Chapter 172: Chapter 172: A Notice, Ghost Market Sights, and a Spirit Fruit

That afternoon, a brawl between Martial Artists erupted outside Yazhou City. Although no one was killed in the conflict, a Jing’an Guard who was out with his family was caught in the crossfire, and his entire family suffered minor injuries.

By evening, a new notice was posted at the gates of Yazhou County Town. The signatory was the Jing’an Guard’s Hundred Households Government Office.

The gist of the notice was that too many people from the Jianghu had recently arrived in Yazhou. Among them were troublemakers stirring up chaos, making it easy for innocent city residents to get hurt.

To prevent this, gatherings of more than one hundred people were now forbidden within a ten-li radius of the county town, unless a report was filed with the Jing’an Guard beforehand.

Of course, considering that the large number of assembled Martial Artists needed a free market for trade, they were permitted to establish a Ghost Market in the bamboo forest outside the South City Gate.

Starting tonight, the market would open at the first quarter of the Hour of the Pig and must close at the first quarter of the Hour of the Ox. Ordinary people were not allowed inside.

Once the notice was posted, the news spread rapidly throughout the city.

"Son of a bitch! The Yazhou Jing’an Guard is too damn tyrannical. It’s one thing inside the city, but now they’re even controlling how many of us gather outside? This is so frustrating!"

"It must be because of those guys who fought outside the gate this afternoon. I heard they injured the family of some Jing’an Guard who was out for a stroll. All five of them were hurt."

"Ah, but it’s not all bad. At least they specially set aside an area for us to set up a Ghost Market. Let’s hurry and grab a stall. If we’re late, all the good spots will be gone."

Besides the Ghost Market, not that many Martial Artists would normally gather outside the city anyway. And since the Jing’an Guard had specifically designated an area for them to start the Ghost Market, the heroes of the Jianghu, while annoyed by the Jing’an Guard’s bossiness, weren’t overly resistant.

More importantly, many people had witnessed the afternoon’s conflict outside the city gates with their own eyes. An innocent party had indeed been caught in the crossfire, so it was understandable that the Jing’an Guard would strictly restrict Martial Artists from gathering near the city.

When Pei Shaoqing heard about this, he couldn’t help but reveal a playful smile. "That Hundred Households Commander Liu is rather interesting."

He felt that Liu Wenfeng had a very bright future.

What supervisor wouldn’t love a subordinate like that?

Liu Yuheng felt that Liu Wenfeng’s actions were a bit like a treacherous minister using any means necessary to please a fatuous emperor.

If those people from the Jianghu knew that the only reason the Jing’an Guard did all this was because Pei Shaoqing wanted to visit the Ghost Market tonight, she wondered how they would feel.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK! A knock sounded at the door, followed by a waiter’s voice. "Lord Pei, your hot water has arrived."

Liu Yuheng immediately got up to open the door. Pointing toward the folding screen, she said, "Put it next to the bathtub."

"Right away." Several waiters carrying buckets filed in and placed the hot water behind the screen.

After the waiters left, Liu Yuheng went behind the screen, personally poured the water into the wooden tub, and mixed in some cold water to adjust it to a suitable temperature. Then she came out and said to Pei Shaoqing, "Young Master, you may bathe now."

"Alright." Pei Shaoqing nodded, stood up, and walked behind the screen, where he began to undress for his bath.

Through the screen, Liu Yuheng could see the silhouette and shadow of his body. As she watched him peel off his clothes one by one, her heart couldn’t help but race, and her face grew slightly warm.

But she kept staring, unable to look away.

They say a woman is a wolf at thirty and a tiger at forty. She was at that very age, yet she had been living apart from her husband for a long time. Severely sexually repressed, she was quite restless.

But constrained by morals and etiquette, she had never shown it, nor would she ever take the initiative to do anything.

Only when Pei Shaoqing stepped into the tub did she finally pull her gaze away. She touched her cheek, feeling guilty, shy, and ashamed. ’Young Master is Lan’Er’s husband, and he sees me as an elder. How could I have such improper thoughts about him?’

’Liu Yuheng, oh, Liu Yuheng, how could you suddenly become so wanton, like a harlot? Are you worthy of the Young Master’s respect? Are you worthy of your senior brother?’

She took a deep breath, sat down cross-legged on the spot, and began to meditate to suppress the strange heat rising in her heart.

But hearing the SPLASH SPLASH of the water, she couldn’t calm her mind at all. Giving up, she stood, grabbed the teapot from the table, and chugged a few mouthfuls of cold tea.

But even that couldn’t extinguish the fire in her heart.

Giving up, Liu Yuheng crossed her legs and began to press them together repeatedly, her delicate body trembling slightly.

Ever since she married, she’d found it difficult to find satisfaction this way. But for some reason, today her body quickly went limp, and she collapsed weakly onto the table.

"Haaa..."

Liu Yuheng’s eyes were hazy, her red lips slightly parted. Entering the ’post-nut clarity’ stage, she was overwhelmed with shame and indignation, her heart filled with humiliation.

’Liu Yuheng, oh, Liu Yuheng, how could you do such a thing?’

’If the Young Master had seen that, how could I ever face anyone again? I’ve really gone mad. So shameless.’

She endlessly criticized herself in her heart, reflecting on her actions and swearing she would never do such a thing again.

By the time Pei Shaoqing finished his bath, dressed, and emerged from behind the screen, Liu Yuheng—who had just finished satisfying herself—had already returned to her gentle and dignified appearance.

"Young Master, you’re finished? In that case, I’ll call someone to change the water. I’d like to wash up too; I feel sticky and uncomfortable."

.........

At the Hour of the Pig, the South City Gate, which should have been closed, was wide open. The official reason was that the Jing’an Guard and the County Government Office were providing a convenience for the Martial Artists heading to the Ghost Market.

Those from the Jianghu actually believed it, and they heaped praise upon the Yazhou Jing’an Guard’s Hundred Households and the County Government Office.

"The Yazhou Jing’an Guard is really not bad. Not only did they set aside an area for us to hold a Ghost Market, but they even left a gate open for us. Looking at it this way, banning large gatherings within ten li of the city isn’t such a big deal."

"Yeah, yeah! At least now we don’t have to sneak over the city walls anymore, and we won’t be forced to spend the night outside the city after the Ghost Market closes. It would be great if every place was like Yazhou."

"Now, even if the Yazhou Jing’an Guard wants to charge a stall fee for the Ghost Market, I won’t be so against it."

But in reality, the only reason the gate was open was for the convenience of one person: Pei Shaoqing.

Everyone else from the Jianghu was simply basking in his reflected glory.

But Pei Shaoqing didn’t mind. After all, the sun only rejoices that its brilliance can shine upon others; why would it mind others basking in its light?

Most people going to the Ghost Market were masked. According to Liu Yuheng, it was because many goods at the Ghost Market had dubious origins. Stall owners were afraid of being recognized, and some buyers didn’t want others to know what they had bought.

Thus, the vendors and customers at the Ghost Market either covered their faces with cloth, wore masks, or used disguises.

But Pei Shaoqing didn’t cover his face. He wasn’t afraid of too many people recognizing him; he was only afraid that too few would.

Besides, if he wore a mask and some random nobody who didn’t recognize him decided to start something, wouldn’t that just be asking for trouble?

"Qi Gathering Pills! Upper Grade Qi Gathering Pills! Don’t miss out, step right up! Hey, swordswoman, care to take a look at some Qi Gathering Pills?"

"A female slave trained by the Joyful Union Sect! Proficient in music, song, and every other pleasure! Buy her and not only can you have your fun, but she can also serve as a maid. Anyone interested, come and take a look!"

"Immortal Secret Manual! An Immortal Secret Manual unearthed just last month, selling at a blood-spitting discount! Buy it, study it, and maybe you can establish your own sect and become a Grandmaster of your generation..."

Surrounded by the hawkers’ cries from all directions in the Ghost Market, Pei Shaoqing felt as if he had stumbled into a vegetable market.

The variety of things sold here was truly staggering.

"Joyful Union Sect... going by the name, their skills in bed should be quite good. And that female slave, judging by her looks and figure, is top-notch. Why are there so many people looking but no one asking the price?" Pei Shaoqing asked Liu Yuheng, confused.

After transmigrating, he had spent all his time holed up on Phoenix Mountain, robbing people, so he was a complete Jianghu novice.

Liu Yuheng blushed at the phrase "skills in bed" and explained in a low voice, "Young Master, the Joyful Union Sect’s Cultivation Technique is very sinister. It allows them to absorb a man’s Inner Strength through intercourse. Because of this, many Joyful Union Sect disciples used to intentionally get themselves captured and sold as Apricot Slaves to take a shortcut in their cultivation.

The luckier men who bought them only had their Inner Strength drained dry. The less fortunate not only had their entire family fortune stolen, but also lost their lives. That’s why experienced Jianghu veterans now keep their distance from these so-called Joyful Union Sect female slaves."

Pei Shaoqing was dumbfounded. ’Holy shit. The disciples of the Joyful Union Sect really treat sex as a tool for getting ahead in their careers!’

’Casually fucking their way to becoming a Grandmaster.’

"So, Young Master, if you ever encounter a demoness from the Joyful Union Sect, you must remember to stay far away. Any man who gets close to them will meet with misfortune," Liu Yuheng reminded him, her face red.

Pei Shaoqing nodded. "Don’t worry, Aunt Liu. Even if a Joyful Union Sect demoness were as beautiful as a goddess, I wouldn’t be tempted."

’Sucking me is fine. But sucking my Inner Strength? Absolutely not.’

As they were chatting, a young man—judging by his build and voice—bought the Joyful Union Sect slave for a hefty sum. He was clearly a rookie who had just entered the Jianghu.

His eyes were filled with a lust for copulation.

He was completely oblivious to the pitying gazes from all around.

Suddenly, a large crowd of people all started running in one direction. Before Pei Shaoqing could even speak, Liu Yuheng stopped someone and asked, "What’s happened?"

"Get the..." The man who was stopped was about to get angry, but he turned his head, recognized Pei Shaoqing, and swallowed the rest of his words. He answered, "Someone’s selling a Spirit Fruit up ahead."

After saying that, he hastily broke free and ran off.

"Hey..." Liu Yuheng still wanted to ask something.

"Forget it," Pei Shaoqing said, stopping her. "He’s in such a hurry. He must have the money to buy a Spirit Fruit, right?"

The man’s expression froze. His pace instantly slowed, and he continued to move with the crowd, his face dark.

"Let’s go take a look. If possible, we’ll take this Spirit Fruit," Pei Shaoqing said to Liu Yuheng.

General Li had gained Spiritual Wisdom after accidentally consuming a Spirit Fruit, which showed its wondrous uses. If given to Xie Qingwu for Alchemy, it would be a Top Grade ingredient.

"Alright." Liu Yuheng nodded, then frowned. "But something like a Spirit Fruit is incredibly rare these days. When they do occasionally appear on the market, it’s at an auction held by a major merchant house. How could one show up in this Ghost Market?"

Spirit Fruits were rare and expensive. Only at an auction could one fetch its proper value and find a customer who could afford it. For one to appear in a temporarily established Ghost Market like this was rather unusual.

"That’s not important, as long as the Spirit Fruit is real," Pei Shaoqing said dismissively. He was, however, curious about another question. "The Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth has long since dried up, so why are Spirit Fruits still appearing?"

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