"He's…?"
Watching Wang Ai run off, Gojo followed his direction with his gaze.
He saw Wang Ai clutching his candied hawthorn as he ran straight toward a chubby girl with braided hair.
"Hey!"
"Do you remember me?"
"This is for you!"
Wang Ai patted the girl on the shoulder and handed her the candied hawthorn.
"Go away! Why is it you again?!"
"And how do I keep running into you everywhere?!"
The girl's face instantly filled with annoyance as she snapped at him without holding back.
"What's going on between them?"
Zhang Zhiwei's expression turned amused as he watched the interaction.
"They…"
"The boy is Uncle Wang's son—Wang Ai. The Wang Family is one of the Four Great Families, just like ours."
"As for the girl… I think her name is Guan Shihua. She's from the Northeast—one of the spirit-medium families. I don't know much beyond that."
Lu Jin thought for a moment before explaining.
"So the future scheming old fox Wang Ai… is actually a lovestruck fool right now."
Watching Wang Ai persistently trying to win Guan Shihua over, Gojo couldn't help but grin.
If smartphones existed, he would've recorded this scene—
Then played it back in front of Wang Ai every day after he became one of the Ten Elders.
"Your name is Guan Shihua, right? I'm Wang Ai! Can I call you Shihua'er?"
Despite being repeatedly brushed off, Wang Ai remained persistent, continuing his awkward attempts at conversation.
"You're so annoying! I don't even want to talk to you!"
Guan Shihua waved him off and walked away, clearly trying to shake him.
"Hey, hey!"
"Shihua'er! Didn't my father and your master say our families should stay close in the future?!"
Wang Ai hurried after her, still holding the candied hawthorn.
"This guy…"
"He's really going to disgrace Uncle Wang at this rate."
Lu Jin sighed helplessly.
Having spent most of his time cultivating in the San Yi Sect, he rarely left the mountain.
So he had no idea how Wang Ai from Jiangnan and Guan Shihua from the Northeast had even met.
—
"By the way, Junior Brother Lu—this place is full of ordinary people. Is there a gathering spot for Inhumans?"
Gojo suddenly asked.
After browsing for a while, he had already lost interest in the ordinary festivities.
Compared to the modern world, this kind of entertainment felt rather basic.
What truly interested him—
Was the Inhuman world.
Only there could he encounter things he had never seen before.
And more importantly—
He could gauge where his current strength stood among his peers.
"Inhuman gathering?"
Lu Jin paused briefly before understanding.
"Senior Brother Su, you mean the other sects' people, right?"
"Follow me!"
Gojo and Zhang Zhiwei paid for the sugar figurines, grabbed them, and followed Lu Jin.
They passed through several streets and soon arrived at the downstream section of the river.
Compared to the bustling main streets, this place was quieter—
But still brightly lit.
People wandered around in small groups, chatting and exchanging news from the martial world.
"Senior Brothers Zhang, Su—this is where Inhumans gather to exchange information."
"Besides that, there are also magical artifacts and medicinal items being sold here."
"But this place isn't organized by our Lu Family—it formed naturally."
"So it's a mixed crowd, and we can't guarantee everything sold here is genuine."
Lu Jin explained as he guided them.
Gojo's gaze swept across the area.
The variety of items here was astonishing—
Throwing knives, longswords, broadswords, knuckle weapons…
He even spotted—
A stall selling firearms.
"This… they can sell something like that here?"
Gojo's eye twitched slightly as he asked in a low voice.
"Well… probably not?"
Lu Jin also looked surprised.
Although Qi could take many forms, and various techniques could create defensive effects—
For most Inhumans, firearms were still extremely lethal weapons.
—
"Hey! Lu Jin—you're here too!"
A voice suddenly called out.
The three turned.
The speaker was a white-haired young man with a messy hairstyle and an arrogant expression.
Beside him stood another young man—taller, gentle-looking, and about the same height as Gojo and Zhang Zhiwei.
"Lu Ci? And Brother Lü Ren!"
Lu Jin immediately recognized them.
"Senior Brothers Zhang, Su—these two, like Wang Ai, are my childhood friends."
"The taller one is Lü Ren, and the shorter one is Lü Ci. Together, they're known as the Lü Family's Twin Pillars."
Lu Jin stepped aside and introduced them.
"Brother Lü Ren, Lü Ci—these two are disciples of Tianshi Mansion: Senior Brother Zhang and Senior Brother Su."
"So you're from Tianshi Mansion!"
Lu Ci's eyes lit up as he stepped forward enthusiastically.
"Pleasure to meet you!"
Lü Ren also cupped his fists politely.
"My name is Lü Ren. It's an honor to meet you both."
"Gojo."
"Zhang Zhiwei."
They returned the greeting.
"I've heard of the Lü Family's Twin Pillars."
Gojo said calmly.
"I've even heard my master mention that one of you may become the strongest among the younger generation."
"Now that I see you, the rumors seem well deserved."
"Heh, my big brother is naturally gifted and works hard—of course he'll become the strongest of our generation!"
Before Lü Ren could respond, Lü Ci grinned proudly and spoke up.
It was clear he fully agreed with that statement.
"That's just empty praise. I'm still far from that level."
Lü Ren pulled Lü Ci back slightly and spoke modestly.
—
After chatting for a while, Lu Jin left with the Lü brothers.
Watching them depart, Gojo suddenly asked,
"Senior Brother Zhiwei… how long would it take you to beat him?"
"Beat him?"
Zhang Zhiwei replied lazily,
"One slap."
Then he turned the question back.
"What about you, Junior Brother?"
"Me?"
Gojo thought for a moment.
"Probably within twenty moves."
Zhang Zhiwei glanced at him, then said quietly,
"Don't underestimate yourself, Junior Brother."
"If you go all out… three moves should be enough."
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