Chapter 128: Netherworld

After returning to the Medical Office, Hua Changxi only then learned that it was already the fifteenth of June—meaning she had been unconscious for seven days and seven nights—so she quickly summoned Yu Kuai.

"Sister Changxi, you're finally back. Where have you been these past few days?"

Hua Changxi looked at him and, instead of answering, asked back, "During the few days I was away, I didn't hold classes for the laborers. How did you explain it to them?"

Yu Kuai: "I discussed it with Supervisor Jia and the others, and we settled on a unified story—we said you were in seclusion cultivating."

Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi's expression relaxed a little: "Good. In the future, when I'm not at the Laborers' Hall, you all answer the same way."

Seeing that his handling had earned Hua Changxi's approval, Yu Kuai looked pleased, then added, "Sister Changxi, will you often be away from the Laborers' Hall in the future?"

Hua Changxi: "Who knows? By the way, who all came asking about me?"

Yu Kuai: "A lot of people asked—the laborers from the hall, and those who often come to your lectures. Miss Mu, Young Master Chu, and a few others asked several times."

Hua Changxi was silent for a moment: "What about Lin Sheng? What has Lin Sheng been doing these past few days?"

Yu Kuai: "Lin Sheng has been a bit distracted lately. He went out once, and since then he's been staying in the No. 8 Medical Hall, tempering his body."

Hua Changxi: "Go and call him here for me."

Seeing that Hua Changxi's expression was somewhat off, Yu Kuai didn't dare ask more and hurried off to summon him.

In the No. 8 Medical Hall, when Lin Sheng learned that Hua Changxi had returned, his face lit up with joy: "Brother Yu, you're not lying to me? Our master is really back?"

Yu Kuai looked at him: "Sister Changxi wants to see you. Go over quickly."

Lin Sheng paused for a moment: "Alright, I'll go right away."

Soon, Lin Sheng arrived at the courtyard where Hua Changxi was. He didn't enter immediately but paced back and forth at the gate for a while before stepping inside.

Hua Changxi sat on the stone steps, toying with the Ghost Market token in her hand. When she saw Lin Sheng enter, her gaze darkened.

Lin Sheng looked a little uneasy: "Master, you're back."

Hua Changxi: "Did you hope I would come back alive?"

Lin Sheng said urgently, "Of course I hope my master enjoys a lifetime of safety." He paused, "Did you encounter danger in the Ghost Market, master?"

Hua Changxi gave a cold laugh, looking at him: "I want to see Eunuch Lin. If you don't bring him to me today, you don't need to come back here either."

Lin Sheng was flustered and wanted to say something, but meeting Hua Changxi's indifferent gaze, he couldn't utter a word: "I'll go invite my godfather right away."

Watching his retreating figure, Hua Changxi's gaze was gloomy. A fire lotus materialized in her hand, and with a sizzle, it burned the Ghost Market token.

Eunuch Lin had not only deliberately concealed the dangers of the Ghost Market from her, but the Ghost Market token he'd given her had also been tampered with.

Hua Changxi was furious. A trip to the Ghost Market had nearly cost her her life, and on top of that, her Buddhist prayer bead bracelet had been confiscated by the ghost officials from Bull's Head Mountain.

Losing the prayer beads wasn't a big deal, but the problem was that she had stored the totem golden bowl and ten wooden tablets inside them for easy access.

Hua Changxi took a deep breath to suppress her agitation. She definitely had to go back to the Ghost Market to retrieve her prayer beads, but her knowledge of the Ghost Market was far too limited—she couldn't just barge in recklessly again.

As the fire lotus burned, the white skull on the Ghost Market token suddenly came to life. With a whoosh, it flew out of the token and shot straight at Hua Changxi.

Startled, Hua Changxi quickly condensed a fire lotus to cover her entire body.

The surging flame petals blocked the skull.

Frustrated that it couldn't attach itself to Hua Changxi, the skull's eye sockets blazed with black light, turning into whirlpools that emitted a powerful sucking force.

Seeing the flames on the fire lotus petals rapidly being drawn into the skull's eye sockets, Hua Changxi shuddered and condensed another fire lotus, directly enveloping the skull.

Trapped inside the fire lotus, the skull was immediately set ablaze, but the flames only licked its surface without reaching its core.

Like a fireball, the skull crashed wildly against the fire lotus, trying to break free, causing the petals to tremble and scatter continuously.

Soon, a vermilion bird flew out from within the fire lotus and spat out Vermilion Bird Flame. Once the skull was coated in that flame, it finally burned beyond the surface—the fire penetrated deep into its eye sockets, nostrils, and mouth.

It took over fifteen minutes of continuous burning before the skull completely disappeared.

Watching this scene, Hua Changxi's expression was extremely grave.

"Clang~"

The Ghost Market token fell to the ground. Hua Changxi condensed another fire lotus and burned it again. After fifteen minutes, with no further abnormalities, she stepped forward and picked it up.

At that moment, she noticed that the skull on the token was still there, but it no longer looked as lively or lifelike as before.

Hua Changxi thought that this should be the true form of the Ghost Market token; the one Eunuch Lin gave her had been reworked.

But she couldn't figure out why, having no grudge against Eunuch Lin, he would want to harm her.

Perhaps Eunuch Lin didn't intend to harm her.

Hua Changxi recalled the moment when the skull burst out of the token and immediately tried to possess her.

The skull's devouring power was so strong that it clearly wasn't easy to rework; having gone to such trouble and taken such a roundabout way to deliver the token to her, it was highly likely that Eunuch Lin didn't just want her to die.

Eunuch Lin probably wanted to use her—there was definitely another purpose behind his actions.

Hua Changxi had originally told Lin Sheng to summon Eunuch Lin with the intention of venting her anger on him, but now she changed her mind.

Since Eunuch Lin wanted to use her, she would turn around and use him for his familiarity with the Ghost Market.

The Eastern Depot.

In the steaming hot weapon-forging room, a tall, muscular middle-aged man stood before the furnace, holding an iron hammer, continuously striking a blade.

Beside him, Eunuch Lin stood respectfully with his hands at his sides: "Master Lu, twelve tokens have been sent out."

The middle-aged man, Master Lu, didn't stop his hammering: "Not enough. Keep sending. We need at least eighteen out."

Eunuch Lin said deferentially, "Your servant obeys."

Only then did Master Lu set down his hammer, a hint of worry appearing on his face: "The chaos at the Gen Gate a few days ago will surely tighten security at the other checkpoints of the Nine Abysses. I hope it doesn't hinder our plan."

Hearing about the chaos at the Gen Gate, Eunuch Lin's expression shifted.

Master Lu noticed and asked, "What's wrong?"

Eunuch Lin quickly explained that Hua Changxi had gone to the Nine Abysses.

Master Lu: "The female handyman from the Medical Department who treated the Eastern Depot cultivators?"

Eunuch Lin nodded: "Yes, her. Lin Sheng sent word that she hasn't been to the Medical Department for several days. I wonder if she encountered the Gen Gate chaos and died in the Nine Abysses?"

Master Lu frowned: "The injured Eastern Depot cultivators before were at most late Qi Sea realm. She could treat them, meaning her cultivation is either also at late Qi Sea realm or above. If such a good vessel dies, it would be a great pity."

Although spiritual energy recovery had long begun, most cultivation resources were controlled by the imperial family, nobles, and major powers. Most cultivators above Qi Sea realm who had appeared so far were trained by these forces.

Cultivators backed by major powers knew too much and were not easily fooled, but what they needed to do could not be known to outsiders, so they had to find rogue cultivators.

Rogue cultivators, lacking cultivation resources, couldn't raise their cultivation level, making them of limited use.

Eunuch Lin also felt regret: "Who knew she'd be so unlucky to go to the Gen Gate just then?"

He had planned that once Lin Sheng and Hua Changxi were more familiar, he would gradually reveal some things about the Nine Abysses to her and then naturally become her guide there.

Unexpectedly, Hua Changxi was so impatient that she went to the Nine Abysses the day after receiving the Ghost Market token.

He had never seen anyone so eager to seek death.

Just then, Master Lu's apprentice Lu Wang entered: "Eunuch Lin, Lin Sheng is here."

Eunuch Lin looked surprised: "Why is he here at this hour? Did Lin Sheng say what he wants from me?"

Lu Wang said, "Lin Sheng said his master has returned."

Hearing this, Eunuch Lin's spirits lifted. He immediately looked at Master Lu and said joyfully, "Master Lu, Hua Changxi isn't dead."

Master Lu narrowed his eyes slightly: "The Demon-Suppressing Army has seized the Gen Gate bridge, but the selection of the Ferrywoman hasn't been decided yet. The Gen Gate bridge is currently impassable. How did that female handyman get out of the Nine Abysses?"

Eunuch Lin: "Maybe she came out through another checkpoint?"

Master Lu looked at him: "Let alone that it was her first time descending into the Nine Abysses, even if she were familiar with it, crossing from one checkpoint to another is a life-and-death gamble. I once crossed, and I nearly lost my life. If she really could cross checkpoints, her cultivation would definitely be above mine."

Hearing this, Eunuch Lin quickly said, "I was just guessing blindly. Perhaps she was scared back on her first day descending, and Lin Sheng just didn't know about it."

Master Lu: "...Regardless, since that female handyman is still alive, it shows she has some luck. Go see her quickly and probe into what exactly happened."

After acknowledging the order, Eunuch Lin hurried out of the weapon-forging room to meet Lin Sheng.

Watching Eunuch Lin leave, Master Lu's expression did not improve. Seeing this, Lu Wang asked, "Master, are you worried that the Ghost Market tokens won't be sent out?"

Master Lu shook his head: "Time waits for no one. I fear we might fall behind others."

Lu Wang: "How could that be? We were the first to discover the secret of the Soul Severing Mountain."

Master Lu looked at his apprentice: "That's just what we think. Over at the blacksmith workshop, many families actually have uninterrupted inheritance of artifact refinement techniques. Perhaps they know even more than we do."

As he spoke, he sighed again.

"But that's not what I'm most worried about. What concerns me most are those who rise in response to destiny—even if we wanted to compete, we couldn't outdo them."

Lu Wang: "Master, do such fated children of fortune really exist in this world?"

Master Lu didn't know either: "Maybe. Didn't a Lingguang Hall appear in Nanxiang County? They say the Prince of Fu was there in person, yet Lingguang Hall still fell into someone else's hands."

"Someone who dares to contend with the royal family—even if not a child of fortune, they are certainly a disruptor capable of stirring the tides of fate."

Master Lu looked at his apprentice: "Tell the men to hurry up and send out the Ghost Market tokens. If we delay too long, changes may occur."

Lu Wang: "Yes."

On the other side, Eunuch Lin followed Lin Sheng to the Medicine Division.

Along the way, Lin Sheng said to Eunuch Lin: "Godfather, I think the mistress looks very angry. When you see her later, you might have to suffer some grievance."

Eunuch Lin didn't think Hua Changxi would dare to do anything to him, so he wasn't bothered, but asked again: "Are you sure Hua Changxi only returned to the Medicine Division today?"

Lin Sheng nodded affirmatively: "I'm sure. Although Yu Gui and Eunuch Jia all said the mistress was in seclusion, I know they were lying."

After hearing this, Eunuch Lin's expression turned somewhat grave. If Hua Changxi had only returned today and the Gen Gate threshold still hadn't opened, then she might have come back through another pass. If so, could her cultivation actually be above Master Lu's?

Master Lu was a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator!

Lin Sheng looked at Eunuch Lin: "Godfather, I don't think the mistress is someone who can be easily fooled. I'm really worried about you..."

Eunuch Lin glanced at Lin Sheng, who looked concerned, and patted him on the shoulder: "Don't worry, godfather will be fine."

Lin Sheng's worry did not diminish. Today, when the mistress returned, her attitude toward him and the expressions she revealed made him feel somewhat afraid.

At that moment, they arrived at Hua Changxi's courtyard.

Lin Sheng stepped forward and knocked on the door. Soon, the door opened by itself without any wind. Seeing this, Lin Sheng led Eunuch Lin into the courtyard.

As soon as the two entered, the door immediately closed.

Eunuch Lin's expression faltered, but he remained composed. Smiling, he walked to the center of the courtyard, just about to call out Hua Changxi's name, when—*crack*—a silver-white iron whip struck heavily across Eunuch Lin's body.

"Ah—"

Eunuch Lin was knocked straight to the ground. The searing pain in his soul twisted his features.

Lin Sheng hadn't expected Hua Changxi to strike without a word. He immediately stepped in front of Eunuch Lin.

Hua Changxi walked out of the house. Seeing Lin Sheng like this, she unceremoniously swung her whip at him, sending him crashing to the ground.

"How does it feel to be in such unbearable pain?"

Hua Changxi looked at the two men lying on the ground, pale with pain. She waved a burst of spiritual energy, lifted them up, and smiled at them.

"Eunuch Lin, I really must thank you. If I hadn't gone to the Ghost Market, I would never have known how agonizing this unbearable pain can be."

"I thought, since you gave me the Ghost Market token, now that I've experienced this feeling, I wanted to invite you to experience it too. You won't blame me, will you?"

Eunuch Lin looked at Hua Changxi, who was smiling sweetly, and suddenly felt a chill down his spine. Remembering the mission Master Lu had entrusted to him, he could only endure the pain and muster the courage to ask: "Manager Hua, you struck us the moment we met—what is this all about?"

Seeing his reaction, Hua Changxi became even more certain that they had given her the Ghost Market token with ulterior motives. She smiled and said: "Eunuch Lin, I really want to know—why didn't you warn me that the Ghost Market was dangerous? Did you want me to die there?"

On hearing this, Eunuch Lin immediately put on a look of grievance: "You never asked me about the Ghost Market, did you?"

Hua Changxi knew he would say that: "It was my first time going to the Ghost Market. If you truly wanted to build a good relationship, how could you not have given me a few words of warning?"

Eunuch Lin explained indignantly: "When cultivators interact, they keep a certain distance. I thought that after we became more familiar, I would tell you about the Ghost Market situation. Who knew you would be in such a hurry to go?"

Hua Changxi waved her spiritual energy, brought out two chairs from the house, and had them both sit down: "Eunuch Lin, we're familiar enough now, aren't we? Tell me about the Ghost Market situation."

Eunuch Lin looked at Hua Changxi in surprise: "Manager Hua, haven't you already been to the Ghost Market?"

Hua Changxi smiled: "I did go, but I came back that same day. I'm a timid person—I never set foot easily into anything unknown."

Eunuch Lin's expression shifted: "Then where were you those few days when you weren't around, Manager Hua?"

Hua Changxi glanced at Lin Sheng: "Eunuch Lin, you seem very concerned about my whereabouts, don't you?"

Eunuch Lin: "...Lin Sheng was worried about your safety. When you didn't return for a long time, he came to me and asked me to go to the Ghost Market to rescue you. That's how I found out you had gone to the Ghost Market."

Hua Changxi smiled. "Did Eunuch Lin ever think of going to the Ghost Market to save me?"

Eunuch Lin said very decisively, "You are Lin Sheng's master. If something happens to you, I naturally cannot sit idly by. Of course I would go to save you. However, when I went to the Ghost Market, the Demon-Suppression Army had already sealed off the Gen Gate. We simply couldn't get in."

Hua Changxi's eyes flickered. "Gen Gate? Does the Ghost Market have many gates? Also, why did the Demon-Suppression Army seal off the Gen Gate?"

Eunuch Lin studied Hua Changxi's expression. Seeing that she truly knew nothing about Jiuyou, he breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. It seemed she hadn't crossed over through another gate to return; it should really be as she said—she went that day and was scared back that same day.

"Ghost Market is just a name the cultivators give to the trading bazaar. Because it is located in Jiuyou, and Jiuyou gathers a large number of lonely ghosts, it was named Ghost Market."

Hua Changxi's spirits lifted. "Jiuyou?" She paused and immediately asked, "Is Jiuyou a realm of its own?"

Eunuch Lin was stumped. He knew a bit more about Jiuyou than Hua Changxi, but he did not know the ins and outs of Jiuyou.

"That, I wouldn't know."

Hua Changxi: "Then what is this Jiuyou you speak of?"

Eunuch Lin: "Jiuyou has nine gates: the Qian Gate, Kun Gate, Zhen Gate, Gen Gate, Li Gate, Kan Gate, Dui Gate, Xun Gate, and the Middle Gate. At each gate, a Ghost Market is established."

"The nine gates are interconnected by the Styx. Cultivators entering Jiuyou can only enter the Ghost Market by crossing the wooden bridge over the Styx."

"Beside the wooden bridge are the Styx Grannies, who are responsible for giving entering and exiting cultivators the Seal Spirit Soup."

"As long as they obey the rules of the Ghost Market, cultivators are actually very safe. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many cultivators going to trade at the Ghost Market."