The Endless Promise

61. Indispensable!

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Amidst a mild sun, a bustling market, and a pleasant spring breeze, Luoyin dragged Xu Min out.

"Zhang Yin, the 2nd stage of the Junior tournament is in two days! Shouldn't we be preparing?!" Xu Min protested, but Luoyin simply pointed.

"What better way to prepare than stock up on pills?!"

Up ahead was the Pill Pavillion.

"Ah, you want to buy cultivation pills?" Xu Min rubbed his chin as they resumed walking. "But I hear the best ones are sold out or super expensive!! Aren't we a little too late?!"

"Ehehe, today I'm actually looking for a few basic pills!" Luoyin clarified. "One mustn't underestimate the power of low-level pil-!"

His words were cut off as they were suddenly surrounded.

They had reached the Pill Pavillion, but blocking them was Zhang Cheng, his usual crowd of disciples, and a few sect warriors.

'Hmph.' Luoyin's eyes narrowed slightly. 'I didn't seek you out, and you're hanging yourself here?'

"Yo." Zhang Cheng swaggered forward. "Isn't this the Zhang 'waste of space'? I came to teach the Pill Pavillion a lesson, but there's an extra bonus here! Zhang Luoyin, it's your misfortune to run into me today!"

"Tch. It's really a narrow road between enemies..." Luoyin shook his head, then leaned and mumbled to Xu Min. "Did you bring *salt?"

(*salt to banish weaker evil spirits. He's calling Zhang Cheng an evil spirit.)

"Pfft!" Xu Min swallowed his laughter.

"What did you say?!" Zhang Cheng demanded.

Luoyin beamed at him. "Nothing! But brother, today we must finally confirm if the thing above your neck is functioning? I dare you to insult me without using any of the words 'waste', 'trash', or 'garbage'. Quick! Start!"

"You-!" Zhang Cheng floundered. "You-!!"

Luoyin raised an eyebrow. "Aiya, you can't even beat Level One, and you're blocking my path? Such shamelessness... After being caught cheating, one should lay low and hide their face, but you're here making a spectacle of yourself?

"Zhang Cheng, if you have nothing better to do, why not help farmers sift through the manure?" He looked away and shook his head. "Though I worry they might honestly mistake you as part of it..."

"Pfffft! Bwahahaha!" This time, Xu Min laughed aloud, and Zhang Cheng took a threatening step forward.

"Zhang Luoyin!" He raged, but,

*CLANG!*

A gong had suddenly appeared in Luoyin's hand.

"Come! Everyone!" Luoyin bellowed. "Dogs for sale! They bark the loudest! Two for the price of one!"

Snickers erupted as a crowd gathered to witness the spectacle, Zhang Cheng seemed ready to explode, and the angry auras of the disciples and Sect Warriors surrounded Luoyin.

But he boldly continued his onslaught.

*CLANG!* "You're guaranteed supreme quality! Ah, but this fine fellow..." He gestured towards Zhang Cheng. "He's the best one here! Tie him to the front of your gate, and his face can scare off every evil spirit!"

By now most of the crowd were in stitches, a few bent over and pointing.

"This Zhang Luoyin fellow...

"I thought he was quiet!!"

"Wah! Look at that sign!" Someone pointed towards the Pill Pavillion doors, and everyone's eyes travelled to the sign which read: