Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Marketplace Trading and Visiting Wang Yun

After leaving the Nine Abyss Pavilion, Lu Zhao didn’t pause. He deftly made his way into the East Market of the Marketplace.

The air was thick with the stench of blood and sweat, a chaotic blend of hawkers’ cries, the clamor of bargaining, and the low growls of Demon Beasts.

His objective was clear. He surveyed several stalls selling Demon Beast Materials.

Lu Zhao’s gaze was electric, scanning over blood-stained fangs, sharp claws, and furs.

He soon stopped in front of a burly man.

"Hu San, the usual. Mouse King’s Fang, a Whole Rat King Corpse. Good quality," Lu Zhao said. His voice was not loud, but it carried a seasoned air.

The moment Hu San saw him, he chuckled and pulled a small cloth bag from under his stall. "Mr. Lu, you’re a true connoisseur! Take a look. Just got these in yesterday, still fresh. Two Mouse King’s Fangs, too. Absolutely genuine! I’d cheat anyone before I’d cheat you!"

He opened the bag, revealing the corpse of a Rat King.

Expressionless, Lu Zhao pinched a fang between his fingers. He infused a nigh-imperceptible trace of Magical Power into its tip, sensing the faint Spirit-Breaking Attribute within. He then carefully examined the Rat King corpse for completeness and freshness.

’The panel’s information flashed through his mind, confirming his assessment.’

"The fangs are acceptable. The corpse has an old injury on its hind leg, and too much Spiritual Power has leaked out," Lu Zhao pointed out the flaws, his tone indifferent. "Two fangs, one corpse. Two Spirit Stones for the lot."

The smile on Hu San’s face froze. He cried foul, "Oh, come on, Mr. Lu! You drive a hard bargain! With this quality, this condition... anyone else would pay at least three Spirit Stones! How about adding just a little more..."

"That’s the price."

Lu Zhao cut him off and made to stand. "I hear Old Wu just got a new batch in. If this doesn’t work out, I’ll go buy from him."

"Wait, wait, wait! Two it is, two it is!" Hu San quickly grabbed Lu Zhao. What could he do? He was a regular customer! A pained expression washed over his face.

With that, he deftly wrapped the corpse and fangs and handed them to Lu Zhao, muttering things like, "I’m taking a loss on this... should’ve never bought it in the first place..."

Lu Zhao handed over two Spirit Stones, put away the materials, and left without another word.

Hu San weighed the Spirit Stones in his hand. Watching Lu Zhao’s retreating back, he spat. "Tch. Cunning as a devil!"

Leaving the East Market, Lu Zhao weaved through a series of turns, ducking into a relatively quiet alley. He stopped before a shop with a worn facade and a small wooden token hanging outside that read "Zheng’s Shop".

The shop’s interior was simple. The walls were lined with all manner of Carving Knives and Talisman Brushes, and the air held the faint scent of metal and grease.

The owner was a taciturn old man, hunched over and polishing a small knife. Lu Zhao walked up to the counter and took out the Carving Knife he had used for many years.

Its once-sharp tip was now dull and nicked, and a fine crack had even appeared on the blade near the hilt. Its Spirit Light had grown dim.

"Sir, take a look at this. Can it be repaired?"

"...Or I need a new one. It has to be tenacious and sharp," Lu Zhao added, placing the old knife on the counter.

The old man stopped his work and picked up the old knife. He carefully inspected the crack and the nicked edge, then flicked the blade with a finger, listening to the sound it made. He shook his head. "The Spirit Pattern is damaged. Its tenacity is gone. There’s little value in repairing it."

He set the old knife down and turned to take two new Carving Knives from the wall, one long and one short. The blades were a dull, cyan-gray, with faint, fine specks visible on their surface.

"Cyan Heavy Iron mixed with a little Nebula Steel. It’s hard and has high tenacity. The long one is for carving large, hard materials; the short one is for engraving delicate Spirit Patterns. Five Spirit Stones for the pair. The price is firm."

Lu Zhao picked up the shorter knife. He gathered a trace of Spiritual Power at his fingertip and channeled it into the blade, sensing the smoothness of its flow and the sharpness of the tip. ’Seems fine,’ he thought. He then glanced at his panel again. ’The panel’s information confirms the material and description are a match.’

"I’ll take it."

Lu Zhao didn’t haggle; the price was reasonable. He paid the Spirit Stones and carefully put the new Carving Knife away.

Lu Zhao didn’t discard the old knife. He put it back into his Storage Bag as well. ’Perhaps it can still be useful for some unimportant scraps.’

With his materials and new Carving Knife purchased, the sun was already beginning to set. Lu Zhao carried two carefully prepared packages and headed toward the Market North District.

He passed through a somewhat crowded and noisy residential area, stopping before an ordinary house with a small courtyard. He knocked on the wooden door.

"Who is it?"

A woman’s clear voice called from inside. The door opened to reveal Wang Yun’s wife, Chen Fang.

An apron was tied around her waist. Upon seeing Lu Zhao, her face broke into a delighted smile. "Oh! It’s Little Zhao! Come in, come in! Your big brother was just talking about you!"

"Sister Fang," Lu Zhao said with a smile, handing her a package. "I saw a stall selling Jade Lotus Cake on the way. I remembered you have a sweet tooth, so I bought some."

"Oh, you shouldn’t have! Just coming over is enough."

Though her words were a gentle scolding, the smile on Chen Fang’s face only grew wider. She quickly accepted the gift, then noticed the other, slightly larger package in Lu Zhao’s hand. "And this is...?"

"A little something for Brother Wang," Lu Zhao said with a laugh.

Just then, Wang Yun’s booming voice came from the inner room. "Is that Little Zhao? Come in, have a seat!"

His tall figure appeared in the doorway, a hearty smile on his face. He grabbed Lu Zhao and pulled him inside.

The room’s furnishings were simple but cozy. A few side dishes and a pot of wine were already on the table. The three of them sat down while Chen Fang busied herself preparing tea and fetching bowls and chopsticks.

"You kid, how have you been in that godforsaken Cyan Rattan Stream? Didn’t let any of those slithery crawlers drag you off, did you?" Wang Yun clapped Lu Zhao on the shoulder, and he didn’t hold back.

"Thanks to you, Brother Wang, it’s been peaceful enough," Lu Zhao replied with a smile, handing over the other package.

"This is for you, Brother."

Wang Yun opened it curiously. Inside was a neatly folded piece of soft inner Armor, crafted from some kind of tough, tanned hide. It was cool to the touch. While not a Magical Artifact, it was still quite valuable.

Besides the Armor, there was also a small, wooden rouge box carved with a simple floral vine pattern—a mundane little trinket for Chen Fang.

"Is this... tanned from ’Ice Toad’ hide? This is great stuff! It can block the fangs and claws of an ordinary Tier One Middle Stage Demon Beast." Wang Yun was an expert, and his eyes lit up.

He picked up the Soft Armor, stroking it admiringly. Then, looking at the rouge box, he grinned at Chen Fang as she came out of the kitchen. "Fang’er, look how thoughtful Little Zhao is! He even brought a gift for you!"

Chen Fang accepted the rouge box, a blush rising on her cheeks. She shot Wang Yun a look. "You and your big mouth!"

Then she turned to Lu Zhao. "Little Zhao, this is too much. That Soft Armor couldn’t have been cheap, could it?"

"I’m just glad Brother Wang likes it. It’s just a small token, really."

Lu Zhao waved his hand dismissively, his expression turning serious. "Brother Wang, Sister Fang, besides coming to see you both, there’s also something I need to ask you for help with, Brother."

"Oh? What is it? Don’t be a stranger, just spit it out!" Wang Yun’s smile vanished, and he thumped his chest in assurance.

"It’s about the Sparrow Demon Beasts." Lu Zhao lowered his voice. "I recall you mentioning last time, Brother Wang, that there are flocks of Cyan Feathered Sparrows on the North Slope of the Celestial Cloud Mountain Range? I need the corpse of a Tier One Lower Grade Sparrow Demon Beast. The more complete, the better."

"Do you have any leads recently, Brother Wang? Or do any of your friends in the Demon Hunting Teams have one on hand?"

At this, Wang Yun’s brow furrowed. He exchanged a glance with Chen Fang before saying, "Little Zhao, things have changed a bit. There are plenty of Cyan Feathered Sparrows on the North Slope, that’s true, but fewer people have been going there lately."

"Oh? And why is that?" Lu Zhao felt a chill in his heart.

"The Zhou Family, that’s who!"

Wang Yun set down his wine cup, his tone tinged with resentment. "They haven’t announced it, but their Cloud Pattern Cavalry has been all over the North Slope, acting like they’re searching for something."

"It’s stirred up all the Demon Beasts in the area. A lot of the Demon Hunting Teams, including ours, have been doing our best to avoid the place."

"However," he added, his tone shifting, "because the Zhou Family has been making a mess of things, they’ve scared off a lot of birds and beasts. As a result, some Wanderers and teams that specialize in catching birds have actually had a good harvest of startled Cyan Feathered Sparrows on the outskirts."

"As for the corpses, they’ve definitely become rarer in the Marketplace lately, and the price has gone up a bit. But if you need one, I’ll keep an eye out. If a good one shows up, I’ll set it aside for you."

Lu Zhao’s mind raced. ’So the Zhou Family is still at it, and they seem to be pushing deeper.’ He kept his expression neutral and raised his teacup. "Then I’ll have to trouble you, Brother. Price isn’t an issue, but please make sure you find one in top condition for me. I’ll send the Spirit Stones over later."

"Hah, don’t mention it! You can count on me!"

Wang Yun waved his hand dismissively, his smile returning. "Come on, come on! Your Sister Fang just made a few dishes, so have a few drinks with me. Tell me about your time in Cyan Rattan Stream. Are there a lot of snakes in that hellhole...?"

As the lamplight flickered, the small house filled with the warmth of a long-overdue reunion and the cozy, domestic air of a home-cooked meal.

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