Chapter 117: Night Market

Chapter 117: Night Market

At the crossroad ahead was a weathered telephone booth, and a suspicious figure stepped out of it. He blocked the way and shone a flashlight at his own face, “It’s me. Me.”

The light hit his face from the bottom of his chin, making his complexion deathly pale and his features eerie-looking. Paired with his ghostly purple hair, he looked like something out of a horror movie.

“Holy mother of god!” Fat Jun screamed and hid behind Gao Yang.

“Haha, lizardman! What fine timing!” Wang Zikai looked excited and eager, and three sharp bone claws shot out of the back of his right hand. “I’ll cut off its head to make a soccer ball!”

Gao Yang quickly grabbed Wang Zikai. “Don’t. He’s one of ours.”

“Huh?” Wang Zikai was disappointed.

Officer Huang also recognized the man at first glance and quickly holstered his gun. “Why are you sneaking around, Zhang Wei?”

“I didn’t expect you to remember my name, Brother Yellow Ox!”

Flattered, Zhang Wei jogged up to them. “I’m keeping watch. This place is pretty remote, but there’s no telling if a monster will stumble upon it.”

After a cackle, he continued, “Last time, two wanderers came here at midnight for some fun time in the wild. They were a kinky bunch! If I hadn’t kicked them out in time, they would’ve died.”

“Hm.” Zhang Wei then looked behind Officer Huang. “Didn’t Sir War Tiger come? Well, it makes sense. A bigshot like him must be terribly busy. Why would he come to our little market? He should be going to the yearly auction held by the Qilin Guild. That’s where the real treasures are!”

Zhang Wei talked like a machine gun. He was so enthusiastic that he rendered everyone speechless.

“Would you take a breath, bro?” Wang Zikai frowned, irritated. “My head is gonna explode!”

“Right, right.”

Gao Yang snickered silently. Ha, serve you right for all the torture you put my brain through on a daily basis.

Zhang Wei was as polite as he could to the five guests, almost to the point of being servile. “This way. The haunted house is right ahead. I’ll lead the way.”

Soon, they saw a fake mountain quite grand in scale. The entrance at the bottom of it was made to resemble a temple for the King of Hell with two bright red lanterns and two roughly made plastic figurines; one was of Ox-Head, and the other Horse-Face[1].

Outside the door stood a young man in his twenties. His youthful face was arranged into an expression of seriousness. He must be a guard appointed by the Hundred Rivers Union.

Zhang Wei sauntered over. “These are my friends from the Twelve Zodiac Signs. Here to take a look around.”

At the mention of the Twelve Zodiac Signs, the guard’s expression immediately relaxed, and his gesture became much more respectful. “This way, distinguished guests.”

The five of them walked into the haunted house. Not long after, the young guard at the door nudged at Zhang Wei’s elbow. “Look at you, Zhang Wei! You know someone from the Twelve Zodiac Signs?”

Gao Yang added, “Alright. We’ll meet up in half an hour.”

Without a word, Qing Ling made a beeline for one of the street vendors.

“Come with me, Wang Zikai.” Gao Yang didn’t feel safe letting him walk around on his own.

“And Fat Jun, you’re with me,” Officer Huang said. He wanted Fat Jun close because Fat Jun’s arm was still a risk factor.

With Wang Zikai in tow, Gao Yang went around the night market and got to know it somewhat. Put simply, it was a flea market for awakeners with a variety of products—all came with ridiculous names making random pop culture references.

Captivating Incense, Nio Pill, Right Hand of God, Devil Fruit, Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, Zanpakuto, Summoning Scroll, Shadow Clone... The names were meant to catch eyes, making the products out to be some incredible treasures or divine items.

Underneath all that extraneous packaging, however, the products were nothing but commonplace medicines, items, and equipment imbued with energy. Most were useless to Gao Yang, and the ones that would be of use, the Twelve Zodiac Signs already had some in storage, and he could always apply for them when going on a mission.

Nevertheless, there were some good deals. Among the limited wares of a particular shop, a fingerless tactical glove caught Gao Yang’s attention. The vendor was nowhere to be seen.

The black glove was sewn with a thin, refined piece of Black Gold on the back of the hand. There was a pattern of fire on it.

Gao Yang touched the thin Black Gold plate and felt his hair stand on end. The amplifying glove resonated with the energy of his Fire.

“Shop owner?” Gao Yang called out, but no one showed up.

Perhaps they were on a toilet break, or there was something else keeping them away.

No matter. Gao Yang eagerly grabbed the glove and tried it on.

With a thought, he concentrated his energy to his five fingers with ease, and the flow of energy when he activated his Talent became much smoother.

Gao Yang nodded to himself. Before Fire reached level 4, the glove would be a useful amplifier for his power.

He glanced down at the price tag: Fire Tactical Glove, 12 jinwu.

Gao Yang sucked in a breath.

It was as expensive as it was useful.

Gao Yang slowly put the glove back down. He couldn’t help but think of Wu Dahai. He wondered if it was too late for him to get close to the man.

“Gao Yang.”

He turned to see Qing Ling standing behind him.

She extended her left hand to him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Money.”

1. They are in charge of taking the dead to the underworld in Chinese mythologies. ?The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñøv€l-B1n.