Chapter 28: Zhou Junior Brother, Walking a Chicken!

The place was filled with iron cages, each containing strange and exotic animals.

Such as a two-headed black-scaled snake, a four-eyed toad with three legs, a peculiar crane with only one leg, and a black xuan bat with heads at both ends…

Everyone marveled at the sight, unsure where the vendor had gathered such oddities.

Especially under the vendor’s persuasion, claiming these were divine beasts born of extraordinary omens that could bring their owners unprecedented luck—indeed, many people bought them.

Zhou Qing strolled aimlessly, and soon his gaze was drawn to a comical scene.

A plump, fleshy chicken was locked in a cage, its eyes bulging out worse than a fighting cock’s, its small head constantly swaying side to side, occasionally flapping its wings and pecking at the cage bars.

Perhaps because its squinting eyes caused visual distortion, the chicken feed lay right beside it, yet it ignored it entirely, pecking away with “tap-tap” sounds.

Such a ridiculous sight was utterly hilarious.

“Cluck-cluck-daa, cluck-cluck-daa~~”

Zhou Qing poked at it through the cage, Budebushuo , this chicken was truly fat—if roasted on a spit with some cumin, it would be irresistible.

The vendor was a sly-looking man with shifty eyes; seeing Zhou Qing’s interest, he hurried over with a flattering smile.

“Young Master, this is an extraordinary hen—look at its wise eyes! When you’re in a bad mood, just watch it strut around in front of you—hee-hee—it’ll make you laugh till you cry.”

Zhou Qing hadn’t thought much of this; whether human or animal, none should be mocked—or turned into entertainment—because of their flaws.

“How much?” Zhou Qing asked.

The vendor immediately replied: “Three lower-grade spirit stones.”

Without a word, Zhou Qing turned and walked away.

It was just an ordinary chicken—how many could you buy with ordinary gold and silver?

Even if prices rose in this new place, they shouldn’t rise this absurdly.

“Young Master, don’t go! The price is negotiable!”

“Two, two—fine, one! That’s the lowest I can go!” the vendor cried urgently.

In the end, Zhou Qing bought it for one spirit stone—but the moment he picked it up after payment, he felt something was wrong.

Damn, I got scammed!

This chicken wasn’t just thin—it was barely held together by its fluffy feathers.

Roast it? There wasn’t enough meat to fill a tooth gap.

Seeing this, the vendor wore a smug grin and stepped back.

“Rules of the Barter Fair: no returns after transaction. Young Master, don’t look at me like that—I bought it from a farmer on the way. This chicken really has little meat; it’s not worth eating, better keep it as entertainment.”

The vendor sincerely advised.

Zhou Qing left, full of resentment.

He hadn’t expected to be fooled so quickly—but at least he’d only lost one spirit stone; he’d have to be more careful next time.

Frustrated, Zhou Qing stopped carrying the chicken, took out a length of rope, tied it to one leg, and began walking the chicken.

“Zhou Senior Brother, what are you doing?”

As Zhou Qing turned a corner and looked around, Lu Yaoyao’s voice came from beside him.

He turned to see Lu Yaoyao standing with a woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat.

Instantly, Zhou Qing guessed her identity—no wonder they vanished halfway through breakfast; they’d come to the fair too.

Zhou Qing was about to bow, but the Xuanyou Immortal gently raised her hand to stop him.

Lu Yaoyao crouched down, curiously stroking the old hen’s head, grinning: “What an adorable hen!”

The near-blind hen pecked at the ground beside Lu Yaoyao’s foot—Zhou Qing felt deeply embarrassed.

But he’d spent one spirit stone on it; throwing it away would be a waste.

At least he should fatten it up before eating—and besides, the Five Sects’ Barter Fair still had over twenty days left; this was his warning bell against future scams.

“Good chicken!” the Xuanyou Immortal glanced and said.

Zhou Qing could only smile awkwardly: “Bought it for fun!”

【Heart Mirror Points +4】

The next moment, the label above Lu Yaoyao’s head changed from 【Good Flower Heart】 to 【Very Juvenile】.

Zhou Qing’s smile froze.

What’s juvenile about walking a chicken?

Don’t say I won’t find a branch, fit a metal ring, and push it all the way back to Taiqingmen.

Lu Yaoyao then stood up and said: “Senior Brother Zhou, you go ahead and play… busy. My sister and I will wander a bit.”

“Go on, hurry!” Zhou Qing quickly shooed them away.

But after taking just two steps, he bumped into someone familiar.

“Zhou Junior Brother, walking a chicken!” Shi Zhen Senior Sister greeted with a smile.

Zhou Qing no longer wanted to explain; he simply said: “Yeah, bored, so I’m walking it. Did you find anything today, Senior Sister?”

Shi Zhen nodded: “Got a few bargains. By the way, hasn’t your Senior Brother come out of seclusion yet?”

Zhou Qing shook his head: “Not yet. He’s stubborn—he won’t come out anytime soon.”

Shi Zhen looked slightly disappointed, but quickly smiled.

“Alright, I’ll go check the other side then!”

“Hope you find a big bargain!”

“You too!”

As Zhou Qing turned to leave, the system alert chimed.

【Heart Mirror Points +5】

He turned to see Shi Zhen’s head label had changed from 【Popular Zhou Junior Brother】 to 【Very Juvenile Zhou Junior Brother】.

He looked at the old hen pecking at the blue bricks nearby and sighed deeply.

“Fine, I’ll do it for the points!”

【Heart Mirror Points +6】

When Zhou Qing returned to his Third Senior Brother’s stall with the old hen, unsurprisingly, his head label changed from 【Incredible Junior Brother】 to 【Pretty Fun Junior Brother】.

“Good eye—this old hen’s pretty fat… wait, pretty thin. What did you see in it?”

Yan Xiao Hu picked it up and immediately dropped it.

The squinting hen stumbled over and began pecking furiously at Yan Xiao Hu’s junk.

Zhou Qing handed him the food box from the inn: “Eat up!”

Seeing Zhou Qing’s sour mood, Yan Xiao Hu guessed the truth almost instantly.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As Yan Xiao Hu took two bites, a loud explosion erupted nearby; Zhou Qing immediately stood and turned toward the sound.

Yan Xiao Hu, seemingly used to it, shrugged: “Every year they make a racket like this—can’t they get tired?”

Zhou Qing crouched down, puzzled: “Third Senior Brother, what’s happening over there? Is someone forcing a sale?”

“Forcing sales? Unlikely. Everyone knows the rules—anyone who causes trouble here insults the Five Sects and brings shame to their own sect,” Yan Xiao Hu replied calmly.

Zhou Qing was even more confused—if not that, then what?

Yan Xiao Hu watched the crowd surging toward the commotion and sneered: “Youngsters competing for dominance. If your Senior Brother came out, he’d crush them in seconds.”

Zhou Qing finally understood.

They said the Five Sects were outwardly harmonious, but secretly fiercely competitive—apparently, it was true.

“I’m going to check it out!”

Curious, Zhou Qing grabbed the old hen and ran over.

The area was now packed with onlookers, pointing and cheering.

(End of Chapter)