Unbroken Malice

Zhang You naturally had no idea about Shopkeeper Li's little scheme and continued all the way toward the western part of the city.

"Widow Wang didn't set up her stall today either."

"Morning, Shopkeeper Wu! You're forging iron this early? Not staying in bed a little longer with your wife?"

"Oh, Old Zhou, heading out hunting? Be careful. I heard a Wild Boar Demon appeared in the forest outside the city!"

He had swept away the haze of the past. He looked left and right as he walked, greeting every acquaintance he met.

Half an hour later, he arrived in the west of the city.

Because of the headless corpse case from the past two days, soldiers patrolled the streets everywhere. Pedestrians came and went in a hurry, and the atmosphere was extremely stifling.

Zhang You shook his head and headed toward Huashang Bookstore.

He had come here a few times before, so he knew the way like the back of his hand.

The bookstore was already open. Perhaps because it was still early, there were no customers.

The moment he reached the entrance, a wisp of blue-white aura flew out and was absorbed by Zhang You!

This was the second time he had absorbed blue-white aura from the bookstore owner.

Zhang You fell into thought.

"Oh, isn't this the Little Overlord? You look... quite spirited!"

The owner was named Zhao Fa. He was a middle-aged man in his early forties, slightly plump and dressed rather lavishly, with three huge jade thumb rings on his hand.

Upon seeing Zhang You, he first let out a surprised cry, then put on a smiling face and came forward to greet him.

As for why he called him the "Little Overlord," it was naturally because Zhang You was the first person in Xiaolin City who had dared to eat without paying on the turf of that miserly Shopkeeper Li.

Zhang You withdrew from his thoughts, tugged at the corner of his mouth, and gave Zhao Fa no pleasant expression.

This unscrupulous merchant had swindled him out of a hefty sum. There was still a miniature straw doll sitting at home.

Right, I forgot to stick the needles yesterday. I'll have to make up for it double today!

One should not slap a smiling face. Zhang You immediately put on a smile and said with narrowed eyes, "Shopkeeper Li sent me to pick something up from you."

"Oh, it's for that? Wait here, I'll go get it for you!"

Zhao Fa gave Zhang You a meaningful glance before heading into the back.

"What's with him? Bad luck!"

Zhang You's scalp crawled under Zhao Fa's gaze.

Shaking his head, he began looking around the shop.

After making a round, he found no books that caught his eye.

"Little Overlord, this is it. Take it!"

A quarter of an hour later, Zhao Fa emerged with a brocade box in hand.

Zhang You took it and set it on the counter, deeply curious about what was inside.

"This isn't something you can look at! Besides, you couldn't open it even if you tried!"

Zhao Fa stood to the side and made the remark as if it were casual.

"How could that be? Do I look like the sneaky sort?"

Who knew whether this bastard had said it on purpose, but Zhang You, who had already been curious, immediately felt his heart itch. He had the feeling that if he did not open it for a look, he would suffer a huge loss.

"If you've got nothing else to do, get lost already! Don't keep your shopkeeper waiting too long!"

Zhao Fa squinted and smiled at Zhang You as he issued an order to leave.

"By the way, did you get any new antiques in?"

Zhang You snorted and ignored him. The more he looked at Zhao Fa, the more displeased he became.

"What a coincidence. Two books came in a few days ago. Absolutely genuine!"

"Let me see them. I hope you recommend something useful this time!"

He had not held out much hope, yet there really were some.

But upon hearing the words "absolutely genuine," his mood worsened again.

"Wait a moment!"

Humming a little tune, Zhao Fa returned to the back hall.

Zhang You stared at the brocade box for a long while, but ultimately did not make a move.

Meanwhile, Zhao Fa watched outside through the crack in the back hall door, grinning wide and baring his yellowed teeth.

When he saw that Zhang You had not touched it, he stopped peeking, picked up two books, and left the back hall.

"Two ancient books!"

As Zhao Fa spoke, he tossed the two books before Zhang You.

They were both yellowed volumes. One was titled "Four Symbols Hegemon Body," while the other was titled "Old Wang of Guangling's Mountain Climbing Record."

Staring at the first book, Zhang You's heartbeat nearly skipped.

If it was genuine, this should be a cultivation manual related to Martial Arts.

As for the second book, it was a travel journal, likely recording parts of the world outside.

Zhang You feigned calm, casually flipped through both books, and decided to buy them.

He could do without "Old Wang of Guangling's Mountain Climbing Record," but he absolutely had to get "Four Symbols Hegemon Body."

"Name your price."

Zhang You spoke carelessly.

"Five hundred coins. Fair to young and old alike!"

In this world, one coin was equivalent to a dime from his former world, but its purchasing power was far greater.

"Make it cheaper. One hundred coins!"

"Other people haggle by half, but you go straight for the throat! Five hundred coins, no second price!"

"You..."

"Once you pass this village, there won't be another shop! Little brat, you'd better think carefully!"

"You win. I'll buy them. But you have to throw in another book for me! I'll pick it myself!"

Zhang You took two deep breaths, planning to go back and double up on the needle-sticking.

"Dream on. Though there are a few books here you can choose from."

As Zhao Fa spoke, he flung out five or six books.

"You're not exactly young anymore. I've got a freshly arrived deluxe illustrated edition of 'Lotus Rising from the Water,' and 'Scripture of the Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers'... You can take them home and relieve your loneliness?"

"..."

"Fine, fine! Here's one more book. Take it or leave it!"

Seeing Zhang You's face darken further and further, Zhao Fa smiled and tossed out another book.

"This is an ancient book too!"

Zhang You fixed his eyes on it and could only exclaim in disbelief.

"How the Great Muscle Man Was Forged"!

Before Zhang You could recover his senses, Zhao Fa walked over, stuffed the items into his arms, and drove him out of the bookstore.

Bang!

The bookstore door slammed shut!

"Fuck!"

Zhang You was furious, but he quickly calmed down and left while grumbling curses.

After Zhao Fa watched Zhang You leave through the crack in the door, he let out a sinister laugh.

"Heh heh heh..."

He kept staring at Zhang You's departing back, as though he had thought of something exceedingly wonderful.

"How about adding a little something extra for you?"

He crushed the jade pendant in his hand into powder.

At that moment, the copy of "How the Great Muscle Man Was Forged" in Zhang You's hand suddenly released a thread of black aura. It swiftly traveled up his arm and burrowed into his body.

"Hm?" Zhang You seemed to sense a surge of malice. He lowered his head to inspect himself, then swept his gaze around.

"Move aside, move aside!"

Just then, a group of people rushed past Zhang You in a howl, interrupting his thoughts.

At the same time, another strand of blue-white aura entered his body.

It turned out to be people from the Demon Suppression Guard and the government. They had clearly discovered something and were rushing back and forth.

Yet he had still managed to shear some wool from them.

"Maybe I'm overthinking it!"

In high spirits, Zhang You no longer paid attention to that feeling from earlier.

Suddenly, another wisp of blue-white aura entered his body, but this time he failed to notice where it had come from!

"Hm? This fellow's blood and vitality are abundant. He would make excellent alchemy material!" A bald old man by the roadside stared thoughtfully at Zhang You's figure. "I'll mark him first, then harvest him in a couple of days!"

At that moment, an old man muttered while looking at him, formed a hand seal, and shot out a streak of red light. It instantly landed on Zhang You's body and vanished.

"Run!"

As though he had suddenly sensed something, his figure flashed, and he immediately disappeared into the crowd.

"Hm? Damn it, again?"

A wave of malice rose within Zhang You's heart once more.

He no longer believed this was a coincidence. He had clearly landed himself in serious trouble!