The Woman in Black Robes

“Hold on. I feel a fondness for you at first sight, Little Sister. Whatever price you're asking for these goods, I'll take them all.”

The woman was clad in black robes, wrapped tightly from head to toe, leaving only her eyes visible. Yet her eyes were filled with smiles as she looked at people, naturally exuding an inviting aura.

“Fellow Daoist, although business is usually done on a first-come, first-served basis...”

She smiled softly, looking at Nan Zhi with immense warmth, and said in a tender voice:

“...this white tiger is so precious, and such an intact tiger pelt is even rarer to behold! The tiger meat is rich in blood qi and overflowing with demon power. Buying it to debone and carve up, whether to refine into magic treasures or make into qi-supplementing blood food, is guaranteed to be profitable. Although these servants of yours are sturdy, they aren't worth much money. Don't go trying to bully a young girl just because she's young.”

“Business must follow rules. I was the first to inquire about the price, so this tiger skin should naturally be sold to us.”

The South Barbarian was completely unmoved by her words. Face darkened, he glared at the woman and then looked at Nan Zhi, seemingly misunderstanding something, before suddenly sneering:

“Cunning Central Plainers! So you were together all along, tricking me! You deserve to die!”

Before his words even finished fading, a black-robed man standing behind him struck without warning. Without any visible movement, a black snake spirit split into two, hissing violently as it lunged straight at the faces of both the woman in black robes and Nan Zhi!

“!”

Huaguzi was infuriated as she hurriedly dodged. She had originally intended to use speaking up for this dark-faced girl as a chance to strike up a conversation.

Who could have expected that the girl wouldn't even respond, merely looking away with utter composure as if she wasn't the least bit afraid of the snake spirit lunging at her face!

She truly is difficult to deal with.

“Hmph!”

Cursing secretly to herself, she gave her right hand a gentle flick. Her previously empty palm suddenly produced an incomparably exquisite kerchief. Snow-white all over, the kerchief was embroidered with intricate patterns in gold thread, looking like something meant for a maiden's boudoir.

A flash of silver light shot out, and as if drawn by some mystical force, the two black snake spirits flew straight into the kerchief, where they were tightly wrapped up in an instant.

Her movements were lightning-fast; before anyone present could even react, she had already finished it all.

When she unfurled the kerchief once more, there was nothing inside it—except two lifelike venomous snakes embroidered upon the silk. Baring their fangs, they glared sinisterly outward as if ready to pounce on the crowd at any second.

“You! How dare you consume our snake spirit! This is sacrilege!”

The South Barbarian who had struck was furious and immediately went to attack again, but he was stopped by their leader, who signaled him with a glance.

All around Ruyi Pavilion, heavy guards stood watch. Towering ghosts several zhang tall glared with eerie, chilly eyes. Atop their heads rested skinned ox heads and horse skulls, and holding steel blades and iron weapons in hand, they were dressed like ghost messengers of the Underworld.

The bodies of these ghosts resembled elongated animal skeletons, looking abnormally uncanny.

Beneath those narrow animal skulls sat pairs of bloody, crimson eyes, radiating a hair-raising, bone-chilling Yin cold that was utterly horrifying.

“The great task comes first. Do not disturb the pavilion's guards.”

The barbarian secretly shook his head at the men behind him, only to hear Nan Zhi suddenly speak up:

“Friend from the south, you've misunderstood. This sister and I are merely strangers meeting by chance. If both of you truly wish to buy, each of you name a price, and the highest bidder takes it.”

“All of these servants I brought can be given to you.”

The anger on the barbarian's face only subsided halfway. Looking at Huaguzi with half-belief, he was about to make an offer when a bell chimed from within the chaos. His expression changed abruptly, and he spoke to Nan Zhi as if issuing a solemn warning:

“You killed the white tiger's cub. The tiger spirit will not let you go. Only by offering its flesh and blood to the Great Witch can your suffering be relieved.”

His gloomy voice sounded like he was proclaiming a prophecy of the future:

“As for you—you bandit who dared to desecrate the snake spirit—you will ultimately die under the scorching sun, never to enter the Six Paths of Reincarnation for all eternity. This is the will of the Witch.”

He stared intently at Huaguzi, a lingering golden glow seemingly lighting up his pupils as though he wished to burn the person across from him to ashes. The surrounding atmosphere turned taut with tension.

—Needless to say, everyone present could feel that intense killing intent.

After saying those words, he turned and departed immediately without the slightest hesitation, as if the argument just now had never happened.

He's giving up just like that?

Preachy and bizarre.

Trying to commit murder just to vie for a white tiger pelt—these people are overbearing enough.

Where on earth did this group come from?

Nan Zhi muttered to herself internally, yet remembering there was still a woman in black robes behind her, she quickly put on a smile:

“Since he no longer wants it, this white tiger pelt belongs to you, Sister. But let me make this clear first: I won't accept useless gold or silver. I only want to trade for a few nimble and clever servants to order around back home. I wonder if Sister can afford such a price?”

“Rest assured, since I dare to bid, I can naturally afford it! Otherwise, wouldn't I just be teasing you?”

Seeing the group of South Barbarians leave, Huaguzi breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Hearing Nan Zhi's words, she felt ninety-nine percent confident and hurriedly said:

“In this Ruyi Pavilion, if there's one thing that isn't hard to find, it's living humans. Just now, I already sent word to my companion, telling him to use his silver to buy some robust men and women. If you trust me, Little Sister, why don't you come with me to find a nice place for tea while we wait? In a short while, we'll exchange goods for people on the spot. What do you say?”

Having spoken, as if afraid Nan Zhi wouldn't believe her, she pointed at the guards in all directions and smiled:

“Don't tell me you're afraid I'll murder you for your goods, Little Sister? Or is this your first time coming to Ruyi Pavilion, and you're feeling timid? You saw it for yourself just now—there are guards everywhere in this pavilion. How would I dare make trouble here? Ah, fine, if you don't trust me, we can just wait right here until my companion arrives.”

“I'm not afraid. I just offended that group of people, so I figure it's best to be cautious in everything.”

A touch of displeasure at being questioned appeared on Nan Zhi's face. After pondering for a moment, she gave a cautious nod in agreement and let Huaguzi lead the way as they went up to the second floor together, one after the other.

...

...

This Ruyi Pavilion was indeed astonishingly vast. Spiraling upward along winding stone steps, grottoes of various sizes were arranged in an intricate layout, resembling a dizzying maze where a single wrong turn would lead one astray.

Inside the casinos, the clamor of voices boiled over as gamblers shouted at the top of their lungs in excitement or tension. In the taverns, the fragrance of liquor overflowed, while every face wore a numb, mask-like smile.

Within the brothels, rouge and powder drifted in the air. Female demons and monsters of all kinds exuded mesmerizing charm, every one of them a spirit or ghost capable of stealing souls and draining essence. Anyone with low cultivation and reckless lust would be drained dry, becoming yet another dead soul within these caves.

Dust swirled above the beast-fighting arenas while Yin souls drifted about. Whenever a hungry ghost crushed its opponent, it drew wild cheers from the spectating ghosts, reveling in boundless delight.

Glasses clinked amid shifting ghostly shadows—a land of ultimate bliss.

Who could have imagined that such a scene would appear within the eerie and dismal dark realm?

It was like a mysterious den of vice hidden in a chaotic realm, enticing people along the Yin Yang Road to come seeking pleasure and excitement.

Ruyi Pavilion naturally offered human flesh for sale. Nan Zhi and the woman in black robes found a place to drink tea, and just as they sat down, sharp waves of cheers resounded from within the grotto.