118: Yuan Yao

Compared to her two companions, her attire might not have been the most revealing, but it made Lin Feng feel much more at ease.

“How long have you all been here?” Lin Feng asked, his voice flat, betraying no emotion.

This question surprised all three women.

Male Cultivators who came to Tian Du Street either got straight to the point or made their selections directly; rarely did anyone ask such irrelevant questions.

The woman in the pink skirt was the first to react, eagerly answering, “Replying to Senior, Junior has only been here for two years.”

The woman in blue followed closely, her eyes alluring, “I’ve been here longer, this is my fifth year.”

When it was the green-skirted woman’s turn, she bowed slightly, her voice clear, “Senior, this little one has been here for over ten years. If Senior wishes to inquire about any information, this little one will answer everything I know.”

Lin Feng smiled slightly upon hearing this.

“In that case, how about you accompany me to the market?” He looked at the green-skirted woman and extended an invitation.

As soon as he spoke, the professional smiles on the faces of the pink-skirted and blue-clad women instantly froze. They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with unconcealed envy and jealousy.

The green-skirted woman, who had been chosen, showed a joyful expression and quickly nodded in agreement.

“Yes, Senior! This little one would be delighted!”

In the Chaotic Star Sea, while the custom of female companionship was unwritten, everyone understood it. Once a male Cultivator agreed to a female Cultivator’s request to accompany him, he was almost always expected to pay a reward afterward.

For these Low-Grade Cultivators struggling at the bottom, being chosen by a Senior often meant a substantial income.

Lin Feng no longer looked at the other two, turning and walking towards the market.

The green-skirted woman quickly followed, staying half a step behind him.

The two walked one after another on the bustling street, surrounded by strangely shaped beast carriages and hurried Cultivators.

“What is your name?” Lin Feng asked casually.

The woman replied softly, “Replying to Senior, this little one is Yun Yun. My father is a sailor at the port, and I grew up on Kui Xing Island, so I am quite familiar with this place.”

Lin Feng nodded, so that was it.

He continued to ask, “Then do you know, on this Tian Du Street, there were once two women, one named Yao'er, and the other named Yan Li. Their attire… should be similar to those two young ladies just now.”

As soon as his voice fell, the footsteps behind him abruptly paused.

Yun Yun’s expression changed, and her voice held a hint of surprise, “Senior… do you know Senior Sister Yao'er?”

Lin Feng’s expression remained unchanged, and his steps did not stop.

“Yao'er is a descendant of an old friend of mine. I was entrusted to come to Kui Xing Island to find her. Does the young lady know her whereabouts?”

His words were half-truths, explaining his purpose without appearing too abrupt.

Upon hearing the words “descendant of an old friend,” Yun Yun’s guard visibly relaxed, replaced by a look of worry and sorrow.

“So that’s how it is…” She sighed, quickened her steps to catch up with Lin Feng, “Senior Sister Yao'er and Senior Sister Yan Li have been here since I was little. Their cultivation is higher than ours, and they usually take good care of us sisters.”

Her voice lowered, “But… half a year ago, Senior Sister Yan Li suddenly disappeared, with no trace of her alive or dead. Senior Sister Yao'er was frantic. She has searched almost the entire Kui Xing Island these past few days, but hasn’t found a single clue.”

Lin Feng’s heart tightened.

Could it be that he had still arrived a step too late?

He suppressed the thoughts in his heart, his expression still calm as water.

“Then do you know where Yao'er is now?”

Yun Yun tilted her head, trying hard to recall.

“Senior Sister Yao'er searched all over Tian Du Street and the South City, but found nothing. I heard her say that she might go to the east side of the city these few days to try her luck, to see if any shopkeepers have seen Senior Sister Yan Li.”

“The east side of the city, huh…”

Lin Feng stopped, took a small cloth bag from his Storage Pouch, and handed it to Yun Yun.

“Thank you for the information, take these.”

Yun Yun subconsciously took it; it felt heavy in her hand. She opened it and was immediately stunned.

Inside the cloth bag was a full bag of Spirit Stones, roughly counted, there were more than a dozen of them!

She had been working on Tian Du Street for several years, and her entire hard-earned fortune amounted to only a few Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

This Senior had only asked a few questions, yet he had casually bestowed so many!

Yun Yun was incredibly excited and was about to look up to express her gratitude when she realized that the Senior in green robes had disappeared at some point.

She stood rooted to the spot, bowing respectfully three times to the empty street.

“Thank you, Senior! Thank you, Senior!”

After expressing her thanks, she quickly tucked the bag of Spirit Stones tightly into her bosom, cautiously looked around, and hurried towards home. She had to quickly tell her father, who was still working hard at the port, this wonderful news.

…

In a nearby alley, Lin Feng smiled as he watched Yun Yun’s joyful yet nervous demeanor.

He had originally wanted to give more, but then he reconsidered. For a female Cultivator at the second level of Qi Refining, carrying too many treasures on the chaotic Kui Xing Island was not a good thing.

These dozen or so Spirit Stones were enough to improve her and her father’s lives, yet not enough to invite disaster.

He shook his head, no longer thinking about it, and slowly walked towards the east side of the city.

………………

The eastern part of the city was far less prosperous than Tian Du Street.

This area was mostly where Mortals and Low-Grade Cultivators lived together. On both sides of the street were shops selling various seafood and sundry goods, and the air was filled with a fishy smell and the scent of human activity.

Lin Feng restrained his aura, walking among the crowd like an ordinary person, but his Divine Sense spread out like an invisible net, slowly covering the area, carefully searching for a figure that matched the description.

Soon, his gaze was drawn to a figure.

In front of a shop selling sea maps, a woman in a long blue dress was anxiously holding a portrait, asking the impatient shopkeeper something.

The woman had a graceful figure, her beautiful hair was tied up with a simple gold ring, and she had a pair of snow-white bare feet, stepping on the somewhat slippery bluestone slabs, drawing frequent glances from passersby.

Her face was extremely beautiful, with a natural charm, but at this moment, her captivating eyes were filled with lingering anxiety and sorrow, making her a pitiable sight.

It was Yao'er.

Seeing this face, Lin Feng, who had seen many beauties like Nangong Wan, was momentarily astonished.

But the shopkeeper was clearly impatient, waving his hand impatiently. Yao'er could only disappointedly put away the portrait, turn and leave, her slender back appearing especially lonely and helpless.

Lin Feng looked at her, contemplating.

Yao'er was strong-willed and suspicious. If he approached her directly, it might arouse her vigilance.

The best way was to let her come to him.

Thinking of this, Lin Feng had a plan in mind.

He naturally released his cultivation at the Early Stage Core Formation and walked over with a calm expression.

The originally noisy crowd on the street instantly quieted down upon Lin Feng’s arrival.

Those Low-Grade Cultivators and Mortals respectfully looked in Lin Feng’s direction, voluntarily clearing a path.

Yao'er had just finished asking another shopkeeper, who also hadn’t seen Yan Li, and felt a bit disheartened.

If she weren’t in the Foundation Establishment Stage, these shopkeepers probably wouldn’t even bother with her.

If Yan Li wasn't on Kui Xing Island, how could she find her with her current cultivation?

Yao'er, who was feeling disheartened from not finding any clues, suddenly sensed this powerful aura.

Her heart jolted. When did such a Senior expert arrive on Kui Xing Island?

She saw a young man in green robes, standing with his hands behind his back, walking with a calm expression, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.

Yao'er’s heart, however, pounded at that moment.

She saw hope.

With her own strength, trying to find Yan Li in the vast Star Sea was like looking for a needle in a haystack. But if she could get help from this Senior, even just a little, the outcome might be completely different.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the apprehension and unease in her heart, quickly tidied her slightly disheveled skirt, and forced out a slightly stiff but still charming and moving smile. With light steps, she actively walked towards Lin Feng.

“Senior,” her voice carried a subtle tremor, yet she feigned composure, “Is this your first time on Kui Xing Island? If you need companionship, this little one, Yao'er, can be of service to Senior!”

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Many thanks to [Ye Qian, who loves chestnut chicken soup] for the reward of explosive updates and flower scattering!!!