Douluo: The Martial Soul Asura Armor, a Good Spirit Turning Evil

Dinner at the cafeteria consisted of braised fish and stir-fried seasonal vegetables.

Duanmu Yan ate two bowls of rice, while Ye Guyi sat opposite him, poking at her rice with her chopsticks, clearly preoccupied.

"Finished eating?" she asked.

Duanmu Yan nodded.

"Come with me for a walk." Ye Guyi put down her chopsticks. "It's admissions season, the streets are lively, I want to see what the new students look like."

Duanmu Yan instinctively wanted to refuse.

He dislikes crowded, noisy places that waste time.

But as he was about to speak, he suddenly remembered something else.

The Blade that Guards All Living Beings.

That carving knife, forged from the gold of life, was originally the Soul-Devouring Carving Knife. It was sold at an auction in the Sun and Moon Empire and eventually ended up in the Douluo Three Kingdoms.

Jubaoge's business spans across mainland China, and it has intricate connections with auction houses in various countries.

Old Lin is the manager of the Treasure Pavilion branch in Shrek City.

Years ago, I owed Qian Duoduo a favor. I used the guise of a cheap teacher project to ask her for help inquiring about things, hoping she might have some clues.

"Alright." Duanmu Yan put down his bowl. "Let's go."

Ye Guyi was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting him to agree so readily.

"Have you really changed your ways today?"

"I'm running an errand on the way."

"Hehe, arrogant guys aren't popular."

Ye Guyi teased Duanmu Yan a couple of times, then got up and left the cafeteria with him.

Shrek City is more lively at night than during the day.

The streets were lined with soul-guided lamps, their warm yellow light illuminating the entire street.

The excitement of the admissions season hadn't faded yet, and everywhere you could see teenagers dressed in all sorts of clothes, crowding in groups of three or five in front of the stalls, excitedly discussing how Shrek Academy was different.

A little girl with pigtails ran past Duanmu Yan, holding a sugar figurine she had just bought, and almost bumped into his waist.

She looked up and saw the gloomy boy under the hood, which startled her so much that she shrank back, then giggled and ran away.

Ye Guyi couldn't help but chuckle.

Duanmu Yan pulled down his hood expressionlessly.

During his shopping trip, Duanmu Yan mentioned that he needed to visit Jubaoge.

The two crossed the main street and turned into a slightly narrower alley.

Jubao Pavilion is located at the end of the alley. It is a three-story building with a gilded plaque hanging above the door. It is brightly lit even at night.

The servant at the door recognized Ye Guyi at a glance and hurriedly came forward:

"Miss Ye, Mr. Duanmu, Mr. Lin is on the second floor. I'll go and inform him right away."

"No need to announce our arrival, we'll go up ourselves." Ye Guyi waved her hand and led Duanmu Yan directly upstairs.

The second floor has private rooms with a faint sandalwood scent.

Old Lin was sitting in front of the tea table flipping through account books. His white hair was neatly combed. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and smiled when he saw Ye Guyi.

"Ye girl, long time no see. What brings you two little ones to my Jubao Pavilion today?"

"Elder Lin," Ye Guyi greeted with a smile, "I'm sorry to bother you, but I've come today to ask for your help."

Old Master Lin's gaze fell on Duanmu Yan, and after examining him for two seconds, he nodded: "Sit down and talk."

Ye Guyi glanced at Duanmu Yan, signaling him to speak.

"I want to inquire about something," Duanmu Yan said bluntly. "A list-engraving knife called the Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife. It's said to be from the Sun Moon Empire, and I've heard it might have ended up in the Douluo Three Kingdoms."

Old Lin paused slightly as he held the teacup, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He got up, took a booklet from the bookshelf, flipped through a few pages, and pointed to a line with his finger: "You're lucky, kid. I actually know where this thing came from."

"This item failed to sell at auction in the Sun Moon Empire half a month ago. The starting price was too high, and it was also known as the 'Evil Blade,' so no one dared to bid on it. Our Treasure Pavilion took the lead, and it's currently on its way to the Star Luo Empire to try our luck."

After speaking, Old Lin closed the booklet, looked at Duanmu Yan, and his gaze became more scrutinizing: "But I'm very curious, what do you need this knife for?"

Before Duanmu Yan could answer, Elder Lin continued, "Since you've come to ask about the origins of the Soul-Devouring Carving Blade, you must know. Using this blade carelessly can backfire. None of those from the Sun Moon Empire who handled it met a good end."

He paused, then looked at Duanmu Yan meaningfully: "You, a demonic soul master who's practically a meat grinder, wouldn't need something like this to carve wood, would you?"

Ye Guyi also turned her head to look at Duanmu Yan, clearly wanting to know the answer as well.

Duanmu Yan's expression remained unchanged: "A blade is inanimate, but a person is alive. Whether a blade is righteous or evil depends on who wields it. Elder Lin should know what my martial spirit is."

Old Lin paused for a moment, then laughed: "Alright, alright, stop trying to fool this old woman. Since you're unwilling to talk about it, then this old woman won't ask any more questions."

She copied the address from the booklet onto a slip of paper and handed it over: "The knife should still be on its way. It should arrive in Tianming City, a border city of the Star Luo Empire, at the earliest in three days."

"If you're interested, you can wait there. Jubaoge has a branch in Tianming City. Just mention my name, and someone will meet you."

Duanmu Yan took the note, folded it, and put it into his sleeve.

"Thank you, Mr. Lin."

"No need for thanks," Old Lin waved his hand. "But let me warn you, this knife is quite strange. If you really want to play with it, be careful."

Ye Guyi nodded: "We will be careful."

The two got up to say goodbye.

Stepping out of Jubaoge, the night breeze blew in my face, and the noise of the street filled my ears again.

Ye Guyi lagged half a step behind, blinking her eyes and looking at him curiously:

"Now you can tell me, right? What do you want that evil sword for?"

Duanmu Yan didn't stop walking: "It's useful."

"What's the use?"

I can't tell you the specifics.

Ye Guyi stopped, crossed her arms, and stood under the streetlight, pouting, her light golden eyes reflecting the warm light.

"Duanmu, you're really not being fair. I accompanied you on a trip to Jubao Pavilion, and all I can't get in return is a single honest word?"

Duanmu Yan also stopped and turned to look at her.

Pedestrians walked past them on the street. Several girls who looked like freshmen secretly glanced at Ye Guyi, then looked at Duanmu Yan, and covered their mouths to laugh.

Duanmu Yan remained silent for two seconds before walking back.

"It's not that I don't want to tell you," he said carefully, "it's just that I can't explain it right now. Once I figure it out, I'll tell you first."

Ye Guyi stared at him for a few seconds, then snorted:

"That's more like it."

She turned and walked forward, but after taking two steps, she turned back again, her face no longer showing any sign of anger.

Duanmu Yan even suspected that her sullen expression just now was an act.

"Treat me to some candied hawthorns as an apology," Ye Guyi said with a grin.

"……OK."

There were stalls on the street corner, selling bright red hawthorns coated in syrup, glistening under the guiding lights.

Ye Guyi picked out the two largest and reddest bunches and handed one to Duanmu Yan.

"I won't eat it."

"Take it."

Duanmu Yan took it, took a bite, and frowned because the hawthorn behind the sugar coating was so sour.

Ye Guyi laughed out loud from the side.

The two walked side by side down the street, each holding a string of candied hawthorns, surrounded by the lively atmosphere of new life and the warm glow of the soul-guided lamps.

The night breeze lifted Ye Guyi's golden hair, occasionally brushing against Duanmu Yan's arm.

She didn't ask any further questions about the carving knife.

Duanmu Yan took a bite of the candied hawthorn. It was still sour, but it didn't seem so bad anymore.