Chapter 109: The Ghost Market

At night, even under full city lockdown, the Ghost Market still lit up red lanterns the moment midnight struck.

The more tense the hour, the more bustling the Ghost Market’s business became.

But the moment those lanterns were hung, five unexpected guests caused the gate guards to freeze in place.

“What? I can’t enter?” Chu Danqing stared at the unyielding gate guard.

“Your Excellency, this—” The guard was at a loss for words.

Those who came here often included officials, but no matter who they were, they always concealed themselves utterly, daring not to reveal a trace.

Yet you? You wear your official robes openly, flanked by two fully armed Zhan Yu Guards—clearly here to cause trouble.

“A shop must serve customers; you can’t turn people away, unless your Ghost Market hides something unspeakable,” Chu Danqing said, as the Zhan Yu Guards already gripped their sword hilts.

The guard was seething—every single thing inside the Ghost Market was unspeakable.

Letting him in was impossible; refusing him was equally impossible.

Seeing the guard’s silence, Chu Danqing remained calm.

“You think staying quiet will help?” As soon as he spoke, the two Zhan Yu Guards drew their blades with a sharp clang.

“Y-yes, you can enter!” The guard flinched, his voice shrill with fear.

Reluctantly, the guard stepped aside, but as Chu Danqing passed through, he warned: “Your Excellency, your origins are unusual, but our proprietor—”

“Who is it? Don’t be shy—tell me,” Chu Danqing wasn’t intimidated; he dared come openly because he welcomed conflict.

If they dared speak, he’d arrest them—punch a hole through the capital itself.

The guard fell silent. Chu Danqing was too stubborn.

The Zhan Yu Guards weren’t feared for their reputation, but they were the Crown Prince’s personal troops.

“Remember next time you threaten someone—bring a name with weight. Otherwise, you’re just a lowly lackey; your anger only looks ridiculous.” Chu Danqing slapped the guard’s shoulder, his mockery overflowing.

Then he walked straight into the Ghost Market.

Inside, he saw all manner of trade: gold and silver jewelry, antique furniture, even martial arts manuals.

But authenticity? Another matter—the Ghost Market didn’t guarantee truth.

Nine out of ten items were likely fakes.

“Your Excellency’s arrival brings glory to my humble place—please, allow me to offer you tea,” said a round-faced fat manager, approaching as Chu Danqing strolled.

He blocked Chu Danqing’s path and tried to slip him a banknote.

Before he could even press it into Chu Danqing’s hand, Da Bao seized his head and lifted him off the ground.

“You arrived just in time—what’s behind there? I can’t see?” Chu Danqing turned his head to look, but saw only layers of barriers.

Clearly, that was the Ghost Market’s true business.

What he’d seen before was merely petty trade.

“Wait, Your Excellency,” the manager cried, “stop here. Turn back, pretend you saw nothing—you still have room to retreat.”

“If you go further, there’s no turning back.”

“Even the Crown Prince can’t save you,” the manager threatened fiercely.

“I’ll say it again: name your proprietor. If the name frightens me, I’ll turn around and leave.” Chu Danqing wanted to test this man’s courage.

The proof? The man feared letting Chu Danqing in more than he feared naming the Ghost Market’s owner.

Chu Danqing gave Da Bao a glance. Da Bao immediately kicked the barrier, carving a path for Chu Danqing.

And now he saw what was truly being traded.

Five Stone Powder, powerful crossbows, iron armor—all contraband—and then… people.

Men and women alike, all locked in cages, already packed and ready for transport.

Some officials dressed in fine robes wandered among them, inspecting like merchants choosing piglets.

Everyone present was a representative of the wealthy or noble.

Chu Danqing’s face darkened instantly.

“Your Excellency, this is embarrassing, isn’t it?” The fat manager sneered, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Embarrassing? Not at all—not even a little.” Chu Danqing was already calculating how to kill Emperor Taichang and install the Crown Prince on the throne.

Who owned the Ghost Market didn’t matter. What mattered was that Emperor Taichang, the Son of Heaven, allowed mass human trafficking to flourish under his very nose—whether he knew or not, it was the Emperor’s fault.

Of course, Chu Danqing’s killing rage had surged—he’d destroy the Ghost Market first, then uproot it entirely. Once this was done, he’d kill Emperor Taichang.

Acting before the situation stabilized would trigger civil chaos.

In the end, the common people would suffer most.

“Signal the order—have all Zhan Yu Guards move. Block every exit. No one here escapes.” Chu Danqing’s voice was cold.

His words stunned everyone present—they hadn’t expected Chu Danqing to openly tear the veil.

“Your Excellency, this—” one Zhan Yu Guard hesitated.

“What? Do you think my orders mean nothing?” Chu Danqing spoke as Da Bao activated his Rending Claws; blood fury surged outward, radiating terrifying energy.

The other Zhan Yu Guard gritted his teeth and fired the all-out assault signal flare.

They were the Crown Prince’s elite—future Emperor’s guard. Now was the time to show loyalty, not fear.

The flare shot into the sky, illuminating the night. Not only the Zhan Yu Guards, but also the city’s garrison forces—rallied due to the lockdown—were startled.

They hesitated upon realizing the location was the Ghost Market.

Only the Zhan Yu Guards moved swiftly—drawing blades instantly, sealing every entrance and beginning arrests.

“You bastards—how dare you!!” The fat manager screamed in rage.

He screamed loudly enough—then Da Bao turned his curses into agonized howls.

One claw tore his limbs apart, then neatly sealed the wounds.

Meanwhile, chaos erupted inside the Ghost Market.

“Kill this dog official first!” Someone shouted. All eyes turned to Chu Danqing.

Every summoned creature was called forth.

He’d anticipated this outcome the moment he ordered the lockdown and attack.

Battle erupted: Zhanji Tiger, Unicorn Horn, and Heart Demon formed a protective circle; Da Bao and the crossbowmen worked together to eliminate all approaching enemies.

In moments, a clear isolation line formed.

Ten minutes—without elite opponents, it was enough for the Zhan Yu Guards to quell the entire chaos.

Chu Danqing’s plan was sound—but reality refused to follow his design.

Several black-clad figures arrived, each formidable, their martial skill equal to Zhang Cai’s.

Even Yuan Chong couldn’t survive more than a few rounds against their combined assault.

*Shhh!*

Before the Ghost Market’s elites could close in, a sharp arrow whistled toward Chu Danqing’s brow.

Fast as it was, the Thorns Vines were faster—six vines twisted together, blocking the arrow.

“A master archer,” Chu Danqing casually deflected the arrow, a smile spreading across his face.

His long-range combat foundation had finally found its anchor.

Gold Pact—activate!

【You summoned your pact partner. This consumes 1000 Park Points.】

【Pact partner has responded.】

【Pact partner’s cognitive rationalization has been completed.】

A vortex appeared. Before Guo Ming even stepped out, the Midnight Divine Queen Sword shot forward like a streak of light.

The head of a Ghost Market elite who’d breached the circle flew into the night sky, vivid against the light trail.

“Chu Brother, your attire is quite splendid,” Guo Ming said, scanning the scene. Seeing the caged people, he understood: Chu Danqing had come to rescue—and been surrounded instead.

He took the chance to compliment Chu Danqing’s clothes.

“This is complicated—they have backers behind them. I intend to uproot them entirely,” Chu Danqing said.

Guo Ming replied simply: “Eradicate evil thoroughly. No wonder you’re my Chu Brother.”

“Good—I just refined my Cold Spring Shadow. It’s time for it to taste blood.” As he spoke, Guo Ming unslung Cold Spring Shadow from his back.

Its appearance hadn’t changed—but its quality had become ???

Chu Danqing was only a reserve-level cultivator; his quality access was unlocked only to Fine.

That meant Cold Spring Shadow’s quality now surpassed Fine.

He raised his spear, fired—a sword qi surged like a rainbow.

It struck the charging crowd and exploded into a sword array, instantly sweeping across a wide area.

But Guo Ming held back—unless struck in a vital spot, most merely collapsed, writhing and screaming.

This single strike terrified everyone.

“Watch the archer—don’t let him escape. Capture him first, kill him last,” Chu Danqing ordered.

Guo Ming didn’t ask why—he scanned the crowd and instantly locked onto the target.

The Ghost Market archer hiding in the shadows felt his hair stand on end.

This man’s vision was terrifying—he’d seen through his concealment at a glance.

Without hesitation, he slung his precious bow over his shoulder and turned to flee.

But his speed, compared to the Midnight Divine Queen Sword, was worlds apart.

The sword flashed like light, piercing his shoulder blade—pinning it precisely into the bone.

With brutal force, it yanked him into the air and slammed him down at Chu Danqing’s feet.

He tried to rise, but six thorned vines instantly wrapped around him, piercing his flesh and pinning him in place.

Even without the thorned vines, the Sublime Midnight Sword still controlled him from within.

“That arrow just now was remarkably accurate,” Chu Danqing praised, then activated his Spirit Eye Technique.

Indeed, the opponent possessed Ranged Combat Basic LV.MAX and Bow Basic LV.MAX.

Chu Danqing kept him alive solely to use him as bait for the final treasure chest.

That would increase the probability of obtaining Ranged Combat Basic.

But this depended on the quality of the chest, which in turn relied on how many of the Ghost Market experts died.

The best scenario would be if they all died.

After all, the administrators weren’t these Ghost Market experts—they were someone else entirely.

Experts are experts because they study and train diligently.

If one were bogged down by trivial matters, how could one find the focus or time to practice martial arts?

The proprietor of the Ghost Market would never allow incapable people to serve as administrators.

(End of Chapter)