Chapter 40 Grassland Market - 5 Besides the tents...
Besides the tents, there is a tall stone tower in the center of the market, where three people sit, one of whom has huge and distinctive gray wings on his back.
“That is…” Tang Bufan’s eyes widened.
The orc also saw the RV from the tower, so he turned around, said a few words to the two orcs beside him, and then jumped down from the tower.
The orc's gray wings spread wide as it flew towards them, much to Tang Bufan's amazement.
“They’re bird-like beastmen,” Lu Yi told Tang Bufan, still driving steadily. “They’re relatively rare among beastmen.”
When the scientists in the underground city first experimented with mixing human and animal genes, they cast a wide net and used the genes of various animals to test the degree of fusion with human genes, which gave birth to various types of beastmen, such as rats, monkeys, cats, dogs, and fish. Each of these beastmen had its own advantages: rat-type beastmen were sent to mines, monkey-type beastmen were sent to mountains and forests, fish-type beastmen were sent to explore rivers and seas, and cat and dog-type beastmen were sent to explore city ruins.
Because bird-like beastmen need to fly, the test subjects have very high weight requirements. They must be thin humans. Thin humans are often not healthy enough to withstand the initial experimental mutations, so they are a rare group among beastmen.
“Based on wing analysis, it’s a mix of pigeon genes,” Kai said in a gentle, electronic male voice.
Looking at the orc that had flown in front of their car through the windshield, Lu Yi said calmly, "Judging by the size of its wings, it doesn't look like a bird of prey."
Orcs with mixed genes from birds of prey like eagles and hawks are classified as high-level, while those from other common birds are classified as mid-level.
In terms of physical constitution, they are far inferior to werewolves and apes, but what can they do when others can fly and are fewer in number?
At this point, the RV was only a few dozen meters away from the market. Besides their RV, there were also some dilapidated vans and pickup trucks parked outside the market. Seeing these vehicles, Lu Yi knew that the gasoline was safe and that the market must sell it.
"Good day, sir!" The winged orc gave Lu Yi a warm salute from outside the RV.
The orc was a young man in his thirties. After saluting Lu Yixing, he looked at Tang Bufan in the passenger seat. Even though Tang Bufan's face was covered by a black cloth mask, he could still recognize him as a human by Tang Bufan's physique and scent.
This made him look puzzled.
Tang Bufan tensed up nervously as he was being stared at.
Lu Yi rolled down his car window and gently asked the young man, "Which federation are you from?"
The salute indicates that the young man has received training at a military academy or in the army.
"From the Northern Federation," the young man replied respectfully. He recognized the RV, which was a modified armored vehicle from the Northern Federation, from a distance. But when he flew closer, he was surprised to find that the driver was actually the young master of the Western Federation's head of state.
The young man was incredibly excited. He couldn't be mistaken. Although Lu Yi was from the Western Federation, he was a well-known figure in the Northern Federation, not only because of his striking good looks, but also because he was a highly popular candidate to succeed the next head of state of the Western Federation.
Hans has two orc sons, but the elder son has a genetic defect and a very irritable temper. He also made a mistake in resisting the orc tide a few years ago and was stripped of his military power. Therefore, the younger son is almost a certainty to become the next leader.
But I heard that the eldest son and the youngest son had a duel more than four months ago. The eldest son expelled the youngest son from the Federation before he came of age. All the Federations are talking about this. I wonder what will happen to the Western Federation.
The young man had also talked about it enthusiastically with his family and friends. He never expected that the legendary young master would suddenly come to the market he was responsible for maintaining. How could he not be excited?
Lu Yi knew from the way the young man looked at him that he had been recognized. He felt helpless but also glad that he had already told Tang Bufan his identity, otherwise it would have been awkward.
"So this market is managed by the Northern Federation?" Lu Yi looked at the market in front of him again, where a large number of people had already gathered to watch the excitement.
“No, this market is jointly managed by the Eastern and Northern Federations.” The young man told him respectfully and enthusiastically, “This market is located between the two federations. It was originally set up by nomadic beastmen and wandering beastmen. Later, as it grew in size, it became a trading post between the two federations.”
He had barely finished speaking when a commotion suddenly arose from the crowded throng in the distance. A tall, burly orc emerged from the crowd with several other people.
Upon seeing Lu Yi in the driver's seat, the tall, middle-aged orc was initially taken aback, then immediately strode over and gave Lu Yi a loud military salute in the car:
"Wan Bing, a mid-level orc from the Eastern Federation, greets your superior!"
"..." Tang Bufan, sitting in the passenger seat, was a little speechless. He never expected that Lu Yi, who was only 17 years old, would be bowed and respected like this by a beastman who was much older than him.
He hadn't experienced much of the orcs' hierarchy before, but now he was beginning to realize how strict it was.
Lu Yi nodded to Wan Bing, and looking at his Asian face, he became more concerned about him than about the young man.
“My teacher and I are going to buy some things and may stay in this market for a day or two. Your name is Wan Bing, right?” Lu Yi said to the tall, middle-aged orc. “Could you please show us around this market?”
"Yes, sir!" Wan hadn't expected to be chosen as a guide despite being late, and a look of joy appeared on his face.
The young man, however, showed a hint of disappointment.
"Brother, I'll show the officer around. I'll leave the management of the market to you!" Wan Bing was clearly a generous person. He patted the young man with bird wings on his back and said magnanimously, "I'll treat you to drinks later!"
"Hey, go ahead!" The young man clearly had a good relationship with him, and quickly put away his disappointment and smiled. He gave Lu Yi a military salute and then turned to wave away the crowd of onlookers who had crowded behind them.
"Go, go, go sell your stuff! What are you all doing crowding here? If you dawdle any longer, the beast tide will be here!"
Many ragged orcs were chased away by his wave and left carrying their sacks of belongings. However, quite a few idle ones refused to leave, so the young man called over two people to keep the orcs five meters away from the RV.
"Mr. Wan Bing, please wait here for a moment. My teacher and I are going back to the carriage to get something," Lu Yiwen said gently to the middle-aged man outside the window, then gestured for Tang Bufan to follow him back to the carriage.
Tang Bufan, who was sitting in the passenger seat, was already feeling the tingling sensation from the stares of the onlookers outside. He immediately got up and followed him into the car.
Kai also very thoughtfully closed the metal partition door between the driver's cab and the passenger compartment for the two of them.
"One of them is from the Northern Federation, and the other is from the Eastern Federation. Why are they calling you 'commander'?" Tang Bufan asked Lu Yi curiously as he took out the small box containing their gold from the shelf.
“I am a high-ranking orc, and they are mid-ranking orcs. When we meet in the wild, calling them ‘commander’ is a sign of respect, and it has nothing to do with the Federation.” After Lu Yi finished speaking, he took out the black backpack that Tang Bufan often carried from the shelf: “Isn’t it like this in the 21st century?”
"Uh... I don't know either." Tang Bufan said somewhat awkwardly, "I'm a teacher, not a soldier."
But after thinking about it, he vaguely understood: "It's the same as when I call other school principals Principals: Principal Wang, Principal Li?"
Anyway, the other party is the principal. Although he is not my direct supervisor, it is always right to respectfully call him "principal".
"Yes, it's just a title of respect." Lu Yi walked behind Tang Bufan and helped him put on the black backpack.
"Then I got to experience the treatment of being a superior with you." Tang Bufan was quite happy, recalling for the first time when he was a model, wearing beautiful clothes and being stared at wherever he went.
Unfortunately, he was no longer human. Tang Bufan sighed silently and put on his backpack with Lu Yi's help.
The two men took the gold and were about to leave the carriage when Tang Bufan thought for a moment and then called Lu Yi to take the transparent umbrella that was placed in the corner of the shelf.
Lu Yi understood and bent down to take the umbrella in his hand.
Wan Bing was already waiting at the car door, accompanied by six tall orcs, who seemed to be the market's guards.
"You three lead the way, and you three protect the rear. Don't let the orcs who are just watching the show get too close!" Wan Bing said in a deep voice to the six tall orcs.
"yes!"
The six orcs responded in unison and then formed a protective circle around the three of them in an orderly fashion.
As a high-level beastman, Lu Yi didn't need such special protection; Wan Bing's actions were mainly to protect Tang Bufan. Lu Yi couldn't help but take another look at the middle-aged man, finding him to be quite adept at interpersonal relationships.
"What is this gentleman's name?" Wan asked Tang Bufan, walking to his right and together with Lu Yi, protecting Tang Bufan in the middle.
"Eberron." Tang Bufan borrowed the name Eberron.
"..." Lu Yi, who was about to speak, silently shut his mouth.
“Mr. Eberron’s eyes look like those of an Asian to me.” Wan Bing said with a smile. Although it was a test, his tone and attitude were not unpleasant, but rather very friendly.
He's capable enough to manage this grassland market on behalf of the Eastern Federation.
"You guessed right, I'm a Chinese from the West District Underground City, and I live in Chinatown." Tang Bufan lied through his teeth, thinking that with the Chinese people's ability to live in groups abroad, they must have built a post-apocalyptic Chinatown even in this world.
Tang Bufan was right; there really was an underground city in the West District.
"..." Lu Yi gained a deeper understanding of Tang Bufan's ability to intimidate people.
"So you're going to the East District this time?" Wan Bing asked, but he already had a pretty good idea of what was going on, otherwise Lu Yi wouldn't have chosen him as the guide.
“Yes, Louis and I are going to the East District.” Tang Bufan’s face was covered by a black cloth. Although he was a little nervous because of the stares of the crowd watching the excitement, he still pretended to be natural and spoke to Wan Bing: “Does this market sell antidotes? I’ve run out of the antidotes I brought from the West District Underground City and I want to replenish them here.”
Although Tang Bufan was lying, Wan was no simple person. He kept an eye on Lu Yi's expression while Tang Bufan was speaking. Seeing that Lu Yi was carefully protecting Tang Bufan and looking at him with gentle eyes, Wan understood what was going on.
Even if this human is lying, he has to listen to it as if it were the truth.
“Antidote? We probably don’t have any in this market.” Wan Bing was at a loss. Although this market was located between the Northern Federation and the Eastern Federation, it was actually a very remote market, far from the central cities of both federations. There were only a few mid-level orcs who came here every year, let alone humans.
Tang Bufan and Lu Yi's hearts skipped a beat, and Wan Bing added, "But we still have to ask Mr. Wang. He sells medicine in our market, so he might have some."
“Take us there,” Lu Yi said simply.
Tang Bufan noticed that his tone was different from his usual way of speaking. How to put it... although it was still gentle, it carried a natural air of authority.
"Alright!" Wan Bing responded cheerfully and shouted to the three tall orcs leading the way, "Let's go to Old Master Wang's place!"
The group walked deeper into the crowded market, with six tall orcs guarding the outermost edge, while Lu Yi and Wan Bing protected Tang Bufan in the middle. Although the surrounding area was bustling with people, Tang Bufan walked very easily.
Tang Bufan thought about how he used to have to hide in the RV in a sorry state when he went to the market, not daring to make a sound when he walked, and he could only endure his hunger while waiting anxiously for Uncle Wolf and Eberron to return. He couldn't help but feel very sorry for himself.
Good Lu Yi, truly his good student, his precious darling. Tang Bufan couldn't help but reach out and grab Lu Yi's arm. Lu Yi looked down and met Tang Bufan's smiling eyes peeking out from behind the black cloth. His heart fluttered, and his cheeks flushed slightly.
It's autumn, so why is it still so hot? Lu Yixin thought to herself, feeling the breeze of the grassland, and reached out to touch her face with the back of her hand in the crowd.
Wan Bing, who had been silently watching him the whole time, saw this and immediately became even more protective of Tang Bufan.
Although it's unclear what the situation is between these two... in any case, the human next to him might just be the future First Lady of the Western Federation.
The market was crowded and noisy. Those with tents were the more well-off orcs, while the vast majority of orcs carried sacks or pushed wooden carts around the market. Many aisles were lined with people squatting down and setting up small stalls. They would stop and take a look as they passed by. So it took a group of people more than half an hour to walk from the outer edge of the market to the middle.
Mr. Wang's shop was not a tent, but a sturdy stone house with a thick, black chimney. Wisps of smoke rose from the chimney, and the surrounding air was filled with a bitter medicinal smell.
Tang Bufan understood as soon as he smelled the medicine: the old Mr. Wang inside was not only Chinese, but also a traditional Chinese medicine doctor.
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