"Hey! Did you hear? A mysterious shop opened on that street. Tons of people go there every day. Should we go check it out?"
"What kind of shop are you talking about, sounding so mysterious?"
"What else could it be? Obviously that kind of place. You'll understand once you go!"
Lately, rumors had started to spread outside Eastsea Academy. It seemed that a mysterious shop had opened nearby.
The problem was, no one had actually seen the shop, which only made people more curious—what was really going on?
As a local of Eastsea City, Xie Xie naturally had a keen interest in such mysterious novelties. So, on a certain afternoon during a rest day, he dragged Tang Wulin out to go see for themselves.
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"Xie Xie, what exactly is this mysterious thing you're talking about?"
"Of course it's something good!" Xie Xie gave Tang Wulin a sly grin as he looked at his clueless expression. "You've heard the rumors around school, right? What do you think about them?"
"Uh… I don't know."
Tang Wulin had been completely absorbed in cultivating lately. He hadn't paid attention to any outside news. Even if he had heard anything, he probably wouldn't have cared. His main goal now was to cultivate hard—after all, he was aiming for Shrek Academy.
But Xie Xie was different. He practically dragged Tang Wulin out of the dorm.
"Come on! You already train all day during school—today's our rest day! Don't tell me you want to sit in the dorm all day again. Just come out and walk around with me!"
Ultimately, Tang Wulin couldn't resist Xie Xie's pestering and went with him outside the academy. However—
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"Where are you guys going?"
They ran into Liu Ying, who had just returned from outside, at the school gate.
"That's a secret between men…"
Xie Xie clearly didn't want to say anything. He grabbed Tang Wulin and left the academy.
Watching their sneaky behavior, Liu Ying's expression became strange. The two of them were roommates, sure, but weren't they a little too close? Could it be… since Gu Yue hadn't arrived yet, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie had…?
Ever since the Lake of Life in the Star Dou Great Forest disappeared, Yao Lan had guessed that Gu Yue might have gone elsewhere and wouldn't be coming to Eastsea Academy.
Turns out he was right—Gu Yue had gone missing. Many interactions between Tang Wulin and Gu Yue from the original plot were now gone. But that still didn't mean Tang Wulin should get involved with Xie Xie!
Feeling that something was off, Liu Ying decided she needed to tail these two suspicious guys to see what they were up to.
So, the three of them secretly slipped away from Eastsea Academy, heading to the mysterious location Xie Xie mentioned—unaware that a blue-ice silhouette had also caught sight of their actions...
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"Xie Xie, is this the place?"
"Of course. Quick, hide!"
In a corner of the street, Xie Xie and Tang Wulin peeked their heads out to observe the mysterious shop. Even Tang Wulin, who initially wasn't interested, became curious after witnessing something strange.
The shop looked large, but all the windows and doors were closed. The only open entrance was the main front door, but even that was covered by a massive black curtain—you couldn't see anything inside.
---
"Look! Someone's coming!"
"Why are they all men?"
While they were observing, several figures approached the shop. They had strange smiles on their faces—ones that Tang Wulin couldn't comprehend. Then, one by one, they disappeared inside.
A few minutes later, nearly all of them came out looking thoroughly… satisfied. Xie Xie and Tang Wulin grew even more curious.
---
"What's with their expressions? Why did they change after going in?"
"And what are they even selling in there?"
A flurry of questions bubbled up in their minds. The seeds of curiosity had been planted—and now they were starting to take root.
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"What they're selling? Let's just go in and see for ourselves!"
Xie Xie declared. "You can't find the truth without trying things!"
After watching from the outside for so long and getting nothing, the two finally made up their minds to investigate.
Xie Xie pulled Tang Wulin to the shop's entrance. That's when they noticed a line of small characters above the door—
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"Winterfire Hall? What kind of place is this supposed to be?"
Even after reading the name, they couldn't tell what was being sold. No choice but to experience it firsthand!
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"Wulin, let's go in!"
"Let's go!"
With heavy steps and serious expressions, they entered the mysterious establishment called Winterfire Hall.
---
The moment the black curtain lifted, pink light washed over their faces. They followed the glow with their eyes—and immediately widened them in shock.
Inside this shop… they were selling people?
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"Wait! They're not alive. They're just dolls… but they're unbelievably detailed?"
It was Xie Xie who first realized the truth. He quickly figured it out.
Tang Wulin, on the other hand, stared at a doll on the counter. Below it was a sign listing many things—how to use it, how to clean it, and so on…
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"Huh? So that's what kind of place this is?"
After reading the doll's description, both their faces flushed bright red. They never imagined such "products" even existed—this really opened their eyes.
So this was the adult world?
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"Welcome… little ones?"
A female receptionist walked over—but when she realized her customers were kids, her expression changed instantly. This place absolutely did not allow children. If the Federation found out, it would be a huge problem!
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"Quickly leave, kids. This isn't a place for you."
Hearing this, Xie Xie immediately apologized. He now realized how serious this was. If his family ever found out he came to a place like this, it would be the shame of a lifetime!
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"Sorry! We'll leave right away. Wulin… Wulin?"
Xie Xie turned to drag Tang Wulin away—but what he saw next stunned him completely.
Tang Wulin!
That cultivation-obsessed maniac who always stayed at the academy—he was now staring intently at one of the dolls—and even reached out to touch it?
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You've got some nerve!
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"Sister!"
Noticing something unusual about the doll, Tang Wulin's face suddenly grew serious. He looked intently at the receptionist.
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"How much is this doll?"
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"Huh?" ×2
Not only was Xie Xie dumbfounded—the receptionist was too.
Wait—you're actually trying to buy it!?
---
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!