Ghost Jade Acquired Again

"You brat, you've actually entered the threshold of martial arts!"

Zheng Yuanpei turned his head, his gaze sharp as lightning.

He scanned Fang Shuwen up and down, his tone laced with a hint of astonishment.

But it was only for a glance.

Although it is difficult for ordinary families to practice martial arts, there are always some lucky ones who manage to enter the path.

This is nothing strange; there are many such cases every year.

"Old Master has a discerning eye."

Fang Shuwen admitted it openly.

This old man's martial arts are likely not weak; he must have noticed it just now when he pulled him.

The two soon arrived at the second floor.

The corridor was covered with a dark red carpet, several ink landscape paintings hung on the walls, and a faint scent of sandalwood drifted in the air.

Occasionally, female attendants wearing cheongsams would pass by carrying tea trays.

Zheng Yuanpei pushed open the door to the innermost private room and walked in first.

The room was not small; facing the street was a carved wooden window, and the afternoon sunlight spilled in through the lattice.

In the center of the room stood a yellow pear wood chessboard, and sure enough, a remnant game was placed on the table.

The black and red pieces were scattered, exactly the same game the two had played to the end on the street yesterday.

On the small tea table beside the chessboard sat two celadon lidded bowls.

The tea was no longer steaming, clearly indicating that someone had been here earlier.

It seemed they had been studying this game.

"Sit."

Zheng Yuanpei sat down at one end of the chessboard, leaned his cane against the back of the chair, and gestured for Fang Shuwen to sit opposite him.

Fang Shuwen placed his cloth bag by his feet and sat down as instructed.

He glanced at the chessboard, and his mind was made up.

"Old Master, your addiction is truly quite large," Fang Shuwen couldn't help but say.

"Less nonsense."

Zheng Yuanpei snorted and reached out to pick up a black horse.

"I pondered for half the night yesterday. Your chess style looks plain and unremarkable, but in reality, it hides knives everywhere."

"I am not convinced by my loss in yesterday's game. Let's go again today; I want to see if you can still win."

Fang Shuwen did not rush to accept the challenge.

He did not come here today to play chess, but to inquire about the exotic species.

He glanced at the remnant game on the table, then looked up at Zheng Yuanpei, and spoke unhurriedly:

"Old Master, we can play. But before we play, I would like to ask you about something."

Zheng Yuanpei was just about to place a piece, but his hand paused at these words. He lifted his eyelids to look at him: "What is it? Ask away."

"That miscellaneous jade from yesterday, where did you get it from?"

Fang Shuwen thought for a moment and asked.

"I bought it!" Zheng Yuanpei said as if it were a matter of course.

After saying this, He leaned back against the chair, and a look of curiosity appeared on his aged face.

"Why are you asking about this Ghost Jade? Do you want to win another one?"

Ghost Jade?

Another new name.

However, the old man's answer was truly somewhat unexpected.

Bought it.

But, thinking about it in his heart.

Old Master Zheng was right; it was normal for it to be bought.

"Can you tell me why this jade is called Ghost Jade?" Fang Shuwen continued to ask.

"Hehe, play chess first. We'll talk after you win!"

Zheng Yuanpei acted as if he hadn't heard, picked up the black horse, and placed it steadily on the chessboard.

"Play chess, play chess. Where do you get so many questions? Whatever it is, we'll talk after the game!"

Fang Shuwen looked at the old man in green robes opposite him, feeling somewhat amused and helpless.

This old man certainly has a massive addiction to chess.

However, a second thought crossed his mind: he clearly wouldn't be seeing Guo Ziming today.

Besides, even if he did meet him, that guy needed time to scout for information, and it wasn't necessarily reliable anyway.

Therefore, it was better to just play chess with the old man.

It would be best to win another Ghost Jade from him.

An hour later.

Fang Shuwen moved his chariot to the center file again, Check.

He then took his hands off the table and looked at the old man.

"I'm done, I'm done!"

Zheng Yuanpei tossed the black general piece in his hand onto the board, where it rolled a few times before coming to a stop.

He leaned back into his chair, his face full of despair, and waved his hand.

"Ask whatever you want to ask, kid."

Fang Shuwen smiled faintly, taking his time to pick up the pieces from the board one by one and return them to the container.

Only after he finished did he look up.

"Old man, you mentioned earlier that the jade was bought. Could you tell this junior where you purchased it? Also, you call it 'Ghost Jade'—is there any particular significance to that name?"

"Oh, right, and what happens to the corpses of the exotic monsters in the end?"

Another hour passed.

Fang Shuwen had another Ghost Jade in his hand.

As it turned out, after he had clarified the origins and the nature of the exotic monsters from Old Man Zheng, the old man seemed unwilling to accept defeat and, regaining his interest, insisted on playing a few more rounds.

And then, he lost again.

"This trip was worth it!"

He weighed the second Ghost Jade he had just won in his hand.

It was slightly smaller than the one from yesterday, but the quality seemed even better.

He didn't rush to absorb it, instead tucking it into his bag.

This trip had indeed been worth it.

According to Old Man Zheng, Ghost Jade came in two types.

One was naturally formed, with unknown origins.

The other was artificially synthesized.

By sealing the bones, flesh, and heart blood of a freshly dead monster using special methods, a new Ghost Jade could be refined.

As for the disposal of the monster corpses, the old man had also made it clear.

They were basically purchased by the National Martial Arts Hall to be refined into Ghost Jade.

Afterward, they would be put up for sale at the National Martial Arts Hall.

Depending on the energy level, they cost anywhere from twenty or thirty to hundreds or thousands of silver dollars.

"So, for now, the only option is to buy them at the National Martial Arts Hall."

"But the problem is, I don't have that much money! And I don't know if I can absorb energy directly from the exotic monsters!"

Fang Shuwen pondered for a moment, temporarily setting the thought aside, and headed down the stairs to leave Wenxuan Pavilion.

He walked along the corridor paved with dark red carpet, and just as he reached the top of the stairs, he saw a young girl walk into the lobby of Wenxuan Pavilion.

The girl was dressed in a rouge-red skirt, her long, beautiful legs encased in white stockings.

A light cyan silk scarf was wrapped around her neck, and her ink-black hair hung down naturally.

She was dressed exactly like a young lady from a wealthy family.

"Tsk, why is it this little wench!"

Fang Shuwen's brows furrowed unnaturally.

This woman was none other than the wealthy young lady whose bottom the original owner had pinched.

He hadn't expected to run into her here today.

What a stroke of bad luck.

The pleasant mood he had felt from gaining another Ghost Jade and successfully gathering intelligence sank.

After all, The original host was knocked unconscious by a chivalrous gang member because of this little wench, which was what led to his transmigration.

So, Seeing this girl now, his mood was naturally far from good.

"It's you!"

"Why are you here? Who let you in!"

While Fang Shuwen was lost in thought, the young girl had already walked up the stairs.

Upon seeing Fang Shuwen, her delicate, pretty face was instantly covered in frost.

She secretly gritted her teeth, thinking to herself how she could have run into this hooligan here!

Bad luck, truly bad luck!

If she had known, she should have just gone straight home instead of coming here to continue analyzing the chess game with her grandfather.

"What, is this place run by your family? Am I not allowed to come here!"

Fang Shuwen let out a cold snort, his expression looking quite unpleasant.

However, he had no intention of entangling himself with this wealthy girl, whose identity was clearly not simple.

But, to go downstairs, the only way was the staircase in front of him.

He certainly had no reason to step aside.

After speaking, he strode downward.

Seeing this, the wealthy young girl couldn't help but retreat a few steps, shielding her backside with both hands, looking flustered.

"You, don't come over! Otherwise, otherwise, I'll have someone beat you up!"

"Heh, flat in the front and flat in the back—who would have any interest in you."

Fang Shuwen let out a cold snort as if in disgust, took long strides down the stairs, and soon disappeared outside the doors of Wenxuan Pavilion.

It was only then that the girl reacted.

"What, that bumpkin dared to mock this young lady's figure! He must be blind!"

A woman's focus is often different from a man's.

A moment ago she looked terrified of being bullied, but once Fang Shuwen showed his disdain, she felt he had no taste!

The wealthy young girl stomped her feet in hatred, then walked toward the innermost room on the second floor.

At this moment, from the shadows on the other side of the second floor.

Liu Mang withdrew his dark gaze from the entrance of Wenxuan Pavilion.

"Fang Shuwen, you brat, you really have some skill to have snuck in here."

"So you're looking for Young Master Guo! Then don't blame me for being ruthless!"