BPIFC -Volume 1 – Chapter 10 The Origin of the Ghost Market

Before joining the Folklore Affairs Investigation and Research Bureau, Yang Xiao (Old Yang) had been nicknamed the “Prince of Comebacks.” However, all the people who had previously caused him trouble had been famous figures of one sort or another. Being reduced to such a miserable state by a young Taoist like Che Qianzi was a first in his life.

Sun Fatty immediately called for doctors to examine both men.

The results were astonishing.

Che Qianzi, who had previously been little better than a vegetable, had somehow made a complete recovery. X-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs, and every other examination showed no signs of internal or external injury. The doctors concluded that he had simply fallen asleep from exhaustion.

Yang Xiao’s results were much less fortunate.

More than half the bones in his body were broken. His heart had suffered severe trauma, his spleen had ruptured, one kidney was swollen and necrotic, his small intestine had torn apart, and his liver was bleeding extensively.

In the doctors’ words, he was basically a dead man who happened to still have one breath left.

After reading the report, the doctor subtly hinted to Sun Desheng:

“Whether you continue treatment or not won’t make much difference. He probably has less than an hour left. You should contact his family. There’s no need to make the patient suffer.”

They were essentially suggesting pulling the plug.

Sun Fatty forced a smile. Knowing the doctor meant well, he didn’t bother explaining. Claiming he was going to contact Yang Xiao’s family, he left the room for a while.

When he returned, he waited until nobody was watching, then secretly pulled two bags of plasma from his coat and poured them into Yang Xiao’s mouth.

“Old Yang, I don’t even know your blood type. Make do with these two bags of O-type blood for now. If they don’t work, I’ll get something else.

Not that I’m blaming you, but you were way too reckless. Director Wu never said to kill the kid, yet you went straight for lethal force.

Don’t glare at me. Those few moves of yours weren’t much different from trying to kill him.

And now look at you—you’re the one lying in bed.

You’ve crashed before, sure, but the people who beat you were all big shots. This time you got wrecked by a rookie Taoist. Doesn’t feel so good, does it?”

After drinking the plasma, some color finally returned to Yang Xiao’s pale face.

Weakly, he pointed toward his discarded clothes.

“Shut up… upper pocket… red bottle…”

Inside the red porcelain bottle was a crimson medicinal powder.

Following Yang Xiao’s instructions, Sun Fatty poured the entire bottle into his mouth and washed it down with a bottle of glucose solution.

After swallowing the medicine, Yang Xiao’s complexion improved noticeably. At least he could now speak in complete sentences.

Lying on the hospital bed, he asked weakly:

“Dasheng, just who is that Taoist kid? Did you intentionally hide his background so you could watch me make a fool of myself?”

For once, Sun Fatty answered honestly.

“If I’d known he had that kind of ability, I’d have worshipped him like a treasure.

Would I really have let you attack him?

I’ve been wondering why Gao Liang cared so much about the kid. Now I’m starting to understand.

If used properly, he’s a priceless asset.”

“Good.”

Yang Xiao took a puff from the cigarette, then tossed away what remained.

“Since I can’t enter the Ghost Market, and Shen La is busy helping Director Wu, take the kid with you. As long as we get the Guangyuan Nether Mirror, I’ll accept what happened today.”

Hearing that Yang Xiao was still obsessed with the Guangyuan Nether Mirror even in this condition, Sun Fatty became curious.

“Old Yang, what exactly is this mirror? It must be something incredible if you’re this concerned about it. And another thing—I’ve heard people mention the Ghost Market in Jiuhe before, but nobody ever explained it clearly. Why’s it called a Ghost Market?”

From the day he entered the Bureau, Sun Desheng had never paid much attention to the organization’s actual work.

His talent lay in handling people and unexpected situations.

Even former Director Gao Liang had said as much.

When it came to professional expertise within the Bureau, Sun Fatty ranked near the bottom.

Since he was still recovering, Yang Xiao patiently explained:

“You don’t know about the Jiuhe Ghost Market?

Jiuhe is one of the gateways connecting the worlds of Yin and Yang.

Occasionally, ghost officials from the Underworld smuggle treasures out and sell them there.

But opportunities like that are extremely rare. Some people spend their entire lives wandering the Ghost Market and only encounter it a few times.”

Sun Fatty immediately interrupted.

“Hold on.

Ghost officials steal treasures from the Underworld and sell them?

To whom?

And what do they do with the money afterward?

Convert it into spirit money and burn less for themselves?

That doesn’t make much sense.”

Seeing that the former director of the Bureau knew almost nothing about the Ghost Market, Yang Xiao shook his head helplessly.

“When Gao Liang recruited you, he must’ve been blind…

Forget it. Let me start from the beginning.

There are several kinds of Underworld officials.

One type is called a Yang-Realm Agent.

Think of Crow, who used to work under Hao Zhengyi. They possess special methods that allow them to travel between Yin and Yang.

They patrol the human world on behalf of the Underworld.

But they’re still living people.

They have to live in the mortal world.

They eat, drink, gamble, chase women—the same as anyone else.”

Sun Fatty nodded.

“Now that makes sense.

But they’ve got guts.

If one of the Yama Kings catches them, won’t they end up skinned alive and thrown into an oil cauldron?”

Yang Xiao lowered his voice and glanced around cautiously.

“For someone so smart, how haven’t you figured this out? What if the Yama Kings are secretly selling treasures too?”

He leaned closer.

“I’ve heard the current Yama King likes disguising himself as a wealthy businessman when he comes topside.

He spends money even more extravagantly than I do.

Maintaining that lifestyle isn’t a matter of one or two hundred million.

There are even rumors that he sells lifespan extensions to rich people.

Though personally, I don’t believe that part.”

Since Yang Xiao’s name was officially registered in the Underworld, he dared not speak too boldly about such matters.

Realizing he might have gone too far, he quickly changed the subject.

“I’m on the Underworld’s records.

Many ghost officials would love to see me dead.

They’d be kind enough if they merely ignored me.

Why would they sell treasures to me?

As for the Ghost Market itself, it’s a lot like Panjiayuan or Antique Street here in the capital.

Most of what’s sold are fake antiques and second-hand junk.

The market opens before dawn.

Remember this—the ghost officials selling real treasures mingle among the vendors during those hours.

Once daylight fully arrives, all the Underworld officials disappear.”

Sun Fatty listened carefully, nodding throughout.

When Yang Xiao finished, he finally asked:

“Forget the Ghost Market. Tell me more about this Guangyuan Nether Mirror. What makes it so important?”

“Don’t worry about that. When you get your hands on it, you’ll understand.”

By now, Yang Xiao had recovered considerably.

He climbed out of bed and began removing the tubes attached to his body.

“No matter what, I’m counting on you.

Don’t let Ouyang Pianzuo get it first.

And I’ll say something I probably shouldn’t…

If that really happens…”

A cold look flashed through his eyes.

“Dasheng, I may have to send him on his way first.”

Yang Xiao was ruthless, but he never harmed his own people.

For him to say something like that showed just how important the Guangyuan Nether Mirror was.

Sun Fatty was about to persuade him otherwise when the hospital room door opened.

The same doctor who had recommended removing Yang Xiao’s life support walked in.

The moment he saw Yang Xiao standing shirtless, displaying a lean and perfectly healthy body, the doctor rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

After confirming this was indeed the same man who had been practically dead an hour earlier, he muttered:

“Impossible…

This is a miracle in medical history…

Don’t leave! I need to perform a complete physical examination on you!”

Yang Xiao completely ignored him.

Turning back to Sun Fatty, he said:

“Go to Jiuhe. And remember—the Guangyuan Nether Mirror.”

As soon as he finished speaking, his body flickered.

Then he vanished from the room before the stunned doctor and Sun Fatty.

Looking at the speechless doctor, Sun Fatty grinned and said:

“What if I told you it was a hallucination? Or maybe… a parallel universe?”