Qin Feiyang's face darkened as he stared intently at the young man, a glint of coldness flickering in his eyes.
"Fine, I'll step aside."
The young man moved aside, crossing his arms over his chest, a playful smirk on his lips. It was clear he didn't step aside out of fear of Qin Feiyang.
At this moment, Qin Feiyang was in no mood to deal with this. He turned to Lin Yiyi and said, "Look me in the eyes and tell me, why is this happening?"
Lin Yiyi didn't raise her head. Yet, tears burst from her eyes.
Qin Feiyang asked, "Did your father force you?"
Lin Yiyi remained silent.
Qin Feiyang roared, "Look at me! Didn't you hear me?"
The young man chuckled. "Yiyi, you've made it crystal clear to him. Let him give up completely so he won't bother you anymore."
"Shut up!" Qin Feiyang turned his head towards the youth, his gaze terrifyingly dark.
He recognized almost everyone in Iron Bull Town, yet this young man was a complete stranger. Could it be that this person isn't from Iron Bull Town?
But under Qin Feiyang's menacing gaze, the youth merely shrugged, exuding an air of utter indifference, as if he didn't take Qin Feiyang seriously at all.
"Qin Feiyang."
Suddenly, Lin Yiyi spoke, wiping away her tears and finally raising her head to look at Qin Feiyang.
Qin Feiyang looked at her.
The instant their eyes met, an inexplicable pain pulsed through Qin Feiyang's heart. Because Lin Yiyi's gaze was utterly different from before. In the past, her gaze was friendly, dependent, and affectionate. But now, it was extremely cold! This was the kind of look reserved only for strangers.
Lin Yiyi said, "Qin Feiyang, listen clearly. From now on, all ties between us are severed. Please, don't bother me anymore."
Qin Feiyang's body stiffened, his hands clenching into fists as he continued to gaze at the young girl before him. Suddenly, he laughed.
"Fine."
"I've never had good feelings for your Lin family anyway. It was only a matter of time before we fell out."
"No, we are at odds now."
"With you here, it actually makes it harder for me to handle things."
"Lin Yiyi, from now on, any member of your Lin family better not provoke me. Otherwise, no matter who it is, I won't show mercy."
After saying this, Qin Feiyang turned and walked towards a counter. For some reason, he felt a weight lift from his heart. However, the employees of the Treasure Pavilion looked at him disdainfully.
'Don't provoke me?' 'I won't show mercy?' Did he actually say such arrogant words? Does he really think he's a big deal? After all, he's just a good-for-nothing who can't cultivate. What right does he have to be so arrogant?
"Qin Feiyang, did I say you could leave?"
The youth turned to Qin Feiyang, his voice indifferent.
Lin Yiyi frowned. "Lin Baili, what are you trying to do?"
"This is a matter between us men; stay out of it." A smirk touched the corner of Lin Baili's lips as he walked towards Qin Feiyang. "I wasn't planning to concern myself with you," he said, "but you're too arrogant. If I don't teach you a lesson, you won't understand the immensity of heaven and earth."
WHOOSH!
With a quick step, he dashed behind Qin Feiyang, reached out, and aimed a palm strike at him.
"HMPH!" Qin Feiyang let out a cold grunt, turned, and punched Lin Baili's palm.
He suddenly felt a torrent of terrifying force gushing from Lin Baili's palm, overwhelming him like a tidal wave. PFFT! He coughed up a mouthful of blood and was sent reeling backward. THUD! He crashed into a stone pillar, his face instantly paling.
"You are a martial master!" Qin Feiyang looked up at Lin Baili, his pupils contracted.
"Although you're quite arrogant, you're quite perceptive."
"That's correct. I am a Three Star martial master."
"I didn't use my full strength in that palm strike just now... because I don't want to kill you in front of Yiyi. I sincerely advise you to keep a lower profile in the future."
After saying that, Lin Baili lowered his arm, a brilliant smile lighting up his face.
Lin Baili... Three Star martial master...
Qin Feiyang's eyes narrowed slightly. The Lin family doesn't have a Three Star martial master. Among Iron Bull Town's younger generation, there isn't a Three Star martial master either. It seems this person really isn't from Iron Bull Town. But since his surname is Lin, he must have some connection to the Lin family.
Lin Baili glanced at Qin Feiyang one last time, then turned and left with Lin Yiyi.
However, before they left, Lin Yiyi cast a surprised and questioning glance at Qin Feiyang.
At the same time, the staff of the Treasure Pavilion were stupefied, unable to believe what had just happened.
On one hand, they were astonished by Lin Baili's power. He looked to be only fifteen or sixteen, yet he was unbelievably a Three Star martial master!
On the other hand, Qin Feiyang's performance also astonished them. Wasn't he unable to cultivate? Then why wasn't he dead after taking a palm strike from Lin Baili?
PHEW! Qin Feiyang breathed out a long sigh, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, walked to a nearby counter, and said, "I want sixty Body-refining Elixirs and thirty Qi Gathering Pills."
"Sixty Body-refining Elixirs will cost thirty-five Gold Coins."
"Thirty Qi Gathering Pills will require sixty-five Gold Coins."
"The total is one hundred Gold Coins. Do you have enough?" the attendant, having regained his composure, asked.
"So expensive?" Qin Feiyang's eyebrows raised as he poured out all the Gold Coins from his Qiankun Bag.
Originally, at market price, sixty Body-refining Elixirs would only cost thirty Gold Coins. The Qi Gathering Pill, being one level higher than the Body-refining Elixir, had a market price of two Gold Coins each. Thus, thirty Qi Gathering Pills would only cost sixty Gold Coins, making the total just ninety Gold Coins. However, the Treasure Pavilion was charging an extra ten Gold Coins. These people certainly knew how to do business.
The attendant did a quick count and was surprised. He glanced incredulously at Qin Feiyang, apparently disbelieving that Qin Feiyang could produce so many Gold Coins, and began to count them again, more carefully. The result was still the same: not one coin more, not one coin less—exactly one hundred Gold Coins.
"Please wait a moment. I'll get your elixirs for you now." Once the Gold Coin count was confirmed, the attendant's attitude changed, and he now spoke with a hint of respect.
Shortly after, the attendant returned with a jade box, placed it before Qin Feiyang, and said with a smile, "Please check the contents."
But Qin Feiyang didn't check, simply storing it directly into his Qiankun Bag before turning to leave. Because the Treasure Pavilion had a reputation for never cheating its customers.
After Qin Feiyang left, several attendants gathered and began to discuss the events. The main topics of their discussion were: How could Qin Feiyang possess so many Gold Coins? And who exactly was Lin Baili?
After buying the pills, Qin Feiyang didn't linger, departing Iron Bull Town immediately.
"Brother Feiyang, wait for me!"
Just as he left Iron Bull Town, he heard Lin Yiyi's voice from behind.
She was still in her martial outfit, her figure slender and her skin snow-white, but her eyes were somewhat red and swollen.
Qin Feiyang stopped and turned to look at Lin Yiyi, his eyebrows furrowing slightly.
Lin Yiyi ran up to him and, without another word, pulled out a Qiankun Bag from her bosom, stuffed it into Qin Feiyang's hand, and said, "Brother Feiyang, you must survive."
Before Qin Feiyang could react, she turned, ran back into Iron Bull Town, and disappeared at the end of the street. But as she turned, two teardrops fell, landing on a blade of grass.
What's going on? Qin Feiyang was stunned.
"Qin Feiyang, you have some nerve!"
Suddenly, another shout rang out.
The Lin Family Head arrived like a gust of wind, standing opposite Qin Feiyang, his face grim.
Qin Feiyang asked, "Family Head Lin, what do you mean by this?"
"What do I mean?" The Lin Family Head laughed in anger. "Are you saying Yiyi stealing Gold Coins and elixirs from our home wasn't your idea?"
"Hm?" Qin Feiyang frowned.
The Lin Family Head shouted, "Now that we have you and the stolen goods, what do you have to say for yourself?"
"Caught red-handed?" Qin Feiyang raised his eyebrows and quickly checked the Qiankun Bag Lin Yiyi had pressed into his hand.
He hadn't checked before, but a look now gave him a shock. Inside the Qiankun Bag, there were at least five hundred Gold Coins! There were also Healing Pills, Bone-renewing Pills, and Body-refining Elixirs—dozens of them in total!
Didn't she say all ties between us were severed? So why did she give me so many Gold Coins and elixirs now? Qin Feiyang's mind was in turmoil. He felt that there was something fishy about all of this.
"What? Reluctant to return it?"
"Qin Feiyang, you have truly disappointed me."
"Last time you said you'd never asked Yiyi for even half a copper coin. I actually believed you and thought you were a man of your word."
"But I never expected you to be so hypocritical," the Lin Family Head sneered.
Qin Feiyang frowned, about to speak.
But the Lin Family Head changed his tone and continued, "Return the Qiankun Bag to me now, and promise to leave Yiyi alone from now on. If you do, I'll let bygones be bygones, including the deaths of Lin Shi and his associate. I won't pursue those matters. But if you don't agree, I'll tell everyone in town about this and ruin your reputation!"
Qin Feiyang's eyes flickered, and a mocking smile crept onto his face. He sneered, "You father and daughter have certainly gone to great lengths."
"What do you mean?" the Lin Family Head frowned.
"I've been wondering, why did you show up right after Lin Yiyi gave me the Qiankun Bag?"
"But after hearing your words, I finally understand."
"This was all a trap you deliberately set for me, wasn't it?"
"Lin Yiyi gave me the Qiankun Bag, you showed up to catch me in the act, and then you used this to threaten me. Am I right?" Qin Feiyang said.
"I didn't expect you to be so clever!" the Lin Family Head chuckled.
Seeing the smug smile on the Lin Family Head's face, Qin Feiyang felt a surge of rage in his heart.
"Don't worry."
"From now on, I won't seek out Lin Yiyi again."
"And I don't care for the things inside this Qiankun Bag."
"But let me offer you a piece of advice: always leave yourself some leeway. Don't burn all your bridges."
Qin Feiyang spoke meaningfully. With a casual toss, the Qiankun Bag landed at the Lin Family Head's feet. Qin Feiyang then turned and strode away.
Why does he seem a bit different now? The Lin Family Head watched Qin Feiyang's retreating figure, his forehead furrowing slightly.
"He's a Seven-star Martial Artist now. Of course he's different." A light laugh sounded.
Lin Baili emerged from behind a large tree, walking beside the Lin Family Head with an unreadable smile.
"Seven-star Martial Artist!" The Lin Family Head was shocked, then gave a disdainful laugh. "A Seven-star Martial Artist at fifteen... his future achievements will be limited. Thank you, Young Master Lin, for your counsel. I believe that after this, Qin Feiyang definitely won't dare to bother Yiyi again."
Lin Baili said, "You are also a member of my Lin family, so naturally, I would help you. However, if Yiyi were to find out what we've done, she would definitely be heartbroken and might even grow to hate us."
The Lin Family Head chuckled. "Aren't we doing all this for her own good?"
"That's true," Lin Baili smiled and headed back towards the town.
Qin Feiyang, even if you can cultivate now, you're still not worthy of my daughter. The Lin Family Head looked coldly at Qin Feiyang's fading figure, picked up the Qiankun Bag, then turned and left.