Chapter 50: Paper Kite
Chapter 50: Paper Kite
"Come, come, Lu Daoist, taste this aged brew of mine that's been stored for nearly a decade."
In the home of the Wu-surname cultivator, the two men indulged in a drinking session. Lu Xuan gently swirled the golden spiritual wine in his silver cup, releasing a rich and fragrant aroma.
"I never would have imagined that Wang Shan, a patrol guard of the Enforcement Hall, would be corrupted by evil spirits. It's a relief we discovered it early on and prevented it from spreading to us neighbors." The Wu-surname cultivator set down his cup, a shudder running through him as he contemplated the potential consequences.
"Indeed, if that corruption hadn't been found and eliminated in time, it would've been difficult for those of us living nearby to ensure our safety," Lu Xuan agreed.
"Those good-for-nothing enforcers have been hovering around this area lately, making it inconvenient to go about our business," Lu Xuan grumbled.
"They can't even guard their own people from falling to corruption. What use are they to us? They should focus on investigating their own ranks; who knows how many more corrupt members they'll uncover!" The elderly Wu-surname cultivator's eyes glazed over slightly, a sign of his growing intoxication.
"Daoist Lu, why don't you cultivate those spiritual herbs that are perfect for brewing spirit wine? I'll buy as much as you can grow!" The conversation shifted to Lu Xuan.
"I've been considering it, but my spirit fields are already quite small, with no extra space to cultivate other spiritual herbs. I also don't have the energy to nurture additional plants at the moment," Lu Xuan replied.
"If you ever change your mind, I'm your man," the Wu-surname cultivator said.
The two continued drinking.
"By the way, Daoist Wu, are you familiar with the black market in Linyang Town?" Lu Xuan inquired.
"Black market? Are you thinking of venturing in?" The elderly cultivator's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yes, I've been contemplating it, but as I've never entered one before, I'm not very knowledgeable about it. Given your profound cultivation and extensive time spent in the town, I thought you might be able to provide some insights," Lu Xuan said with a smile.
"I've entered a few times, the last time being about two years ago," the elderly cultivator recalled, his drunkenness momentarily forgotten.
"The black market is located in the heart of the town, allegedly managed by several underground forces within the town. However, I suspect it's backed by one or more of the influential families in the area," he continued.
"The town was built upon an abandoned secret realm, and the black market sits within a natural maze. One can only enter by purchasing a guiding talisman with several spirit stones," he explained.
"As the name suggests, the black market is quite different from the loose cultivator's market or the large shops. Those who frequent it are usually involved in shady dealings, and cultivators who enter often conceal their identities or cultivation levels," Lu Xuan added.
"The goods traded there are also of questionable origins. You'll find treasures that can't be easily obtained through normal means, possibly due to their bloody histories or the fact that they were stolen. There are also all sorts of bizarre and exotic materials, some tainted by evil spirits," Lu Xuan said, nodding occasionally.
"In terms of safety, can a regular loose cultivator expect a peaceful visit to the black market?" Lu Xuan asked.
"The interior is definitely safe, guarded by powerful cultivators, and disturbances are rare. However, the exterior is a different matter, as it falls outside the black market's jurisdiction," the elderly cultivator warned.
"Those who come and go from the black market include vicious and ruthless characters, as well as cultivators of sinister arts. Thus, the safety level outside is significantly lower, and incidents of robbery and murder are not uncommon," he elaborated.
"Generally speaking, it's usually fine. After all, the black market is right in the town's center, and I've been there more than once during my lower levels of Qi Refining without encountering any problems," he reassured.
"If you're truly determined to go, just be cautious. If you're overly anxious, you can always enter with a fellow cultivator you trust," the elderly cultivator advised.
"Thank you for sharing these important insights, Daoist Wu. I'm grateful for your guidance," Lu Xuan said respectfully.
The two men had a casual relationship, and he didn't inquire about Lu Xuan's purpose for entering the black market.
Lu Xuan stayed a while longer before returning home with the Cloud-Stepping Lynx cub, which had remained quietly perched on his shoulder.
He pondered for a moment, then decided to pay a visit to the black market.
According to Wu, all sorts of strange and exotic items could be found there, so the chances of finding unknown spirit herbs were much higher than at the loose cultivator's market.
Moreover, entering and exiting the black market was relatively safe, and Lu Xuan believed that as long as he didn't expose his wealth or cause trouble, he would be able to leave unscathed.
After all, he was confident in his current strength.
With his sixth layer of Qi Refining cultivation, his nearly Mastery-level Metal-Cutting Sword Technique, a first-rate exceptional spirit artifact like the Rending Silver Blade, two second-rate Thousand Sword Seals, a second-rate flying sword, the Flame-Departing Sword, a first-rate treasure, the Thunderfire Bead, and numerous talismans...
Even if he encountered a high-level Qi Refining cultivator, Lu Xuan was confident he could defeat them.
The next day, after inspecting his spirit fields and ensuring all the spirit herbs were in optimal condition, Lu Xuan set out for the black market, following the directions provided by the Wu-surname cultivator.
As the Cloud-Stepping Lynx cub was too conspicuous and he had no suitable means to conceal it, Lu Xuan left it at home.
Upon realizing it couldn't accompany Lu Xuan, the cub stared at him with its emerald green eyes, unblinking, as if afraid he would abandon it.
Lu Xuan's spiritual sense connected with the cub, and he sensed its fear and helplessness, almost softening his heart. But in the end, he was concerned about exposing his true identity, so he comforted the cub and left it with a pile of dried meat strips before departing alone.
After about half an hour, Lu Xuan arrived outside the black market.
Despite being close to the center of Linyang Town, the surrounding area was desolate, with no courtyards or residences in sight. The few cultivators on the road hurried along, each wary of the others.
The entire black market was shrouded in a thick cloud of dark mist, and when Lu Xuan probed it with his spiritual sense, it felt as if something was obstructing his perception, preventing him from advancing.
Lu Xuan wore a simple mask over his face as he approached the cultivator guarding the entrance.
Along the way, he noticed that almost all the cultivators were similarly disguised, most with masks or cloths covering their faces, a few using special artifacts to hide their features, and only a handful showing their true faces, though whether these were their real appearances or not, Lu Xuan couldn't be sure.
He observed the actions of the cultivator in front of him and offered three spirit stones to the black-robed cultivator shrouded in black mist at the entrance.
In return, he received a guiding talisman inscribed with black talismans and a faintly glowing black arrow that shifted direction slightly as it led him through the mist.
Stepping into the mist, Lu Xuan found himself in a hazy world, guided by the black arrow, which flickered and adjusted his path through the mist.
After some time, Lu Xuan felt a sudden lightness in his body as he passed through the mist and entered the black market.
The market was more spacious than he had imagined, with a hundred or so cultivators in sight, yet it was surprisingly quiet, with only the soft murmur of discussions filling the air.
Above, the black market seemed covered by a thick dark cloud, and in the high skies, a dozen or so black paper kites drifted slowly.
The kites were made from some unknown material; at first glance, they appeared to be made from beast hides, floating eerily overhead.
As they passed overhead, Lu Xuan felt an evil thought sweep through his body, causing his skin to crawl with goosebumps.
(End of Chapter)
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