Chapter 111: Chapter 110: Summoned by King Yan
"Buying people?" The butcher squinted his eyes, his gaze menacing, "I run a legitimate business here, I don’t understand what you’re talking about!"
"A regular customer recommended you, so there’s no need to hide anything," Yu Nianzhao said casually. "My friend recently bought a pile of internal organs from you to water azaleas and open the path to the netherworld. What’s the matter? Does the butcher not recognize his customers anymore?"
Upon hearing this, the butcher was silent for a moment before asking, "Did she succeed?"
"She died!" Yu Nianzhao replied calmly, as if merely commenting on the fine weather today.
"That’s really a pity, wasting all those raw materials."
The butcher curled his lip indifferently, beckoning them to follow him inside, "Alright then, since an old customer recommended you, I’ll reluctantly give you a chance to purchase. It’s quite fortuitous, a new batch of goods just arrived, you can come and select."
Yu Nianzhao followed the butcher inside without hesitation.
In the pitch-black backyard, only moonlight shone through, revealing a dozen people stuffed inside, all blindfolded, trembling and huddled together.
"These are the goods you mentioned?" Yu Nianzhao’s voice was icy.
"Naturally, whether for sacrificial offerings or raising evils, fresh flesh and blood are most suitable. These goods are transported from various places, carefully selecting young orphans without parents or those sold by others. You can rest assured, there are no worries afterward." The butcher displayed a cruel smile, casually grabbing a young girl, disregarding her feeble resistance, and rubbed her slender neck.
"Whimpering..." The young girl was so frightened she trembled, tears soaking the rag covering her eyes, emitting sobs.
Dongfang Chenyuan’s face turned pale, gritting his teeth, "This is blatantly against the law, treating this place like a slaughterhouse for livestock? These are living people, yet the so-called Black Market does such malicious activities, truly detestable."
"Law?" Jing Rui behind him sneered, "Talking about law in the Black Market, don’t be ridiculous, this is the domain of the Grim Lord, his word is law here."
Yu Nianzhao squinted her eyes, directly asking, "How much for these new goods?"
The butcher raised an eyebrow, staring at Yu Nianzhao’s mask, seemingly wanting to see through it to discover her true face, "Oh, so a distinguished customer! Wanting so many goods? There’s never been such a precedent in the Black Market, you know these goods are difficult to find, one mistake can attract the attention of the authorities. If you want all of it, I have to report to the Messenger Netherworld Envoy, and let him request from the Grim Lord."
"You’ve got quite a procedure, isn’t it just a straightforward transaction?"
"Surely you’re a new guest, coming to the Black Market without knowing the rules." The butcher pushed the young girl aside and went to the shop’s entrance, shaking the inconspicuous bell hanging on the door.
Ring-a-ling—
The bell’s sound was crisp and distant, echoing within the alley, seemingly resonating with other bell sounds, quickly spreading across the entire Black Market.
Dongfang Chenyuan’s face changed drastically, hurriedly whispering to Yu Nianzhao, "It’s bad, Princess, I feel we’re being set up, the butcher is calling reinforcements. If our identities are discovered, they surely won’t let us go. We’re outnumbered, let’s quietly leave, we know the location and can bring people tomorrow to take this place down."
"Let’s play it by ear, if a conflict arises, I’ll cover the rear, you take these people and escape, I’ll have Wei Zhao assist you." Yu Nianzhao pursed her red lips in admonition.
"No way, I can’t leave the Princess here alone, if the Prince finds out, he’ll slaughter me."
"That’s an order!" Yu Nianzhao slowly curved a cold smile, "Black Market or not, in this entire world, no one can kill me. Just focus on protecting yourself, Song Jiling and others, don’t worry about the rest."
"But..."
Thud thud thud!
Before Dongfang Chenyuan could plead further, the sound of many footsteps came from afar.
No chance to sneak away quietly, a group of mysterious people in black cloaks surrounded them.
They cleared a path, a tall man approached slowly, also wearing a mask, a menacing bull’s head mask.
The butcher immediately stepped forward, bowing to him, "Messenger Netherworld Envoy, I troubled you to come, there’s indeed a prominent customer suddenly wanting to buy all new goods. I was worried about disruption, so I specially rang the bell to invite you for identification."
The butcher, with countless lives in hand, had long developed a skill of alertness.
Officers have come to the Black Market before, every time there’s "information gaps" relayed, allowing for timely evacuation.
Of course, mere alertness wouldn’t sustain the Black Market; at least the Grim Lord’s presence induces trepidation in certain people from Shangjing.
Messenger Netherworld Envoy stared at Yu Nianzhao for a long time, sweat dripped from the butcher’s brow, "Envoy, they do have a problem, don’t they? I’ll just leave them here, make them the next batch of new goods..."
"So you ran here?" Messenger Netherworld Envoy raised his hand, stopping the butcher, addressing Yu Nianzhao with familiarity, "Your ’wish’ articulated in the message has been approved by the Grim Lord. Why not come directly to the Nether Domain for me, instead of buying new goods here?"
Upon hearing this, both Yu Nianzhao and Dongfang Chenyuan were taken aback.
The butcher was stunned, "Envoy, you know her? Really our customer?"
Messenger Netherworld Envoy replied with displeasure, "Do you doubt my words?"
The butcher bowed low, "Dare not dare not, your words are indisputable."
Yu Nianzhao touched the mask on her face, sensing the Messenger’s constant scrutiny, presumably detailed in a message how the visitor would be masked, thus mistakenly identifying her, and if not guessing wrongly, this ’guest’ is a woman, coincidentally fitting her.
She certainly wouldn’t miss such an opportunity, and said airily, "Since I’m here, buying some new goods as well, isn’t that allowed?"
"Sure, certainly! As long as the incense is provided, anything you want, the Black Market can provide!" Messenger Netherworld Envoy waved his hand, "But the Grim Lord summons, all prominent guests now gather in the grand hall of the Nether Palace. If you wish to fulfill your wish, best come with me to meet the Grim Lord."
"Alright, I forgot the time earlier, let’s go now." Yu Nianzhao’s eyes shone darkly, delighted, she had long wanted to meet the legendary Grim Lord.