The words "Ghost Market" themselves carried a strong sense of mystery, instilling both fear and an irresistible curiosity.
Things unobtainable in the world of the living might just be found in the Ghost Market.
Zhu Huansi's imagination conjured a scene: a pitch-black street, lined with lampposts bearing ghastly red lanterns, the entire thoroughfare populated by ghosts moving slowly with heads bowed. Though bustling, it was eerily quiet. The stalls sold not antiques, but human heads and arms…
Merely thinking about it sent a shiver down Zhu Huansi's spine, and she quickly adjusted her collar, hoping to warm herself up a little.
After introducing the Chang'an Ghost Market, Qin Liuye continued, “As the local emperor of Xiao Dongmen, I possess quite a few treasures myself. This time, I received an invitation to the Ghost Market, which mentioned the appearance of the Yangling Tiger Tally.”
This meant the only clue to breaking Ma Xingping's curse was obtaining the Yangling Tiger Tally, and since the tally only appeared in the Ghost Market, Yan Shouyi and the others had no choice but to pay it a visit.
Lin Zhitong frowned and asked, "Since the Yangling Tiger Tally belonged to Qin Shi Huang, shouldn't it be sealed within his mausoleum? Why would it appear in the Ghost Market? Could it be that someone else has already entered the tomb?"
Qin Liuye shook his head. "The Yangling Tiger Tally was unearthed in Yangling, so it doesn't prove that anyone else has entered Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum."
"Actually, I have heard some rumors regarding this matter," Zhu Ling suddenly interjected, reminding everyone that there was still this old man from Fengyixuan present.
Speaking of which, it was indeed coincidental that Zhu Ling and Zhu Huansi appeared in Xiao Dongmen. Yan Shouyi hadn't considered why they weren't in Yanjing and had instead traveled all the way to Chang'an.
Zhu Ling then said, "I came to Chang'an this time precisely to participate in the Chang'an Ghost Market and find some rare fabrics to make some unique clothing. The news we at Fengyixuan received is that not only will the Yangling Tiger Tally appear in the Ghost Market, but there will be three pairs!"
Everyone was stunned by this statement. Three pairs of such a treasure as the Yangling Tiger Tally?
Wang Jiwang chuckled, "If there are three pairs, things will be much easier. We just need to buy one pair…"
Zhu Ling, however, shook his head. "It's not that simple. Among these three pairs, only one is real."
"Nani?" Long Feicheng exclaimed in surprise. "The Ghost Market even sells fakes?"
"It's a complicated story. The group of thieves who stole the Yangling Tiger Tally made several lifelike fake tallies. After they succeeded, it is said that they accidentally mixed all the real and fake tallies together, to the point where they themselves could no longer distinguish between them."
"You're telling me…"
Yan Shouyi and the others were speechless, realizing that reality was often more dramatic than fiction.
Zhu Ling continued, "Because they couldn't tell the real from the fake, all three pairs of tallies will appear simultaneously. Whether you can buy the real one depends on your own ability."
While they had gained crucial information from Zhu Ling, it only added to their worries.
Old Jin said, "Shouyi has such sharp eyesight, distinguishing the real tally shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"If all three pairs of tallies were in my hands, distinguishing the real one wouldn't be difficult. The problem is, will I have the opportunity to get my hands on all three pairs and choose from them?" Yan Shouyi said with a troubled expression.
Yan Shouyi wasn't the only one with discerning eyes, and since Zhu Ling had received the news, others were surely aware of the Yangling Tiger Tally's details, meaning there would undoubtedly be competitors.
Yan Shouyi was also unfamiliar with the rules of the Ghost Market and didn't know in what form the Yangling Tiger Tally would appear, so he couldn't guarantee success.
"No matter what, the boat will reach its destination when it gets there!" Yan Shouyi declared. "Sixth Master, can we attend the Ghost Market?"
"Of course," Qin Liuye replied. "I'll arrange it. You just need to prepare yourselves."
Thanks to Qin Liuye, the local insider, Yan Shouyi didn't have to worry about how to infiltrate the Ghost Market.
However, the Ghost Market wouldn't open until the next night, so Yan Shouyi and the others had to wait.
Yan Shouyi left Old Jin and Ma Jinxuan at Qin Liuye's residence to look after Ma Xingping, and temporarily bid farewell to Zhu Ling and Zhu Huansi. The rest of them headed to a hotel to rest and recuperate.
Zhu Ling and Zhu Huansi were now considered acquaintances, and attending the Ghost Market together would mean they could look out for each other.
"Which hotel are we staying at?" Lin Zhitong asked.
Yan Shouyi blinked. "Didn't you arrange the hotel?"
Lin Zhitong shook her head. "I was going to arrange it myself, but Grandpa Ye insisted on handling it, and then Little Long also vied to do it, so the task of booking the hotel was ultimately given to Little Long."
Everyone turned their gaze to Long Feicheng. Seeing his inexplicably confident smile, they suddenly had a sense of foreboding.
Long Feicheng said mysteriously, "In a historic city like Chang'an, one must stay in a themed hotel with historical connections to personally experience the city's core culture! So, I booked everyone into a Terracotta Army themed hotel!"
Half an hour later…
Yan Shouyi pushed open the door to the hotel room and, after a brief glance at its furnishings, quietly closed it.
"I must have opened it the wrong way. Let me try again."
Yan Shouyi took a deep breath and reopened the door, but the scene inside remained unchanged.
One wall of the room was made of rock, with strange vines growing on it. Below the rock wall stood a row of hideous Terracotta Warriors, all facing the bed. Some were detailed down to broken arms and heads.
The bed was designed to look like a chariot, but in Yan Shouyi's opinion, it resembled a coffin on wheels more. What was even more unacceptable was that two recumbent Terracotta Warriors were stuffed under the bed.
Who the hell were they trying to scare to death?!
Lin Zhitong stood behind Yan Shouyi, tiptoed to take a look, and let out a gasp: "Neither Ping'an Building nor Jianwang Tomb had a room as bizarre and terrifying as this."
Wang Jiwang, staying in the adjacent room, whispered, "Luo Ning would probably like this hotel, as the room's decor is very suitable for raising corpses."
Yan Shouyi clutched his forehead, thinking that at least the room had curtains, which, when opened, would let in some human warmth.
But when he pulled open the curtains, he saw another row of Terracotta Warriors.
"Can I say a curse word?" Yan Shouyi asked, clenching his fists.
"Perhaps it's best not to," Lin Zhitong said, touching her abdomen. Although the fetus had not yet formed, she still didn't want her child to hear their father swear.
Then she thought again, she had seen such a bizarre room, and the impact on the fetus would surely be greater than a few curse words.
So she said in a low voice, "Perhaps you should say a few."