Upon learning that the rooster was his idol's pet, the owner, a devoted fan of Lin Fan, began showering it with praise.
"What a fantastic rooster!"
"Such a strong rooster!"
"A truly handsome rooster!"
The demonic rooster basked in the compliments, squinting its beady eyes as if to say, "I'll forgive your earlier transgressions, you have some discerning taste after all."
"Idol, does it taste alright?" the owner asked as he grilled the meat. He had closed shop, refusing service to all other customers, solely to prepare skewers for his idol. In his mind, grilling for Lin Fan was an unparalleled honor.
"Delicious," Lin Fan praised. Beside him, Old Zhang devoured the skewers rapidly, unable to speak, only emitting satisfied grunts of agreement.
The demonic rooster remained silent, offering only a slight nod, akin to an elder's approving glance. Not bad, young man. Your previous arrogance is forgiven.
The owner bustled about, overjoyed to see his idol enjoying the food. He felt a greater sense of accomplishment than any day he earned ten thousand. His grilling speed even increased.
Gradually, Lin Fan realized they were eating quite a lot. If they continued, they would clean out the owner's entire stock.
"No more, please. We're full," Lin Fan said.
"Idol, have some more! You haven't eaten much," the owner insisted.
"No, really, we've had plenty. Your skewers are excellent. Thank you for your hospitality." Lin Fan felt embarrassed. They had been eating for free while the owner worked hard. He felt truly indebted.
"I'm so happy you like my skewers, idol!" the owner beamed. "Idol, I have a small request. Could you grant it?" he asked expectantly.
Lin Fan smiled. "Sure, what is it?"
"Could we take a picture together? I want to hang it in front of my stall," the owner requested.
"Certainly, no problem." Lin Fan didn't find the request unreasonable. It seemed perfectly normal. The owner was a kind-hearted person, offering them so much food. A photo was nothing.
The owner's face lit up. "Thank you, idol!"
He asked a passerby to take the picture, meticulously arranging the shot to include the stall. He stood beside Lin Fan, arm slung over his shoulder, flashing a peace sign. Old Zhang, cradling the hen, stood beside the owner.
"Cheese!"
The photo was taken. The owner beamed, then, as if remembering something, rushed to grab paper, a pen, and a small recorder from his stall.
"Idol, could you say into the microphone, 'Xiao Fei's skewers are delicious. I, Lin Fan, love them'?" He clasped his hands together, pouting endearingly, almost begging, "Please fulfill this humble request."
"Sure." Lin Fan rarely refused requests, especially such well-meaning ones. "Xiao Fei's skewers are delicious. I, Lin Fan, love them."
The recording was done. The owner felt he was on the verge of reaching the pinnacle of his life, becoming the supreme overlord of the barbecue world.
"An autograph, please!" The requests were piling up, but it was Lin Fan he had encountered, a man known for his agreeableness.
Lin Fan accepted the paper and pen. He could at least write his own name. He signed the paper.
Beside him, Old Zhang piped up, "Do you need mine?" He felt his turn for autographs would surely come. For some reason, Old Zhang felt he possessed a certain charisma, a sparkle that others would surely notice.
The owner was taken aback. He honestly didn't know who this person standing with his idol was, but having been in business for a while, he knew better than to offend anyone.
"Yes, please wait." He couldn't add another name to the paper already signed by his idol. He found a fresh sheet for Old Zhang's signature.
"Finished?" Lin Fan asked.
The owner, brimming with excitement, replied, "Yes, all done! Thank you, idol! Idol, is our city safe? I've been watching Sun Xiao's 'Getting Stronger' livestreams recently. It seems dangerous outside. I'm scared."
Lin Fan patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Don't be afraid. It's safe. Um... I'm here. I'll protect this place." The protective instinct he had gained in his dreams made him value everything around him even more. He would never let anyone destroy the beauty he cherished.
"I wouldn't believe anyone else, but I believe you, idol." The owner was a true fanboy. There were online forums dedicated to Lin Fan, filled with netizens who idolized him. It was a lively community, with discussions analyzing Lin Fan's strength, his personality, everything. It was like a big family.
After Lin Fan and the others left, the owner practically jumped for joy, feeling elated. He couldn't wait to share the photo and autographs on the Lin Fan fan forum. Hey, everyone! Feast your eyes! It's my idol! It was a slightly boastful act, but it sparked envy among many.
"Holy crap! You lucky dog! That's my idol!"
"High price offered for idol's autograph!"
"Fei Fei is too awesome! I propose we make him an admin of our forum!"
The owner, basking in the praise, felt incredibly pleased. His next course of action was simple. He would print the photo, display it prominently, and blast the recording on loop.
He abandoned his stall, rushing to the print shop, urging the owner to hurry. He ordered a large banner and a framed copy of the photo, along with hundreds of copies of the autograph.
Fully prepared, he returned to his stall, transforming it. He plastered the photo of him and Lin Fan all over, hung the framed picture above, and switched on the recorder. Xiao Fei's skewers are delicious. I, Lin Fan, love them. The message played repeatedly.
"Don't miss out! Skewers praised by our nation's guardian, Lin Fan! Come and try! Buy ten skewers, get a free autograph!" he shouted.
Passersby, drawn by the announcement, gathered curiously.
"The Guardian? Is that really him?"
"Young man, are you telling the truth?"
"Skewers praised by our nation's Guardian? I have to try them."
The owner, delighted by the crowd, knew his plan had worked. His idol was truly an idol, possessing immense drawing power. This small act transformed his stall into a popular internet sensation, attracting countless customers, with the autograph copies becoming highly sought after.
In the distance…
"Old Zhang, that owner was a nice guy," Lin Fan commented.
"The skewers were delicious," Old Zhang agreed.
The demonic rooster burped, having eaten his fill. The taste was indeed good, but his cunning mind realized something. You think you got a free meal, but in reality, the owner used you for publicity.
Suddenly, Old Zhang noticed Lin Fan standing still, gazing into the distance. Curious, he wondered what his friend was thinking.
"What's wrong?"
"Someone's watching me," Lin Fan replied.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Old Zhang found it strange. How could Lin Fan know someone was watching him if he didn't know who it was?
"If he's watching me, he must need help. Come with me." Lin Fan figured this was the most likely explanation. After all, his duty was to patrol the city and help those in need.
On a rooftop…
"So young, yet so powerful. How does he cultivate?"
"Sigh, could the organization be mistaken?" He was merely talking to himself, not overheard. Furthermore, he knew he hadn't made a mistake. This was the target the organization wanted him to observe. Those who had previously monitored him had vanished. He knew they were dead.
The arrival of the Starry Sky realm cultivators had shifted the Shadow Society's focus. Their previous goal had been to overthrow the Special Department and become the nation's most powerful organization. But now… the starry sky was so vast. They needed a broader perspective. Only by looking far could they travel far.
"Footsteps."
Huang Yang, a self-proclaimed expert, was prepared. If the approaching person was unlucky enough to discover him, he would eliminate them swiftly. Blame your bad luck.
The footsteps drew closer. Huang Yang hid in the shadows, a skilled operative ready to handle any situation.
"Here he comes."
His eyes flashed coldly. He launched himself into the air, aiming a powerful kick at his target. The force was immense. A direct hit would result in a concussion at best, a gruesome, bloody explosion of the head at worst, rendering the victim unrecognizable without advanced technology.
"Hah!" he shouted, his leg sweeping through the air.
"Kneel!"
Rounding the corner, Lin Fan saw the incoming attack. He didn't dodge. Old Zhang was behind him, and he didn't want to risk accidentally hurting him with a sudden movement. The best course of action was to remain still and let the attack connect.
A dull thud echoed.
"Aagh!"
Huang Yang screamed, landing in a heap, unable to stand. He clutched his leg, agony coursing through him. Broken! It's broken! So painful! He stared at Lin Fan in disbelief. What just happened? I ambushed him! His head should be exploding! But it's my leg that's broken!
"Are you alright?" Lin Fan asked with concern. He hadn't expected this outcome, but he could swear he hadn't done anything. It was the other man's fault entirely.
Huang Yang, sweating profusely, realized the break was severe. His leg was shattered in at least three places.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," he insisted, waving his hand dismissively, head lowered. He wanted nothing more than to escape. He had experienced Lin Fan's terrifying power firsthand. Good heavens, he's terrifying. Far more terrifying than I imagined.
Seeing him limping away, Lin Fan rushed forward and grabbed his arm.
Huang Yang's heart leaped. Oh no. This is bad. Did he figure out I'm not supposed to be here? But in his current state, he was no match for Lin Fan. His mind raced, searching for a solution. He came up with nothing.
"No, you can't leave like this. Even though I didn't hit you, your leg is like this because of me. Let me take you to the hospital," Lin Fan said. "I'm quite familiar with Huatian Hospital. Their doctors are very skilled. They can definitely help you."
Just then, Old Zhang coughed softly.
"Lin Fan, I think you've forgotten about me."
Old Zhang, a master acupuncturist, was confident in his abilities. He had already assessed the injury. Hmm… there's a problem. But it doesn't seem too serious. Looks like it's time for Old Zhang, the healer, to step in.