Otherworldly Merchant
Chapter 631: The Blue-and-White Bowl

When the fake Chuyi screamed, the force from his three hands was reduced at once. I took the chance to take outa few moretalismans from my pocketand palmed themon him.

I had spent a few monthsdrawingthese powerful talismans. At the moment the talismans contacted the person, sparks flashed. Then, the man whimpered in pain.

Using the short light from the sparks, I saw the fake Chuyi.Itwas a monster with many arms growingonitsupper body. There were enough toform a circle.Itlooked like the Thousand-Hand Guanyin.Its neck grew a centipede head with two antennas as thick as thumbs.

It seemed to be a centipede spirit that had encountered failure while cultivating.After thinking that I had just grabbed one of its legs, my stomach churned! Fortunately, after my talismans hit it, it was being burned. But,it could still chase after me.

After I gotaway from the centipede spirit, Ibecamemore vigilant. I grabbed the Emei Piercer I had putaroundmy waist. After a while, I heard Zen MasterBaimei’s voice. “Benefactor, please let me use your Emei Piercer for a while.”

In the darkness, I couldn’t locate him. But if he asked for my help, he must be encountering something foul. Subconsciously, I wanted to throw the EmeiPiercerathim. But then, Chuyi’s voice echoed in the back of my head: No matter what you hear, do not pay attention!

I wassocareless thatI almostlost my Emei Piercer! The foulthings hereweren’tas strong asZen MasterBaimei, so why would he ask me for help?

To avoidanothersituation like this, I directly spat blood on the Emei Piercer. I activated it and spun it around me while reading the Sacred Text of Daoism.

The Sacred Text of Daoism was working well, and I felt much calmer. There was no sound coming at me. Soon, I sawthelight at the end of the tunnel. Before I could do anything, I landed on my butt.

It was a hard land, andI had to roll around to reduce the force. When Ipulledmyself together and got up, I saw Zen MasterBaimeiand Chuyi standing not far from me. They were brushing the dustofftheir bodies.

I rushed to them. “Are you all right?”

Chuyi shot me adisdainfullook, but hesaidto Zen MasterBaimeipurposefully,“You see, he’s alright. He even has free time to worry for the two of us…”

Zen MasterBaimeichuckled and pattedmyshoulder. “It’s good that you’realright. It’s our fault that we didn’t remind you before we jumped in.”

I embarrassedly scratched my head, but I felt happy. Chuyi had never joked before.He always had a cold face. It seemed that after he had solved the problem with hisfather-in-law, the knot between them was untied. It was good.

I assessed the surroundings and found that we were standing in front ofthevillage entrance. From a distance, the village had the colors and shape of the past. There were many small, black flags flying in midair, and some signboards rattling in the wind.

Walking on the small street, I saw people wearing ancient clothes moving around. A man was riding a big horse, knocking on each door to notify the dwellers about something. It looked like a historical drama to me.

While I was watching them, I thought Iwould takea photo of those ancient dressed people. Chuyi said, “Don’t look at them. They aren’t living people!”

His wordsmade me pull myself together. I put my phone back into my pocket.

“Most of the ‘people’ you see here are ghosts and spirits. Don’t worry, they have their rules. During the trade conference, they won’t proactively mess with living people. In fact,to facilitate the trades, they will volunteer to help the living,” Chuyi explained.

Every year, some people with big guts would come to join the trades in the Ghost City. They would try to earn something good from the dead. And,when theyreturnedto the mortal world, they would sell the items to antique businessmen like me.

“I’m sure you’ve joined this market many times. Have you ever found any treasures?”

What Chuyi told me was new and interesting. I couldn’trefrain from mycuriosity.

“I haveparticipated in theGhost Market many times, but I’ve only cometo find the stuff I need. I haven’t earned a profit byresellingthe items. And, thereare some things youcanonlyfindby chance.”

Chuyi said that to make me preparemyself,indicating that perhaps wewouldn’t find the mermaid’stearshere.

“Yeah, we can onlytake one step at a time.”

Hedidn’t need to remind me. I understood that. If we kept the thought of success in everything we did, we couldn’t survive in this business.

Chuyi was pleased with my reaction. Henodded, thensaid, “I’vegot a friend who used the good fortune of a whole yearinexchange for a small bowl from a Ghost King in this Ghost Market. Later on, he recognized that it was a genuine blue-and-white porcelain bowl from the Yuan Dynasty.It evenwenton the treasure hunting programonnational TV.Of course, he told the antique expert that it washis familyheirloom.”

Chuyi smiled mysteriously, “Now,guess how much that bowl is worth.”

I thought then gave him a thumbs-up because real blue-and-white products from the Yuan Dynastyhadthe price of eight to ten millionrenminbiand more.

“Ten times more than that!”

I took a deepbreath.Hewasn’t joking, but what kind ofbowl wasas expensive as one hundred million?

“It’s a bowl the Mongolian royal family used to use. When Ogedai Khan marched to the East to fight in the European Continent, he used this bowl to eat. And when Temujin was seriously sick, he used this bowl to make him a concoction.” He smacked his tongue while talking.

I felt excited. When someone’s luck came tothem, nothing could stop it! Who could havethoughtthat a normal-looking bowlwould have a relationship with those two famous figures?

But then, Chuyi continued the story. “My friendbecamea parvenu. But people were jealousofhim. In the end, he was murdered horribly.” Chuyi dropped his hands. “That’s why we say we don’t know if it’s good luck or bad luck when something happens. Making ends meet with our sincere work is much more precious and sustainable than anything else.”

I nodded. He was right.

While talking, we reached the center of the village. It wasasChuyi had told me. Most of the ghosts around acted asifwe didn’t exist. Sometimes, theymadegestures as though they welcomed us. This was the first time I thought that ghosts weren’t really scary.

Alongside the streets were inns,tea houses, and shops. Chuyi casually took us to an inn. He did it so naturally;it was asifhe had known this place for years. Theinnkeeperwore shroudsand satatthecounter. When he saw Chuyi, he smiledand welcomedhim respectfully. “Priest Chuyi, you’ve finallycome. Shall we use the old rule?”

Chuyi gave him a slight nod. It seemed he was a regular customer here. Theinnkeepertook us upstairs and checked us into three roomsnext to each other. However, since Chuyi was worried about me, he asked me to share the room with him, while Zen MasterBaimeiwould take the next room.

“Is thatinnkeepera ghost or a human?” I couldn’t help butaskafter theinnkeeperwas gone.

I could see that theinnkeeperacted like a living human, but he was wearing a shroud. Chuyi understood me well. He explained, “This inn owner is a smart man. Wearing shrouds will make the ghosts treat him friendlier.”

I felt amused. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. That manwas willingtoriskhis life just to earn money.

Anyway, it was his choice. I shouldn’t say anything.