“That’s a novel way of putting it.”
Xu Zi shook the string of purple gold bells, making them jingle rhythmically.
“As for Huiyuan, you can rest easy. Although he lives in this Ghost Buddha Temple, he has no real connection to the temple master. As for our identities, he won’t breathe a word to anyone. You can focus entirely on the investigation.”
“By the way, where do you plan to start? Even though Ma San spat out a list of names before he died, the Ghost Market is a den of iniquity where all sorts of people mingle. Most of those involved in illicit trades won’t show their true faces, so tracking them down will be quite a headache.”
“Ma San identified two buyers. One is called ‘Duan Chunming,’ an evil cultivator who buys living humans to extract their marrow and essence to refine evil pills. The other is called ‘Xiugu,’ a fox who bought two children from Ma San to serve as her servants.”
Nan Zhi didn’t entirely trust Huiyuan, but she felt that while Xu Zi was playful by nature, she certainly wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize the case. Thus, she didn’t press the matter and simply replied:
“In my view, the chances of Xiugu offending again so soon are slim. Finding her in this Ghost Market would require asking around among the other demons. Duan Chunming, however, is a different story. Refining pills is no easy task, so I expect he’ll take advantage of the market’s opening this year to secretly buy more living humans. We don’t need to search for him; I’ll just pose as an evil cultivator looking to trade in humans. Once I’m among those dealing in contraband, he’ll be easy to spot.”
As she spoke, Nan Zhi remembered something and looked at Xu Zi.
“On the way here, you must have heard what that paper figure said. Even a lowly guide knows that contraband is sold at the Ghost Market. That means there must be a fixed location for such transactions.”
“If you put it that way, I happen to know of just such a place.”
Xu Zi sat up abruptly, a look of recollection crossing her face as she spoke slowly.
“A while back, the Demon Suppression Division handled a case where someone was selling large quantities of spirit creature fur, bones, and blood in Bianjing, claiming that soaking them in wine would extend one’s life. For a time, people in the city followed suit, and many innocent spirit creatures were killed. We later discovered that the goods were being funneled out of Ruyi Pavilion in the Ghost Market.”
“If anyone is bold enough to ignore the Demon Suppression Division’s bans and the Underworld’s rules to trade in living souls, Ruyi Pavilion is the only place I can think of. However, Ruyi Pavilion only operates during the three days the Gates of Hell are open. At any other time, no one can find it, let alone enter. If they truly are trading in living humans, it won’t be easy for just the two of us to take them down.”
“So, Ruyi Pavilion is essentially taking advantage of the fact that the Demon Suppression Division can’t easily enter the Yin Yang Road to make arrests while the Gates of Hell are open?”
Nan Zhi pondered for a moment before frowning.
“If we pose as ordinary guests and enter Ruyi Pavilion, we might be able to take down Duan Chunming and secure evidence of their contraband trade. I seem to recall that trading in souls is a grave crime in the Underworld as well, is it not?”
“Exactly! While it’s difficult for the Demon Suppression Division to intervene on the Yin Yang Road, the Underworld has no such restrictions.”
Xu Zi immediately understood Nan Zhi’s plan, a hint of excitement lighting up her eyes.
“Once we have Duan Chunming and the evidence, we can move in and make the arrests. No one will dare say a word even if we tear Ruyi Pavilion apart! I’ll go find Huiyuan right now and see if I can get an invitation to Ruyi Pavilion from him—”
One couldn’t cause a scene on the Yin Yang Road, but binding a single person was well within their capabilities.
Nan Zhi nodded in understanding.
“Then I’ll take a walk around the Ghost Buddha Temple to see if I can find any news of Xiugu or Duan Chunming.”
...
“Dong—wong...”
“Dong—wong...”
“Dong...”
As the heavy toll of the bell echoed, the mist above the Ghost Buddha Temple thickened. Beneath the massive feet of the headless Buddha statues, travelers of all shapes and sizes hurried to and fro.
Nan Zhi carried her lantern, weaving through the crowd. Under the eerie green glow of the ghost fire, the faces of the non-human creatures around her appeared even more terrifying.
There were people from the Ghost Kingdom, their bodies covered in scaly snake skin, crawling along the ground with their single eyes. They were deep in conversation with stone spirits, who were simple-minded but stood several yards tall with feet like grinding stones.
A blue-faced, fanged Greater Ghost with a bare chest had dozens of fist-sized baby ghosts crawling over him. Their umbilical cords were still attached to the Greater Ghost’s navel, pulsing as if they were absorbing his nutrients.
Enchanting and seductive fox women stood in small groups, their slanted eyes sweeping over the strong men in the crowd, green light occasionally flickering in their gaze. Every now and then, their beautiful heads would spin a full hundred and eighty degrees, suddenly transforming into the heads of large, yellow foxes.
The wild cat spirits were small in stature but possessed incredibly sharp claws. They crouched on the ground, stretching lazily while their long tails flicked back and forth, teasing the kittens on their backs.
When the crowd saw Nan Zhi carrying the lantern, they parted like the Red Sea, maintaining a clear order for fear of inviting trouble.
It seemed they recognized her lantern as belonging to the Ghost Buddha Temple, as not a single soul dared to harass her.
Nan Zhi appeared to be wandering aimlessly, but she was actually continuously mapping out the area around the temple.
It wasn't until the mist on the mini-map in the upper left corner of her vision cleared that she stopped in front of a street stall.
The stall was run by a couple who looked like a real-life version of “Beauty and the Beast.”
The man had a wretched appearance—his features were hideously ugly, his skin was an uneven brownish-black, and he sported a messy, unkempt beard. His eyes were blood-red, and two long, sharp fangs protruded from his mouth, making him look exactly like a demonic ghost. Aside from his tall stature, he lacked any redeeming qualities.
The woman, however, was exceptionally beautiful, bright, and enchanting. Her every movement was alluring, and she exuded a fragrance that surpassed even the loveliest of fox demons.
From the whispers of those nearby, Nan Zhi learned that they were a pair of Rakshasa.
She was momentarily surprised and stole another glance, finding it quite novel.
Rakshasa were not a race of the mortal realm, nor were they typical spirits. They were demonic ghosts born within the Underworld, naturally fierce and incredibly brave, often recruited as soldiers by Ghost Kings. Within the Rakshasa race, the males were born hideous and terrifying, while the females were stunningly beautiful. Legend had it that Princess Iron Fan from 《Journey to the West》 was of Rakshasa descent.
“What are you looking at! Are you buying a blade or not? If not, get lost and stop bothering me!”
The male Rakshasa seemed very irritable, barking at Nan Zhi the moment he spoke. But upon seeing the lantern in her hand, he merely spat on the ground and turned back to fiddle with the weapons behind him.
“Would the guest like to take a look? These are all my husband’s finest works—treasures that can cut through iron like mud!”
The female Rakshasa was more patient and quickly greeted Nan Zhi.
“Take a look at this longsword. It’s made from iron essence stone found deep in the mountains and tempered in earth fire for eighty-one days. It can slice through the head of a mountain demon or a stone spirit as if it were nothing!”
Rate on N.U.
