Qing Xue

"All right, I'll wait for word from you, senior sister..."

Chen Qiuyu fled as if her heels were on fire.

Watching her go, Chen Han said, "You should be glad Chen Lei is on your side. Otherwise, you would've run into me at the Martial Arts Grand Ceremony..."

Chen Han had long since planned to make a dazzling show at the ceremony, defeat every opponent, then settle an old score by giving her a one-sided beating.

But things never went as planned. His revenge scheme had fallen through, so he would have to wait for another chance.

Chen Han felt rather vexed. He held grudges fiercely, and until he got to vent his anger, he could neither eat nor sleep in peace.

At midnight, he once again went to the old locust tree outside the city. There, the Black Market's boatman was still waiting on his wooden boat, just as usual.

Chen Han took out ten taels of silver, wincing at the cost. He wasn't as destitute as before, but he was still broke.

He'd had to borrow all ten taels from the Lineage.

When the time came, Chen Han and the others took the little boat to the Black Market.

The Black Market was shrouded in thick fog. Beyond ten paces, everything faded into a blur. Perhaps it was the change of season; the air was even damper than before.

Following the directions Wang Yue had given him, Chen Han found a shop.

The shop was neat and tidy, with all sorts of strange curiosities on its shelves: a lifelike beast's eye, a skull gleaming with an eerie phosphorescence...

"Welcome, customer. I'm Zhang Hao, though you can also call me Zhang Ritian. Come, have a look around! We have everything you could want. You'll find ninety-nine percent of what you're looking for here."

Chen Han's mouth twitched. Apparently, there wasn't a single person in the Black Market with a normal name.

The shopkeeper was a young man who didn't look much older than Chen Han. His fine clothes were as immaculate as the shop.

Chen Han couldn't help thinking of Aunt Xue'er, covered in blood and looking like she'd been dragged through the mud. Aside from her long legs, beauty, alluring charm, tall stature, fine figure, ample breasts, big rear, and flirtatious air, she had nothing going for her.

"Whoever marries her is in for a world of trouble."

Returning his attention to the shopkeeper, Chen Han replied, "I don't have anything to buy. I just want you to appraise something."

"Oh? Certainly. I've traveled far and wide since childhood and seen plenty, but as for the price..."

"How much?"

The shopkeeper chuckled like a swindler. "Not much. Just ten taels of silver."

Chen Han's mouth twitched violently. "Damn, no wonder they call it the Black Market. These black-hearted merchants charge ten taels just to take a look. They might as well rob me outright."

Chen Han found such behavior utterly loathsome and despicable.

"Two taels. Take it or leave it. If you won't, I'll go somewhere else."

Chen Han wasn't about to indulge him. If this shop wouldn't do, he'd go elsewhere. It wasn't the only place that offered appraisals.

But the shopkeeper only looked more confident, making Chen Han wonder if there was some catch.

"Young brother, you don't come here often, do you?"

Chen Han's gaze sharpened, and the man continued, "This place is a mixed bag, and you never know what's in people's hearts. If you're comfortable going to some other back-alley shop, be my guest. They might see you don't know the going rates and fleece you even worse than I would."

"And there's no guarantee they'll keep your business confidential. If you've got a treasure on you, they might sell the news. Before you know it, you could end up dead."

As he spoke, he raised his brows at Chen Han. "My shop, on the other hand, has a good reputation. The boatman who brought you here wouldn't have mentioned my little shop otherwise... Ten taels really isn't expensive."

Zhang Hao was right. Wang Yue had mentioned him when introducing Chen Han to the shop.

He'd traveled far and wide with merchant caravans since childhood, journeying through much of Chu Kingdom. He knew the local customs and unique treasures and secret arts of all sorts of places.

"I see... Fine, ten taels it is."

Chen Han took out ten taels of silver and handed it over. The shopkeeper accepted it with a cheerful smile, then said, "What would you like appraised, young brother? Just show it to me."

Chen Han didn't waste time. He immediately took out the second-rate martial art, Thunderbolt Extreme.

"Oh..."

Zhang Hao took it and leafed through it. He'd reached a conclusion in moments, and understanding dawned on his face.

"This is the main martial art of Thunderbolt Mountain in Soul Heaven City, Yue Kingdom. It is indeed a second-rate martial art, but..."

Zhang Hao handed it back to Chen Han. "This is only a fragment, with just the upper half. It can take you no further than the Martialist realm. It's neither rare nor especially valuable, at least not in Yue Kingdom."

A fragment?

Chen Han took it back, his heart sinking with disappointment.

"Since fate brought us together, let me offer you a word of advice.

"This art is extremely difficult to cultivate. The process requires several unusual medicinal herbs and other items to be used in combination. One wrong move, and you could be reduced to ashes."

Zhang Hao had thought his warning would frighten the man into being grateful for the advice. Instead, Chen Han lowered his eyes, as if weighing something.

Chen Han asked, "How powerful is Thunderbolt Extreme?"

Zhang Hao was taken aback, then replied, "Very powerful... Once mastered, you move like thunder and race like lightning. A single motion sets your whole body in motion, and every punch and kick carries the force of thunder!"

"Good."

Chen Han smiled and left.

The cramped shop was now empty except for Zhang Hao. He lowered his gaze, recalling Chen Han's expression.

That had clearly been a hunger for power. He was sure the kid would be bold—or foolish—enough to risk cultivating the art.

"Heh. Most people in this world believe they're the chosen ones, especially young men full of hot blood. The kid seems decent enough. I hope he doesn't take one wrong step and regret it for the rest of his life—or make a mistake and electrocute himself to death..."

Chen Han planned to head home. Li Muyun was still in his little house, and he needed to find somewhere for her to stay as soon as possible. She couldn't stay with him forever.

Just then, Chen Han passed Aunt Xue'er's shop and glanced inside without thinking.

The door was shut.

"Aunt Xue'er isn't at the shop today..."

He didn't give it much thought and left the Black Market.

The moon hung in the sky, though the heavens were overcast. The air felt so oppressive it might solidify at any moment.

As Chen Han neared the inner city, a figure he recognized all too well vaulted over a wall in the distance. She had astonishingly long legs, stood eight feet tall, and wore her long hair in a low ponytail. It was Aunt Xue'er, whom he hadn't seen in a long while.

His curiosity flared, and he immediately lowered his profile and quietly followed her.

After about fifty breaths, Chen Han stopped.

Hidden in a dark, secluded spot, he silently watched the two people nearby.

One was fair-skinned and beautiful, with long legs: Aunt Xue'er. The other was a small, old man with a sharp, ratlike face and a complexion covered in pockmarks.

"Madam Xue, I never thought you'd been keeping an eye on me all this time."

The little old man's lecherous eyes roved up and down Qing Xue as if he meant to strip her with his gaze. He let out a greasy chuckle as he spoke.

Qing Xue was instantly disgusted. Folding her arms across her chest, she snapped, "You old bastard, you're the one who stole my pearl, aren't you? You dare steal from me? Are you looking to die?"

Qing Xue's voice was as cold as ice.

"Looking to die? You filthy bug-raiser, what do you think you are? It's your honor that my lord wants your things. Best not go looking for trouble again."

The little old man rubbed his fingers together, letting his lecherous gaze linger deliberately on Qing Xue's long, shapely legs. "Why don't you serve me for a few months? I'll put in a good word for you with my lord..."

"You old bastard..."

Qing Xue was so furious her teeth nearly cracked.

"If you don't give me an explanation today, you'll die!"