Chapter 154: Black Market (2)

The taxi stopped in front of a five-story building next to the subway station in the city center. Luo Qi got out of the car and carefully sized up the building before him. It was a typical modern structure; at a glance, it seemed quite grand and imposing, but it couldn't withstand close inspection. In reality, it was that half-native, half-foreign style common a few years ago—a Louvre in the countryside, a Triumphal Arch in the village.

The building's facade was clad in luxurious gray marble, the gatehouse was tall, and two black European angels stood valiantly on the exterior wall of the second floor, clutching spears in their hands. Two Doric decorative columns stood on a tall pedestal, rendering an illusion of grandeur, and between the pillars was a massive black cast-iron gate.

Luo Qi stood below the steps, looking up at the upper part of the building. Aside from those two incongruous angels, there were no markings on the lintel, and there were no billboards on the roof. Luo Qi turned his head to look at the parking lot in front of the gate; in the lot, which could hold about thirty cars, half were luxury vehicles.

"This place is like..." Luo Qi felt that if he actually said it out loud, he would get scolded again, "It's like it's hinting to humans that this is an exclusive club where you can't hang a sign, membership-only. Although the clientele is also a bunch of hicks, if any hick really dares to come in, they'll slaughter you... or beat you to death."

"That's right," Du Zhengyi smiled slightly, straightened his trench coat, and said in a low voice, "One last thing to add: behind this gate is actually a Sandbox world. Each Sandbox has its own rules, and the rules here will render most Magic that can be used as combat skills ineffective. Don't talk too much after entering, but don't be too reserved either. No matter what you see, don't make a fuss."

"Understood," Luo Qi replied, "I just need to put on a dull, idiotic face."

Du Zhengyi held it in for a moment, but couldn't help laughing, so he added, "Also, don't make me laugh."

"Understood," Luo Qi rubbed his hands, "Just don't ruin your persona."

Du Zhengyi looked up at the black angels overhead, and Luo Qi hurriedly looked up as well. The black cat poked its head out of his pocket, only to be stuffed back in by him. Du Zhengyi's reaction made him feel as if he were facing a formidable enemy, and he became tense in an instant. "Did something go wrong again? I knew that as soon as we came out, something would happen."

"I'm fucking trying not to laugh," Du Zhengyi said in a low voice.

Luo Qi was stunned for a moment, and it took a long time before he turned his head to lock eyes with Du Zhengyi.

"Fine," Luo Qi laughed, reached into his pocket to pet his cat, and mused, "I won't make you laugh."

"I don't have a persona, especially not here. Many of the people who come and go here are my old friends—" Du Zhengyi thought for a moment and changed his phrasing, "My... business partners."

"Me?" Luo Qi said.

"You're not a business partner," Du Zhengyi said in a low voice, "Have your teeth even finished growing in yet?"

"Then how are you going to introduce me?" Luo Qi blinked. "I mean, what are you going to tell them about who I am? Don't tell me you're going to introduce me as your long-lost younger brother? I don't want to be called Du Qi, I beg you!"

Du Zhengyi was caught off guard and laughed out loud, saying softly, "Fuck, Luo Qi!"

"Right here?" Luo Qi shrugged and sent a wave of dismissive emotion. He was becoming increasingly adept at harassing Du Zhengyi's mental barriers with all sorts of emotions, wanting to poke at them whenever he had nothing to do.

"Stay away from me," Du Zhengyi said with annoyance. "I won't be introducing who you are at all. No one in there cares about a stranger's real identity."

"Oh, right." Luo Qi suddenly realized he was truly an idiot. Perhaps he hadn't truly understood what kind of world he was about to step into, actually thinking it was a meeting of acquaintances. He wasn't really stupid, just sometimes unable to switch into the new world, unable to get nervous.

"I'll just say you are... what name do you want to go by? A nickname is fine too," Du Zhengyi said.

"King of Kings, Great Civet King, Swallowing Heaven and Devouring Earth!" Luo Qi said immediately.

"Let's just go with Great Civet King, don't be so childish," Du Zhengyi said. "Can you use that face with the split mouth from last time?"

"That's Nolan's Joker face, okay?" Luo Qi said with dissatisfaction. "It's a classic!"

"No-what? What-lan?" Du Zhengyi said indifferently.

Luo Qi sighed, "Forget it, let me think. What do you think of my Slime form? I've always wanted to try it in the real world!"

"Isn't that just a strong hallucination? That would consume too much energy..." Du Zhengyi paused. He suddenly realized that Luo Qi's power had surged to such a degree that it far exceeded his expectations. He tugged on Luo Qi's hood, helping him adjust his hat. "It's best not to attract too much attention, and don't be too annoying."

"Oh," Luo Qi said, "I'll be likable, don't worry."

Du Zhengyi nodded. He stepped onto the stairs, walked to the front of the black gate, and reached out to knock.

Luo Qi watched nervously. A small door on the gate used for peering out opened. Luo Qi saw an eye flash behind the door, and then the small door closed again.

Luo Qi hurriedly followed a step, standing next to Du Zhengyi as the gate opened before them. Luo Qi felt a faint, ethereal breeze blowing from behind the gate, carrying a slightly cool, fresh scent. Both this scent and the coolness reminded Luo Qi of the riverside at night.

The black cast-iron gate opened completely. Luo Qi followed Du Zhengyi inside. It was very dim behind the gate, which reminded Luo Qi of the feeling when following Du Zhengyi through Teleportation across the junction of two spaces, though he suspected that was just an illusion. He had walked in from a bright place, and his eyes couldn't adapt for a moment; he could see almost nothing.

He followed Du Zhengyi closely, and after walking a dozen steps, he finally realized what this darkness was.

After his eyes adapted to the faint light here, he suddenly raised his head and stared blankly at the light source, looking at that moon in astonishment.

The darkness before him was a true night, the only light was true moonlight, and he even suspected that this night breeze had blown across a river. Luo Qi remembered Du Zhengyi saying the name of this place was Zhouqiao Grass Market; so there really was water, and perhaps even a bridge.

There seemed to be no one else around them, and Luo Qi was a bit nervous. This feeling reminded him of the world after death. Not only was it dark and gloomy, but it also had a fucking bridge!

But Du Zhengyi didn't seem to care at all, walking very calmly and steadily, his pace and rhythm so stable it was as if he were walking on a treadmill at a gym.

Luo Qi had no choice but to follow him. He didn't feel the road moving, and soon realized that Du Zhengyi was using rhythm to perform Calculation of the distance.

"Don't be afraid," Du Zhengyi said in a low voice.

How could he not be afraid? Luo Qi complained inwardly. He saw a red lantern swaying far ahead, exactly the same as the oldest version of the *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio* TV series—this ancient sense of humor.