Chapter 433: Unexpected
Chapter 433: Chapter 387: Unexpected
Chen Li stopped in front of a pharmacy, gazing at the sparse medicinal herb samples on the counter, lost in thought.
Bai San, who had helped Chen Li procure herbs many times before, immediately understood the situation. He called out, “Hey, Shopkeeper! Why do you only have a handful of herbs on display? Who’s that supposed to be enough for?”
The Shopkeeper, who had a goatee, didn’t get angry. Instead, he smiled and cupped his hands. “Please, don’t be hasty, sir. What’s out here are just samples for customers to inspect. My humble shop has a dedicated warehouse in the ship’s hold for our inventory.
“As long as the herbs you require are in our catalog, we can provide any quantity. Just pay a deposit, and when you’re ready to disembark, we’ll have our men deliver them to you, fully sealed.”
Gossip leaned in to confirm. “Sir, he’s telling the truth. Most of the merchants on the second floor and above rent warehouse space in the hold. The stalls are just for show; bulk transactions are handled directly from the warehouses for security.”
Chen Li nodded. His main concern wasn’t the price, but whether he could acquire all the required herbs.
He immediately recited the names of several herbs required to refine the Sweet Rain Jade Dew Heaven-Repairing Creation Pill and other concoctions, requesting a considerable quantity.
A flicker of surprise crossed the Shopkeeper’s eyes when he heard the names and quantities, but he quickly composed himself. After a few swift clicks of his abacus, he quoted a price.
Chen Li’s expression remained unchanged. The price was within his expectations and well within his budget.
Without hesitation, he took out several pieces of gold leaf as a deposit, securing the order and arranging for delivery at a designated spot upon disembarking.
Seeing how decisive he was, the Shopkeeper registered the transaction and presented him with a receipt.
Afterward, Chen Li moved between three or four other larger pharmacies with even wider selections of herbs, making inquiries.
Whenever a shop had what he needed, he paid the deposit directly, quickly securing all the herbs on his list.
By the time he left the last pharmacy, all the necessary herbs had been ordered, just pending delivery.
With that major task settled, Chen Li inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
He quickly scanned the other shops on the second floor. Seeing nothing else he needed, he didn’t linger, instead signaling his three companions to follow as he headed straight for the stairs to the third floor.
The entrance to the third floor was marked by a beaded curtain, outside of which stood two Guards dressed in black.
To enter the third floor, one had to pay a cover charge of a hundred taels of silver.
Chen Li wasn’t bothered by the four hundred taels of silver and promptly handed the sum to the Guard.
There were no stalls or shops on the third floor. The entire level was divided into several independent, private rooms.
A spacious lounge area occupied the center, furnished with tables and chairs. Fragrant tea and pastries were set on the low tables, attended to by dedicated staff.
At that moment, including Chen Li’s party of four, there were no more than a dozen or so guests on the floor, and everyone kept a respectful distance from each other.
The moment they settled, a woman approached with a smile. She was dressed in an elegant palace gown, her hair piled high in an elaborate coiffure, and she carried herself with a gentle grace. She curtsied lightly, her voice soft and pleasant. “Welcome, esteemed guests. I am the hostess here. How may I be of service?”
Chen Li’s gaze swept over the closed doors of the private rooms. “Where can I see the Martial Arts Secret Manuals?” he asked directly.
The woman in the palace gown spoke softly, “This way, esteemed guest.”
She led the four of them across the lounge area to a private room marked “A-3” and rapped gently on the door.
A moment later, the door slid open a crack, revealing a man in an expressionless iron mask.
The man’s aura was contained, but Chen Li easily identified his Cultivation as being at the Spirit Realm Seventh Level: Inner Mansion Pass—quite strong for this Black Market.
“Sir, these esteemed guests wish to inquire about Secret Manuals.”
The woman in the palace gown said softly, then gave Chen Li a slight bow before quietly retreating.
Chen Li motioned for Bai San and the others to wait outside, then stepped into the private room himself.
The iron-masked man silently closed the door behind him.
The room was small and sparsely furnished with only a table, two chairs, and a single oil lamp burning on the tabletop.
After they sat opposite one another, the iron-masked man’s lips barely moved, but a clear, subtle voice spoke directly into Chen Li’s ear. “What does the esteemed guest require?”
‘He’s using the Secret Transmission Skill.’
Chen Li’s interest was piqued. Despite his profound Cultivation, he knew little about such practical support Skills. He immediately asked, “This transmission technique of yours… is it for sale?”
A flicker of astonishment crossed the iron-masked man’s eyes. He clearly hadn’t expected such a question.
He paused for a moment before replying via Secret Transmission, “It is but a trifling Skill. If the esteemed guest is interested, the method is yours for ten taels of gold.”
Chen Li wasted no time. He simply took two five-tael pieces of gold leaf from his sleeve and slid them across the table.
The surprise in the iron-masked man’s eyes deepened.
After stowing the gold leaf, he once again used Secret Transmission, conveying a lengthy formula into Chen Li’s ear. It detailed the fine control of Inner Qi, how to wrap one’s voice, and how to direct the sound.
Many parts of the formula were quite arcane; without guidance, one could easily go astray trying to master it.
But with Chen Li’s current level of Cultivation, a moment’s contemplation was all it took for the principles and key points to become perfectly clear.
In a matter of moments, he had mastered the essentials.
Having learned the method, Chen Li got straight to the point, asking via Secret Transmission, “Do you have a True Intent of Martial Dao?”
The iron-masked man’s body gave an almost imperceptible shudder. He snapped his head up, his gaze beneath the mask turning sharp as he scrutinized Chen Li.
He seemed caught between disbelief that Chen Li had mastered the Secret Transmission Skill in such a short time and shock at the rarity of the item he was requesting.
After a long silence, he finally replied via Secret Transmission. “What you seek is no small matter. We do not have such a treasure in stock. However, I do know of a secret channel where one might be found.
“But a True Intent Map is something left behind by a Dharma Realm Powerhouse at the cost of their own lifeblood. It’s priceless and not typically traded for gold and silver, but rather bartered, item for item. If you’re serious, I can act as an intermediary, for a fee, of course. What do you have to offer in trade?”
Chen Li asked, “What is the typical value of such an item?”
A glint flashed in the iron-masked man’s eyes. He transmitted, “A relic of the Dharma Realm naturally requires an item of equivalent rank in exchange. A Cultivation Technique, a Divine Weapon, an Exotic Treasure—any are possible, but the other party must agree on the value.”
Chen Li transmitted back, “I have a Divine Sense Treasure, also a relic from the Dharma Realm.”
The iron-masked man slowly shook his head, his tone contemplative. “A Divine Sense Treasure is precious indeed, but… I’m afraid it’s not enough. A True Intent Map is the very foundation of a legacy, and it comes with a matching Cultivation Technique. Its value… is immeasurable. The owner is unlikely to trade it for a single Divine Sense Treasure. You’ll need to offer something more.”
Chen Li snorted, his transmitted tone laced with scorn. “A Divine Sense item can be used in secret, without anyone knowing. This True Intent Map of yours… its origins are questionable. Once it’s revealed, its original owner will undoubtedly hunt the new possessor to the ends of the earth. Shouldn’t that risk be factored into its value?”
The iron-masked man was momentarily at a loss for words. He gave a dry chuckle and transmitted, “You… have a point. Very well. I can do my best to facilitate this deal, but I can’t presume to know what else the other party might want as a sweetener.
“Come back in ten days, and I will have a definitive answer for you. If they’re interested, we may be able to arrange a meeting on the fourth floor to discuss the details. It’s just, for the preliminary legwork…”
He trailed off.
“How much?” Chen Li asked directly.
“Five taels of gold,” the iron-masked man replied instantly.
Chen Li placed another golden leaf on the table.
The iron-masked man took the gold and retrieved a small black plaque from his robes, handing it to Chen Li. “This is your Token. In ten days, present this to any hostess outside, and she will bring you to me.”
Chen Li took the plaque, nodded, and left the private room without another word.
The iron-masked man rose to see him out. As the door closed, a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.
Outside, Bai San and the others immediately gathered around.
Gossip asked in a low voice, “Sir, is it done?”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
Chen Li nodded.
His main objective for this trip had been to procure the necessary herbs.
As for the True Intent of Martial Dao, he had approached it with the attitude that finding one would be a bonus, but not essential.
After all, with his current level of Cultivation, comprehending it on his own wasn’t impossible—it would just take a great deal of time.
If he could study a True Intent Map condensed by a predecessor, it would undoubtedly shorten that process immensely.
Especially with the Primordial Qi in the Tuo Dragon Pearl dissipating by the day, time was more precious than ever.
Since he had a lead and an answer promised in ten days, he could set the matter aside for now. There was no need to rush.
The four of them didn’t linger. They retraced their steps downward, heading straight for the first sublevel cargo hold, located below the ship’s waterline.
Following Chen Li’s earlier instructions, Bai San took the receipts to the nearby pick-up points designated by the second-floor pharmacies.
Soon, clerks from the various shops arrived, verified the receipts, settled the payments, and packed the corresponding herbs into two heavy wooden crates.
With the transaction complete, Bai San and Peng Anmin each hoisted a crate onto their shoulders. Gossip went ahead to where their boat was moored to arrange for their departure from the ship.
Once everything was arranged, the four of them boarded a small, black-canopied skiff.
The canopy was drawn tight, making it impossible to see in or out.
The four men loaded the wooden crates aboard, then ducked and squeezed into the low cabin.
The boatman untied the mooring lines and pushed off with his pole. The small boat glided onto the pitch-black water, pulling away from the Netherworld Ship and quickly leaving the colossal, brightly lit silhouette behind.
The boat moved swiftly, cutting through the fine drizzle and carving a faint white wake across the dark water.
After traveling for a few miles, the surroundings grew deathly still.
Just then.
A sharp, piercing whistle suddenly tore through the quiet of the rainy night, approaching from a distance with the speed of lightning.
“Who’s there?!”
Bai San reacted instantly. With a sharp cry, he shot up and slammed his palm against the cabin door, which had been latched from the outside.
BANG!
The wooden door shattered on impact, sending splinters flying.
Wind and rain immediately flooded the cabin, causing the oil lamp to flicker violently.
Through the rain, a dark figure stood silently like a phantom on the narrow, slick bow of the boat.
The man wore a rain cloak and a conical bamboo hat, with a saber at his waist. Rain dripped steadily from the hem of his cloak.
By the dim, yellow glow of the windproof lantern inside the cabin, Gossip and Peng Anmin got a clear look at the man.
“It’s you?!”
Gossip’s pupils constricted. He instantly recognized the man.
It was the River Hall Master, one of Li Sanli’s men, whom they had encountered on the Netherworld Ship.
At the same time, another whistle of displaced air came from the stern.
With a soft thud, another figure landed as silently as a falling leaf on the stern of the boat.
This person was dressed similarly to the River Hall Master. It was another of the four hall masters, Hall Master Jiang.
One at the bow and one at the stern, they had the small boat trapped in the wind and rain.
The River Hall Master lifted his hat slightly. His gaze swept over the four men in the cabin, finally settling on the pale faces of Gossip and Peng Anmin. A smile touched his lips. “Gentlemen, I trust you’ve been well. Our Gang Leader requests your presence. Please come with us.”
Gossip was filled with shock and rage. He thought they had been careful enough, changing their masks and concealing their appearances before boarding the ship, but somehow their identities had still been discovered.
He suppressed his panic and rage, shouting, “Is this how the Netherworld Ship does business? You let guests trade, then abduct them the moment they leave? Have you no code? If word of this gets out, who will ever dare board your ship again!”
The River Hall Master’s eyes narrowed, and a palpable, icy killing intent flared within them. “You four should be more concerned with whether you can leave this stretch of water alive. In this vast marsh, the water is deep, the waves are rough, and the night is cold. If your boat were to capsize by accident… your chances of swimming to shore would be slim to none.”
Bai San glanced at the two men at the bow and stern, sensing their auras were only around the Spirit Realm Second Level. He sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “A couple of clowns at the Spirit Realm Second Level. Who do you think you’re trying to impress, pretending to be big shots? Careful you don’t bite off more than you can chew.”
The River Hall Master didn’t rise to Bai San’s taunt. Instead, he just smiled faintly. “More than enough to kill you. Don’t believe me? You’re welcome to try.”
His tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable, murderous arrogance.