TGCFNM -Chapter 257 You’re the Ghost

After getting a basic understanding of the situation, Chu Ling asked Yun Aoxue to go back and rest. Tomorrow, when Zhang Zhenfeng arrives, the case would be judged at the Fulai Inn.

Moreover, if Yun Aoxue was willing, she could post a notice and inform her friends and family, so more and more people could come to watch.

Yun Aoxue sincerely thanked her and then took her leave.

Chu Ling also put away the testimonies in her sleeve pouch, looking at the group: “Tomorrow’s going to be a busy day. Early morning, we’ll go to the marketplace, and in the afternoon, we have the trial.” It would be a full day.

Wan Sanjin exclaimed excitedly, “After the trial, we can start earning money by fighting! My eldest brother will surely be glad that I can make money now.”

Su He also said, “We’ve already cost Young Master Wàn so much money. We should at least try a little ourselves.”

Uncle Wu pinched the bridge of his nose, looking pained: “…You don’t need to try so hard.”

The money the eldest master earned could support a hundred spendthrifts. They could spend it all on flowers every day and still not finish it in three lifetimes…

Chu Ling waved her hand: “Let’s go. Let’s head back to rest, recharge our energy, and look forward to tomorrow!”

“Looking forward to it!” the group shouted.

Uncle Wu, seeming to have given up, raised his hand: “…Looking forward to it.”

Chu Ling smiled very satisfactorily: “Let’s go back to the inn.”

Everyone got up, followed Chu Ling down from the second floor, and returned to the Fulai Inn. Of course, Yan Sheng and Cao Tong also came along, and managed to snag a fairly spacious “ground-level” room.

The next day.

After breakfast, the group prepared to head out to the marketplace, to see if there were any herbs, weapons, or other items they wanted to buy.

Having experienced yesterday, Uncle Wu seemed much more relaxed, with an attitude of “whoever, whatever” about things. Yet, before leaving, he still reminded them: “The marketplace is run by the Tianjian Sect. You may buy and sell freely inside, but do not break the rules—and absolutely no fighting.”

After everyone promised in unison, Uncle Wu led them out the door.

The Tianjian Sect’s marketplace was located on the western side, a long street stretching as far as the eye could see. The street was wide enough for six or seven people to walk side by side.

Yet, there were still too many people, shoulder to shoulder, an endless stream of shoppers.

Chu Ling and the others could barely stay together, moving forward slowly with the crowd. Occasionally, if they saw something they wanted, they had to push through forcefully—letting up even a little could mean someone else barges ahead.

Even so, Chu Ling and the group came away with plenty.

Of course, this was how Chu Ling and the others saw it. In Yan Sheng and Cao Tong’s eyes, it was simply: wealthy and willful.

Whatever they saw and liked, they bought.

Buying nonstop, and they could keep buying, simply because they had money.

The two watched enviously: when would they ever live a life like this?

At that moment, Su He’s cold, ghost-like voice rang out. He was staring chillingly at a stall owner, both questioning and intimidating at the same time.

“This poison is so weak, and you’re selling it for a hundred taels?”

The stall owner was startled and swallowed nervously: “If you want it… ten taels.”

Su He: “…” A typical unscrupulous merchant!

Then, Wan Sanjin suddenly went over, pulling Su He to another stall to ask the price of something.

Su He looked at the stall owner: “The poison on these darts is weak and easy to treat. So, how much?”

“Ten… eight… five… five taels, five taels,” the stall owner said fearfully.

Wan Sanjin happily took out the money: “I’ll take it.”

Yan Sheng: “!”

Cao Tong: “!”

A whole new world had opened!

Immediately, Su He was like a puppet, being dragged from stall to stall to ask about prices. He grew increasingly tired, his expression worsening, looking exactly like a hellish demon.

By the end, he didn’t even need to ask the prices—just standing there was enough for the stall owners to avoid quoting inflated numbers.

Finally, after Chu Ling and the others had gone around buying what they needed, they felt there was nothing else to get. They started walking back along the stalls, ready to rest before the afternoon court session.

“Is no one buying this Xuanbing silkworm? What a pity… if no one buys it soon, it’ll die.”

Chu Ling paused, looked up at the person speaking, followed his gaze to the stall, and then stepped over: “This cocoon of yours? How much?”

The man, noticing she’d come over, immediately stroked his beard and began boasting: “Young master, this is a fine item! I went through fire and ice, sneaked up to the peak of the snowy mountain, endured countless hardships, and finally found it in a clay jar!”

Chu Ling: “…Why not just tell the truth?”

The man raised his hand and said straightforwardly: “Young master, we do business sincerely. I’ll be honest with you: five hundred taels, not a single one less. I risked my life for this.”

“Impossible. There’s nothing dangerous where these Xuanbing silkworms are kept except for the basket.”

Chu Ling gave him a flat look and turned to leave.

The man panicked, calling out: “Young master, this cocoon is no ordinary one! It might… hatch!”

“Hatch into a moth,” Chu Ling interrupted.

The man looked disdainful: “Impossible! Look how beautiful this cocoon is!”

Chu Ling didn’t want to waste time and nudged Su He forward.

Su He silently looked up at the man, unwilling to speak—but when he stayed silent and just stared, his gaze was like looking at a corpse.

The man inexplicably felt his hair stand on end, shivers running through him. Swallowing nervously, he shakily raised his hand: “F-five… fifty taels?”

Wan Sanjin glanced and thought it was acceptable, then handed over a silver note. He picked up the cocoon along with its jar.

The man opened his mouth to protest but shut it again when met with Su He’s stare.

No matter what, a few cocoons sold for fifty taels—he had made a huge profit.

Wan Sanjin handed over the small palm-sized jar.

Chu Ling stared at the snow-white cocoons, murmuring to herself: “Are these really Xuanbing silkworms?”

She had raised silkworms herself—from egg to cocoon. Normally, after cocooning, they emerge as moths, lay eggs, and then die.

“They’re real, just temporarily dormant.”

Chu Ling nodded: “I see.”

Ah, so this martial world isn’t quite the same as their real world.

“Thank you,” Chu Ling said.

Wan Sanjin was shocked: “Young master, are you thanking me?”

Chu Ling gasped and looked up at the person across—they were watching her.

Chu Ling: “…Right.”

Indeed, the sun was blazing today, and the person opposite was dressed entirely in fur, even the hood.

At first, she thought martial artists had eccentric styles that drew attention… but it turned out this one wasn’t human at all.

Chu Ling silently turned to the few ghosts behind her—why hadn’t they warned her?

The ghosts looked innocent. They had also been wandering the marketplace; as long as they didn’t stray too far, it was fine. If they drifted away, they’d just float over—so no warning was given.

The person now stepped forward, hand pressed to the forehead as if in salute, then slowly lowered it, eyes fixed on Chu Ling.

“You can see me? You must be the Snow Ghost? The legends were true after all.”

Chu Ling gritted her teeth: You’re the real ghost—your whole family is ghosts!

“Snow Ghost, now that you’ve appeared, go fulfill your mission—destroy the temple.”