!"

Zhuo Yuqing beamed. "Captain, I knew you weren't that heartless. I'm off, then. Goodnight!"

With that, she even gave him a wink, leaving our poor, innocent Luo Chen dizzy. When the top beauty of Blue Emperor Academy decides to turn on the charm, it is truly impossible to resist. It was exactly this kind of beauty trap that got her onto his team this morning. Still, having a beautiful teammate wasn't half bad.

Back at the dorm, her roommates, Sarah and the boy-crazy Lulu, rushed over. "Yuqing, where did you go? We haven't seen you all day. What’s in these bags? Wow, so many things!"

"..."

"What? This outfit was only a bit over a silver coin? So cheap! Where did you buy it?"

"..."

"And these, such a great deal! Yuqing, how are you so good at haggling?"

"..."

Listening to the two girls chatter, Zhuo Yuqing felt quite proud. Even though these items were modest in value, they were bought with money she had earned herself. Though the amount wasn't large, it felt far more meaningful. Getting the best value for the least amount of money was a joy in itself. Before, money was just a boring number to her; whatever she wanted, the Sacred Martial Hall would pay for it.

The feeling of not having money—it was wonderful.

If Luo Chen knew what she was thinking, he would surely cough up blood.