Free Web NovelChapter 102: Chapter 102: Ashen Market City
Floor 12 began with noise.
After the silence of ruins, the pressure of battlefields, and the loneliness of frontier defense, Ashen Market City felt almost alive. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Qin Yuheng’s team appeared beneath a cracked stone archway overlooking a sprawling market street. Gray ash drifted from the sky like slow snow. Lanterns burned with orange flame. Stalls lined both sides of the road, selling bones, herbs, rusted weapons, strange fruits, sealed jars, and old maps.
People moved everywhere.
Or things shaped like people.
Some had normal faces. Others had eyes like glass. Some merchants’ hands were too long. Some customers’ shadows moved half a breath late.
The mission panel appeared.
[Floor 12: Ashen Market City]
[Main Mission]
Survive 48 hours and obtain a valid Ashen Market Exit Permit.
[Sub-Missions]
1. Earn or trade for 1,000 Ashen Coins.
2. Identify at least one hostile hidden faction.
3. Prevent team debt from exceeding safe limit.
4. Survive the Night Collection event.
[Warning]
Contracts, debts, and trades are binding under Ashen Market Law.
[Starting Ashen Coins: 100]
Qin Mo stared at the warning.
"Debt? The floor has debt?"
Qin Yuheng’s expression became serious.
Contracts and trades were binding.
This floor could punish careless bargains.
A gray-robed child approached them with a tray of black paper tokens.
"New climbers," the child said. "Market guide? Only ten Ashen Coins."
Qin Mo opened his mouth.
Qin Yuheng raised a hand.
"What are the terms?"
The child smiled too widely.
"Ten coins for one guide paper."
"What does the guide paper contain?"
"Map, rules, safe inns."
"Any hidden debt?"
The child’s smile twitched.
"New climber is careful."
"Answer."
"No debt. No binding beyond payment."
Qin Yuheng bought one guide paper.
The child looked disappointed.
The guide paper contained basic rules.
Ashen Market Rules:
1. Do not steal from marked stalls.
2. Do not sign red contracts without reading aloud.
3. Debts unpaid by midnight attract Collectors.
4. Exit Permits may be purchased, earned, stolen from hostile factions, or awarded by market authority.
5. Night Collection begins after the second bell.
Qin Yuchen read the rules.
"Exit permit can be purchased?"
Qin Mo looked hopeful.
Qin Lian said, "Price likely high."
They soon confirmed it.
At the central permit office, one valid team exit permit cost 5,000 Ashen Coins.
They had 100.
Qin Mo sighed.
"I miss killing beasts."
They needed to earn coins.
Ashen Market offered jobs: guard stalls, retrieve goods, appraise items, escort merchants, identify counterfeit goods, settle disputes, fight in the ash pit, or trade resources.
Qin Yuheng avoided contracts at first.
Instead, they observed.
Qin Lian identified three suspicious groups: red-scarf debt collectors, black-mask merchants, and pale-eyed beggars who watched climbers too closely.
Qin Mo inspected market tokens and discovered some stalls used false weights.
Qin Yuchen noticed that several climber teams had already signed unfavorable contracts.
One student from another academy argued with a merchant.
"You said one hundred coins!"
The merchant smiled. "One hundred coins per breath of protection. You used thirty breaths."
The student’s face paled.
Red marks appeared on his wrist.
Debt.
Qin Yuheng’s eyes sharpened.
This floor killed through words.
Their first earnings came from appraisal.
Qin Mo identified a fake formation plate for a minor merchant, earning 120 Ashen Coins. Qin Lian tracked a pickpocket and recovered a stolen coin pouch, earning 200. Qin Yuchen won a controlled spar in the ash pit for 300.
Qin Yuheng did not enter the ash pit.
Too public.
By evening, they had 820 Ashen Coins.
Still far from 5,000.
Then a black-masked merchant approached.
"Young climbers," he said. "You have good eyes. I have a job."
Qin Yuheng looked at him.
"Terms first."
The merchant chuckled.
"A sealed crate was taken by Red Scarf men. Retrieve it before midnight. Reward: 2,000 Ashen Coins."
"Contract?"
"Verbal under market witness."
"No hidden debt?"
"No." ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
"What is inside the crate?"
The merchant’s smile did not change.
"My property."
Qin Yuheng turned to leave.
"Wait," the merchant said. "Medicinal ash. Legal. Valuable. Dangerous if opened."
Qin Yuheng looked at Qin Lian.
She gave a slight nod.
Partly true.
He accepted only after Qin Mo inspected the verbal contract talisman.
The Red Scarf group occupied a warehouse district.
They were the first hostile faction.
The mission updated faintly when Qin Yuheng observed their symbol.
[Possible hostile hidden faction detected.]
The retrieval operation was precise.
Qin Lian scouted.
Qin Mo disabled a door debt trap.
Qin Yuchen subdued two guards.
Qin Yuheng confronted the warehouse leader, a tall man with red cloth wrapped around his throat.
The leader smiled.
"New climbers should not interfere in market debts."
Qin Yuheng asked, "Is the crate yours?"
"It is owed."
"Show contract."
The leader’s smile faded.
He attacked.
The fight was short.
The Red Scarf leader used chain blades and debt marks that tried to bind movement. Qin Yuheng cut the chains with thunder and stopped his sword at the man’s throat.
"Crate."
The leader yielded.
They returned it unopened.
The black-masked merchant paid 2,000 Ashen Coins.
The mission updated.
[Hostile hidden faction identified: Red Scarf Debt Gang.]
[Sub-Mission completed.]
Their coin total reached 2,820.
Then the second bell rang.
Every market lantern turned blue.
A cold voice echoed through the streets.
[Night Collection begins.]
From the alleys, tall figures in ash-gray coats emerged, carrying ledgers and hooks.
Collectors.
Qin Mo looked at their wrists.
"We have no debt, right?"
Qin Yuheng checked the panel.
[Team Debt: 0]
"Yes."
The nearest Collector turned its blank face toward them anyway.
"No debt," it whispered. "Then witness."
The street filled with screams.
The night event had begun.
