Tang Yi had originally thought he could cultivate in peace and quiet, but unexpectedly, Zhao Dashan had appeared out of nowhere like Cheng Yaojin. After teaching the other party a lesson, Tang Yi quietly left and no longer had the heart to continue his cultivation, so he had to pack up and return home, heading back to his dormitory.
However, the moment he pushed open the door to his dorm, Tang Yi saw Lin Shaocong, who usually loved to sleep in, actually up early and standing on the balcony, half of his body leaning out, staring intently at the girls' dormitory across the way.
Having been best friends for over a decade in his former life, Tang Yi could tell from Lin Shaocong's actions that the chubby fellow was once again peeping at the girls across the way.
Tang Yi said with a laugh, "You'd better be careful, Fatty. If the girls across the way found out you're peeping at them changing every day, they'd surely scrape off all that fat off of you!"
"Psh!" Lin Shaocong replied disdainfully, "I've long grown tired of looking at those lopsided melons and cracked dates!"
Having said that, Lin Shaocong's tone changed, and he chuckled, "I've heard that among the new students this time, there's a peerlessly beautiful girl whose looks are in no way inferior to your Mo Qingxue!"
Seeing no expression on Tang Yi's face, Lin Shaocong thought he didn't believe him, so he quickly took out his phone, found a photo, and handed it to Tang Yi to see.
It was still the year 5008, and although mobile phones could take pictures, they were not like the smartphones a few years later whose cameras could rival professional cameras. Plus, since the photo was likely taken in haste, it was very blurry.
However, even with this blurry photo, one could see that the girl in the picture was indeed a sight to behold.
"Heh heh, pretty, isn't she!" As a seasoned 'photo viewer,' Lin Shaocong explained to Tang Yi, "According to reliable information I've got, this chick is a mixed-race beauty. Her dad seems to be from Xuan Country, and her mom is supposedly an aristocrat from Ou Country.
Thus, she has the best of both East and West wrapped up in one. Although the photo is a bit blurry, you can still tell that she's definitely got the figure of a devil!"
While speaking, Lin Shaocong took out a pair of binoculars and ran back to the balcony, waving at Tang Yi and saying, "Come on, come here, our dorm has the best view, perfect for seeing the girls' dorm across with crystal clarity. I've even prepared binoculars so that as soon as that mixed-race beauty shows up, we'll be able to feast our eyes!"
Seeing Lin Shaocong's lecherous demeanor, Tang Yi couldn't help but smile bitterly and retorted, "You already said her mother is an aristocrat. In Xuan Country, those who can marry an aristocrat from Ou Country must be either rich or noble. With such a background, how could she possibly live in a communal dorm at school like us!"
"Oh! How could I not have thought of that!" Lin Shaocong realized suddenly, then added resentfully, "It's all my dad's fault, that coward. Before my grandpa died, he left behind such a huge family business, but my dad was too spineless to fight with my two uncles for it. All the good stuff like the company and properties were snatched by them, and all he got was a lousy Jade Stone store."
"If he had put up a fight at that time and got a bigger share of the inheritance, I'd be living it up like Lin Meng now, a bona fide third-generation rich kid, surrounded by beauties every day, and I wouldn't need to be peeking here!"
Clearly, after beating up Lin Meng the day before, Lin Shaocong was not only no longer timid and cowardly like he used to be, but he even had the nerve to mock his own dad for being a wimp.
However, hearing Lin Shaocong's words, Tang Yi suddenly had an idea and said, "I remember that Uncle Lin's Jade Stone shop is in Shanghai!"
Lin Shaocong asked, "What, are you planning on buying Jade Stone?"
"Hmm!" Tang Yi nodded his head and added, "The best quality fine jade!"
"It's for Mo Qingxue, isn't it? I didn't expect that, buddy, for all your honest looks, you're quite the ladies' man when it comes to women!"
Lin Shaocong grinned and looked at Tang Yi, "And a top-notch fine jade at that. Tell me, are you planning to use it to make Mo Qingxue happy and then directly win her over in one fell swoop?"
"Get lost!" Tang Yi's face was covered in dark lines as he kicked Lin Shaocong in the buttocks.
He had only mentioned buying jade, and Lin Shaocong could actually brainstorm so much from it—Tang Yi had completely experienced the imaginative power of a homebody.
Lin Shaocong patted his chest to Tang Yi and promised, "Don't worry, it's just jade. When we go to my dad's shop later, anything you like, just take it!"
"Hehe!" Lin Shaocong giggled lewdly, dressing while saying enviously, "I don't know if you saved the entire universe in your past life to actually chase after a stunning beauty like Mo Qingxue. Just thinking about it makes me..."
"Shut up!"
To prevent this fatso from spouting more nonsense, Tang Yi quickly covered Lin Shaocong's stinking mouth and dragged him out of the dormitory.
After the two left campus, they immediately hailed a taxi and headed for the cultural play market located on Old Street in Shanghai—Treasure Tower.
Treasure Tower had existed since the Ming and Qing dynasties, standing for hundreds of years without falling, its influence glaringly apparent.
As time neared the modern era and Shanghai developed continuously to become an international financial center, Treasure Tower also rose with the tide. Every day, countless collectors and enthusiasts from the cultural play world, both domestic and international, flocked here to hunt for treasures.
Treasure Tower, after hundreds of years, still maintained the architectural layout from the Ming and Qing period. By now, it had become somewhat narrow and crowded. With increased foot traffic in recent years, it had become even easier for people to get lost inside.
As soon as Tang Yi got out of the taxi, he immediately felt disoriented. Fortunately, with Lin Shaocong by his side—a fatso who had been mixing in here since he was little and was very familiar with the place—he could navigate it with his eyes closed.
Under Lin Shaocong's lead, they quickly made their way through the crowd and arrived at a secluded alley. At the end of the alley stood an ancient wooden building.
The wooden building was roughly ten or so meters high and had five floors. Judging by its appearance, it was at least a hundred years old. Hanging outside was a signboard with the powerful and vigorous inscribed words 'Treasure Tower'.
"Buddy, don't be fooled by the bustling scene outside. All that is just to deceive the laymen. The real big deals are all conducted here!" Lin Shaocong knocked on the door and boasted to Tang Yi, "Today, I'm going to let you see for yourself what the real 'Treasure Tower' is all about!"
As soon as he finished talking, the great doors of Treasure Tower were opened by someone from inside. An old man walked out, looked at Lin Shaocong, and then glanced at Tang Yi with some wariness.
Lin Shaocong explained somewhat ingratiatingly to the old man, "Mr. Xu, this is my friend. Today I brought him here to buy some stuff and take in the sights!"
"Don't cause trouble!" Mr. Xu instructed before he let them into the building.