Lin Fei dusted himself off, glanced at the young woman once more, and said, "Let's go from here."
She nodded, still trembling slightly, and the two walked out of the alley. As they reached the main road, the bustling lights and noise seemed to shake off the oppressive darkness of the alley. She broke the silence, looking at him curiously.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Lin Fei," he replied tersely.
She extended her hand for a handshake, a faint smile appearing on her lips. "My name is Bai Xiaohui. I'm from the capital. I came here with my father for some work, and while he was busy, I decided to explore the city. That's when I got lost and... those men took me." Her voice faltered at the end.
"Be careful next time," Lin Fei said, brushing off her explanation.
"I will. By the way, thank you so much for saving me. Why don't we go to a restaurant to eat something together? My treat, as a thank-you," Bai Xiaohui offered, trying to sound cheerful.
Lin Fei shook his head. "It's okay. You don't need to treat me. It wasn't much. Besides, I have somewhere to be."
Bai Xiaohui hesitated. "But...."
"It's okay," Lin Fei interrupted, turning and walking away before she could argue further. His determined stride left her standing there, stunned. No one had ever rejected her offer, let alone walked away from her so indifferently. She stared at his retreating figure, a sour taste in her mouth. She hated the feeling of owing someone.
After a moment of hesitation, Bai Xiaohui decided to follow him. Lin Fei noticed her presence but didn't say anything. He made his way toward the cultural fair, his focus unwavering. The streets grew busier as they approached the fairground, a lively hub filled with bright lights and bustling crowds.
The cultural fair was teeming with life. Vendors called out to passersby, showcasing a myriad of items: antique vases, old paintings, broken statues, talismans, and jade ornaments. Lin Fei began visiting the stalls one by one, scanning for anything useful. However, despite the variety, he found nothing resembling medicinal herbs or anything rich in true qi.
Disappointment crept in as he thought, "It seems there aren't any medicinal herbs here." Still, to be certain, he approached a stall owner and asked, "Do you know if there's a place here that sells medicinal herbs?"
The vendor scratched his head. "Medicinal herbs? Oh, yeah. Go forward and turn right. There's a section with herb stalls. You might find something there."
Lin Fei nodded his thanks and followed the directions. Soon, he arrived at an area where several stalls displayed various herbs. He inspected them carefully, but none seemed rich in true qi. Many were ordinary herbs used in traditional medicine, but they lacked the potency in true qi he sought.
Just as he was about to give up, Lin Fei's eyes landed on a small stall run by a round-faced boy about his age. The boy had a naive expression and was cheerfully arranging the herbs on display. Lin Fei's gaze shifted to the herbs themselves, and his heart nearly stopped.
"Star Gandorema... Red Dragon Root..." he muttered under his breath, recognizing two extremely rare herbs that were even scarce in the Senzhong world. These herbs radiated with strong aura of true qi, ordinary people can't see it but Lin Fei's can see it clearly with enhanced perception.
"How... how is this possible?" he thought, his mind racing. "These herbs can refine meridians and accelerate cultivation. Even a small amount would be enough to refine my second meridian, I've to get these two."
Lin Fei took a deep breath, calming his excitement, and approached the stall. He pointed to the two herbs and asked, "Little brother, how much for these two?"
The boy's eyes widened as he looked at Lin Fei, his naive expression faltering for a moment. "It's him," the boy murmured under his breath, though Lin Fei didn't catch the words.
"Big brother, these herbs aren't for sale," the boy said after a pause, his tone polite but firm.
Lin Fei frowned slightly. "Then why are they on display?"
The boy hesitated before replying, "Well... I can give them to you for free, but only if you do something for me."
Lin Fei's curiosity was piqued. He thought with a spark of happiness, "If I can get these two herbs even for a little trouble, it'll be worth it."
The boy reached into a bag behind the stall and pulled out a small, smooth white stone. Holding it out to Lin Fei, he said, "First, you have to touch this stone."
The moment Lin Fei saw the stone, his pupils constricted. His mind screamed in disbelief. "What the... how can this be possible?" he thought, staring at the unassuming object. The stone emanated a subtle yet familiar energy that sent shivers down his spine.
The boy's expression turned serious, though his tone remained polite. "My master gave it to me," he replied. "He told me to come here and find my fated one the person I must follow, if I want to reach a greater height. And since you know about this stone you're my fated one, big brother.Lin Fei narrowed his eyes. "Who is your master? Why do you have to follow me?" he asked, still trying to make sense of the situation.
The boy smiled faintly and said, "Come with me. I'll explain everything." Without waiting for Lin Fei's response, the boy began packing up his stall. Just as he was about to put away the two herbs that Lin Fei wanted, a sharp voice interrupted them.
"Little brother, stop!" a man's voice rang out behind Lin Fei. Both Lin Fei and the boy turned to see a well-dressed but arrogant-looking man standing nearby.
The boy's expression darkened. "What do you want?" he asked.
The man pointed at the Star Gandorema. "Little brother, how much for that medicinal herb?"
"It's not for sale," the boy replied flatly.
"Little brother, please. Sell me this herb. I'll pay whatever you want. Name your price," the man insisted, stepping closer.
"I told you, it's not for sale," the boy repeated, his tone growing irritated.
The man's expression twisted into anger. "Boy, I'm asking you nicely. Give me the herb and name your price! Didn't you hear me?"
The boy's face hardened. "I said I'm not selling this herb to you, even if it were for sale I'll not sell it to you. Now leave!"
The man's eyes narrowed as he smirked coldly. "Good, good. Let's see how you'll stop me from taking it!" He stepped forward, reaching for the boy's bag, but before he could grab it, another hand caught his wrist.
It was Lin Fei.
"He said it's not for sale. Didn't you hear him?" Lin Fei's voice was