Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Ding!
[Cultivation: Middle phase of Ethereal Cultivation; Lifespan: 2,570years; Health: 243,000; Combat power: 223,000]
Exactly twenty-four hours later, Chen Xiaobeiâs alarm rang and he stopped cultivating.
His health and combat power had increased by 2400.
After putting away the aircraft, Chen Xiaobei and Su Xiaoman proceeded directly to the entrance of the black market.
Su Xiaoman explained as she guided Chen Xiaobei around, âBecause this mountain is surrounded by sand, the yellow sand flurries into the air all over the place when the wind blows. Hence, the name Mount Yellow Wind! The Mount Yellow Windâs black market is built in the valley of the mountain! The shops are lodged in the little caverns on both sides of the wall of the valley! There are thousands of them selling all sorts of things. You can buy just about anything here â especially rare items that you could never find in other markets!â
They were now at the foot of the mountain when Chen Xiaobei spotted the terraced caverns, large and small, all tightly packed on both sides of the valley. From afar, they looked like an ant colony.
The place was teeming with human activity â the shops were thronged by paying customers, haggling and chin-wagging their way for the best deal. The atmosphere was much livelier and vibrant than it was back in the Black Tortoise Capital Cityâs legitimate market.
âWow! This place is jam-packed!â Chen Xiaobei exclaimed in wonder.
âOf course!â Su Xiaoman nodded. âOne of the biggest features of these black markets is that as long as you have the money, the merchants will do everything they can to help you procure the item that you want! You can get everything you want here â even those that are not in legitimate markets! Of course, considering that fact, the customers would be aplenty too!â
Chen Xiaobei nodded back at her. âWith so many customers here, the price of the items here must not be cheap, right?â
âNot really! Black markets are shady because the commodities are acquired via illegal or questionable means!â Su Xiaoman replied. âThe black-marketâs merchants rob, steal, cheat, lie, kill, pillage, and burn. They pretty much do not have to bear any cost at all, and thatâs why their goods are a lot cheaper than the markets outside! The merchants who are eager to get rid of their âdirtyâ goods are willing to drop the prices really low. You can get really big discounts from them!â
Chen Xiaobei cocked his head to the side. âThat basically means that the merchants in these black markets are all wicked people! How are they able to operate their business here without the authorities getting involved?â
Su Xiaoman looked around cautiously and then whispered, âBecause the owner of the black market is a very scary bigwig! I heard that heâs the elder of the Heaven Domination Faction! Unless youâre ready to die, no one dares cause trouble here!â
âHeaven Domination Factionâs elder?â Chen Xiaobei gasped. âNo wonder all these ox-headed devils and serpent gods* could trade without interference â they are protected by a big Buddha*!â
âYeah⦠That big Buddha is really one of a kind! Not only is he able to keep these merchants untouchable, but they also compliantly pay him large amounts of Spiritual Stones as rental!â Su Xiaoman lowered her voice. âAll in all, whether theyâre wicked men, fat cats or big kahunas, no one can touch the big Buddha!â
Chen Xiaobei nodded. âHeâs able to keep the internal structure of the black market running orderly and systematically, and avert external forces from causing trouble here! He has his foot in both the white (government) and black (organized crime) camps! Extraordinarily powerful and well-connected! He really is someone you donât want to mess with!â
âAhh!â Su Xiaoman suddenly screamed, turning around abruptly to give a shifty-looking man the stink eye.
âWhat is it?â Chen Xiaobei asked.
âThis son of a bitch touched me!â Red faced, Su Xiaoman grabbed the man and raised her fist.
The beady-eyed man had taken advantage of the crowded black market and felt Su Xiaoman up her thighs.
The man shot her a lazy smile, âWeâre in Mount Yellow Wind! Fighting is not allowed here! Hit me and you wonât be getting out of here alive!â
Su Xiaomanâs fist froze at mid-swing. âYouâ¦â
The man reached his hand up to his nose, inhaled and smiled lewdly. âMm, smells really nice!â
âYouâ¦â Su Xiaoman stamped her feet on the ground. She was dying to kick this asshole to the ground and give him a good beating.
But they were at Mount Yellow Wind. With that big Buddha watching, no one would dare cause a ruckus here.
No matter how angry she was, Su Xiaoman would have to bite her lip and suck it up! She was miffed!
âXiaoman, let him go!â Chen Xiaobei said in a cool voice. âDonât bother yourself with this cripple! Just treat him like the pitiful ass he is!â
âHmph!â Su Xiaoman gave the man a shove.
âMoehterf*cker! Who are you to call me a cripple?â The shifty man hissed, scowling at Chen Xiaobei.
Chen Xiaobei smiled back at him. âDonât you know your own bodyâs condition?â
âF*ck you! My body is perfectly fine!â The man shouted. âHow dare you curse me? Iâm the one who will cripple you instead!â
âDidnât you say that fighting is not allowed here?â Chen Xiaobei retorted.
âHmph!â The man raised his chin. âDonât you know who I am?!â
Chen Xiaobei shook his head. âThis is my first time here. How would I know who you are?â
Su Xiaoman was just as baffled. She didnât know who the guy was either; she rarely visited the black market.
The crowd that had gathered around laughed at both of them.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âThese two dumbasses are hilarious! They donât know that the person they offended is Master Liu Si.â
âLet me tell you, fourth young master Liu is a confidant of the owner of the black market. Heâs in charge of maintaining order in the black market!â
âIf Master Liu Si wants to, he could just charge you with theft and beat the two of you to a pulp!â
âIf you fight back, Master Liu Si has the authority to kill you both on the spot!â
The crowd hooted and jeered, pointing fingers at the two pitiful little bugs that were Chen Xiaobei and Su Xiaoman.
Master Liu Si grinned. âSo, do you know who I am now?â
Su Xiaoman was suddenly unnerved. She tugged at Chen Xiaobeiâs sleeve and whispered. âChilde Chen⦠Letâs go⦠We cannot afford an altercation with this personâ¦â
âYou want to leave? Not so easy!â Master Liu Si hissed. âThis shithole called me a cripple! He has to kneel down and apologize or Iâll make him a cripple!â
âWeâ¦â Su Xiaomanâs brows knitted together. âCan we not do thatâ¦â
âOf course not!â Master Liu Si snapped. âWith so many people watching, where would I put my face if just let that son of a bitch get off so easily? Next time, every other Tom, Dick or Harry would try to walk all over me!â
Su Xiaoman squeezed her eyes shut in despair. Chen Xiaobei would not be able to avoid this hurdle today!
Chen Xiaobei, on the other hand, did not even flinch when he said, âMaster Liu Si, I was going to save you some face but since you wouldnât let this go, I will just say it â if you want to keep your precious penis, then slap yourself ten times and then apologize to my friend!â
Footnote:
Ox-headed devils and serpent gods*: evil or wicked people
Big Buddha*: someone of great authority and importance