Chapter 4: Turmoil at the Market

The marketplace outside Jinshi Town was bustling with activity. Merchants shouted to attract customers, the clinking of spirit stones filled the air, and the scent of rare herbs mixed with the dust kicked up by the crowd. Amidst this chaos, Lin Jin stood still, his cold gaze fixed on Zhang Hu, who was approaching with a gang of thugs. The resentment in Zhang Hu's eyes was unmistakable—clearly, he hadn't forgotten the humiliation of the previous day.

"Lin Jin, you got lucky yesterday, but today is a different story!" Zhang Hu sneered, his bandaged arm trembling with anger. "You dared to injure my father? You're dead!"

Lin Jin remained impassive. He could feel the Netherflame stirring within him, its eerie purple glow itching to be unleashed. "You brought this on yourself, Zhang Hu. And now you want more?"

Zhang Hu gritted his teeth and barked, "I wasn't prepared before, but today, I brought help. Let's see if you can act tough now!"

At his signal, a tall, wiry man stepped forward. His presence alone sent a ripple through the crowd—his aura was far stronger than Zhang Tieshan's, lingering at the peak of the First Flame Realm, Ninth Stage.

Lin Jin's expression darkened. This opponent was dangerous.

Beside him, Su Yao frowned slightly and whispered, "This guy might be tricky. Want me to handle him?" Though she spoke casually, her fingers had already drifted toward the hilt of her short sword, and her eyes held a dangerous glint.

Lin Jin shook his head. "No need. I'll take care of it."

"Oh?" A voice echoed in his mind—the Flame Soul Ancestor. "That guy's spirit flame isn't weak, but you have the Netherflame. It's unpredictable and corrosive. Don't fight head-on—use 'Netherflame Sting' to find his weakness."

Lin Jin gave a slight nod, then turned his attention to his opponent.

The tall man sneered and raised his hand, summoning a blue-green flame that coiled into a razor-sharp wind blade. With a flick of his wrist, the blade shot forward at breakneck speed, tearing through the air with a sharp whistle.

The crowd instinctively backed away, sensing the danger. Su Yao, however, remained where she was, watching the battle unfold with keen interest.

Lin Jin sidestepped at the last moment, narrowly avoiding the strike. At the same time, his right hand flickered with an eerie purple glow—a thin strand of Netherflame shot forward like a venomous fang, aimed directly at his opponent's chest.

The man reacted swiftly, forming a flame shield in an attempt to block the attack. But he underestimated the Netherflame's devouring nature. The moment the shield and Netherflame touched, the shield melted away like wax in a furnace. The sting continued forward, piercing his shoulder.

"Argh!" The man let out a pained grunt and staggered backward. A charred, ashen-black wound marred his flesh, and his arm went limp. He looked at Lin Jin, eyes wide with disbelief. "What… what kind of flame is that?"

Zhang Hu's smug expression shattered instantly. He had expected Lin Jin to struggle, not dominate the fight in mere seconds. His voice cracked as he stammered, "Don't get cocky! My father has already gone to summon a true Flame Master! You're finished, Lin Jin!"

Lin Jin narrowed his eyes and took a step forward, ready to silence Zhang Hu for good, but Su Yao suddenly placed a hand on his shoulder, stepping in front of him.

She smiled—a sweet, harmless smile—but her voice carried a razor's edge. "A Flame Master? In this tiny backwater town? Stop embarrassing yourself and run along before you lose more than just your pride."

Zhang Hu's face turned red with fury. "Who the hell are you to—"

Before he could finish, Su Yao moved.

A flash of silver—her short sword sang through the air, the tip humming with a pale blue flame. The next thing Zhang Hu knew, his hair fluttered down in singed strands, severed cleanly at the roots.

The blade had missed his scalp by a breath.

A chill ran down his spine.

"If I do it again," Su Yao said cheerfully, spinning her sword before slipping it back into its sheath, "it won't be just your hair."

Zhang Hu's mouth opened and closed like a fish, but no words came out. He scrambled to his feet, dragging his injured companion with him as he and his lackeys staggered away in disgrace.

The gathered onlookers murmured among themselves, their eyes flickering between Lin Jin and Su Yao.

"Who is that girl? That swordplay was insane!"

"She's not from here, that's for sure… and Lin Jin, wasn't he supposed to be a 'flame cripple'? What the hell happened?"

Lin Jin, ignoring the whispers, turned to Su Yao. He hadn't expected her to step in, let alone display such precision with her sword.

She caught his look and grinned. "What? We're friends, aren't we? Couldn't just let you get bullied."

Lin Jin hesitated for a moment but nodded. "…Thanks."

"Come on." Su Yao waved a hand dismissively. "We have shopping to do."

They made their way to a nearby stall selling spiritual herbs. The vendor, an old man with a sharp eye for business, immediately latched onto them. "You two have good eyes! This right here is Blazing Grass—perfect for refining the muscles and bones of those in the First Flame Realm. Just ten spirit stones!"

Lin Jin eyed the herb. It was exactly what he needed.

He reached for his pouch… then grimaced. One spirit stone.

The old vendor scoffed. "One? Kid, this isn't a charity."

Before Lin Jin could say anything, Su Yao casually tossed a pouch of ten spirit stones onto the counter. "We'll take it."

Lin Jin looked at her in surprise. "You didn't have to—"

"It's just spirit stones." She waved off his concern. "You can pay me back later… if you insist."

He fell silent, taking the Blazing Grass with a firm grip. "I will."

"Good." Su Yao smirked. "Now, let's go check out that martial arts stall."

After browsing the market, they also picked up a basic cultivation manual, 'Flame Breath Technique,' for five spirit stones. It wasn't extraordinary, but it would help Lin Jin refine his Netherflame more efficiently.

As they left the market, Lin Jin couldn't help but glance at Su Yao. "…You're pretty generous with your money. Your family must be well-off."

Su Yao paused for a brief second, then shot him a mischievous look. "You could say that. But if you want details, you'll have to wait." She quickened her pace, leaving him with more questions than answers.

In his mind, the Flame Soul Ancestor chuckled. "Boy, that girl's no ordinary wanderer. She carries the air of a noble family—one of the great clans, perhaps. If you can win her favor, it might do wonders for your revenge."

Lin Jin's expression hardened. "She's a friend, not a tool."

"Hmph." The old spirit snorted. "You'll learn soon enough—power matters more than sentiment. If you want to stand beside her in the future, you'll need far greater strength."

Lin Jin clenched his fists.

That night, he sat in his courtyard, refining the Blazing Grass with the Flame Breath Technique. The Netherflame within him surged, and by dawn, he had stepped into the Third Stage of the First Flame Realm.

Gazing up at the stars, he murmured, "Su Yao… you'll see. I won't stop here."