The further west they went, the later it got dark.
Even though it was already November, it wouldn't get dark until around seven in the evening.
Due to the altitude, the temperature had already dropped below freezing, and many people were bundled up in down jackets.
Xu Lie wore only a single layer of clothing, his strong physique helping him endure.
However, Li Chonglou was beginning to feel the chill. Previously, his concern for his master had made him impervious to the elements, but now he was shivering, his face pale.
He decided they should take a taxi to a nearby mall to buy some clothes.
Fortunately, the ghost market didn't open until after dark, so going early would just mean waiting. There was no point in rushing, and they had plenty of time.
It was also a good opportunity to buy an outfit for Xu Lie. Even if he didn't feel the cold, being stared at like a panda on the streets would eventually wear down anyone's composure.
Despite Xu Lie's straightforward and fierce nature, his pride was not as thick as his skin.
"We'll take a down jacket each," Li Chonglou said, choosing a black one that caught his eye at a specialty store.
The sales assistant was a young woman with dark skin, wearing a long necklace of assorted amber, turquoise, and red coral beads, giving her a distinct Tibetan charm.
"You're from the south, aren't you? Be careful not to catch a cold dressing so lightly," the girl asked with a smile.
Xu Lie nodded in response.
"Miss, can I ask you something? Have you heard of Qingyan Shi?" Li Chonglou asked, not missing any opportunity to inquire about Qingyan Shi while changing.
He had also asked the taxi driver on the way, who had looked utterly bewildered.
"Qingyan Shi? What are you looking for that for?" the girl's smile vanished as she heard the name, replaced by a guarded expression.
Li Chonglou noticed this shift immediately.
A flicker of hope ignited within him.
He had planned to investigate the whereabouts of Qingyan Shi at the ghost market, but now, while buying a down jacket, he seemed to have found a lead.
However, the girl's reaction upon hearing Qingyan Shi seemed a bit excessive.
It didn't seem like a normal response.
There might be something more to it, so he decided to probe further.
"It's for saving someone. I heard Qingyan Shi can revive the dead. An elder of mine is critically ill and needs it to save his life," Li Chonglou explained, holding nothing back.
He believed that to gain trust, sincerity was paramount.
Besides, there was no secret involved.
"I advise you not to look for that thing. It will bring you ruin," the girl warned them, and then refused to say another word, no matter how much they pressed.
Knowing that forcing the issue would be futile, Li Chonglou paid and left with Xu Lie.
It seemed Qingyan Shi was quite well-known in Xihai. If a sales assistant knew about it, it should be even easier to inquire about at the ghost market.
However, Li Chonglou remained cautious. After leaving the store, he didn't walk away immediately.
Instead, he lingered nearby, observing.
"Is something strange?" Xu Lie asked.
Given his personality, if the sales assistant had been a man, he might have already pinned him down and interrogated him.
But he had a principle about not laying hands on girls.
"When she mentioned Qingyan Shi, her reaction was unusual. There must be some hidden story. It's still early, let's watch for a bit longer," Li Chonglou said, spotting a ramen shop across the street. He then led Xu Lie inside and ordered a bowl of ramen for each of them.
They ate while casting glances at the store.
Li Chonglou and Xu Lie hadn't eaten anything since leaving Yong'an, and they were indeed hungry.
It was time to fill their stomachs first.
About halfway through their ramen, a burly man in a wool cloak stumbled into the shop.
He didn't look like a customer. When the sales assistant saw him, her face filled with fear.
After a few exchanges, she repeatedly waved him away.
Li Chonglou couldn't understand their conversation, as they were speaking Tibetan.
But he could clearly see the anxiety and fear in the girl's eyes, and how the man was forcing her to retreat.
*Slap!*
The man, apparently having reached his limit, slapped the sales assistant.
With immense force, he sent her sprawling to the ground.
The necklace around her neck snapped, scattering beads across the floor.
The girl didn't cry. She simply covered her face, tilted her head back, and glared hatefully at the man, gritting her teeth.
Seeing her defiant expression, the man's eyes turned even more sinister and ferocious. He raised his foot, about to stomp on her head.
"Hey! Beating up a young girl like that, aren't you ashamed?" Li Chonglou's angry shout came from the doorway.
The man stopped his movement and turned, his gaze fixed on Li Chonglou.
But his eyes quickly shifted to Xu Lie.
Li Chonglou was far less imposing than Xu Lie, appearing thin and small, posing no threat.
In contrast, the towering Xu Lie made the man feel a slight sense of threat, which quickly vanished.
Speaking fluent but accented Mandarin, the man cursed, "Are you guys sick? Meddling will bring you trouble!"
"You're the one who's sick. This is a lawful society. If you want to go to jail for beating a woman in public, I can help you," Li Chonglou retorted coldly.
He disliked interfering in such matters, especially without knowing the full story.
But this girl clearly knew about Qingyan Shi, which was crucial for his master's life. He couldn't stand by and do nothing.
He had to step in.
"Kid, you're looking for death. Watch your words when you speak to me!" the man's voice was harsh, and his actions were even harsher.
A fierce look flashed across his face as he turned and lunged towards Li Chonglou's chest with a kick.
Being tall and strong, his leg could reach Li Chonglou's chest in a single stride. If this kick landed, Li Chonglou would be on the ground immediately.
Unfortunately for him, Xu Lie would never allow such insolence.
*Crack!*
Moving faster than the man's kick, Xu Lie sent him flying back two meters, crashing against the wall and collapsing softly.
The man felt as if his bones were about to scatter. His eyes widened in sheer terror.
With great effort, he managed to muster enough breath to shout menacingly, "You dare hit me? I'll kill you!"
"Keep talking tough and I'll beat you to death. Now scram," Xu Lie growled, his fierce gaze causing the man's face to turn pale. He struggled to his feet and, like a frightened rat, fled the shop.
Only then did the sales assistant, supported by the counter, stand up, her face filled with worry. "Honored guests, you've caused great trouble."
"Duojie is a local bully here. If you hit him, he will retaliate. You should leave quickly."
Xu Lie chuckled, "So he's a gangster."
Li Chonglou comforted her, "You don't need to worry about us. Worry about yourself. Why did he hit you?"
"Did you owe them money, or was it something else?"
Seeing that the two were unfazed, the girl didn't say anything more. She lowered her head and said, "It's gambling debt my father owed. He's dead, so they're coming after me."
"How much do you owe?" Li Chonglou pressed.
"Over 1.2 million..." the girl said with a wry smile.
"I'll pay it for you. Tell me where I can find Qingyan Shi," Li Chonglou said decisively.
The girl's head shot up, her eyes wide with shock. "Over 1.2 million, not 1.2 million..."
"I heard you correctly. Do we have a deal?" Li Chonglou nodded.
"Yes!" the girl exclaimed, nodding excitedly. "But I can't guarantee your safety. I know someone who has Qingyan Shi, and I'll take you to him. However, he's not a good person."
She was being pursued by these debt collectors to the point where her shop was about to close.
Suddenly receiving 1.2 million yuan from out of nowhere was an offer she couldn't refuse.
She decided to take a risk for her father's sake.
"Close up shop now and lead the way," Li Chonglou said, feeling a sense of relief.
1.2 million yuan wasn't a lot for him.
As long as he could find Qingyan Shi, it would be well worth it.
His master's life was immeasurable by money.
"That person will be at the Salar Cultural Park in the evening. It's still too early," the girl replied, shaking her head.
Well, it was still at the ghost market.
Li Chonglou and Xu Lie exchanged glances, both understanding the implication.
However, going to the ghost market without a guide would be like groping in the dark. Having a local lead them directly to their target was still a worthwhile gain.
Since it was still early, the two could only wait in the shop.
During their casual conversation, Li Chonglou learned that the girl's name was Tsering Yangla. The shop had been left to her by her aunt, which was why her father hadn't gambled it away.
She was now relying on this shop to make a living.
When discussing her father, Tsering Yangla's tone was a mixture of hatred and regret.
Li Chonglou listened quietly, offering no opinion.
In this world, the happy are happy in their own ways, but the unhappy are all the same.
He had seen too much. If he were to concern himself with every misfortune, he would have been exhausted long ago.
The shop's business was slow, with not a single customer entering for half the day. Li Chonglou even suspected that if he and Xu Lie hadn't come today, they wouldn't have been able to open the shop at all.
It was indeed only enough to scrape by.
Finally, around six o'clock, several Toyota Prados rumbled to a stop outside.
*Whoosh!*
Eight dark-skinned, menacingly strong men leaped from the vehicles, each armed with steel pipes and machetes.
"Smash it!" The leader was Duojie.
Seeing that Li Chonglou and Xu Lie hadn't left, a ferocious glint appeared in his eyes. He led the charge, smashing the shop's glass door into pieces.
Yangla's face turned pale with fright, but she remained composed, not screaming.
Xu Lie stood up, not allowing them to smash anything else.
His movements were lightning-fast, each punch taking down a hulking man.
In the blink of an eye, before all eight men could even enter the shop, they had collapsed on the curb.
Their weapons clattered to the ground.
Xu Lie turned and walked back into the shop calmly, flicking off imaginary dust from his hands.
Yangla's eyes widened in utter shock.
She had never seen such a courageous man, like a Vajra sent from heaven.
"You are the true Duoji..."
Duoji meant Vajra in Tibetan, symbolizing strength and courage.
Many men chose this name for their children, wishing them good fortune.
Unfortunately, compared to Xu Lie, that Duojie was like a pile of yak dung, utterly pathetic.
"Take your men and get lost. If you dare cause trouble again, I'll break all your limbs," Li Chonglou said calmly from his seat, looking at the groaning thugs outside.
Duojie looked up at Li Chonglou with intense hatred in his eyes.
Having operated in Xihai City for many years, bullying and dominating, this was the first time he had encountered such a formidable opponent.
Ordinary means of intimidation were clearly no longer effective.
To regain his standing, he would have to find someone else.
"You wait, I'll kill you!" With this thought, Duojie uttered a threat and fled in a panic with his men.
Leaving many stunned pedestrians on the street.
Soon, it was dark.
The broken glass couldn't be repaired now, so Yangla locked the shop and led the two towards the ghost market near the cultural park.
By the time they arrived, the ghost market had already opened.
From a distance, they could see figures moving about, their true appearances obscured, lending an air of mystery.
"This is the ghost market," Xu Lie remarked, his eyebrows raised slightly, a hint of excitement in his eyes.
It reminded him of his days fighting in underground boxing rings.