Chapter 13: Lian Zhen

Stepping out of the ancient and simple shop, Du Fei squinted his eyes for a moment before he adapted to the bustling street once again.

Behind him, Xiao Ai, shaking her head, hugged the jade box and said in a puzzled manner, "Young Master, are you really going to buy these things to swallow? Isn't that a bit too much?"

"What do you think?" Du Fei smiled and said lightly, "Hold onto these things well. Next, we need to find something else..."

"What is it?"

"A medicine cauldron!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ai's expression froze, and she couldn't help but show a look of disbelief.

She had lived with Du Fei since she was young and had never seen him look for such things. Even Du Fei's sudden martial arts skills made Xiao Ai feel that she was increasingly unable to understand her young master. However, she didn't have many ulterior motives; whatever Du Fei said or did, she wouldn't think too much about it. She only had complete trust in her young master.

"But Young Master, if you want to find a medicine cauldron, why not just look in that shop we were just in?" Xiao Ai shook her head slightly and walked up to Du Fei, speaking softly.

"Naive girl..." Du Fei patted Xiao Ai's head and said softly, "If I did that, wouldn't anyone know what I'm up to?"

Hearing this, Xiao Ai couldn't help but stick out her cute little tongue, looking enlightened.

Du Fei quite liked Xiao Ai's innocent and simple nature. He just smiled and then continued to walk around with her.

After circling the market a few more times, Du Fei finally stopped in front of a large stall. His gaze lingered on an ancient and simple small cauldron, and he sighed slightly, saying, "Finally found it!"

His eyes lingered on the ancient cauldron for a moment before Du Fei slowly squatted down, picked up the cauldron, and caressed it for a while before saying lightly, "How much is this thing?"

"Hehe, Young Master has a keen eye! This thing was found by chance in a ruin not long ago. I think it was a medicine cauldron used by an alchemist in the past... However, ordinary people can't use such things. If you're interested, I can sell it to you for 500 gold coins?" Seeing Du Fei's interest, the merchant couldn't help but say in a low voice.

Hearing this, Du Fei smiled and put the item back on the stall, saying lightly, "I'm not an alchemist, so what does it matter if it's a medicine cauldron or not? I just think this thing is quite ancient and nice, so I want to buy it to play with... If you want to find a fool, you might as well wait for later!"

With that, Du Fei didn't even look at the stall again and pulled Xiao Ai's hand, preparing to turn and leave.

"Wait, Young Master, please stay..." Seeing Du Fei turn to leave, the merchant hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"What is it?" Du Fei turned back and smiled lightly.

"This..." The merchant hesitated for a moment before forcing a smile, "Since Young Master is interested in this thing, why don't you name a price?"

"Fifty gold coins!" Du Fei said without blinking.

"Fifty!" The merchant's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but say, "Young Master, are you joking with me? Fifty gold coins for this thing? Why don't you sell it to me?"

"How much do you want?" Du Fei said lightly.

"At least 100 gold coins!" The merchant forced a smile.

"Eighty!"

"Ah..." The merchant's mouth twitched again, and after a moment, he gritted his teeth and sighed, "Eighty it is..."

The merchant looked helpless, and Du Fei didn't waste any words. He indicated for Xiao Ai to pick out eighty gold coins and throw them to the merchant, then picked up the medicine cauldron and walked away slowly.

This time out, he had obtained everything he needed, and Du Fei was quite excited. He didn't plan to stay outside any longer and quickly left the market with Xiao Ai.

They hadn't walked far when they suddenly heard a faint laugh from ahead.

"This must be the famous Xiao Ai of the Du family, right? Truly, hearing is not as good as seeing!"

Du Fei and Xiao Ai's brows furrowed simultaneously, and their gazes fell on the front.

They saw a group of people accompanying a young man dressed in fine clothes slowly walking towards them.

The young man was about twenty years old, handsome, and tall, with spotless clothes and a plain white folding fan in his hand, which he was slowly waving.

At that moment, his slightly narrowed eyes were fixed on Xiao Ai, and a hint of desire flashed in them.

Seeing this person, Xiao Ai instinctively stepped forward, blocking Du Fei, with a look of disgust on her face.

Du Fei also frowned slightly before speaking in a deep voice, "I wonder what this gentleman has to say by blocking our way?"

"You are Du Fei, right?" The young man's gaze finally fell on Du Fei, and he smiled lightly, "I've heard your name, but seeing you in person, you're not much to look at!"

With that, the young man no longer looked at Du Fei and instead smiled at Xiao Ai, nodding, "Miss Xiao Ai, I am Lian Zhen. I have admired you for a long time. Today, I would like to invite you to the Brocade Tower for a chat. Would you do me the honor?"

Lian Zhen!

Du Fei couldn't help but curl his lips, unsure whether to laugh bitterly or feel depressed.

He had heard of Lian Zhen a few times.

The three major forces in Bu Yue City were the Du family, the Lian family, and the Gongsun family.

These three families formed a tripartite balance in Bu Yue City, and although there were small conflicts, there had been no major conflicts in recent years.

And Lian Zhen was the most famous genius of the Lian family, said to have already advanced to the ninth level of Body Tempering, just a step away from becoming a Ninth Rank Martial Artist.

For such a genius to come and cause trouble, Du Fei couldn't help but laugh bitterly in his heart. Indeed, beauty brings disaster!

However, despite his thoughts, Du Fei still curled his lips and looked up, smiling lightly, "So you are Young Master Lian Zhen of the Lian family. I have heard much about you... However, although Young Master Lian Zhen is kind enough to invite us, my Xiao Ai is quite busy, so I must apologize!"

With that, Du Fei didn't look at Lian Zhen's rather unpleasant expression and instead pulled Xiao Ai, walking towards the other side of the market.

"Who said you could leave..."

Seeing Du Fei show him no respect and even hold the hand of the woman he desired, a flash of anger crossed Lian Zhen's handsome face. His mouth twitched, and he said through gritted teeth, "Who said you could leave?"

The subordinates following Lian Zhen, seeing his expression, didn't need to be told and immediately scattered, surrounding Du Fei and Xiao Ai in no time, making the atmosphere tense.

Seeing their actions, Du Fei's pupils constricted slightly. After a moment, he slowly turned around, his cold gaze falling on Lian Zhen, and he said coldly, "Young Master Lian Zhen, what do you mean by this?"

"What do I mean?"

Lian Zhen's mouth twitched, and he laughed coldly, "That's what I should be asking Young Master Du Fei. What does it have to do with you if I invite Miss Xiao Ai? What status do I have in Bu Yue City, and what does it have to do with you?"

Du Fei laughed lightly and said, "This matter has little to do with me, Du Fei, but... my Xiao Ai never goes out with strangers. I hope you understand, Young Master Lian Zhen!"

"Understand!" Lian Zhen laughed loudly, "What a great understanding! Then, Young Master Du Fei, I hope you understand as well!"

With that, Lian Zhen's fierce gaze swept around, and he said coldly, "If anyone dares to interfere today, they will be going against the Lian family... Attack!"

Seeing Lian Zhen give the order, the more than ten subordinates surrounding Du Fei and Xiao Ai immediately rushed forward with cold expressions.

Du Fei didn't expect Lian Zhen to attack so quickly without any hesitation. He also laughed coldly, handed the medicine cauldron to Xiao Ai, and indicated for her to step back. Then, he took a half-step forward and slapped the face of the first man who rushed at him.

"Slap..."

A sound rang out, and the first man was slapped so hard that he spun around and fell to the ground, dazed. Du Fei didn't even look at him, and his figure moved slowly, seemingly using no force, but each strike knocked one of the opponents to the ground. By the time he delivered his last slap, Lian Zhen's last guard was also lying on the ground, his face purple and black, moaning in pain.

To be fair, these guards weren't weak; each had at least reached the third or fourth level of Body Tempering. However, in front of Du Fei, they seemed somewhat inadequate.

The reason was simple: the Body Tempering techniques they practiced were too low-level.

Seeing his last guard fall to the ground, Lian Zhen's facial muscles twitched uncontrollably. After a moment, he took a deep breath and said coldly, "Not bad, to be able to knock out these dozen or so useless men. It seems Young Master Du Fei does have some skills..."

Du Fei's expression didn't change. He just smiled, shook his hand casually, and said lightly, "People these days have thick skin. I even hurt my hand. What bad luck..."

With that, Du Fei shook his head casually, "If there's nothing else, then, Young Master Lian Zhen, I'll take my leave!"

"Take your leave!" Lian Zhen laughed in anger, "Du Fei, you don't think today's matter will end just like that, do you?"