"Bring them out. Open them all."
Before everyone's eyes, the sacks were opened one by one, revealing figures inside. Compared to the previous batch, these were all strong and sturdy, their bodies not yet drained dry.
"Why is there a little runt among them?"
When someone in the crowd spotted a little runt inside one of the sacks, jeering broke out. Among this group of burly men, he truly stood out like a crane among chickens.
"Friend Lin, can you solve the mystery now?"
The Liu Family Head spoke with a smile. Lin Chang'an saw the curiosity on everyone's faces and gave a soft laugh, stepping forward to point at the most eye-catching little runt.
"This man is an alchemist. His skin may be a little old, but he is absolutely a genuine alchemist."
As Lin Chang'an narrowed his eyes and smiled, he slapped the storage pouch at his waist. A flash of light streaked out, and the alchemy furnace Elder Lu had rewarded him with appeared before him.
"Alchemist Wang, it is time for you to show your worth."
Beneath Lin Chang'an's narrowed-eyed smile, Alchemist Wang's face filled with terror. His lips trembled as he said, "Lin! Lin Chang'an, you... you are ruthless!"
Yet Lin Chang'an merely waved with a smile and said softly, "Alchemist Wang, if you are not ruthless enough in this place, you will not be able to stand firm!"
Though he wore a smile, the cold gleam in his eyes was frightening. Lin Chang'an suddenly laughed. "You should have heard what was said earlier from inside the sack, right? If anything goes wrong, I imagine Fellow Daoist's body would be quite suitable for refining into a human puppet."
His threat was utterly undisguised, especially with that smile still on his face. The sight made the rest of his fellow sect members look at one another.
They had also heard of the grudge between the two. Lin Chang'an really did hold a grudge. At the same time, a firm thought rose in their hearts: offend anyone but Brother Lin.
Because Brother Lin was truly a ruthless man. Just look at the fates of those who had offended him—he was the sort of ruthless man who did not traffic people unless others offended him.
"You!" At that moment, Alchemist Wang's eyes filled with regret and fear. With such a vast disparity in status, he could not even summon his final shred of hatred.
Tendon-pulling and skinning, a fate worse than death—here, those were not empty words, nor were they threats. They were commonplace.
At that moment, Alchemist Wang did not dare resist in the slightest. He could only turn to look at the person who had bought him, forcing a flattering smile onto his ugly face.
"I can refine pills."
At this moment, he only wanted to cling to life. From the instant he had been sold, he knew his fate. A cultivator who had been sold for disobedience would never be trusted again, no matter what he said. He would only be squeezed dry until he died.
Before everyone, the restraints on Alchemist Wang were removed. As he raised his hand and circulated his mana to activate the pill furnace, the crowd erupted in an uproar, their eyes widening.
"Good heavens, there really is an alchemist."
"They really were willing to spend heavily. This merchandise has to be worth at least sixty Spirit Stones."
"Sixty Spirit Stones? That is only because there are too many outsiders now, breaking the rules and acting recklessly. In the old days, he would have been worth at least eighty!"
As the crowd buzzed with discussion, Zhang Qing laughed loudly. "Congratulations, Liu Family Head. Thank you for thinking so highly of my business."
"Hey... wait, wait..."
Just then, a shout rang out, and the crowd immediately burst into snickering.
"Isn't that Old Man Li?"
"Haha, he must be here to buy another man for his daughter."
Amid the thunderous laughter, a sturdy, dark-skinned cultivator came hurrying over, bent at the waist and hunched like an old farmer as he shouted loudly.
He was dressed in such a slovenly manner that anyone unaware of his identity would truly have taken him for an old farmer.
"Buying someone, I'm buying a person ticket!" Old Man Li ran over, panting for breath. When Zhang Qing saw him, he broke into a wide grin.
"Isn't this Old Man Li? At your age, your heart still refuses to die?"
Zhang Qing's teasing instantly set the spectators roaring with laughter. Old Man Li repeatedly shook his head and hurriedly said, "Listen to yourselves. I'm buying one for my daughter."
"Hey, Old Man Li, did your eldest girl drain another one dry? It has only been how long? At your age, how many Spirit Stones can you earn farming in a month?"
"Exactly. Who could withstand your daughter?"
As everyone teased him, Zhang Qing pointed at his own head and muttered quietly to Lin Chang'an, "Old Man Li snatched a cultivation technique back in the day, and it messed up his head. Besides, his daughter is not human either."
Lin Chang'an's expression changed upon hearing this. Looking at the honest-looking old man and the teasing smiles around him, he could not help feeling suspicious.
"Besides, Old Man Li once did the Liu family a favor, so..." Before Zhang Qing could finish, the Liu Family Head, who had seemed refined just moments ago, saw the newcomer and could not help twitching at the corner of his mouth. He sighed helplessly.
"Brother Li, why are you here?"
Old Man Li glared at the Liu Family Head. "Of course I'm here for my daughter."
"Brother Li, go home first. I'll buy you a person ticket and send it to your house, all right?"
"No! The Li family walks upright and stands straight. Besides, I have Spirit Stones!" Old Man Li gave the Liu Family Head no face at all. With his eyes wide, he directly pulled out a handful of Spirit Stones from his robes.
The moment Zhang Qing saw this, he hurriedly stepped aside. "Go find my Junior Brother Lin. He is in charge of all business here."
Before Lin Chang'an could react, Old Man Li had appeared before him, looking at him with a flattering smile. "Look, I'm buying a person ticket for my daughter."
Old Man Li pulled out eight Spirit Stones, then bent and bowed ingratiatingly. "I heard all the way in the far north that Second Master here had good merchandise. I'll use this to make up for the two Spirit Stones I'm short."
A sack of Spirit Rice suddenly appeared in his hand. Yet the smile on Lin Chang'an's face had stiffened, and a bead of cold sweat slid down from his temple.
Old Man Li's aura was not the slightest bit weaker than Elder Lu's. He was clearly a late Qi Condensation powerhouse.
The Liu Family Head, who had been refused, wore a helpless expression, yet there was nothing he could do.
"Junior Brother Lin, after Old Man Li's accident, he refused to leave the Market no matter what. He has stayed inside the Market, farming to support his daughter."
Zhang Qing's voice reached his ear. Lin Chang'an smiled as he accepted the Spirit Stones and Spirit Rice, but Old Man Li still bent over and flattered him. "Thank you, Second Master. Thank you, Second Master."
"Senior Li, I cannot bear such a title." Lin Chang'an's face had gone somewhat pale at the form of address, though fortunately everyone was already used to it.
"Li Han, quickly pick a good one for Senior Li."
At Lin Chang'an's meaningful glance, Li Han immediately understood. He stepped forward and selected a sack, but Old Man Li beamed with joy and appeared directly before Li Han.
"I'll do it."
The sack was instantly slung over his shoulder. Having bought his person ticket, Old Man Li grinned broadly. "Second Master, let me know next time you have good merchandise. I'll head back and bring this to my daughter first."
"Brother Li!" The Liu Family Head opened his mouth, but seeing the figure already receding into the distance, he could only sigh helplessly. He then turned to Zhang Qing and said, "I shall take my leave first."
Zhang Qing watched the Liu Family Head leave, then immediately turned to his men behind him and shouted, "What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and sort these people out, then send them to the Liu family later."
"Yes."
It had to be said that Zhang Qing knew how to conduct himself. With those words, he had not overstepped in the slightest. The Liu Family Head smiled and nodded; before leaving, he gave Lin Chang'an a meaningful look. This young man also knew how to conduct himself.
"Then, many thanks."
"Take care, Liu Family Head." Zhang Qing courteously saw him off. Only after the figure vanished from sight did he turn around and look at Wang Youyun, who was preparing to leave. He mocked, "Zhou Youyun, next time make your move sooner."
The spectators instantly held back their laughter, while the cultivators who had spent high prices buying merchandise were all beaming. They had spent a few extra Spirit Stones, but at least they had gotten to know the Liu Family Head.
It could be said that everyone had profited. Only Wang Youyun, who was leaving, appeared aggrieved. Yet at the instant he turned his head before departing, a solemn look appeared on his face. The Liu family was truly going to link up with the Great Sword Sect. He had to return and report this.
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