Zheng Duo, Going to the Ghost Market Again

"Song Chengan!"

Song Chengan opened the door.

She was a very imposing woman, almost as tall as he was.

And Song Chengan was nearly 1.8 meters tall.

This woman was broad-shouldered and stout. Song Chengan felt that ancient female generals were probably like this.

Only such a robust woman could kill someone with a single punch.

"Miss Zheng!"

Song Chengan cupped his fists.

Zheng Duo.

The daughter of Butcher Zheng of Lingqiu City.

Speaking of Butcher Zheng, he was quite a figure in Lingqiu City.

He had dozens of employees, and he basically monopolized the pork business in the west of the city.

It could be said that the Zheng family had struck it lucky.

His family had been slaughtering pigs for three generations. Although they were well-off, they were still considered low-class.

This continued until the current generation.

Butcher Zheng didn't know what stroke of luck he'd had.

He had a son, who was initially conscripted for corvée labor, escorting military provisions to the border.

Then, somehow, he was noticed by an officer in the army and stayed.

For the first few days, the Zheng family wailed and cried, believing their son would never return.

Was being a soldier easy?

How many fine young men died on the border of the Chen Kingdom every year?

But what no one expected was that...

The officer who noticed the Zheng family's eldest son had been promoted steadily over the years, and within a few years, he returned to Liangzhou Garrison as a Pacification Commissioner.

The Zheng family's eldest son also rose with him, becoming a Centurion.

And so, the Zheng family's business grew.

It started as just a small butcher shop.

Now, they had seven or eight connected shops and dozens of employees.

Even the wealthy families in the city preferred to buy pork from the Zheng family.

There was no other choice.

No one knew if that eldest son of the Zheng family would continue to be promoted.

As for Song Chengan and Zheng Duo...

Zheng Duo had been married before, but her husband had died.

Six months ago, she saw Song Chengan on the street.

Seeing that he was handsome, she had someone inquire about him and found Song Chengan.

She offered to marry him if he promised to stop gambling and provided twenty mu of land, a house, an ox, and fifty taels of silver.

At that time, Song Chengan's mind was filled with thoughts of recouping his losses.

Seeing how wealthy Zheng Duo was, he readily agreed.

But what was the result!

People went bankrupt, but no one ever turned back from their mistakes.

Song Chengan took the silver and went to gamble.

At first, Zheng Duo tried to persuade him. She knew it wasn't easy to quit.

But Song Chengan still wouldn't listen.

After the third time.

Zheng Duo left without hesitation.

From then on, the two had no contact.

She was truly a remarkable woman.

Thinking of their past.

Song Chengan thought to himself.

He had a weakness for beauty.

But he was decisive and forthright.

"Is there something you need?"

Song Chengan asked.

Zheng Duo held a lotus leaf-wrapped package of pork.

"You probably haven't had any meat in a while."

"Thank you, Miss Zheng."

Song Chengan accepted it with a smile.

This Miss Zheng was quite interesting.

He had never seen anyone give pork as a gift before.

Was this a special gift-giving custom of the butcher's family?

"My brother found me a master in Liangzhou City, and I'm going there to practice martial arts."

Song Chengan nodded, "Practicing martial arts, that's good."

Cultivation required innate talent.

Not everyone could become a Qi Refiner.

On the other hand, practicing martial arts was a path anyone could take.

At least, with Butcher Zheng's family background, it was a path he could afford.

Zheng Duo looked at Song Chengan, "I feel like you've become more handsome."

Song Chengan asked, "Really?"

Had his complexion and temperament changed after cultivating?

"It feels like you're a different person, or maybe it's just an illusion."

"After all, you're the best at lying."

She finished speaking and chuckled.

In the past, Song Chengan always found excuses to trick some silver coins out of her.

"I came to see you today to tell you that our business is over."

"Anyway, our families aren't wealthy, and we don't have any marriage contracts or anything."

"I'm here to tell you that this matter is settled."

"What's your opinion on this?"

Song Chengan nodded, "Since Miss Zheng has spoken, I naturally have no objections."

Zheng Duo sneered, "Without hesitation."

"You men are so pragmatic."

"Because I'm not good-looking, you didn't hesitate at all?"

Song Chengan said, "What are you saying, Miss Zheng? Don't you also like handsome men?"

"Who doesn't like good looks?"

Zheng Duo was stunned for a moment.

Then she laughed.

She patted Song Chengan's shoulder, "You've become a bit more interesting."

"But that's all."

"I'm leaving."

Large raindrops began to fall.

She waved her hand.

And strode away into the distance.

The rain curtain descended.

Song Chengan stood under the eaves.

It felt like two different worlds.

"Hey, Scholar Song, I heard your wife ran off to Liangzhou."

"She says she's going to practice martial arts, but I think she found some other pretty boy in Liangzhou."

"You're going to be a bachelor."

As Song Chengan walked into the noodle shop, a few men saw him enter and teased him.

"Shopkeeper, a bowl of noodles, with extra meat and extra noodles."

Song Chengan first ordered a bowl of noodles, then smiled and looked at the men who had just spoken.

They were all neighbors.

Working hard labor at the docks.

"I'm not too sure either. I'll take you guys to ask Butcher Zheng in the west of the city in a bit."

As soon as he said that.

The few people immediately gave sheepish smiles.

"We were just joking with you."

Everyone knew Butcher Zheng was a notorious tough nut in the west of the city.

"Oh right, did you guys hear?"

"Someone died at the docks last night."

"Died?"

"I heard it was someone from the Wu family."

"Didn't he die away from home? And then they brought him back."

"But last night, for some reason, someone died."

"The docks are under lockdown now."

"I heard they're looking for an expert from Xuanqing Temple!"

Song Chengan listened to the gossip while eating his noodles.

"It wasn't the docks."

One of the burly men who had been speaking earlier said.

"The incident didn't happen at the docks."

"It was the Wu family's old ancestral grave."

"Their old patriarch's corpse came back to life. Apparently, he injured several people."

"Didn't they say someone died at the docks?" someone asked.

"The person who died at the docks worked himself to death."

"Not from the Wu family."

"But you guys should avoid that area of the Wu family's place recently. Their old ancestor..." The speaker lowered his voice: "They say he was bitten to death by a zombie back then."

"A zombie?"

Everyone else's expression changed in unison upon hearing this.

"Isn't that right!"

"Their old patriarch, didn't something happen when he was buried back then!"

"The Wu family is now offering fifty taels of silver and looking for experts everywhere!"

Song Chengan listened quietly.

Fifty taels of silver.

If it were in the past, he would have gone long ago.

But now, fifty taels of silver held no attraction for him.

Gold and silver were useless to cultivators.

If he wanted gold and silver, he could just take out Talisman Coins and exchange them.

No wonder cultivators in novels weren't tempted by gold and silver.

These things were simply too cheap for cultivators.

"Is the Wu family's zombie that fierce?"

"Of course! Those who saw it said it was covered in white fur."

"Clearly, it's turned into a zombie."

"I think the place where their old patriarch was buried might be a corpse-raising ground."

"That's not right. The Wu family is a prominent family. Prominent families value feng shui the most," someone questioned this. "Such a family would definitely hire the most skilled geomancers for a burial. How could they bury someone in a corpse-raising ground?"

"Who knows."

"Maybe their family offended someone."

In the noodle shop.

Song Chengan listened to the surrounding gossip.

"What do you mean 'not subdued'? Has the zombie that the Wu family's old patriarch turned into not been subdued yet?"

Someone entered at this moment and asked upon hearing this.

"Subdued what."

"Didn't the Wu family go to Xuanqing Temple to invite a high monk?"

"They did go, but they couldn't get one. It's said the monks at Xuanqing Temple asked for too high a price."

"That's true. I heard that when the An Yuan family had trouble last year, Xuanqing Temple demanded both money and land."

"I heard the zombie that the Wu family's old patriarch turned into went on a rampage last night and killed the entire family, leaving only orphans and widows."

"Hush."

Just then, someone made a shushing gesture.

Song Chengan looked up and saw several martial monks holding long staffs walking past the noodle shop.

As soon as these martial monks appeared, the noodle shop fell silent.

It wasn't until the martial monks had been gone for a long time that a little noise returned to the shop.

"When Peach Blossom Temple was still around, it wasn't like this."

"My father said that back then, when we invited experts from Peach Blossom Temple to help, they didn't ask for money at all, just a token of appreciation."

"Enough talk. Xuanqing Temple's good days won't last much longer. I heard the court has already issued an official document, allowing the Demon Suppression Divisions in various counties to recruit personnel as they see fit."

"Recruit personnel?" One of the middle-aged men's eyes lit up at the words.

The person speaking cupped his fists towards him, "Old Sun, I remember your son studies martial arts, right?"

"If you have any connections, you can try to go through them."

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you want to join the Demon Suppression Division later and eat from the official's table, you'll probably have to take the martial arts examination."

"I wonder where you got this news from, Brother Shi?"

The man called Brother Shi chuckled, "Old Sun, have you forgotten? My nephew works as a scribe in the county office."

"The Demon Suppression Division is newly established and urgently needs people. As long as you can get in good with this Captain, it'll be a step to the heavens and a secure official job."

"If you don't seize this chance, once the Demon Suppression Division has enough personnel, you'll have to take the martial arts exam to get in."

"It won't be a little bit difficult then."

"Thank you, Brother Shi. I'll take my leave now."

The person called Old Sun said this and hurried away.

Song Chengan did not join the conversation.

He just quietly ate the noodles in his bowl.

Demon Suppression Division?

The court is recruiting people.

It seems the Demon Suppression Division intentionally leaked the news. I feel like they want to select people through martial competition.

Song Chengan pondered inwardly.

He knew the man called Brother Shi. He was a well-connected figure in Lingqiu City.

He always had some inside information that others didn't know.

But the problem was, news like the Demon Suppression Division recruiting people shouldn't be inside information.

At least, people like him shouldn't know about it.

It felt like the Demon Suppression Division deliberately wanted to leak this news.

Should I join the Demon Suppression Division?

Song Chengan fell into thought.

He was a cultivator now, but he was just a rogue cultivator.

If he could join the Demon Suppression Division and rely on the Chen Kingdom, a great tree... it would definitely be beneficial for Song Chengan's cultivation.

Wealth, companions, dharma, and a place to live.

Song Chengan had none of these.

But if he could join the Demon Suppression Division, he would have everything.

Perhaps I can give it a try.

Song Chengan made up his mind.

He would try to see if there was a chance to join the Demon Suppression Division.

It's good to have a big tree to lean on for shade.

If nothing else.

With the identity of the Demon Suppression Division, he would be a person of some standing in Lingqiu City.

But it probably wouldn't be easy.

Since the Demon Suppression Division wanted someone to spread the news of recruitment, they probably wanted all the capable young people in Lingqiu City to compete for it.

It's going to be difficult.

It seems the martial arts competition is about to begin.

"Boss, the bill."

Song Chengan took out three copper coins to pay for the noodles.

These noodles, he could never get tired of them.

He would come again next time.

Song Chengan walked out of the noodle shop.

I wonder if my Illusionary Body has completed its comprehension of the spell.

Song Chengan's consciousness entered the Void Heaven Mirror.

Inside the Void Heaven Mirror.

The lake had disappeared, and the Illusionary Body that was cultivating the Water Repelling Art sat cross-legged in a daze.

"I've grown old."

Song Chengan looked at the Illusionary Body's face.

It was already withered and old.

"It seems I don't have much talent for comprehending spells."

Song Chengan shook his head, and then the Illusionary Body turned into a ball of Dao fruit light, which he absorbed.

As this ball of Dao fruit light was absorbed, some insights into the Water Repelling Art entered his mind.

Water Repelling Art Great Accomplishment!

"Water Repelling Art Great Accomplishment?"

"This Water Repelling Art is this difficult?"

"Then the Summoning God Technique, one of my Illusionary Bodies could comprehend it to the peak."

"As expected of a spell passed down by the River God Mother."

Song Chengan shook his head, then condensed another Illusionary Body to continue comprehending the Water Repelling Art!

"I can now condense two Illusionary Bodies."

"The Heavenly Radiance Dao Qi has nothing more to comprehend, I can only cultivate it myself to improve my realm and cultivation."

"I need to learn a new skill, so that the other Illusionary Body can be useful."

With Song Chengan's realm and cultivation, he could now condense two Illusionary Bodies.

He used to use the other Illusionary Body to cultivate the Heavenly Radiance Dao Qi.

But later he discovered that after he comprehended the first trace of True Qi, the Heavenly Radiance Dao Qi could no longer be comprehended.

After that, it was all about accumulation through cultivation and improving his realm, which he could only do slowly by himself.

In other words.

The Illusionary Bodies in the Void Heaven Mirror could only help Song Chengan comprehend spells, but not help him cultivate.

Cultivation could only be done by Song Chengan himself.

This made Song Chengan a little regretful.

It would have been great if the Illusionary Bodies in the Void Heaven Mirror could also cultivate.

Then he wouldn't have to do anything, just keep condensing Illusionary Bodies to cultivate, and his realm would climb step by step, eventually reaching the Great Dao.

"Nothing is perfect."

Song Chengan shook his head and withdrew from the Void Heaven Mirror.

"Tomorrow is the tenth."

"Tonight, I have to go to the Ghost Market to get my weapon."

Song Chengan looked at the sky.

The tenth.

It was the agreed-upon day to retrieve the weapon.

"I'll go back to sleep first."

That night.

After midnight struck.

Song Chengan woke up on time.

It was quite strange.

He didn't know if it was because of his cultivation or something else, but Song Chengan found that he could wake up whenever he wanted.

More punctual than his alarm clock in his previous life.

Song Chengan washed up, then walked out of his house.

He took out the Ghost Token.

He injected True Qi into it.

A line of small text appeared on the Ghost Token.

"Duck Herding Candy, after midnight, enter the water, enter the market."