Systemless Villain

Chapter 182 Unexpected Encounter and Hidden Deals

Long Tian strolled away from Lin Fan. While the 1.5 million Yuan spent on the statue was a considerable amount, it wasn't a significant sum for him.

As he walked, he examined the Ashura statue. Being a protagonist's desire, it was evidently no ordinary item.

His eyes scrutinized every detail of the statue. Honestly, with a price tag of 1.5 million Yuan, it seemed worth it as the statue resembled fine wine, ageless and exquisite.

Yet, he found nothing particularly intriguing about the statue...

In the end, he tucked the statue into his spatial ring, making it vanish as he brought the ring close.

Continuing forward, the atmosphere remained vibrant, with people bustling around and sellers energetically pitching their goods.

Long Tian's attention shifted to a stall with a banner labeling "Beauty Jade." True to its name, it was a jade store, surrounded by several people.

Rubbing his chin, he gazed at the stall. After a moment, a smile began to form on his face.

"I suppose giving Yue'er a gift isn't a bad idea," he mused.

With that purpose in mind, he approached the stall. But suddenly, someone bumped into him from the side, causing him to sway.

He looked to the side and saw a girl, seemingly younger than him, with black hair and a decent face.

"I'm so sorry; I was in a hurry," the girl immediately apologized.

"It's okay; be more careful next time," Long Tian responded.

"Thank you, have a nice day," the girl said and walked away, leaving Long Tian behind.

However, a frown appeared on his face as he realized something was missing.

He turned around and called out, "Wait," his voice commanding.

The girl halted, panic in her widening eyes. But then she immediately started running.

But after a few steps, her feet suddenly couldn't move, accompanied by a strong pressure that immobilized her.

Her expression grew even more panicked, especially when she heard footsteps from behind.

Long Tian stood in front of the girl with a relaxed expression. "Now, give me what you just took from me, little girl," he said.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," the girl responded, her face starting to sweat.

Long Tian sighed and then held the girl's clenched left hand. He simply opened it, revealing a silver ring.

Taking it, he put the ring back on one of his fingers.

"You have a decent stealing ability, huh? Too bad it doesn't work on me," he said.

The girl's expression darkened, not expecting Long Tian to notice her actions.

"Please release me," she said.

"Ohh, I remember the rule where thieves should be punished. And let's take..." Long Tian's voice trailed off as suddenly an idea crossed his mind.

A smile crept onto his face.

The girl, however, felt uneasy about Long Tian's change in expression.

"Do you want money?" Long Tian inquired.

The girl's expression turned colder, "I'm not a whore," she retorted.

"That's not what I had in mind. How about I offer you a job? I want you to steal an item from someone," Long Tian suggested, a grin on his face.

"What if I refuse?" the girl sneered.

"Then, you'll pass up the chance to earn 100,000 Yuan," Long Tian teased.

Hearing this, the girl was surprised. 100,000 Yuan was a lot of money.

"What do I have to do?" she asked.

A wide smile spread across Long Tian's face as he eased the pressure around her.

"You just need..."

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Meanwhile, at another spot, in front of a stall adorned with tables stacked with neatly arranged cans, a typical bottle-throwing game was underway in the market. Several individuals tried their luck with the small available balls, but all their attempts ended in failure.

"Oh damn, this is the fifth time I've failed. My luck is terrible."

"Haha, it's still enjoyable, though."

"Damn, I've spent 1000 Yuan on this game!"

Complaints resounded from those partaking in the game.

However, amidst them, Lin Fan grabbed five small balls.

With a simple toss, they swiftly sailed through the air, hitting five stacks of cans directly and causing them to collapse.

Some onlookers, including the stall owner, marveled at Lin Fan's skill.

Lin Fan, however, wore an unfriendly expression. Since losing the statue, he was haunted by thoughts of what he could have done with it.

The golden aura emanating from the statue clearly marked it as no ordinary item. The last time he witnessed such a golden glow was on a low-level spiritual stone, which unexpectedly turned out to be a Profound-level spiritual stone worth hundreds of thousands of Yuan for a single piece.

Moreover, the golden aura on the statue surpassed that of the stone, unmistakably indicating its higher value. Yet, he lost the statue because of that man!

Lin Fan grabbed five more balls and threw them again, simultaneously hitting another five stacks of cans.

His actions left an impression on those near the stall, and even some passersby on the street were drawn in by curiosity.

Lin Fan's gaze remained fixed on the stall owner, a middle-aged man. "By the rules, I successfully toppled those cans with just 10 throws," he declared.

"Alright, buddy, you're the winner," the middle-aged man conceded.

With that, he retrieved the grand prize, a spiritual stone. "Here, a high-level spiritual stone, it's yours now," he said, handing the stone to Lin Fan.

Lin Fan scrutinized the stone, a subtle smile appearing on his face. At least, this could somewhat compensate for the loss of the statue. A high-level spiritual stone, its cultivation benefits could enhance tonight.

Slipping the stone into his pocket, he surveyed the surroundings, where many onlookers were still watching him. Undoubtedly, they were impressed by his skills.

Yet, he had no intention of lingering here and opted to explore more of the market.

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The atmosphere pulsated with energy as crowds navigated the bustling streets. An orchestra of sounds from lively sellers echoed in different directions.

As Lin Fan strolled, his attention was captured by a stall boldly labeled "Stone Gambling." A genuine smile curved his lips as he idly rubbed his chin.

"Stone gambling, huh? Fits my style perfectly!" he grinned with anticipation.

With purpose, he approached the stall. However, unexpectedly, he collided with someone, sending him to fall the ground.

A twinge of pain registered in his back. Frowning, he looked up, and his expression shifted as he recognized the one who bumped into him—a striking black-haired girl now seated above him.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't see you," she apologized genuinely.

A warm smile graced Lin Fan's face. "Haha, it's alright; we all rush sometimes. Can you stand?" he inquired.

"Yes, I can," affirmed the girl, gracefully rising to her feet.

Lin Fan joined her in standing, nonchalantly dusting off his clothes.

"Once again, my apologies," she said, offering a polite bow.

"No worries. Just watch your step next time. Or perhaps, we could spend some time together?" Lin Fan extended a friendly invitation.

"I'm sorry, my friend is waiting for me," she responded, departing swiftly.

Observing her departure, Lin Fan couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret.

"Such a cute girl. Pity I missed the chance," he mused.

After a brief pause, he resumed his walk toward the stone gambling stall.

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Meanwhile, in a different locale, Long Tian sat comfortably at one of the food stalls, savoring traditional food called Dim Sum.

Despite his accustomed palate to luxurious meals with meticulously chosen ingredients, he relished the simplicity of market food.

With the final morsel of Dim Sum on his plate, he didn't linger but promptly stood up.

As he turned around, a girl stood before him, her gaze fixed on him. "I've completed my task. Should I receive my payment now?" she inquired, presenting a jade.

A smile graced Long Tian's face. "Let's discuss as we walk," he suggested.

The girl nodded, and together with Long Tian, they navigated the lively market streets.

The girl handed the jade to Long Tian, who, upon examination, confirmed its authenticity, resembling precisely the jade pendant he saw on Lin Fan.

"I've done as you asked, swapping the jade for that man with another. And now, it's time for my payment?" she queried, a content smile on her face.

Long Tian reciprocated her smile, stating, "Certainly," and retrieved a blue-colored card.

"I recall there's over 100,000 Yuan in it. You can take it all. The PIN is 88865," he conveyed, handing the card to the girl.

Taking the card, the girl was further astonished, especially upon recognizing the bank associated with it—a renowned institution exclusive to the affluent.

Her smile broadened. "Thank you," she expressed joyfully.

"No problem. Now that our business is concluded, feel free to depart," Long Tian responded.

The girl nodded and promptly left.

On the flip side, Long Tian harbored no intention of lingering in the market. He proceeded directly to the parking lot, heading for his car.

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The night deepened, casting a shroud of darkness over the surroundings, and the sky remained devoid of stars, adding an extra layer of mystery to the atmosphere.

Meanwhile, in the market, the vibrant atmosphere continued to pulsate with energy.

Within the confines of his car, Long Tian retrieved the Ashura statue and the jade pendant once again.

"Now, let's uncover the secrets behind these items," he grinned.