98: Market Encounter

Su Lin took her hand and walked into the crowd.

Mortals and Cultivators coexisted very naturally here.

Cultivators, dressed in Sect attire, restrained their Qi and would not casually oppress Mortals.

Mortals no longer avoided Cultivators from afar; they conducted their business as usual, even daring to peddle their wares to Cultivators.

“This Immortal, look at these freshly baked flatbreads!” “Immortal Revered Master, I have excellent talisman paper raw materials here, would you like to take some?”

Ye You paid no mind to these things.

In her eyes, disguised as black, only Su Lin’s profile was reflected.

She held Su Lin’s arm tightly, her body pressed against him, enjoying the crowdedness.

The surrounding clamor, the hawking of those Mortals, all automatically became background noise in her ears.

She didn't care if this market was prosperous or dilapidated; she only cared that, at this moment, she was the only one accompanying her Revered Master.

“Revered Master, look at that.”

Ye You suddenly stopped, pointing to a small stall by the roadside.

It was a Mortal old man’s stall, with many small animals woven from wheat straw, including dragonflies and grasshoppers; the craftsmanship was crude but had a touch of childlike innocence.

Su Lin looked in the direction she pointed, a little surprised.

“You like this?”

“Mm.” Ye You nodded, but her eyes were on Su Lin.

Su Lin understood her meaning.

He stepped forward and took out a common copper coin from his money pouch—he had specially prepared it before descending the mountain.

“Old man, how much for this?”

“Immortal, if you like it, just take it!” The old man was flattered.

Su Lin shook his head, placing the copper coin down: “One copper coin each, I’ll buy two.”

He picked up a small tiger woven from wheat straw, then picked up another. He handed one of them to Ye You.

Ye You took it, a brilliant smile appearing on her face.

This smile, coupled with her pure face, instantly attracted all surrounding gazes.

Her current disguise was too successful.

She wasn't the high and mighty Body Integration Stage Demon Empress, but merely a girl next door.

This beauty was something Mortals dared to covet.

“That girl… is really beautiful.”

“Indeed, who is the man next to her?”

“Seeing how intimate they are, they’re probably Dao Companions.”

Several young Mortal men passing by stopped not far away, pointing at Ye You and whispering amongst themselves.

“This young lady has excellent taste.”

The three blocked Su Lin and Ye You’s path.

The leader was a young man, dressed in luxurious brocade robes, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist; he was clearly the son of a wealthy family.

Behind him followed two servants, who were glaring at Su Lin with brutish faces.

Su Lin’s gaze lingered on the man for a moment, his brow slightly furrowed.

From this Mortal, he smelled an extremely faint, yet extremely chilling Qi.

That was the Qi of the Thousand Puppet Sect.

This Sect was annihilated hundreds of years ago; could there still be remnants?

Su Lin's thoughts churned, and he decided to observe the situation for now.

This brocade-robed man was Li Feng, the son of the wealthiest merchant in this market town.

He saw Ye You at first glance.

He was immediately attracted by her pure face.

He then saw Su Lin—dressed ordinarily, with restrained Qi, who, in his eyes, was just a harmless Mortal.

“Young lady.” Li Feng fanned himself, striking a pose he considered dashing.

“I am Li Feng. Seeing that you look unfamiliar, you’re not from around here, are you?”

Ye You stopped moving.

She didn’t even glance at Li Feng.

Her gaze fell on the servant behind Li Feng.

That servant was eyeing Su Lin with ill intent.

“Revered Master.”

Ye You spoke, her voice still that feigned sweetness.

“There are flies.”

Su Lin gripped her wrist, signaling her to calm down.

He now had other interests in this Li Feng; if Ye You were to act, even if she just blew a breath at him, this person would immediately ascend to heaven on the spot.

He immediately transmitted a message to Ye You, “This person has a problem, he’s probably from the Thousand Puppet Sect. Lead him elsewhere, don’t harm others.”

“Thousand Puppet Sect? Isn’t that the Demonic Path? Isn’t it within Fifth Junior Sister’s jurisdiction?”

“I’m not clear on that yet, but judging from their Qi, I don’t think they’re from her faction.”

Su Lin raised his eyes, looking at Li Feng.

He didn't release any pressure, but those eyes were so profound that Li Feng's heart skipped a beat.

Li Feng's prepared speech suddenly got stuck in his throat.

The servant behind him lacked such discernment; seeing Su Lin “glaring” at his Young Master, he immediately stepped forward.

“Boy! What are you looking at! My Young Master is talking to you!”

The servant reached out, about to push Su Lin’s shoulder.

Su Lin did not move.

But the servant’s hand stopped in mid-air, only three inches from Su Lin’s clothes.

He didn't stop himself.

He wanted to move, but found that his arm wouldn't obey him.

A chilling coldness emanated from his palm, rapidly spreading throughout his body.

“Ah… my hand!”

The servant discovered in horror that a thin layer of white frost had condensed on his arm.

“Immortal… Immortal!”

Li Feng’s face instantly turned pale.

Although he was a Mortal, he knew that anyone capable of doing this was definitely a Cultivator!

He no longer dared to harbor any improper thoughts, his legs went weak, and he fell to his knees with a “thud.”

“Immortal, spare my life! Immortal, spare my life! This lowly one was blind! This lowly one deserves to die!”

The other servant also knelt down in fright, kowtowing desperately.

Upon seeing this, the Mortals on the street backed away, clearing a large area.

Su Lin didn’t even look at the two kowtowing servants.

His gaze remained fixed on Li Feng.

“On you,” Su Lin said calmly, “there’s the scent of the Thousand Puppet Sect.”

This sentence made Li Feng feel colder than the frost just now.

Li Feng’s body trembled violently, his face turning from white to green.

“Immortal… Immortal… I… I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

“Is that so?”

Su Lin had no interest in wasting words with him.

He glanced at the secluded alley next to them.

“Go in.”

Li Feng dared not resist; he scrambled to his feet, hands and feet, and stumbled into the alley.

The two servants also scrambled in after him.

Only then did Su Lin take Ye You’s hand.

Ye You pouted unhappily: “Revered Master, you’re too gentle, you should have crushed them on the spot.”

“They’re still useful.”

Su Lin led her into the dimly lit alley.

At the end of the alley.

The three of them—Li Feng and his two servants—were huddled against the wall, trembling.

“Immortal… spare our lives…”

Su Lin stood before them, his expression calm: “I ask, you answer.”

“Yes! Yes! This lowly one will certainly tell all!” Li Feng nodded frantically.

“Where does the Thousand Puppet Sect Qi on you come from?”