A Terrifying Obsession

Beyond the small door lay a whole other world.

As the dizziness faded, the clamor of hawkers immediately reached their ears.

Before them was a long, bustling street.

Qin Fei clicked his tongue in wonder at the sight. Though he had long known of the black market, this was his first visit.

"Brother Qin, do you know the origins of this black market?"

Wang Hu asked with a faint smile.

"I really don't. Isn't it a Lin Household business?"

"That's right. This black market was set up by a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Azure Wood Palace. I hear that person and Fairy Caiyi aren't on very good terms."

Qin Fei was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected the black market's owner to have a connection to Fairy Caiyi.

It was normal enough for fellow disciples to have their differences.

But a thought suddenly occurred to him. Someone had been using Yama Hall to target the merchant association all along. Could it be this person?

There was naturally no answer for now. He made a mental note to look into it when he had the chance.

"No wonder the Lin Household allows the black market to exist. It turns out it has a powerful backer."

"Of course. Apart from the Lin and Lu Households, most businesses here in Shangyu Market have ties of some sort to the Azure Wood Palace. If you deal with its people in the future, Brother Qin, you'd best avoid offending them."

Having given that warning, Wang Hu said no more and focused on leading the way.

Before long, the two arrived at a stall in a rather secluded spot.

"Fellow Daoist, we spoke before about the Stage-Breaking Pill."

The stallholder didn't look up, continuing to arrange the bottles and jars on his stall, though he did remember who had come.

"I only have one Stage-Breaking Pill. Didn't you say that was too few, Fellow Daoist? Why have you come looking for me again?"

"One Stage-Breaking Pill is indeed a little too few, but since you're an Alchemist, can't you refine as many as you like? Don't worry, we won't shortchange you."

Wang Hu gave an awkward laugh and stated the purpose of their visit.

But for some reason, the stallholder showed not the slightest interest.

"I won't refine them. Go find someone else."

Wang Hu frowned. The man before him was only at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer. If he hadn't needed a favor, he wouldn't have spoken so politely.

Who would have thought the man wouldn't know what was good for him? Wang Hu was truly displeased.

"Good relations bring wealth. I think you'd better refine those Stage-Breaking Pills."

The stallholder sprang to his feet and shouted:

"What, are you threatening me?"

Passersby gathered around, all eager to watch the show.

Forced buying and selling were forbidden in the black market; otherwise, enforcers would come to deal with it.

But once outside the black market, no one would intervene.

Qin Fei tugged at Wang Hu and gave him a look.

"Forget it, Brother Hu. Let's ask somewhere else."

Wang Hu understood. He cast the stallholder a dark look, then turned and left.

The two left the black market and slipped into an abandoned old residence.

"Brother Hu, was that the only person selling Stage-Breaking Pills in the black market?"

"Yes. I went through almost the whole market that day and didn't see anyone else selling them."

"It seems we'll still have to start with this man."

Qin Fei pondered for a moment, then flipped his wrist. Two lifelike mechanical birds appeared in his palm.

He tossed them into the air, and the birds flapped their wings and landed on a nearby high wall.

A few small spiders then dropped from his sleeve to the ground.

The spiders were only the size of millet grains. As soon as they landed, they scattered, crawling off to who knew where.

After that, Qin Fei sat cross-legged on the ground and spoke unhurriedly:

"Sorry for the trouble, Brother Hu, but please wait here with me for a bit. Let's see when that man leaves."

Wang Hu knew what he intended to do. He found a place to sit and closed his eyes to rest.

The sun set, and the moon rose above the treetops.

The Wooden Kites in the air suddenly chirped a few times, and the little spiders also sent what they saw back to his Divine Sense.

"Here he comes."

Qin Fei and Wang Hu opened their eyes at the same time. They exchanged a glance, and a sharp light flashed in both their eyes.

The two left the old residence and saw the stallholder from earlier coming out of the black market, hurrying off in one direction.

"Brother Qin, should we capture him now? He acted tough just now, but with a blade to his neck, he might piss and shit himself."

"No rush. Let's follow him and see first."

If possible, Qin Fei didn't want to use force.

Capturing the man would be easy enough, but if he tampered with the pill refinement, Qin Fei wouldn't be able to tell. That would be more loss than gain.

Above all, the Stage-Breaking Pill had to come first.

They followed the stallholder until he entered a dilapidated thatched hut.

Before long, a yellow light glowed inside the hut. Two figures could be seen indistinctly, talking about something.

A thought stirred in Qin Fei's mind. He concentrated Spiritual Power in his left ear, and the voices immediately became clear.

"Mother, please drink it. I begged an expert for this medicine. It's good for your health."

"My son, my lifespan is at its end. Please let me go. I don't want to suffer anymore."

"No! I'll never let you die, never!"

"Sigh... heh heh, Mother's good boy. Be good."

Through the little spider's eyes, Qin Fei clearly saw the scene inside the hut.

He and Wang Hu exchanged a glance, both drawing a sharp breath.

The scene was utterly bizarre. The old woman was covered in pustules, with white larvae faintly visible wriggling inside them.

Her body had swollen beyond human form, and all her skin had turned a deep purple.

The old woman's mind didn't seem right either. At times her face twisted in pain; at others, she wore a strange smile. She hardly seemed human.

And the bowl of herbal medicine the stallholder was feeding her was actually filled with Gu insect eggs.

"Beast! Using his own mother to raise Gu! Even if it prolongs her life, she's only clinging to her last breath. Doesn't he know his mother would be better off dead?"

What they saw defied all human decency. No wonder Wang Hu reacted so strongly.

"Obsession is a terrifying thing. This man has probably long since lost his true heart."

Qin Fei sighed. At first, the man might only have wanted to prolong his mother's life.

But by now, it had long since become an obsession, and he had lost his humanity.

"Brother Qin, why leave a beast like this alive? Let's grab him and force him to refine pills. Afterward, I'll cut him down myself."

Qin Fei didn't stop him this time. Instead, he casually cast several restrictions around the little courtyard.

"Those Gu-raising methods don't seem to be his own. Be careful not to draw out some Evil Cultivator. Brother Hu, let's end this quickly!"

The two shot out and headed straight for the little courtyard.

The man was still focused on feeding her the "medicine," completely unaware.

But the old woman on the bed sensed them and let out a piercing scream.

Her eyes popped right out, and her face twisted horribly, making her look like a giant wriggling worm.

Suddenly, she opened her gaping maw and bit at the man before her.

Her mouth was enormous, its corners splitting nearly to the back of her head as it engulfed the man's entire head.

"Save him!"

Qin Fei shouted and rapidly changed the Method Formula in his hands. The Still Water Sword shot out.

The man deserved to die, but Qin Fei hadn't forgotten his own purpose. He still needed the man to refine medicine.

The Still Water Sword struck, and the old woman's head burst apart in an instant, turning into countless Gu insects that scattered in all directions.

"Don't even think of escaping!"

Wang Hu flicked his fingers repeatedly. With each flick, a streak of white light shot out, blasting the Gu insects and splattering their bodily fluids everywhere.

Qin Fei, meanwhile, came to the man's side. He was breathing in more than he breathed out.

Qin Fei tapped several points on the man's body and passed a wisp of Spiritual Power into him, finally stabilizing his life.

Before long, the man slowly opened his eyes.