Leaving the mountain range and looking back at the endless forest, Li Lin sighed softly and then let Little Dragon enter his sleeve.
Entering the sprawling buildings, the area resembled Qingyun Town. The streets were bustling with people, lively and diverse. The streets were lined with shops, and many street vendors sold various items, including martial artists selling medicinal herbs and weapons, and ordinary people buying trinkets. It was a dazzling array of goods.
Li Xintong seemed rarely to visit such places, looking around excitedly at all the novel items.
Li Lin entered an inn. It was busy inside, so he found a quiet table and asked the waiter, "Xintong, what would you like to eat?"
Li Xintong excitedly ordered a lot of food, her face lighting up with joy and curiosity about everything.
Watching Li Xintong's contentment, Li Lin felt a sudden sense of fulfillment, as if reliving his own childhood. His lonely childhood without support was something he vowed not to let Xintong experience. He resolved to take good care of her, giving her a warm and happy childhood.
After the food was served, Li Xintong ate without reservation, joyfully indulging in the meal.
After eating and paying the bill, which surprisingly came to two gold coins, they left the inn. The prices were high near the mountain range.
Li Lin then went out to gather information about mercenary groups heading to the Wudu Mountains, hoping to return to Wudu City quickly. As for Li Xintong, he had no choice but to take her to Wudu City, and then see if it was possible to take her to the Yunyang Sect. If not, he would find another solution.
Back on the busy street, Li Lin observed the surroundings and headed towards a wide main street, where he hoped to find news about mercenary groups.
The street was mostly populated by martial artists of average strength; Martial Masters were rare, and Li Lin had yet to spot any Spirit Warriors.
The place wasn't very big, just a small area connecting to the Wudu Mountains, bustling due to the many martial artists passing through.
Half an hour later, Li Lin heard unwelcome news. There were only two mercenary groups heading to Wudu City, and one had left the day before. According to recent survivors, most of the members of the remaining group had died in the depths of the Wudu Mountains. Thus, there were no groups currently heading there, and others were too afraid to venture towards Wudu City, given the dangers.
"Something's going on up ahead."
People on the street started to crowd around an emerging commotion.
Li Lin glanced over but decided not to get involved, preferring to avoid trouble.
"You Luosha Gate are going too far. My Flying Spirit Gate is not to be trifled with," a loud voice came from the crowd.
"Flying Spirit Gate, what's that? Kneel down, or you'll regret it."
Hearing "Flying Spirit Gate," Li Lin, initially uninterested in the commotion, became attentive. Li Xintong's father was the head of Flying Spirit Gate.
"Brother, that's Zhang Mingtao," Li Xintong suddenly said, gripping Li Lin's hand.
From Li Xintong, Li Lin had learned about Flying Spirit Gate. Li Qing, Li Xintong's father, had two disciples, Zhang Mingtao and Zhong Yunzhou. Zhong Yunzhou, along with several other disciples, was killed while escorting Li Xintong and Granny Lan into the Wudu Mountains.
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Li Lin hesitated for a moment, then pulled Li Xintong forward to take a closer look.
The streets were already impenetrably crowded, forming a large circle. In the middle of the street, three young men were present. Two of them, dressed in yellow long robes, seemed to be together. Judging from the aura they emitted, one had the strength of a seventh-level warrior while the other was only at the fourth level.
Another young man, around twenty-one or twenty-two years old, with short hair and large eyes, had a spirited look in his eyes. However, his coarse robe made him appear somewhat down-and-out. His cultivation was also only at the fourth level of a warrior. Li Lin finally managed to squeeze into the crowd and upon observing the three, he identified the short-haired, large-eyed young man as Zhang Mingtao.
"Brother, it's Senior Brother Zhang Mingtao," Li Xintong said.
"Shh..." Li Lin gestured with his eyes to observe silently, considering the identity of the two who were chasing Li Xintong. The situation within the Flying Spirit Gate seemed complicated.
"It's the people from the Flying Spirit Gate who have provoked the Rakshasa Sect. Now, there will be a good show."
"How can the Flying Spirit Gate compare to the Rakshasa Sect? The strength of the Rakshasa Sect is much stronger than that of the Flying Spirit Gate."
"That's natural. The people from the Flying Spirit Gate always suffer losses and dare not even let out a fart. They deserve to be bullied."
"What can be done? The strength of the Flying Spirit Gate is just that. How can they stand out?"
The surrounding crowd quietly discussed, and Li Lin frowned, getting an idea of the Flying Spirit Gate's situation. It seemed that the sect's strength was even lower than he had imagined.
"What do you two want? It was just an accidental bump into you. You want an apology, I've apologized. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered," Zhang Mingtao said, staring at the two young men in front of him.
"What a joke. You bumped into us, and you think an apology is enough? Hand over ten gold coins and kneel down to admit your mistake, or you'll suffer," said one of the young men from the Rakshasa Sect, a fourth-level warrior, coldly.
"You are too bullying. Why should I kneel to you?" Zhang Mingtao retorted.
"Why? Because our strength is stronger than yours," said the other young man, a seventh-level warrior. His words had barely fallen when he kicked fiercely towards Zhang Mingtao, his qi trembling under his feet.
Zhang Mingtao immediately retreated backward, countering with a palm strike.
"Bang..."
In the clash of qi, a palm and a foot collided, creating a sonic boom. Zhang Mingtao, being less skilled than the seventh-level warrior, was thrown back, landing several meters away.
"Kneel down and admit your mistake, now it's twenty gold coins. Otherwise, I will kill you and see what the Flying Spirit Gate can do," the seventh-level warrior from the Rakshasa Sect threatened arrogantly.
"I'll fight you," Zhang Mingtao stood up, striking out with a blue palm imprint, his qi dispersing around.
"Chen-level martial arts," Li Lin frowned again. Zhang Mingtao was using only a mid-level Chen-grade martial art.
"Bang..."
The seventh-level warrior from the Rakshasa Sect struck again, his palm meeting Zhang Mingtao's attack, resulting in another explosive sound. Zhang Mingtao was thrown to the ground, spitting out blood.
"You're courting death," the fourth-level warrior from the Rakshasa Sect coldly shouted, stepping forward and slashing fiercely at Zhang Mingtao with a long sword.
"Brother, save Senior Brother Zhang Mingtao, quickly!" Li Xintong urged anxiously.
Li Lin hesitated for a moment, then his qi flashed under his feet, and he leaped forward.
Zhang Mingtao, in shock, spat out another mouthful of blood. The surrounding spectators sighed; it was common for several people to die here every day.
The Rakshasa Sect had considerable influence in this area, so no one interfered and just watched.
"Is a mere martial apprentice this arrogant?" At that moment, a voice sounded. Before the words fell, a finger imprint cut through the air, striking towards the fourth-level warrior.
"Who dares to touch my Rakshasa Sect's people?" The warrior's expression changed, sensing the opponent's superior strength. He changed the direction of his sword to block the finger imprint.
"Clang..." In a flash, the finger imprint hit the sword, sparking a flash of electricity. Then, another finger imprint broke through the air, hitting the unprepared warrior's forehead.
"Bang!"
The warrior's pupils dilated, and he fell to the ground with a blood hole in his forehead, blood and brain matter flowing out.
"Who are you, daring to interfere in the Rakshasa Sect's affairs?" the remaining seventh-level warrior asked in shock, staring at Li Lin.
"Relying on your background, aren't you afraid of embarrassing your Rakshasa Sect? Leave now, or you'll end up like him, dead," Li Lin said, pointing at the corpse on the ground.
"We'll see. The Rakshasa Sect won't let you off," the young man said, trying to save face before hastily leaving.
"Thank you, sir..." Zhang Mingtao stood up and respectfully saluted Li Lin's retreating figure. Li Lin turned back, and Zhang Mingtao was surprised to see that Li Lin was several years younger than him, yet much stronger.