“Quick, look! This notice is seeking skilled individuals to investigate the Red Mansion incident. As long as the strange evil is resolved, a reward of five thousand silver can be obtained, with other compensation to be negotiated.” “The yamen is really bleeding money this time, five thousand silver! I’ve never even seen ten silver, how much is five thousand? That’s enough to never worry again, to eat big fish and meat, and live a stable life.”
It’s a pity they were all ordinary people, how could they have the ability to trouble an evil? One wrong move and their lives might be forfeit. This thing, it’s not something to provoke. It’s better to leave it to the professionals.
However, a whole afternoon passed, and no one came forward to accept the bounty.
By night, the entire city was silent. Under the curfew, no one dared to go out. The city was already in a state of panic, fearing that evil spirits would come knocking, and everyone kept their doors tightly shut.
Strangely enough, for two consecutive days, no new citizens were harmed. It seemed the evil spirit had left.
News from the Demon Suppression Division also arrived, stating that they would only have personnel available to investigate in seven days. During this period, the curfew would continue, and no one was allowed out at night.
On the third night.
A dark cloud drifted across the sky.
Zhuang Buzhou opened the door, dressed in a black robe, a long saber at his side, and a pouch hanging from his waist. The pouch contained almost all of his accumulated wealth over the years: three hundred silver. Besides the money, there was also the qingyun tea he had accumulated over the years, and a mask in his embrace.
“The night is dark and windy; I hope everything goes smoothly. I’ve waited too long for this opportunity.”
Zhuang Buzhou looked up at the sky, taking a deep breath. Today was the day of the trade fair, and it was held at night. This time, he was determined to get a result. All he wanted was an opportunity.
Even if it meant sacrificing all his wealth, he would not hesitate.
Once one enters the extraordinary and joins the ranks of Cultivators, it is a step to heaven.
“I hope not to encounter any evil spirits.”
Zhuang Buzhou thought to himself.
This trip to Green Willow Manor required passing through the South City Gate, which was in the South Street area. The Red Mansion was known to appear there, and no one knew if they would encounter it. Once encountered, it would likely be quite dangerous, as no one knew what abilities the evil spirit possessed.
However, no matter how dangerous, he had to go.
If he missed this chance, he feared he truly wouldn’t have another.
Creak!
He closed the door again and walked towards South Street.
Clang! Clang! Clang!!
“The weather is dry, be careful with fire.”
In the darkness, there was silence. Under the curfew, there were no pedestrians outside, not even constables. Only the night watchman was still out, and the crisp sound of his watchman’s gong could be heard from time to time.
He walked quietly in the night. Suddenly, in the darkness, two red lights flickered before his eyes.
“Red lanterns, Red Mansion.”
Zhuang Buzhou’s heart leaped. He looked closely and saw an extremely large building in an open space ahead. Its overall area was vast, exuding an ancient charm and scent. In front of the gate, a pair of large red lanterns hung high, shining with a brilliant red light. The gate was wide open. A continuous stream of singing and chattering seemed to enter his ears, making him feel an uncontrollable heat and his mind wander.
His feet almost instinctively wanted to step towards the Red Mansion.
Clang! Clang! Clang!!
Just as he was about to step out, a crisp striking sound came from the night sky.
“The weather is dry, be careful with fire.”
The watchman’s gong startled Zhuang Buzhou awake. He instinctively looked over. The Red Mansion from moments ago had vanished, and an old man with a somewhat bent and aged body walked by.
Lantern, copper gong, cloak, straw cape, bamboo tube.
“It’s Hu Bo.”
Zhuang Buzhou saw him, feeling slightly stunned. His eyes shifted, and instantly, a number appeared in his vision.
Forty-three years, six months, eleven days, five hours, twenty-one minutes, seven seconds.
“Hu Bo is over fifty years old and started working as a night watchman very early. His remaining time is actually so much, his lifespan is actually a full hundred.”
A lifespan of a full hundred, this was the same as Hong Gu, already the pinnacle among mortals. Was such a person truly just an ordinary night watchman? One must know that since ancient times, the lifespan of the Human Race has not been very long. The average lifespan was only forty to fifty years; at forty, one already knew their destiny. To live to a hundred was simply to be an old Birthday . Seeing one was already surprising, but to see two in this small Qingyun City.
If this were normal, Zhuang Buzhou wouldn’t believe it even if he twisted his head off.
“The Red Mansion disappeared just now because of Hu Bo?”
A thought flashed through Zhuang Buzhou’s mind.
Looking at Hu Bo’s retreating figure, his mind couldn’t help but wander. It seemed this world was truly unfathomable. Someone who seemed very familiar in daily life could very well have a completely different identity behind the scenes.
“No matter what kind of world it is, I will eventually step into it.”
He secretly made up his mind, no longer hesitating. After the Red Mansion disappeared, there were no more obstacles, and he quickly walked towards the city gate. It was already night, and the city gate was closed. Ordinary people were forbidden from going out, but this city gate could stop ordinary people, but not true powerhouses. Those who cultivated martial arts, and had reached the Peak of Acquired Realm, their light body skill, “Grass-on-the-Wind,” was not just an empty name, plus some special tools.
He easily climbed over the city wall.
Leaving the city at night was quite dangerous.
Outside the city at night, there were large numbers of wild beasts, and even demonic creatures hidden in the darkness, posing a constant threat of danger. Generally, unless necessary, one would not easily leave the city. If something unexpected happened, one wouldn’t even be able to call for help.
Zhuang Buzhou, however, did not hesitate. Before this, he had already made detailed preparations.
Maps, night-time insect repellent sachets, and so on, were all carried with him.
Following the route marked on the map, he quickly walked towards Green Willow Manor.
The Manor was not too far from Qingyun City.
However, he had already arrived near the Manor.
Mass graves, withered trees, crows, ghost fires.
A dilapidated Manor lay beneath the mass graves.
This Manor covered a vast area. Although it was dilapidated, it was undoubtedly once a wealthy family’s estate. It covered an area of no less than one hundred acres. When it was not yet abandoned, it contained not only gardens, rockeries, but also a lake. Numerous willows surrounded it, making the scenery quite beautiful. But now it was different; apart from the willows, other things, left untended, appeared much more dilapidated.
It was incomparable to its former state.
“Ghost fire, it’s a ghost fire lantern. This is indeed the location where the trade fair is held, without a doubt.”
Zhuang Buzhou arrived in front of the Manor, looking at the two lanterns hanging at the entrance. The lanterns emitted a green, eerie light, which was ghost fire, giving him a chilling sensation that involuntarily sent shivers down his spine.
His heart was filled with awe.
He put on the mask he had prepared. It was a featureless, blank mask, only exposing his eyes, with two small holes for the nose, and a series of breathing holes pierced at the mouth. From the outside, no one could see his appearance through the mask.
There were no guards at the Manor at all.
The gate was wide open; anyone who could reach here could enter.
Upon entering, he saw that there were quite a few people in the Manor, all gathered in an open space. Each wore a black robe and a mask, concealing their identities. The number of people was not large, roughly around a hundred.
“Are there so many Cultivators near Qingyun City?”
Zhuang Buzhou was secretly startled, but he also guessed that not all of them were Cultivators; there must be others like himself, seeking an opportunity to become a Cultivator here.
When the people there saw Zhuang Buzhou enter, they merely glanced up, without speaking or intending to greet him. Coming here, they naturally knew what kind of place this was and had their own objectives, so greetings were unnecessary.
Some were setting up stalls, others were browsing.
Once someone found an item they liked, they could begin negotiating a trade.
“What are these Talismans, and what do they do?”
Zhuang Buzhou’s first glance fell upon a stall near the entrance. Behind the stall sat a man in a green robe, wearing a monkey-face mask. His specific features, of course, were completely obscured.
However, he could see the numbers displayed above his head.
“Thirty-seven years, five months, twenty-three days, six hours, thirty-four minutes, sixteen seconds.”
Judging by his age, this was another being whose lifespan had reached the mortal limit.
He must possess something extraordinary.
“These are Talismans. I have three types of Talismans: Evil-Dispelling Talisman, House-Protecting Talisman, and Fireball Talisman. All are Low Grade First-tier Talismans. The Evil-Dispelling Talisman can ward off evil spirits and strange entities of the same tier, and it also has some effect on higher-level evil spirits. The House-Protecting Talisman, when affixed to a residence, can ensure the safety of the household. Ordinary evil spirits dare not approach easily and provide strong protection for family members. As for the Fireball Talisman, when activated, it can transform into a fireball. A Martial Artist at the Peak of Acquired Realm would instantly turn to ash under a Fireball.”
A slightly aged voice entered his ears.
“What’s the price?”
Zhuang Buzhou was secretly startled. These were true extraordinary items. Witnessing them firsthand, he was already quite excited.
“If using worldly currency, one Talisman costs one hundred silver. If you have symbol coins, one Talisman requires nine copper symbol coins.”
The old man glanced at Zhuang Buzhou and slowly said.
He seemed to have recognized that Zhuang Buzhou was a newcomer just entering the world of cultivation.
“May I ask, Senior, what are symbol coins?”
Zhuang Buzhou did not shy away. In a place like this, his status as a newcomer could not be hidden. Many things would reveal flaws and give him away with just a few words. Rather than trying to hide it, it was better to be open; there was no shame in it.
“A newcomer.”
The old man said without surprise: “symbol coins are a type of currency in the cultivation world. Blank symbol coins are forged using special methods, and then by absorbing Power Of Will, they become true symbol coins that can circulate. There are copper symbol coins, silver talisman coins, and gold symbol coins, with each difference being a hundredfold. One hundred copper symbol coins can be exchanged for one silver Talisman coin, and one hundred silver talisman coins can be exchanged for one gold symbol coin. symbol coins contain Power Of Will, which can be absorbed to temper one’s Spiritual Root.”
This old man seemed quite benevolent.