Chapter 112: Chapter 111: What a Coincidence, Ran Into an Acquaintance!
"Please!"
The Messenger Netherworld Envoy made a gesture of ’please,’ and Yu Nianzhao walked over with calm composure.
As she passed by the butcher, she stared at him with an eerie gaze, lowered her voice, and spoke with malice, "You’ve slaughtered so many, don’t you feel the weight of countless evil spirits on your shoulders? Remember tonight, don’t fall asleep... the vengeful souls won’t let you survive the night."
Her chilling words seemed to float out from hell, shocking the butcher into goosebumps.
In a daze, the butcher felt the weight on his back grow heavier.
His once-straight back suddenly bent down, as if he aged decades in an instant, hunching over like an old man, emitting raspy "ah ah" sounds.
Unfortunately, the Messenger Netherworld Envoy paid him no attention and was ready to leave with the people.
"Wait, we’re coming too."
How could Dongfang Chenyuan and Song Jiling just let Yu Nianzhao enter the tiger’s den? Naturally, they wanted to follow her.
The Messenger Netherworld Envoy gave them a cold glance, "Are these your guests? Only selected prominent patrons have the privilege to enter the main hall; servants are not allowed."
Yu Nianzhao said, "Keep an eye on these newcomers; I’ll buy them all later."
Dongfang Chenyuan understood the implication in Yu Nianzhao’s words, having no choice but to suppress his inner unease, watching Yu Nianzhao leave with those black-clad people.
Once they left, Song Jiling finally exhaled; earlier, the tension was so thick he didn’t dare breathe.
"What do we do? She’s just been taken away like that! What if something happens?" Song Jiling suddenly felt lost without direction.
Dongfang Chenyuan furrowed his brows, "We’ll have to take it step by step, or get Jing Rui to escort you out for reinforcements first."
"How can I go out alone?" Song Jiling felt intimidated.
"Tsk, look at you!" Dongfang Chenyuan was anxious and was contemplating what to do next.
"Ah!"
The butcher screamed in agony, his legs buckling heavily to the ground.
They looked up to see the butcher like he was carrying a mountain, kneeling under the immense pressure, his spine gradually giving way.
"Wasn’t he fine just now? What’s happening?" Song Jiling was startled and hid behind Dongfang Chenyuan.
Dongfang Chenyuan squinted, then extended two fingers to open his Heavenly Eye.
Soon, he saw dozens, possibly up to a hundred malicious ghosts clambering all over the butcher’s back, gnawing desperately at his soul. Even a seasoned spirit handler like Dongfang Chenyuan couldn’t help breaking out in a cold sweat.
"This is his karmic retribution!" After a while, Dongfang Chenyuan uttered, "There should be measures to control the evil here; earlier, she must have done something, releasing these vengeful spirits for revenge."
"Vengeful spirits? Where?" Song Jiling was even more frightened.
"You’re better off not seeing." Dongfang Chenyuan pressed his lips together, "The scene is beyond your endurance."
Song Jiling stopped asking, fearing to see regardless.
The two exchanged awkward glances, ultimately deciding to wait for news from Yu Nianzhao. If things went south, they’d immediately head back to Shangjing for help.
——
Yu Nianzhao followed the Messenger Netherworld Envoy all the way to an underground palace.
The Black Market seemed like any ordinary small town, but this underground palace was extraordinary.
The lavish white jade palace, with clusters of beautiful maidservants attending to esteemed patrons seeking ’netherworld’ services, painted a scene of decadent luxury.
As Yu Nianzhao glanced around, she saw at least a dozen patrons present, a cold sneer rising in her heart.
So many came here to ’wish for their hearts’ desires;’ it was their greed that bred so many resentful and vengeful spirits!
"This way, my guest, please have a seat."
The Messenger Netherworld Envoy handed her over to a maidservant who led her to a designated spot.
Most patrons here were men, masked, exposing only sly eyes.
"A female patron, eh? Let’s arrange a male attendant for you." The maidservant smiled ambiguously at Yu Nianzhao and clapped her hands, summoning a tall and good-looking young man over.
"Please, enjoy the grapes." The attendant offered a shy smile, his slender fingers feeding grapes to Yu Nianzhao’s lips.
Yu Nianzhao didn’t eat the grapes immediately; she gracefully reached out to lift his chin, looking as if teasing him.
The attendant coyly said, "Oh, you tease. If you fancy me, my guest, after the event, we could continue in the private room."
"Oh? You offer such services?"
"Is this your first time at the Black Market? Here, anything purchasable with silver is possible." The attendant crawled over provocatively, and if Yu Nianzhao hadn’t leaned back, he’d have thrown himself into her arms.
"Including murder?" Yu Nianzhao’s voice turned cold.
A bucket of cold water seemed to douse the attendant; he mumbled, aggrieved, "I only serve my guests. Fighting and killing isn’t my duty."
"Then scram far away!"
A man wearing a bronze mask appeared behind, his voice laced with menace, eyes like a King Yan from hell, scaring the attendant off in a clumsy, tumbling retreat.
"Xie... Ahem, Ziyin?"
Yu Nianzhao blinked her beautiful eyes; upon hearing the voice, she instantly guessed who was behind the mask.
But why was he here?
"Yes!" Xie Jiuxiao’s gaze bore into the frightened attendant, saying, "Still haven’t left?"
"Off you go; your service is not required here." Yu Nianzhao tossed him some silver shards, and the attendant scurried away.
"What are you doing here?" With the attendant gone, Xie Jiuxiao sat beside her, ready to interrogate.
"I’m here investigating a case with Dongfang. Why are you here? Didn’t you leave the Black Market task to him? Why come yourself, as a reputable patron?" Yu Nianzhao questioned.
"Mu Hongxuan mentioned to have connections with the city gate’s historian, seeing something was off with Vice Commander Duan lately, so they detained him. Under torture, he confessed to visiting here with a mask before the historian’s murder, so I impersonated him using his mask to investigate and unexpectedly ran into you," Xie Jiuxiao said seriously, "This place is dangerous, Zhaozhao. Follow my lead, and at the right moment, I’ll get you out."
"Don’t worry, think about it—whenever there’s trouble, it’s me saving and protecting you. Rest assured! As long as I’m here, nothing will happen to you!" Yu Nianzhao comforted with a grand, womanly demeanor.
Xie Jiuxiao, "..."
With his wounds still faintly aching, Xie Jiuxiao inexplicably felt a sweet frustration and was left speechless.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! The King Yan arrives!"