Chapter 30: Randomly Selecting a Kindhearted Passerby
"Hm?"
Xiao Bai shook its small head and looked in a certain direction.
Fan Chen was busy bargaining with a vendor, while Qian Renxue's attention was entirely focused on Fan Chen himself.
At this moment, neither of them noticed Xiao Bai's unusual behavior.
"Big brother, there seems to be something really good over there."
Xiao Bai ran up beside Fan Chen and used its paw to scratch at his trouser leg.
Fan Chen lowered his head to look, a trace of confusion appearing on his face.
"Something good?"
"You're not saying you saw something on someone else, are you?"
There truly were plenty of good things inside Spirit City. Xiao Bai could even see things like soul bones and the age of soul rings.
Finding some kind of treasure would be effortless for it, but seeing something didn't mean they could just snatch it.
"No, no, it's over there."
Xiao Bai shook its head frantically, looking extremely anxious, as if this so-called treasure might suddenly grow legs and run away.
"How about we go take a look?"
Seeing how anxious Xiao Bai was, Qian Renxue suggested.
"Alright, let's go have a look then."
Since both Qian Renxue and Xiao Bai wanted to check it out, they might as well go see for themselves.
After all, inside Spirit City, what could threaten him and Qian Renxue?
In Fan Chen's perception, ever since he and Qian Renxue left the area around the Pope's Palace, quite a few people had been following behind them.
Moreover, the auras of this group were very similar to Qian Renxue's. If Fan Chen wasn't mistaken, they were most likely the Angel Legion, consisting of the holders of the Angel Martial Soul.
These people concealed themselves extremely well, not allowing anyone else to notice their presence, silently trailing the two of them from behind.
It seemed that Qian Daoliu had deliberately sent them to protect Qian Renxue's safety. As for him, he was most likely just a bonus.
What exactly is it that could make you this excited?
Fan Chen led Xiao Bai in the direction it had indicated, while also feeling curious about what kind of thing could excite Xiao Bai so much.
Back then, it hadn't even gotten particularly excited when it saw the soul bones inside those Titled Douluo. What was different this time?
"I don't know, but it smells really good."
"Smells good? Don't tell me this so-called treasure of yours is something edible."
Fan Chen was speechless. After all this trouble, wouldn't it be ridiculous if he ended up being led to a snack street?
"What a glutton. If you want to eat something, just say it. Big sister will take you there."
Qian Renxue also assumed that Xiao Bai had caught the scent of delicious food. After all, everyone who knew it was well aware of its foodie nature.
"No, no, it is edible, but not that kind of edible. It's just…"
Xiao Bai was so anxious that it started waving its little paws wildly, but due to its limited vocabulary, it didn't know how to describe this kind of thing.
"Alright, stop gesturing. We'll know once we go take a look."
Seeing Xiao Bai like this, Fan Chen also realized that he might have truly discovered something extraordinary this time.
But inside Spirit City, he couldn't recall there being anything particularly precious.
Still, he couldn't completely rule it out. After all, the development of the world was full of uncertainty—perhaps at this particular point in time, some great treasure really had appeared.
With that thought, Fan Chen subconsciously quickened his pace.
Soon, the two of them arrived at an alley with very little foot traffic.
Fan Chen stopped at the entrance of the alley.
What's wrong?
Seeing Fan Chen stop, Qian Renxue asked in confusion.
"I feel like something's off—almost as if someone deliberately led us here."
Looking at the alley before him, Fan Chen felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
Perhaps it was because, in his previous life, he often saw news online about people entering alleys and then disappearing without a trace.
That gave him a natural wariness toward places like this.
To the point that when he was still at the orphanage, he would avoid entering such alleys whenever possible.
"Xiao Bai, are you sure the thing is in here?"
Xiao Bai nodded upon hearing that.
After receiving Xiao Bai's confirmation, Fan Chen did not continue forward. Instead, he suddenly sprinted off in another direction.
After that, he walked up to a middle-aged man who looked to be around thirty years old and tugged lightly at the corner of his clothes.
"Uncle, could you help me out? I dropped something in there, but I'm too scared to go in and pick it up. Could you help me retrieve it?"
As he spoke, Fan Chen pointed toward the alley where Xiao Bai had said the treasure was, a hopeful look clearly visible in his eyes.
The middle-aged man Fan Chen had approached was none other than a member of the Angel Legion who had been following behind Fan Chen and Qian Renxue, tasked with protecting the two of them.
Looking at Fan Chen, who was smiling so innocently and harmlessly, the man's lips twitched.
He knew very well that he had been exposed—and now he was being dragged out to serve as free labor.
'So this is the Second Worship's disciple. He's really… strange. How did he even notice me?'
Information about Fan Chen was tightly sealed, with only a very small number of people knowing of his existence.
And people like them, members of the Angel Legion, were among that small group.
Even so, all they really knew was that Fan Chen was Golden Crocodile Douluo's disciple—nothing more.
Their duty was to protect Qian Renxue's safety. Fan Chen, strictly speaking, was just an extra.
Now that he had been discovered by Fan Chen, and seeing the way Fan Chen looked—clearly ready to cling to him if he refused to help—the man instantly felt a wave of helplessness.
In order not to attract too much attention from the people around them, he could only grit his teeth and agree to Fan Chen's request.
So what exactly is it?
Following Fan Chen to the entrance of the alley, he turned his head and asked.
"No idea. If you see anything inside that looks like a good item, just take it out for us."
Fan Chen's words nearly made him cough up blood.
What did he mean by "anything that looks like a good item"? Did he think Spirit City was his own backyard, where he could just take whatever he wanted?
"Be more specific."
Suppressing the anger in his heart, the man turned back and asked Fan Chen again.
"Then, Xiao Bai, you describe it to him."
Fan Chen pushed Xiao Bai forward, while he himself obediently stayed at a safe distance from the alley.
"I…"
"That thing should be over there…"
Xiao Bai's description was surprisingly detailed. The man covered his face, utterly unwilling, but still walked in.
Following Xiao Bai's directions, he quickly found the so-called "treasure."
It was a small jade bottle, and inside it seemed to contain some kind of liquid.
When he held it in his hand, he could feel an extremely comfortable stream of energy flowing into his body.
There really is a treasure?!
The man was shocked. He had genuinely thought Fan Chen was just messing with him.
After handing the bottle to Fan Chen, he immediately left.
After all, his mission was to protect Qian Renxue, not to serve as Fan Chen's personal tool.
Watching the man leave, Fan Chen enthusiastically waved at him to express his gratitude.
"Brother Fan Chen, who was that person?"
"No idea. Probably just a kind-hearted passerby."
The man, who hadn't yet gone far, nearly clenched his fist in rage upon hearing those words.
Listen to that—was that something a human would say?
What did he mean by "a kind-hearted passerby"? Weren't you the one who actively came over and dragged me into this?
Now it sounded like he had voluntarily come to help.
"Forget about unimportant things. Xiao Bai, come over and take a look—what exactly is this thing?"
Fan Chen's antics immediately made Qian Renxue laugh.
She wasn't incapable of sensing things. The aura on that man earlier was somewhat similar to hers—it was obvious he was from the Spirit Hall.
And yet Fan Chen called him a kind-hearted passerby. No wonder the poor guy looked ready to explode.
And just as Fan Chen and the others were studying what exactly was inside the jade bottle…
Deep within the alley, those same golden eyes once again appeared in the darkness.
"So cautious… looks like I'll have to change my approach."
"What a waste of a bottle of Water of Life."
—
End of Chapter