Chapter 64

* * *

Zhang Jian and Yang Hong each led their horses toward the bustling market of Xinchashan. Yang Hong, who was leading the way, looked a bit anxious.

"I'm not sure if that bandit has made the deal or not."

"Are you going without knowing that?"

"By last night, it was clear no deal had been made. The bandit was being greedy."

From his words, Zhang Jian sensed that Yang Hong's informant was part of the black market. Otherwise, he wouldn't know such minor details.

Soon, the two arrived at an inn. In the middle of Xinchashan, the inn's door was open, and quite a few people were coming and going, eating meals, or drinking. It didn't look like a place for black market deals at all.

"Trees hide in the forest, and people hide in the crowd. To avoid the eyes of the Martial Alliance and the Imperial Army, as well as other ancient families, they conduct their transactions here without drawing attention. The black market people are quite clever."

Yang Hong said this while scanning the inn. He then boldly took a seat in a corner and ordered food.

Before the food arrived, he sipped from the teacup and said to Zhang Jian, who was sitting opposite him,

"Do you see those five guys gathered in the corner? Don't look too obviously."

There, five men with fierce appearances were smoking dry tobacco and playing tiles. However, what caught Zhang Jian's eye were the people eating and drinking around their table, which was placed against the wall. Zhang Jian also sipped his tea naturally and asked,

"Are they the black market warriors?"

"Heh, you really can tell. The black market isn't just taking half as a fee for nothing. They find the trading partners, provide a hiding place, and even offer protection. That's why they take their cut. I should have joined the black market myself."

"What are you going to do now? Just rush in?"

Yang Hong smiled and replied,

"No, no. If we do that, we'll not only face the black market's bounty but also be chased by the Martial Alliance, who won't know what's going on. Let's observe and wait for an opportunity. If possible, we can wait until tonight, put on masks, and attack, or secretly steal it."

Just like the black market operates discreetly, Zhang Jian and Yang Hong agreed not to cause a commotion. Indeed, if they rushed in now and the Martial Alliance or the Imperial Army found out about Zhang Bao's map, it wouldn't be good for the two of them, who lacked backing.

A short while later, the waiter brought the food and drinks. The two started eating as if they had come just for the meal. It was also lunchtime. Zhang Jian took the wine cup filled by Yang Hong and asked quietly,

"Is that Zhang Bao's map really the real one?"

"Why do you ask? Do you think the black market would go to such lengths if it were fake?"

"If you were sure it was real, the black market could have dealt with the bandits directly and taken the map."

Yang Hong shook his head.

"The black market doesn't leave Xinchashan. They have all their influence in this city and don't extend beyond it. They are a coalition of merchants trying to avoid taxes. This black market is just a means of money laundering. Even if they find buried treasure, they would still need the black market to process it. That way, the black market can take half without lifting a finger."

The black market didn't need to do more than this. If the map was fake, they would take half of the transaction amount, and if it was real, they would still need to process the treasure through the black market. No matter how long ago it disappeared, treasure from an ancient family was dangerous for ordinary people.

"Of course, there's also the option of selling it to powerful people. They can increase the transaction amount and hand over the treasure to that force. This is a cleaner method, even if they take less."

After that, the two continued to eat and chat casually. Their mouths were busy with food, but their eyes were secretly focused on the bandits playing tiles.

At that moment, Zhang Jian sensed something strange. Besides the black market warriors protecting the bandits, there were other people in the inn who gave off a peculiar vibe. Upon closer inspection, they, like Zhang Jian and Yang Hong, were focused on the bandits and the black market.

"Hmm..."

Zhang Jian considered whether to warn Yang Hong. They seemed to be after Zhang Bao's map, just like the two of them. Or was Yang Hong luring him into a trap?

But Yang Hong's curse came faster.

"Damn it. This isn't good."

"Why?"

"Jieshangchuan, the successor of the Jie family! What reason would such a person have to come to a roadside inn?"

Hearing this, Zhang Jian subtly checked the entrance of the inn and then turned his body to hide his face. At the entrance were a young man who still looked like a boy, a pretty girl, and Jie Yunsheng, whom Zhang Jian had met at the blacksmith's shop that morning.

* * *

"…You're dealing with the black market."

Jie Yunsheng followed Jieshangchuan into the inn, his face stiff. Does this foolish young master know what he's doing?

"The deal with them is expensive, but I've heard they are reliable."

"Master, I understand you want to show your abilities to the head of the family, but buying things from the black market? Even if the head of the family forgives you, the other elders won't approve."

"Those old men already don't like me."

"Master…!"

Jieshangchuan, leaving the flustered Jie Yunsheng behind, walked steadily into the inn. The waiter approached him naturally.

"Please come in. The others are waiting for you."

Though inwardly flustered, Jieshangchuan showed no signs of it and followed the waiter. Shenzheng, who was following, looked at Jieshangchuan admiringly, while Jie Yunsheng sighed.

Jieshangchuan arrived at a smoky spot and frowned, waving his hand. The bandits, who were playing with the tiles, looked at him with tobacco in their mouths. Jieshangchuan looked down at them and asked,

"Are you going to keep standing?"

A bandit with a large scar over one eye smirked, threw the tiles on the table, and gestured to the others. The other bandits slowly got up and moved to another spot. Jieshangchuan naturally took a seat facing the one-eyed bandit. However, when Shenzheng and Jie Yunsheng tried to sit behind him, the waiter blocked their way.

"I've prepared a separate spot for you."

The two slightly stiffened but followed the waiter when Jieshangchuan gestured. Of course, the spot was right next to them, like the bandits. Thus, Jieshangchuan and the bandits began their transaction in a corner of the inn, surrounded by the black market's bodyguards.

Jieshangchuan spoke first.

"Where's the item?"

But the one-eyed man neither answered nor showed the item, just puffed tobacco smoke at him. Jieshangchuan frowned at the smoke.

"…Do you want to see the money first?"

The one-eyed man didn't respond, but Jieshangchuan took out a paper envelope from his robe and threw it on the table.

"It's a hundred taels of gold. As agreed, it's all in small imperial bonds."

Only then did the one-eyed man sniff and pick up the envelope. After checking its contents, he smirked.

"This isn't enough."

"…What nonsense? This is the agreed amount."

"That was before I knew you were the successor of the Jie family."

Jieshangchuan's expression turned cold.

"Even knowing the name of my family, you dare to be so insolent? Do you want to be banned from Xinchashan forever?"

"Well, if I can get more money, I won't need to come back to Xinchashan. I can live in Tianhousheng or Ganshan City."

Jieshangchuan, smiling, tightened his expression at the one-eyed man's taunting words. It seemed to him that the man was insulting the Jie family, suggesting they were nothing without Xinchashan.

"…I didn't expect the black market to be so dirty."

"Heh heh. Listen, young master. The black market only facilitates safe transactions; the negotiation is between us. What more do you expect? So, either put up more money or get lost."

Jieshangchuan, frowning, glared at the one-eyed man and slowly took out another paper envelope from his robe and threw it. The one-eyed man checked the envelope and grinned.

"See, you could have just given more without making faces."

"Show me the item."

The one-eyed man, putting the envelope in his robe, glanced around. Their voices and appearances were hidden from the black market bodyguards, making it hard to see or hear them clearly.

Thinking no one was watching, the one-eyed man took out a small scroll and extended it. Jieshangchuan, seeing the scroll, wiped the frown from his face and quickly took it, unfolding it to check its contents.

Jie Yunsheng, sitting a bit away, sighed again at his hasty behavior. He understood that Jieshangchuan lacked experience, but showing such a sloppy side in front of the black market wasn't good for the family's future.

Jie Yunsheng sighed and turned his head. He could check the map later; for now, he needed to ensure the transaction wasn't noticed. In the bustling inn, the guests were busy eating, drinking, and chatting, seemingly unaware of them.

However, he then noticed two people sitting in a corner. Their faces weren't visible due to their seating, but Jie Yunsheng felt a familiarity from one of them.

Jie Yunsheng, who prided himself on his keen eyes, immediately recognized the familiar figure. He recalled their brief conversation at the blacksmith's shop.

"Why is he here…"

Feeling an ominous sense, Jie Yunsheng stiffened and immediately stood up. As if this was a signal, about a third of the guests in the inn suddenly stood up. They pulled out swords and knives from their bags or under the tables and glared at the table where Jieshangchuan and the one-eyed man were sitting.

"That's the item!"

Those who looked like ordinary people now brandished their weapons and started attacking the black market bodyguards.

"Ah-!"

"What, what's happening! What's going on!"

"Someone's fighting! There's a fight!"

The civilians, who had nothing to do with the black market bodyguards or the sudden attackers, were frightened by the flashing blades and started to flee.

"Wh-What's happening…"

"Who are these guys?"

Jieshangchuan and the one-eyed man, who were checking the map, also stood up in confusion. At the same time, the first unknown ruffians started attacking the black market bodyguards, and the fight began.

* * *

"…What's happening?"

Zhang Jian, seeing the genuinely confused Yang Hong, knew he hadn't planned this. At least, it didn't seem like a trap for Zhang Jian.

"Do you have any idea who they are?"

"I, I don't know. I've cut off all connections with the Imperial Army, and from their sword skills, it's not them. Damn, did the black market leak information?"

The inn was in chaos as civilians fled and the ruffians started fighting the black market bodyguards. Zhang Jian, pushing the frightened civilians toward the entrance, assessed the situation.

Despite the sudden attack, the black market bodyguards were agile, preventing the ruffians from reaching Jieshangchuan and the bandits. They were using the chaos to quickly escape.

Zhang Jian nudged Yang Hong, who was distracted by the fight.

"Let's go."

"What, what? Oh, those guys are running?"

Seeing the bandits and Jieshangchuan's group disappear through the back door, the two quickly left the inn, blending in with the fleeing civilians.

Outside, the street was crowded with people fleeing the inn, curious onlookers, and those just passing by.

"What's happening?"

"Get out of the way! Damn it!"

"Who's that! Who stepped on my foot!"

"Someone call the Martial Alliance!"

Zhang Jian, moving through the crowd like an eel, headed toward the alley behind the inn. However, Yang Hong, being pushed by the crowd, fell behind.

"Damn it! Move, people! Brother Zhang! Let's go, Brother Zhang!"

Zhang Jian, leaving the voice behind, slipped through the crowd and entered the alley. Unlike the wide, open streets, the narrow, winding back alleys of Xinchashan were dark and welcoming. Though a decent person might avoid such a place, Zhang Jian entered without hesitation.

He heard a sound as he ran silently. He immediately leaped lightly onto a low wall. The sound of clashing swords came from the other side.

Zhang Jian ran along the low wall as if it were flat ground.