The marketplace wasn't large, but it was overwhelmingly crowded. Lin Feng found it difficult to even walk.
He saw a few ruffians surrounding Guan Tongtong.
"Hey girl, what's wrong with us eating a few of your fruits?"
"Exactly, Brother Liang eating your fruit is honoring you. Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
"But Brother Liang, this little girl is quite pretty!"
The group erupted in laughter, and the one called Brother Liang became even more smug.
"Speaking of which, I'm of age to marry and have children. If I propose to this young lady, will her family agree?"
Brother Liang crossed his arms and grinned.
"So you guys are about to have an aunt? Come on, call her aunt."
By the time Lin Feng arrived, Guan Tongtong was on the verge of tears.
"Oh, oh, little beauty, don't cry. Seeing you cry pains me."
After Brother Liang spoke, the group burst into laughter again.
The bystanders were indignant but dared not speak.
"You bastards, what kind of skill is bullying a little girl?"
Lin Feng charged forward, only to be met with another round of laughter.
Guan Tongtong quietly tugged at Lin Feng's sleeve and whispered an explanation:
"Fighting isn't allowed in the marketplace. No matter who is right or wrong, you'll be arrested by the constables and imprisoned. It's easy to get in, but difficult to get out if you have no connections."
"What about this kind of situation? Don't the constables care?"
Lin Feng found it unbelievable. If they were to manage everything, how could they selectively ignore some incidents?
"They can't handle it. Those who dare to cause trouble usually have some background. The constables aren't enough, and they might not be able to win. Their only job is to ensure the safety of the marketplace."
"They can't win?"
"That's right! Who knows when they might run into a cultivator lord? Ordinary constables can't fight them. Even if there are cultivator constables, they wouldn't be in a place like this."
Lin Feng fell silent. Cultivator lords?
Are cultivators common here?
Lin Feng was then thoroughly educated by Guan Tongtong. This was the Jiuli Minor World, inhabited by both mortals and many cultivators who could do anything, traversing heaven and earth.
However, it was said that cultivators preferred to stay in blessed lands and rarely came out.
Listening to Guan Tongtong's explanation and looking at those hooligans, Lin Feng felt a deep sense of injustice.
What surprised Lin Feng, however, was that after he spoke out, those hooligans actually left.
Can you believe it?
Such accommodating hooligans?
With no more spectacle to watch, the crowd gradually dispersed.
Lin Feng and Guan Tongtong also prepared to return.
Halfway back, they stopped. Those hooligans reappeared.
"Little girl, I was planning to propose to you. Why are you walking with another man?"
Both of them wore sinister expressions.
"However, if you serve me well, I might spare you both."
As they spoke, the hooligans all laughed.
"There are no other paths here. Most of it is still wild mountains, but I still chose this route…"
Guan Tongtong said softly, her voice a little distant. Coupled with her half-smiling expression, it inexplicably sent a shiver down one's spine.
"Stop being so mysterious. Brothers, attack!" The two suppressed the unease in their hearts.
Guan Tongtong stared coldly at the approaching man, remaining silent.
Her peripheral vision glanced at Lin Feng, who showed no sign of nervousness.
Guan Tongtong looked at Lin Feng again, somewhat surprised.
"Help me with something later."
Guan Tongtong smiled. Her already attractive face came alive with this smile.
"Later, help me drag these two into the woods and bury them…"
Upon hearing Guan Tongtong ask Lin Feng to bury them, Brother Liang could no longer restrain himself. He grabbed the dagger in his hand and lunged at the woman's chest.
"Crack… Ah…" After two sounds, the man wielding the dagger had fallen to the ground.
The other two men hadn't reacted yet and were momentarily stunned.
The entire action took only a few breaths. The two men finally came to their senses. Although it was only a few breaths, they already understood that they had encountered a tough opponent this time.
Without thinking, they turned to flee. The woman suddenly kicked out. The dagger on the ground was kicked from the taller man's throat.
Then the woman kicked the dagger again, and it flew as if it had eyes, piercing the back of the fleeing man.
"Your turn."
This was the first time Lin Feng had seen such a woman. He had known many women, loved many women, but never a woman with such two faces.
Her acting skills were so good that even legendary actors would be ashamed.
"Weren't you almost crying from fear earlier?"
"That's why," Guan Tongtong's tone was very relaxed, "Who would believe I can kill, that I would kill?"
Lin Feng, after hearing this, immediately dragged the men lying on the ground into the nearby woods.
Watching Lin Feng enter the forest and the ease with which he dragged the bodies, a hint of admiration appeared in Guan Tongtong's eyes. She muttered to herself, "Decent strength, and not a coward either, though a bit too effeminate."
Lin Feng dragged the bodies into the woods and checked them, but found nothing valuable, only a little over a thousand yuan in cash combined.
However, the dagger seemed quite good, appearing very sharp. Lin Feng pulled it out and considered it his trophy.
With a few fire spell talismans, he burned the bodies to black ashes. He used a bomb talisman to create a large pit, kicked the ashes into it, and then pushed some soil over it.
After dealing with the hooligans, Lin Feng did not go back but headed directly into the mountains.
He no longer dared to trust Guan Tongtong and her father. He would find his own way out.
"Wait for me…"
Guan Tongtong waited by the roadside for a while and didn't see Lin Feng coming. She immediately entered the forest and discovered Lin Feng heading into the mountains, only catching a faint glimpse of his retreating figure.
If she had been any slower, Lin Feng might have already disappeared.
Lin Feng heard Guan Tongtong's call and stopped.
Seeing Lin Feng stop, Guan Tongtong was genuinely surprised. In her opinion, Lin Feng was leaving because he was afraid of her. Hearing her call, he should have run as far away as possible. She hadn't expected him to stop.
She wanted to believe that Lin Feng stopped because he was afraid of her, but Guan Tongtong knew he wasn't. He showed no signs of fear.
"You're not afraid of me?" Guan Tongtong walked up to Lin Feng and said meaningfully.
Lin Feng smiled faintly and said, "Are you going to kill me?"
"No, you haven't offended me. I don't like killing people." Guan Tongtong shook her head subconsciously.
"Oh, since you won't kill me, why should I be afraid?" Lin Feng asked, seemingly puzzled.
Guan Tongtong looked at Lin Feng again. There was no signal of danger emanating from him.
She had escaped death countless times and possessed an innate keenness to sense people stronger than her. Clearly, Lin Feng was not.
"You're very courageous. But if you're not afraid of me, why were you trying to escape into the mountains?"
"Is this mountain yours? Can't I walk through it?"
"…"
Guan Tongtong was momentarily speechless. Although Lin Feng's words were somewhat sharp, she did not get angry.
"I appreciate you. As you saw earlier, I'm not ordinary. If you're willing, I can introduce you to a master."
Lin Feng waved his hand.
"Introducing a master is unnecessary. You've appreciated me enough. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
"Don't rush. It seems you don't understand how powerful the strong are in this world. Having a guide is a good thing," Guan Tongtong said slowly, undeterred by Lin Feng's refusal of her offer.
Considering that he knew nothing about this world, Lin Feng hesitated. However, he already had a master. How could one have multiple masters?
"Alright, I'll go with you, but I won't take a master." Lin Feng nodded, agreeing.
Seeing that Lin Feng had no more objections, Guan Tongtong said no more and began to lead the way.