Free Web NovelThe sky gradually darkened, and it was snowing lightly in Tang City.
A man wearing a military overcoat stood beneath the iconic horse-trampling-a-swallow statue in the center of the city square, a landmark of the tourist city. His drooping eyes had a look of deep suffering, and he glanced around nervously from time to time. His hands, covered in scabs and mud, were tightly clenched, as if he was very tense.
Three minutes later, the man finally hailed a taxi and left the city square, heading towards the Gu Wan Street on Peach Blossom Road.
The driver, clearly familiar with the area, turned the car around with half a cigarette dangling from his mouth and struck up a conversation with him. "From out of town? Going to find something?"
The man, "..."
"The Gu Wan Street on Peach Blossom Road isn't what it used to be, didn't you know? If you want to find something, Qingye Road is more suitable."
The man still didn't speak. The driver, sensing the hint, stopped talking and drove him all the way to his destination.
Tang City has existed for quite some years; its recorded history can be traced back to the Pre-Qin era, making it one of the main gathering places for the ancient East Yi people.
Although it's not like the rumored Chang'an City, where you'd hit a tomb every hundred meters, if you dig every five hundred meters here, you'll definitely find something that slipped through.
In the chaotic years decades ago, many grave robbers roamed this area. With more people doing business with the dead, the antique trade naturally flourished.
The Gu Wan Street on Peach Blossom Road was established against this backdrop and once enjoyed great prosperity.
However, nowadays, firstly, grave robbing is illegal; secondly, as the night has become longer and the number of urban legend has surged, business with the dead is difficult; and thirdly, with the development of the Taoyuanli Scenic Area, the surrounding management has become centralized and standardized, leading to its natural decline.
However, I heard that on the tenth day of each month, before dawn, there is a Ghost Market on the Gu Wan Street. Merchants lay out newspapers or draw circles on {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} the ground with chalk to mark their stalls.
Today was not the tenth day, and the time was also wrong, so there was no Ghost Market. The man arrived at the place, paid the fare, and walked along the old street paved with bluestone slabs. He walked to the end, turned into an alley, wound his way through for a while, and stopped in front of a small building surrounded by green plants and full of ancient charm.
In front of the small building hung a peach wood plaque inscribed with the three large characters: 【Chunfeng Residence】.
Since the Gu Wan Street gradually declined, special shops like Chunfeng Residence have gradually sprung up in the residential houses around the old street. Generally speaking, you need connections to find them, and the fact that the man could find this place clearly indicates he knew the way.
"Creak—!"
"Ding-a-ling—Ding-a-ling—!"
Pushing open the door, wind chimes swayed, and a faint, elusive fragrance wafted in. Rounding the moss-covered screen wall, he saw the counter in the central hall.
Beside the counter was a uniquely shaped armchair made of nanmu wood, and a young woman was leaning on it, her eyebrows carrying a hint of peach-blossom-like charm.
She had a slender figure, about 1.75 meters tall, with slightly dark green hair. She wore a cheongsam, the skirt of which was peacock green embroidered with a cluster of peach blossoms about to bloom, contrasted with a snow-white fur collar. Her perfect leg curves extended from beneath the skirt hem.
When the man walked in, she was holding a slender ivory-inlaid silver pipe in one hand, exhaling smoke, and fiddling with a Switch in the other. Her expression was lazy, and she occasionally grumbled about something.
"That's it? How can any crappy game get onto the platform now? Tsk, it's made like shit, not as fun as the few games that kid Lu gave me."
As she spoke, she tossed the Switch aside, sat up, and only then noticed the man who had been standing by the door for a long time.
Seeing the young woman look over, the man took a step forward and asked, "Can you help authenticate things here?"
His voice was muffled, as if he had a thick phlegm stuck in his throat.
Hearing this, the young woman sized up the man in front of her. The man had a miserable face, the lobe of his right ear was missing, and he was filthy all over, as if he hadn't bathed for half a month of wandering. A smell wafted over from a distance. Most importantly, his Spiritual Energy fluctuations were very weak, not at all like a high-quality customer.
"Authentication, huh! But, our fees here are very high, you know!" the young woman said perfunctorily.
Meaning, if you don't have money, get lost and don't waste my time playing games.
As a business owner, one shouldn't pick and choose customers, but these days, people who bring things for authentication have absolutely no idea. They'll pull out anything: a scroll of 'Han Xin Chasing Xiao He on a Bicycle Under the Moon', a rubbing of 'Cyberpunk 1077', a 'Yuan' blue and white porcelain with 'made in vietnam' printed on the bottom...
The most outrageous was a bronze statue of Ultraman Tiga. Could that thing be an antique? A figurine produced by the ancient Land of Light?
This is a high-end, classy, private antique exchange. It's not a scrap collection station, so I can't authenticate just anything, right? the young woman thought.
Facing the young woman's perfunctory attitude, the man said unhurriedly, "Money is not an issue, as long as you truly know your stuff."
"Heh!" The young woman was amused by the man's words. She sat cross-legged on the armchair, crooked her finger at the man, and said, "Bring it!"
Hilarious, is there anything in this world that I can't see through?
I've lived longer than the antiques themselves!
That's right, I'm not targeting anyone, I just want to say, everyone present is garbage.
Seeing that the young woman had agreed, the man hesitated for some reason before fumbling in his coat for a while. He took out a bronze object covered in green rust and handed it to her.
"Then I'll trouble this Miss to take a look for me."
The bronze object was one chi high, one chi six cun five fen wide, a square piece slightly curved in shape, somewhat resembling a 'dan shu tie quan', which is the 'death-exempting gold plaque' rumored among the populace.
But this 'dan shu tie juan', which originated in the Han Dynasty, had gold, silver, and iron versions, but I've never heard of one made of bronze.
They didn't even put effort into faking it; it's probably another one dug up last week... the young woman muttered to herself. She held the bronze plaque in her hands and examined it carefully. When she saw what was drawn and written on it, her eyes trembled uncontrollably.
On the bronze plaque, densely written in tiny fly-head-sized East Yi bone script, were nearly a thousand characters. The content roughly described a hunter who discovered a divine tree in a deep mountain cave with a'sun' hanging from it.
However, the story stopped abruptly when the hunter discovered the divine tree, as if a part was missing.
Seeing the young woman staring at the bronze plaque, her brows tightly furrowed and silent for a long time, the man seemed a little anxious. He softly called out, "Miss? Are you finished looking?"
Hearing the man's voice, the young woman finally collected herself, slowly handed the bronze plaque back, and said with a pout, "I've finished looking. The object is indeed old, probably from the early Han Dynasty. It's quite valuable. If you want to sell it, I can buy it."
Hearing this, the man slightly furrowed his brow, seemingly dissatisfied with the result. His already miserable face became even more unpleasant, as if he was about to cry at any moment.
"Besides the age, Miss, did you not see anything else? For example, what is written on it? I inquired for a long time before finding this place. Everyone says this is the most knowledgeable place in all of Tang City."
"Knowing my stuff is true, but I don't recognize East Yi bone script!" The young woman shrugged. "If I had that ability, what would I be tinkering with antiques here for? I might as well go be the dean of a linguistics research institute."
Upon hearing this, the man's expression darkened, and he quickly stuffed the bronze plaque into the interlayer of his military overcoat.
"Don't put it away!" The young woman quickly pressed down on the man's hand and said, "You haven't said whether you're selling this thing or not! I guarantee I'll give you the highest price in all of Tang City."
The man shook off the young woman's hand and shook his head. "Not selling."
After saying that, he turned and walked away.
"Hey, hey! Wait a minute, don't go!"
"I'm not selling this thing!" the man said coldly, quickening his pace.
The young woman's willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed, and she said fiercely, "Who asked if you're selling it? You haven't paid me yet!"
As soon as her voice fell, her figure seemed to teleport, appearing in front of the man, blocking his path. A terrifying Spiritual Energy fluctuation surged, like a thousand-jin boulder pressing down, making him unable to move forward an inch.
Want a freebie? Didn't you ask around and find out who the most formidable boss on Peach Blossom Road is?
The corner of the man's mouth twitched, his steps halted, and then he saw a hand with slender, white fingers reach out to him, making a universally understood gesture, rubbing the thumb and index finger together.
"..."
In silence, the man wordlessly fumbled in his chest and took out a gold bar, placing it heavily in the young woman's hand.
The young woman took the gold bar, brought it to her mouth, and bit it lightly to verify its authenticity. Only then did she step aside and wave her hand impatiently. "Get lost!"
After saying that, the Spiritual Energy fluctuation dissipated. The man glanced at the young woman from the corner of his eye, snorted coldly, and quickly left the Chunfeng Residence.
The young woman watched the man walk away until his figure disappeared at the edge of her sight. Only then did her cold face melt like ice and snow, breaking into a smile.
"Yay! Such a big chunk of gold, time to spend ten gacha pulls first!"
Undoubtedly, at this moment, she was happy, even jumping up and kicking off her embroidered shoes while speaking.
However, as soon as she finished speaking, a wrinkled hand suddenly shot out like lightning, grabbing the gold bar and snatching it away.
“Boss, I’ll hold onto this gold for you first.”
The young woman's expression froze, and she turned her head abruptly, looking at the hunchbacked, thin Old man who had appeared out of nowhere, displaying an expression of utter despair.
Her happiness vanished.
“Turtle Elder, you want to take this too? Isn't that too cold-blooded?”
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The Old man squinted at the young woman and said leisurely, “Boss, I am a cold-blooded animal to begin with.”
“Besides, winter has already set in. The mountain paths in the Scenic Area need to be repaired so that when the new year starts and tourists increase, there won't be time for repairs!”
Hearing the Old man say that the gold would be used to repair the Scenic Area mountain paths, the young woman stopped arguing, rolled her eyes, and went into the house on her own.
“I knew I shouldn't have bothered with a tourist Scenic Area. It's ridiculously expensive and causes so much trouble!”
The Old man tucked the gold into his pocket and followed the young woman, saying, “If you don't run the Scenic Area, the Night Watch will come after you. Besides, the Scenic Area makes a good amount of money every year.”
“Even if it makes a lot, it doesn't end up in my pocket!” The young woman squirmed and twisted on the chaise longue, pouting as she retorted, “The King of Weird Tales covering eight hundred li doesn't even have the right to spend money on games. It would be a laughingstock if word got out.”
“I know it's not easy for you...” The Old man comforted her, then slowly turned and looked in the direction the man had left, narrowing his eyes slightly. “Speaking of which, what did that guy just bring that even you didn't recognize?”
The young woman narrowed her eyes and sat up straight. “It's not that I didn't recognize it, I just pretended not to, while also preventing him from possibly digging up a grave.”
“Oh?” The Old man asked with a puzzled expression, “Whose grave was he planning to dig up?”
Although, in a sense, almost all the tombs within eight hundred li around Tang City were built under the young woman's watchful eye, the Old man had been with her for so many years and had never seen her care so much about any one grave.
Even during the war-torn years, when the surrounding villagers were starving and freezing, she had led the way in digging up others' graves to help them survive.
Why was she so concerned this time?
“...” The young woman was silent for a long time, picked up her pipe, took a light puff, and slowly exhaled smoke from her red lips. A hint of coldness showed through her eyes through the hazy smoke, and she said nonchalantly, “My grave.”
Upon hearing this, the Old man's face changed drastically. He looked around, took a few steps forward, and lowered his voice, “Could he be with that group of thieves from before?”
“What if he is?” The young woman glanced at the Old man and said coldly, her words carrying a hint of killing intent.
“Before, two thousand of them came to die. Now one person comes, does he not have to die?”
The Old man looked at the young woman's profile, somewhat lost in thought. It was only at times like this that he would suddenly remember that the number of people and urban legend this woman had killed was more than the peach blossoms that fell within eight hundred li every spring. freewёbnoνel.com
“Right, Turtle Elder, there's something important I want to ask you...”
The Old man turned around and cupped his hands towards the young woman. “Boss, your old servant is here.”
“How much New Year's money are you planning to give me this year? Can you advance some? I want to spend a lot on that broken game. If I don't... Hey, hey, Turtle Elder, don't leave! Just one purchase! One purchase is fine too!”
————
Night had fallen deeply. In Hua City, a taxi was driving along Hua City's Second Avenue towards the West District.
Inside the car, the taxi driver was talking non-stop into his phone camera while driving.
“Folks, I'm about to finish work here! When I get back, I'll continue telling you the story of the River God's marriage.”
“What? Don't livestream while driving, be careful?”
“No fear, no fear, I'm telling you, late at night, there are no people on the street, not even a ghost. Even if I met a ghost, I wouldn't...”
“Screech—!”
A piercing brake sound echoed through the empty street, and the tires left two black marks on the road.
Zhang Shan looked at the figure blocking the road ahead, swallowed hard, and sweat poured down despite the cold weather.
The figure's eyes reflected a crimson glow under the car lights, and its body was wrapped in pale bandages. One arm, trailing a loose strand of white bandage, was waving stiffly, like a soul-summoning banner.
“Gulp—!”
Zhang Shan swallowed hard, his hands trembling as he picked up his phone and whispered, “Folks, I've hit a ghost. What should I do? Waiting online, it's urgent.”
After saying that, he raised his phone and pointed it towards the car window.
Netizen Laosepi Eight Hundred: “Looks like a female based on the figure. Recommend confronting her directly!”
【Netizen Laosepi Eight Hundred has been banned for 365 days】
Not Teaming Up with Monks: “Good heavens! A mummy? Is the streamer doing foreign content today?”
I am from the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor: “Is this the figurine of the Egyptian Emperor? It's a bit less impressive than my Great Qin figurines, but it's the first time I've seen a live one, so it's a learning experience.”
I am from the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor sent out Super Rocket ×5
Netizen Laosepi Eight Hundred One: “Didn't expect this, did you? Grandpa's back! There are thousands upon thousands of Netizen Laosepis, what does banning one of me matter?” fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
Water-boiled Mermaid: “Streamer, streamer, didn't you say you weren't afraid of hitting a ghost?”
Zhang Shan's mouth twitched as he looked at the group of gloating bullet comments, and he said weakly, “When did I ever say that? What I meant to say is, even if I hit a ghost, I wouldn't dare pick them up!”
Besides, the one I met before was strangely beautiful and spoke nicely, so she wasn't really scary. Zhang Shan thought to himself.
While he was thinking, the soft sound of a car door closing was heard behind him. He looked back through the rearview mirror and immediately shivered in shock.
The “mummy” seemed to have grown impatient and actually got into the car itself.
Immediately after, a slightly hoarse voice came from the back seat, “Driver, let's go...”
“Where... Where are you going?” Zhang Shan asked tremblingly.
The “mummy” rolled its eyes, seemingly reluctant to speak, and simply uttered two words, “Home.”
Zhang Shan's mouth twitched, and he said weakly, “But... I don't know the way to Egypt!”
Hearing this, the “mummy” in the rearview mirror froze for a moment, looked down at itself, and explained briefly, “I'm not going to Egypt...”
“Then are you an Inca Mountain Mummy? But that's in South America! How could my little broken car get there?” Zhang Shan exclaimed.
“...”
The “mummy” was silent for a while, then said crossly, “I'm going to University City, Jingyi Apartment Complex.”
Hearing this familiar address, Zhang Shan's eyes lit up. “Oh! I'm very familiar with that place, I go there often...”
“Wait, could you be?”
In the back seat, Lu Yibei nodded. She really didn't want to talk anymore. Talking pulled at her wound, and pulling at her wound made her mouth hurt.
The ruthless BB Ji, due to her injuries, was now just a Ji.
Zhang Shan was stunned for a moment, then noticed that the “mummy” was carrying a silver and black metal box on her back. At first glance, he had thought it was her coffin.
“Hmm?!” Zhang Shan suddenly snapped back to attention, his eyes wide.
This appearance, he was familiar with it!
“Mm.” Lu Yibei nodded, confirming it.
“No, how did you... get like this?”
Lu Yibei narrowed her eyes. “Want to know?”
“Yes, yes!” Zhang Shan nodded repeatedly. It was a rare opportunity for material, and it was even foreign-style material. Of course, he couldn't miss it.
“Then your fare is waived,” Lu Yibei said lightly.
Although she didn't want to talk, everything she had with her except for Lingtai Pure Karma had been shattered by the giant's punch, so she had no known currency circulating in human society to pay Zhang Shan.
Today, it was also thanks to meeting Zhang Shan. Otherwise, in her state of “the more I move, the more it hurts,” the only way home would have been to hijack a passing vehicle.
“The fare doesn't matter,” Zhang Shan said nonchalantly.
Anyway, you never pay.
“Then...” Lu Yibei opened her mouth, then suddenly noticed Zhang Shan's phone. “Wait a moment, are you livestreaming? Please help me turn on the beauty filter.”
Zhang Shan looked through the rearview mirror at Lu Yibei's face, which was tightly wrapped and completely covered by bandages.
