Douluo Continent: I, the world's greatest immortal master, have taken Ning Rongrong as my disci

Chapter 158 Zhu Zhuyun's Escape to Taoyuan Academy
Soto City, outside Paradise Academy.

The weather was gloomy and cold that day, with a light drizzle.

Above a narrow shopfront hangs a plaque that reads "Peach Blossom Honey," with the horizontal inscription:

[Peach blossom honey from Peach Blossom Spring, golden waves and jade buds gathered by a banished immortal.]

Inside the shop, a middle-aged man with a hooked nose sat with his legs crossed on a recliner, muttering to himself:

"Don't miss out! Our signature peach blossom honey is brewed with fresh peach blossoms from Taoyuan Academy. Infused with the spirit of peach blossoms, one sip will make you feel light and healthy, two sips will make you live a long and healthy life, and three sips will give you a complete transformation!"

"Boss, stop shouting. The weather's bad today, we don't have many customers."

A burly man came in through the back door carrying a large jar half a meter in diameter. A pinkish-yellow paper was pasted on the jar, which read: Aged Honey.

“We’ll sell as many as we can. Old Zhao, you don’t know how expensive things are until you’re in charge. These shops outside Peach Blossom Academy are really valuable these days. Our little shop alone costs five gold soul coins a month. How much peach blossom honey do we have to sell to earn back the rent?”

"I'm getting angrier and angrier the more I think about it. Damn it, if it weren't for that bastard Yu Xiaogang leading us to gamble with Dean Su and losing all the academy's land, how much would our land be worth now?"

At this point, Flander's eyes were filled with images of gold soul coins, which were an absolute fortune!

Since the Soul Master Competition, Flander and Yu Xiaogang have fallen out and returned to Soto City.

Upon learning of the construction of Peach Blossom Academy, and that the Spirit Hall and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School were both approaching, he moved his shop there.

Besides selling some of his own treasured jade, he mainly promotes peach blossom honey.

This guy has a good business sense; by leveraging the name of Peach Blossom Academy, his peach blossom honey sales are outstanding.

Just as Flander and Zhao Wuji were reminiscing, two Soul Masters from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School entered and presented their credentials:

"Why haven't you taken down your sign yet? We've warned you many times that you're not affiliated with Peach Blossom Academy. You're prohibited from using false advertising and from using the name of the Peach Blossom Academy to sell your goods."

"This is the last warning. If you don't change the sign within three days, the store will be closed for rectification."

"In addition, this is your fine: five hundred gold soul coins. The fine will be directly reimbursed to Peach Blossom Academy. Please pay."

The management of the Qibao Liuli Sect Commercial Street issued a fine and a warning letter and handed them to Flander.

Upon hearing the amount, Flander was so shocked that he jumped right off his chair.

Five hundred gold soul coins? That's a lot?!

I only made two silver soul coins from selling a jar of peach blossom honey, and my total income was less than five hundred gold soul coins!

"Isn't this going too far? Such a heavy fine?"

Zhao Wuji roared, his aura surging.

"Who allowed you to ignore our warnings so many times? We have repeatedly issued public notices prohibiting the use of Taoyuan Academy's name for commercial purposes. If we don't punish you, who should we punish?"

"What? You want to make a move?"

A Soul Master wearing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's dark gold badge subconsciously reached for the 7-shaped black weapon at his waist.

This action startled Flander, who quickly said:
"We admit our mistake and accept the punishment, but we wonder if you gentlemen could be lenient and reduce the penalty?"

"Hehe, we've known Dean Su of Taoyuan Academy for a long time. We even used to run our academy there!"

Flanders smiled obsequiously.

These Dark Gold Badge Soul Masters of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School are no ordinary characters. They are the backbone of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, responsible for maintaining the safety of their territory. Each of them is equipped with a weapon that is said to have been personally designed by Dean Su Ran—the Hell Revolver.

That was a deadly weapon that emitted blackish-blue flames from its nozzle upon firing; if it hit the head or heart, even Soul Emperors and Soul Saints wouldn't be able to withstand it. "What nonsense! You say your academy used to be located within Peach Blossom Academy? Stop trying to get close to Peach Blossom Academy; I've seen plenty of people like you."

“I’m not bragging! I, Flander, never brag. I really did open my academy next to... no, I mean, Peach Blossom Academy. Back then, when Dean Su saw me, he would politely call me Dean Flander.”

Frand pulled Zhao Wuji aside and said, "He even sparred with Dean Su before. If you don't believe me, go ask Dean Su!"

Zhao Wuji's face darkened; he looked at Flander's face and wanted to slap him.

I was talking about your mother, that's a psychological trauma for me, I finally got over it, and you still bring it up, huh?
"You guys aren't from Shrek Academy, are you?"

"Yes, that's right, it's my college, you know it?"

"I've heard of Shrek Academy, the one that used to cause trouble for Peach Blossom Academy every day and eventually lost all its land. Is that what you guys run?"

"If that's the case, then I'll have to change it for you. The fine will be doubled, and the rent will be doubled as well."

Flander's words only made things worse, as the management immediately increased the fine to 1,000 gold soul coins and raised the monthly rent to 100 gold soul coins.

Flander's face instantly changed: Are you kidding me?! I asked for a reduced fine, and you're going to double it?
Didn't I explode?

"Sir, please don't double the price. We'll compensate you at the original price: five hundred gold soul coins and fifty yuan for rent, okay? Please count it."

Flander closed his eyes and, with a heavy heart, pulled out two bags of gold soul coins from his soul tool.

"Wouldn't it have been settled if we had already expressed this attitude? It would have been convenient for everyone."

The manager of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School spoke calmly and began counting the number of Soul Coins.

……

"What a strong smell of blood?"

"It seems like there's a fluctuation of soul power."

Just then, Flander and Zhao Wuji keenly sensed the murderous aura, exchanged a glance, and quickly walked to the shop entrance.

Under the light drizzle, two beautiful, wounded women rushed out from a side path, seemingly trying to escape to Peach Blossom Academy. Blood stained the clothes that tightly wrapped their bodies, dripping onto the damp ground.

Behind the girl were more than ten Soul Masters with six to seven rings chasing after her. Among these Soul Masters, Flander and Zhao Wuji quickly recognized the Martial Souls of two of them:
"White Tiger Martial Soul? They're from the Star Luo Empire?"

……

"Zhu Zhuyun, Zhu Zhuyu, you can't escape. It's not too late to come back with us now. It would be an honor for your Zhu family to marry the First Prince and the Third Prince. Do you know what kind of danger your Zhu family will face if you run away?"

"Bah! I would never let my third sister marry that good-for-nothing Dai Mubai!"

Zhu Zhuyun scoffed and turned to look at the scene inside Peach Blossom Academy. The fine rain couldn't bend the peach blossoms. She spoke to the heavily injured girl beside her, who resembled herself and Zhu Zhuqing by six or seven points:
"Third sister, this is where your second sister studied, Peach Blossom Academy. This is all I can do for you. Remember, you must stay at Peach Blossom Academy. As long as you stay at Peach Blossom Academy, they can't do anything to you."

"Go, go quickly!"

Zhu Zhuyun placed the girl at the entrance of Taoyuan Academy, turned around and stared intently at the pursuers. Five soul rings, yellow, purple, and black, flashed on his body, and killing intent shone in his eyes.

She knew she was no match for these dozen or so Soul Masters. She and her sister had only managed to escape here thanks to the agility of the Netherworld Cat, but they were already seriously injured.

But at that very moment, two burly young men carrying peach-yellow paper fans emerged from the peach blossom path of Peach Blossom Academy, and said calmly:

"The smell of blood is really unpleasant."

“Peach Blossom Academy prohibits fighting. Please leave here before resolving this matter.”

(End of this chapter)