Chu Tian, filled with rage, clenched his fists.
"Here..." Suddenly, Lin Yu, standing beside him, handed Chu Tian a wooden box.
Chu Tian was stunned, and instantly understood that what Lin Yu gave him was for him to bribe those people.
They had just seen that the people in front had submitted items, and that everyone had to offer tribute.
One group of people was together; it wasn't enough for their leader to give something.
If anyone didn't give, they wouldn't be allowed to ascend the iron lock.
Lin Yu knew that besides daily necessities, he had brought nothing else in his backpack.
And the three of them had come prepared.
Originally, these things were prepared to curry favor and get into a family through connections.
Who knew that without even entering, they would have to present them to these idiots.
Although it hurt his heart, there was no alternative!
Chu Tian held the wooden box in his hand, and his heart warmed.
He actually bore some responsibility for the Lin siblings falling into such a state.
He glanced at the smug individuals from the Zhang family, then looked at the three Lin siblings.
Forget it, he would endure this time.
Although he wasn't afraid of trouble, if it brought trouble to the three Lin siblings, he would feel guilty.
However... the second young master of the Zhang family actually dared to lay his hands on Luo Luo.
Don't let me see you, or I'll make sure you can't even be a man!
Chu Tian thought resentfully and followed behind Lin Yu, lining up to offer tribute to these scoundrels.
Seeing these wretches, Chu Tian truly wished he could slap each of them and turn their heads into smashed watermelons.
"What are you looking at?"
When Chu Tian handed something to one of them, the person actually asked him such a provocative question just because Chu Tian looked at him.
"I'm looking at you..." Chu Tian was about to retort instinctively, "What about looking at you?"
Lin Yu, who was in front of him, quickly turned back and said, "He's looking at how handsome you are, and glanced at you again!"
"Oh... This young master is naturally dashing and incredibly handsome. Alright, you can go now!"
This person had triangular eyes, flared nostrils, two buck teeth, and one deformed ear.
Hearing his self-aggrandizing words, Chu Tian was so disgusted he almost spat at him.
Lin Yu also had a strange expression and held Chu Tian back tightly.
The two of them stepped onto the iron lock one after another. Before them was a vast expanse of white, and he could only vaguely see Lin Yu's retreating figure.
After dozens of steps, the space shifted, and the mist disappeared.
Chu Tian was already standing on level ground.
The entire world had a clear blue sky, bright sunlight, birdsong and fragrant flowers, and a pleasant temperature.
Those wearing winter clothes all took off their coats.
The air, which had been faintly sweet, now instantly polluted the surrounding atmosphere.
Chu Tian looked around and thought, "Is this the small world?"
It had a sky and a sun, just like the outside world.
There were no reception staff after entering.
"Something's not right!" Lin Chi muttered.
However, no one paid attention to his words, and they proceeded along the only flagstone path.
They continued until they reached the foot of the mountain gate.
The Luo family's architecture was built along the mountainside, appearing numerous.
They finally saw people from the Luo family here.
As Chu Tian and the others walked over, they heard someone complaining to the Luo family's reception personnel.
The matter they were discussing was naturally about being robbed outside.
"Oh? There was such a thing? I will report it to the family head later."
A young man from the Luo family finished speaking warmly and continued to register the incoming visitors, with no further follow-up.
The person who was complaining was stunned by this attitude.
Next, with a look of regret on his face, he glanced around, squeezed out of the crowd, and walked quickly back in the direction he came from.
Clearly, he was preparing to leave.
The Luo family's attitude indicated that they were aware of the situation outside.
In other words, the actions of those Zhang family members outside might have been tacitly approved by some manager within the Luo family.
Now that he had spoken out to complain, wasn't he offending that person?
Staying here would be extremely dangerous.
This was the heartland of their territory; if they killed you casually, you would have no recourse.
Everyone pretended not to notice this person's departure.
At the same time, it served as a warning to everyone.
This so-called competition, along with the marriage banquet, was not as simple as it seemed!
Chu Tian and the others followed the crowd into the Luo family's buildings.
Along the way, the three Lin siblings and Chu Tian did not speak.
Everyone had a feeling of undercurrents and an impending storm.
Chu Tian and the others were arranged accommodations, and they were told that if they were interested, they could visit freely.
However, they were forbidden to go to the back mountain, as it was a forbidden area.
Even their own Luo family members would be killed on sight if they entered without permission.
After they left, Chu Tian saw the three Lin siblings looking dejected.
He asked, "What's wrong?"
Lin Yu looked outside and turned to say to Chu Tian dejectedly, "I feel like this matter is very strange. I don't know if coming here was the right thing to do!"
Lin Chi nodded in agreement, "Yes, ten years ago, I came with my master. You were still young, and I was seventeen then."
"So, I remember very clearly that the Luo family people were very hospitable. After entering the small world, there were people setting up stalls on both sides of the flagstone path."
"They were all people from outside, participating in this grand gathering, and exchanging things they needed."
"At that time, my master also said that it was like this every time. The grand gathering held once every ten years was not just a conference among the eight great families."
"It was also a gathering for martial artists, a grand event held once every ten years where everyone gathered to exchange insights and materials."
"It was also a reunion conference held once every ten years. And this time, you see, we were first robbed, and then the attitude of the Luo family..."
Lin Chi stopped speaking here, a look of confusion on his face.
Lin Ran glanced outside and reached out to close the doors and windows.
The houses here were all in a retro style, with wooden doors and windows.
There was no glass; the doors and windows were covered with paper.
It was already November outside, and winter was approaching.
The small world was full of spring flowers and had a pleasant temperature. It was said that the temperature here was constant throughout the year.
Therefore, there was no need to consider warmth when building houses.
Lin Ran's actions made everyone curious.
After closing the doors and windows, Lin Ran took off his outer clothes and shook them vigorously.
Swish, swish, swish...
More than ten wooden plaques flew out.
Pat, pat, pat...
They were affixed to the interior of the room according to their positions.
Buzz...
A faint buzzing sound arose, and then Chu Tian felt the air inside the room vibrate.
Afterwards, it returned to normal.
"Alright... I have something to tell you..."
Lin Ran said after finishing this.
Lin Yu asked in surprise, "Second brother, what is it? Why did you bring the formation plaques that master left at the mansion?"