Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Obtaining the Elixir
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Black Market was farther away than expected.
Just then, a messenger arrived to report on Yang Jeong and A-so's whereabouts, so I left a brief message for the two of them through him before heading out.
The mountain ridge crossing Ha Yang County. I'd heard the Black Market's location changed every time.
"I'll guide you there for just one more nyang."
A girl named Gyeong-ah held out her palm in front of the unremarkable entrance.
"Tell me now if there's more coming after this."
"This is the last one."
One nyang to reveal the Black Market's existence. Another to pinpoint the exact location. And now one more to guide me inside.
"Tch, and this is already a ridiculously good deal!"
Her actions matched her scruffy appearance perfectly, but the spirited girl insisted it was a fair price.
I hadn't expected much, but the entrance alone suggested it was a well-prepared place.
"A formation?"
"Oh, you can tell?"
"Not deeply versed, but."
"I heard even the Zhuge Clan couldn't crack it, but I guess that was just a formation master's brag."
I followed Gyeong-ah down the mountainside—not along the outer slope, but burrowing straight into its heart.
"You have to follow closely. I don't know about the Zhuge Clan, but most people get lost in here and it's big trouble!"
The girl, who knew the terrain and the formation's framework by heart, grabbed my hand and pulled me along.
Without a single torch, we pierced through the darkness step by step until a vast corridor appeared—or rather, made itself felt.
"It's almost Monkey Hour, so just a bit longer."
Seats tiered like stairs. I took a spot in one corner.
Soon, my eyes adjusted to the thick gloom. I could sense the boundaries clearly marked by energy surrounding the seats on all sides, drifting like mist.
'High officials and nobles as patrons, huh.'
I glanced at the girl who plopped down beside me.
"Seems like a high wall for ronin to climb."
I'd thought it would just be disguises or masks to hide identities, but it was far more meticulous, with levels of secrecy far beyond expectation.
"Usually, yeah. Ronin don't step foot in here themselves."
Starting from the entrance.
"Well, some do, but the auctions they handle are already past the good stuff by now."
"So normally, you need a middleman like you."
"Yes! No, I'm not a middleman! This is a special favor, just this once!"
"What an honor."
"You're teasing me again, aren't you?"
Even in the dark, I could see her clearly—lips pursed, grumbling.
'Hao Gate.'
Ha Eun-ye had explained it in detail before, defending the Pleasure House while laying out the current state of the Hao Gate. For an underworld group among the unorthodox sects, they faced notably less exclusion.
No decent man hadn't visited a brothel at least once, nor pitied a street beggar even once.
Not truly unorthodox like the righteous-evil divide, but more like straddling the official-martial boundary.
Fundamentally an information-handling organization, akin to bandits or escort agencies in context.
'Branch leader candidate, maybe.'
The biggest difference between the Beggars' Sect and Hao Gate was gender. A sect almost entirely of women, their successor selection was unique.
Hundreds, sometimes over a thousand girls raised over long years to narrow down candidates. Prioritizing results over bloodlines, specialized in survival of the fittest unlike most sects.
"The world can't be divided simply into black and white, or so they say."
It was very unorthodox-like, but the Nine Great Sects and One Gang weren't strictly different.
Paradoxically.
"What was that?"
"Huh?"
"Are you listening to me?"
"Ah, how far did you get?"
"Up to the auction part... I'm being so nice explaining everything, and you're ignoring me?"
"Sorry about that."
"..."
"What?"
"It's just... surprising. Honestly, I didn't think you'd apologize."
"An apology's nothing. What do you take me for?"
"Orthodox folk have strong pride. Plenty look down on unorthodox like bugs. Super rigid."
"I judge people as I see them, no matter who."
I had no intention of judging orthodox or unorthodox solely by reputation. My past life being what it was.
"You're a real ghost, just like your nickname. No one like that exists."
The girl, unaware, looked utterly shocked.
"You're the rigid one. Can't view the world so narrowly at your age."
"...So, can I tell people I know Ghost Flash?"
"Doesn't matter to me. Wasn't that why you approached?"
"No! I didn't know at first. Found out later. How was I supposed to know a handsome uncle was Ghost Flash?"
Of course, if she'd known, she wouldn't have tried snatching my entire pouch so boldly.
Anyway.
"Uncle... Your eye for that means branch leader's off the table."
The friendly title grated a bit.
"You nailed it. Ghostly as ever."
She was a lively one, full of expressions rivaling A-so—Gyeong-ah showed a real variety.
"But aren't you too unscrupulous, big brother? At least young master or something..."
"Fine, call me what you want. Looks like it's about to start."
"Ah! I haven't finished explaining!"
The auction began. The Black Market auction backed by the Hao Gate.
The formation's effect was simple: it blurred people's perceptions.
"One hundred thousand, going once."
Not just the man right next to me.
"Up next is Heavenly Silkworm Thread. Genuine article airlifted from Yunnan alongside the Man-Faced Silk."
I couldn't even see the auctioneer's face.
"Fifty thousand."
The bidders exchanging small items were vaguely visible but unidentifiable. Especially if the patrons were as cautious as those in masks.
"Blood Butterfly, favored hidden weapons of the Tang Clan. No need to explain the effects. All thirteen pairs are in prime condition."
"Ten thousand."
"Twenty thousand."
The auction proceeded smoothly.
"Why isn't big brother bidding on anything, brother?"
The girl suddenly asked.
"Brother?"
"You said not to mind. Or is big brother embarrassed?"
Same words, but that felt even more awkward. For someone embarrassed, her tone flowed so naturally—shamelessly smooth.
"You passed on some fine swords too."
"...Not here for weapons."
Famed swords were good, famed spears even better.
But choices required focus. A spear took priority over an unnecessary sword, and even a sharp one needed durability to avoid standing out.
As Gyeong-ah boasted, truly remarkable items came up.
A decent-looking spear went to another owner. Forged of wrought iron and steel, it might withstand the Northern Guard Divine Cavalry Art, but its length and size were lacking. That was why I needed a master craftsman.
"Not weapons, then what?"
Didn't I say on the way?
Recalling, I answered shortly.
"Elixir."
And the item I'd been waiting for appeared.
"Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng. First in a decade. The Snow Zhonghua alone confirms its authenticity."
Most items sold at the Black Market came through shady means. But with Hao Gate backing, they avoided crossing lines like human trafficking, and sometimes disclosed origins.
"Its effects rival the North Sea Ice Palace's Ice Essence."
Even hiding faces and names, some items could spark bloodbaths.
"Starting at one hundred thousand."
Like those tied to grudges.
"One hundred thousand!"
The Sichuan Tang Clan's Blood Butterflies made origins easy to guess, so provenance had to be solid.
"One hundred twenty thousand!"
"One hundred fifty thousand!"
Compared to prior items, the Snow Ginseng's handling was cleaner. Unlike Shaolin's Great Return Pill leaving traces, debating a natural product's original owner was laughable.
"Seven hundred thousand!"
All that factored into the price.
"Seven hundred thousand! No more bids?!"
The room fell silent. The sum had skyrocketed.
"One million."
I raised my hand. Watched the flow, waited for the peak, then drove in the wedge.
"One... one million one hundred thousand!"
Commoners went without saying; even nobles hesitated at silver in the ten thousands.
"One million five hundred thousand."
I understood the unidentified bidder's trembling voice and arm.
One million five hundred thousand in coin was seventy-five thousand nyang in silver—fifteen hundred silver bills, seventy-five gold. Only a top merchant house could pay that gladly.
"In rice, that'd be..."
Gyeong-ah folded and unfolded her fingers, gave up calculating as her mind reeled.
"Y-you sure about this, uncle?"
It'd end with the fall of the hammer, but she stomped anxiously.
"Any more bids?"
It fell immediately after.
"The distinguished guest with the purple number seven token, please collect your proof token."
They exchanged tokens upon winning, then paid for the item.
The persistent final bidder shot me a glare, but Gyeong-ah rushed off voluntarily to swap tokens.
"You can really pay this, right?"
"What if not?"
"Not just Hao Gate—even the Sword King in Ghost Flash's place would have trouble."
Meaning Hao Gate wasn't the Black Market's only backer.
"Expensive, but worth every nyang."
After the auction, waiting in the designated room with Gyeong-ah, a lone man entered.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. You're our top bidder this time."
"Skip the preamble."
I took the wooden box. Its special lining preserved the Snow Ginseng's chill. The Snow Zhonghua—a sunlit flower holding yang energy—formed a supreme elixir balancing yin and yang on its own; the box was secondary.
"If needed, an appraiser's standing by..."
"No need."
The bill came with the proof token. Blank paper without numbers made Gyeong-ah gasp again.
"M-Myunggeum Voucher?!"
"Appraise it if you want."
Mimicking the man's tone, he shrugged. Despite the casual response, he was a Peak Realm warrior—maybe even Sixth Realm.
"Haha, fun young master. No need; faking a Myunggeum Voucher is tough."
He glanced at Gyeong-ah, held his tongue knowing both bill and girl at a glance.
"Exit's this way. The girl will guide you, but do take care."
Take care leaving. Not literally pointing to the exit.
I followed the girl out of the stone chamber again.
"Good work."
I lightly patted her neat hair in praise.
"Not this."
"Then?"
"I should've charged five more nyang!"
Realizing Ghost Flash was out of Seo Mun Clan's favor too late, she voiced her regret.
"And?"
The money had nothing to do with Seo Mun Clan anyway.
"I'll put it on tab. Collect when I become branch leader."
Consistent kid. Not bad, like A-so.
"Not sure if I should look forward to it, so I won't and just wait."
As the bustling girl hurried far ahead, she suddenly shouted back.
"Look forward to it!"
A refreshing encounter.
"You said you could befriend the unorthodox too. No takebacks then!"
Exceeding expectations with the harvest, I left her behind and rejoined at the inn.
'By the time she becomes branch leader.'
Plans big and small filled my mind the whole way, along with imaginings.
What would she look like then, and what would I have become, when we met again?