Chapter 161

“The Black Market is basically a free-for-all bazaar.”

To be precise, it’s a night market with no item restrictions and no sense of ethics, where you can sell anything.

It’s a place filled with fakes and stolen goods, where getting scammed is just an everyday occurrence.

“Why the heck do we have to deal with those tourist trap merchants? Isn’t it all just a knife fight waiting to happen?”

“If you break the rules of the Black Market, assassins from all over the Martial World will come for you. The Black Spot Master offers a staggering bounty, you know?”

“Black Spot Master? There’s an actual owner? Wait, an owner and it’s still a complete mess?”

“Well, that’s actually how more money is made. It’s just how it is.”

Generally, people from the Central Plain take a visit to truly understand what this means.

But Qing caught on immediately.

So, it’s like a second-hand marketplace.

A mix of brand new and used items, fakes, stolen goods, and regular scams—sounds like a real haven.

“So, where is it?”

“The location changes all the time, but a few silver coins will get you the info right away.”

“Wow, if it wasn’t for Je-gal, we would’ve been lost for ages. Having a smart friend like that sure comes in handy.”

“You’re absolutely right, my lady.”

Just when I thought I was throwing out a compliment, here comes the annoying self-praise.

Weird. Was he always like this?

I could’ve sworn he used to be more humble.

Is he one of those characters that shows their true colors once you get close?

Though Qing wasn’t aware, that was spot on. It wasn’t just Je-gal Lee-hyun’s trait; it was a hereditary quality that all Je-gal family members seemed to inherit.

Even that illustrious ancestor Je-gal Liang was a proud peacock the closer you got to him.

In fact, people often said he had twice the charm, which made him doubly insufferable.

Fortunately, just as Qing found herself short on words, Uncle returned with a beaming smile.

“Uncle, I’m back!”

“Oh? Hey. What’s with that energy?”

His spirit had risen, which likely meant he had taken an elixir and improved his skills.

“Yep, yep! I’m a Supreme Martial Artist now!”

“You’ve come to an understanding, it seems.”

“Understanding? Am I?”

Gyeon Pohee tilted her head in confusion.

To which Je-gal Lee-hyun politely added, “Enlightenment is inherently unclear, so it’s understandable if you’re unsure. Congratulations on the achievement.”

“Thanks!”

Gyeon Pohee might be a bit dull, but she’s perceptive enough to grasp why Qing wanted her to clean up the mess behind her.

She’d heard from Sister about how training in Hwanhui Palace was looked down upon within the Martial World.

To this, Qing turned to Tang Nan-ah and said, “You should work even harder.”

“Hey, I’ve got poison, you know? If I add that, I’m definitely stronger than her!”

Tang Nan-ah pointed an accusing finger at Je-gal Lee-hyun.

Tang Nan-ah was a sweetheart to Qing and a total nuisance to others, filled with charm instead of substance.

Qing pondered while absently fiddling with her smooth jaw.

Poison from the Tang Family, huh.

“Hmm. Fair point. If we factor in the poison, you could just about hit the entry-level Supreme standard. So, Je-gal, keep pushing yourself.”

“Lady, isn’t knowing one’s limitations the virtue of a gentleman? I, too, am well aware of my shortcomings.”

Je-gal Lee-hyun responded with a sly grin.

Smart enough not to be teased, I only scoffed at Qing with a dismissive snort.

After that, we left the inn to follow Je-gal Lee-hyun to a shabby tea house.

Guess real gems are hidden in the run-down places, huh?

Qing eagerly ordered heaps of snacks, but they arrived quickly looking like they’d been dried out for ages.

They didn’t taste great either.

Qing took out her frustrations on the tasteless snacks.

Yeah, you could say she devoured them like a pig.

Meanwhile, Je-gal Lee-hyun stood up to find the tea house owner, and I wondered if he was going to complain about the terrible snacks; instead, he only inquired about the news that the Black Market was opening up near the Eastern Sukhapho.

“Seriously? With snacks like these, you think the Black Market is what matters? I at least want to see the shopkeeper’s face!”

“Haven’t you eaten all of it already? Besides, you’re probably the first guest this year to order sweets from a front that serves as a cover for the Black Market. But isn’t that a Longjing tea? Why is there frost on the cup? I don’t care if it’s a front, serving cold Longjing is taking it a bit far. How dare they pull such terrible tricks on guests of the Je-gal family…”

Je-gal Lee-hyun looked genuinely furious.

While it would be amusing to watch him flip the tea house upside down, Qing calmly interjected.

“Oh, I chilled it with my ice technique. I just prefer my drinks cool. Should I make yours cold too?”

“Good heavens! My lady, have you lost your mind!?”

Whack!

Qing smacked him on the head, saying, “Ouch!”

“This is starting to escalate. Je-gal, do you want to see me go mad? Want me to show you?”

“No, my lady! What kind of divine skill is this, ahh…”

Je-gal Lee-hyun struggled to finish as he rubbed his pounding head.

Qing let out a haughty snort.

Man, he was bulky but such a wuss.

With just a little taste of my master’s cooking style, he’d have a split skull, for sure.

“What kind of crazy strength… crazy strength…”

As Je-gal Lee-hyun rubbed his head, his expression suddenly turned serious.

“Um, by any chance, did you visit the National Unmatched Training Ground while staying with the Je-gal family?”

“National Unmatched?”

Qing’s expression whispered to Je-gal Lee-hyun.

What’s that? Something to eat?

“National Unmatched means the absolute best…”

To sum it up, it means the greatest scholar in the land, and it took him almost half a day to explain that.

Only then did Qing realize what ‘unmatched’ actually meant.

Ah, so that’s what it meant.

Forget what he was explaining, as he seemed to delight in showcasing his knowledge, Je-gal Lee-hyun moved right along to the next topic.

“It would be wise to have a hearty meal before heading to Sukhapho. While there are snacks at the Black Market, you might end up eating human flesh if you’re not careful, so it’s best to avoid eating altogether.”

Now that was a delight to hear.

The thought of a hearty meal was indeed welcome.

But just strolling through the night market would be a huge disappointment.

“So, if I eat something other than meat…”

“If you’re craving snakes, spiders, or scorpions, I won’t stop you.”

“Ugh. I ate way too much of that when I was homeless. Totally not worth it. But you’re not suggesting we eat them raw, right? If they’re seasoned and grilled, they might taste different?”

Suddenly, Tang Nan-ah butted in.

“Wait, you were homeless?”

Qing was struck speechless for a moment.

“Um, Nan-ah, what are you getting at? Just because you’re from the highborn Tang Family, does that mean you don’t eat with beggars?”

“No, no, no! That’s not what I meant! I just found it interesting, I didn’t mean to insult you! Sorry, Qing, we’re friends, right? Right?”

“Yeah. Friends. No one else but me, so you better be thankful.”

“Yeah. Thanks…”

Realizing she had stumbled with nonsensical words—like a total nerd with no friends—Qing decided to just let it slide.

After that, we departed from the snack shop.

We couldn’t take the luxury car of the Je-gal family since branded patterns were banned.

Not to mention, riding in a carriage could lead to theft or other passengers snagging your stuff, so we had to walk.

As we chatted along the way, the dim light of early spring’s night offered nothing to see.

“I’m surprised. I didn’t expect you to cook for me. I thought you’d just slap a bowl on the ground and tell me to eat like a dog.”

Tang Nan-ah nodded in agreement.

Qing was dumbfounded and replied, “What do you think I do? Even if I despise someone, I wouldn’t joke around with food. Even with a guy I want to kill, I’d feed them first, then take them out.”

This startled the Namyeon Sect Warrior.

To clarify, even the most wicked person shouldn’t be deprived of food.

If they really had to go, throw in some deadly poison to the mix, or something—just not cutting them off entirely.

It wasn’t some grand belief he held; Qing had just seen how much food means and didn’t want to be controlled by her hunger.

As we bickered and crossed a hill, we finally came upon a massive night market sprawling over a vast plain behind a large lake.

Thousand golden lanterns flickered, creating a tent village that could rival a small city.

“Sister, I think it’s about time you took off that face veil. In the Black Market, you can’t conceal your face.”

“Huh? I thought it was banned to show any identifying marks? But now my face must be exposed?”

“Well, it’s kind of a story going back to the origins of the Black Market. Long ago, Black Spot…”

In summary, this place prohibits both hiding and overly exposing one’s identity.

And even if you happen to meet someone you know, don’t talk publicly about it.

Just pretend it never happened, as if you were dreaming.

So, symbols that could reveal your identity are banned.

Officially, it’s a no-go for anyone flaunting their family insignia around if they haven’t supposedly visited before.

But your face? That needs to be uncovered.

This was just a rule imposed by the Black Market to keep the troublemakers under control.

“Sounds like sheer exploitation by the vendors.”

Anyway, since it was refreshing news that I didn’t have to wear the veil, Qing quickly tossed it aside.

Of course, picking it up was Gyeon Pohee’s job.

“Hey, Namyeon. So, where do we go now?”

“The Yashang is always the deepest inside.”

“To ensure the goods can’t escape, I suppose.”

Je-gal Lee-hyun chimed in with another addendum.

Good grief, this guy doesn’t stop!

Does he have muscles in his mouth too?

The Yashang refers to human traffickers in the Central Plain.

As a term long enough to require its own name, it shows how widespread the human trafficking culture was in ancient China.

And indeed, it was the same back in Qing’s hometown.

Human traffickers were one of the most sought-after jobs among the people and served as the second-largest market globally, boasting systematic processes for distribution, classification, and even export.

Of course, because it wasn’t the runaway number one, it called for dramatic proclamations of the death penalty if caught.

But in reality, profit margins from selling a single person usually went to the communist nobles, making the death penalty more of a theatrical act.

For your reference, the birthplace of human trafficking, the kingdom renowned as the capital of human trafficking, sits in the southwestern region, beyond a high mountain range populated with denizens.

In this country, women literally didn’t count as people, meaning recognized population stats exclude them—so guys had to be real cautious, as going solo might lead to trouble.

In whatever case, our group passed swiftly through the Black Market.

Just as a mouthwatering aroma wafted through the air, drooling almost made it impossible to resist until we spotted a flag with Wang Bu Zheng.

Every alley was sizzling on a hot metal grill, making the smell reach far and wide.

And surprisingly, the source of the delicious scent was skewered grilled bugs of all kinds!

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