"Are you a sword cultivator?"
Surprise flashed in the stall owner's eyes. Upon seeing the cold glint of the sword in Chu Lingwei's hand, he felt a pang of apprehension. He had actually encountered a sword cultivator.
Chu Lingwei did not deny it. On the Xuantiān Continent, it was common knowledge that only sword cultivators dared to fight across realms.
Sword spirits were inherently combative.
"Begone, begone." Seeing no trace of fear in Chu Lingwei's eyes, the stall owner frowned and waved her away as if shooing away a beggar.
"Heh."
The sword in Chu Lingwei's hand was already pointed at the stall owner's shoulder. "You want to stop me, so I stop? You want me to leave, so I leave? Is there such a good thing in this world?"
"You, a cultivator at the Spirit Wheel realm, want to fight me, a cultivator at the Heaven Fusion realm?" The stall owner was enraged. Even if he disliked fighting sword cultivators, he was, after all, a Heaven Fusion realm cultivator.
With his cultivation level, how could he possibly lose?
"A Heaven Fusion realm cultivator can only bully the weak here. Your cultivation must not be up to par. What is there to fear?"
Lin Dachui had just earned a low-grade spirit stone today and was preparing to go home. Seeing someone causing trouble ahead, he pushed through the crowd and saw that the young Daoist friend he had brought back yesterday was about to challenge a Heaven Fusion realm cultivator.
"Little Daoist friend, why are you here?" Lin Dachui stepped forward and placed his hand on Chu Lingwei's shoulder. "I've been looking for you for a long time. Grandpa He is waiting for you."
The stall owner's expression darkened further upon seeing Lin Dachui appear. "Lin Dachui, you know this person?"
"Of course, he's staying at Grandpa He's place now." Lin Dachui nodded in acknowledgment, making the stall owner's face even more grim. This time, he had indeed kicked an iron plate.
"Daoist friend, my apologies."
Hearing Grandpa He's name, he immediately apologized. This Grandpa He had quite a reputation in Hai City.
"Little Daoist friend, let's hurry back." Lin Dachui grabbed Chu Lingwei and quickly squeezed through the crowd, heading towards the inn. "I say, little Daoist friend, why are you so stubborn? You actually wanted to start a fight."
"It wasn't that I wanted to fight. He provoked me and forced me to buy his spirit beast. I refused," Chu Lingwei said, her eyes flashing. There were at least a dozen shadows following them.
"Sigh, such incidents are common here. Sometimes, spending money to avert disaster is not without reason." Lin Dachui was vexed. What was this little Daoist friend's background? Unyielding to both soft and hard approaches, and even daring to challenge a Heaven Fusion realm cultivator.
Chu Lingwei said nothing. The two quickly returned to the inn, and the shadows following them also disappeared.
"What did you two get into? So many tails following you?" Uncle Pang walked over with a smile. This little Daoist friend was truly adept at causing trouble.
"He forced me to buy a spirit beast, and I refused," Chu Lingwei replied truthfully.
Uncle Pang's laughter grew louder. "Indeed, having such a temperament and living to this age, your fate is quite resilient."
Chu Lingwei: "..."
"I just dislike being bullied," Chu Lingwei smiled. She had done it on purpose today. If her father were in this town, he would likely come to find her immediately.
Or, anyone who knew her would check on her immediately upon discovering her arrival.
"Little Daoist friend, you are unfamiliar with this place. It's best to restrain your temper in the future." Lin Dachui hesitated, wanting to say more. If Chu Lingwei hadn't been staying at Grandpa He's inn, she would have met her end by now.
"I understand. It won't happen again," Chu Lingwei nodded, thanking them for their good intentions.
Back in her room, Chu Lingwei set up a barrier. "Kitty, have you sensed any special individuals?"
"Many, but they probably don't know you," the Illusionary Cat shook its head.
"I haven't found any either," Feng Ming replied. She also hadn't detected anyone suspicious of Chu Lingwei. "However, Weiwei, among those who followed us earlier, there were demons. They followed us to the inn entrance and seem to have not left."
Demons?
Chu Lingwei was puzzled. She didn't know any demons.
"Let's not concern ourselves with them for now. In three days, we'll head north first."
Her master had told her that the last place her father disappeared was north of the Southern Sea Reef, which was the place Lin Dachui mentioned with the hundred stone beasts. It stretched for tens of thousands of miles, and once inside, it would be easy to shake off anyone following them.
If her father wasn't in Hai Town, he must still be in the mountains.
Feng Ming nodded vigorously.
The next day, Chu Lingwei ate breakfast and stood up, intending to go out.
"Little Daoist friend, are you going out?" Uncle Pang blocked Chu Lingwei.
"Yes, there were still many places I didn't see yesterday," Chu Lingwei nodded.
"Little Daoist friend, someone is waiting for you outside. If you go out now, you will fall into their hands. Our inn cannot manage such matters."
Uncle Pang's meaning was clear: if she stepped out the door, even if she encountered danger later, it would be none of their concern.
"Uncle Pang, do you know who those people are?"
Chu Lingwei stopped. In this place, the only one who had a grudge against her was that stall owner.
"Many of them, all people you cannot defeat," Uncle Pang smiled, without specifying.
It seemed that this Hai Town was a place where the big fish ate the small fish. Chu Lingwei did not insist on going out. She went upstairs and found a seat by the window, looking at the scenery outside.
This place was not on the main street, but she could see the cultivators coming and going at the intersection, hurrying towards their destinations.
"Weiwei, are we staying here for three days?" Feng Ming lay on the table, looking outside with Chu Lingwei.
"Yes."
Her father definitely wasn't in Hai Town, otherwise, he would have received her communication talisman and signal long ago.
She would only wait here for three days. If he didn't appear, then she would have to search alone.
Three days later.
Chu Lingwei informed Uncle Pang that she was checking out.
"You paid for five days' accommodation, so you must stay for five days. We don't do refunds here," Uncle Pang said matter-of-factly, shaking his pen.
"Then there's no need to refund."
Chu Lingwei nodded, placed the wooden token on the counter, and turned to leave.
"So many people are waiting for you outside, and you're not afraid at all?" Uncle Pang glanced at the wooden token on the table, a smile flashing in his eyes. "Once you step out this door, we won't care about your life or death."
"This person's words are really infuriating. I really want to hit him," Feng Ming crouched on Chu Lingwei's shoulder, glaring at Uncle Pang indignantly.
"I know."
Chu Lingwei smiled at Uncle Pang. "Thank you for your care, Uncle Pang."
"Take this wooden token with you. When you return, you can still stay here for two more days. Our inn does not charge guests spirit stones for nothing," Uncle Pang handed the wooden token to Chu Lingwei and lowered his head, not looking at her.
"Thank you."
Chu Lingwei took the wooden token, took Feng Ming and the others out of the inn, and quickly headed north.