Chapter 572: Bloodshed in the Black Market

Cultural Palace, Black Market head manager Lin Fojiao sat on a chair, forcing himself to stay alert as he listened to the snack vendor speak.

Big trouble is coming to the Black Market tonight!

"Manager Lin, those people from the Birch Tree Gang are back, asking around for news of Li Qi."

"Let them ask," Lin Fojiao yawned. "Li Qi hasn't shown up yet, has he?"

"By the time he comes, it might be too late."

"We already had Ah Hui warn him. He shouldn't come," Lin Fojiao yawned again.

The snack vendor remained uneasy: "Just now I saw Tang Tang Changfa talking with the Birch Tree Gang."

"Who's Tang Tang Changfa?" Lin Fojiao rubbed his eyes, on the verge of falling asleep.

"Tang Tang Changfa is the man Li Qi assigned to do business here. He just ran into those Birch Tree Gang members downstairs—they even specifically—Manager Lin, are you even listening?"

Lin Fojiao began snoring.

The snack vendor gently shook him awake: "Manager Lin, don't sleep! It's burning down!"

"Ah!" Lin Fojiao jumped, quickly rubbing his eyebrows. "Not burning! You little brat, trying to trick me!"

"If Tang Tang Changfa clashes with the Birch Tree Gang, Li Qi will definitely come—and then things will get huge."

Lin Fojiao waved his hand. "We'll deal with it when he arrives. If all else fails, call Ah Hui again."

"Ah Hui went to Prozhou—she's not in Yuezhou, she can't help! Manager Lin, Manager Lin?"

Lin Fojiao tried to blink, but his eyes closed and refused to open again.

Tang Tang Changfa was negotiating with two members of the Birch Tree Hidden Cult. This wasn't chance—they'd been summoned by Tang Tang Changfa himself.

It was Li Qi's order: tonight, stir up trouble.

The two Hidden Cult members were one man and one woman: the man was Luchaliev, the woman was Qu Jiluowa. Both were Lavsha people, and neither spoke Huanese well—communication was difficult.

Their mission today was to investigate Li Qi's whereabouts. Besides Qu Jiluowa and Luchaliev, three other Hidden Cult members were hidden within the Black Market.

Qu Jiluowa was a student of the leader, Migelov, and the operation's lead investigator. Following Du Du Wenming's prior orders, she came to the Black Market every few days. If she found Li Qi, she'd contact other Hidden Cult members to immediately converge and kill him. If she received any sign of Li Qi's movements, she'd inform higher-ups, who would collectively decide whether to change the ambush location.

Under normal circumstances, Qu Jiluowa forbade her subordinates from buying anything in the Black Market—Hidden Cult funds were tight.

But for some reason, Qu Jiluowa felt Tang Tang Changfa was honest and upright. Whether doing business with him or gathering intelligence through him, she considered it a reasonable choice—even if it meant paying a price.

Tang Tang Changfa led them upstairs: "Tell me what you want to buy. If we have it in stock, we deal right now. If not, I'll arrange for immediate delivery—and no deposit required."

Everything I sell is Prozhou brand. My shop is a century-old Prozhou time-honored brand.

"Buy from me, and rest easy—you won't get cheated even a little!"

Qu Jiluowa roughly understood Tang Tang Changfa's meaning. She gestured: "Prozhou goods are good. We like them. What we most want is Prozhou's tonic."

"Tonic?" Yan Yan Cuier blinked. "What kind of tonic?"

Qu Jiluowa mimicked a straw with her finger, sucking motion: "Like this—drink it, then—full of power!"

Yan Yan Cuier was stunned: "Hong'er, what did she just say? Drink it?"

Yan Hong'er was also surprised: "She said full of power—that's a good thing. We just don't know if the boss will give it."

Yan Yan Cuier licked her lips: "I'll ask when I get the chance. Just me and my sister—how much could we drink? Our boss isn't stingy."

Tang Tang Changfa frowned: "What nonsense are you talking? If the boss has good stuff, do you think it's for you to drink?"

Yan Yan Cuier snorted: "You want to hoard it all?"

"How would I hoard it? I'm a respectable man! I run a legitimate business—I'm done with you two," Tang Tang Changfa waved them off, turning to the two Lavsha people. "You mean Prozhou's tonic, right?"

Qu Jiluowa nodded: "Yes, the tonic—with power!"

"You're clueless," Tang Tang Changfa laughed. "In Prozhou, that's not called a tonic—it's called an elixir! A great thing to boost cultivation!"

Qu Jiluowa nodded eagerly: "You're right! We want elixirs!"

Luchaliev whispered in Lavsha: "Elixir and tonic are two different things."

"I know they're different," Qu Jiluowa glanced at Luchaliev. "Do your job. I don't need your lessons."

Though Tang Tang Changfa didn't understand Lavsha, he could tell from their expressions their statuses differed.

Qu Jiluowa's status was clearly higher than Luchaliev's. If he could win her over, things would be easier.

Tang Tang Changfa turned back: "Yan Hong'er, bring the elixirs!"

Elixirs were hard to get anyway, and today wasn't even an elixir-selling day—where would he get them?

Yan Hong squatted behind the counter, took a leftover Su Ye rice cake, kneaded and rolled it into two pills, and handed them to Tang Tang Changfa.

Tang Tang Changfa examined their color and said: "Gentlemen, behold—this is the Verdant Elixir. One pill grants three years of cultivation. The pinnacle of elixirs."

Luchaliev picked up a pill, inspected it, and shook his head: "I've never heard of this elixir."

Tang Tang Changfa laughed: "Of course you haven't. Go ask around Prozhou—how many people spend their whole lives without seeing such a fine elixir?"

Ignoring Luchaliev's warning, Qu Jiluowa picked up the pill and sniffed it: "How much for this elixir?"

"If anyone else came, I wouldn't sell for less than two hundred. But you two are distant guests—I'll grit my teeth, take a loss—fifteen per pill. Yours."

Qu Jiluowa was surprised: "You mean fifteen Huanese bills?"

Tang Tang Changfa frowned: "First time doing business here? In the Black Market, do people say 'pieces'? Fifteen means fifteen ten-thousands!"

1

Qu Jiluowa was stunned: "One hundred fifty ten-thousand?"

Tang Tang Changfa was equally shocked: "I've already cut my price this much—and you still think it's expensive?"

Qu Jiluowa shook her head rapidly: "What kind of medicine could be worth this much?"

Tang Tang Changfa held up the pill: "You get what you pay for. Look at what you're holding!"

Luchaliev stared at Tang Tang Changfa: "This is fraud. Do you really think we're this easy to fool? Do you have no rules here?"

Tang Tang Changfa grinned: "Foreign devil, tell me what rules you mean?"

"We're not buying," Qu Jiluowa took Luchaliev's arm and turned to leave.

Luchaliev didn't want to leave—he was enraged. He wanted to teach Tang Tang Changfa a lesson.

Qu Jiluowa frowned and spoke in Lavsha: "We must go."

"I want to leave now!"

It was an order. Qu Jiluowa was a student of Leader Migelov. Even though Migelov had vanished, she remained a high-ranking figure in both the Hidden Cult and the Ferry Gang—her status far surpassed Luchaliev's. He dared not disobey.

Tang Tang Changfa blocked the door first: "Gentlemen, don't rush off. Let's settle accounts. I've sweated through this whole thing—my sincerity is clear. At least give me some compensation!"

Qu Jiluowa didn't understand Tang Tang Changfa's meaning. Luchaliev stepped in front of her: "We bought nothing. Why should we pay you?"

"No?" Tang Tang Changfa grew angry. He grabbed a bottle from by the door, smashed it against his own head, leaving only the neck in his hand, and pointed it at Luchaliev's face: "If you don't pay, you're not leaving this door!"

Luchaliev said: "What logic is this?"

"I've got no logic to explain to you!" Tang Tang Changfa jabbed the bottle neck against Luchaliev's throat.

Luchaliev had latent abilities. Tang Tang Changfa's move was no different from a street thug's brawl.

Logically, Luchaliev had nothing to fear. But looking into Tang Tang Changfa's eyes, his body trembled uncontrollably—whether the bottle injured him or Tang Tang Changfa himself, Luchaliev felt overwhelming dread.

Qu Jiluowa remained calm. She took a deep breath and suddenly sang a high note in perfect operatic style.

Ah~

The piercing high note shattered teapots and teacups, shattered glass display cases, and made everyone's eardrums throb with pain, dizzy and nauseated.

It was her technique—attacking enemies while summoning other members present.

Yan Hong'er often practiced singing, shouting loudly in competition with Qu Jiluowa.

This wasn't random—it was Li Li Banfeng's method. She knew the opponent had sound cultivation, and she aimed to disrupt their rhythm with song.

Qu Jiluowa wasn't a true sound cultivator. She was a latent ability user without a Dao sect, with exceptional latent power in sound.

But Yan Hong'er's interference threw Qu Jiluowa's rhythm off. She quickly adjusted her breath, regained control—and just as she opened her mouth again, Yan Yan Cuier threw a rice cake into Qu Jiluowa's mouth.

Qu Jiluowa coughed twice—the rice cake stuck in her throat.

Yan Yan Cuier shouted: "You've swallowed my family's poison! Your voice is ruined!"

Qu Jiluowa was stunned. Her Huanese was poor—she didn't fully understand Yan Yan Cuier.

Yan Hong explained: "You're poisoned. You can't speak!"

As she explained, Yan Hong also made a choking gesture.

Qu Jiluowa panicked, looking to Luchaliev.

Luchaliev was fighting Tang Tang Changfa. He signaled Qu Jiluowa to flee immediately.

In close combat, Tang Tang Changfa wasn't losing. His battle experience clearly surpassed Luchaliev's. But Luchaliev's latent ability was unique—his body was sticky, like glue, clinging tightly to Tang Tang Changfa.

Tang Tang Changfa couldn't break free: "Damn it, I've met a Glue Cultivator."

Luchaliev wasn't a true Glue Cultivator—he only had a similar ability. His combat strength wasn't high, but his special power let him immobilize enemies at critical moments, protecting Qu Jiluowa. If anything went wrong during Li Qi's ambush, he could trap Li Qi briefly.

Tang Tang Changfa didn't care. He tore through a layer of skin and flesh, wrenching himself free from Luchaliev, drenched in blood, shouting at them: "No one leaves this door today!"

Qu Jiluowa tried negotiating: "We don't know you. Why are you targeting us?"

Tang Tang Changfa grinned: "Take money, do the job—that's our duty."

Qu Jiluowa didn't understand. Luchaliev translated in Lavsha:

"They're hired killers—paid by someone else."

Qu Jiluowa gritted her teeth: "Who wants us dead?"

Fighting sounds came from the corridor. Yan Hong'er opened the door and shouted: "Director Du! Over here!"

Director Du?

Luchaliev didn't react—he didn't know who Director Du was.

Qu Jiluowa reacted violently. She knew who Director Du was—but she couldn't understand why he was turning on them.

Could those rumors be true?

Du Du Wenming killed several acquaintances to protect his position, including many members of the Ferry Gang.

Now have they come for him?

Ganchalova wanted to go to the corridor to investigate, but Tang Chang stepped aside and said: "Go ahead—going out means death!"

Yan Hong'er told Ganchalova: "You've been poisoned—you can't speak. Your voice cultivation is gone. What can you even do?"

Yan Cui'er said: "Let them go. Don't bother with them. We've done enough. Just wait for the reward!"

Luchaliev grabbed Ganchalova, about to rush out the door—when a head fell in front of it.

Seeing the golden hair, Luchaliev was stunned. Though caked in blood, the face was still barely recognizable.

It was Ilekaf. One of their own men.

Ilekaf had been downstairs originally. Hearing Ganchalova's shout, he rushed up to the second floor for support—only to be ambushed and decapitated.

Before they could recover, two more golden-haired heads fell at the door.

Luchaliev froze. These were also their men. All three were dead.

Should they go out—or not?

At this critical moment, Ganchalova's mind remained clear. Though she'd been struck by a Fool's Technique, her basic logic still held: staying here meant certain death.

She burst through the door first. Luchaliev followed right behind.

In the corridor, they saw a figure clad in pitch-black clothing, standing at the center of the hallway.

His feet splayed outward, his back hunched, shoulders slumped, his face shadowed by the light behind him—his posture was unnaturally rigid.

Merely seeing that grotesque stance, Ganchalova knew his identity: this was Du Du Wenming.

She spoke to the black-clad man in Raffshian: "Leader, I demand a reasonable explanation."

The black-clad man raised his left arm, lifting his left hand.

He raised his left hand again and shook his finger at Ganchalova.

According to Ganchalova's understanding, the black-clad man seemed unwilling to explain anything.

But his true meaning was: he didn't understand Raffshian.

The black-clad man slid sideways, appearing before them.

Luchaliev shoved Ganchalova aside and threw himself around the black-clad man.

"Run!"

Ganchalova looked at Luchaliev, her eyes filled with reluctance.

"This is my honor!" Luchaliev clung tightly to the black-clad man. "My lady, my most beautiful lady—you must live!"

The black-clad man began dancing with Luchaliev like a puppet on strings. Ganchalova knew perfectly well: once you danced with Du Du Wenming, there was no chance of survival.

Ganchalova had no choice. She ran down the stairs, tears streaming.

Luchaliev still clung desperately to the black-clad man.

The black-clad man slipped free effortlessly, without a single scratch.

Because he had no flesh. This black-clad man was not Du Du Wenming. This was Li Li Banfeng's shadow.

The Puppet Dance was something he'd just learned—following the manual Du Du Wenming had given him, using his Traveler's nimble steps, he'd picked up a few basic moves.

But he wasn't a Dance cultivator. He couldn't kill with Dance Techniques.

Before Luchaliev understood what was happening, the shadow swung down its scythe.

Luchaliev still thought of fighting—he tried to stick to the scythe.

If he could cling to the weapon, he could buy more time—give Ganchalova a better chance to escape.

But the scythe wouldn't stick—it was coated in oil.

The blade sliced through Luchaliev's neck. A chill touched his skin. His thoughts ended. His head hit the floor.

The shadow pulled out a pendulum and gloves. The oil had to be recovered—no traces left.

Ganchalova reached the first floor. A snack vendor blocked her path: "Where are you going? What happened?"

"Get out of my way!" Ganchalova shoved the vendor aside and ran out of the cinema.

The vendor called Lin Fojiao: "Boss Lin, the theater's in chaos."

A yawn came through the receiver: "See Li Qi yet?"

A yawn came through the receiver: "Have you seen Li Qi?"

"Then… wait a little longer."

Ganchalova rushed to the entrance of the Cultural Palace. She planned to head to the nearest Hidden Cultivators' outpost and summon reinforcements immediately.

As she ran down an alley, a group suddenly appeared, blocking her path.

Ganchalova coughed violently, spitting out the glutinous rice cake stuck in her throat, then took a deep breath, preparing for a final fight.

Shen Shen Jingye stepped forward, initiating contact: "Madam, don't panic. We mean you no harm. We received word of an incident at the Cultural Palace. We're here to investigate. Please cooperate."

Shen Shen Jingye stepped forward and began the negotiation first: "Madam, don't panic. We don't mean to harm you. We received word that an accident occurred at the Cultural Palace, and we need to investigate the circumstances. Please cooperate."

Until now, she still believed she'd been poisoned—her voice was ruined.

Shen Shen Jingye didn't want to reveal his identity publicly. Li Qi stepped forward and showed his credentials: "I'm Li Qi of the Dark Star Bureau. A violent incident occurred at the Cultural Palace, possibly involving illegal use of dark abilities. You must come with us for questioning."

Shen Shen Jingye didn't want to reveal his identity publicly, so Li Qi showed his credentials: "I'm Li Qi from the Dark Star Bureau. A violent incident occurred at the Cultural Palace, possibly involving illegal use of dark abilities. Please come with us to the Dark Star Bureau to assist with the investigation."

Hearing that name, Ganchalova felt she was saying goodbye to this world forever.

Before death, she would fight one last time. She wouldn't surrender. She wouldn't give up.

Even if she took one enemy with her, she wouldn't betray the Chairman's trust!

Ganchalova gathered her courage, glaring at them with bloodshot eyes.

Then she clasped her hands to her head and crouched on the ground.

Thought was one thing. Courage was another. Action was something else entirely.

Ganchalova told herself: I must live—for Luchaliev's protection.

Ganchalova was shoved into a vehicle. Tang Yuan looked around but couldn't find Dengpao.

"Where's Dengpao?"

Zhong Er was also curious: "I just saw him—he vanished during the operation."

Tang Yuan called Dengpao. Soon after, they saw Dengpao running out of the alley.

Tang Yuan was furious, whispering: "Where did you go? This is a mission. Where's your discipline?"

Dengpao said: "We just took position when Li Ju asked me for some oil. I gave it to him."

Tang Yuan asked curiously: "Why did he need oil?"

"Didn't say," Dengpao shook his head. "He took it and left. He took a lot.

My oil supply's running low—I was afraid it'd slow us down during the mission, so I found a spot to refuel."

Tang Yuan frowned: "He took the oil and left. Did you leave anything out?"

Dengpao blinked: "What did I leave out? I told you everything!"

Zhong Er said: "Have you refueled fully? You're sweating like hell—you still look weak."

"I'm not weak," Dengpao shook his head, looking at them. "I'm fully refueled. Li Ju just borrowed oil. He didn't do anything else. I swear!"

At the Dark Star Bureau, Ganchalova remained mostly silent. She said nothing about the Hidden Cultivators. She gave no explanation for why she'd gone to the Cultural Palace.

Her only request was for antidote treatment—but she couldn't say exactly what poison she'd been given.

Shen Shen Jingye told Li Li Banfeng: "Don't get me in trouble. Someone died at the Cultural Palace. If I don't solve this case and just sit here interrogating her, my superiors won't forgive me."

Li Li Banfeng spoke solemnly: "Little Shen, do you think I'd ever screw you over? Get her to confess clearly, and the murder case will be solved.

Take her to the interrogation room—use the Virtue Cultivator equipment. Why waste time like this?"

Shen Shen Jingye said: "She's a foreigner—and not even a suspect. She's a victim. Putting her in an interrogation room? I'd be held responsible!"

"So what if she's foreign?" Li Li Banfeng bristled. "If you're going to be this stubborn, fine—I'll stop using other methods. Just send her to interrogation!"

"You have another way?" Shen Shen Jingye's eyes lit up. "Li Ju, don't make this harder on me. Just use your method already!

I'm telling you—if the higher-ups pressure me over this and delay the real case, you'll regret it.

You know how it works: when a hot topic needs cooling, you create a new one. If they shift attention away from Du Du Wenming, the real investigation will stall!"

Shen Shen Jingye was right. The best way to cool a hot topic was to ignite a new one.

Li Li Banfeng dismissed everyone else. He wanted to speak with Ganchalova alone.

Ganchalova was on high alert: "What are you planning? Are you going to interrogate me illegally? I demand to contact my lawyer! You can't treat me this way!"

Li Li Banfeng shook his head: "You're overthinking. We're not going to interrogate you further. The higher-ups are deeply concerned about the Cultural Palace incident. Director Du has requested you be transferred to him."

"Transferred to whom?" Ganchalova's face turned instantly pale.

"To our superior, Director Du. Word is, he's an acquaintance of yours. Perhaps he can offer you necessary help.

This transfer is confidential—most of the Bureau won't know. I'm just warning you in advance. Someone will come for you in five minutes."

This handover was conducted in secret; most people in the bureau won't know. I'm just letting you know in advance—someone will arrive to pick you up in five minutes.

Ganchalova sat in the room, her body trembling uncontrollably.

She kept clutching her hair, pacing back and forth.

She couldn't fall into Du Du Wenming's hands. Not under any circumstances.

She wanted to escape—but dared not take a single step.

Five minutes felt endless—and yet too short.

Li Li Banfeng told Zhong Er and Tang Yuan: "Go in. Tell her it's time to go. Then take her to another room."

Easy enough—just move her to a different room.

This is easy—just switch rooms?

The two entered the room, and Tang Yuan said, "It's time to go."

Ganchalova shook her head wildly: "I'm not leaving. I'm staying right here."

Tang Yuan was deeply puzzled—why was this woman so resistant to simply changing rooms?

Zhong Er frowned and said, "We didn't come here to negotiate with you. This is our mission. We only need your cooperation."

Shuowan ， Tanachuleshou 。

Ganchalova shoved Zhong Er aside; he crashed into the wall, barely avoiding injury.

Given Zhong Er's current level, confronting Ganchalova was far too difficult.

Tang Yuan was no match for her either, and he was already thinking how to report this to Li Qi.

"I won't go!" Ganchalova screamed at them in Lavsha, mixed with Da Huan dialect, "Stay back, or I'll kill you both!"

"Send Li Qi here! I have something important to tell him. Bring all your most important people!"

Soon after, Li Qi and Shen Shen Jingye entered the room.

Ganchalova told them, "I have critical information: the killer in the Cultural Palace is Du Du Wenming."

Li Qi shook his head and laughed. "That's absurd."

"Not absurd at all!" Ganchalova shouted. "He's from Xuehua Pu, from the Ferry Gang, and from the Birch Hermitage. We worked for him—he wants to kill us to silence us!"

Li Qi sighed. "How could I possibly believe this?"

Shen Shen Jingye was intrigued. He pulled up a chair and sat down. "I believe you. Don't rush. Tell me slowly."

The fact that Ganchalova could name Du Du Wenming proved he hadn't used spellcraft within the Hermitage.

Ganchalova knew a great deal—tonight's gains were substantial.

The next evening, Du Du Wenming turned his neck a full 180 degrees and carefully examined his own back.

The dye had vanished completely.

Though some scars remained, Du Du Wenming could reasonably explain them away.

The storm had finally passed.

Du Du Wenming told Yu Yao: "I'll take you to the lab first, then return to the city. There may be some trouble along the way, but I'm still me—I'll reclaim everything that's mine."

Yu Yao worried: "There's no food in the lab. At least the fish pond still has fish."

Du Du Wenming smiled. "The fish pond isn't safe either. Someone took my money—that means they know it's my place. I've brought some roasted fish with me. Take it and eat. By tomorrow night at the latest, I'll bring you proper meals—plenty of food."

"Remember this: don't go anywhere. Only I can protect you. Right now, I can't retrieve those key components from your lab. You need to design a new experiment—simplify your requirements for critical equipment."

Yu Yao nodded and followed Du Du Wenming to the factory.

After the factory closed and all workers left, Du Du Wenming reached the entrance to the Dark Dimension, pulling out a brass key.

He inserted it into the familiar lock, turned it several times—the lock seemed to click open—but the entrance to the Dark Dimension remained shut.

Someone had added another lock.

Du Du Wenming tried several times, but failed. He realized something was dangerous here.

"Someone's been to our lab. This place isn't safe. We must leave quickly." Du Du Wenming took Yu Yao and left the factory, finding a basement in the urban village to temporarily house him.

He returned to the city and headed straight for his office building. Now, he would report back to his superiors as Director Du, and as long as he could find a plausible excuse for his absence,

they wouldn't press further.

The Dark Star Bureau had closed. Shen Shen Jingye invited the security team members who participated in last night's operation to dinner. Chen Chen Zhangrui said his wife was ill; Zhong Er claimed he'd just taken a harmonizing agent and needed rest; Ming Xing said he'd just met a new girlfriend and had plans to see a movie; Deng Pao said he'd taken a liking to Ming Xing's girlfriend and planned to join them.

Tang Yuan and Mi Mi Jian said women weren't suited for such gatherings.

Earlier, Li Qi had treated them all to meals—many had gone. Now this was clearly an insult to Director Shen!

Shen Shen Jingye bit back his anger, ordered takeout, and went to drink with Li Qi.

At the garage, Deng Pao teased Ming Xing: "What does your girlfriend look like? Introduce me."

Ming Xing spat back: "When my son has his full-moon party, I'll make him your godbrother!"

Laughing and joking, Ming Xing got in the car, stepped hard on the gas, ran two red lights, and drove home.

At home, Ming Xing rushed into his bedroom and pulled out a radio transmitter.

Drip drip drip—·

Ming Xing sent a coded message with practiced ease.

Du Du Wenming, walking down the street, stopped. His wristwatch vibrated in a rhythmic pattern.

"You've been wanted. The Birch Hermitage has betrayed you."

Du Du Wenming looked toward the distance—his office building was less than two kilometers away.

His office, his schedule, his assigned car, his personal driver—all were in that building, less than two kilometers away.

Du Du Wenming turned silently and walked away from the city, heading toward the urban village.

In the basement, Yu Yao sat beside the long conference table, trembling.

He heard footsteps—coming from the stairs.

These footsteps weren't Du Du Wenming's—they were slightly heavier.

Someone had entered the basement. Yu Yao didn't know who.

"Don't be afraid—I have the power of wisdom!" Yu Yao rubbed his face. In the past, he wouldn't have feared this—but since Li Qi had effortlessly subdued him, he now deeply doubted the power of wisdom.

"Don't be afraid—I have power, the power of wisdom!" Yu Yao kept repeating this to himself. He stood up from his chair, ready for combat.

"You truly don't need to fear. The power of wisdom is always trustworthy." A thin man appeared before Yu Yao.

Yu Yao forced calmness and asked, "Who are you?"

The man smiled serenely. "I'm a bookseller. Books are the source of wisdom."

P

PS: Lao Lu, does Lu's Bookshop exist in Waizhou too?