Chapter 212: Chapter 178 Certificate
Li Ang himself lacked a suitable reason to go to Suzhou to investigate clues—he also had no relatives or friends to visit there. Sending an Ink Silk Clone was also problematic, as the journey was too far and fraught with too many uncertainties. Moreover, with the recent assassination of Li Shenbin, the garrison would certainly have increased their patrols at all checkpoints.
Li Ang pondered. I need to find a way.
He thought as he flipped open another book to look up information related to the Red-eyed Purple Lady Bee.
According to the book, the swarm would immerse a few eggs qualified to hatch into new Queen Bees. They used a special liquid, a concoction of Royal Jelly and blood from large animals, to encourage hatching. The more enriched the blood, the higher the probability of successful hatching, which explained why the Red-eyed Purple Lady Bee preferred inhabiting areas populated by other demons.
Should I try hatching them? With an Ink Silk Clone managing things, he wouldn’t have to worry about the Red-eyed Purple Lady Bee going out of control. If successful, it might become an asset.
Li Ang began to take action. He controlled an Ink Silk Clone to dig out a medium-sized cave with a pool beneath a mountain east of Chang’an. He then placed the three bee eggs in the pool, allowing them to slowly rehydrate from their shriveled state.
As for the Royal Jelly and the blood of large animals needed for hatching...
I’ll go buy it from the Ghost Market.
The Ghost Market had everything one could imagine—for a price, anything was available.
「———」
As evening fell, a figure cloaked in a gray robe, wearing a bamboo hat and scarf, and carrying a fabric-wrapped bundle, stepped into the Chang’an Ghost Market.
The Ghost Market was a labyrinth of countless secret passages, its major entrances controlled by various powerful factions. As soon as the Ink Silk Clone entered, it sensed covert eyes watching it.
The Ink Silk Clone pretended not to notice the silent watchers and nonchalantly walked along the riverbed streets.
It was the clone’s first appearance there. Its bulging bundle and solitary wandering quickly attracted an increasing number of followers.
TAP. The Ink Silk Clone stopped, purchased a fine iron dagger worth two strings of coins at a stall, and directly opened its bundle to reveal it was packed with Gold and Silver Ingots, using one of the silver ingots to pay.
The sensation of being watched instantly diminished, and many trackers turned away.
This was unlike a child naively carrying gold through a bustling market. For an unknown individual to carry such vast wealth so openly, without apparent protection in the Ghost Market, meant one of two things: either they were completely insane, or they possessed absolute confidence in their ability to protect both themselves and their fortune, and to make anyone who coveted it pay a heavy price.
The Ink Silk Clone calmly accepted the gazes from all directions, gave the dagger a casual flourish, then strapped it to its waist before heading deeper into the Ghost Market.
Ya Jiu had mentioned before that the Ghost Market was populous and complex. Its upper levels were a motley collection of all sorts, but the deeper one went, the more it resembled an actual city on the surface.
Indeed, this held true. The lower levels housed taverns, inns, teahouses, gambling dens, pawnshops, and more. These establishments were brightly lit and bustled with activity all night. Most pedestrians wore masks, and they included both ordinary people and cultivators.
The corners of these shop signs are engraved with different patterns, indicating which Ghost Market faction they belong to. But I don’t see the Kou Family’s emblem. It seems that after the incident with the Shixing Monk’s transformation, the other families took the opportunity to wipe them out.
Li Ang quietly mused as he turned into a teahouse named Tea Tasting Pavilion.
The layout of this teahouse was no different from those on the surface. A corner was filled with shelves of books and publications, several tables with copper pots stood in the middle of the room, a server attended the front of the counter, and a refined, middle-aged man sat primly behind it.
In Yu Country, those skilled in the art of tea brewing in teahouses were humorously referred to as ’tea masters.’ An excellent tea master, proficient in the tea ceremony, could make the preparation seem like an art form.
In the Ghost Market, however, a teahouse served as a hub for trading information. The tea master, privy to news from both the legitimate world and the underground Jianghu, sold intelligence to interested parties, effectively acting as an information broker.
And Tea Tasting Pavilion was one of the largest chain intelligence exchange posts in Yu Country.
Li Ang took a small gold ingot from his bundle and placed it on the table, signaling that he didn’t require the waiter’s services. He then brewed himself a pot of tea and began flipping through the publications on a nearby shelf.
This publication was printed in-house by Tea Tasting Pavilion and featured recent intelligence from the underworld:
"Fire at Chang’an Construction Supervision, suspected theft."
"Nanzhou Envoy arrives in Yu Country, aiming to defuse war tensions."
"Prince Changxiang’s son assassinated, assassin still at large."
"Landslide in the northwest of Ten Thousand Desolate Mountains suspected to be caused by a Candle Cloud Realm cultivator."
...
Li Ang silently shook his head. The information in the publication used many words like ’suspected’ and ’possibly.’ This wasn’t because Tea Tasting Pavilion couldn’t uncover the details, but rather that outsiders wanting the full story had to pay an additional fee and inquire directly with the tea master.
It felt much like browsing a search engine, reading an article halfway through, only to be forced to download an app to continue.
Li Ang was not interested in these details. He put down the publication, walked to the counter, and asked the tea master in a hoarse voice, "Where in the Ghost Market can one buy the blood of large demon beasts?"
"Hmm?"
The tea master’s brow furrowed slightly. He sized up Li Ang, then took a soundproof talisman from the counter. After activating it, he asked, "What level of demon beast does Your Excellency require?"
"Second-level is best; third-level would also suffice. But I need a large quantity."
"This... Second-level Demon Beasts are rare and dangerous. Capturing one often requires the collaboration of several High-level Cloud Patrol Realm cultivators, or even a Candle Cloud Realm cultivator.
May I ask if Your Excellency is in a rush? If not, many auction houses and pawnshops can take reservations, though it would take about three or four days to procure. However, if you need it urgently, only the Yu Zheng Auction House, located on the third underground level of the Ghost Market, currently has such stock.
However..."
The tea master paused for a moment, then added, "That auction house only serves regular patrons. New customers must have a referral or a voucher issued by a credible faction within the Ghost Market to gain entry."
Referral?
Li Ang’s brow furrowed slightly. "What if I don’t have a referral? Would this work?"
He lifted the bundle, filled with Gold and Silver Ingots, and placed it on the table. The metallic sheen of the ingots flashed before the tea master’s eyes, leaving him momentarily stunned.
"This..."
The tea master steadied himself, barely maintaining his composure as he averted his gaze from the Gold and Silver Ingots. "I’m afraid that still won’t do. You must be aware of the recent incident involving the Kou Family, I presume?
The Kou Family recklessly dug tunnels, releasing a terrifying monster from deep underground. If the Wang, Zheng, and Sikong families hadn’t dispatched personnel to block the tunnels and suppress the aberration, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
After that, the Kou Family was liquidated and completely eradicated. Their territory was divided among the other families. Consequently, the Ghost Market’s management has become much stricter recently to prevent any similar aberrations from occurring."
The tea master continued, "If your matter is truly urgent, Tea Tasting Pavilion is willing to issue a voucher. However, you would need to provide exclusive information of substantial value in return."
Li Ang pointed to the bundle of Gold and Silver Ingots. "Can’t I buy one?"
The tea master shook his head. "Tea Tasting Pavilion has its principles. Information can be exchanged for money, but at critical junctures, even a fortune might not secure a piece of intelligence."
"...Alright."
Li Ang, unfamiliar with the world of information brokers, thought carefully. He realized he actually possessed quite a bit of what could be considered ’confidential’ information.
The Zhao Ming Organization, the Sword Immortal Tomb, Mo Si, even the production process for Allicin, and the health status of members of Yu Country’s Royal Family...
He reviewed the information in his mind, pondered for a moment, then said, "I have information regarding the assassin who recently killed Prince Changxiang’s son."
"Hmm?!"
A look of shock and astonishment flashed across the tea master’s face; his movements became slightly exaggerated, nearly overturning the teapot on the table.
No wonder he was momentarily flustered. The case of Prince Changxiang’s son had recently become a hot topic in the Ghost Market. Rumors abounded about the audacious, unidentified assassin who had acted in defiance of Emperor Yu. This assassin had forcibly killed the Commandery Prince’s son right in front of the garrison’s escorting personnel. Most crucially, he had escaped! Escaped right under the nose of the garrison’s Deputy Commander!
This was so inconceivable that some in the Ghost Market speculated the unidentified assassin had actually inherited the Cultivation Techniques of the Jieyi Sect, a sect from the Former Sui era that specialized in assassination.
The rumors grew wilder as they spread, and Tea Tasting Pavilion itself was quite interested in the matter.
"..."
The tea master took a deep breath, composed himself, and asked, "To establish mutual trust, could Your Excellency perhaps reveal a small piece of information regarding that assassin?"
"Okay."
The Ink Silk Clone nodded and said in a low voice, "His name is Bettman."
!!
The tea master’s heart skipped a beat. The figure was correct. According to intelligence gathered by Tea Tasting Pavilion, the assassin had indeed claimed his surname was Bai during the assassination. Currently, only those present at the incident and a select few within the garrison were privy to this detail.
"The information is correct,"
The tea master asked respectfully, "May I inquire as to Your Excellency’s identity...?"
"My surname is Lu," the Ink Silk Clone said after a moment’s pause, his voice low as he stated his false identity. "You can call me Lu Fei, the East Sea Pirate King."