Conquering on the Bed, Love Grows Stronger

In the blink of an eye, the day for the Ghost Alley Black Market to open its doors once more had arrived.

Chen Heng rose from the soft, yielding bed of Flower Language Pavilion, where Wen Ning had already prepared Spirit Cuisine and fragrant tea.

He began to partake, after all, his work was physically demanding and consumed a great deal of energy.

This period of dual cultivation with Wen Ning had indeed been effective. Chen Heng felt the Water-Fire true essence within him becoming increasingly intertwined, and his cultivation had advanced considerably.

However, this was also because his current realm was slightly lower than hers. Once he caught up in realm later on, the effects of dual cultivation might not be as potent.

Still, Chen Heng's anticipation for the Quenching Fire Water Nourishing Body Tempering Art grew.

If he ended up sore and weak after a few more rounds, wouldn't that be a mood killer?

Seeing the increasingly obvious dependence and affection in Wen Ning's eyes and brows, Chen Heng couldn't help but sigh that an old saying was indeed true.

It could be called: Conquering on the Bed, Love Grows Stronger!

Chen Heng quickly finished the Spirit Cuisine and fragrant tea prepared by Wen Ning. He took out his black robe and mask, intending to leave.

At this moment, Wen Ning personally draped the black robe over him, tidying it with her slender hands.

"Young Master, are you still going to the Black Market today?"

Wen Ning adjusted his black robe, her movements gentle.

"Yes, once I retrieve what I've ordered, I won't be returning to Flower Language Pavilion today. I'll head straight back to Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion. You can go to Jade Spring Talisman Pavilion in a few days to apply for the Chen Family's Talisman Master position; it shouldn't be too difficult for you."

Chen Heng put on his mask, his voice calm and steady.

Jade Spring Talisman Pavilion was also an industry under the Chen Family. Since the Chen Family's ancestral land was Jade Spring Mountain, many of their businesses bore the name "Jade Spring."

As for going to the Ghost Alley Black Market, it was a foregone conclusion.

After all, two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones were not a small sum, and the item he had ordered was an important resource for his subsequent cultivation, which could not be lost.

Chen Heng habitually squeezed the cold, hard communication jade slip in his embrace—this was the assurance given by Foundation Establishment Ancestor Chen Tianrui.

Then, he left Flower Language Pavilion alone, his steps confident.

Wen Ning watched Chen Heng's departing back, a hint of grievance and reluctance in her eyes.

This journey, as before, was late at night, passing by the bustling Warm Fragrance Pavilion and the hidden dwellings of those deep alleyways.

But this time, his steps were quicker. He seemed oblivious to the faint, seductive glances, heading directly into the depths of Mud Bottle Alley.

He once again followed the special marking to the dilapidated courtyard shrouded by an illusion array. He skillfully paid five Spirit Stones, took the temporary token from the hunched old man, and stepped into the familiar, distorted light and shadow.

The black stone street was still dimly yellow and eerie, with figures bustling about.

But Chen Heng had a clear destination, heading straight for the largest stone house in the center of the street—Wu Wen Tower.

The couplet at the entrance, "Enter this door, speak not of where you come from; leave my hands, bear your own karma and fortune," appeared even more grim under the dim yellow lamplight.

This time, without needing anyone to guide him, he skillfully passed through the black curtain that blocked divine sense and entered the room where they had met last time.

The black-robed man who enjoyed tea seemed to have been waiting for a long time, the tea before him steaming.

"Fellow Daoist is indeed trustworthy," the black-robed man said, putting down his teacup, his voice as indifferent as ever, yet with a hint of a businessman's smoothness.

Chen Heng cupped his fists. "A promise is a promise. I must keep my word. I wonder if the item I purchased is ready?"

He asked directly.

The black-robed man, however, slowly took out several jade boxes of various sizes from the storage bag at his waist and placed them one by one on the table.

"Please take a look, Fellow Daoist: The Water-Fire Jade Belt, its spiritual light undamaged; the jade slip for the Quenching Fire Water Nourishing Body Tempering Art, its restrictions intact; two second-tier Ice-Fire Lotus seeds, still active; and finally... a piece of unnamed broken jade."

The black-robed man pointed to a piece of dark gray jade stone that had no spiritual energy fluctuations but faintly exuded an ancient, resolute texture, and said in surprise:

"This item is the most peculiar. After examination by several appraisers in the tower, it is indeed as Fellow Daoist sees. Only 'hardness' can be considered its characteristic; its other uses are unclear."

"Fellow Daoist may investigate further later."

Chen Heng's gaze was firmly locked onto the unnamed broken jade, his heart trembling slightly.

The material and color of this broken jade were almost identical to the mysterious broken jade fragments he had bought from a street vendor on the outskirts of the market town!

There must be some connection between the two!

Perhaps, they were even part of the same piece.

He suppressed the urge to take them out immediately for comparison and confirmation, and calmly shifted his gaze away.

"Mm, thank you. After the inventory, please settle the remaining payment." Chen Heng's voice was flat as he took out the Spirit Stones for the balance—three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.

Despite his myriad doubts, completing the transaction was the priority at this moment.

The black-robed man counted the Spirit Stones and nodded slightly. "The Spirit Stones are sufficient. The transaction is complete. All items here belong to Fellow Daoist. From this point on, you are clear with Wu Wen Tower, and you shall bear your own fortune and misfortune in the future."

This was the rule of the Black Market: money and goods exchanged face-to-face, with no further ties afterward.

Chen Heng quickly put the jade boxes into his storage bag, especially the unnamed broken jade and the pure white jade slip containing the Quenching Fire Water Nourishing Body Tempering Art, which he carefully stored separately.

He showed no intention of lingering and stood up to leave.

"Walk slowly, Fellow Daoist," the black-robed man suddenly said. "There's an interesting matter, I wonder if I should mention it."

Chen Heng's steps paused, his gaze under the mask narrowed slightly. "Oh? What matter is it?"

The person in the black robe picked up the teacup and took a sip, their gaze seeming to pierce through the mask and land on Chen Heng's face. "The Luo Family magic robes you sold last time, I heard yesterday... this action seems to have alarmed a certain Foundation Establishment Ancestor in Golden Luo Mountain who was in seclusion and had quite a temper."

And Golden Luo Mountain was one of the Three Great Foundation Establishment Families of the Southern Foothills, the ancestral land of the Luo Family.

Though the words were soft, they exploded in Chen Heng's ears like a thunderclap!

Luo Family magic robes? Alarmed an Ancestor?

Those robes were supposed to have been processed by Wu Wen Tower!

How did the news leak? Did the Luo Family have an informant in the black market? Or did Wu Wen Tower... have other intentions?

"Oh?" Chen Heng's voice betrayed no emotion. "Just a few mere magic robes, why such a fuss? It must be the aftermath of the Luo Family's recent investigation. What does it have to do with a merchant like me?"

His tone carried a perfectly calibrated hint of confusion and detachment.

The person in the black robe let out a very faint, unreadable hum of laughter. "I hope so. I'm just reminding you, Daoist friend, that although the Luo Family's 'shorty' Young Master has been staying indoors recently, his elders' anger still lingers. Near the Southern Foothills Market... things might get a bit lively. Be more cautious when you go in and out."

This was clearly a direct warning!

Chen Heng's internal alarm bells went off, but outwardly, he merely cupped his fists with a calm expression. "Thank you for the information. I understand."

He didn't linger. Turning, he strode out of Wu Wen Tower, not even bothering to observe the street. He took the fastest route directly towards the black market exit.

He quickly walked out of the dilapidated courtyard with its distorted light and shadows, stepping into the cold, damp night of Mud Bottle Alley.

The sound of the Li River's flow could be faintly heard, but Chen Heng had no mind to appreciate it now; it even felt a bit noisy.

The black-robed person's warning still echoed in his mind.

Had the Luo Family already traced the stolen goods from the black market?

Why would Wu Wen Tower tell him?

Was it to divert disaster, or did they have other plans?

Wu Wen Tower wouldn't have processed those Luo Family magic robes here, and it had been over half a month. The Luo Family had only just recovered those insignificant robes.

It was unlikely he had been exposed.

Otherwise, Luo Yuan Nan would have come directly to Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion to hold me accountable.

Could it really be a coincidence? After Wu Wen Tower sold them somewhere, the unlucky cultivator who bought the robes just happened to be encountered by Luo Family cultivators?

This was too coincidental. It seemed he couldn't rely on such luck in the future.

He would have to be more careful when dealing with such stolen goods from now on.

Not long after.

Chen Heng returned to Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion through the back door overnight. He had a special entry token, so he wouldn't encounter the awkward situation of being blocked by formation restrictions.

But as he intended to return to his East Wing room, he saw that the backyard was brightly lit, with two figures conversing.