Having grown up watching the animated version of Aladdin and the magic lamp, the moment Li Feng heard the name 'Aladdin' and saw the monkey on his shoulder, his mind immediately jumped to the 'Aladdin' from One Thousand and One Nights.
There was no helping it—the name Aladdin was just too iconic, leaving Li Feng no choice but to think that way.
Though a single name couldn't confirm this was indeed the world of the magic lamp, Li Feng felt the odds were pretty high. After all, every time he stepped out of the portal, he ended up near the protagonist or a key supporting character.
After some thought, Li Feng stroked his chin, watching with keen interest as the nimble-footed Aladdin vaulted over walls and slipped through windows. His gaze occasionally flickered to the satchel at Aladdin's waist.
He wanted to see whether Aladdin had already obtained the lamp. If he had, then there was no question—Li Feng would start scheming how to steal or snatch it. If not, he'd have to wait until Aladdin got his hands on it before making his move.
As for obtaining the lamp through trade—sorry, but Aladdin was just an ordinary guy from start to finish. Li Feng, penniless as he was, couldn't think of anything Aladdin would want from him.
Unless, of course, Li Feng taught Aladdin magic?
But being a teacher was exhausting! And Li Feng, the kind of person who'd rather lie down than stand, would never do anything to tire himself out. Before long, as Aladdin shook off his pursuers and was about to disappear from sight, Li Feng immediately transformed into a mist of gray smoke, trailing silently above Aladdin as he returned to his destitute home.
To say it was destitute might even be an understatement—in Li Feng's eyes, Aladdin's dwelling was so poor it lacked even a complete roof. Only a small section remained to shield against rain, or perhaps it was simply that his neighbor's eaves were generous enough to provide Aladdin some shelter from the elements.
After carefully surveying Aladdin's home and confirming that he hadn't yet obtained the magic lamp—or that this might not even be the world of Aladdin—Li Feng instinctively turned his gaze toward the tallest structure in the city: the royal palace.
Li Feng recalled that in the world of Aladdin, the palace housed a princess named Jasmine and a vizier whose name he couldn't remember but who was known for his sorcery.
"Kreech," Li Feng whispered, "go to the palace and gather information about two people."
Kreech blinked his large eyes, following Li Feng's gaze toward the palace. After receiving the order, he vanished instantly.
Meanwhile, Li Feng, invisible, lounged atop Aladdin's roof, idly surveying the entire city of Agrabah. As for studying the hellfire—there was no rush. He had plenty of time; a day or two wouldn't make a difference.
Suddenly, Aladdin pulled out a golden bracelet studded with gemstones, staring at it with a lovesick expression.
Li Feng scratched his head and glanced again at Aladdin's home.
A place this impoverished, yet with gold and jeweled ornaments?
There was no way Li Feng would believe Aladdin could possess such a lavish bracelet. Clearly, it had to be stolen—and judging by the way Aladdin was gazing at it, it must have been taken from some beautiful woman. Why else would he be drooling like that?
After a while, Aladdin seemed to make up his mind. He solemnly tucked the bracelet into his chest, then climbed like a monkey to where Li Feng was perched. Standing on the roof, he stared longingly at the palace.
Li Feng looked back and forth between the palace and Aladdin, suddenly wondering if Aladdin had already met Princess Jasmine. Was this golden bracelet a token of love she had left for him?
As night fell, Aladdin washed his face, shaved, and groomed himself until he looked clean and presentable. Then, with his monkey Abu in tow, he left home and followed the crowd to the palace gates.
Naturally, Li Feng floated invisibly above, keeping a close watch on Aladdin.
At this hour, the area before Agrabah's palace was perhaps the only place in the city with nightlife. The scene was bustling—street performers, snack vendors, and a lively crowd.
But Aladdin clearly wasn't there for the festivities. Li Feng noticed his eyes were fixed on the palace guards, darting around as if scheming a way to sneak inside and rendezvous with the princess.
And, as it turned out, Li Feng guessed right. As a horse-drawn carriage was about to enter the palace, Aladdin had Abu help distract the guards while he himself took the opportunity to blend into the procession entering the palace.
To this, Li Feng could only think: Damn, with palace security like this, your king must be dealing with hundreds of assassins every day.
Speechless as he was, Li Feng still wanted to take a look inside the palace. After all, he'd never visited one before in his life. Besides, the scene of a thief secretly meeting a princess—just thinking about it was thrilling. It would be a shame to miss such a spectacle.
Just as the invisible Li Feng swaggered behind Aladdin, preparing to enter the palace, he suddenly sensed someone observing his direction. Moreover, Li Feng could feel faint magical energy fluctuations emanating from the watcher.
Li Feng suddenly looked up following his senses and saw a parrot speaking human words like "filthy monkey" and "thief," spreading its wings to fly toward the other end of the palace.
What was this? A parrot with magical powers? But its magic seemed far too weak.
Scratching his head, Li Feng glanced at Aladdin and pondered for half a second before swiftly casting a tracking spell on him. Then, he transformed into black mist and followed the parrot.
He wanted to see where this parrot came from. If the mage behind it wasn't particularly strong, Li Feng wouldn't mind exchanging some magical insights—well, more like the other party talking while he listened.
But if the mage was powerful, Li Feng figured he'd play it safe, act humble, grab the magic lamp, and slip away to some secluded place to quietly study the hellfire.
Soon, trailing the parrot, Li Feng arrived outside a high tower window in the palace.
Sticking to caution, he didn't float into the room but instead peered through the window at a bearded mage inside.
With just a few glances, Li Feng confirmed that the bearded mage's strength was leagues below his own.
By mage standards, this guy was barely at the peak of apprentice level—his magic was not only pathetically weak but also chaotic and impure, clearly the result of haphazard cultivation.
Li Feng felt he could crush the man with a single slap.
With that thought, he immediately drifted into the room.
Just as Li Feng was about to seize control of the mage to extract his spells, Kreech quietly appeared beside him, timidly saying, "Boss, Kreech found out—there really is a princess named Jasmine in the palace. She's in her room right now."
Hesitating for a moment, Kreech then pointed at the bearded mage and added, "As for the mage vizier you mentioned, Kreech couldn't find him. Only the royal sorcerer of Agrabah, Jafar, has magical powers."
Li Feng paused. No vizier mage, just Grand Vizier Jafar? Maybe it's a different version? And with a Princess Jasmine in the palace… Am I really in the world of Aladdin?!
The magic lamp and the flying carpet are mine. Anyone who dares to take them, I'll cut them down.
"Where's Aladdin?" Li Feng narrowed his eyes.
Kreech smirked slightly, pointing downward. "Boss, Mr. Aladdin is busy imitating a monkey, jumping around on the palace rooftops."
As Li Feng followed Kreech's gesture to look at Aladdin, the increasingly shifty-eyed Jafar inside the room was muttering to himself about what he'd do once he got the magic lamp, as if the world was already within his grasp.
Li Feng couldn't help but scoff internally: You're a damn mage, and you still care about ruling a kingdom? Why not focus on improving your cultivation? People will grovel at your feet when you're powerful enough, you idiot.
Meanwhile, the parrot kept squawking, "There's a thief in the palace! Unpolished, uncut gem!" while directing Jafar's attention to Aladdin, who was still parkouring across the rooftops. Seeing that Jafar had already discovered Aladdin, Li Feng pondered for a moment and silently withdrew his intention to control Jafar.
To be honest, although Li Feng knew the story of Aladdin, he had long forgotten the specific events—how Aladdin would obtain the magic lamp and what exactly would happen.
Who knew if his interference with Jafar might cause Aladdin to miss the magic lamp? If the lamp were lost, whose fault would it be?
Helpless, in a world where he only knew the general plot but not the specific details, Li Feng decided it was better to follow the storyline. That way, it would be easier to reap the benefits. As for what happened after obtaining the lamp—once the benefits were secured, who cared about the rest? Wasn't it exhausting to worry?
And so, the invisible Li Feng transformed into a black mist and followed Jafar, who, wielding a cobra-carved staff, trailed Aladdin. Meanwhile, the oblivious Aladdin continued his search for Princess Jasmine's room.
After dozens of minutes of jumping around and exhausting himself, Aladdin finally found Princess Jasmine's room and successfully disguised himself as a servant to sneak inside.
While Aladdin was having his secret rendezvous with the princess, Jafar thought for a moment and summoned several burly guards, instructing them to hide nearby.
Li Feng, floating above, concealed himself not far from Princess Jasmine's room.
Before long, Aladdin emerged from the room, his face beaming with joy at having seen his beloved. As he removed his servant disguise, he boasted to Abu, who had just climbed onto his shoulder, "Can you believe it, Abu? In the most heavily guarded place in Agrabah—"
Before Aladdin could finish his bragging, the hidden guards stepped forward. "Good evening," one said.
"Good evening," Aladdin gulped and whispered to Abu, "Are there guards behind me?" He turned to see the expressionless guards and forced an awkward yet polite smile.
Though, to be honest, the smile looked more like a grimace.
Needless to say, someone like Aladdin, who didn't even know where his next meal was coming from, was lucky not to have starved to death. How could he possibly match the strength of the palace guards?
With his scrawny frame, a single punch from a guard would probably take him down.
So, being self-aware, Aladdin gave up resistance cleanly and swiftly—at least this way, he wouldn't get beaten up. Plus, he could protect his handsome face, which he still planned to use to charm girls.
Seeing Aladdin surrender, Jafar waved his hand in satisfaction, signaling the guards to hood the audacious suitor. Without a word, he led two guards and Aladdin toward the camel stables.
After having servants prepare provisions and water, Jafar left the palace under the cover of night, galloping into the desert.
Li Feng licked his lips excitedly, floating leisurely above Jafar while squinting into the distance. The magic lamp—here I come!