"I came racing toward you; you are my sea of stars..."
"La-di-da, la-di-da... a giao, my giaogiao..."
With his bloodline transformed and his strength greatly increased, Ling Feng was in wonderful spirits. On his way home, he sang to himself, thoroughly enjoying himself.
After taking several turns along the wide streets, he slipped into a medium-sized marketplace in the southern part of the city.
This was the shortest route home.
Seeing the bustling marketplace, the cheerful Ling Feng decided to browse. Previously, because of his physique, he had spent his entire month here busy cultivating. When had he ever been in the mood to go shopping like this?
"Step right up, don't miss out! Tier-one magic cores on clearance..."
"The Lingnan herb merchant has gone bankrupt! The owner, Huang Hexiang, drank, whored, and gambled his way into massive debt, then ran off with his sister-in-law! We had no choice but to take his herbs as collateral. Originally 199 gold coins, now only 99..."
Listening to this otherworldly version of a street vendor's sales pitch, Ling Feng found it strangely familiar, and his mood improved even further.
Wandering here and there, Ling Feng gradually made his way deeper into the marketplace. Ahead of him, a crowd had gathered.
It looked as though a dispute had broken out.
Following the voices, Ling Feng drew closer and saw two groups confronting one another. Only after listening to the bystanders did he learn that the Xiao Clan and the Jia Lie Family were involved.
"Xiao Yan?"
Hearing the crowd's animated discussion, Ling Feng looked at a black-clad youth in the middle. His face was handsome and resolute, the sort that grew more appealing the longer one looked.
"So this is my fellow countryman? He doesn't look any better than me..."
After carefully sizing Xiao Yan up, Ling Feng made a rather narcissistic remark. Still, Ling Feng really was handsome, in a roguish sort of way.
In terms of looks alone, Ling Feng was indeed more attractive than Xiao Yan. The original "Ling Feng" had brought a fatal calamity upon himself precisely because of his appearance.
"This guy won Xiao Xun'er over just by sneaking in for a grope at night. Whenever things get critical, there's always a woman backing him up, too. He's practically the number-one king of living off women. Tsk, tsk..."
Clicking his tongue as he watched his fellow countryman Xiao Yan, Ling Feng felt some admiration for his womanizing skills.
Still, Ling Feng had no intention of staging an awkward reunion where two countrymen met with tears brimming in their eyes.
In this world, Ling Feng trusted only himself. As for Xiao Yan, his nominal fellow countryman, he could hardly guarantee that the fellow wouldn't scheme against him.
As the saying went, a person's heart was hidden behind their belly!
People could be kind, but they could also be the most treacherous of all!
The girl hiding behind Xiao Yan should be Xiao Xun'er. More precisely, Gu Xun'er.
Watching the green-clad girl behind Xiao Yan, Ling Feng murmured inwardly.
Hmm... she's really beautiful. Unfortunately, she isn't curvy enough. Not my type. Maybe after a few more years of growing.
Carefully examining Xun'er behind Xiao Yan, Ling Feng silently regretted it. Although Xiao Xun'er was breathtakingly beautiful, she wasn't the type he liked.
In Ling Feng's eyes, the most beautiful women were the well-proportioned type that most men favored.
Slim where they should be slim, full where they should be full, with both delicate contours and soft flesh-that was perfection.
Still, forget it. That pig Xiao Yan has already rooted around with her. I'll pass on Xun'er. But the others, hehehe...
As his lewd fantasies wandered, an evil grin involuntarily appeared on Ling Feng's face. As for Jia Lie Ao, Ling Feng hadn't even glanced at him. That fellow was only a minor supporting character who wouldn't survive more than a few episodes.
Right, I remember Xiao Yan finding another lucky opportunity in this marketplace. I'd better take a look first. Maybe I can beat him to it...
Suddenly remembering something, Ling Feng's eyes gleamed, and he stopped watching the confrontation.
I remember Xiao Yan finding the Black Iron Fragment while looking for a Wood-Type Magic Core... Black Tier Dou Technique, here I come...
Filled with excitement, Ling Feng browsed the various roadside stalls, passing several of them.
At one point, Ling Feng stopped, his gaze fixed on a green crystal still streaked with blood on a stall, and the Black Iron Fragment beside it. His lips curved slightly as he chuckled inwardly. Finally found it.
Ling Feng was so certain because seeing the Black Iron Fragment gave him a peculiar sensation. That very sensation told him this was what he was looking for.
He felt the single gold coin, five silver coins, and thirteen copper coins in his pocket. This was the pocket money he had saved over all the years since childhood.
In the Dou Qi Continent's monetary system, gold coins were worth the most, followed by silver, then copper. One gold coin could be exchanged for a hundred silver coins, and one silver coin for a hundred copper coins.
"Shopkeeper, how much for this hairpin and this black iron fragment? I'll take them."
After a moment's hesitation, Ling Feng stepped forward, casually picked up the Black Iron Fragment and a wooden hairpin from the edge of the stall, and addressed the stallholder.
Seeing a customer arrive, the shifty-eyed mercenary stallholder's eyes gleamed with visions of gold coins. Smiling broadly, he said, "You've got a good eye, young man. These two things have quite a history..."
"Enough, enough. Hairpins like this are everywhere. As for this piece of iron, I just thought it looked unusual and wanted to play around with it. Don't try your sales tricks on me. Come on, give me a price. If it's reasonable, I'll take them."
Ling Feng knew exactly what that smile meant: the man was looking to fleece him. Without giving him a chance, Ling Feng laid his cards on the table.
The stallholder wasn't offended and continued smiling. "I can tell you're a straightforward fellow, young man. In that case, I'll spare you the talk. A fixed price of one gold coin for both."
"One gold coin? Are you robbing me? These two things are worth one silver coin at most, and you're asking for a gold coin?"
Ling Feng deliberately acted annoyed.
The stallholder continued beaming. Those who criticized the goods were the ones who intended to buy-he understood that principle well.
Even though he knew his asking price was high, that was how business had to be done. He felt no shame. A born swindler, he had long since developed a thick hide.
"Young man, I have to make a little profit, too."
"One silver coin. Take it or leave it."
Ignoring the stallholder's smile, Ling Feng spoke bluntly.
If he showed that he absolutely had to have it, he would be waiting to get fleeced. Knowing this, Ling Feng deliberately acted indifferent, ready to walk away at any moment. That made it harder for the other man to get a handle on him.
His eyes shrewdly swept over the items in Ling Feng's hands. Once he confirmed they were both cheap goods, he said, "All right. Let's call it making a friend. I'll sell them to you cheap..."
"Wait!"
Just as the stallholder was about to finalize the deal with Ling Feng, an unexpected interloper suddenly barged in.
"Xiao Yan?!"
Looking toward the voice, Ling Feng realized it was Xiao Yan.
This guy got here so quickly...
"Shopkeeper, I'll pay one gold coin for that Black Iron Fragment. Sell it to me."
Xiao Yan tossed a gold coin straight to the stallholder.
This guy wants to snatch it from me?
Ling Feng frowned, displeasure rising within him, but said, "Brother, this shopkeeper has already sold it to me."
"You haven't paid, so it doesn't count as a deal. I've already given the owner a gold coin."
Xiao Yan folded his arms across his chest and spoke with a smile. His expression looked friendly, but to Ling Feng, it was utterly sickening.
"Don't you understand first come, first served? The owner and I already agreed on a deal. Don't you think it's improper to barge in like this?"
Ling Feng's voice turned cold. Xiao Yan paid no heed, however, and instead replied.
"What's improper about it? As they say, the highest bidder wins. If you're confident you can offer more than me, you're welcome to bid against me."
As he spoke, Xiao Yan glanced over Ling Feng's commoner's clothes, the corner of his mouth lifting. "But do you have that much money?"
He's banking on me being broke, isn't he?!
Ling Feng's eyes abruptly narrowed. Anger surged in his heart, and his fists involuntarily clenched before relaxing again.
"Young master, why are you so determined to have this piece of iron?"
At this point, doubts also arose in the shrewd stallholder's mind, and he couldn't help asking.
"No reason. I just think this piece of iron looks unusual and want to take it home to play with. Owner, if you sell me this Black Iron Fragment, I'll buy this Level-One Wood-Type Magic Core from you as well. How about it?"
Naturally, Xiao Yan wouldn't reveal the Black Iron Fragment's secret to the stallholder. Ling Feng, unwilling to let Xiao Yan profit, badly wanted to expose its secret himself.
If he couldn't get something, he didn't want Xiao Yan getting it either.
But considering Yao Lao, who stood behind Xiao Yan, he swallowed the impulse.
The stallholder couldn't be certain whether the Black Iron Fragment held some other secret. After a moment's consideration, he ultimately made the deal with Xiao Yan.
"Sorry, young man. This young master's offer is higher than yours, and I really can't refuse. So I won't be doing this deal with you..."
Hearing this, Ling Feng's face darkened completely. He knew Xiao Yan had forcibly snatched away the opportunity that had already been in his grasp.
That was how this world worked: profit came first, and the strong reigned supreme!