Red Lantern Attendant

Blood Ridge Black Market?

Chen Mo had never heard of this place before, not with his memories gone.

Fortunately, in his previous life, he'd been a seasoned internet surfer. Sure, he'd never eaten pork, but hadn't he seen pigs run?

The Black Market was certainly a fine place, with all sorts of goods. But it was also fraught with danger. Robberies and bandit attacks were hardly uncommon.

As a newcomer... Chen Mo was naturally afraid of dying.

But he wasn't willing to give up the chance to buy Qi and Blood Pills just like that.

Ma Tie seemed to see Chen Mo's misgivings. "With Young Master's status, ordinary bandits in Honghe County wouldn't dare target you lightly. Just bring a few guards, and you'll be safe."

Qiulan added, "Young Master, Xie Dong of the Xie Family is your close friend. I remember the Xie family has quite a few shops in the Blood Ridge Black Market. Why not ask Young Master Xie to show us the way?"

Chen Mo steeled himself. "Ma Tie, go prepare the carriage, and stop by Xie Manor. Qiulan, help me get dressed."

After Ma Tie left to carry out his orders, Qiulan said, "But your father doesn't want you practicing martial arts. He hopes you'll inherit the family business and learn more about running it. If he finds out..."

Chen Mo smiled. "That's no problem. I'll just say I'm going out to inspect the family business. Father will be pleased to hear it. Just help me get dressed."

Only then did Qiulan agree. Young Master really is different from before. He's become quite sharp.

While getting dressed, all Chen Mo had to do was stand before the full-length bronze mirror in his underclothes and hold out his arms. He didn't need to handle anything else; Qiulan took care of it all.

A blue silk brocade robe, a leather belt, a jade pendant, his hair tied up with a hairpin, and a pair of cloud-patterned boots.

Though he was only fifteen, he stood about a meter seventy tall and looked handsome and spirited.

After dressing Chen Mo, Qiulan looked him over. Her face grew slightly red. "Young Master looks much more refined and scholarly than before. You've got the air of a man of letters."

Chen Mo gave a quiet snort.

He'd been a college student in his previous life, after all—even if it had been a diploma mill... it was still college.

It was only natural that he had a scholarly air.

Once everything was ready, Chen Mo set out with Qiulan and Ma Tie to inspect the family business.

He also wanted to see just how vast the estate he would inherit was.

Naturally, there was a carriage. Qiulan was not only a maid but also an expert rider, and she and Ma Tie drove Chen Mo out of the manor.

They visited fertile fields, where he saw countless tenant farmers at work.

They visited a pharmacy, where he saw merchants lining up.

Chen Mo also inspected the other shops, one by one. Each manager greeted him with utmost respect, calling him Second Young Master over and over.

After making the rounds, Chen Mo had a general understanding of the family business.

The Chen Family was unquestionably a wealthy, prominent clan.

His only regret was that the Chen Family had no martial arts school or related businesses. That was probably due to Chen Yin Fu's personal views.

According to Qiulan, everything the Chen Family owned today had been built from the ground up by Chen Yin Fu. There were even plenty of tales about his achievements circulating around the county.

After hearing Qiulan recount his father's exploits, Chen Mo felt that some of them were probably exaggerated, but he couldn't help sincerely admiring Chen Yin Fu.

He'd simply been born in the wrong era.

If Chen Yin Fu had been born in Chen Mo's previous life, with his business acumen and drive, he'd surely have founded a publicly listed company.

Chen Mo lifted the carriage curtain and glanced at the sun. It was only noon. "Qiulan, it's about time. Let's wait for Young Master Xie at the west gate."

Chen Mo wanted to be cautious.

He wasn't going to the Black Market before Xie Dong arrived.

The carriage rolled out through the west gate and waited outside.

Chen Mo lifted the curtain and watched merchants and villagers queue up to enter the city. Some vendors had set up stalls by the gate, selling snacks, cotton candy, candied hawthorn, tofu pudding, and more. Their calls and cries rose and fell, filling the place with the bustle of everyday life.

Chen Mo suddenly looked up and saw the three characters "Honghe County" carved above the gate. The five-zhang-high gatehouse also had a crimson lantern hanging from it, conspicuous even in broad daylight.

It reminded Chen Mo of the Red Veil statue enshrined in his family's Ancestral Hall. Unable to resist, he asked, "Qiulan, what's that red lantern for?"

"Shh!"

Qiulan hurriedly motioned for him to be quiet, then lowered her voice. "That's the lantern of the Red Lantern Society. Hung above the city gate, it can ward off evil spirits. It's only because our county is blessed by Goddess Hong Deng that everyone can live in peace. Young Master, be careful what you say. If you offend Goddess Hong Deng, you'll bring terrible misfortune upon yourself."

Though Chen Mo still had his doubts, everyone else seemed to be keeping their lips sealed, so he didn't press the matter.

Not long after, another luxurious carriage stopped beside theirs. A slightly chubby young man in fine clothes stepped down. Seeing Chen Mo with the curtain pulled back, he hopped into Chen Mo's carriage without so much as asking and gave him a big hug.

"Brother Chen, I've missed you so much. Where have you been all this time? You left me with no choice but to go to Spring Breeze Tower alone. It was dreadfully dull."

Chen Mo had already asked Qiulan and learned that this chubby fellow was his close friend, Xie Dong.

The Xie Family was also one of Honghe County's prominent clans. They had connections in the government and had produced quite a few officials. Xie Lianghong, the coroner at the County Office, was Xie Dong's Third Uncle.

As for Chen Mo's madness, Chen Yin Fu had long since ordered everyone to keep it secret.

So outsiders knew nothing about it.

Chen Mo made up an excuse and smiled. "I caught a bit of a cold recently and have been recuperating at home. Another day, I'll treat you to drinks and a good time at Spring Breeze Tower, Dongzi."

Dongzi...

That was what Qiulan had told Chen Mo to call him. The original Chen Mo had always called Xie Dong "Dongzi."

At the sound of "Dongzi," Xie Dong grinned. "That's more like it."

Then Xie Dong reached out and felt Chen Mo's forehead. "You don't have a fever. What made you think of practicing martial arts, and even buying Qi and Blood Pills...? Why not just enjoy life as a rich young master? You just had to go practice martial arts. You're just like my younger sister. She could be living the good life, but instead she insists on waving a spear around and making herself suffer. It's all pointless trouble."

Chen Mo couldn't be bothered to say more to Dongzi. "Cut the crap. Are you helping or not?"

Chen Mo wasn't putting on an act; this was how the original Chen Mo had always spoken to Xie Dong.

Sure enough, Xie Dong recognized the familiar tone and slapped his forehead, utterly exasperated. "I can't believe I ended up with a friend like you. Fine, you win. I'll help. But you're treating me to Spring Breeze Tower afterward."

Chen Mo stuck to the original Chen Mo's style. "I can't believe I ended up with a friend like you either. Fine, I'll treat you."

Xie Dong laughed heartily. "Now that's more like it. Qiulan, let's head to the Blood Ridge Black Market."

It was clear that Xie Dong and Qiulan knew each other quite well.

Blood Ridge Black Market.

Just as the name suggested, it was located in a place called Blood Ridge.

Blood Ridge lay in a canyon twenty li west of the city.

By the time they reached the canyon entrance, it was already the hour of the goat in the afternoon. Through the carriage window, Chen Mo saw two black-clad men with sabers standing guard at the entrance. Both were broad-shouldered and imposing, their presence intimidating.

Xie Dong was clearly a regular here. He stuck his head out, tossed them a token, and the two men with sabers promptly let them through with cheerful smiles.

"Isn't this Young Master Xie? Please, come right in."

Beyond the canyon entrance lay a whole different world.

The canyon looked small from the outside, but it was spacious within. Rows of wooden houses and buildings stood there, along with all kinds of shops. People bustled back and forth, and the place was lively. Many had their faces covered or wore masks, clearly afraid of attracting thieves.

Anyone who came here to make a high-value deal—merchant or buyer—could be targeted by thieves after leaving, with death not uncommon. Such incidents happened all the time.

But prices here were high, there were no extra taxes or fees, and many illegal goods could only be sold here.

So plenty of people were still willing to take the risk.

The group got out of the carriage and followed Xie Dong around, but they didn't find a single shop selling Qi and Blood Pills.

Xie Dong said, "Looks like luck isn't on our side. We'll have to buy them from Old Master Li."

"Old Master Li?" Chen Mo asked.

As he led the way, Xie Dong explained, "Mm. Old Master Li is a pharmacist born and raised here. He's made Qi and Blood Pills before. It's just that his family had the misfortune..."

He'd only gotten halfway through his sentence when Xie Dong spotted something terrifying. He immediately fell silent and pulled Chen Mo and the others over to the roadside. "Quick, kneel. The Attendant of Goddess Hong Deng is coming."