[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-57":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Eternal Green Immortal Sovereign",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2270065,4432,"Chapter 57: The Black Market","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-57",57,"\u003Cp>The moon hung over the eastern branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Large red lanterns hung high above the upturned eaves; the scent of rare delicacies drifted from within the windows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three esteemed guests, Zhao invites you to one cup.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Zhao Wei was utterly elated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tossed back the entire cup of wine in one gulp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having secured a spot in the Huaqing Sect’s entrance trial, he naturally needed to maintain good relations with the three from Huaqing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for the woman among them, he’d have preferred to host the banquet at the brothel district.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There has long been a saying among the martial world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how many deeds you do together, nothing bonds you like enduring battle side by side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a pity!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qin chuckled, the most experienced in the martial world among the three, and raised his cup: “Congratulations, Deputy Commander Zhao. Perhaps next year we’ll meet within the Sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Wei’s spirits lifted further: “I accept your auspicious words.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cups clinked back and forth several times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere gradually warmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a man of the martial world, an expert drinker, and unmatched in the art of persuasion in Qinghe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yue had also drunk his share; as a Zhu family scion, he could not avoid dealings with the Heaven’s Alliance, and befriending Zhao Wei served him well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he did not sink so low as to humiliate himself and disgrace Huaqing Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Wei understood these Huaqing disciples looked down on them as common peasants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words “younger brother” formed on his lips but he swallowed them back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already inquired about this Zhu family prodigy; since they were both from Qinghe, he saw it as the best opening to build rapport:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Zhu, I have some acquaintance with your father. I shall pay a visit another day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yue brightened: “Then I shall await your arrival, Deputy Commander Zhao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Han Qin caught Jiang Yan’s faint impatience and swiftly steered the conversation: “Deputy Commander Zhao, since we’re family now, we hope you’ll lend your efforts to the Ghost Ming  Cult matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Wei slapped his chest: “Leave this to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qin and Zhu Yue, seeing Zhao Wei was not feigning, finally relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet they weren’t afraid he’d slack off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the slots were in their hands—they could always replace him with someone more obedient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until late into the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drinking session finally broke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Wei had downed eighteen large bowls and was thoroughly drunk, being half-carried out of the tavern; before leaving, he still made sure to escort the three from Huaqing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young subordinate watched Zhao Wei, nearly unconscious, and whispered: “It seems the commander is truly delighted today—I’ve never seen him this drunk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who says I’m drunk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young subordinate turned his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There stood Zhao Wei, perfectly upright, not a trace of intoxication on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Wei watched the retreating backs of the three from Huaqing, his eyes narrowing slightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll trust you this once. But if you dare play tricks, don’t think I’m easy to provoke.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tianyi Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You want to come with me to the black market?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui had just prepared to leave that morning for his first visit to the black market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened the door to find Liang He crouched on the threshold, tiptoeing; when he asked, the boy confessed he wanted to go too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He’s gaze was resolute:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A chancellor rises from the ranks of the provinces; a mighty general emerges from the ranks of soldiers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to train myself in the field. Master, rest assured—I’ll patrol the black market by day and guard the hall by night. I won’t neglect any duties.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Innate Ox-Horse Sacred Body?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui couldn’t help recalling his own miserable life: working by day, delivering food by night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do as you please. But I warn you—I won’t pay double wages.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No pay needed, no pay needed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He waved his hands cheerfully and trotted after Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui had been worrying about lacking a trustworthy confidant for the black market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He had come to him—why not take him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the old hands of the black market, Liang He was far more trustworthy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could one accomplish anything without a few loyal subordinates?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui knew Qinghe’s black market well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than half of Dongcheng’s slums fell within the black market’s domain; it had long been run by the Blood Tiger Gang, but they’d relinquished this lucrative patch after hearing the Heaven’s Alliance’s leader had broken through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the Heaven’s Alliance had paid a heavy price for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui strolled with Liang He down the street; passersby, seeing their Heaven’s Alliance uniforms, quickly shrank away in fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, they reached the entrance to the black market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the towering, menacing black-clad men standing guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui flashed his waist token engraved with the number “11.” Instantly, the black-clad men grew respectful; their leader bowed with obsequiousness: “It’s Master Li! Sun Commander has been waiting for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Li\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s expression flickered—he remembered last time he’d come, meekly paying entry fees; now he was “Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lead the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wouldn’t waste words telling them not to call him “Master Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the black market, everyone was a hard man; excessive friendliness only made you seem easy to manipulate—correcting that later would take ten times the effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Candy won’t make someone obey; the whip will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui understood these principles well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black market had a front market and a back market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui had only ever visited the front market, where vendors sold common goods—rice, flour, poultry—mostly individual stalls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The back market was different: nearly all shops, even multi-story buildings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To enter the back market, you paid another entry fee—high, at a full string of copper coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the back market, the streets were noticeably emptier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking a while, Li Rui suddenly heard a woman’s sobs from an alley with a pearwood entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sobs came from deep within the alley, which seemed to lead to a mansion at the black market’s deepest core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-clad men noticed Li Rui glancing toward the alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They explained: “Master Li, the black market has rules: live goods and dead goods must be separated. This is where several houses store live goods.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Live goods\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui turned his gaze away, his steps unbroken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Live goods” was martial slang—for people. More precisely, people treated as merchandise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wealthy households in the city acquired servants in two ways: one, like I once did, voluntarily signing a bond of servitude; the other, buying live goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Live goods were usually pretty village girls or fair-skinned boys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To satisfy the peculiar tastes of those masters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such sordid matters existed in every age, merely hidden from ordinary eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui had no savior’s heart—he lacked the power to save them anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black market overseer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sounds noble, but in truth, just a high-ranking servant for the Heaven’s Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These merchants had long reached an unspoken understanding with the Heaven’s Alliance; anyone who broke it would face swift retribution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Blame the times.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteen minutes later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He arrived at the deepest, tallest building in the black market—a five-story structure, the highest in the entire market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he reached the doorway,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fat, round-faced man, belly bulging like a watermelon, hurried out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Li! I’ve been waiting for you so long!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1237,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b861e840728fbb7b57bda48bbb86b38a948ec49f6b61c8d3fa4ddc5b8d4bfa83","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-58","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-56",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]