Chen Fan had expected to wait another day for news from Han Wei, but a phone call came early the next morning, informing him that there would be an underground boxing match at Guankou Ghost Market that night and asking him to meet her there.
When Chen Fan drove to the location, Han Wei was already waiting with two bodyguards.
"Get in my car."
Han Wei was wearing a women's suit and sunglasses. Her plump and well-built figure was striking, and her aura was strong.
Chen Fan nodded and got into Han Wei's car.
"I thought it would be a few more days, but it seems this time it's been moved up," Han Wei said as the car headed north of the city.
"Is there any explanation?" Chen Fan asked.
"No explanation. It's just that there are enough fighters and sponsors, so it's starting early."
Han Wei said, "The timing of these fights is irregular, which makes them even more secretive."
"Can your police tolerate it?" Chen Fan asked with a smile.
Opening a cabinet, Han Wei took out a bottle of water and handed it to Chen Fan. "Firstly, Guankou is less than eighty li from the edge of the capital, but it's not within the capital's jurisdiction."
"Secondly, the Ghost Market still exists. It has now become a bustling marketplace with a mixed crowd, and all sorts of illegal transactions are happening all the time. It's impossible to investigate."
"Finally, the background is too powerful."
Han Wei paused and said, "I suspect that top-tier influential families are involved."
"Didn't your Han family consider getting a piece of the pie?" Chen Fan asked casually.
"Someone did put in a word, but our Han family doesn't care for this sort of thing," Han Wei sneered. "Doesn't getting involved in this kind of business stain your hands?"
Chen Fan praised, "Ms. Han, you've earned my respect for your Han family."
Han Wei rolled her eyes. "Call me Han Wei, not Ms. Han."
"Is it really okay for you to go there given your identity?" Chen Fan asked. "Especially considering your current position isn't low, right?"
"That's why I need to conceal my identity," Han Wei said, narrowing her eyes. "However, in places like that, no one will investigate your background. Otherwise, it wouldn't be called a grey area, a sinful Ghost Market."
Chen Fan nodded. As a top socialite with a police background, Han Wei's thinking was quite meticulous.
"As for you, how are you planning to find that Zhao Quan? There's definitely someone behind him, and it won't be easy to see him. If you act directly, you might get into trouble!"
"We'll see when the time comes," Chen Fan said, narrowing his eyes. "I don't care about any trouble."
"You are quite confident," Han Wei pouted.
The two cars drove north, and after an hour, they left the city and got onto the highway.
They chatted casually in the car.
Han Wei gave Chen Fan the impression of being both shrewd and capable, yet also stable. It was no wonder she held real power in the Kyoto Garrison Department and held a significant position.
However, Chen Fan couldn't quite grasp her true motive, feeling that her trip to Guankou Ghost Market was far from as simple as she claimed.
Of course, Chen Fan had no intention of prying.
Guankou was located northeast of the capital. It wasn't close, being over a hundred kilometers in a straight line. Including the time spent in the city, they arrived at Guankou a little after one in the afternoon.
They didn't go directly to the Ghost Market but to a local restaurant with a distinctive flavor.
Upon entering the restaurant, a man and a woman were waiting for Han Wei in a private room.
Seeing Han Wei, the man showed excitement and emotion. "Old classmate, welcome to Guankou."
"Old Ma, thank you for your trouble!"
"Between us, what trouble are you talking about?" the man said with a smile. "Isn't it my honor to be able to host you?"
"You really have a way with words, Weiwei," Han Wei said with a laugh.
"Haha, look at what you're saying, Weiwei, as if I'm being glib?"
The man smiled and nodded at Chen Fan without asking. He then gestured to the woman beside him and said, "Weiwei, this is Wang Ziqing. She's very familiar with Guankou's underground market and Ghost Market."
The woman looked to be in her mid-thirties, with a slender figure. She wore a mink fur vest and a trench coat. She was quite attractive, but her overall demeanor was rather vulgar.
"Hello, Ms. Han!"
Wang Ziqing knew Han Wei's identity and respectfully bowed, shaking Han Wei's hand.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Ms. Wang," Han Wei said affably.
"Not at all, not at all. This is a blessing I could only dream of," Wang Ziqing said with a fawning smile.
"My identity is rather sensitive, so I can't accompany you to the Ghost Market. If you need anything, just tell Ziqing," Old Ma said. "I know your personality, and I won't try to dissuade you from going, but you must be careful!"
Han Wei nodded.
"I'll be waiting with my men near the Ghost Market at all times. If you encounter any trouble, send your bodyguards for help," Old Ma added, still uneasy.
"No need to be so cautious. I have experts accompanying me," Han Wei said with a smile. "I know communication won't work inside, but it's not that dire."
Old Ma gave a wry smile.
He had taken a risk for this matter. If not for his special identity, he would have loved to accompany her personally.
Chen Fan listened from the side, a little surprised.
Han Wei was clearly not using her Han family's connections but had found Old Ma through her own relationships.
Judging by his demeanor and the fact that they were old classmates, this Old Ma was clearly someone from the police system as well.
"Alright, Old Ma, we won't drink. I'll toast you with tea to thank you for your hospitality," Han Wei said, raising her cup with a smile.
"Alright. You know, that Ghost Market is a chaotic and sinful place where all sorts of people mix. It's really not suitable for you," Old Ma said, raising his cup.
"What are you saying? So many rich young masters go there to have fun, why can't I?" Han Wei laughed. "Don't overthink it. Putting aside our identities, just think of it as ordinary entertainment."
Old Ma was speechless and changed the subject. While eating, he had Wang Ziqing introduce the situation of the Ghost Market.
Wang Ziqing's understanding of the Ghost Market was not just on paper; she provided a detailed account.
Guankou, in ancient times, was a strategic passage to the outside of the pass, a place of military contention.
At the same time, it was also the route for valuable goods from the northeast, such as pearls, furs, ginseng, and deer antlers, to enter the pass.
Although times had changed, it remained a distribution center for goods from the northeast, leading to developed commerce and the emergence of many trading markets.
The Ghost Market was a prime example of this.
Initially, the Ghost Market was where buyers and sellers in the antique trade would set up stalls to trade before dawn.
As its scale grew, the Guankou Ghost Market began to open after dark, becoming a gathering place for various dealers and brokers.
The goods traded were no longer limited to legal items but extended to all sorts of illegal and forbidden items.
Later, with the intervention of various forces, gamblers and streetwalkers also gathered here, even human traffickers.
Anything could be bought in this black market, provided one had the money.
As for underground boxing matches, they had always existed here and could not be eradicated.
The areas outside the pass were originally known for their fierce folk customs and martial arts. During times of war, there were often life-and-death duels, which later evolved into underground boxing matches.
The introduction of underground boxing matches into the Guankou Ghost Market was therefore a natural progression.
In earlier years, the scale was not as large, with only a few matches every few days. However, after the involvement of behind-the-scenes forces, it began to grow, attracting wealthy gamblers from all walks of life, leading to its current reputation.
It was said that many martial artists participated, either for the immense wealth or in hopes of being noticed by a sponsor and achieving future success.
After all, not all martial artists had good backgrounds. Most were caught between ancient martial arts and the secular world. With no other skills, they could only use their fists to forge a future.
The meal was quite long. After eating, Old Ma took his leave.
After sending off Old Ma, Wang Ziqing said, "Ms. Han, do you have cash prepared?"