Jiang Tianlin prepared a mask and headed to the black market. This was one of the black market's rules: everyone had to conceal their true faces, otherwise it would be impossible to face each other later. Of course, one could also choose to reveal their true face.
The black market also had its operating hours: it opened at the Hour of Xu and closed at the Hour of Hai.
He walked around, stopping and going at his leisure. Places like this not only sold goods but also slaves. The merchandise included contraband and other things that could not be shown in broad daylight, while slaves, women, and spirit beasts were the hottest commodities.
"Tsk tsk tsk! If this were a novel, the male protagonist or child of destiny would discover the female protagonist or daughter of destiny among the slaves. This is what you call the law of destiny attraction! Tsk tsk tsk!"
As he walked, he appraised the slaves. "Well, they really do look quite decent. In this world, if you don't eat people, people will eat you, and they'll pick your bones clean. The law of the jungle, that's pretty much how it is."
Just then, a slovenly young man approached with an unbridled, swaggering gait, looking around restlessly. His clothes were quite distinctive—patched garments paired with shoes that exposed his toes, a textbook beggar's outfit.
At the same time, the System's multiple-choice prompt arrived once again:
"Ding! Child of destiny Ye Feng discovered. Now issuing a task. Please make a choice:
First, become sworn brothers with the child of destiny Ye Feng. Reward: Random.
Second, leave immediately. Reward: Random.
Third, severely beat the child of destiny. Reward: Random."
"Well, another choice? Only three options this time?"
"Sigh, I'll just pick this time then. A random reward is definitely better than a kitchen knife and a brick."
"Wait, I should create some conflict with him and let him share some of my pressure. Hehehe!"
"I choose three, severely beat the child of destiny."
"Yan Beihang, I'll just borrow your name and appearance for a bit. I hope Ye Feng can bring me some surprises."
He stepped forward and said, "You must be Ye Feng?"
Ye Feng, dressed like a beggar, replied, "I am. Who are you?"
"Who am I? Have you forgotten who I am?"
"???"
"I am Yan Beihang." The Taixuan Nine Chapters actually contained this disguise technique; he hadn't liked it much before, thinking it was useless, but now it came in handy.
"Who is Yan Beihang?"
"Ah, Yan Beihang is the Emperor of the Great Li Dynasty! How could this person have a grudge against him?" Some people in the surrounding crowd realized.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Someone dropped to their knees.
"Rise! Keep it down! Keep it down!" Jiang Tianlin said.
"Understood, thank you, Your Majesty!"
Ye Feng was also a bit confused. What deep, irreconcilable hatred could an emperor possibly have against him?
"Men, for me—cough... no, for this young master, teach him a lesson." As soon as the surrounding people heard this—that they could show their faces in front of the Emperor—they were overjoyed. One by one, they eagerly volunteered.
"Your Majesty, let me do it. This Ye Feng is merely at the Third Layer of Awakening Realm."
"Alright, very well!" Jiang Tianlin smiled faintly at him.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"This Ye Feng is going to have a miserable time."
"Yeah, Leihu is an expert at the Fifth Layer of Awakening Realm!"
"Bang!" Their fists collided, and the ground cracked open.
"This Ye Feng actually has some skills!" Jiang Tianlin thought to himself.
The two had already exchanged blows several times.
Ye Feng hadn't taken a single step back.
Taking advantage of everyone's attention being focused on the fight, Jiang Tianlin produced the brick provided by the System and smashed it straight into the back of Ye Feng's head.
"Bang!"
Ye Feng was dumbfounded, followed by a wave of dizziness.
Even Leihu was stunned.
The onlookers at the scene were also dumbfounded.
Jiang Tianlin didn't care about them at all. One brick didn't work? Then another brick!
"Bang!"
Ye Feng collapsed to the ground.
"I have to say, this brick is seriously great to use!" he muttered inwardly.
Jiang Tianlin gave him a few more vicious kicks.
"Yo... Your Majesty..." Leihu was struck dumb with astonishment.
"Ah! Minister Lei need not be like this. Today's meritorious deed, I have noted it down." With that, without waiting for Leihu or anyone present to say anything, Jiang Tianlin drifted away gracefully.
Nonsense, if he didn't leave now, the administrators of the black market would arrive. The people inside were a bunch of blockheads, but the black market administrators were no fools.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the task. Rewarded with the movement technique Fish and Dragon Leap, which has been placed in the System Space."
"Great!" He was very happy.
"Awesome! Today's trip to the black market was totally worth it. I should go out and wander around more often in the future. As for children of destiny or daughters of destiny, I'd better steer clear of them from now on. That Ye Feng from just now should be going off to seek revenge on Yan Beihang anyway; after all, every single child of destiny is someone who holds grudges and seeks immediate payback. But him going to deal with Yan Beihang has what to do with me, Jiang Tianlin? Hahahaha!"
"Host, what are you thinking about again?"
"Nothing, I just remembered something happy."
"..."
He was just getting ready to leave when he suddenly spotted a young girl locked in a slave cage, who also looked sick.
"Sigh! All living beings suffer, and one can only save oneself—it's the same principle as hiding from the rain." He sighed, shook his head, and spoke.
But when all was said and done, he came from Blue Star, especially Great Xia, and he still couldn't bear it. Since he had seen it, he would help out where he could.
"Boss, hello, how much for her?" he asked, looking at the boss.
"Her?" The boss curled his lip and said, "She's worthless. If you want her, honored guest, she's yours as a gift!"
"How can that do? Here is a top-grade spirit stone, take it. Just let her go, you understand." He flashed his token.
"Oh right, don't tell her who did this."
The boss was shocked. Could a sickly wretch actually be worth this much? Besides, a person from the Xuantian Sect had intervened. By the time the boss snapped back to reality, he had already vanished.
"Alright, you can go," the boss said.
The girl didn't move an inch.
"..."
"You can leave now." Having said that, the boss repeated it once more and paid her no further mind.
Before long, Ye Feng woke up.
You have to hand it to him, the constitution of a child of destiny was truly top-tier.
At the same time, although Ye Feng felt as though he had lost something, he had no idea what it actually was. Since he didn't understand, there was no need to figure it out just yet.
The surrounding crowd had long since dispersed.
"Yan Beihang, the Emperor of the Great Li Dynasty, right? I've memorized this. I'm setting off for the royal capital right now!"
"Sigh, disciple, do not be impetuous! That Yan Beihang is someone at the Seventh Layer of Dao-Entering Realm."
"Master, with you here, I have nothing to fear."
Xiao Xinxue froze, thinking to herself: "You brat have nothing to fear, but as for me... sigh!"
Ye Feng left.
On the other side, in the royal capital of the Great Li Dynasty.
"Yang Shan, how is it?"
"Your Majesty, still no reply!"
"Hmph! Wait a bit longer, there's no rush!"
"Yes!" Yang Shan replied, but in his heart, he was thinking: "Young Lord, please hurry up and get here."
He returned to his sect just as the Hour of Hai arrived.
He cultivated for a short while and was just getting ready to sleep when—
A knock sounded at his door.
"Who is it?" he asked, puzzled.
He opened the door, and standing outside was none other than Xiao Muyu.
"Junior Sister, what's wrong?"