Chapter 329: Piercing the Secluded

Da Wang and Wei Shen, leading a unit of personal guards who had changed their uniforms, swaggered into Dragon Head County, nominally for inspection.

To avoid exposing his identity and get rid of the bear, Da Wang said a lot of pleasantries before Bai Ze agreed to let him look for a while—just a while, nothing more.

Da Wang had no choice; everyone in You Prefecture knew he had a White Marsh and a big brown bear. Taking the bear out in public was practically as exposing as sticking the three characters 'Baili Jing' on his face. After all, many people didn't even know his real name...

Upon entering the county seat, Da Wang first laughed, "This isn't like... like me, the last time I came; back then there were hardly any pedestrians on the street—why is it so bustling today?"

Could it be that Dragon Head has developed this well under my leadership?

Wei Shen grabbed a peddler with a shoulder pole to ask; the man happened to stop and wipe his sweat, "…You lot are clearly outsiders—are you here to buy dry goods? Today is the big market at Dragon Head's tenth day, how could it not be lively! We haven't seen such a bustle in years—just go straight ahead to Sea Tranquil Street; it's even livelier, with more people."

The group walked into the market's main street; from afar they smelled an overpowering fragrance, and Da Wang and Wei Shen instantly forgot about the inspection, heading straight for the stall with the strongest scent.

After squeezing in, they found nothing special—just grilled fish.

You Prefecture never lacks all kinds of fish, especially the princely manor; Da Wang has hardly missed eating any fish from the Bohai Sea.

The stall owner, flipping the small fish, bragged, "……This is a recipe I learned in You Prefecture City; grilled small fish sell well on Vermilion Bird Avenue in You Prefecture City, and I heard the Northern Territory King loves this bite~"

"Real or not?"

"What hasn't the Highness eaten that he can eat such a small fish?"

The stall owner, still unconvinced, said, "How could the Highness be picky about the fish's size—big is big flavor, small is small flavor! Grilled small fish come out extra crispy! Let me tell you, my small fish are also learned from others, pre‑marinated with that chili, fragrant, spicy, crispy, and delicious~"

Da Wang: ……

What a wronged pot—Da Wang hasn't had time to stroll Vermilion Bird Avenue in half a year, and he hasn't even eaten any grilled small fish.

Wei Shen held back a laugh, jabbed Da Wang with his elbow, narrowed his eyes, and asked, "Is it good? You have the right to speak!"

Da Wang: ……

He saw the stall owner, while grilling, flatten and press the small fish with a knife; based on Da Wang's experience as a foodie, he thought they might really be crispy.

Da Wang craved it.

Being a roadside stall, it's definitely better than home cooking.

Da Wang patted the Ga Wu Box on his body and generously offered to treat his cousin to the small fish.

The two immediately picked out the fish at the stall, "I want these two; they look crispy!"

"If you're treating, I'll eat five—this flavor is indeed fragrant, definitely delicious~"

"I never said I'd treat five……"

"Don't be stingy—you're practically a mine owner now……"

"Skipping class, that kind of skipping~"

"Hahaha~"

A vent slit opened in the window of the tea house's second floor across the street; if you looked closely, through the slit you could see a pair of gloomy, sinister eyes fixedly staring at Da Wang.

Ling Yin, following behind, suddenly lifted his gaze; his eyes shot like lightning toward the tea house, and in the next moment the figure at the window changed to the tea shop's attendant.

Ling Yin glanced again, then turned his head back to continue staring at Da Wang.

Da Wang only cared about his small fish; he took one in hand, tasted it, and indeed it was crispy.

"Delicious! It smells just as good~ When we get back, let Zhu Ti also set up a grilled fish stall, using an iron brace to press the fish flat—then it'll definitely be even crispier!"

Wei Shen crunched down, not forgetting to cheer: "Good, good, good, let's get going—how's that for next time~"

The further in they went, the more people there were, the hawking never ceased, and everything was for sale—farm tools, fishing nets, dried sea products, snacks, plus locals selling eggs they'd saved up.

Da Wang hadn't finished eating the fish in his hand when he spotted a grass‑woven trinket sold by the roadside.

Anything miniaturized becomes cute; Da Wang picked up a palm‑sized little basket, amazed, "It can hold only one egg~"

Wei Shen had no interest at all, offhandedly saying, "Then buy one to give to Zhe Tian; when it lays an egg it'll fit perfectly!"

Da Wang burst out laughing, "Hahaha you're done for! I'll tell Zhe Tian—it can understand!"

"Give me a chance, I'll say it again……"

The two were eating fish and laughing foolishly by the street when they heard terrified shouts coming from the end of the road.

Turning around, they saw a cow with a flaming tail dragging behind it charging this way from the street's end—oh, and it wasn't just one! Charging in from the end were three cows and two horses!

Looking closely, the mad cow flung blood onto the ground as it ran, and in an instant it knocked over several stalls and several people!

The street was filled with cries and pleas for help; the panicked crowd began fleeing indiscriminately.

Ling Yin immediately stepped in front of Da Wang; Da Wang saw a child at the roadside frozen with fright, not knowing how to flee, and turned to order the personal guards: "Don't worry about me—quickly slay the mad cow, saving the civilians is urgent!" He wouldn't die out there.

Having said that, he shoved Ling Yin again: "You go too!"

"This time there's an eighty percent chance they're coming for you."