Skinwalker Belle – Chapter 145 – Entering the City

Lin Fan stood before the towering city gates of Azurewood City, looking up at the gray-brown city walls that had been eroded by time.

On the walls, several guards clad in beast-hide armor were looking down at them.

The one in the lead was a level-five tiger-kin, burly in stature with clearly visible tiger stripes. A wide-bladed scimitar was tucked into his waist.

Following behind him were four level-four and level-three guards of various races.

Lin Fan made no attempt to hide.

She raised a hand and gently took off her straw hat.

The pair of small Dragon horns on her head was exposed to the sunlight, glinting with a faint metallic luster.

The guards at the city gate froze instantly.

The level-five tiger-kin guard’s expression suddenly turned grave.

He cupped his fist and bowed slightly.

“My lord of the Dragon Clan.”

His voice was steady, but not overly humble.

Lin Fan took it all in.

She knew that a lone branch member of the Dragon Clan did not possess absolute deterrent power in the eyes of these people.

What truly made them wary was the powerful Pureblood Dragon Clan faction behind the branch members.

Lin Fan nodded, her voice flat. “I’m entering the city.”

The tiger-kin guard stepped aside to make way.

“Please.”

Lin Fan put her straw hat back on and walked through the city gates with Su Xiaoxiao.

Su Xiaoxiao followed closely behind her, her ears pressed nervously against her head and her tail held ramrod straight.

Behind the city gates was a wide, bluestone street.

The street was lined with all sorts of shops, and the mixed sounds of hawking, haggling, and metal being struck filled the air.

Residents of various races bustled about.

Cat-kin, wolf-kin, rabbit-kin, jackal-kin, pig-kin…

Lin Fan swept her gaze over them, then turned to look back at the city gate.

The tiger-kin guard was giving quiet instructions to one of his subordinates.

That subordinate quickly departed, running in the direction of the City Lord’s manor.

The corners of Lin Fan’s lips curled up.

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As expected.

The city guards would definitely report the appearance of a Dragon Clan member in the city to Hu Lie.

In the eyes of outsiders, branch members of the Dragon Clan were usually carrying out missions under the orders of the Pureblood Dragon Clan.

It was rare for one to act alone like her.

She was certain that Hu Lie would soon learn of her arrival and find an opportunity to make contact.

And all she had to do was wait.

She didn’t try to contact Hu Lie right away.

First, she had no suitable reason to approach him.

Second, she couldn’t appear too deliberate, lest she expose her objective and arouse Hu Lie’s vigilance.

She needed Hu Lie to come to her.

Only then would she not arouse his suspicion.

Lin Fan retracted her gaze and led Su Xiaoxiao deeper into the street.

She mentally calculated her next steps.

First, she would go to the Slave Market.

From Su Changfeng’s description, she knew that although Azurewood City was not large, its Slave Market was the biggest among the several nearby cities.

There were slaves of all races there, mostly female.

Moreover, Hu Lie’s shadow was certainly behind the Slave Market.

She had to go and see.

Lin Fan stopped and turned to look at Su Xiaoxiao.

“Go ask where the Slave Market is.”

Su Xiaoxiao froze for a moment, then nodded.

She trotted over to an elderly rabbit-kin man who was setting up a stall by the side of the street.

Lin Fan stood where she was, her gaze sweeping over her surroundings.

The streets of Azurewood City were more prosperous than she had imagined.

All kinds of shops stood in rows: weapon shops, medicinal herb shops, eateries, inns…

Although the pedestrians on the street were of various races, most were ordinary residents around level three.

Occasionally, she could see a few level-four Evolved beings with powerful auras; others would consciously make way for them on the street.

Lin Fan noticed that everyone who looked at her did so with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

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Her aura was too outstanding.

The black and gold combat attire, the slender yet powerful figure, and the straw hat that concealed her Dragon horns.

More importantly, the faint sense of pressure she exuded made those around her instinctively keep their distance.

Su Xiaoxiao quickly ran back.

“Sister Ning Shuang, the Slave Market is in the west of the city. We just have to follow this street all the way down and turn into the third alley on the left.”

Lin Fan nodded.

The two of them proceeded along the street.

After about ten minutes, they turned left into a relatively narrow alley.

The atmosphere in the alley was markedly different from the main street.

It was more oppressive, more gloomy.

Rusted iron cages hung on the walls, holding a few emaciated slaves.

Their eyes were hollow, and their bodies were covered in wounds.

Su Xiaoxiao’s tail was pressed tightly against her leg, and her ears drooped.

She said in a small voice, “Sister Ning Shuang, this place…”

Lin Fan didn’t respond.

She continued forward.

Soon, a huge building appeared before them.

The building’s main doors were open, and two level-four jackal-kin guards stood at the entrance.

A wooden plaque hung above the door, on which three words were carved in the common script of the Dragon Spirit Continent—

“Slave House.”

Lin Fan stopped.

She glanced up at the wooden plaque, then strode inside.

When the two jackal-kin guards saw her attire, a trace of apprehension flashed in their eyes, but they did not stop her.

Upon entering the Slave Market, she was hit by a pungent odor—a mixture of blood, sweat, and medicinal herbs.

The main hall was spacious, with rows of iron cages arranged around the perimeter.

Inside the cages were slaves of various races.

Cat-kin, rabbit-kin, wolf-kin, fox-kin…

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Most were female.

They were dressed in rags, their bodies covered in wounds, their eyes numb.

When some of the slaves saw Lin Fan walk in, a flicker of hope appeared in their eyes, but it quickly dimmed.

Lin Fan swept her gaze across them, her eyes landing on the few cages in the innermost area.

Several young fox-kin girls were locked up there.

None of them were very old; the youngest looked to be only fifteen or sixteen.

When Su Xiaoxiao saw those fox-kin girls, her body trembled slightly.

She whispered, “Sister Ning Shuang, they… they are from other villages near Green Hill Village.”

Lin Fan nodded.

She said nothing and continued walking toward the back of the hall.

A burly male tiger-kin emerged from the back room.

He was over two meters tall, with clear tiger stripes and sharp eyes.

When he saw Lin Fan, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he immediately came forward with a smile.

“Well, a rare guest.”

His voice was loud and carried a hint of amusement.

“My lord of the Dragon Clan has graced us with your presence. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner. I am Hu Wei, the owner of this place.”

Lin Fan looked up at him.

This Hu Wei was likely one of Hu Lie’s trusted men.

To be able to run a Slave Market in Azurewood City, he must have Hu Lie’s backing.

Lin Fan said flatly, “I’m just looking.”

Hu Wei smiled.

“Of course, of course.”

He stepped aside and made a “please” gesture.

“What would my lord like to see? Are you looking to buy a slave for daily service? Or a combat-type for guarding your home?”

His gaze swept over the cages, finally landing on the few fox-kin girls.

Lin Fan didn’t answer.

She took out a level-two Crystal from her Storage Space and casually tossed it to Hu Wei.

“I’d like to get an idea of the goods you have here.”

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Hu Wei caught the Crystal, a greedy glint flashing in his eyes.

His smile immediately became more fawning.

“My lord is truly generous.”

He put away the Crystal and began his introduction.

“Our Slave House is the largest slave market among the major cities nearby.”

“We have all kinds of goods here.”

“For combat types, we have jackal-kin, pig-kin, and others, all level-three Evolved beings.”

“We have cat-kin and rabbit-kin, who are agile.”

“And we have those who can serve as maids, like the fox-kin and deer-kin, each as beautiful as a flower.”

As he spoke, he walked to a cage and patted it.

“These few fox-kin girls were just captured.”

“They’re young and easy to train.”

“If my lord likes them, I can give you a discount.”

Lin Fan glanced at the fox-kin girls.

Their eyes were numb, and their bodies were covered in wounds.

Su Xiaoxiao bit her lip at the side, her eyes filled with anger and helplessness.

Lin Fan retracted her gaze.

She asked coolly, “Do you have any rare goods here?”

Hu Wei was taken aback for a moment.

Then, a cunning look flashed in his eyes.

“Rare goods?”

He lowered his voice and leaned closer to Lin Fan.

“My lord, you’ve certainly asked the right person.”

“Today, we happen to have an absolutely rare item.”

Lin Fan raised an eyebrow.

“Oh?”

Hu Wei said mysteriously, “A Dragon Clan member.”