The award ceremony ended.
Lin Feng led Lin Xiaoyu, Balen, and the others down from the podium, ready to return to the Warp Ship to rest.
The crowd in the square was still buzzing. Countless spectators held up their light screens, hoping to capture Lin Feng's image.
Lin Xiaoyu walked beside Lin Feng and whispered, "Brother, these people are so enthusiastic."
Lin Feng said nothing, merely turning to glance at her.
"If you're tired, go back to the ship and rest."
"I'm not tired." Lin Xiaoyu smiled and shook her head. "It's been so long since I last saw you. I want to talk a little longer."
Balen chimed in from beside them. "Xiao Yu, your brother's a busy man now. Those imperial bigwigs will definitely invite him to dinner soon."
Lin Feng frowned.
"I'm not going."
Balen froze for a moment. "Huh? They're high-ranking imperial officials. Isn't it a bit rude to snub them?"
Lin Feng kept walking.
"They care about saving face. I don't."
Balen grinned. "All right. You've got guts."
Just then.
Lin Feng abruptly stopped.
Noticing something was wrong, Lin Xiaoyu looked up and asked, "Brother, what's wrong?"
Lin Feng did not answer.
His gaze swept toward the depths of the crowd.
The malice that had lurked in the shadows earlier had appeared again.
And there was more than one source.
All of them were focused on Lin Xiaoyu.
Lin Feng's eyes instantly turned cold.
He raised his hand and gently pressed it against Lin Xiaoyu's shoulder.
"Stay here. Don't move."
Lin Xiaoyu froze, unable to react in time.
Lin Feng vanished in a flash.
The next instant.
A dull thud came from deep within the crowd.
A man suddenly hurtled backward, his chest caved in, and slammed hard into the wall at the edge of