The Spiritual Imprint Within the Token

At the entrance to the military camp market, Augudin took out a token and handed it to Chen Cheng. "I can't accompany you inside any farther. Take this token in, and someone will naturally lead you to inspect the goods.

"But I still have to remind you: absolutely do not wander around or look about carelessly. If you see something you shouldn't, then even the City Lord won't be able to save you."

Chen Cheng saw that the merchants entering and leaving this place all displayed tokens, though their tokens differed somewhat from the one Augudin had given him.

"Augudin, why is our token different from theirs?"

Chen Cheng asked as soon as the thought occurred to him. Otherwise, if he asked such questions after entering, he feared he might touch upon some taboo and draw unwanted attention.

Hearing Chen Cheng's question, Augudin chuckled and said:

"Of course the token in your hand is different. Yours isn't one of their ordinary passes for trade and business. This is the City Lord's Governor's Token."

Upon hearing that it was a Governor's Token, Chen Cheng couldn't help admiring Ailafu's audacity. If this token were lost, Ailafu probably wouldn't be able to keep his position as governor.

Augudin seemed to see the doubt in Chen Cheng's heart. He bent close to Chen Cheng's ear and whispered:

"Don't worry. The one in your hand is a temporary forgery. It only works for one day. By the next day, the special spiritual essence the City Lord carved into it will vanish, and it'll become an ordinary piece of rotten wood."

Chen Cheng examined the token in his hand. No wonder it had no patterns or decorations at all. At first, he had thought it was some kind of antique, understated style.

He hadn't expected it