[Shadow Puppet Young Master], [Shadow Puppet Courtesan], [Shadow Puppet Wandering Hero]:
Along the way, Chu Mo quietly took in every scene in the Ghost Market, but his mood gradually grew heavy. More than half the people coming and going bore names beginning with "Shadow Puppet."
In particular, not one of the "natives" running shops in the Ghost Market was alive. They were all things with nothing but human skin, hollow within. Only visitors from the outside world were actual humans.
These shadow puppet people laughed and spoke, behaving no differently from ordinary people. They even haggled with one another, acting out all the varied scenes of everyday life. With the naked eye alone, it was almost impossible to notice anything amiss.
Chu Mo remained silent as he led Di Yang to the Hundred Affairs Tower.
The moment the two stepped inside, a [Shadow Puppet Deacon] dressed as a scholar approached them with a brilliant smile.
"Honored guests, are you here to purchase goods or seek information?"
"Information."
"Please follow me." The Shadow Puppet Deacon stepped aside to lead them to a relatively quiet private room. Its furnishings were simple: just one table and three chairs, plain and unadorned.
"What would you like to ask about? The Hundred Affairs Tower is well informed, and our prices are clearly set." The Shadow Puppet Deacon stood beside the table, his smile flawless.
After a brief moment of thought, Chu Mo asked directly, "I'm looking for information about the urban legend known as the Ghost Mirror."
The Shadow Puppet Deacon's smile did not change, but a faint gleam shifted in his eyes. A moment later, he said, "The Ghost Mirror ranks among the foremost urban legends. Information about it is no ordinary commodity. Basic information costs twenty superior souls."
"Twenty superior souls?" Chu Mo