The Market

What's next?

Yu Xing took the initiative to ask.

Calodi paused, then said meaningfully, "Didn't Daisy tell you? Given her personality, she doesn't seem like the type to hastily assign tasks to others."

"There was nothing I could do. She seemed to have something urgent to do," Yu Xing shrugged. "She didn't have time to say much to me before kicking me out."

"Tell me, what is she in such a hurry for?" Calodi carried the lamp to the table, the red blood array flickering between the lamplight and candlelight.

This made Calodi's face appear to flicker between light and shadow.

Yu Xing could tell that Calodi was supposed to lead him to do something using the blood array, but perhaps he had become suspicious and stopped, waiting for an explanation.

"Who knows? Why would she tell me what she's up to?"

This was Yu Xing's response to Calodi's probing.

He walked over to the table with the bloodstains and sighed, "Besides, it wasn't because she trusted me that she asked me to do it for her, but... we had already taken a shower, but before we did anything, her expression suddenly changed, she muttered something like 'exchange,' and then pushed me away."

Calodi finally looked at him seriously. Clearly, the words Yu Xing had extracted from that strange transaction record had touched a nerve in Calodi, stabilizing the precarious trust a little.

"So what did she tell you to do?"

"She told me to go out with a lantern and look for you in the dark, saying you would tell me what to do." Yu Xing shrugged. "Then she got very anxious and told me to get lost."

Calodi: "..."

Yu Xing: "I also heard her mutter that she wouldn't want me to see her secrets if there wasn't someone else around."

Calodi: "... Heh, that's the truth."

The serious-looking man shook his head. "None of the many residents before you went inside at night after only one day. You just happened to be there by chance."

"So am I lucky or unlucky?" Yu Xing raised an eyebrow.

Calodi paused for two seconds, seemingly pondering the matter, before finally saying, "... I guess you could call it lucky. If you had succeeded tonight, Daisy wouldn't have harmed someone who helped her. Besides, you're her type. Maybe you'll even join us in the future."

The word "we" is a very territorial word, which means that, to Calodi, the other guests in the hotel are outsiders.

Probably except for Little Rosie.

"Well..." Yu Xing wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Calodi.

"Don't ask so many questions, you'll find out later. Now, I'm going to take you to the market." Calodi waved his hand, Yu Xing's gaze once again fell on the other's wounded fingers.

"Going shopping?"

Calodi didn't answer. His uninjured hand placed the oil lamp back into Yu Xing's hand. This meant that he hadn't needed to take the oil lamp away earlier; he was just testing Yu Xing. If Yu Xing's answer was unsatisfactory, the oil lamp wouldn't be returned to Yu Xing.

Calodi grabbed Yu Xing's arm, and another way he covered the gap left at one end of the blood array with his bloodied fingers. He then drew a line on the surface, and the array was completed, suddenly lighting up.

In that instant, Yu Xing felt a strong spatial tremor, just like the time-related aura he had once sensed from the Witch. This spatial energy exploded inch by inch, and then, a scene resembling a time tunnel appeared in his Spiritual Sense.

The indescribable colors were hazy and vivid, rich yet bizarre, Yu Xing unconsciously closed her eyes.

After a while, the atmosphere of the space slowly dissipated, but the surrounding eerie wind reminded Yu Xing that he was no longer in the sealed room.

Even with her eyes closed, Yu Xing could still hear the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Have we arrived at the market?

Just as he was about to open his eyes, something cold was placed on his face. With a thought, Yu Xing didn't even need to rely on his vision; the image of a mask appeared in his mind.

It was a hideous mask resembling a vengeful ghost, revealing only a pair of dark eyes, with two silk ropes hanging down on either side.

"Put it on yourself and fasten it," Calodi's voice came from the side. "Don't show your face at the market."

Yu Xing finally opened her eyes, held the mask with one hand, first placed the oil lamp on the ground, and then held the rope with both hands to fix the mask on her face.

Then he picked up the oil lamp and looked around.

This is the street at night.

Streets in the style of medieval Europe.

It was somewhat dirty and messy, with some scraps of paper lying on the main street, their purpose unknown, while a faint stench wafted from the more secluded alleys.

Calodi wore a similar mask, completely concealing his refined yet serious face, standing beside him like a bodyguard or a supervisor.

"Where's the market?" Yu Xing asked, finding only empty streets.

"It's around the corner up ahead," Calodi said. "It's full of masked people, some of them are dangerous. Don't strike up a conversation with them later."

"Okay," Yu Xing agreed readily.

Of course, it was impossible not to talk to others. Although Yu Xing didn't know what the so-called market was all about, he could roughly guess.

The market at this location can simply be called a ghost market.

Those who can wander around the ghost market only need to remove the word "market" from it.

That's perfect. Yu Xing wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with the ghost and get some information because the background of the instance where this inn is located is too chaotic.

The combination of the Middle Ages and a hospital, along with the chaotic space and time, convinced Yu Xing that there must be a more complex secret hidden within than what appeared on the surface. Therefore, she had to seize the opportunity when she could make contact with people outside the hotel.

He began to walk forward with Calodi, carrying the lantern.

The open street had much better visibility than inside the hotel, making it feel more like a normal night, and even giving Yu Xing a sense of comfort.

After walking a few steps, the street came to an end, and Calodi led him around a corner, where everything suddenly changed.

The once empty street was suddenly filled with many figures, swaying in the distance.

Judging from this alone, the market could even be described as bustling.

The vendors sat on both sides, while tourists walked in the middle of the road, occasionally picking through the items sold on both sides and bending down to haggle over prices.

Every tourist carried a portable oil lamp, and every vendor's stall also had an oil lamp lit.

From a distance, all of this happened in silence, which was extremely eerie.

Yu Xing got closer and closer, but still couldn't hear a sound. Calodi then asked, "Did Daisy say what she's buying tonight?"

Yu Xing: "... Do you think she'll have enough time to say it?"

"Then buy whatever you like." Calodi seemed speechless for a moment. "Tell me what you like, the money's with me."

Yu Xing instantly delighted. Although buying things wasn't his main purpose, anyone would be happy to hear about getting something for free!

We're getting closer to the market.

The people inside didn't react at all to the two people walking towards them, continuing their silent performance until Yu Xing stepped into the area of the first vendor. Suddenly, the sounds that had been blocked by steel plates came in like a tidal wave, as if a deaf person had suddenly been cured.

"Sweet bread... Grandma Elsa's signature sweet bread!"

Fresh potatoes!

"These precious spices are only available for one day!"

The sudden commotion made Yu Xing stop in her tracks, and Calodi nudged her. "Don't just stand there, don't act like it's your first time here, or something bad will happen."